1. Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary
2. Whose woods these are, I think I know. His house is in the village, though.
3. The owl and the pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat
4. Do not go gentle into that good night; old age should burn and rave at close of day
5. I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness
6. Come live with me and be my love, and we will all the pleasures prove
7. Death be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful
8. The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees, the moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas
9. T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
10. Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul
11. I sing the Body electric; The armies of those I love engirth me, and I engirth them;
12. We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams
13. Half a league, half a league, half a league onward, all in the valley of death rode the six hundred.
First lines of poems today. How many did you recognize?
Thursday
Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list
here. I've been
playing for a while and this is my 372nd time to do a list of 13 on a
Thursday.
Thursday, December 04, 2014
Wednesday, December 03, 2014
Tuesday, December 02, 2014
Books: The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion
The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion
by Fannie Flagg
Copyright 2014
Read by Fannie Flagg
Approximately 10 hours
Fannie Flagg returned to the format she used in Fried Green Tomatoes with great results in her latest novel.
The All-Girl Filling Station is a dual story, told in the present and in the past, much like Fried Green Tomatoes. An older woman, Sookie Poole of Point Clear, Alabama, learns disturbing news that will change her life.
The story jumps back in time to explain the news and how things came to be. In the process, Flagg introduces us to some special history: the story of the WASPS (Women Airforce Service Pilots), a group of women military craft flyers. Their story was lost for about 35 years.
Flagg creates several memorable characters, including Fritzi, an irrepressible young woman who learns to fly airplanes and then takes over her family's Philips 66 filling station when the only son leaves for the war. She and her sisters man the station, and soon truck drivers everywhere are lining the streets to get a fill-up from the lovely young women.
Sookie, an older woman in her 60s, is also an interesting and entertaining character. Her role in the story is made clear by the time the tale finishes, and hooray for happy endings.
I enjoyed listening to this book. I loved learning about the WASPS and of course had to research and see if they were true. Flagg has her facts right in the fiction, and the story she wove around this interesting bit of history is impressive and probable.
Definitely the best Flagg has written in a while - maybe the best since Fried Green Tomatoes. (I've read all of her books). I hope somebody makes this one into a movie.
5 stars
by Fannie Flagg
Copyright 2014
Read by Fannie Flagg
Approximately 10 hours
Fannie Flagg returned to the format she used in Fried Green Tomatoes with great results in her latest novel.
The All-Girl Filling Station is a dual story, told in the present and in the past, much like Fried Green Tomatoes. An older woman, Sookie Poole of Point Clear, Alabama, learns disturbing news that will change her life.
The story jumps back in time to explain the news and how things came to be. In the process, Flagg introduces us to some special history: the story of the WASPS (Women Airforce Service Pilots), a group of women military craft flyers. Their story was lost for about 35 years.
Flagg creates several memorable characters, including Fritzi, an irrepressible young woman who learns to fly airplanes and then takes over her family's Philips 66 filling station when the only son leaves for the war. She and her sisters man the station, and soon truck drivers everywhere are lining the streets to get a fill-up from the lovely young women.
Sookie, an older woman in her 60s, is also an interesting and entertaining character. Her role in the story is made clear by the time the tale finishes, and hooray for happy endings.
I enjoyed listening to this book. I loved learning about the WASPS and of course had to research and see if they were true. Flagg has her facts right in the fiction, and the story she wove around this interesting bit of history is impressive and probable.
Definitely the best Flagg has written in a while - maybe the best since Fried Green Tomatoes. (I've read all of her books). I hope somebody makes this one into a movie.
5 stars
Monday, December 01, 2014
Closing the Newsroom
I am a big fan of the HBO show "The Newsroom," which is ending with a six-episode third season. Two episodes are left, and then this high-end production of quality and intelligent writing will be gone.
The show makes me cry frequently. Not with every episode, but with many of them. Last night's show made me so tense that every nerve in my body hurt.
This season the show has covered many things, but at its heart it is exploring the loss of true journalistic integrity, lack of ethics, and the rise of the "citizen journalist," wherein the audience becomes the writers and the content providers, for no pay, of course, with the news media winning by becoming profitable through advertising because it has a big audience of morons.
The real losers? Everybody. Everyone who values truth and morality, who doesn't believe that what the majority thinks is always right, and those who think that opinion is not the same thing as reality. Which should be every thinking person on the planet.
The losers are people who live outside of the bubbles, those who seek authenticity, not fairy tales, and those who desire genuine facts and not mob rule. If you're just along for the ride, trying to get your piece of gold so you can hoard it along with your guns, then you're not watching this show or paying attention to reality, anyway. You may as well move along.
Unfortunately, this is what happens when money becomes king and god, which is where we are today. We are here because the bean counters took over and news media became a fountain of dollars instead of seedbeds of ethical journalism, as they should have been.
Of course the media has always been tainted. Yellow journalism has been around for centuries. But at one time - maybe about the time Bob Woodward ratted out Nixon - it seemed like journalism was about justice and reality. There was some honor in the title of journalist.
`
I have watched in horror as the media has sold out to the money gods, one by one, all the way down to the smallest newspaper. I have watched in terror as the governments, all the way to the local school board and the smallest town council, have taken advantage of the lack of media oversight to move forward with projects about which their citizens are and forever will remain clueless. And generally, so long as their taxes don't increase, the citizens don't care.
It's a free-for-all time for those in power. They must clink their wine glasses nightly, saluting their great victory, as the masses stare dumbly at their cell phones, twittering away about the things of which they know nothing.
The papers that still exist, what few there are, no longer are part of the conversation. They have made themselves irrelevant. Governments are no longer scared of local newspapers because they know no one reads them. Or at least, not anyone who counts in their eyes. And the people who count are the corporate owners, not the citizens who elected the government officials in the first place.
Television media coverage may be seen by more people, but it is done in three-minute sound-bytes. Who can do in-depth reporting for a three-minute segment? Shows like 60 Minutes lost their relevancy a decade ago; I don't even know why it is still on. We are so inundated with crap from the internet, with BS streaming across our phones, that we have no way of differentiating real news from fake, which is why ironic articles from The Onion and other fake stories frequently find their way into the national conversation.
So I mourn the closing of the newsroom. I mourn the loss of true journalism, the death of the Fourth Estate, and ultimately the demise of democracy. As the plutocracy and the oligarchy complete their take over, one day people will look back and say, wasn't there a time when we had truth? Wasn't there a time when I, as a citizen of this country - of this world - actually mattered? Wasn't there a time when I as a human being was more important than some trinket on a shelf?
We will look back, and we will lament. And we will move forward, crawling like Gollum in the darkness, sending ourselves half-naked into the world we have created, this miasma of lies and deceit, this cesspool of advertising and creeping classism and division, because ultimately, in the end, what else can we do?
The show makes me cry frequently. Not with every episode, but with many of them. Last night's show made me so tense that every nerve in my body hurt.
This season the show has covered many things, but at its heart it is exploring the loss of true journalistic integrity, lack of ethics, and the rise of the "citizen journalist," wherein the audience becomes the writers and the content providers, for no pay, of course, with the news media winning by becoming profitable through advertising because it has a big audience of morons.
The real losers? Everybody. Everyone who values truth and morality, who doesn't believe that what the majority thinks is always right, and those who think that opinion is not the same thing as reality. Which should be every thinking person on the planet.
The losers are people who live outside of the bubbles, those who seek authenticity, not fairy tales, and those who desire genuine facts and not mob rule. If you're just along for the ride, trying to get your piece of gold so you can hoard it along with your guns, then you're not watching this show or paying attention to reality, anyway. You may as well move along.
Unfortunately, this is what happens when money becomes king and god, which is where we are today. We are here because the bean counters took over and news media became a fountain of dollars instead of seedbeds of ethical journalism, as they should have been.
Of course the media has always been tainted. Yellow journalism has been around for centuries. But at one time - maybe about the time Bob Woodward ratted out Nixon - it seemed like journalism was about justice and reality. There was some honor in the title of journalist.
`
I have watched in horror as the media has sold out to the money gods, one by one, all the way down to the smallest newspaper. I have watched in terror as the governments, all the way to the local school board and the smallest town council, have taken advantage of the lack of media oversight to move forward with projects about which their citizens are and forever will remain clueless. And generally, so long as their taxes don't increase, the citizens don't care.
It's a free-for-all time for those in power. They must clink their wine glasses nightly, saluting their great victory, as the masses stare dumbly at their cell phones, twittering away about the things of which they know nothing.
The papers that still exist, what few there are, no longer are part of the conversation. They have made themselves irrelevant. Governments are no longer scared of local newspapers because they know no one reads them. Or at least, not anyone who counts in their eyes. And the people who count are the corporate owners, not the citizens who elected the government officials in the first place.
Television media coverage may be seen by more people, but it is done in three-minute sound-bytes. Who can do in-depth reporting for a three-minute segment? Shows like 60 Minutes lost their relevancy a decade ago; I don't even know why it is still on. We are so inundated with crap from the internet, with BS streaming across our phones, that we have no way of differentiating real news from fake, which is why ironic articles from The Onion and other fake stories frequently find their way into the national conversation.
So I mourn the closing of the newsroom. I mourn the loss of true journalism, the death of the Fourth Estate, and ultimately the demise of democracy. As the plutocracy and the oligarchy complete their take over, one day people will look back and say, wasn't there a time when we had truth? Wasn't there a time when I, as a citizen of this country - of this world - actually mattered? Wasn't there a time when I as a human being was more important than some trinket on a shelf?
We will look back, and we will lament. And we will move forward, crawling like Gollum in the darkness, sending ourselves half-naked into the world we have created, this miasma of lies and deceit, this cesspool of advertising and creeping classism and division, because ultimately, in the end, what else can we do?
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Sunday Stealing: Shop on the Corner
From Sunday Stealing
Shop On The Corner Meme
1. What kind of job did your mom have when you were growing up?
A. My mother started work at the age of 16 as a file clerk at an industrial machine shop that, I think, made submarine parts once upon a time. She retired from there 30 years later and I'm fairly sure she was still called a file clerk. She sat at the front desk and was the receptionist/greeter for all of those years.
2. Have you ever known anyone that’s been on tv, including you?
A. Yes. I have been on TV and I know a number of people who have been on TV. Some of them are television journalists, and some are politicians, and some are just regular joes. My husband has also been on TV.
3. What was the most interesting animal you have seen in the wild?
A. The officials say there are no mountain lions in Virginia, but I have seen one. Lots of folks claim to have seen mountain lions around here. The officials say we're mistaking bob cats for mountain lions. I say they are full of bob cat poopy. I have also seen several bears, including one a few months ago in my back yard!
4. What holiday do you enjoy the most?
A. I love Halloween, with the masks and the macabre; the whole idea of it makes me smile. I also like Christmas but I find that others tend to want to run and ruin that holiday for me. Last year I was ill and I truthfully thought it might be my last Christmas, so I ignored everyone and did what I wanted to do, and it was my best Christmas ever. This year I don't think I'm dying, I'm just not well, and I am in a good deal of pain. I am finding the holiday to be aggravating. I am not feelin' the love this year. Maybe it will come as the season progresses.
5. What was the first video game you ever played?
A. Pinball machines aren't video games, but they were their precursors, and I grew up playing them. The first video game I remember is Pong. I am a gamer from way back. When the games came out in the arcades, I spent hours (and many quarters) mastering Centipede, Galaga, Pac Man, and others. My father bought my brother an Atari sometime around 1977 and others followed. There has always been a gaming system (or a PC) of some kind in my house since then. I have a box full of 3.5 discs of PC games that I would love to get rid of, with games like Commander Keen, the first Wolfenstien, tons of 3DO games, and many others, if anyone is interested.
6. What is the one thing you own, that if it got lost, you would be bummed?
A. Probably my PC, though I think it would be hard to lose a desktop.
7. Do you have a favorite breakfast item?
A. Eggs.
8. What do you find yourself buying all the time?
A. Chocolate.
9. When was the last time you got a real letter in the mail?
A. If cards count, then my anniversary. If they don't count, it was probably several years ago.
10. Do you have a most prized piece of jewelry?
A. My wedding band.
11. Do you own any board games?
A. We have Scrabble here some place.
12. What chore seems the most daunting right now?
A. Anything that requires abdominal muscles, since mine aren't working anymore. Vacuuming tops the list.
13. Were you born in the state you live in?
A. Yes.
14. Have you ever lived in a house that has been broken into?
A. Not that I am aware of.
15. What is your favorite cheese?
A. Cheddar.
16. Who do you know that watches the most sports?
A. I have no idea, except I know it isn't me.
Shop On The Corner Meme
1. What kind of job did your mom have when you were growing up?
A. My mother started work at the age of 16 as a file clerk at an industrial machine shop that, I think, made submarine parts once upon a time. She retired from there 30 years later and I'm fairly sure she was still called a file clerk. She sat at the front desk and was the receptionist/greeter for all of those years.
2. Have you ever known anyone that’s been on tv, including you?
A. Yes. I have been on TV and I know a number of people who have been on TV. Some of them are television journalists, and some are politicians, and some are just regular joes. My husband has also been on TV.
3. What was the most interesting animal you have seen in the wild?
A. The officials say there are no mountain lions in Virginia, but I have seen one. Lots of folks claim to have seen mountain lions around here. The officials say we're mistaking bob cats for mountain lions. I say they are full of bob cat poopy. I have also seen several bears, including one a few months ago in my back yard!
4. What holiday do you enjoy the most?
A. I love Halloween, with the masks and the macabre; the whole idea of it makes me smile. I also like Christmas but I find that others tend to want to run and ruin that holiday for me. Last year I was ill and I truthfully thought it might be my last Christmas, so I ignored everyone and did what I wanted to do, and it was my best Christmas ever. This year I don't think I'm dying, I'm just not well, and I am in a good deal of pain. I am finding the holiday to be aggravating. I am not feelin' the love this year. Maybe it will come as the season progresses.
5. What was the first video game you ever played?
A. Pinball machines aren't video games, but they were their precursors, and I grew up playing them. The first video game I remember is Pong. I am a gamer from way back. When the games came out in the arcades, I spent hours (and many quarters) mastering Centipede, Galaga, Pac Man, and others. My father bought my brother an Atari sometime around 1977 and others followed. There has always been a gaming system (or a PC) of some kind in my house since then. I have a box full of 3.5 discs of PC games that I would love to get rid of, with games like Commander Keen, the first Wolfenstien, tons of 3DO games, and many others, if anyone is interested.
6. What is the one thing you own, that if it got lost, you would be bummed?
A. Probably my PC, though I think it would be hard to lose a desktop.
7. Do you have a favorite breakfast item?
A. Eggs.
8. What do you find yourself buying all the time?
A. Chocolate.
9. When was the last time you got a real letter in the mail?
A. If cards count, then my anniversary. If they don't count, it was probably several years ago.
10. Do you have a most prized piece of jewelry?
A. My wedding band.
11. Do you own any board games?
A. We have Scrabble here some place.
12. What chore seems the most daunting right now?
A. Anything that requires abdominal muscles, since mine aren't working anymore. Vacuuming tops the list.
13. Were you born in the state you live in?
A. Yes.
14. Have you ever lived in a house that has been broken into?
A. Not that I am aware of.
15. What is your favorite cheese?
A. Cheddar.
16. Who do you know that watches the most sports?
A. I have no idea, except I know it isn't me.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Saturday 9: Paint It Black
Saturday 9: Paint It Black (1966)
Not familiar with this week's song? Hear it here.
*Ha. This song rather matches my mood.*
1) This song was chosen because yesterday was Black Friday, the traditional day of sales. Have you begun your Christmas shopping?
A. Yes. I hope to finish most of it in the coming week. I am doing most - but not all - online.
2) Are there any Thanksgiving leftovers in your refrigerator right now?
A. Yes. And I didn't even cook a single thing.
3) AAA says Thanksgiving is a big travel weekend. Did you venture far from home for your holiday dinner?
A. I drove about six miles. I do not call that far.
4) Keith Richards likes France but, alas, the French authorities haven't always been fond of him and his criminal record. Have you ever been to France?
A. I have. I went to Paris in 1979 as part of a high school trip. I saw all the touristy things.
5) Mick Jagger jokes that, to be polite to fellow hotel guests, he always finishes trashing his room by 10:00 PM. What kind of hotel/motel guest are you? Are you rockstar rambunctious, or are you quiet? Are you neat? Have you stolen any towels, bathrobes, etc.?
A. I'm a quiet person. Maybe not the neatest, but I leave the wet towels in a nice pile. I don't steal things at all. I'm a good girl.
6) Mick Jagger got his financial savvy as a student at the London School of Economics. Are you good with money?
A. I manage.
7) In the early 1990s, a then little-known actress named Angelina Jolie appeared in a Rolling Stones video ("Anybody Seen My Baby?"). Name an Angelina Jolie movie.
A. Tomb Raider. (I answered that then had to look it up to be sure.)
8) In the early 1960s, the Stones nearly avoided tragedy when their tour bus skidded off a bridge. Tell us about a near miss you're thankful for.
A. I'm really thankful that my husband did not lose his arm in a farm accident this summer. And I suppose I am thankful that instead of killing me, the surgeon only crippled me up and made my life hell when he removed my gallbladder in 2013 in what was supposed to be an easy surgery and recovery. I guess he could have let me die on the operating table, seeing as how he was in such a hurry to go play tennis that he couldn't be bothered to take care of me properly. Instead he ruined my life. Damn jerk.
9) In 1966, when this week's song was popular, CBS telecast How the Grinch Stole Christmas for the first time. What's your favorite Dr. Seuss story?
A. Oh, the Places You'll Go. A friend gave me that for my 40th birthday.
Not familiar with this week's song? Hear it here.
*Ha. This song rather matches my mood.*
1) This song was chosen because yesterday was Black Friday, the traditional day of sales. Have you begun your Christmas shopping?
A. Yes. I hope to finish most of it in the coming week. I am doing most - but not all - online.
2) Are there any Thanksgiving leftovers in your refrigerator right now?
A. Yes. And I didn't even cook a single thing.
3) AAA says Thanksgiving is a big travel weekend. Did you venture far from home for your holiday dinner?
A. I drove about six miles. I do not call that far.
4) Keith Richards likes France but, alas, the French authorities haven't always been fond of him and his criminal record. Have you ever been to France?
A. I have. I went to Paris in 1979 as part of a high school trip. I saw all the touristy things.
5) Mick Jagger jokes that, to be polite to fellow hotel guests, he always finishes trashing his room by 10:00 PM. What kind of hotel/motel guest are you? Are you rockstar rambunctious, or are you quiet? Are you neat? Have you stolen any towels, bathrobes, etc.?
A. I'm a quiet person. Maybe not the neatest, but I leave the wet towels in a nice pile. I don't steal things at all. I'm a good girl.
6) Mick Jagger got his financial savvy as a student at the London School of Economics. Are you good with money?
A. I manage.
7) In the early 1990s, a then little-known actress named Angelina Jolie appeared in a Rolling Stones video ("Anybody Seen My Baby?"). Name an Angelina Jolie movie.
A. Tomb Raider. (I answered that then had to look it up to be sure.)
8) In the early 1960s, the Stones nearly avoided tragedy when their tour bus skidded off a bridge. Tell us about a near miss you're thankful for.
A. I'm really thankful that my husband did not lose his arm in a farm accident this summer. And I suppose I am thankful that instead of killing me, the surgeon only crippled me up and made my life hell when he removed my gallbladder in 2013 in what was supposed to be an easy surgery and recovery. I guess he could have let me die on the operating table, seeing as how he was in such a hurry to go play tennis that he couldn't be bothered to take care of me properly. Instead he ruined my life. Damn jerk.
9) In 1966, when this week's song was popular, CBS telecast How the Grinch Stole Christmas for the first time. What's your favorite Dr. Seuss story?
A. Oh, the Places You'll Go. A friend gave me that for my 40th birthday.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Thursday Thirteen
Today is Thanksgiving Day in the USA, which means I could do a blog post on the things I'm thankful for, or the things I would hope to eat, or maybe facts about the day.
But I am not feeling it. Not feeling the holidays this year, at least, not so far. The snow yesterday on Thanksgiving Eve helped a *tiny* bit, but not a lot.
Anyway, happy Thanksgiving if you're celebrating. Enjoy the pies, parades, and football. I hope you don't go shopping, but if you must, spend wisely and I hope no one clomps you in the head.
Instead of celebrating a holiday, here are 13 ways you know you're old:
1. Heating pads are located in every room.
2. Medicine sits on the table, the counter, and in cabinets.
3. The odor of menthol a la Ben Gay or some other rub wafts through the rooms after showers.
4. That woman in your mirror is absolutely not the person who is looking into the mirror.
5. Gray hairs dot your comb and/or brush.
6. Your teeth hurt in places you didn't even know you had.
7. The weather sends your joints into a frenzy of knotted pain.
8. Walking canes are available for use by anyone who needs one.
9. Elastic bandages become one of the first things put on in the mornings.
10. You say things such as, "Hon, would you get me a glass of water out of the . . . you know, that thing that keeps stuff cold."
11. Something falls to the floor and you simply leave it there until you feel like you can bend over to get it.
12. Your progressive lenses require changing annually.
13. The kids at the cash registers at the stores look like little babies.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 371st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
But I am not feeling it. Not feeling the holidays this year, at least, not so far. The snow yesterday on Thanksgiving Eve helped a *tiny* bit, but not a lot.
Anyway, happy Thanksgiving if you're celebrating. Enjoy the pies, parades, and football. I hope you don't go shopping, but if you must, spend wisely and I hope no one clomps you in the head.
Instead of celebrating a holiday, here are 13 ways you know you're old:
1. Heating pads are located in every room.
2. Medicine sits on the table, the counter, and in cabinets.
3. The odor of menthol a la Ben Gay or some other rub wafts through the rooms after showers.
4. That woman in your mirror is absolutely not the person who is looking into the mirror.
5. Gray hairs dot your comb and/or brush.
6. Your teeth hurt in places you didn't even know you had.
7. The weather sends your joints into a frenzy of knotted pain.
8. Walking canes are available for use by anyone who needs one.
9. Elastic bandages become one of the first things put on in the mornings.
10. You say things such as, "Hon, would you get me a glass of water out of the . . . you know, that thing that keeps stuff cold."
11. Something falls to the floor and you simply leave it there until you feel like you can bend over to get it.
12. Your progressive lenses require changing annually.
13. The kids at the cash registers at the stores look like little babies.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 371st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Freedom of Speech
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
I am not a constitutional law professional, just a citizen who has been a writer and a journalist for decades.
You'd think I would be all for "freedom of speech," and I am - with limitations.
I do not believe it is okay to say (or write) everything you think. This "right" was written into the law of the land in the United States at a time when people had morals and manners. We no longer have either, and the free-for-all that overlays all of the many cultures that make up the USA has made conversation an intangible and given way to ignorance and emotional sound bytes that overpower the language of reason. It's been a growing problem and one that the Internet has fostered.
We already have laws on the books that belie the "freedom of speech" rallying cry, anyway. Every government places limits on speech, even the US government.
For example, you can't slander someone without the risk of a lawsuit, for example. Slander means telling an untruth about someone that harms him or her. We have laws against defamation (false statements that harm an individual, corporation, religion, etc.) and legal action can be taken against those.
Companies are taking people to court over bad things written about them online. I've seen that happen here in my area.
Laws exist against hate speech, which is any use of words, gestures, or writings that incite violence. Our government also controls speech with obscenity and pornography laws, copyright and trademark, sedition (causing an insurrection), and other ways.
So there really is no "freedom of speech" as people proclaim it nowadays. The right to say what you want exists and generally one can say what one wishes without government indictment. You can't yell "fire" in a crowded theater (although these days maybe we should change that to "you can't yell "shooter" in a crowded area.").
In yesterday's paper, I read an article about a free speech limits test going before the Supreme Court. A woman obtained a protective order against her estranged husband, and on his Facebook page, he wrote that she should fold up the order and put it in her pocket and hope it stopped a bullet.
The issue is whether this exercise of free speech constituted a "true threat" to the woman at which it was directed.
The problem for me is that Facebook is not private. Friends of friends can see what you wrote. So this message was essentially shouted out into the public square. If this guy had said this privately to his best friend, venting his frustration and getting it off his chest, that's one thing, though it still wouldn't be a very nice thing to say. But he said this essentially to the world.
We no longer live in a society where we have distinction between private and public. With the loss of manners and morals, mentioned above, and the annihilation of public/private lines, we have a total breakdown in the civic discourse. People feel they have the right to say whatever they want, regardless of how hurtful and coarse it may be. The high-mindedness of mankind has reached a pinnacle not seen before in history, and it will ultimately decay our civilization. Unbridled speech and actions can only lead to chaos. That is why we have laws, to keep chaos from taking over.
Let me be clear - if this man had written his words in a private yahoo group, I doubt it would be going before the Supreme Court. But he chose a public forum.
This issue will become more and more germane as technology continues its inevitable creeping into our lives. I do not believe in censuring printed books - books just sit there, and one must take an action to pick up the book, open it, and read it, to be offended. Those actions need not be taken and a book can sit in a corner forever, completely ignored. But in a public forum - say out in the shopping mall where you can't yell "fire" - one cannot dismiss the words. One can't unhear hate speech. The same goes for public outlets such as Facebook. The hundreds or thousands can't "unsee" whatever was written. It's there and then one must deal with it.
If I were this woman's friend and I saw her estranged husband post something like what is mentioned above, I would feel like I would have to warn her. To me, in the context of the news article, that looks like a threat. And then it's possible the threat would revert to me. It becomes a scary place to be.
As our reading habits change and more and more of what we read and see is online, and available not by choice but instead forced upon us through social media outlets or in the guise of advertising, I think we would be wise to try to sort this out now, before it gets even more out of control.
Freedom of speech isn't just spouting off whatever comes to mind. It's wrapped up in many issues and concerns, and it doesn't stand alone.
I am not a constitutional law professional, just a citizen who has been a writer and a journalist for decades.
You'd think I would be all for "freedom of speech," and I am - with limitations.
I do not believe it is okay to say (or write) everything you think. This "right" was written into the law of the land in the United States at a time when people had morals and manners. We no longer have either, and the free-for-all that overlays all of the many cultures that make up the USA has made conversation an intangible and given way to ignorance and emotional sound bytes that overpower the language of reason. It's been a growing problem and one that the Internet has fostered.
We already have laws on the books that belie the "freedom of speech" rallying cry, anyway. Every government places limits on speech, even the US government.
For example, you can't slander someone without the risk of a lawsuit, for example. Slander means telling an untruth about someone that harms him or her. We have laws against defamation (false statements that harm an individual, corporation, religion, etc.) and legal action can be taken against those.
Companies are taking people to court over bad things written about them online. I've seen that happen here in my area.
Laws exist against hate speech, which is any use of words, gestures, or writings that incite violence. Our government also controls speech with obscenity and pornography laws, copyright and trademark, sedition (causing an insurrection), and other ways.
So there really is no "freedom of speech" as people proclaim it nowadays. The right to say what you want exists and generally one can say what one wishes without government indictment. You can't yell "fire" in a crowded theater (although these days maybe we should change that to "you can't yell "shooter" in a crowded area.").
In yesterday's paper, I read an article about a free speech limits test going before the Supreme Court. A woman obtained a protective order against her estranged husband, and on his Facebook page, he wrote that she should fold up the order and put it in her pocket and hope it stopped a bullet.
The issue is whether this exercise of free speech constituted a "true threat" to the woman at which it was directed.
The problem for me is that Facebook is not private. Friends of friends can see what you wrote. So this message was essentially shouted out into the public square. If this guy had said this privately to his best friend, venting his frustration and getting it off his chest, that's one thing, though it still wouldn't be a very nice thing to say. But he said this essentially to the world.
We no longer live in a society where we have distinction between private and public. With the loss of manners and morals, mentioned above, and the annihilation of public/private lines, we have a total breakdown in the civic discourse. People feel they have the right to say whatever they want, regardless of how hurtful and coarse it may be. The high-mindedness of mankind has reached a pinnacle not seen before in history, and it will ultimately decay our civilization. Unbridled speech and actions can only lead to chaos. That is why we have laws, to keep chaos from taking over.
Let me be clear - if this man had written his words in a private yahoo group, I doubt it would be going before the Supreme Court. But he chose a public forum.
This issue will become more and more germane as technology continues its inevitable creeping into our lives. I do not believe in censuring printed books - books just sit there, and one must take an action to pick up the book, open it, and read it, to be offended. Those actions need not be taken and a book can sit in a corner forever, completely ignored. But in a public forum - say out in the shopping mall where you can't yell "fire" - one cannot dismiss the words. One can't unhear hate speech. The same goes for public outlets such as Facebook. The hundreds or thousands can't "unsee" whatever was written. It's there and then one must deal with it.
If I were this woman's friend and I saw her estranged husband post something like what is mentioned above, I would feel like I would have to warn her. To me, in the context of the news article, that looks like a threat. And then it's possible the threat would revert to me. It becomes a scary place to be.
As our reading habits change and more and more of what we read and see is online, and available not by choice but instead forced upon us through social media outlets or in the guise of advertising, I think we would be wise to try to sort this out now, before it gets even more out of control.
Freedom of speech isn't just spouting off whatever comes to mind. It's wrapped up in many issues and concerns, and it doesn't stand alone.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Sunday Stealing: Thanksgiving Meme
From Sunday Stealing
Thanksgiving Meme
(Thanksgiving Day is November 27 in the USA)
1. Are you celebrating Thanksgiving at home or elsewhere this year? With whom will you spend Thanksgiving Day?
A. The crystal ball is unclear on the answer to this question at the moment.
2. What do you have for breakfast on Thanksgiving?
A. Same thing I have on other days.
3. Do you go to a Thanksgiving parade or watch one on TV?
A. Sometimes I watch the one on TV, but not every year.
4. Do you serve appetizers, lunch, or snacks during the day?
A. We usually eat a light lunch.
5. What do you wear on Thanksgiving?
A. Clothes.
6. What's your Thanksgiving table like -- do you use special plates/silver/glasses, etc? Do you have a centerpiece? A color scheme? Candles?
A. Generally Thanksgiving is not at my house.
7. Do you serve buffet-style or family-style? What do you have to drink?
A. A mix.
8. Once you're at the table, do you say grace or a toast or does everyone go around and say what they're thankful for?
A. Not usually.
9. Do you have dessert right after the main meal or later on?
A. Depends on what dessert is and what time we finish eating.
10. What do you do with your leftovers?
A. Eat them.
Thanksgiving Meme
(Thanksgiving Day is November 27 in the USA)
1. Are you celebrating Thanksgiving at home or elsewhere this year? With whom will you spend Thanksgiving Day?
A. The crystal ball is unclear on the answer to this question at the moment.
2. What do you have for breakfast on Thanksgiving?
A. Same thing I have on other days.
3. Do you go to a Thanksgiving parade or watch one on TV?
A. Sometimes I watch the one on TV, but not every year.
4. Do you serve appetizers, lunch, or snacks during the day?
A. We usually eat a light lunch.
5. What do you wear on Thanksgiving?
A. Clothes.
6. What's your Thanksgiving table like -- do you use special plates/silver/glasses, etc? Do you have a centerpiece? A color scheme? Candles?
A. Generally Thanksgiving is not at my house.
7. Do you serve buffet-style or family-style? What do you have to drink?
A. A mix.
8. Once you're at the table, do you say grace or a toast or does everyone go around and say what they're thankful for?
A. Not usually.
9. Do you have dessert right after the main meal or later on?
A. Depends on what dessert is and what time we finish eating.
10. What do you do with your leftovers?
A. Eat them.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Saturday 9: The Main Event
Saturday 9: The Main Event (1979)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
*Confession: When I was a teenager playing guitar in a band, this was one of the songs we performed(except it was the short version). We played a good bit of disco, as it was the rage at the time. The bass player made this song rock, if I remember correctly.*
1) This is the theme from a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of boxing. Sam admits she's not crazy about boxing. What about you? Do you enjoy boxing, martial arts or wrestling?
A. No. I do, however, use Tai Chi in my exercise routine. I find it very relaxing to perform the movements. It will help my migraines and lower my blood pressure in 20 minutes.
2) If you went to a dance club on a Saturday night in 1979 or 1980, you might well have danced to this. What are your plans for this Saturday night?
A. To read a book while I sit beside my husband as he flips through the TV channels.
3) Gilda Radner was one of the original Saturday Night Live performers and in 1979, she parlayed her TV popularity into her own one-woman show on Broadway. Who is your alltime favorite SNL cast member?
A. Jane, you ignorant slut. (Jane Curtin is my favorite.)
4) Sally Little and Nancy Lopez were at the top of the LPGA in 1979. Do you golf?
A. No.
5) The movie The Main Event co-starred Ryan O'Neal. He is better known for Love Story, and saying the line, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." When did you last apologize?
A. I apologize for everything. I say, "I'm sorry" if I have to ask a salesperson a question. So who knows.
6) O'Neal got his big break on the nighttime soap opera, Peyton Place. He played Rodney Harrington, the handsome golden boy that all the girls dreamed of dating. Tell us about your big high school crush.
A. When I was in high school, we were all in love with David Cassidy as Keith Partridge.
7) In researching this week's Saturday 9, Sam discovered that The Main Event is a popular name for sports bars all across the country. Do you enjoy sitting at the bar or do you look for a booth or table?
A. Table.
8) The Mane Event was the salon Sam went to for years. She switched when it got too hard to get Saturday appointments. As a consumer, what's more important to you -- convenience or price?
A. Convenience.
9) More than 50 years after her first million-selling album, Streisand recently had a #1 hit with her current CD, Partners. What's the last song you bought/downloaded?
A. Song of the Lonely Mountain, by Neil Finn (from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey). Yes, I am a nerd.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
*Confession: When I was a teenager playing guitar in a band, this was one of the songs we performed(except it was the short version). We played a good bit of disco, as it was the rage at the time. The bass player made this song rock, if I remember correctly.*
1) This is the theme from a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of boxing. Sam admits she's not crazy about boxing. What about you? Do you enjoy boxing, martial arts or wrestling?
A. No. I do, however, use Tai Chi in my exercise routine. I find it very relaxing to perform the movements. It will help my migraines and lower my blood pressure in 20 minutes.
2) If you went to a dance club on a Saturday night in 1979 or 1980, you might well have danced to this. What are your plans for this Saturday night?
A. To read a book while I sit beside my husband as he flips through the TV channels.
3) Gilda Radner was one of the original Saturday Night Live performers and in 1979, she parlayed her TV popularity into her own one-woman show on Broadway. Who is your alltime favorite SNL cast member?
A. Jane, you ignorant slut. (Jane Curtin is my favorite.)
4) Sally Little and Nancy Lopez were at the top of the LPGA in 1979. Do you golf?
A. No.
5) The movie The Main Event co-starred Ryan O'Neal. He is better known for Love Story, and saying the line, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." When did you last apologize?
A. I apologize for everything. I say, "I'm sorry" if I have to ask a salesperson a question. So who knows.
6) O'Neal got his big break on the nighttime soap opera, Peyton Place. He played Rodney Harrington, the handsome golden boy that all the girls dreamed of dating. Tell us about your big high school crush.
A. When I was in high school, we were all in love with David Cassidy as Keith Partridge.
7) In researching this week's Saturday 9, Sam discovered that The Main Event is a popular name for sports bars all across the country. Do you enjoy sitting at the bar or do you look for a booth or table?
A. Table.
8) The Mane Event was the salon Sam went to for years. She switched when it got too hard to get Saturday appointments. As a consumer, what's more important to you -- convenience or price?
A. Convenience.
9) More than 50 years after her first million-selling album, Streisand recently had a #1 hit with her current CD, Partners. What's the last song you bought/downloaded?
A. Song of the Lonely Mountain, by Neil Finn (from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey). Yes, I am a nerd.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Thursday Thirteen
1. My Facebook page this morning is filled with photos of the big snow in Buffalo, NY, where they received 7 feet of snow. I feel for those folks. I hope they have good roofs on their houses.
2. My Facebook page is also full of political rhetoric, as it is every morning. I am seriously considering ridding myself of the political posts. It's a terrible way to set the tone for the day as there is seldom anything positive about politics. Maybe Facebook needs a timer setting so I could see the political posts later in the day.
3. Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.
4. There is a subplot in the Extended Editions of The Hobbit movies that isn't being shone on the theatrical releases. I won't relay what it is, but I am intrigued as to how it will be explained in the final extended edition, which probably won't be released until next fall. (The last movie, The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, is coming to a theater near you on December 17!)
5. The book The Book Thief is much better than the movie.
6. My bank switched hands over the weekend. My new bank's online access is a pain in the you-know-what. That is it say, it isn't working very well for me.
7. I can't believe another year is almost over. Time really does fly when you're an antique.
8. Yesterday a helicopter flew over, and as I have done since I was a small child, I stepped outside to watch it. I remember doing that at my grandmother's. We'd hear the tell-tale flap of the rotors and rush outside to be the first to spot it, and then watch it wing its way across the sky.
9. My grandmother had four young children in her charge when she was babysitting me - two of her own (I have an uncle who is a year younger than I am) and my brother and me. My grandmother had six children in all. My mother, who passed away in 2000, was the oldest. The other children are all still alive. My grandmother died in 2007.
10. My father's mother is still alive. She's 94 and lives in California.
11. When I think back on the Novembers I have lived through the one that stands out the most is the year I married. We celebrated 31 years this week. A long time to be married but it seems like only a week. A very full week, but only a week.
12. I don't *need* a new camera but I confess I have been looking at new ones. Something with a 50x zoom. I could zero in on a deer's nostril with a zoom like that.
13. Winter wouldn't be so bad if the wind wouldn't blow. Did we have this much wind when we were children? I don't recall it being so windy when I was young.
"Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind." - Bruce Lee
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 370th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
2. My Facebook page is also full of political rhetoric, as it is every morning. I am seriously considering ridding myself of the political posts. It's a terrible way to set the tone for the day as there is seldom anything positive about politics. Maybe Facebook needs a timer setting so I could see the political posts later in the day.
3. Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.
4. There is a subplot in the Extended Editions of The Hobbit movies that isn't being shone on the theatrical releases. I won't relay what it is, but I am intrigued as to how it will be explained in the final extended edition, which probably won't be released until next fall. (The last movie, The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, is coming to a theater near you on December 17!)
5. The book The Book Thief is much better than the movie.
6. My bank switched hands over the weekend. My new bank's online access is a pain in the you-know-what. That is it say, it isn't working very well for me.
7. I can't believe another year is almost over. Time really does fly when you're an antique.
8. Yesterday a helicopter flew over, and as I have done since I was a small child, I stepped outside to watch it. I remember doing that at my grandmother's. We'd hear the tell-tale flap of the rotors and rush outside to be the first to spot it, and then watch it wing its way across the sky.
9. My grandmother had four young children in her charge when she was babysitting me - two of her own (I have an uncle who is a year younger than I am) and my brother and me. My grandmother had six children in all. My mother, who passed away in 2000, was the oldest. The other children are all still alive. My grandmother died in 2007.
10. My father's mother is still alive. She's 94 and lives in California.
11. When I think back on the Novembers I have lived through the one that stands out the most is the year I married. We celebrated 31 years this week. A long time to be married but it seems like only a week. A very full week, but only a week.
12. I don't *need* a new camera but I confess I have been looking at new ones. Something with a 50x zoom. I could zero in on a deer's nostril with a zoom like that.
13. Winter wouldn't be so bad if the wind wouldn't blow. Did we have this much wind when we were children? I don't recall it being so windy when I was young.
"Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind." - Bruce Lee
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 370th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Eminent Domain
This weekend, the area at Exit 150 known as "the truckstop" closed. It closed not of its own accord, but because the state took the property and forced the company to shut down.
The land was wanted so the state can reroute the interchange and make things work better there.
Many people, myself included, feel that simply closing the truckstop will help the interchange immensely. The state, however, has plans to spend $46.5 million on this intersection, creating a new road (and the county supervisors are drooling for development along this new route), and adding a round-about.
A film I saw recently about the interchange (sometimes being a journalist has its perks) indicates that by 2036, there will be issues with the round-about. It shows traffic having to stop and slow down in order to let others through. No one likes the round-about but the state is insisting on it. I think it will be a big snafu and ultimately something else to be fixed.
I have serious concerns about the state taking the truckstop. On the one hand, I have sat in those very long lines of traffic that back up on the interstate during rush hours. I know that the interchange, which intersects not just I-81 but also US 220 and US 11, is a headache for local drivers as well as travelers who simply want to get to Cracker Barrel and have dinner.
But the 7 acres the state has taken will be dormant, and the state isn't doing much mowing these days because of funding cutbacks. In 10 years, I look for this wasted acreage to be an overgrown tempest filled with stinky paradise trees, brush, and a homeless person or two. If the state doesn't keep it mowed and cleaned up, that is a likely scenario.
The county is losing revenue with the loss of the truck stop, also. It is not as much as people believe - I've seen some crazy figures tossed around on Facebook - but for a local government any sum can be the number that means closing a school or cutting back personnel or shutting down a library. Plus about 45 people lost jobs. On the one hand, 45 people in a county of 32,000 is not many, but on the other, the county is handing out dollars hand over fist to companies to locate in Greenfield who offer a similar small number of employment options.
I don't know how much other revenue will be lost during construction. This is a three-year project and I daresay travelers will venture on to other exits for meals and overnight stays. I would, if I knew the construction was going on. Sometimes you don't know until you're right on top of it and no one mentions it when you make reservations, though.
The interchange does need to be improved. But I don't know that the state is making the right moves, and I disagree with shutting down a business like it did, especially when it did not move the business but instead offered a financial pay-out. The truckstop provided a necessary service for truckers, who by federal law are required to have certain rest times. They also need to fuel up and eat.
So I am mixed on this decision. It is done now, and of course there is nothing I could have done about it anyway. But I do wonder about the thought processes of those who are in control.
The land was wanted so the state can reroute the interchange and make things work better there.
Many people, myself included, feel that simply closing the truckstop will help the interchange immensely. The state, however, has plans to spend $46.5 million on this intersection, creating a new road (and the county supervisors are drooling for development along this new route), and adding a round-about.
A film I saw recently about the interchange (sometimes being a journalist has its perks) indicates that by 2036, there will be issues with the round-about. It shows traffic having to stop and slow down in order to let others through. No one likes the round-about but the state is insisting on it. I think it will be a big snafu and ultimately something else to be fixed.
I have serious concerns about the state taking the truckstop. On the one hand, I have sat in those very long lines of traffic that back up on the interstate during rush hours. I know that the interchange, which intersects not just I-81 but also US 220 and US 11, is a headache for local drivers as well as travelers who simply want to get to Cracker Barrel and have dinner.
But the 7 acres the state has taken will be dormant, and the state isn't doing much mowing these days because of funding cutbacks. In 10 years, I look for this wasted acreage to be an overgrown tempest filled with stinky paradise trees, brush, and a homeless person or two. If the state doesn't keep it mowed and cleaned up, that is a likely scenario.
The county is losing revenue with the loss of the truck stop, also. It is not as much as people believe - I've seen some crazy figures tossed around on Facebook - but for a local government any sum can be the number that means closing a school or cutting back personnel or shutting down a library. Plus about 45 people lost jobs. On the one hand, 45 people in a county of 32,000 is not many, but on the other, the county is handing out dollars hand over fist to companies to locate in Greenfield who offer a similar small number of employment options.
I don't know how much other revenue will be lost during construction. This is a three-year project and I daresay travelers will venture on to other exits for meals and overnight stays. I would, if I knew the construction was going on. Sometimes you don't know until you're right on top of it and no one mentions it when you make reservations, though.
The interchange does need to be improved. But I don't know that the state is making the right moves, and I disagree with shutting down a business like it did, especially when it did not move the business but instead offered a financial pay-out. The truckstop provided a necessary service for truckers, who by federal law are required to have certain rest times. They also need to fuel up and eat.
So I am mixed on this decision. It is done now, and of course there is nothing I could have done about it anyway. But I do wonder about the thought processes of those who are in control.
Monday, November 17, 2014
Hell Week Begins
Today marks the beginning of an entire week of doctor appointments.
It starts this morning with a visit to the dentist to have a tooth fixed. It's one of those iffy deals that hopefully will be just an old filling removed and a new one replaced, but could end up in a root canal - or even an extraction - because of a crack in the tooth. It depends on how deep the crack runs, I'm told, though the x-rays look good.
I am not looking forward to this at all.
The remainder of the week is filled with physical therapy visits, a chiropractic visit, and a regular doctor visit. I also had a mammogram scheduled in there but decided that was more than I could handle and postponed that until after Thanksgiving.
So wish me well as I begin this round of health care visits. Mostly I am worried about the dental visit today; I think if that goes well then everything else will be a breeze. While I generally do well with regular dental cleanings, the fact that the upcoming procedure is not clear-cut has me concerned since I am not sure what to expect.
Getting old kind of sucks.
It starts this morning with a visit to the dentist to have a tooth fixed. It's one of those iffy deals that hopefully will be just an old filling removed and a new one replaced, but could end up in a root canal - or even an extraction - because of a crack in the tooth. It depends on how deep the crack runs, I'm told, though the x-rays look good.
I am not looking forward to this at all.
The remainder of the week is filled with physical therapy visits, a chiropractic visit, and a regular doctor visit. I also had a mammogram scheduled in there but decided that was more than I could handle and postponed that until after Thanksgiving.
So wish me well as I begin this round of health care visits. Mostly I am worried about the dental visit today; I think if that goes well then everything else will be a breeze. While I generally do well with regular dental cleanings, the fact that the upcoming procedure is not clear-cut has me concerned since I am not sure what to expect.
Getting old kind of sucks.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Sunday Stealing: Taking Stock
From Sunday Stealing
Taking Stock Meme
Stolen from: The Blake Collection
Making: a blog post.
Cooking: nothing at the moment. We had pork chops and biscuits and gravy for dinner last night.
Drinking: water
Reading: Factory Man, by Beth Macy (nonfiction book), The Book Thief, by Mark Zusak, and I'm listening to The All-Girls Filling Station by Fannie Flagg.
Wanting: to be rid of pain.
Looking: at ways to improve.
Wasting: time.
Wishing: for better understanding from the people who are supposed to be on my side, but really aren't.
Enjoying: the new extended version release of The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug.
Waiting: on the next and final installment of The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, scheduled for showing in a theater near you on December 17.
Liking: that my husband realizes I am not feeling well and doesn't care if I don't dust or vacuum.
Wondering: how I grew old.
Loving: my husband.
Listening: to clocks ticking.
Needing: a hug.
Smelling: those biscuits from last night.
Wearing: sweatpants and my ragged "blue thing" cover and a T-shirt.
Following: The Newsroom and The Big Bang Theory.
Noticing: how odd I seem sometimes.
Knowing: that I probably really am odd sometimes.
Thinking: that these are some weird sort of questions.
Feeling: tired.
Bookmarking: nothing much.
Opening: my heart.
Giggling: about the long tale I've been weaving with my physical therapist during our twice-weekly sessions.
Taking Stock Meme
Stolen from: The Blake Collection
Making: a blog post.
Cooking: nothing at the moment. We had pork chops and biscuits and gravy for dinner last night.
Drinking: water
Reading: Factory Man, by Beth Macy (nonfiction book), The Book Thief, by Mark Zusak, and I'm listening to The All-Girls Filling Station by Fannie Flagg.
Wanting: to be rid of pain.
Looking: at ways to improve.
Wasting: time.
Wishing: for better understanding from the people who are supposed to be on my side, but really aren't.
Enjoying: the new extended version release of The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug.
Waiting: on the next and final installment of The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, scheduled for showing in a theater near you on December 17.
Liking: that my husband realizes I am not feeling well and doesn't care if I don't dust or vacuum.
Wondering: how I grew old.
Loving: my husband.
Listening: to clocks ticking.
Needing: a hug.
Smelling: those biscuits from last night.
Wearing: sweatpants and my ragged "blue thing" cover and a T-shirt.
Following: The Newsroom and The Big Bang Theory.
Noticing: how odd I seem sometimes.
Knowing: that I probably really am odd sometimes.
Thinking: that these are some weird sort of questions.
Feeling: tired.
Bookmarking: nothing much.
Opening: my heart.
Giggling: about the long tale I've been weaving with my physical therapist during our twice-weekly sessions.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Saturday 9: All About That Bass
Saturday 9: All About that Bass (2014)
(A special request from Smellyann)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
(I'd never heard this song and I enjoyed this!)
1) This song is body positive. In that spirit: What physical feature would you never change, no matter what?
A. My eyes. Gateway to the soul and all of that. Plus they are hazel and thus they change color with my clothes. I like the chameleon aspect of them.
2) The lyrics mention how often the media uses Photoshop to present a more ideal female form. Is Photoshop on your computer? If so, do you know how to use it?
A. I have Photoshop Elements on my computer. I don't really know how to use it. Mostly I use Google's Picasso to tweak photos, or Pic Monkey. I am not very good at tweaking, however, so try to make the shots count when I take them.
3) She also sings about Mattel's Barbie doll. According to Toys R Us, this year's best-selling doll is not Barbie but Disney's Elsa. Have you seen Frozen?
A. I have not.
4) In the video, Meghan dances merrily around her twin bed with its pink head/footboard. Describe your bed to us.
A. My bed is a four-poster queen-sized cherry bed, made by Virginia House in the late 1980s when they were still making decent furniture here in the USA. It was constructed less than 100 miles from where I live. In fact, our area was once the furniture capital of the south, and my friend and fellow Hollins University alumnae Beth Macy has written a book about this very thing: how the south became the furniture capital and then lost the title to foreign competition. The book is called Factory Man and I'm currently reading it.
5) Ms. Trainor began writing songs when she was 11. Would you find it easier to write lyrics or music?
A. I have done both, actually. I tend to do them in tandem.
6) Meghan recently performed "All About that Bass" on the CMAs with country star Miranda Lambert. Who is your favorite country singer?
A. I don't really have one. I'm a pop music or Adult Top 40 kinda girl.
7) In September, Meghan had to cancel several concerts because of throat trouble. Are you battling a cold, cough or sore throat this morning?
A. I always have post nasal drip. It's a constant. I'm allergic to everything.
8) Meghan was born in Nantucket, MA. "Nantucket" is an Algonquian name that means, "faraway island." How did your town get its name/what does it mean?
A. My county is called Botetourt, and it's named after Lord Botetourt, aka Norborne Berkley, who was a governor of Virginia prior to the American Revolution. The House of Burgess formed the county in 1770 right after Berkley died. The county was huge - it went all the way to the Mississippi and took in part of Wisconsin. Our courthouse has thousands of historical documents, some complete with signatures of famous people like Jefferson and Washington, stored inside a solid fire proof vault that is as big as a house. Lots of people can trace their heritage to Botetourt County. We are famously known as The Seedbed of the Republic, which is also the title of one of the most extensive and frequently referred to local history books.
9) According to the National Weather Service, between rain and snow, winter brings Nantucket the most precipitation it sees all year. How is the weather where you are today?
A. Damn cold.
(A special request from Smellyann)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
(I'd never heard this song and I enjoyed this!)
1) This song is body positive. In that spirit: What physical feature would you never change, no matter what?
A. My eyes. Gateway to the soul and all of that. Plus they are hazel and thus they change color with my clothes. I like the chameleon aspect of them.
2) The lyrics mention how often the media uses Photoshop to present a more ideal female form. Is Photoshop on your computer? If so, do you know how to use it?
A. I have Photoshop Elements on my computer. I don't really know how to use it. Mostly I use Google's Picasso to tweak photos, or Pic Monkey. I am not very good at tweaking, however, so try to make the shots count when I take them.
3) She also sings about Mattel's Barbie doll. According to Toys R Us, this year's best-selling doll is not Barbie but Disney's Elsa. Have you seen Frozen?
A. I have not.
4) In the video, Meghan dances merrily around her twin bed with its pink head/footboard. Describe your bed to us.
A. My bed is a four-poster queen-sized cherry bed, made by Virginia House in the late 1980s when they were still making decent furniture here in the USA. It was constructed less than 100 miles from where I live. In fact, our area was once the furniture capital of the south, and my friend and fellow Hollins University alumnae Beth Macy has written a book about this very thing: how the south became the furniture capital and then lost the title to foreign competition. The book is called Factory Man and I'm currently reading it.
5) Ms. Trainor began writing songs when she was 11. Would you find it easier to write lyrics or music?
A. I have done both, actually. I tend to do them in tandem.
6) Meghan recently performed "All About that Bass" on the CMAs with country star Miranda Lambert. Who is your favorite country singer?
A. I don't really have one. I'm a pop music or Adult Top 40 kinda girl.
7) In September, Meghan had to cancel several concerts because of throat trouble. Are you battling a cold, cough or sore throat this morning?
A. I always have post nasal drip. It's a constant. I'm allergic to everything.
8) Meghan was born in Nantucket, MA. "Nantucket" is an Algonquian name that means, "faraway island." How did your town get its name/what does it mean?
A. My county is called Botetourt, and it's named after Lord Botetourt, aka Norborne Berkley, who was a governor of Virginia prior to the American Revolution. The House of Burgess formed the county in 1770 right after Berkley died. The county was huge - it went all the way to the Mississippi and took in part of Wisconsin. Our courthouse has thousands of historical documents, some complete with signatures of famous people like Jefferson and Washington, stored inside a solid fire proof vault that is as big as a house. Lots of people can trace their heritage to Botetourt County. We are famously known as The Seedbed of the Republic, which is also the title of one of the most extensive and frequently referred to local history books.
9) According to the National Weather Service, between rain and snow, winter brings Nantucket the most precipitation it sees all year. How is the weather where you are today?
A. Damn cold.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Albino or Piebald Deer
I snagged these shots of a grey-white deer around 11:30 a.m. this morning as it passed through the field. The camera kept wanting to fog over from the cold so I had a difficult time getting a clear photo.
That last shot really shows how grey-white the deer is.
That last shot really shows how grey-white the deer is.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Thursday Thirteen
Next week I celebrate 31 years of marriage to the same guy. This may not make me an expert on marriage but I think it does qualify for a little advice-giving when it comes to keeping a partner happy. So here, in no particular order, are 13 ways to please (and keep) your mate.
1. Listen. It is important to hear what your significant other is saying. Sometimes a person simply wants to be heard, to spout off, to get things off of his/her chest. They don't need advice.
2. Give advice if asked, and don't be offended if they don't heed it. Remember, you and your partner are separate individuals functioning as a unit, but the individuality still exists.
3. Respect the other person. Don't make fun of his/her ideas, thoughts, efforts, whatever.
4. Compliment your significant other. It is quite easy to tear one another down, but building up is better. Tell him/her they look nice occasionally, that you like a haircut, that you are pleased with something they did.
5. Keep complaints to a minimum (try not to nag). Keep the annoyances to yourself. I know it can be frustrating to have to keep picking up socks or cleaning the sink or whatever your pet peeve is, and it is okay to mention it every now and then in hopes the other will understand that this is important to you. But if he/she doesn't get the message, don't take it to heart.
6. Be interested in what your partner does. Ask about his/her day. As questions about what he/she is involved in, ask him to explain why he made a certain decision or how it impacted the project or whatever.
7. Touch one another. I really think Americans are a touch-starved lot, we've all got that Biblical Puritan Ethic thing going on that means you can't kiss or express physical affection and it appears to be deeply ingrained in our society. My husband and I hold hands while we watch TV, we hug every day, we kiss one another on top of the head. Give your loved one a foot massage, or a hand massage, or a shoulder massage.
8. Be individuals. You don't have to like the same things. If he doesn't like minty fresh toothpaste, then have two tubes of toothpaste and give him what he likes.
9. Don't have extended periods where you're angry with one another. Being married to a man who is involved in three different dangerous occupations (firefighter, farming, and construction), I learned a long time ago not to let things linger. I don't want something to happen and know that our last conversation was an argument over something insignificant. We have been known to be late for work or appointments in order to settle a difference before heading out. It really is that important.
10. Be friends. I think it is very important that you be friends with the person you live with and are in love with. Apparently you can be in love with someone and not be friends with them, but I really don't see how that could work out in the long run. Sometimes love waxes and wanes, but if you are friends then you can work through it.
11. Mind your manners. With family, it is easy to slip into a mode where you don't say please and thank you. But I think it is even more important to say these to people you love and care about. Why wouldn't you? Acknowledgement in a kind way is always good.
12. Choose your fights. It is important to know what is worth fighting over. You can fight about every little thing if you want to, but all that does is erode the relationship. Pick your battles and leave the arguing to the things that really matter. If something doesn't make any difference five years from now, it probably isn't worth the words.
13. Discuss money and financial matters and settle on something you can both live with, and stick to it. Early in our marriage, we agreed that any unnecessary purchase over $100 had to be discussed with the other. As time has passed, that number has grown a bit, but we still discuss major purchases of any kind with one another.
What advice would you offer to keep a relationship going?
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 369th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
 |
| Us as old people |
1. Listen. It is important to hear what your significant other is saying. Sometimes a person simply wants to be heard, to spout off, to get things off of his/her chest. They don't need advice.
2. Give advice if asked, and don't be offended if they don't heed it. Remember, you and your partner are separate individuals functioning as a unit, but the individuality still exists.
3. Respect the other person. Don't make fun of his/her ideas, thoughts, efforts, whatever.
4. Compliment your significant other. It is quite easy to tear one another down, but building up is better. Tell him/her they look nice occasionally, that you like a haircut, that you are pleased with something they did.
5. Keep complaints to a minimum (try not to nag). Keep the annoyances to yourself. I know it can be frustrating to have to keep picking up socks or cleaning the sink or whatever your pet peeve is, and it is okay to mention it every now and then in hopes the other will understand that this is important to you. But if he/she doesn't get the message, don't take it to heart.
6. Be interested in what your partner does. Ask about his/her day. As questions about what he/she is involved in, ask him to explain why he made a certain decision or how it impacted the project or whatever.
7. Touch one another. I really think Americans are a touch-starved lot, we've all got that Biblical Puritan Ethic thing going on that means you can't kiss or express physical affection and it appears to be deeply ingrained in our society. My husband and I hold hands while we watch TV, we hug every day, we kiss one another on top of the head. Give your loved one a foot massage, or a hand massage, or a shoulder massage.
8. Be individuals. You don't have to like the same things. If he doesn't like minty fresh toothpaste, then have two tubes of toothpaste and give him what he likes.
9. Don't have extended periods where you're angry with one another. Being married to a man who is involved in three different dangerous occupations (firefighter, farming, and construction), I learned a long time ago not to let things linger. I don't want something to happen and know that our last conversation was an argument over something insignificant. We have been known to be late for work or appointments in order to settle a difference before heading out. It really is that important.
10. Be friends. I think it is very important that you be friends with the person you live with and are in love with. Apparently you can be in love with someone and not be friends with them, but I really don't see how that could work out in the long run. Sometimes love waxes and wanes, but if you are friends then you can work through it.
11. Mind your manners. With family, it is easy to slip into a mode where you don't say please and thank you. But I think it is even more important to say these to people you love and care about. Why wouldn't you? Acknowledgement in a kind way is always good.
12. Choose your fights. It is important to know what is worth fighting over. You can fight about every little thing if you want to, but all that does is erode the relationship. Pick your battles and leave the arguing to the things that really matter. If something doesn't make any difference five years from now, it probably isn't worth the words.
13. Discuss money and financial matters and settle on something you can both live with, and stick to it. Early in our marriage, we agreed that any unnecessary purchase over $100 had to be discussed with the other. As time has passed, that number has grown a bit, but we still discuss major purchases of any kind with one another.
What advice would you offer to keep a relationship going?
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 369th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
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