Rest in peace, Mr. Mandela

The world will forever mourn the passing of Nelson Mandela.

May the peace you fought so hard for here on earth overwhelm you in Heaven.

May God grant your family serenity in their time of sorrow.

Oh, seriously?!

Does the world REALLY require bacon-scented underarm deodorant?

REALLY?

[sigh]

If it comes to somebody creating bacon-scented tampons, I am chartering the next flight to the International Space Station!

"E-cigarettes" - c'mon!

Electronic cigarettes!?! 

Seriously.  Looky, world - a different way to enjoy your addiction to nicotine. 

Yes, it may be a somewhat 'healthier' way to imbibe in a tobacco-less smoke, but it still isn't sexy, nor has it been determined to be a totally safe alternative.

Try chewing gum and willpower, people!

Dear Moore, OK -

My thoughts and prayers, and those of my family, are with you all throughout this time.

God be with you -

Beth

Just to review

March 2013 -
You are just about as over as over can be, oh miserable month of March.  Between the inane "March Madness" (ugh), and the absolute crap March weather - not to mention the abhorrent time change to (or from?) "daylight savings" - I am over you!  OVER.

Fine'!  Skedaddle!  Shoo!!  Go on, get outta here!  Get off my lawn. [menacing glower]

While we wait for March to gather its belongings and scurry on away, let's review the month, shall we:

New Pope - cuz the old one 'retired'?  Really?  What a quitter. 
Oh, and can you news people STOP REPORTING EVERY DAMN FIRST THIS NEW POPE HAS?  Sheesh!  I am amazed (and quite frankly a little saddened) you all didn't chronicle his first time using the Papal pooper.  I mean, come on!  Every time he does something for the first time it's going to be his first - but do we ALL really need to hear about it as a big news story?  Get over it already and find some REAL news.  There's plenty out there.

New EM in Detroit - cuz the city has some serious issues to straighten out and the governor decided he could/would send in a person who has less than an adequate record his ownself (visa vi - his owing a lot of back taxes, child support, etc., and ducking out on that responsibility in another state which is not Michigan)!  Right...good choice there, gov Snidiot!  Way to vet someone for their ethics and appropriateness for a really important job.

New jail cell for Kwame K - 'bout damn time that man was made to meet some of his responsibilities face-to-face.  And no, you can't go home to have someone kiss your knee and make it better!  There are a lot of inmates with physical ailments who aren't allowed to leave the 'pen' to see a doctor.  Make some friends and get used to the way life should have been for you for the last few years, you deplorable, despicable person! 

New attitude for Karl - concerning school -- and a glimpse into his future!  Since I do not want to jinx it, I am leaving it at that.  BUT, I will add that he has been passing the tests in math, and getting great grades on the ol' homework....so, YEA!  thank you, Lord.

New neighbors across the street - yup, that house f i n a l l y sold.  Holy cow!  Nope, haven't met them. 

OK, that's all for the time being, I am itching to do something.  *Something,* but I have no idea what.  Just not nothing would be good.  I'll let you know how that goes, for now I am gone.  GONE LIKE MARCH!

We've lost another

Rest in peace and harmony, Andy Williams.

What the hey?!!?

Why is the Motor City being dragged into this?  I dunno, but here is one rather snarky Detroit-inclusive comment left on the blog of a person named Terry Sawyer:
"Hey Corcoran, may I suggest you check out Detroit sometime. It has everything you're looking for in a "dream city." Or maybe Cleveland.  Or wherever. Just please NEVER come back." -- ERRXN.

Totally unsure of what this is all about, except I did read the two verbal-fisticuffs rants of Terry Sawyer (respondent) and ['something']Corcoran (hang on...I'll go look again.  OK, so it's Michael Corcoran) -- yellow-page journalist with nothing to do, apparently, but incite trouble. 

As I began to say, I read the two inciting quips and retorts for incite and found I would have been better off cleaning out the cat box to pass my time.  Sorry, Terry.

It seems our Mr. Sawyer took umbrage with an article penned by this Corcoran fella some time back, regarding the later's attitude of woes (in spades) surrounding the seemingly lackluster condition of Austin, TX. [did ya follow that?] 

So, Sawyer blogged a response (or two) slamming Corcoran's diatribe (and Corcoran), then things seemed to take a nasty turn, each responding - and responding again - to the other's reactionary poo-slinging.This was months ago, and quite frankly, it appears the Corcoran fella is a little disgruntled (and well off the mark) in assuming Sawyer was aiming to make a name for himself by generating a stink using Corcoran as fodder for a well-read 'blogicle.' 

See, from what I can tell, Sawyer already has a following and didn't need to dress-down Corcoran for more notoriety; but he (TS) did dispatch the windbag (MC) ably, to my Austin-ignorant eyes, and to that end I salute Mr. Sawyer.

However, I read through the comments to Sawyer's initial response, only to find Detroit included in a rather derogatory and unkind backlash-sort-of comment (included above).  So, hopefully this all explains my early blog for the day. 

While we have our (many) issues here in the Great Lakes state (starting and ending with the crap-headed gov), please refrain from using (and abusing) us in what is most definitely a southern boy brawl.  We aren't hurling northern and mid-western epithets at you boot wearers, please try and play nicely with us northerners, why don't ya.

M*A*S*H*-iversary

Has it really been forty years since the network premiere of the best television show EVER!?

40 years!

During its illustrious and storied run, M*A*S*H* won no fewer than 14 Emmys and 8 Golden Globes! Not many shows can boast of such a tremendous record. Fewer still even come close to either of those credentials! Eat your fake hearts out, you producers of "reality" TV.

Oh, how I miss the "four-oh-77th" and those wonderful characters. The writing was clever - even when heavy-handed - and the acting and direction were brilliant.

And what a cast!

Time for a M*A*S*H*-athon, dear friends. Meet me in front of the telly tomorrow and we'll hunker down for a good long time.

September 17, 1972...it was a very good year.

Farewell to an icon

I haven't been blogging a lot lately. I've had my head down either looking for work or trying to knock out this current quilt (there's a looming deadline).

However, I do allow myself a little news here and there, and I was saddened to learn of the passing of Helen Gurley Brown. She was a one-of-a-kind sort who took no prisoners and told it like it was. There was no sugarcoating or mincing words with that chic.

Yes, she was a bit of a 'shock jock' in the sixties and seventies, but she was exactly what the female population needed to drive home Betty Freedan's point regarding equality for women - in the boardroom, the bedroom, and everywhere in between!

Her pioneering spirit, and determination to put men in their place, will be sorely missed, cuz they broke the mold when she was cast.

Rest in peace, Ms. Brown. Sincerest condolences to your family and dear friends. Thank you for all you did to make my world a little less competitive and a lot more open. I will try to keep your significant balls rolling.

Is it just me...

...or did these particular summer olympics seem to go on and on and on?

The broadcast of the closing ceremony needs to happen here in the states, but for the most part - stick a fork in it. The 2012 Summer Games are finally over.

What does it matter?

What in the world makes it necessary to mention the color of a person's skin when talking about an accomplishment (which, if you will allow me to point out, should be fairly obvious when a photo is posted with an article, or there is footage of a criminal being taken away in handcuffs on the evening news) ?

Today's example: Olympian Gabby Douglas.

In this country - in the U.S.A. - there are no color restrictions for becoming an Olympic athlete. Your acceptance onto 'Team U.S.A.' depends solely on your skills...your prowess...your abilities. And those skills must beat out others who possess similar power, determination, speed and agility.

I never saw any screaming headlines to the effect of "X number of blacks make the United States Olympic team for 2012", so why make a tremendous deal of her color now that she's won?

What should it matter the color of a person's skin when they're holding an Olympic medal? I thought we finally broke the color barrier once President Obama took office.

Seriously?!

Jesse Owens (bless his soul) took on the weight of the world when he participated in the "Hitler Olympics" in 1936. He upset nearly everyone (in some way) all of those years ago - including people of color - and did so spectacularly. But he paid a heavy price at the time so that black Americans could have a fair shot at getting past the 'color barrier' down the road.

And here we are, all these decades later, still making a big deal of it at every turn.

I am very happy for Gabby to have won an Olympic gold, but did the color of her skin give her an edge? Did it hold her back in some way? Did it hamper her chances when standing toe-to-toe against the world?

Does it really matter that she's black?

There was no ticker tape parade-style announcement regarding Kristi Yamaguchi's obvious non-white race status when she won gold two decades ago, and you don't see the Brits making pronouncement on their athlete's color - because to the British, their mixed national population is still simply British; subjects of the crown.

But here in America, land of the free and home of the brave, and the white, and the yellow, and the olive, and the brown, and the this and the that.....here we can't just say "American." There has to be a label.

Well I, for one, can't wait until that first Plaid American wins an Olympic medal. Then, maybe, the needless need to point out the color of one's skin will cease - from every one's mouth!

Why can't we all be colorblind!?

Endearing

I don't happen to think walruses are the most attractive creatures God produced, but goodness knows this guy is the best ambassador they have! He could change my mind, even, regarding their placement on my top 200 creatures list.

I especially love his 'smile' after whistling.

Please enjoy!

Rest in peace, Mr. Griffith

When I heard the news I was gobsmacked - how could Sheriff Taylor be gone?

Ah, well, he lived a fairly long life, did a lot of good for a lot of needful folks during his lifetime, and was a good man by-and-large. Reports are he always tried to make a difference in people's lives by showing the ideal way of life, and by paying attention to the roles he chose in films and on television over his career.

Andy Griffith will be indelibly etched into our collective conscience - especially for those who grew up in the black-and-white era of TV - when Mayberry RFD was fresh and sweet, and exactly where you wanted to grow up when you were a kid.

The world is a sadder place for having lost him, but Mr. Griffith's reruns will endure for many lifetimes to come.

Now tell me you aren't whistling the intro tune to that show. :)

Fellow world dwellers - ENJOY!

In lieu of a post today I am opting to share an incredible video. INCREDIBLE!

It may start a little slow, but the music builds and so does the action. If you aren't smiling by ;00;25 in, I'll apologize to you personally.

Where In The World...

I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I have watched this, and it never ceases to amaze, amuse and confound me. It makes me joyous - down to my very soul.

Please allow yourself the pleasure of the next five minutes.

Enjoy!

Disco must REALLY be dead

With the very recent passing of Robin Gibb and Donna Summer - both from cancer - I can only surmise the obvious:

The universe is trying to tell us "disco is dead."

Don't get me wrong, I'm not being glib about the passing of the Gibb (number three, if you're keeping score), it's just glaringly obvious any more.

Rest in peace, Ms. Summer and Mr. Gibb.

Hey! North Carolina!

How come there's no law on the books to cane business owners for opening up shop and working on the Sabbath?

Hello!!!!

You can't be arbitrary hypocrites. If you are going to control people's lives, then you have to go ALL THE WAY.

Snap to it, Hickville! Faith and religion are being trampled on here.

[mocking sarcasm fully intended]

Seriously, Reuters? That's the best you've got?

Seriously??

A fire broke out in an underground car park in the Place Vendome in Paris today. But, apparently, it wasn't newsworthy enough for a reporting photographer to walk a few blocks in an attempt to obtain more info....or at the very least, a better picture of the happenings.

Tisk, tisk.

I don't know which is more incredulous - Reuters for publishing seven (and only seven << that was sarcasm) of the SAME photo, or Yahoo for sharing such a grossly underwhelming fluff bomb.

Is the fire out? What sort of damages? Any injuries? Any lasting ill-effects to any of the lovely old buildings, etc?

My older brother absolutely loves Paris, and the e-headline had me curious about any damage to the historic section of the famed "City in Pink," so I clicked on the link thinking to read and view the information, then send it on to Aaron in case he hadn't yet caught wind of the event.

What a disappointment the photos were by Charles Platiau of the Reuters news service. Every. Single. Shot. consisted of a lazy photog's vantage point of the Column Vendome obscured in part - or in whole - by black smoke.

Hello? And I can't get work?? I would have at least burned some leather hot-footing as many blocks as it would have taken around in the opposite direction to get a different view of the heroic firefighters, or a glimpse of the scene un-obstructed by the prevailing wind.

"Massive fire breaks out in Paris" the headline screams, except there was absolutely no news attached to the Reuters story!

Un-freaking-believeable!

Poorly worded text accompanied the repetitive - and less than ordinary shots - of black smoke...and people taking photos of the black smoke.

I am non-plussed by you, Reuters. You suck smoke - thick, billowy smoke.

Pardon me while I head to MSN for a real news report of the Paris fire. I might learn something.

Erstwhile pursuits

Last summer I chronicled my adventures helping out dear friends clear a section of their yard of a multitude of weeds, and then prep for, and install, a new lawn. In addition, I created a small berry bed at the top of their driveway (per their request) and transplanted a good number of the existing strawberries which had overgrown the original planting area, and all of the new runners that had sprouted in the weedy area.

It was incredibly satisfying, to say the least, to get back there several weeks later and see a beautiful nubile lawn growing from all of that seed and hard work!

[happy sigh]

This morning I found a comment posted to my blog entry about that event, advertising/boasting for some git from (of all places) Queensland, Australia, having done the work! Are you kidding me?

Buddy, you gotta pay me to advertise for you! Not to mention, you can't take credit for something you didn't do.

As the great Bugs Bunny would have said - "What a maroon!"

Somehow, this rube made me chuckle AND slap my forehead in exasperation.

Oh-bit: Farewell, Davy Jones

The proverbial 'barrel full of monkeys' is one "Monkee" shy of a full load now.

Just read the online news that Davy Jones, one of four members of the '60s pop band "The Monkees", died at his Florida home earlier today, at the age of 66.

Truth be told, my crush always centered on Mike - he was my 'fave' - but nobody ever seemed to rattle off those Monkees without naming Davy first.

Davy, Mike, Micky, and Peter. Sort of like John, Paul, George, and Ringo, just much less British, and not as musically gifted. No matter though, my first 'boy band' will always and ever be The Monkees.

Listening to Monkees tunes will never be (exactly) the same from this point on.

[wistful sigh]

Rest in peace, Davy.

Two pet peeves

Is there really any chance the news media can attempt to stop sensationalizing every little thing? Blowing something so bizarrely sideways and out of proportion is simply poor reporting, and then once that story (poorly and inaccurately reported) is picked up by further outlets, a story becomes more than it is not.

Now, I am not saying that the failure of a cable lifting steel girders several hundred feet into the air at a construction site is a "little thing," I want to get that stated right up front. BUT, when the headline - and lead story lines - states that "steel girders collapsed and fell at the new Trade Center construction site on Thursday," it just rankles my sensibilities.

People, the girders did not fail.

I repeat: The steel girders did not "collapse" - which would suggest they were of poor quality or poorly installed to begin with. NO! A cable those particular girders were being hoisted into place with - the cables on the crane - failed, causing those girders to fall to the ground.

Nobody was injured, thank God, but a trailer was crushed.

Can we please say what we mean, and mean what we say?

On another topic:

There is a truly IGNORANT ad on TV at the moment is from a GOP runner whose voice over states that "Obama has done what the liberals have wanted to do for years" and that has lead to the failure and loss of Michigan jobs and livelihoods.

Um, hellooooooooo.

Don't drive through Detroit streets and show boarded up, derelict homes, abandoned and ruined LONG before Mr. Obama took office. Don't pontificate from a supposedly Michigan-made car and say that Obama's failures took the country into the hole WHICH WAS DUG BY YOUR TEAM, sir. Republicans ran this country and the economy into the ground and began back filling before a new set of workers could try to correct the problems.

YOUR side established a spending spree and a war, causing the debt to escalate and jobs to disappear. YOUR side allowed fat cats to continue with their glutenous, illegal activities, screwing over the common man and aiding the rich, greedy, corrupt corporate dealings to continue until collapse was not only imminent, but unavoidable. Your side penned the bailouts and fluff sanctions, and allowed banks to run amok.

Your party handed this mess to the new president and then fought him tooth and nail every time he tried to make headway or correct the course.

Damn it, Republican b*stards!!! If you can't lead (and you've proven for years that you can't), follow or get out of the way!!