Unfortunately, I can't afford to take time off work or get arrested - so I'm going to Occupy my livingroom. Yes, that is cynical, and no, I really do not mean it, but despite my wholehearted support of these protestors, I can't join them. For a lot of reasons, financial, health and other.
But I do understand their message, even though it isn't being stated flat out and easily understood. I know their hearts are in the right place, in spite of all the negative publicity they're getting. They're not just "dirty fucking hippies" - and they're not looking for a free handout, which the 1% and their media lapdogs claim.
I wish I could explain this, explain it better and get the right words. I can't. But I do GET it. And I know that at least 1 person will come here and try to make out that he knows better and that the Baggers know better. And all I can say is - I know you aren't part of the 1% yourself, and that really is a shame that you can't see it. Hopefully this will work and benefit you and your family - but I know you won't get it.
I suspect you probably worry because they rail against "corporate" America, and your Dad owns a business and is probably incorporated - even though I doubt that he makes (after tax deductions) more than a million dollars a year - and probably would only see a modest increase in his federal taxes. It isn't corporations themselves. It's the inordinate amount of influence that a very few very large corporations have over the members of Congress and the President - and all of the candidates of BOTH parties.
************************************************************************************
Did the trick-or-treat thing last nite. Gave away a bag of tootsie pops and a bag of miniature boxes of Dots. I fell in love with a little baby dressed up like a ladybug in a polar-fleece costume with little black dots on her face. There was one little moslem princess (Mom had on hijab) who didnt want the lollypop, she wanted the Dots - and was ever-so polite in asking for them.
It was fun. I even threw a few lollypops to Dads who were waiting at the end of the sidewalk.
************************************************************************************
I need some vacation time, though. I really do.
I need a recharge.
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Big Balloons and other interesting things
I see some pretty interesting (to me, who is easily amused) things on my commute to/from work. Now that the Hideously Mis-Named Elgin O'Hare Expressway (Which goes to neither Elgin, nor O'Hare) is my route du jour, since Lake Street is all fardleschnockered up, I get to see things like this:
You see that? Are they only just NOW cleaning up from the mess they made making the Blues Brothers movie???? This is the 3rd time I've seen this. Either this trucker is hauling the same 3 Chitown Police Cars around in circles thru the suburban expressways, or .... maybe it DID take them this long to clean up after the movie. I guess they might could have been ones left inside that abandoned mall they used...
Around the area where I work there are a lot of big advertising balloon creatures lately. There is a big (naked) orange gorilla by the used-car lot, there is a gigantic hamster in tennies and a black t-shirt that says "Hamstar" on it, and then there is this:
Is he not adorable???What I like best is the sandals and white-painted toenails. The t-shirt and shades are cute, but those feet just crack me up!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Dear Teabaggers - FUCK OFF AND DIE
So they CHEERED - CHEERED the thought that a poor man who needed healthcare should be turned away and left to die.
Sick. Demented. I hope every last fucking one of them has their job outsourced, their homes repo'ed, their insurance cancelled and their children fall deathly ill.
YES I MEAN IT.
FUCK YOU, Republicans!!!!!
Sick. Demented. I hope every last fucking one of them has their job outsourced, their homes repo'ed, their insurance cancelled and their children fall deathly ill.
YES I MEAN IT.
FUCK YOU, Republicans!!!!!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Friday, September 09, 2011
Advertising Overkills
The first one I remember was the dancing silhouette people. They danced in ads for everything. They were cute at first, but then when everyone started doing it, I got annoyed quite quickly and decided to never click-thru on any of them, much less purchase anything they were touting.
Then the repeating (looping) GIFS - some of people dancing, others just of idiots acting like.. idiots - something mobile to draw the eye. Drew my eye, indeed. Drew it right to the spot - where I did NOT click-thru, nor did I do business with any of the companies using it.
The next one I recall was "Obama Wants You To....". Yeah. Right. Like Democrats are stupid enough to fall for such a blatantly STUPID marketing scam. Dear Repukelicans - we're smarter than that. We see through your silly attempt to scam us. Die in a fire. KTHKSBYE
Now it seems they've moved on to "ONE WEIRD TRICK". In many cases it appears that the "ONE WEIRD TRICK" is to have a really well-endowed chest and to stand provocatively in scanty undergarments in front of a camera. There's ONE WEIRD TRICK to lose weight, ONE WEIRD TRICK to get rid of belly fat, ONE WEIRD TRICK to get rid of wrinkles, ONE WEIRD TRICK to lower your car insurance rate, ONE WEIRD TRICK to enlarge your.... thingy.
What I want is ONE WEIRD TRICK to get rid of all the WEIRD TRICKS.
On the car radio, there is one professional voice-over guy who does ads for small companies for WCPT. Most of his rap isn't bad, but at the end of EVERY. SINGLE. AD. he repeats the telephone number 3 times, the first one as if it were a question, the second as if it were the answer to the question, and the third time as if it were the answer again. One time he upped the ante and went for FOUR boring repetitions. Good thing I don't have any sharp objects in my car.
Dear Voiceover Dude: STFU. KTHKSDIEINAFIRE
Then the repeating (looping) GIFS - some of people dancing, others just of idiots acting like.. idiots - something mobile to draw the eye. Drew my eye, indeed. Drew it right to the spot - where I did NOT click-thru, nor did I do business with any of the companies using it.
The next one I recall was "Obama Wants You To....". Yeah. Right. Like Democrats are stupid enough to fall for such a blatantly STUPID marketing scam. Dear Repukelicans - we're smarter than that. We see through your silly attempt to scam us. Die in a fire. KTHKSBYE
Now it seems they've moved on to "ONE WEIRD TRICK". In many cases it appears that the "ONE WEIRD TRICK" is to have a really well-endowed chest and to stand provocatively in scanty undergarments in front of a camera. There's ONE WEIRD TRICK to lose weight, ONE WEIRD TRICK to get rid of belly fat, ONE WEIRD TRICK to get rid of wrinkles, ONE WEIRD TRICK to lower your car insurance rate, ONE WEIRD TRICK to enlarge your.... thingy.
What I want is ONE WEIRD TRICK to get rid of all the WEIRD TRICKS.
On the car radio, there is one professional voice-over guy who does ads for small companies for WCPT. Most of his rap isn't bad, but at the end of EVERY. SINGLE. AD. he repeats the telephone number 3 times, the first one as if it were a question, the second as if it were the answer to the question, and the third time as if it were the answer again. One time he upped the ante and went for FOUR boring repetitions. Good thing I don't have any sharp objects in my car.
Dear Voiceover Dude: STFU. KTHKSDIEINAFIRE
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Gnats???
Gnats or fruit-flys. I don't care which, I want them OUT of my kitchen, pronto. I got a "FRUIT FLY TRAP" thingy (pardon my caps-lock) - and it has helped some, but not enough and I really just want to bomb the kitchen with DDT and malathion (sp?) and kill them all TO DEATH in one swell foop.
Problem with that is that a) you can't buy that kind of anti-insect spray anymore, and b) I'd have to take Kili for a long (4 to 6 hour) car ride and she HATES car rides.
This is particularly annoying, as I really want to make stuffed peppers for dinner, but I don't want to have to fight the miniature vermin for my peppers. Grrrr.
Oh, woe is me....
Problem with that is that a) you can't buy that kind of anti-insect spray anymore, and b) I'd have to take Kili for a long (4 to 6 hour) car ride and she HATES car rides.
This is particularly annoying, as I really want to make stuffed peppers for dinner, but I don't want to have to fight the miniature vermin for my peppers. Grrrr.
Oh, woe is me....
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Garden... Um... Down-date?
Aubergines:
Houston, we have Eggplant. In fact, we have Aubergine multiplicity! They are, however, about the size of golf balls at the moment. I lie. One is the size of a golf ball, the rest are like... marbles. HOWEVER - there is still another month or 2 or so of growing-ish weather, so maybe I will actually get one or two of them. A success, and a learning experience in one.
Peas:
The pea plants were toast by the time I got back from Florida in July, but they are really really cool-weather plants, and I did get a meal and a bunch of snackables off of it, so it is a qualified success. I will grow the same kind again next year, but I will plant them even EARLIER, and I will plant them a bit differently - a rectangular "window box" pot instead of a big round one.
Tomato:
I will never. Ever. Ever. Buy this variety of tomato again. I have one teeny tiny tomato on the plant. That is all it has made after all the watering and care - and then it had the AUDACITY to tip over in the windstorm a few weeks ago and the weight of the plant and the solidity of the tomato cage severed the main stem on my summer squash plant, thus killing any chance for summer squashes. BAD tomato! Bad, BAD tomato! I will get Sweet100 and Patio for next year.
Summer Squash:
See above with regard to squashicidal tomato plants.
Cucmber:
Forget it. Too much work for too little payback. I can get them cheap enough at the grocery market.
Lettuce:
Will try this again next year with some slight adjustments. Learning experience, and fair-to-middlin' results.
Spinach:
Not planted yet. Will probably try the lettuce-box method for the over-wintering.
Basil:
Not only not dead, but rather impressively growing strong. I will bring it inside for the winter and see if I can winter it over.
Banananana Peppers:
They're not as big as the ones in the market, but they are yum, and did well. I will do again next year.
Sweet Bell Peppers:
Meh. I finally got a few, but they are too small to stuff and I just think I'm better off spending my time/energy on something that gives a better return.
Beans:
I never grew beans here at this house before. I am going to either give up on "organic" gardening for them, or forget beans. Mexican Bean Beetles. The "organic" pesticide solution fried the leaves and blossoms and left me with nothing but sad-looking, naked tendrils wrapped around the trellis. Not Good. 'nuff said.
Houston, we have Eggplant. In fact, we have Aubergine multiplicity! They are, however, about the size of golf balls at the moment. I lie. One is the size of a golf ball, the rest are like... marbles. HOWEVER - there is still another month or 2 or so of growing-ish weather, so maybe I will actually get one or two of them. A success, and a learning experience in one.
Peas:
The pea plants were toast by the time I got back from Florida in July, but they are really really cool-weather plants, and I did get a meal and a bunch of snackables off of it, so it is a qualified success. I will grow the same kind again next year, but I will plant them even EARLIER, and I will plant them a bit differently - a rectangular "window box" pot instead of a big round one.
Tomato:
I will never. Ever. Ever. Buy this variety of tomato again. I have one teeny tiny tomato on the plant. That is all it has made after all the watering and care - and then it had the AUDACITY to tip over in the windstorm a few weeks ago and the weight of the plant and the solidity of the tomato cage severed the main stem on my summer squash plant, thus killing any chance for summer squashes. BAD tomato! Bad, BAD tomato! I will get Sweet100 and Patio for next year.
Summer Squash:
See above with regard to squashicidal tomato plants.
Cucmber:
Forget it. Too much work for too little payback. I can get them cheap enough at the grocery market.
Lettuce:
Will try this again next year with some slight adjustments. Learning experience, and fair-to-middlin' results.
Spinach:
Not planted yet. Will probably try the lettuce-box method for the over-wintering.
Basil:
Not only not dead, but rather impressively growing strong. I will bring it inside for the winter and see if I can winter it over.
Banananana Peppers:
They're not as big as the ones in the market, but they are yum, and did well. I will do again next year.
Sweet Bell Peppers:
Meh. I finally got a few, but they are too small to stuff and I just think I'm better off spending my time/energy on something that gives a better return.
Beans:
I never grew beans here at this house before. I am going to either give up on "organic" gardening for them, or forget beans. Mexican Bean Beetles. The "organic" pesticide solution fried the leaves and blossoms and left me with nothing but sad-looking, naked tendrils wrapped around the trellis. Not Good. 'nuff said.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Blatantly Stolen Comments:
WRT the current scare tactics from NRA auto-dialers looking for contributions and saying that President Obama, the "Lib'ruls", Secretary Clinton, and possibly little green men from Mars are trying to overturn the 2nd ammendment:
The U.S. government as currently constituted probably couldn't agree on the wording of a National Be Nice to Kittens and Puppies Resolution, and they're all going to get together to repeal one-tenth of the Bill of Rights!
************************************************************************************
I just like this one. I soooooo want it to be true. I wish it were true. Wishes and wants and $5 will get you a triple venti vanilla latte at Starbucks, however:
I should have figured it out sooner.
It's the shampoo I use in the shower.
When I wash my hair, the shampoo runs down my whole body.
Printed very clearly on the shampoo label it reads, "FOR EXTRA VOLUME AND BODY."
I have gotten rid of the shampoo and I am going to start using Dawn dish detergent.
...Its label reads, "DISSOLVES FAT THAT IS OTHERWISE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE." Problem solved!
Geez! It sure pays to read the label!
The U.S. government as currently constituted probably couldn't agree on the wording of a National Be Nice to Kittens and Puppies Resolution, and they're all going to get together to repeal one-tenth of the Bill of Rights!
************************************************************************************
I just like this one. I soooooo want it to be true. I wish it were true. Wishes and wants and $5 will get you a triple venti vanilla latte at Starbucks, however:
I should have figured it out sooner.
It's the shampoo I use in the shower.
When I wash my hair, the shampoo runs down my whole body.
Printed very clearly on the shampoo label it reads, "FOR EXTRA VOLUME AND BODY."
I have gotten rid of the shampoo and I am going to start using Dawn dish detergent.
...Its label reads, "DISSOLVES FAT THAT IS OTHERWISE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE." Problem solved!
Geez! It sure pays to read the label!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Garden Update
Lettuce:
The lettuces are not actually making the "heads" as advertised. It is ok, I am getting a lot of nice leaves, I pick a few and put them on sandwiches - but I think I'm going to have to cut the stuff down and just make one salad from what is there, because I don't think it will survive my absence. That is ok. This is one of those "things I did wrong" things, but I'm learning and hopefully next year I'll have more success.
Peas:
Sugar Snap. That is all you need. Sugar snap peas. They make peas. They make edible pods. You can pick the damn things right off the vine and give them a little wash and just eat them like a carrot -but they taste NOTHING like carrots, they are sweet and crunchy and totally YUM. I will plant at least twice as many seeds next time.
Beans:
Some of the beans runners have reached the top of the trellis. There are lots and lots of tiny purpley/lavender flower buds on them. I also have 2 actual beans. One is about 4" long, the other is about 1-1/2" long. However, if the flower buds are any indication, I will have more than plenty of beans in a few weeks. This I count as a huge success.
Peppers:
The standard sweet green peppers are not doing all that well. I have a few very small ones, and I'm thinking maybe I should pick them now and use them in an omelet or a pepper & egg sandwich, and see if that eggs on the plant to doing some more growing and blossoming.
The "banana pepper" is growing like gangbusters. The stems are about 2-1/2 feet tall, and they're making baby peppers. They are SO cute! Squeeeeeeee cute. I picked one that was about 5" long and had stopped growing any bigger, I will cut it up and put it in that salad that I'll make from the lettuces. I would certainly grow these again if they turn out to be tasty and all.
Basil Plant:
Still not dead.
Squash:
This is a straight-neck yellow summer squash plant. The plant is doing quite well, it is making a lot of "male" blossoms, I am hoping for "female" ones in the next couple of weeks. Not quite as thirsty as the tomato, and growing in the same pot with the cucumber - but looking quite dapper and healthy.
Cucumber:
Ok, this is SUPPOSED to be a "bush" cucumber that you can grow in a pot, but the darn thing is sending runners out all over the place. I keep having to nudge them around so that they don't take off and invade the neighbor's yard. Lots of blossoms, no baby pickles yet. Still, seems to be doing well.
Eggplant:
Since I moved this into the sunniest part of the deck, it has just done wonderful. The plants grow slowly, but each and every one of them (there are 4 in the bucket) has a small lavender colored flower bud on it. Crossing my fingers that this is good.
Tomato plant:
The World's Thirstiest Tomato Plant is thriving - but although there are a lot of flower buds, none of them are opening up. And I can't do that paintbrush thing that TFWY said to do, because I can't see any flowers to play "bee" with.
Other than that, and the fact that it seems to suck up water like a wet-vac, it's the most vigorous-looking tomato plant I've ever grown. I think next year I'll plant a different variety, however.
Photos will follow sometime when I can rememember to take some.
The lettuces are not actually making the "heads" as advertised. It is ok, I am getting a lot of nice leaves, I pick a few and put them on sandwiches - but I think I'm going to have to cut the stuff down and just make one salad from what is there, because I don't think it will survive my absence. That is ok. This is one of those "things I did wrong" things, but I'm learning and hopefully next year I'll have more success.
Peas:
Sugar Snap. That is all you need. Sugar snap peas. They make peas. They make edible pods. You can pick the damn things right off the vine and give them a little wash and just eat them like a carrot -but they taste NOTHING like carrots, they are sweet and crunchy and totally YUM. I will plant at least twice as many seeds next time.
Beans:
Some of the beans runners have reached the top of the trellis. There are lots and lots of tiny purpley/lavender flower buds on them. I also have 2 actual beans. One is about 4" long, the other is about 1-1/2" long. However, if the flower buds are any indication, I will have more than plenty of beans in a few weeks. This I count as a huge success.
Peppers:
The standard sweet green peppers are not doing all that well. I have a few very small ones, and I'm thinking maybe I should pick them now and use them in an omelet or a pepper & egg sandwich, and see if that eggs on the plant to doing some more growing and blossoming.
The "banana pepper" is growing like gangbusters. The stems are about 2-1/2 feet tall, and they're making baby peppers. They are SO cute! Squeeeeeeee cute. I picked one that was about 5" long and had stopped growing any bigger, I will cut it up and put it in that salad that I'll make from the lettuces. I would certainly grow these again if they turn out to be tasty and all.
Basil Plant:
Still not dead.
Squash:
This is a straight-neck yellow summer squash plant. The plant is doing quite well, it is making a lot of "male" blossoms, I am hoping for "female" ones in the next couple of weeks. Not quite as thirsty as the tomato, and growing in the same pot with the cucumber - but looking quite dapper and healthy.
Cucumber:
Ok, this is SUPPOSED to be a "bush" cucumber that you can grow in a pot, but the darn thing is sending runners out all over the place. I keep having to nudge them around so that they don't take off and invade the neighbor's yard. Lots of blossoms, no baby pickles yet. Still, seems to be doing well.
Eggplant:
Since I moved this into the sunniest part of the deck, it has just done wonderful. The plants grow slowly, but each and every one of them (there are 4 in the bucket) has a small lavender colored flower bud on it. Crossing my fingers that this is good.
Tomato plant:
The World's Thirstiest Tomato Plant is thriving - but although there are a lot of flower buds, none of them are opening up. And I can't do that paintbrush thing that TFWY said to do, because I can't see any flowers to play "bee" with.
Other than that, and the fact that it seems to suck up water like a wet-vac, it's the most vigorous-looking tomato plant I've ever grown. I think next year I'll plant a different variety, however.
Photos will follow sometime when I can rememember to take some.
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Books
So I had to get a new power cord for my lappy because I LOST the old one (don't ask) - and it was only a few $ at Amazon, so I also got a few books.
2 books on container gardening.
Good news: I have done a number of things "right" without knowing any better.
Bad news: I have done a lot of things "wrong" without knowing better. I know better now, next year should be interestinger. <-(is SO a word!)
Also got Keith Richards' "Life". Will bring that along on the drive to Florida for "put your brain to sleep so you can sleep" and entertainment. Since I'm driving, I can bring a number of books. This is good.
2 books on container gardening.
Good news: I have done a number of things "right" without knowing any better.
Bad news: I have done a lot of things "wrong" without knowing better. I know better now, next year should be interestinger. <-(is SO a word!)
Also got Keith Richards' "Life". Will bring that along on the drive to Florida for "put your brain to sleep so you can sleep" and entertainment. Since I'm driving, I can bring a number of books. This is good.
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