From Science Blogs, we get an updated story on the dumb ass hippy family that doesn't accept the accepted medicine. We got this story hot not so long ago, the story of the sixteen year old with lymphoma who prefers drinking root tea as opposed to medicine with actual evidence as to its efficacy.
Seems this fellow was really unhappy with his original round of chemotherapy. He didn't enjoy it, but I don't know that I've ever heard of anyone enjoying chemo. Apparently it was so bad, and he's so smart, that the family has decided to he will undergo an alternative treatment.
When I first heard this story, I was a little unsure of my exact opinion in the matter. On the one hand, sixteen isn't an adult unless you murdered someone. Even then you don't get to vote or buy cigarettes or drink alcohol. Sixteen year old kids make bad and ill informed decisions constantly while at the same time being certain that they are the fountains of all the world's knowledge. There's no indignation like youthful certainty. On the other hand, where does the state get off trying to force medical treatment on anyone ever? I seem to remember having certain inalienable rights.
I feel for this idiot kid and his idiot parents. They don't care much for evidence apparently, but when you choose to forego proof in favor of faith and hope and wishing in one hand, you get what you deserve. And I have no doubt that this kid will be dead soon. But along with our other rights, I believe that we have a right to seek the medical care that we choose. We may not like it, but we have no right to insert our desires into this family's life, whether or not we are 100% certain that they are signing the child's death sentence. Besides, none of us make it out alive; some of us just don't make it out alive quicker.
I dread these situations. No family has ever expected the sicknesses that some of our children must face, and there are so many sick children around the world facing unimaginable sickness and disease. I can only imagine what I would do if either of my children were faced with something so awful as cancer. I would expect that I would seek out doctors that were respected by their peers (not that that is indicative of anything) and I would seek out proven treatments. I don't know that I would drive to Tijuana for a "natural remedy" cocktail of roots and leaves and horse's ass. If I had actually used up every single other avenue, and if I were certain that the "natural remedy" were my last and only glimmer of hope . . . I'd think that the ends of the earth would be mere speed bumps in my drive to save my children. But I'd start out with the doctors and scientists whose life work is proving techniques.
Finally, as I stated in my last post about this hippy family. If the alternative treatment works, then why do they have to go to that most medically advanced of countries, Mexico? Don't get me wrong, I love Mexico, the food, the people. I don't see them having advanced their medicine more than we in the US. But if this therapy works, why aren't we upset that it's being kept away from us?
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
crazy durn blogger
I had some trouble the last few days trying to get in here and post. And now I've forgotten everything I thought I might blab about. Not to worry though, I have tabs full of crazy stuff up my sleeve, and I'm sure to share them with you all soon.
As far as my troubles, I haven't been able to log in here, and I have wracked my brain, small help there, trying to figure out which link will take me to the solution. I even tried the email that lets me change my password, as it all stemmed from something seeming to do with the password, or possibly my user name.
I don't know what the hell it means when I see "beta" attached to anything. But apparently this blogging site did something with the word "beta" attached, and it all happened around the time I had my issues. I don't know what this all means, nor do I know what to expect. I'm tired of the help area. I'm sure it means all sorts of new bells and whistles. Maybe they'll retire my polka dot background.
As you may have noticed, I'm back, though it's likely that no one noticed my absence. I don't know when or how it got fixed, but when I tried to get on just now, it went straight where it was supposed to, and I was still signed in from whenever I'd actually last been able to log in, two or three days ago. There's not likely a lesson or a laugh in this poor thing.
So there you go. Another of my painfully boring personal anecdotes.
As far as my troubles, I haven't been able to log in here, and I have wracked my brain, small help there, trying to figure out which link will take me to the solution. I even tried the email that lets me change my password, as it all stemmed from something seeming to do with the password, or possibly my user name.
I don't know what the hell it means when I see "beta" attached to anything. But apparently this blogging site did something with the word "beta" attached, and it all happened around the time I had my issues. I don't know what this all means, nor do I know what to expect. I'm tired of the help area. I'm sure it means all sorts of new bells and whistles. Maybe they'll retire my polka dot background.
As you may have noticed, I'm back, though it's likely that no one noticed my absence. I don't know when or how it got fixed, but when I tried to get on just now, it went straight where it was supposed to, and I was still signed in from whenever I'd actually last been able to log in, two or three days ago. There's not likely a lesson or a laugh in this poor thing.
So there you go. Another of my painfully boring personal anecdotes.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
train of thought in links
I have a window open with several tabs, each of which is a different video. It's a funny little story how I came upon these videos. It won't be the kind of funny that makes you laugh, the story part at least, but the videos themselves are all funny in their own way.
This little trail starts at Science Blogs with a funny video. In it, Ricky Gervais reads from the book of Genesis in the Bible. If your only reading of the Bible is in a context that is accepting of it as true, this might be a little unpleasant to watch, but you really should anyway.
Our next stop is more Ricky Gervais. He's the actor that starred in the British show The Office, a remake of which was done here in the US. I've not seen the original, but Gervais is funny in what I have seen him do, and Steve whatsit from the American version was mostly painful to watch. That's why we should import the real show instead of the idea.
Anyway, that being said, I went on with the You Tube experience and watched another Ricky Gervais video, this one featuring the soccer talents of a certain pair of English stars being interviewed by Mr. Gervais. Peter Crouch and Wayne Rooney show us why they are the pride of England.
That damned video site being what it is, I found myself watching a delightful music video cheering on England's boys, an easy jump from the previous video and perfectly representative of the curse that is You Tube. I'd have loved to find this before or during the World Cup as it just would have played better then, but it's still pretty damn funny. I love how they so perfectly captured Rooney's monkey face.
So, there you have it. I've managed a post based entirely on videos, showing you all how easily I can get sucked from something seemingly intelligent into some dark and humorous time wasting cesspool of goofiness. Honestly, there were more videos mixed in with these few, but I cull the worst out, personally sacraficing myself to provide you every so often with something of passing humorous interest.
This little trail starts at Science Blogs with a funny video. In it, Ricky Gervais reads from the book of Genesis in the Bible. If your only reading of the Bible is in a context that is accepting of it as true, this might be a little unpleasant to watch, but you really should anyway.
Our next stop is more Ricky Gervais. He's the actor that starred in the British show The Office, a remake of which was done here in the US. I've not seen the original, but Gervais is funny in what I have seen him do, and Steve whatsit from the American version was mostly painful to watch. That's why we should import the real show instead of the idea.
Anyway, that being said, I went on with the You Tube experience and watched another Ricky Gervais video, this one featuring the soccer talents of a certain pair of English stars being interviewed by Mr. Gervais. Peter Crouch and Wayne Rooney show us why they are the pride of England.
That damned video site being what it is, I found myself watching a delightful music video cheering on England's boys, an easy jump from the previous video and perfectly representative of the curse that is You Tube. I'd have loved to find this before or during the World Cup as it just would have played better then, but it's still pretty damn funny. I love how they so perfectly captured Rooney's monkey face.
So, there you have it. I've managed a post based entirely on videos, showing you all how easily I can get sucked from something seemingly intelligent into some dark and humorous time wasting cesspool of goofiness. Honestly, there were more videos mixed in with these few, but I cull the worst out, personally sacraficing myself to provide you every so often with something of passing humorous interest.
cabinets and refrigerators
Don't you love that feeling you get when you've almost got the plastic wrap into the cabinet where it lives only to find that you are in fact putting up the bowl of food which actually is not only not the plastic wrap but also doesn't go into the cabinet, belonging rather in the refrigerator, which is in fact behind you and not at near ground level, unlike the cabinet, which is.
An even better feeling would be the one that I just had from the spell checker. The only word it decided was misspelled is the word "cabinets" and that only in the title because it always wants me to capitalize that first word in the title, which I don't do.
An even better feeling would be the one that I just had from the spell checker. The only word it decided was misspelled is the word "cabinets" and that only in the title because it always wants me to capitalize that first word in the title, which I don't do.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
corporate shilling via the school
I just saw an interesting commercial for a Clorox product. Apparently we are so overcome with germs that we need a handy wipe that disinfects with one quick swipe. I've seen the commercials for this before, and I've scoffed at this product. I'm just curious how dirty people feel their homes are that this product sells.
The point of this particular rant isn't how corporations scare us into buying products we don't need. Hell, advertising is all about finding a way to convince people they need your product, so it's to be expected that they will attack from whichever directions makes the most sense based on what they are trying to foist on us.
In some cases, a new product is better for some reason. I hate dusting, but my newish duster on a stick works a lot better than the old tech for dusting, basically a bird's ass on a stick. This is a product that doesn't need too much pushing. But a wipe that basically makes things slightly cleaner might be a tougher sell.
But, if in the commercial for the sanitizing wipe we show kids, you know, dirty, filthy, germ laden kids, and if we show this kids wiping their noses and licking their fingers and sneezing indiscriminately, then we can show the wild and crazy germ transmission that is the natural byproduct of a child's existence. And if we set all this in a back-to-school setting, then you know these things will sell. And here's the capper, we can suggest in the commercial that good parents will buy this product and donate it to their child's school. Yeah, that'll push our sales and please the board. Sweet!
Yes, they do indeed suggest that we purchase their product and donate them to our schools. Of course, we trust this product, so we are certainly buying some for our own home. We are filthy people that live surrounded by germs. Thank Clorox there is some large corporation taking our made up by them concerns seriously.
Oh yeah, it's products like this that are responsible for the oncoming super bug that takes out half the population setting us all up for the final showdown between good and evil. Stephen King totally predicted this. Seriously.
The point of this particular rant isn't how corporations scare us into buying products we don't need. Hell, advertising is all about finding a way to convince people they need your product, so it's to be expected that they will attack from whichever directions makes the most sense based on what they are trying to foist on us.
In some cases, a new product is better for some reason. I hate dusting, but my newish duster on a stick works a lot better than the old tech for dusting, basically a bird's ass on a stick. This is a product that doesn't need too much pushing. But a wipe that basically makes things slightly cleaner might be a tougher sell.
But, if in the commercial for the sanitizing wipe we show kids, you know, dirty, filthy, germ laden kids, and if we show this kids wiping their noses and licking their fingers and sneezing indiscriminately, then we can show the wild and crazy germ transmission that is the natural byproduct of a child's existence. And if we set all this in a back-to-school setting, then you know these things will sell. And here's the capper, we can suggest in the commercial that good parents will buy this product and donate it to their child's school. Yeah, that'll push our sales and please the board. Sweet!
Yes, they do indeed suggest that we purchase their product and donate them to our schools. Of course, we trust this product, so we are certainly buying some for our own home. We are filthy people that live surrounded by germs. Thank Clorox there is some large corporation taking our made up by them concerns seriously.
Oh yeah, it's products like this that are responsible for the oncoming super bug that takes out half the population setting us all up for the final showdown between good and evil. Stephen King totally predicted this. Seriously.
Monday, August 07, 2006
dominionist theocratic freaks
For some who are concerned about this, be warned that the first big red link will take you to that blogging site that many christian homeschoolers use and which many diverse homeschoolers choose not to visit or link to. I'm linking because I'm so scared of the attitude espoused in linked post.
Some christians like to argue that the concept of separation of church and state is not in our Constitution. I say that perhaps they haven't read the document very closely. So many of these same people like to argue that they hold some high moral ground and are therefore able to craft laws and punishments in regard to matters that should be of no concern to them.
A quote from a blogger and homeschooler Scott Somerville, I have been categorized as a "dominionist" by my "inclusive" friends--not because I tremble at the thought that God is both just and powerful, but because I think I should do what I can to make our laws line up with His justice.
Scott's last line there is the kind of thing that makes me tremble. I could take us all on a stroll through history and discuss all the different times that theocratic tendencies caused death, destruction, hurt and just general turmoil. Religion is too often forced on people who want nothing of it, like a riot spilling out into the streets leaving a path of destruction in its wake. That is how I see religion and people with dominionist tendencies.
From Merriam-Webster Online we learn that dominion means domain or sovereignty. Some people feel that the earth and all the people on it should recognize their particular brand of god as sovereign and all the earth as his domain. Through their position as his representatives, these same people feel that they should exert in god's stead his dominionist desires.
I think I should do what I can to make our laws line up with his justice is a line that screams of theocracy. With the christians able to draw our lives as they would we would lose all sorts of freedoms and liberties that are our birthright as humans.
Scott doesn't seem to understand atheism. It isn't a religion! It is a complete disbelief in religion and the gods that people all religions. It isn't a crazed raging in the face of god. A belief in god, in my opinion is kind of like believing in a hollow earth.
For a group so interested in their discussion of freedom, it's amazing how many people are left to suffer needlessly by the dominionist theocrats. Screw the weak and the downtrodden. Let he who crows loudest about sin cast the first stone and homeschool their kids to learn how to remove the burden of personal rights and privacy by creating a theocratic government in what was once a great country.
Some christians like to argue that the concept of separation of church and state is not in our Constitution. I say that perhaps they haven't read the document very closely. So many of these same people like to argue that they hold some high moral ground and are therefore able to craft laws and punishments in regard to matters that should be of no concern to them.
A quote from a blogger and homeschooler Scott Somerville, I have been categorized as a "dominionist" by my "inclusive" friends--not because I tremble at the thought that God is both just and powerful, but because I think I should do what I can to make our laws line up with His justice.
Scott's last line there is the kind of thing that makes me tremble. I could take us all on a stroll through history and discuss all the different times that theocratic tendencies caused death, destruction, hurt and just general turmoil. Religion is too often forced on people who want nothing of it, like a riot spilling out into the streets leaving a path of destruction in its wake. That is how I see religion and people with dominionist tendencies.
From Merriam-Webster Online we learn that dominion means domain or sovereignty. Some people feel that the earth and all the people on it should recognize their particular brand of god as sovereign and all the earth as his domain. Through their position as his representatives, these same people feel that they should exert in god's stead his dominionist desires.
I think I should do what I can to make our laws line up with his justice is a line that screams of theocracy. With the christians able to draw our lives as they would we would lose all sorts of freedoms and liberties that are our birthright as humans.
Scott doesn't seem to understand atheism. It isn't a religion! It is a complete disbelief in religion and the gods that people all religions. It isn't a crazed raging in the face of god. A belief in god, in my opinion is kind of like believing in a hollow earth.
For a group so interested in their discussion of freedom, it's amazing how many people are left to suffer needlessly by the dominionist theocrats. Screw the weak and the downtrodden. Let he who crows loudest about sin cast the first stone and homeschool their kids to learn how to remove the burden of personal rights and privacy by creating a theocratic government in what was once a great country.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
maybe I can vote again
There's nothing like the feeling of knowing every vote you cast is a pointless exercise in futility. As George Carlin put it so sweetly, on election day, you can go and vote if you want to. I'll stay home and masturbate. We'll both be performing the same basic function, but the difference is that when we are done, I'll have a little something to show for it.Disagree with me all you want. Call me a bad citizen for thinking that voting is a lie and a cheat, stealing my time and sanity. Don't for one minute doubt that I believe in the concept, because I love the idea that society can make itself what it will, what the citizens deserve. But don't for one minute doubt that it's an illusion that people have more power than politicians and christians. It just doesn't work that way no matter how we long for some halcyon days of years gone by.
We all dissolve and rot the same in the belly of the beast. Even with our myriad skin colors and hair styles and sexual proclivities. In the end, all that matters is the service we perform in the face of the power. It's all about favors, and evil favors evil. Even Bush and Rove and Cheneymort will find their backs to the wall when Cthulhu's reign comes, as they've signed up to serve the wrong evil, and as the blood drips from his majesty's gaping maw, I will shower in that blood in search of a new cleanliness. I will revel in the new evil that outevils even our current stack of assholes that is the Republican party. Evil shrouded in a veil of good or christian would be considered to be worse than evil for the sake of evil, but at least they can pretend to have been driven by a sense of moral outrage.
Believe me, Cthulhu can have it all. I rest assured in my own beliefs that out of the discord will rise a new dawn of Erisian chaos and good times and free steak, beer and pot. Eris will make it all better, perhaps with a nice dash of eros, but even that won't matter. All the matters is the chaos and the rising of a new Discordian era. When that day comes, friends and neighbors, all will be washed clean again, the meanies shuffled forcefully off this mortal coil into a world where the stains on their hands will shine forevermore, never to be washed away or hidden.
Hail Eris! All hail Discordia!
For the theft of the above picture I thank the good folks at Science Blogs. Check them out if you like, well, science blogs. It's all kinds of sciencey and shit.
more on yesterday's soccer game
I meant to mention this yesterday, but I didn't. I kind of forgot. But I wanted to toss out my minor bitch about Freddy Adu. I can see his skill when he gets touches. I can see that he almost tries kind of hard. I'd really like to see him attack more. He lost the ball plenty of times, and each time he seemed to accept it. You just don't give the ball up and allow the opposing team to wander back to the other half. Each time Adu lost the ball, he just turned and walked back to the MLS side of the field, waiting for someone to get the ball to him. Sorry, kiddo, but if you give the ball up, the least you can do is make a token effort at getting it back. Why would you ever let the other team wander nonchalantly away from you? Damn all strikers/forwards that don't play defense when it's time. You don't go into standby mode when your team is on defense, you join them in defense and attack.
finally, another soccer post
If you watched today's MLS all stars versus Chelsea FC and are like me, you had a blast watching the MLS put a stop to the Brits. Actually, watching Chelsea was almost like watching a World Cup all stars match. Either way, the MLS guys won the game.
I'm sure they only won because the Chelsea side was tired and not in shape. After all, this is preseason for Chelsea. You know how out of shape and tired World Cup caliber players get after a month.
From what I saw, if the MLS all stars had practiced together a bit more as a team, they would have done that much better of a job of kicking premier ass. It's nice to see that at some level US soccer represents itself well to the world.
I was happy to see Landon Donovan in street clothes meaning that he was, for some blessed reason, not going to play. Seeing Eddie Pope in the same situation wasn't as cheery, but he played equally as poorly in Germany, and apparently he was not needed today.
Look forward to more soccer posts. AYSO starts before much longer. I have an email about the meeting, the one where we go to the Methodist church and get our paperwork and pick practice locations. I'm going to get excited at some point. This will be our last season playing U8.
I'm sure they only won because the Chelsea side was tired and not in shape. After all, this is preseason for Chelsea. You know how out of shape and tired World Cup caliber players get after a month.
From what I saw, if the MLS all stars had practiced together a bit more as a team, they would have done that much better of a job of kicking premier ass. It's nice to see that at some level US soccer represents itself well to the world.
I was happy to see Landon Donovan in street clothes meaning that he was, for some blessed reason, not going to play. Seeing Eddie Pope in the same situation wasn't as cheery, but he played equally as poorly in Germany, and apparently he was not needed today.
Look forward to more soccer posts. AYSO starts before much longer. I have an email about the meeting, the one where we go to the Methodist church and get our paperwork and pick practice locations. I'm going to get excited at some point. This will be our last season playing U8.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
my rant about the stupid big truck
Momma recently had a mishap while driving home after a long and very late night at work. Our poor Honda suffered the physical damage while Momma got all kinds of freaked out by the incident.
We have a Honda that is about ten years old and just now approaching 100,000 miles. I love our Honda. I will profess to wishing our lovely Honda had another pair of cylinders, a little more get in her get up and go. Know what I'm sayin? But that's beside the point. Of all the cars I've ever had, this one is my absolute favorite.
Well, our poor ol' Honda is at the repair shop. The rental agency gave me my choice between the Chevy Aveo and a Nissan Frontier. I chose the damn truck. My moral sensitivities could have screamed louder for the gas sipper from Chevy, but my personal feelings of coolness nudged me harder to the big red truck.
I'm only slightly torn by the "guy big truck" thing. This truck is a boy child dream come true. It sits just high enough, looks just bad enough, is a lovely shade of red. Aesthetically speaking, from a certain point of view, this truck is pretty cool.
And I don't think I'm especially anal. Let's get that out of the way. But this truck outright sucks several ways and some ways twice. First, this truck is a rolling blind spot. On some right hand turns, the passenger door mirror completely blocks the street you are turning onto, an especially sensitive issue in my often hilly home. Driving home today in a thunderstorm, the tires were throwing sheets of water across the windshield, huge blinding sheets of water that should have gone on someone else's windshield driving next to me. It drinks gas like it was the '80's and nobody cares. I've fallen asleep in church pews that were more comfortable than the seats, though there is a very well placed left side foot rest. I feel like a huge tool driving this truck around town.
Before this rant turns into a discussion of my disdain for most suv's and large trucks, I'll have to remind myself that this is all about the one of these things with which I'm now familiar. I really hate this truck more each time I drive it. It does give one a sense of power, of being above those others. It's a generally loathsome feeling that my choice of a car unnecessarily large is somehow indicative of my greater value and worth, you know, just in case, like, we're ever in an accident. But that's not what this rant is about.
Seatbelt laws are a tool of the auto and petrochemical companies. By insisting that families should all wear seatbelts, they've forced people to buy larger and larger cars. I come from a large family. I know how many people can fit into a Volkswagen Beetle (not the new ones actually) or a Ford Pinto wagon. Even if seatbelts do save lives, cars that didn't get into accidents would save more lives. Where's my flying robot car already? It's 2006 already, and my choice in a rental is a gas guzzling piece of bling with eight cupholders for five passengers, or I can pick Detroit's idea of economy, a turd colored Festiva wannabe.
Here I end my rant. When American car makers get serious about making cars that both don't suck and get truly decent gas mileage then . . . I don't know. I just know that America and economy always means suck. There ought to be a way for products from the US to not suck. Of course, chances are my Japanese car was made in the US to some extent, so now I don't know what to think. I do know that when I saw the Aveo that I thought I was going to have to rent, I actually got a little bit sad. Then when I saw shiny red truck, I wasn't so sad. I could be less shallow, but the Aveo didn't have to suck.
We have a Honda that is about ten years old and just now approaching 100,000 miles. I love our Honda. I will profess to wishing our lovely Honda had another pair of cylinders, a little more get in her get up and go. Know what I'm sayin? But that's beside the point. Of all the cars I've ever had, this one is my absolute favorite.
Well, our poor ol' Honda is at the repair shop. The rental agency gave me my choice between the Chevy Aveo and a Nissan Frontier. I chose the damn truck. My moral sensitivities could have screamed louder for the gas sipper from Chevy, but my personal feelings of coolness nudged me harder to the big red truck.
I'm only slightly torn by the "guy big truck" thing. This truck is a boy child dream come true. It sits just high enough, looks just bad enough, is a lovely shade of red. Aesthetically speaking, from a certain point of view, this truck is pretty cool.
And I don't think I'm especially anal. Let's get that out of the way. But this truck outright sucks several ways and some ways twice. First, this truck is a rolling blind spot. On some right hand turns, the passenger door mirror completely blocks the street you are turning onto, an especially sensitive issue in my often hilly home. Driving home today in a thunderstorm, the tires were throwing sheets of water across the windshield, huge blinding sheets of water that should have gone on someone else's windshield driving next to me. It drinks gas like it was the '80's and nobody cares. I've fallen asleep in church pews that were more comfortable than the seats, though there is a very well placed left side foot rest. I feel like a huge tool driving this truck around town.
Before this rant turns into a discussion of my disdain for most suv's and large trucks, I'll have to remind myself that this is all about the one of these things with which I'm now familiar. I really hate this truck more each time I drive it. It does give one a sense of power, of being above those others. It's a generally loathsome feeling that my choice of a car unnecessarily large is somehow indicative of my greater value and worth, you know, just in case, like, we're ever in an accident. But that's not what this rant is about.
Seatbelt laws are a tool of the auto and petrochemical companies. By insisting that families should all wear seatbelts, they've forced people to buy larger and larger cars. I come from a large family. I know how many people can fit into a Volkswagen Beetle (not the new ones actually) or a Ford Pinto wagon. Even if seatbelts do save lives, cars that didn't get into accidents would save more lives. Where's my flying robot car already? It's 2006 already, and my choice in a rental is a gas guzzling piece of bling with eight cupholders for five passengers, or I can pick Detroit's idea of economy, a turd colored Festiva wannabe.
Here I end my rant. When American car makers get serious about making cars that both don't suck and get truly decent gas mileage then . . . I don't know. I just know that America and economy always means suck. There ought to be a way for products from the US to not suck. Of course, chances are my Japanese car was made in the US to some extent, so now I don't know what to think. I do know that when I saw the Aveo that I thought I was going to have to rent, I actually got a little bit sad. Then when I saw shiny red truck, I wasn't so sad. I could be less shallow, but the Aveo didn't have to suck.
Friday, August 04, 2006
holy flaming powerbooks Batman
This post over at the Wired is just messed up. According to their story, they woke to their laptop on fire. That seriously can't be good. I don't own anything from Apple, but the iTunes that came on my computer works better than the other crap that came on it to play music. Anyway, I'd be leery at this point and might have to call up somebody at Apple, maybe send them a letter or something. Did you go look at that picture? Isn't it messed up? Kind of funny too. Dumbasses and their dumb laptop.
As an aside, I just ran the spell checker. When it got to dumbasses it suggested deemphasizes, but I thought, nope, I believe I've emphasized just about right.
and now again, I have to admit that I'd misspelled leery as leary and the damn spell checker didn't catch it, but I did. Stupid dumbass spell checker.
As an aside, I just ran the spell checker. When it got to dumbasses it suggested deemphasizes, but I thought, nope, I believe I've emphasized just about right.
and now again, I have to admit that I'd misspelled leery as leary and the damn spell checker didn't catch it, but I did. Stupid dumbass spell checker.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Robin Williams sucks
Wasn't he both funny and a good actor once upon a time? He is on Fresh Air right now, usually one of my favorite radio programs. I'm certainly quite in love with Terry Gross even if, like all radio personalities, she looks nothing like the mental picture I had when she was just a voice. But this isn't about how cool Ms. Gross is.
Robin Williams sucks. Do the damn interview already. Leave the stupid voices and the exaggerated body movements at home for once and just quit acting like an ass. I know it's a radio interview, but he's still sitting in a studio somewhere being an idiot.
You aren't funny anymore, Robin Williams! I don't know what happened over the years to make you suck. And I'm sorry that you now suck, but yes indeed, you do now suck.
As stated, I enjoy Fresh Air and will even plan my kitchen routine somewhat around the radio in the kitchen which sadly gets the best reception in the house as far as NPR is concerned. But today I can't listen. I refuse to annoy myself with Robin Williams, who sucks, I feel inclined to point out.
Robin Williams sucks. Do the damn interview already. Leave the stupid voices and the exaggerated body movements at home for once and just quit acting like an ass. I know it's a radio interview, but he's still sitting in a studio somewhere being an idiot.
You aren't funny anymore, Robin Williams! I don't know what happened over the years to make you suck. And I'm sorry that you now suck, but yes indeed, you do now suck.
As stated, I enjoy Fresh Air and will even plan my kitchen routine somewhat around the radio in the kitchen which sadly gets the best reception in the house as far as NPR is concerned. But today I can't listen. I refuse to annoy myself with Robin Williams, who sucks, I feel inclined to point out.
mowing update
For everyone concerned about the state of my raggedy unkempt yard, it's mowed, go back to your desks. A total of twenty five raindrops may have fallen on the whole of our property before the sun roared back out in a ball of aaaack!
I wish I had a digital camera so that I could show you what a filthy child looks like. The only thing that The Boy likes as much as climbing is getting dirty. Under his clothes there may have been a clean spot, though he needed a bath before he ever set foot outside. At the end of our outside day though, I actually had to wipe the top coat of dirt off before putting him in the bath.
Today is also pretending it might rain. Last time I was out it didn't seem quite as hot as it should be. I could see breezes playing in the tree tops. I'm sure the only moisture we see outside a glass of water is going to be the humidty, but that's what I get for living in the south.
I wish I had a digital camera so that I could show you what a filthy child looks like. The only thing that The Boy likes as much as climbing is getting dirty. Under his clothes there may have been a clean spot, though he needed a bath before he ever set foot outside. At the end of our outside day though, I actually had to wipe the top coat of dirt off before putting him in the bath.
Today is also pretending it might rain. Last time I was out it didn't seem quite as hot as it should be. I could see breezes playing in the tree tops. I'm sure the only moisture we see outside a glass of water is going to be the humidty, but that's what I get for living in the south.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
great day to mow the yard
Yes, today was the today that I convinced myself that the heat wasn't quite as hot, and I could finally attack the yard. The grass isn't especially tall, for the most part, as a near absence of rain has kept the grass from getting too out of hand. However, my yard supports a number of different grasses, most of which grow differently from the others.
So up grows the random patches of tall stuff. In cooler months, this stuff doesn't get nearly as tall, but it grows very thick. It isn't a huge patch in amongst the rest of the smaller growing grasses, so my yard isn't a green wheat field just yet, but parts of it, those little patches, are outrageously tall compared to the other grass.
One neighbor is meticulous about his yard while the other runs it down as is needed. I, on the other hand, in the middle, procrastinate with ease, letting my already ragged yard grow uglier over the weeks till it even hurts my eyes. Then I rush out in whirl of sweat and cursing and drag the mower around on my one day in the sun.
Today was attack day. I noticed the dark cloud, but it seemed smallish and singular, more likely to provide a sweltering kind of shade than to pour out rain. I began as usual with the scooping of dog turds. I sent Big Brother to pick up the sticks blown off the tree last Friday when we got our most recent dousing of thunderstorm. I continued by sweeping up all the ashes and cigarette butts from the back porch.
It was about this time that the distant thunder first sounded, and I cocked my head to hear it better. Was it a passing airplane? or was that thunder? It was certainly thunder I judged. I knew then that this passing cloud couldn't entirely pass. I knew then that was not likely to get the mowing completed nor even begun.
The sad fact is that I could probably get the mowing done. I've seen plenty of these distant storms show every sign of raining here where we actually need it only to wander past, around and even directly over, preferring to give the mountains their rain. And while I'm certain the mountains need rain, they tend to get much more than we in the valley get.
The thunder rumbles ever closer, though a peek out the window indicates that the real rain is yet to come. Before we retreated inside we each felt raindrops, so we know it's real and it's there somewhere. But will it reach us? Or will I be out an hour from now sweating and cursing?
So up grows the random patches of tall stuff. In cooler months, this stuff doesn't get nearly as tall, but it grows very thick. It isn't a huge patch in amongst the rest of the smaller growing grasses, so my yard isn't a green wheat field just yet, but parts of it, those little patches, are outrageously tall compared to the other grass.
One neighbor is meticulous about his yard while the other runs it down as is needed. I, on the other hand, in the middle, procrastinate with ease, letting my already ragged yard grow uglier over the weeks till it even hurts my eyes. Then I rush out in whirl of sweat and cursing and drag the mower around on my one day in the sun.
Today was attack day. I noticed the dark cloud, but it seemed smallish and singular, more likely to provide a sweltering kind of shade than to pour out rain. I began as usual with the scooping of dog turds. I sent Big Brother to pick up the sticks blown off the tree last Friday when we got our most recent dousing of thunderstorm. I continued by sweeping up all the ashes and cigarette butts from the back porch.
It was about this time that the distant thunder first sounded, and I cocked my head to hear it better. Was it a passing airplane? or was that thunder? It was certainly thunder I judged. I knew then that this passing cloud couldn't entirely pass. I knew then that was not likely to get the mowing completed nor even begun.
The sad fact is that I could probably get the mowing done. I've seen plenty of these distant storms show every sign of raining here where we actually need it only to wander past, around and even directly over, preferring to give the mountains their rain. And while I'm certain the mountains need rain, they tend to get much more than we in the valley get.
The thunder rumbles ever closer, though a peek out the window indicates that the real rain is yet to come. Before we retreated inside we each felt raindrops, so we know it's real and it's there somewhere. But will it reach us? Or will I be out an hour from now sweating and cursing?
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
is parenting really generational?
This Washington Post article mentioned by Chris O'Donnell pointed out to me what I think is the overlooked problem in teen drug and alcohol use and sexual activity. The Washington Post sees it in terms of permissive parents versus overbearing parents. Chris seems to see it in terms of generational differences. Neither source approached the problem as I see it, honesty.
We are always fighting the evil trio of alcohol, drugs and sex. Perhaps some people even see the double standard, the discussion with your children making you a hypocrite because of all the things you did back in the sixties or seventies, or now even into the eighties or nineties. Hell, if you're like me, on into the . . .uuuuhhhh . . .the zeroties?
I think that we are dishonest too often about the evil trio. Perhaps we feel that a good scare will make kids not drink and drive. We can preach the evils of drug use. We can wing it with sex because who the hell really knows anyway. We each preach our beliefs on this one, some of our beliefs being a little healthier than others.
These problems were certainly there in earlier generations, but once upon a time, young, unwed mothers were shipped off to an aunt's house and disappeared from polite society. The drug addicted son went to the asylum or into the business or out on the street, depending on the family, and the same happens today with slightly more parents willing to turn a naive eye and continue to enable. We just lie our asses off and hide everything from everyone.
I'm not sure exactly what I'm trying to say here. I've written and rewritten this entire post at least three or four times. I get some righteous indignation out, and the upon rereading I see how off course I've gone as opposed what I set out to say. I think my own problem writing this may be much like the problem I see with our approach to the evil trio; it gets confusing. We can't make them go away, and too often we just approach it when we have to. And the only time we really have to approach these issues is when it's late enough to have become a problem. That's kind of addiction in a nutshell, the problem with alcohol and drugs. Yet we won't look at the problem of addiction, we just look down on the junky and keep on walking. But if we don't start with addiction, we can never look at the real problem with drugs. We too often miss the signs with kids and drugs, and we've been taught that drug addiction is a sign of a bad person and a criminal offense.
If we need to be honest about drugs, then we should be allowed the freedom of honesty about sex. Sex is so much different than our other two evil trio members. Sex has so much more going for it, and so much riding on it. (heehee at riding on it) I certainly don't have an answer to this one. If we are dishonest about drugs and alcohol, I fear that with sex we aren't dishonest so much as deluded. To some sex is sacred, to others it's a goal, to many people it's just something to do. It's also a great way to draw attention to a product. We are, like many animals, fairly sexually minded. Yet because we are human and like variety and choice, we make things up as we go. Yet to monkey wrench the cogs, we have a huge steaming mound of guilt served up right beside all that sexual wantsomeness.
None of the trio is actually evil. It's just that these are such strong urges for people. There is a certain desire for the lads and/or lasses and the cups, yet the trio can have such dire consequences when taken too lightly. There's a certain something that drives some to do things that others wish they wouldn't. Perhaps we don't want our kids to do some of these things. Condemning doesn't work any better than bullshitting. So where are we left? We have to start being honest with each other and our kids.
We are always fighting the evil trio of alcohol, drugs and sex. Perhaps some people even see the double standard, the discussion with your children making you a hypocrite because of all the things you did back in the sixties or seventies, or now even into the eighties or nineties. Hell, if you're like me, on into the . . .uuuuhhhh . . .the zeroties?
I think that we are dishonest too often about the evil trio. Perhaps we feel that a good scare will make kids not drink and drive. We can preach the evils of drug use. We can wing it with sex because who the hell really knows anyway. We each preach our beliefs on this one, some of our beliefs being a little healthier than others.
These problems were certainly there in earlier generations, but once upon a time, young, unwed mothers were shipped off to an aunt's house and disappeared from polite society. The drug addicted son went to the asylum or into the business or out on the street, depending on the family, and the same happens today with slightly more parents willing to turn a naive eye and continue to enable. We just lie our asses off and hide everything from everyone.
I'm not sure exactly what I'm trying to say here. I've written and rewritten this entire post at least three or four times. I get some righteous indignation out, and the upon rereading I see how off course I've gone as opposed what I set out to say. I think my own problem writing this may be much like the problem I see with our approach to the evil trio; it gets confusing. We can't make them go away, and too often we just approach it when we have to. And the only time we really have to approach these issues is when it's late enough to have become a problem. That's kind of addiction in a nutshell, the problem with alcohol and drugs. Yet we won't look at the problem of addiction, we just look down on the junky and keep on walking. But if we don't start with addiction, we can never look at the real problem with drugs. We too often miss the signs with kids and drugs, and we've been taught that drug addiction is a sign of a bad person and a criminal offense.
If we need to be honest about drugs, then we should be allowed the freedom of honesty about sex. Sex is so much different than our other two evil trio members. Sex has so much more going for it, and so much riding on it. (heehee at riding on it) I certainly don't have an answer to this one. If we are dishonest about drugs and alcohol, I fear that with sex we aren't dishonest so much as deluded. To some sex is sacred, to others it's a goal, to many people it's just something to do. It's also a great way to draw attention to a product. We are, like many animals, fairly sexually minded. Yet because we are human and like variety and choice, we make things up as we go. Yet to monkey wrench the cogs, we have a huge steaming mound of guilt served up right beside all that sexual wantsomeness.
None of the trio is actually evil. It's just that these are such strong urges for people. There is a certain desire for the lads and/or lasses and the cups, yet the trio can have such dire consequences when taken too lightly. There's a certain something that drives some to do things that others wish they wouldn't. Perhaps we don't want our kids to do some of these things. Condemning doesn't work any better than bullshitting. So where are we left? We have to start being honest with each other and our kids.
Monday, July 31, 2006
hairy crutch
I'm not entirely sure, but prehaps the searcher misspelled. I have an interesting hit in my statcounter. Someone in Australia found me by searching "hairy crutch." I know that a hairy crutch is the beginning of a good day, but beyond that, I'm not quite sure. Perhaps a nice hairy crutch is an Australian thing.
Friday, July 28, 2006
popsicle burn
Sure, it's a popsicle burn. I don't know quite what else to call it. I have a place now on my upper lip. Gramaw brought some sort of frozen fruit bars over about a week ago, and though they are good, they really are just some fancy hi-falutin popsicles.
The boys basically had them for lunch, or second breakfast if you'd rather, followed shortly by real lunch by the way, so I had one as well. Mine was actually breakfast so that you know I feed myself more poorly than those poor kids.
They really were delightful and tasty. I had lime. Every lick I took at first, the damn thing kept sticking to my lip. It was like a tiny little flagpole on a crisp February morning. Of course I kept going back for more as I've eaten frozen treats before. Sometimes you freeze to it, but you keep trying, and it never lasts that long anyway. I've certainly never gotten freezer burn from a popsicle. I certainly did today though.
So take that as a warning. There is one more dangerous food for us all to worry about. I'll work on forming a committee to make frozen treat makers throughout the country place warning labels. No one should suffer this mild unpleasantness ever again. My coffee makes me feel that place as a little tender and takes me right back to the trauma of the popsicle. Oooooh! the slight tenderness is so . . .there . . . at times.
I have to stop writing about this. It's giving me bad feelings, well, somewhat less than pleasant. Seriously, there is noticeable discomort.
Now I'm licking it to see if I can taste tender.
The boys basically had them for lunch, or second breakfast if you'd rather, followed shortly by real lunch by the way, so I had one as well. Mine was actually breakfast so that you know I feed myself more poorly than those poor kids.
They really were delightful and tasty. I had lime. Every lick I took at first, the damn thing kept sticking to my lip. It was like a tiny little flagpole on a crisp February morning. Of course I kept going back for more as I've eaten frozen treats before. Sometimes you freeze to it, but you keep trying, and it never lasts that long anyway. I've certainly never gotten freezer burn from a popsicle. I certainly did today though.
So take that as a warning. There is one more dangerous food for us all to worry about. I'll work on forming a committee to make frozen treat makers throughout the country place warning labels. No one should suffer this mild unpleasantness ever again. My coffee makes me feel that place as a little tender and takes me right back to the trauma of the popsicle. Oooooh! the slight tenderness is so . . .there . . . at times.
I have to stop writing about this. It's giving me bad feelings, well, somewhat less than pleasant. Seriously, there is noticeable discomort.
Now I'm licking it to see if I can taste tender.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
roller derby bake sale/away match
This is a two part ad for Momma and her roller derby buddies. First, her team, Machine Gun Kellys is having a bake sale. So if some random reader here happens to be in Knoxvegas this Saturday, stop by Market Square, buy some baked delights and offset some of the expense of this craziness.
I'm guessing you've checked out the poster. I'm hoping they don't mind that I lifted it right off the Myspace page. The Hard Knox Roller Girls are going to drive down to Alabama in August and put the Knox down on some of Birmingham's braver female citizens. The bout is against the Tragic City Rollers. It will be tragic for them when they lose, but the tragedy for Hard Knox is having to leave Tennessee and drive to Alabama.
So if you're close enough on the twentieth, swing on by and cheer for the away side. Now to find out if it's BYOB, cash bar, whatever. These are the important matters.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
rant about stupid girl
Via KnoxViews, I get a mindless rant from a first year law student explaining how women should stop dressing like sluts if they want a decent man. She really insults women as being little more than a product while men are mere consumers with a thrifty eye.
I don't expect her, as only a first year law student, to have mastered the mysterious art of crafting a well thought out argument, which she didn't. As a law student of any year or as a real honest to god lawyer, I wouldn't expect her to bother much with the truth or to care that she was engaging in gross stereotyping of entire genders, also which she didn't. Based on my limited experience with lawyers, they're a bunch of obnoxious drunks that are good for a drink once they get a job. I'm not sure, but the nonstop drinking might just be to quiet that voice that wants them to ask themselves if maybe they don't feel a little dirty, and wouldn't they like to get an honest job.
The article basically goes on for much too long about girls and their attire. If a girl looks cheap, then guys who want cheap girls will line up for her. If she advertises herself in a nicer package, then she will attract a guy who wants a nice girl. If she really just wants to have sex with guys, then she should dress like a prostitute, but unlike the whore, she's actually free. Then comes the doom, the dreaded one night stand and the lifetime of heartbreak when that guy you gave it to didn't call back. And furthermore she says, that's life, because guys don't call back.
The writer has absolutely no regard for men who she is quite able to analyze, and her conclusion is that we all want sex, nothing but sex, and we will take appropriate steps to get some sex. She even suggests that we "give two kinds of attention, sexual and every other kind." If you suggest that it's possible to separate all thoughts into sexual and otherwise, then you are giving a great deal of nonspecific value to otherwise. That allows for much more ability as men than she otherwise seems to allow. Her suggestions about women being little more than play things is more sad than aggravating. I would hope that the women in my life understand sex better than just as the one tool women have over men.
Yes, guys like it, the sweet monkey lovin'. I won't lie. And often enough, girls seem to enjoy this too. However, this does in no way diminish the capacity in most guys to be a caring and nice person. My perception of this woman's problems indicate a frustrating sexual history in which she attracted bad partners, possibly through decisions that she was making. If you find that your life is a sad history of one night stands, you must look at the one constant in all those couplings, and it's obviously not the guys. If you live your life using sex to find one decent guy, then your problem may need more help then dressing nicely.
I'll finish with a tip of the hat to the local prostitutes in saying that they don't dress like whores. Apparently, to sell oneself locally requires a combination of ill fitting sweat pants, plastic bag of belongings, worn out flip flops, it gets worse from here really, seriously! And also to the local lawyers, I don't really hold such disdain for you. I really don't.
I don't expect her, as only a first year law student, to have mastered the mysterious art of crafting a well thought out argument, which she didn't. As a law student of any year or as a real honest to god lawyer, I wouldn't expect her to bother much with the truth or to care that she was engaging in gross stereotyping of entire genders, also which she didn't. Based on my limited experience with lawyers, they're a bunch of obnoxious drunks that are good for a drink once they get a job. I'm not sure, but the nonstop drinking might just be to quiet that voice that wants them to ask themselves if maybe they don't feel a little dirty, and wouldn't they like to get an honest job.
The article basically goes on for much too long about girls and their attire. If a girl looks cheap, then guys who want cheap girls will line up for her. If she advertises herself in a nicer package, then she will attract a guy who wants a nice girl. If she really just wants to have sex with guys, then she should dress like a prostitute, but unlike the whore, she's actually free. Then comes the doom, the dreaded one night stand and the lifetime of heartbreak when that guy you gave it to didn't call back. And furthermore she says, that's life, because guys don't call back.
The writer has absolutely no regard for men who she is quite able to analyze, and her conclusion is that we all want sex, nothing but sex, and we will take appropriate steps to get some sex. She even suggests that we "give two kinds of attention, sexual and every other kind." If you suggest that it's possible to separate all thoughts into sexual and otherwise, then you are giving a great deal of nonspecific value to otherwise. That allows for much more ability as men than she otherwise seems to allow. Her suggestions about women being little more than play things is more sad than aggravating. I would hope that the women in my life understand sex better than just as the one tool women have over men.
Yes, guys like it, the sweet monkey lovin'. I won't lie. And often enough, girls seem to enjoy this too. However, this does in no way diminish the capacity in most guys to be a caring and nice person. My perception of this woman's problems indicate a frustrating sexual history in which she attracted bad partners, possibly through decisions that she was making. If you find that your life is a sad history of one night stands, you must look at the one constant in all those couplings, and it's obviously not the guys. If you live your life using sex to find one decent guy, then your problem may need more help then dressing nicely.
I'll finish with a tip of the hat to the local prostitutes in saying that they don't dress like whores. Apparently, to sell oneself locally requires a combination of ill fitting sweat pants, plastic bag of belongings, worn out flip flops, it gets worse from here really, seriously! And also to the local lawyers, I don't really hold such disdain for you. I really don't.
'cuz she asked so nice
Frankie loves these things, and I don't. But I do them anyway sometimes. So I'll do this one too, but only because my robot post was/is just too taxing to think about at this stage of the evening. I guess we'll just jump into it
What was I doing ten years ago?
Momma and I had been together just over a year at this point, little aware what this coupling would result in. We lived in a shady little shit hole on the side of a gravel parking lot belonging to what we were assured was the only lesbian bar in Rock Hill, SC. We were punk as fuck, and we stole their picnic table for our front porch, and I dug a belt out of their dumpster that I still wear and am in fact currently wearing. I should point out that, while I didn't actually aid in the theft of the picnic table, I didn't do anything about the situation beyond enjoy the picnic table. This was still the early days of my restaurant career in which I constantly promised myself that this job was certainly the last. Ten years ago may have been the summer that I worked as a laborer for a drywall company. That job sucked.
What was I doing one year ago?
Mostly what I'm doing now. Sadly, I was just as lazy about getting out and doing anything, and I was still to satisfied with sitting at the computer rather than do much else. It's a sad situation this, and one that I'm working on working on. I really am starting to waste the whole point of staying at home with the boys.
Really? five snacks that I enjoy?
1. Kettle Chips rippled, salt and pepper
2. Senor Taco's salsa bar
3. Moose Tracks ice cream
4. At the pizza place I used to work at we had black bean hummus. I used to spread that on a pita, top it with salsa and cheese and melt the whole thing in the oven. That was some good eating.
5. hard boiled egg dipped into a pile of salt and pepper
Do I know the words to five songs?
I've never been good at this, but I'm sure I can try.
1. Bankshot-Operation Ivy. So, it's the only lyric, almost, some guy shouting "BANKSHOT" over some of the greatest ska/punk ever.
2. Tennessee Stud-Johnny Cash, though written by Jimmy Driftwood, nonetheless, Johnny Cash most likely did it best.
3. Sunday Morning Coming Down-Johnny Cash yet again. This time we get Kris Kristoferson as the writer, who I'd like to hear do the song, but again, Johnny taught me the song.
4. I can't think of another song. Is it alright to look at the cd's laying around and find a song I know the words of? It seems like cheating, but I'm really just drawing a blank. Oh, Iron Man-Black Sabbath. But really, who doesn't know the words to Iron Man? seriously
5. Bales of Cocaine-Reverend Horton Heat. This is just a fun song, ain't no two ways about it.
Oh yeah, the five things millionaire question.
I'm the $2-4 a week powerball guy, so I think about this once in a while.
1. The debt would all disappear, possibly the most fun.
2. I'd show Momma and the boys a really great time in some really cool place. The hard part would be where to spend a little money somewhere in the world.
3. I imagine that we'd save plenty of money to move somewhere cool and open a restaurant that would then become our income so that we didn't end up like some busted ass lottery rich redneck left broke with a trailer mortgage and a dwindling supply of Harleys as the debts came due.
4. By this time I've become a good citizen, supporting NPR and donating whenever the guy in the fez shows up. We've invested the remainder of our million well and are able to take really great trips with the boys who are learning that their homeschool is global.
5. See number 4
I don't have five bad habits do I?
1. Smoking
2. I could drink a little less, but I could also not.
3. Internetting
4. I still shout way too much. I'm still working on it, and I'm hoping the boys notice it. But it just seems such a natural and unimpeded motion till I catch myself half way through. I'm starting to get the point earlier though, so I'm sure I'm slowly figuring out how to be less of an asshole.
5. Language! I think I caught The Boy saying a fave cuss word of mine recently. I did the "not pointing it out" thing. I'm pretty sure he cussed though.
Five things I like doing is totally easy. I totally like doing at least five things.
1. Drinking a bloody mary at brunch on a Sunday morning.
2. Playing soccer. I miss it, but I'm scared as the fall approaches knowing that I'm in no condition to play, that I won't likely become unlazy and that these haven't stopped me in the past.
3. Playing video games. I had a great time with Medal of Honor-Rising Sun, as Big Brother and I played the different levels together. That isn't an option on Frontline, the MOH newest to us, though not the newest version of the game. I try to be cool when we play versus each other and he beats me, but he does, and I'm not always.
4. Saying inane things to The Boy knowing the specific response I will get just to hear his delightfully funny way of saying certain things.
5. Going off with righteous, if misguided sometimes, indignation about just about anything. In real life, I'm always moments from a good fussing about random subject, especially if I've recently read about it somewhere, like a magazine.
Five items of clothing that I won't ever wear again?
1. There's the parachute pants that I got as hand me downs from a friend after they were no longer cool. The person from whom the pants had been handed down, upon my first time ever wearing parachute pants, a fashion statement that I'd longed to make, asked me if I was waiting for them to come back in style. And I had to wear those pants all night after that.
2. The Lucero shirt that shrunk in the wash, but it'll look fine on Momma.
3. The t-shirt from the christian school that occupied so much of my youth, though I also can't stand to get rid of it.
4. The boxers with the snaps that were an adult hand me down. I thought they were neat if pointless when I first saw them, but I'm forever sucking in my stomach to avoid unsnapping them whenever I need to do extreme vertical movements, as opposed to minor adjustments. That snap is tiny and hard to fasten sometimes, especially when some kid is screaming, and I just don't like them, the boxers. But they have a nice stripe pattern, so I hate to get rid of them, just in case.
5. The box of shirts sitting in the hallway needing to go to Goodwill when I next take the recycling. That's sort of cheating, but it is a box of things I won't wear again.
My five favorite toys? What counts as a toy?
1. My computer? Does that count?
2. Our tax refund stereo in the car. We finally have a cd player in the car! Which goes first, the Honda factory speakers or the kids heads?
3. Nintendo Gamecube
4. Wooden train track. We have a nice little pile of tracks, and I'm often frustratedly enjoying trying to build a big track, using as many pieces as possible while not ending up with a bunch of crap going nowhere. It can be a challenge. And I'm leaning toward Percy lately as a favorite.
5. I've run out of toys. I really have. Maybe I should use some of that million dollars from earlier on something cool.
What was I doing ten years ago?
Momma and I had been together just over a year at this point, little aware what this coupling would result in. We lived in a shady little shit hole on the side of a gravel parking lot belonging to what we were assured was the only lesbian bar in Rock Hill, SC. We were punk as fuck, and we stole their picnic table for our front porch, and I dug a belt out of their dumpster that I still wear and am in fact currently wearing. I should point out that, while I didn't actually aid in the theft of the picnic table, I didn't do anything about the situation beyond enjoy the picnic table. This was still the early days of my restaurant career in which I constantly promised myself that this job was certainly the last. Ten years ago may have been the summer that I worked as a laborer for a drywall company. That job sucked.
What was I doing one year ago?
Mostly what I'm doing now. Sadly, I was just as lazy about getting out and doing anything, and I was still to satisfied with sitting at the computer rather than do much else. It's a sad situation this, and one that I'm working on working on. I really am starting to waste the whole point of staying at home with the boys.
Really? five snacks that I enjoy?
1. Kettle Chips rippled, salt and pepper
2. Senor Taco's salsa bar
3. Moose Tracks ice cream
4. At the pizza place I used to work at we had black bean hummus. I used to spread that on a pita, top it with salsa and cheese and melt the whole thing in the oven. That was some good eating.
5. hard boiled egg dipped into a pile of salt and pepper
Do I know the words to five songs?
I've never been good at this, but I'm sure I can try.
1. Bankshot-Operation Ivy. So, it's the only lyric, almost, some guy shouting "BANKSHOT" over some of the greatest ska/punk ever.
2. Tennessee Stud-Johnny Cash, though written by Jimmy Driftwood, nonetheless, Johnny Cash most likely did it best.
3. Sunday Morning Coming Down-Johnny Cash yet again. This time we get Kris Kristoferson as the writer, who I'd like to hear do the song, but again, Johnny taught me the song.
4. I can't think of another song. Is it alright to look at the cd's laying around and find a song I know the words of? It seems like cheating, but I'm really just drawing a blank. Oh, Iron Man-Black Sabbath. But really, who doesn't know the words to Iron Man? seriously
5. Bales of Cocaine-Reverend Horton Heat. This is just a fun song, ain't no two ways about it.
Oh yeah, the five things millionaire question.
I'm the $2-4 a week powerball guy, so I think about this once in a while.
1. The debt would all disappear, possibly the most fun.
2. I'd show Momma and the boys a really great time in some really cool place. The hard part would be where to spend a little money somewhere in the world.
3. I imagine that we'd save plenty of money to move somewhere cool and open a restaurant that would then become our income so that we didn't end up like some busted ass lottery rich redneck left broke with a trailer mortgage and a dwindling supply of Harleys as the debts came due.
4. By this time I've become a good citizen, supporting NPR and donating whenever the guy in the fez shows up. We've invested the remainder of our million well and are able to take really great trips with the boys who are learning that their homeschool is global.
5. See number 4
I don't have five bad habits do I?
1. Smoking
2. I could drink a little less, but I could also not.
3. Internetting
4. I still shout way too much. I'm still working on it, and I'm hoping the boys notice it. But it just seems such a natural and unimpeded motion till I catch myself half way through. I'm starting to get the point earlier though, so I'm sure I'm slowly figuring out how to be less of an asshole.
5. Language! I think I caught The Boy saying a fave cuss word of mine recently. I did the "not pointing it out" thing. I'm pretty sure he cussed though.
Five things I like doing is totally easy. I totally like doing at least five things.
1. Drinking a bloody mary at brunch on a Sunday morning.
2. Playing soccer. I miss it, but I'm scared as the fall approaches knowing that I'm in no condition to play, that I won't likely become unlazy and that these haven't stopped me in the past.
3. Playing video games. I had a great time with Medal of Honor-Rising Sun, as Big Brother and I played the different levels together. That isn't an option on Frontline, the MOH newest to us, though not the newest version of the game. I try to be cool when we play versus each other and he beats me, but he does, and I'm not always.
4. Saying inane things to The Boy knowing the specific response I will get just to hear his delightfully funny way of saying certain things.
5. Going off with righteous, if misguided sometimes, indignation about just about anything. In real life, I'm always moments from a good fussing about random subject, especially if I've recently read about it somewhere, like a magazine.
Five items of clothing that I won't ever wear again?
1. There's the parachute pants that I got as hand me downs from a friend after they were no longer cool. The person from whom the pants had been handed down, upon my first time ever wearing parachute pants, a fashion statement that I'd longed to make, asked me if I was waiting for them to come back in style. And I had to wear those pants all night after that.
2. The Lucero shirt that shrunk in the wash, but it'll look fine on Momma.
3. The t-shirt from the christian school that occupied so much of my youth, though I also can't stand to get rid of it.
4. The boxers with the snaps that were an adult hand me down. I thought they were neat if pointless when I first saw them, but I'm forever sucking in my stomach to avoid unsnapping them whenever I need to do extreme vertical movements, as opposed to minor adjustments. That snap is tiny and hard to fasten sometimes, especially when some kid is screaming, and I just don't like them, the boxers. But they have a nice stripe pattern, so I hate to get rid of them, just in case.
5. The box of shirts sitting in the hallway needing to go to Goodwill when I next take the recycling. That's sort of cheating, but it is a box of things I won't wear again.
My five favorite toys? What counts as a toy?
1. My computer? Does that count?
2. Our tax refund stereo in the car. We finally have a cd player in the car! Which goes first, the Honda factory speakers or the kids heads?
3. Nintendo Gamecube
4. Wooden train track. We have a nice little pile of tracks, and I'm often frustratedly enjoying trying to build a big track, using as many pieces as possible while not ending up with a bunch of crap going nowhere. It can be a challenge. And I'm leaning toward Percy lately as a favorite.
5. I've run out of toys. I really have. Maybe I should use some of that million dollars from earlier on something cool.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
my boxing moment
It's a Friday, Momma's latest of late work nights. The boys are in bed and even asleep. I've got the television on, flipping through the channels wondering if I want to get back online or perhaps shoot some Nazis in Medal of Honor. As I stroll from channel to channel, I ponder my options while wishing there was something good on late on a Friday night.
So what do I find? The Contender, a reality show based on boxing. I remember boxing, back when it would actually come on regular tv. At some point, it seemed to disappear into a world of cable and pay per view. So much for getting to see Sugar Ray Leonard on Wide World of Sports.
But now, I'm a grown ass man, and my wife makes enough money that we have cable, and I find that some late nights, my choice in watching men beat the crap out of each other is most interesting. Not every night can be last year's UFC reality show, but boxing is fun too.
So we get that I'm okay with fighting and watching grown ass men beat on each other. I'm enough of a fan to watch, but I'm not buying the magazine and learning all their names. When presented with a chance to watch a fight, I have to go with what I'm given by tv to decide on a favorite. Watching The Contender tonight, I was certain that I liked the younger guy. I don't know why, but it's likely that as I landed on the channel, his profile bit, the part where he talks about what the upcoming fight means, started to win me over. Maybe it's just because I saw his first without having any actual knowledge of the person or the show. I know of the show, I just don't go out of my way to watch it . . .usually.
I don't know exactly how The Contender works. The UFC show has a bunch of guys separated into two teams. The separate teams train then meet every so often to beat each other up. They all live in a big house and we get to spy on the day to day . . .blah . . .blah . . .reality show. We all know how reality shows work, unless there are those of us lucky enough to have just avoided the whole sordid mess. But I never actually watch this show unless I happen to catch an actual fight. I just want the fights, not the mundane training crap, the parts that make it a reality show instead of just boxing.
I'm liking the first guy and thinking he's really a peach. Then the second guy's profile starts. He seems cool too, and he's as likeable as the other guy, but I don't feel my temporary allegiance wavering until the prefight bit. They show each guy in their separate dressing rooms. I'm sure that, for the show, they've been locked away in a secret location away from their loved ones, and just before the fight, their loved ones make an appearance. It plays great out in the sticks.
Guy one has a girlfriend who sounds really great. She has stuck with him and they are totally in love. Second guy has a fiancee, and three kids. I didn't really feel myself waver till the kids showed up. Then it was seeing guy number two with his youngest son, roughly the same age as my youngest. Then I was done. I wavered all the way over to guy number two. He won my allegiance from guy number one by having kids.
The youngest kid wasn't at the fight. The older kids were ringside, and the looks on their faces were awesome. They seemed used to seeing dad being busted around as well as busting around himself. The fight, with the crazy tv camera work that they use to add some extra zing, was outrageous. They just about walked at each other swinging the whole time. Guy number two was the clear winner through most of the fight, though it was seriously close for most of the fight. They both wanted it so bad.
At the end of the fight, you could see that guy number two's kids were completely certain that he'd won. I was pretty sure of it as well. I almost got a little choked up when it was confirmed. I had a moment there on the sofa, watching a boxing reality show, all because some guy's kids showed up.
So what do I find? The Contender, a reality show based on boxing. I remember boxing, back when it would actually come on regular tv. At some point, it seemed to disappear into a world of cable and pay per view. So much for getting to see Sugar Ray Leonard on Wide World of Sports.
But now, I'm a grown ass man, and my wife makes enough money that we have cable, and I find that some late nights, my choice in watching men beat the crap out of each other is most interesting. Not every night can be last year's UFC reality show, but boxing is fun too.
So we get that I'm okay with fighting and watching grown ass men beat on each other. I'm enough of a fan to watch, but I'm not buying the magazine and learning all their names. When presented with a chance to watch a fight, I have to go with what I'm given by tv to decide on a favorite. Watching The Contender tonight, I was certain that I liked the younger guy. I don't know why, but it's likely that as I landed on the channel, his profile bit, the part where he talks about what the upcoming fight means, started to win me over. Maybe it's just because I saw his first without having any actual knowledge of the person or the show. I know of the show, I just don't go out of my way to watch it . . .usually.
I don't know exactly how The Contender works. The UFC show has a bunch of guys separated into two teams. The separate teams train then meet every so often to beat each other up. They all live in a big house and we get to spy on the day to day . . .blah . . .blah . . .reality show. We all know how reality shows work, unless there are those of us lucky enough to have just avoided the whole sordid mess. But I never actually watch this show unless I happen to catch an actual fight. I just want the fights, not the mundane training crap, the parts that make it a reality show instead of just boxing.
I'm liking the first guy and thinking he's really a peach. Then the second guy's profile starts. He seems cool too, and he's as likeable as the other guy, but I don't feel my temporary allegiance wavering until the prefight bit. They show each guy in their separate dressing rooms. I'm sure that, for the show, they've been locked away in a secret location away from their loved ones, and just before the fight, their loved ones make an appearance. It plays great out in the sticks.
Guy one has a girlfriend who sounds really great. She has stuck with him and they are totally in love. Second guy has a fiancee, and three kids. I didn't really feel myself waver till the kids showed up. Then it was seeing guy number two with his youngest son, roughly the same age as my youngest. Then I was done. I wavered all the way over to guy number two. He won my allegiance from guy number one by having kids.
The youngest kid wasn't at the fight. The older kids were ringside, and the looks on their faces were awesome. They seemed used to seeing dad being busted around as well as busting around himself. The fight, with the crazy tv camera work that they use to add some extra zing, was outrageous. They just about walked at each other swinging the whole time. Guy number two was the clear winner through most of the fight, though it was seriously close for most of the fight. They both wanted it so bad.
At the end of the fight, you could see that guy number two's kids were completely certain that he'd won. I was pretty sure of it as well. I almost got a little choked up when it was confirmed. I had a moment there on the sofa, watching a boxing reality show, all because some guy's kids showed up.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
true fix for marriage and couplehood
I'm not suggesting personal support for any amendments to the Constitution. It's quite the document without stupid modern politicians mucking about with it. I would ask, even plead, that if they insist on mucking about with it, they go all or nothing and that they actually pay attention to the arguments, not just please their perceived constituents, because more often than not, their constituents are not just the people footing the bill.
Apparently, someone else here in TN thinks the same, though maybe a bit differently. Considering that this politician voted "Yea" on the marriage amendment, his speech should be taken with some amount of salt, but the message I take from it is much simpler. TN Congressman Lincoln Davis had some strong suggestions concerning the marriage amendment. That link takes you to the Think Progress page for a video of Mr. Davis discussing the amendment from hell.
If you think that marriage needs saving, then you should attack the actual source of its demise. Nothing hurts marriage more than divorce and infidelity. Gay people actually getting married as opposed to merely living in sin will bring out the nazi tyrannosaurus with laser eyes, a fact that I'm sure we are all well aware of.
So, the biggest threat to marriage could easily be denied if we make divorce and adultery illegal. Convicted marriage felons would no longer be able to run for or hold political office. I won't list all the people on both sides who would no longer represent their financial backers, and this would certainly bring our entire political system to a screeching halt, but such is life in the end. If only there were some magic lever that periodically tossed out all the bad guys.
I will point out that I ran across this story via Knox Views, one of the few news sites I kept in my Bloglines when I did the big time waste purge recently.
Apparently, someone else here in TN thinks the same, though maybe a bit differently. Considering that this politician voted "Yea" on the marriage amendment, his speech should be taken with some amount of salt, but the message I take from it is much simpler. TN Congressman Lincoln Davis had some strong suggestions concerning the marriage amendment. That link takes you to the Think Progress page for a video of Mr. Davis discussing the amendment from hell.
If you think that marriage needs saving, then you should attack the actual source of its demise. Nothing hurts marriage more than divorce and infidelity. Gay people actually getting married as opposed to merely living in sin will bring out the nazi tyrannosaurus with laser eyes, a fact that I'm sure we are all well aware of.
So, the biggest threat to marriage could easily be denied if we make divorce and adultery illegal. Convicted marriage felons would no longer be able to run for or hold political office. I won't list all the people on both sides who would no longer represent their financial backers, and this would certainly bring our entire political system to a screeching halt, but such is life in the end. If only there were some magic lever that periodically tossed out all the bad guys.
I will point out that I ran across this story via Knox Views, one of the few news sites I kept in my Bloglines when I did the big time waste purge recently.
current reading
Big Brother and I finished Inkheart recently. It was written by Cornelia Funke, and having read it once on my own and once with Big Brother, I'm still not sure what I think about the book. The story itself is good, but . . .I'm not quite sure what, but there's a little something about the book, the way the story finally falls out, that just kind of leaves me wanting.
We picked as our next book, The thief of Always by Clive Barker. I read several of his books years ago, but I've not really been reading anything like that lately. I just haven't been reading the creepy stories lately. I'm remembering the book as I read it, and there are certainly some creepy moments in it. There is a pretty mean monster attack and some generally freaky scifi stuff. It's enough that I feel I should throw in the disclaimer because some parents may be uncomfortable with it, but it is certainly written for kids.
I'm rereading a classic that I've considered reading to Big Brother, but he hasn't decided that he wants to yet. I've also not decided whether or not I'm ready for him to hear/read this book either. Of course, I'm rereading the trilogy, yet again, and within the first book, I've gotten my first reminder in Eccentrica Gallumbits. I'm the happy owner of Douglas Adams' trilogy in five parts that is the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in one book. That just seems too much actually, as I'm basically forced to read the entire pile as one book. But I'd do it anyway, regardless of the presentation.
I wonder if the movie is on OnDemand yet. I might have to check. That way when we do read the book, it will be nice and confusing for Big Brother because they are so differently telling the same story, kind of.
We picked as our next book, The thief of Always by Clive Barker. I read several of his books years ago, but I've not really been reading anything like that lately. I just haven't been reading the creepy stories lately. I'm remembering the book as I read it, and there are certainly some creepy moments in it. There is a pretty mean monster attack and some generally freaky scifi stuff. It's enough that I feel I should throw in the disclaimer because some parents may be uncomfortable with it, but it is certainly written for kids.
I'm rereading a classic that I've considered reading to Big Brother, but he hasn't decided that he wants to yet. I've also not decided whether or not I'm ready for him to hear/read this book either. Of course, I'm rereading the trilogy, yet again, and within the first book, I've gotten my first reminder in Eccentrica Gallumbits. I'm the happy owner of Douglas Adams' trilogy in five parts that is the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in one book. That just seems too much actually, as I'm basically forced to read the entire pile as one book. But I'd do it anyway, regardless of the presentation.
I wonder if the movie is on OnDemand yet. I might have to check. That way when we do read the book, it will be nice and confusing for Big Brother because they are so differently telling the same story, kind of.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
selfish fight
With one quick Google search of the words teen, cancer, treatment and Mexico, I got over two million hits to this story. I'm sure everyone by now is aware of the homeschooling family whose son has cancer and wants to forego chemotherapy in favor of an alternative treatment in Mexico. The state has suggested that perhaps the family is being neglectful of the child because the family supports his decision to ignore what is currently accepted in the US as the best treatment.
I won't argue any of those points as I personally haven't quite formed an opinion yet. What I will argue is that homeschool blogs are want to go off half cocked whenever they perceive their parental rights being taken from them, and I will further argue that the fight for this one child's possible rights is being undertaken in the most selfish of manners.
Homeschoolers, for some reason, seem more than willing to freak out over any perceived slight or injustice. This does us no good at all, and many of us could often stand to just shut the hell up until we actually know what we're talking about. The current issue is a perfect example. Amid all the hand wringing, those homeschoolers who are so sure that the state is going to swoop in and take their children away, not one of these bloggers has suggested that they have any idea what this treatment is or what it entails. Regardless of this lack of key knowledge, the blogs pile up supporting this child and his parents.
The selfishness arises when I realize that these people don't seem to care one bit about cancer sufferers. Yes, they scream, let this child and his family go to Mexico and get rid of his cancer. We all know that Mexican medicine is at the very height of all medicine in the world. I'm sure that they are light years ahead of the US in medical technology and research. That's why so many people are going to Mexico to have their medical needs attended to. So, if this treatment is so valid, why are we only arguing about one insignificant child? Why are we not angry that our government and doctors are hiding this treatment? Why don't we care just as much for all the other people with cancer that may not know that there is a magical cancer treatment in Mexico? Why, if this treatment is valid, aren't we angry that our government should keep it from us?
Would any of us care at all about this child if he were not homeschooled? Would this story have risen to cause du jour if he attended public schools? I'm sure some of us would have jumped on the story as it has those lovely parental rights highlights that are perfect for us to rant about. Would we damn the family if they had chosen to use therapies involving the cannabis plant?
The cannabis plant, more commonly known as marijuana, has been proven able to halt tumor growth as well as to shrink tumors. It is also useful to counteract many of the negative side effects of chemotherapy. Beyond these uses, there are myriad other proven uses for marijuana in a number of treatments for a number of illnesses. It is an alternative medicine, yet apparently when some people's god gave them the plants, he didn't mean marijuana. That one is reserved for us sinners.
Instead of fussing about this one child, why don't you all confront the bigger problem? It isn't that the state might take your kids away if you don't use the best possible therapy for helping your child get well. The big problem is that so many of you have no knowledge of what's really happening, and you are content to stay this way. You only have time for one cause du jour at a time, and it better fit into you world view.
I won't argue any of those points as I personally haven't quite formed an opinion yet. What I will argue is that homeschool blogs are want to go off half cocked whenever they perceive their parental rights being taken from them, and I will further argue that the fight for this one child's possible rights is being undertaken in the most selfish of manners.
Homeschoolers, for some reason, seem more than willing to freak out over any perceived slight or injustice. This does us no good at all, and many of us could often stand to just shut the hell up until we actually know what we're talking about. The current issue is a perfect example. Amid all the hand wringing, those homeschoolers who are so sure that the state is going to swoop in and take their children away, not one of these bloggers has suggested that they have any idea what this treatment is or what it entails. Regardless of this lack of key knowledge, the blogs pile up supporting this child and his parents.
The selfishness arises when I realize that these people don't seem to care one bit about cancer sufferers. Yes, they scream, let this child and his family go to Mexico and get rid of his cancer. We all know that Mexican medicine is at the very height of all medicine in the world. I'm sure that they are light years ahead of the US in medical technology and research. That's why so many people are going to Mexico to have their medical needs attended to. So, if this treatment is so valid, why are we only arguing about one insignificant child? Why are we not angry that our government and doctors are hiding this treatment? Why don't we care just as much for all the other people with cancer that may not know that there is a magical cancer treatment in Mexico? Why, if this treatment is valid, aren't we angry that our government should keep it from us?
Would any of us care at all about this child if he were not homeschooled? Would this story have risen to cause du jour if he attended public schools? I'm sure some of us would have jumped on the story as it has those lovely parental rights highlights that are perfect for us to rant about. Would we damn the family if they had chosen to use therapies involving the cannabis plant?
The cannabis plant, more commonly known as marijuana, has been proven able to halt tumor growth as well as to shrink tumors. It is also useful to counteract many of the negative side effects of chemotherapy. Beyond these uses, there are myriad other proven uses for marijuana in a number of treatments for a number of illnesses. It is an alternative medicine, yet apparently when some people's god gave them the plants, he didn't mean marijuana. That one is reserved for us sinners.
Instead of fussing about this one child, why don't you all confront the bigger problem? It isn't that the state might take your kids away if you don't use the best possible therapy for helping your child get well. The big problem is that so many of you have no knowledge of what's really happening, and you are content to stay this way. You only have time for one cause du jour at a time, and it better fit into you world view.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
watching bears eat sound fun?
I won't go through all the twists and links that led me to the blog that led me to the bears. I will tell you that the bears link came from No Direction Home, a photo blog of a self described High Tech Drifter. I recently learned of this blog and pretty much immediately put it in my Bloglines. The blogger, in addition to hiking some really cool places, takes some really nice pictures. He also has a post about his own recent bear experience which is worth scrolling down to.
The bears in question have not eaten that I've seen, but I just haven't happened to have caught them at it yet. Of course, show me a bear that doesn't eat, and I'll show you a ratty rug. This link opens up a lovely little world, a live webcam at McNeil's River Falls in Alaska. At one point today I may have counted up to ten bears, but the camera changes angle and focus at times, and it did while I was counting.
So gather the kids round and look at the bears. It's cool, and it's fun, and it's edumacational somehow.
The bears in question have not eaten that I've seen, but I just haven't happened to have caught them at it yet. Of course, show me a bear that doesn't eat, and I'll show you a ratty rug. This link opens up a lovely little world, a live webcam at McNeil's River Falls in Alaska. At one point today I may have counted up to ten bears, but the camera changes angle and focus at times, and it did while I was counting.
So gather the kids round and look at the bears. It's cool, and it's fun, and it's edumacational somehow.
Friday, July 14, 2006
cheetos and the mouse
No, I don't mean the "eek, woman on a chair" kind of mouse. I mean that little hand held computer controller, the one that gets all kinds of funky if you are not careful. I mean the mouse with one ball that sometimes needs cleaning so that your cursor works properly so that I don't become more of a curser.
It's lunchtime which is really simple today. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with cheetos. I have to have the crunchy cheetos because all the other ones just suck. But they all leave you with that tasty orange residue, the only orange that is more orange than the blood of a million Vols fans, cheetoh orange, which doesn't look very pretty on the smoky grey mouse.
So I eat the cheetohs with my tongue. That's my internet tip for the day. When eating cheetohs while using the computer, pick them up with your tongue. That, as an exercise, and learning to breathe through my ears will make me the queen of the lesbian ball, which is a whole other post.
HA! lesbians and balls, not the most common duo/trio in the world and proof why I generally don't say everything I think.
It's lunchtime which is really simple today. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with cheetos. I have to have the crunchy cheetos because all the other ones just suck. But they all leave you with that tasty orange residue, the only orange that is more orange than the blood of a million Vols fans, cheetoh orange, which doesn't look very pretty on the smoky grey mouse.
So I eat the cheetohs with my tongue. That's my internet tip for the day. When eating cheetohs while using the computer, pick them up with your tongue. That, as an exercise, and learning to breathe through my ears will make me the queen of the lesbian ball, which is a whole other post.
HA! lesbians and balls, not the most common duo/trio in the world and proof why I generally don't say everything I think.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
peaches and woe: a rant
Yes, a short tail of the peaches and my long running disdain, and often anger, with the abilities of the grocery store bagger.
I bought several donut peaches at the store yesterday. They have a very strong yet mild perfumey smell to them. It's strong if you're standing over the bin of peaches, but a few in the plastic bag were actually overwhelmed by the plastic bag, strong yet mild.
I picked carefully, selecting peaches with a good scent and no bruising. I carefully lowered them into the bag, excited at the little treat that should reside within these delicate little morsels. Peaches are delicate anyway, but these little guys are even more delicate.
Preparing lunch today, I put our sandwiches together and turned to the fruit part. Those peaches sat, still in the bag, waiting for us to dive in. What went into the bag as fruit that was as perfect as possible came out of the bag almost inedible. They were bruised, each and every one, over at least a third of their tiny bodies.
I've thought before that I should just demand to bag my own groceries. I don't feel that I'm really that anal about it, but I pay attention. I was taught to bag groceries many years ago at a grocery store job. It wasn't a class on the subject, but a sense of order and appropriateness was taught in the methodology of placing items into a bag. I find it doubtful the many people care based on my experience with bagging.
I really don't feel I'm asking much, and I don't expect every employee in a store to be aware of the nuances of all their products. I do want the person bagging my groceries to know how to handle produce. Regardless of the product, I take the time to check it out. I'll walk away from bad produce and change my menu before I buy crap. You can believe that I didn't purchase bad fruit or damage it. Yet I am throwing away half the amount of peach that I purchased because I also won't serve bad fruit.
I borrowed the picture from VegiWorks, and when I say borrow, I mean that I used Google image search to find some pretty peaches, and I like these guys' site the best, so I used the picture. I haven't checked the site out much, but it's pretty.
the truth of the matter
One has to love when the random comic in his or her bloglines holds so much truth. So for those among us who feel that the issue of media bias is more important that all the other calamitous actions by our leaders, I give you this link.
diversity, faith and not needing the crutch
Sometimes I don't mind taking over Darryl's blog comments to rant my point, but I don't feel like that today. I feel that my wandering mind will be best suited by making my argument from my own little home on the nets.
Scott Somerville basically asks why we can't all get along. Homeschooling is not the grossly over peopled christian family of blond haired, blue eyed children of the corn that we see so often. For a fact, they are a part of our community and should be as welcome as the hairy armpit hippy mom nursing both her seven and five year old hippy progeny. Somewhere in between those two extremes are the science teacher with nothing but disdain for the school system, the old punk mostly grown up, the hip knitting momma, the single parent wondering if it's really doable. In other words, homeschooling, like America, is a mixed up pile of every single one of us, and to make it more crazy, even gay people and black people are homeschooling. One family's extreme sounds just about right to someone else.
I really want to be fair to everyone which for me means that no one person or stereotype of a group is any more or less lambasted by what passes for humor in my mind. But I find that certain segments within homeschooling, and throughout average American life, just can't seem to hold onto common sense for longer than it takes to pray about it.
One thing that has to be understood, most people of faith seem totally convinced that their freedom to practice religion is being undermined and attacked, that the heathens and gays and atheists and humanists are out to steal their rights and turn their kids gay. They are certain that to pray in school would call down the ire of the ACLU and land them in jail. They fret daily that exposure to evolutionist facts will erase a lifetime of stories about Jesus and Paul and Gideon. They fear that our system of laws will collapse and the jails will spew out all those evil people if they can't chisel the ten commandments into the walls of all the court houses in the nation. Again, fact or not, this is how it seems to me.
So how do the christians fight this battle that exists mostly in their minds and churches? They would very much like to be in control and force a theocracy onto the rest of us. When we try to teach religious fables as equal to proven science, what else can it be but theocracy? When we damn people for the kind of things they do that shouldn't be any of our business, and we damn them using a religious text, what else can it be but theocracy?
It isn't hard to get along when people meet each other with the assurance of respect for one another. But when one side has a faith agenda to push, that getting along gets pushed away. Even worse is when that faith agenda is forced onto others in a smothering cloak of religious over reaching. And it isn't that other people care about the religion of the faith agenda side, because more often than not, I for one would love to not care at all about someone's beliefs. I'd be happy to not be forced to care, yet the faith people can't let it be easy. They have to push their faith as if they deserve extra rights just for being good enough. Sadly, most of these people are not good enough and in fact are no more christian acting than many atheists, gays or humanists.
So what's to be done? For a start, the christians could just shut their mouths sometimes. Maybe just bite down on the hate filled words before they fall out of your mouth. Stop using the phrase "gay agenda" and pretending that gay people want something more than equality. Stop trying to force us all to abide by your interpretations. Stop pretending that we should all bow to your idea of a god. Stop pretending that we are somehow less than you because we don't believe the same. Stop suggesting that our desire for equality is somehow undermining your ability to practice your religion. If your faith and religion are about more than hate mongering then please start to act in a way that proves what you say. Stop being dicks to everyone.
Scott Somerville basically asks why we can't all get along. Homeschooling is not the grossly over peopled christian family of blond haired, blue eyed children of the corn that we see so often. For a fact, they are a part of our community and should be as welcome as the hairy armpit hippy mom nursing both her seven and five year old hippy progeny. Somewhere in between those two extremes are the science teacher with nothing but disdain for the school system, the old punk mostly grown up, the hip knitting momma, the single parent wondering if it's really doable. In other words, homeschooling, like America, is a mixed up pile of every single one of us, and to make it more crazy, even gay people and black people are homeschooling. One family's extreme sounds just about right to someone else.
I really want to be fair to everyone which for me means that no one person or stereotype of a group is any more or less lambasted by what passes for humor in my mind. But I find that certain segments within homeschooling, and throughout average American life, just can't seem to hold onto common sense for longer than it takes to pray about it.
One thing that has to be understood, most people of faith seem totally convinced that their freedom to practice religion is being undermined and attacked, that the heathens and gays and atheists and humanists are out to steal their rights and turn their kids gay. They are certain that to pray in school would call down the ire of the ACLU and land them in jail. They fret daily that exposure to evolutionist facts will erase a lifetime of stories about Jesus and Paul and Gideon. They fear that our system of laws will collapse and the jails will spew out all those evil people if they can't chisel the ten commandments into the walls of all the court houses in the nation. Again, fact or not, this is how it seems to me.
So how do the christians fight this battle that exists mostly in their minds and churches? They would very much like to be in control and force a theocracy onto the rest of us. When we try to teach religious fables as equal to proven science, what else can it be but theocracy? When we damn people for the kind of things they do that shouldn't be any of our business, and we damn them using a religious text, what else can it be but theocracy?
It isn't hard to get along when people meet each other with the assurance of respect for one another. But when one side has a faith agenda to push, that getting along gets pushed away. Even worse is when that faith agenda is forced onto others in a smothering cloak of religious over reaching. And it isn't that other people care about the religion of the faith agenda side, because more often than not, I for one would love to not care at all about someone's beliefs. I'd be happy to not be forced to care, yet the faith people can't let it be easy. They have to push their faith as if they deserve extra rights just for being good enough. Sadly, most of these people are not good enough and in fact are no more christian acting than many atheists, gays or humanists.
So what's to be done? For a start, the christians could just shut their mouths sometimes. Maybe just bite down on the hate filled words before they fall out of your mouth. Stop using the phrase "gay agenda" and pretending that gay people want something more than equality. Stop trying to force us all to abide by your interpretations. Stop pretending that we should all bow to your idea of a god. Stop pretending that we are somehow less than you because we don't believe the same. Stop suggesting that our desire for equality is somehow undermining your ability to practice your religion. If your faith and religion are about more than hate mongering then please start to act in a way that proves what you say. Stop being dicks to everyone.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
holy quintuples Batman
Frankie wants to know what five things I have in a variety of places.
Fridge, handbag, wardrobe, car
The fridge
-various beers that are the last couple from a six pack that wasn't finished before the next along with a couple of Duck Rabbits dropped at the sushi bar where Momma works by the sales rep. The beer was left by the sales rep as opposed to Momma working next to him.
-Calhoun's leftovers, half of Big Brother's grouper sandwich
-red beans and rice leftover from earlier tonight
-buttermilk
-pickles, because, ignoring the sodium, it isn't the worst snack
Handbag? yeah, I can't say I carry one. I'll do the wallet instead.
-TN alcohol server permit card
-library card
-something that Momma wrote me in the early days of our dating that I think is most likely a letter. I haven't pulled it out in ages, and I'm afraid to as it's grown fragile over the years.
-"get out of hell free" card that is meant as a tract but gives me a fit of giggles each and every time I happen upon it nestled away in the recesses
-Food City card
Wardrobe, well, there's no lions or witches or bears oh my . . .and precious little humor in the blog oh my . . .
-clunkin' big black and white wing tips that I wish I'd waited to buy until I found a more reasonable pair.
-humidifier
-funeral suit because yes, I seldom wear a suit except to a funeral. It's not that I mind dressing nicely, but I so seldom have the chance or reason
-plenty of clothes that would please me more were they to end up at Goodwill, though sadly, good will alone won't transport them away.
-plastic pocketed door hanging thing that is full mostly of . . .hmmmm . . . what did Momma put in that thing?
Car-in which we wish for style for it to all be about
-directions to people's houses that we save because we never know when we'll need them again
-cd's to which we rock out
-umbrella
-chairs that live in the car and mostly get used at soccer games
-Momma's roller derby gear which lives in the car trunk
Fridge, handbag, wardrobe, car
The fridge
-various beers that are the last couple from a six pack that wasn't finished before the next along with a couple of Duck Rabbits dropped at the sushi bar where Momma works by the sales rep. The beer was left by the sales rep as opposed to Momma working next to him.
-Calhoun's leftovers, half of Big Brother's grouper sandwich
-red beans and rice leftover from earlier tonight
-buttermilk
-pickles, because, ignoring the sodium, it isn't the worst snack
Handbag? yeah, I can't say I carry one. I'll do the wallet instead.
-TN alcohol server permit card
-library card
-something that Momma wrote me in the early days of our dating that I think is most likely a letter. I haven't pulled it out in ages, and I'm afraid to as it's grown fragile over the years.
-"get out of hell free" card that is meant as a tract but gives me a fit of giggles each and every time I happen upon it nestled away in the recesses
-Food City card
Wardrobe, well, there's no lions or witches or bears oh my . . .and precious little humor in the blog oh my . . .
-clunkin' big black and white wing tips that I wish I'd waited to buy until I found a more reasonable pair.
-humidifier
-funeral suit because yes, I seldom wear a suit except to a funeral. It's not that I mind dressing nicely, but I so seldom have the chance or reason
-plenty of clothes that would please me more were they to end up at Goodwill, though sadly, good will alone won't transport them away.
-plastic pocketed door hanging thing that is full mostly of . . .hmmmm . . . what did Momma put in that thing?
Car-in which we wish for style for it to all be about
-directions to people's houses that we save because we never know when we'll need them again
-cd's to which we rock out
-umbrella
-chairs that live in the car and mostly get used at soccer games
-Momma's roller derby gear which lives in the car trunk
a tale of two vacuum cleaners
We have two different vacuum cleaners. One of them is larger, has attachments and a bag. The other is much smaller, intended for small spaces and has a detachable receptacle.
They both work, yet the smaller one works much better, seeming to have much more power. The problem is that it works so well that it must be emptied very often. I can vacuum the entire house with the larger machine and not fill the bag. But the floor isn't clean when I finish meaning of course that I'm not finished. The smaller vacuum is much easier to drag around making it easier to use before you factor in the messy, dusty dump stops.
Admittedly, the amount of emptying is more a statement on my regular cleaning than anything else. Yet having used both machines, it's apparent which works better. It's also apparent that I need to clean much more often and more regularly.
All that to say that I am not finished with my cleaning for the day. I won't even get into all the random crap that doesn't have a real home or no home yet. There's the huge box of pictures that have collected over the years that need labeling and ordering. There's the train tracks and engines that have grown as a collection to a size where they don't even fit in a laundry basket and old shoe box combined. I need to open the attic to put away Momma's and my winter coats. And then the box of audio cassettes. We don't really listen to most of them any more, yet we are not willing to just get rid of them either.
Oh well, less bitching and more cleaning might be the key here.
They both work, yet the smaller one works much better, seeming to have much more power. The problem is that it works so well that it must be emptied very often. I can vacuum the entire house with the larger machine and not fill the bag. But the floor isn't clean when I finish meaning of course that I'm not finished. The smaller vacuum is much easier to drag around making it easier to use before you factor in the messy, dusty dump stops.
Admittedly, the amount of emptying is more a statement on my regular cleaning than anything else. Yet having used both machines, it's apparent which works better. It's also apparent that I need to clean much more often and more regularly.
All that to say that I am not finished with my cleaning for the day. I won't even get into all the random crap that doesn't have a real home or no home yet. There's the huge box of pictures that have collected over the years that need labeling and ordering. There's the train tracks and engines that have grown as a collection to a size where they don't even fit in a laundry basket and old shoe box combined. I need to open the attic to put away Momma's and my winter coats. And then the box of audio cassettes. We don't really listen to most of them any more, yet we are not willing to just get rid of them either.
Oh well, less bitching and more cleaning might be the key here.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
a holy crap kind of story
Now that we've all been disappointed my the US men's soccer team, we can all go back to our good soccer team, the women. Yes, the US women remain a powerhouse throughout the world bringing joy and gladness where the men sow their seeds of lazy godawfulness.
While reading around at the US Soccer site, I was reading about an upcoming game, US versus Ireland, happening July 23. I found the following story within the article to be one of extreme Holy Crap-ness. I have nothing but pity for this young woman, even if the story is a couple of years old.
The team has three games coming up toward the end of July, and all are supposed to air on ESPN2. I have nothing more to add at the moment, but it will be so nice to see some US players that know how to act on the field and know how to get the job done. I hope the men watch these games, and I hope they are further shamed when once again, the girls not only do it, but do it better.
Okay, I do have this; I will add that the Women's World Cup is next year. Here is the link to the official FIFA site. I'm sure they'll do a nice big one with Yahoo like they did for the men, and I'll wait right here for it. The US Soccer site isn't updated past 2003, the last Women's World Cup, bunch of bums.
While reading around at the US Soccer site, I was reading about an upcoming game, US versus Ireland, happening July 23. I found the following story within the article to be one of extreme Holy Crap-ness. I have nothing but pity for this young woman, even if the story is a couple of years old.
The meeting with Ireland on June 14, 2003, in Salt Lake City, Utah, was memorable as well, as young forward Heather O'’Reilly, who is of course of Irish decent, made her first-ever start for the USA, and within 74 seconds had scored the first goal of the game and broken her leg in a collision with Ireland goalkeeper Emma Byrne on the same play. The injury eventually cost O'’Reilly a place on the 2003 Women'’s World Cup Team.
The team has three games coming up toward the end of July, and all are supposed to air on ESPN2. I have nothing more to add at the moment, but it will be so nice to see some US players that know how to act on the field and know how to get the job done. I hope the men watch these games, and I hope they are further shamed when once again, the girls not only do it, but do it better.
Okay, I do have this; I will add that the Women's World Cup is next year. Here is the link to the official FIFA site. I'm sure they'll do a nice big one with Yahoo like they did for the men, and I'll wait right here for it. The US Soccer site isn't updated past 2003, the last Women's World Cup, bunch of bums.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
I DON'T hate Christiano Ronaldo
Warning: Probable language follows, or I'm going to say some unpleasant words! So beware my innocent homeschool readers!
I completely missed the first half of today's game in which France sent Portugal home from the World Cup. Portugal's last game before today was against England, a game that saw English player Wayne Rooney show his ass by stepping on another player's testicles out of frustration. The referee of course called the foul as Portuguese player Christiano Ronaldo rushed into the hoard, presumably to ask the ref to card Rooney.
Here's where the Brits get pissy, assuming that it was actually Ronaldo's fault that Rooney got booked. As he walked away, Ronaldo is caught by the cameras winking at his side's bench. This was indeed a very smarmy move on his part, and it may be reason to think less of him and his sportsmanship, but it isn't evidence that he caused Rooney to be sent off the field.
Here's a video of the play. You see it from a distance as Rooney fights two defenders trying to force the ball through. It's a valiant struggle at first, but you see Rooney's frustrations as he actually is fouling the player, Ricardo Carvalho, grabbing his leg and dragging him to the ground before stepping directly onto his testicles.
Here are my reasons why Rooney has only himself to blame for this and why the current anti-Ronaldo sentiment is completely unfounded.
Rooney obviously intended to step on Carvalho as is evident in the slow motion close up view. He is known to be an asshole as is seen watching his anger in any number of situations. He's been tossed out of games on more than one occasion for being an asshole. The next reason is that the ref made the decision. Regardless of what Ronaldo may have said, if player entreaties carry more weight than the knowledge and skill and eyesight of the ref, then the ref doesn't need to be working in this particular field and especially not at the highest level.
Wayne Rooney is a selfish bitch who is lucky to play at the level of soccer he has attained. He is a gifted player which is all the more disappointing in one so ill prepared to act as an adult.
So, think less of Christiano Ronaldo because he's a bit smarmy or because he seems like a pretty boy ass. But don't pretend that Wayne Rooney didn't stoop lower than shit. He chose to stomp a fallen man in his balls because he doesn't care much for self control. Ronaldo didn't make Rooney suck ass.
I completely missed the first half of today's game in which France sent Portugal home from the World Cup. Portugal's last game before today was against England, a game that saw English player Wayne Rooney show his ass by stepping on another player's testicles out of frustration. The referee of course called the foul as Portuguese player Christiano Ronaldo rushed into the hoard, presumably to ask the ref to card Rooney.
Here's where the Brits get pissy, assuming that it was actually Ronaldo's fault that Rooney got booked. As he walked away, Ronaldo is caught by the cameras winking at his side's bench. This was indeed a very smarmy move on his part, and it may be reason to think less of him and his sportsmanship, but it isn't evidence that he caused Rooney to be sent off the field.
Here's a video of the play. You see it from a distance as Rooney fights two defenders trying to force the ball through. It's a valiant struggle at first, but you see Rooney's frustrations as he actually is fouling the player, Ricardo Carvalho, grabbing his leg and dragging him to the ground before stepping directly onto his testicles.
Here are my reasons why Rooney has only himself to blame for this and why the current anti-Ronaldo sentiment is completely unfounded.
Rooney obviously intended to step on Carvalho as is evident in the slow motion close up view. He is known to be an asshole as is seen watching his anger in any number of situations. He's been tossed out of games on more than one occasion for being an asshole. The next reason is that the ref made the decision. Regardless of what Ronaldo may have said, if player entreaties carry more weight than the knowledge and skill and eyesight of the ref, then the ref doesn't need to be working in this particular field and especially not at the highest level.
Wayne Rooney is a selfish bitch who is lucky to play at the level of soccer he has attained. He is a gifted player which is all the more disappointing in one so ill prepared to act as an adult.
So, think less of Christiano Ronaldo because he's a bit smarmy or because he seems like a pretty boy ass. But don't pretend that Wayne Rooney didn't stoop lower than shit. He chose to stomp a fallen man in his balls because he doesn't care much for self control. Ronaldo didn't make Rooney suck ass.
more kidspeak
The boys are watching Teen Titans. Click here for a picture of Cyborg if you are unfamiliar. The Boy looked at me and said, "You can be Cyborg, Pop. Close one eye."
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
happy fourth
Wow, for a nation founded on treason, we've come a long way. We were English colonies once upon a time, and our war for independence was seen as treason by the King and his loyal subjects. I guess our heroes of America were disloyal subjects.
Now we find ourselves discussing treason once again. It's a funny turn to take. Now treason is basically any act that the right wing deems as against their personal wishes.
We are not at war in Iraq. We are an occupying force in a land where we are neither welcomed nor wanted. By virtue of our presence alone we have caused the death of countless thousands of innocent men, women and children. What we are doing in Iraq can only be described as evil and selfish. To top that, our own government has resorted to spying on her own citizens.
So, a nation founded on freedoms now finds that too many of her citizens would happily take away those freedoms. We can make up a bogeyman and give him an Arabic sounding name because nothing scares us like Arabs. We would, not so long ago, have given him a name that sounded "Russian" and been scared of his godless communist ways. The only thing that frightens us more than Arabs are the gays. We are certain that they want to convert all of humanity to their perverse ways. Sadly, this is yet another made up bogeyman.
Now our newspapers, when they point out the crimes committed by those in power are accused of treason. I think that the right wing in our country has forgotten the meanings of words like freedom and treason. They never knew the meaning of words like fairness or equality or justice, yet they would likely use those words to their own ends, if they could squeeze a pair of pennies out of it.
Now we find ourselves discussing treason once again. It's a funny turn to take. Now treason is basically any act that the right wing deems as against their personal wishes.
We are not at war in Iraq. We are an occupying force in a land where we are neither welcomed nor wanted. By virtue of our presence alone we have caused the death of countless thousands of innocent men, women and children. What we are doing in Iraq can only be described as evil and selfish. To top that, our own government has resorted to spying on her own citizens.
So, a nation founded on freedoms now finds that too many of her citizens would happily take away those freedoms. We can make up a bogeyman and give him an Arabic sounding name because nothing scares us like Arabs. We would, not so long ago, have given him a name that sounded "Russian" and been scared of his godless communist ways. The only thing that frightens us more than Arabs are the gays. We are certain that they want to convert all of humanity to their perverse ways. Sadly, this is yet another made up bogeyman.
Now our newspapers, when they point out the crimes committed by those in power are accused of treason. I think that the right wing in our country has forgotten the meanings of words like freedom and treason. They never knew the meaning of words like fairness or equality or justice, yet they would likely use those words to their own ends, if they could squeeze a pair of pennies out of it.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
four games, one day
I did see most of the game that sent England home from Germany, and I certainly saw Rooney displaying his manliness and maturity by stomping on another man's testicles. So, Rooney is a piece of shit, and now all the world knows. Hey, Wayne, smooth move you ball stomper. How does it feel to know that all the world saw you being a baby?
The second game of the day saw favorites Brazil losing to France. I was hard pressed to want one team to advance over the other. This was a pretty good game, but in the end, France gets to stay in Germany and play. Way to go Zidane!
Game number three was some MLS action. Clint Dempsey played a great game leading his New England Revolution to a victory over the New York Red Bulls. Clint's first goal was actually pretty funny in that the ball bounced off his foot and into the net, a little accidental redirection, with what looked like no intentional effort on his part.
The final game was a replay of the UT Lady Vols winning their fourth consecutive SEC title. It's odd to go from top level men's play to college level women's play, but some of these girls are going to go on to play for the US Women's National team, and they certainly inspire more pride than the men have lately. I tried to stay awake for this game, but late nights and little sleep mean that by the fourth game of the day, I'm into dozing like I was watching baseball.
I seriously need a break from televised action and to get my hinderparts to a field and create some action of my own. I need to talk to Momma about some action that has nothing to do with fields, but this isn't that kind of blog, so . . .
The second game of the day saw favorites Brazil losing to France. I was hard pressed to want one team to advance over the other. This was a pretty good game, but in the end, France gets to stay in Germany and play. Way to go Zidane!
Game number three was some MLS action. Clint Dempsey played a great game leading his New England Revolution to a victory over the New York Red Bulls. Clint's first goal was actually pretty funny in that the ball bounced off his foot and into the net, a little accidental redirection, with what looked like no intentional effort on his part.
The final game was a replay of the UT Lady Vols winning their fourth consecutive SEC title. It's odd to go from top level men's play to college level women's play, but some of these girls are going to go on to play for the US Women's National team, and they certainly inspire more pride than the men have lately. I tried to stay awake for this game, but late nights and little sleep mean that by the fourth game of the day, I'm into dozing like I was watching baseball.
I seriously need a break from televised action and to get my hinderparts to a field and create some action of my own. I need to talk to Momma about some action that has nothing to do with fields, but this isn't that kind of blog, so . . .
Friday, June 30, 2006
how the World Cup almost made me crazy
This is a post that I've been pondering for a few days, but I find in sitting here that I might have made a discovery. And like diverging trains of thought, this update may ramble all around updating. But I'm sticking with that.
We'll start with Momma's schedule. In addition to work, which sometimes keeps her fairly late, she has roller derby practice twice a week. Big Brother goes with her to practice to play, but generally, The Boy and I stay home because we don't always have fun there. That may change. We did all attend the most recent practice, and there were more adult people there in general. There have always been the girls and the coaches. Now though, more boyfriends/girlfriends are attending and hanging out for the couple of hours. The Boy is starting to get that I'm not feeding quarters to the candy machine at his whim, and he can just run around and play.
Now comes the World Cup and my sudden realization. I have not been leaving the house for more than quick dashes to the grocery store. I've been glued to soccer for so much of the day. I certainly didn't meet my goal of watching every game, and I will never try again. The upside is that Momma has finally seen the light and even gets offside. Now, when it gets to the fall season, she will enjoy my and Big Brother's games more. But overall, I've been inside crouched on the edge of the sofa waaaayyyyyy too much.
Momma might be traveling to Alabama in August with a team from her roller derby league for what would be their first bout. The fun part is that it would likely require an extra night of practice each week. What am I gonna do? say no? yeah right, so long as she takes Wednesday nights off so I can go play soccer. I also haven't been seeing enough of her lately which is the big thing that has been tipping me toward the edge. It seems like she should be spending less time at work lately what with the "head chef" guy being back. But then we remember what he is actually like, and how he makes more work for everyone else rather than less. He sucks!
Speaking of taking different directions, Momma says it'll be cool if I get some new soccer cleats. I even know exactly what I want, and they won't be as much as her new skates. I'm not sure if I'm going to. I have a serviceable pair already, though I really hate them. They are the cheap Adidas that are a little narrow and have extra toe, almost like new All Stars. We can afford them in a bad-American-consumer sort of way, but I can get by without them. But if I get them now, and then something comes up and we can't afford them later, and the ones I have can't last much longer because they already suck, and . . . but . . . then again . . .
We are discussing talking about a vacation. She gets a week sooner or later, and we need to do something. We might plan a trip to see a soccer game. There are a few MLS teams near enough for a drive up and a day or two in town somewhere. DC United would be an obvious choice due to the DC part. Is there a campground near there? Chicago might be fun, and I'm sure they have some campgrounds. The shortest drive is Ohio, but seriously, Ohio?
And I learn something else. Seriously, just now, I wandered away from posting and learned that in 2007 Toronto will be the newest city with a team in the MLS. And the reason I was away was to see how close FC Barcelona is coming in their America/Mexico tour, and I learned, not so close actually.
And I think that here is where I leave you for now. I've wandered and meandered, and I have bored you all. It's really the least I can do, and if you have read this far, you know. I'll do a book post soon. Can you guess what I'm just now almost finishing? I'm going now to read it while I sit outside and enjoy a nice cigarette.
We'll start with Momma's schedule. In addition to work, which sometimes keeps her fairly late, she has roller derby practice twice a week. Big Brother goes with her to practice to play, but generally, The Boy and I stay home because we don't always have fun there. That may change. We did all attend the most recent practice, and there were more adult people there in general. There have always been the girls and the coaches. Now though, more boyfriends/girlfriends are attending and hanging out for the couple of hours. The Boy is starting to get that I'm not feeding quarters to the candy machine at his whim, and he can just run around and play.
Now comes the World Cup and my sudden realization. I have not been leaving the house for more than quick dashes to the grocery store. I've been glued to soccer for so much of the day. I certainly didn't meet my goal of watching every game, and I will never try again. The upside is that Momma has finally seen the light and even gets offside. Now, when it gets to the fall season, she will enjoy my and Big Brother's games more. But overall, I've been inside crouched on the edge of the sofa waaaayyyyyy too much.
Momma might be traveling to Alabama in August with a team from her roller derby league for what would be their first bout. The fun part is that it would likely require an extra night of practice each week. What am I gonna do? say no? yeah right, so long as she takes Wednesday nights off so I can go play soccer. I also haven't been seeing enough of her lately which is the big thing that has been tipping me toward the edge. It seems like she should be spending less time at work lately what with the "head chef" guy being back. But then we remember what he is actually like, and how he makes more work for everyone else rather than less. He sucks!
Speaking of taking different directions, Momma says it'll be cool if I get some new soccer cleats. I even know exactly what I want, and they won't be as much as her new skates. I'm not sure if I'm going to. I have a serviceable pair already, though I really hate them. They are the cheap Adidas that are a little narrow and have extra toe, almost like new All Stars. We can afford them in a bad-American-consumer sort of way, but I can get by without them. But if I get them now, and then something comes up and we can't afford them later, and the ones I have can't last much longer because they already suck, and . . . but . . . then again . . .
We are discussing talking about a vacation. She gets a week sooner or later, and we need to do something. We might plan a trip to see a soccer game. There are a few MLS teams near enough for a drive up and a day or two in town somewhere. DC United would be an obvious choice due to the DC part. Is there a campground near there? Chicago might be fun, and I'm sure they have some campgrounds. The shortest drive is Ohio, but seriously, Ohio?
And I learn something else. Seriously, just now, I wandered away from posting and learned that in 2007 Toronto will be the newest city with a team in the MLS. And the reason I was away was to see how close FC Barcelona is coming in their America/Mexico tour, and I learned, not so close actually.
And I think that here is where I leave you for now. I've wandered and meandered, and I have bored you all. It's really the least I can do, and if you have read this far, you know. I'll do a book post soon. Can you guess what I'm just now almost finishing? I'm going now to read it while I sit outside and enjoy a nice cigarette.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
word of the day
I'm only doing this because it sounds dirty, and when things sound dirty, I have to laugh. I'm that kind of guy. So, if you want to see today's word, which means "shoemaker" you will of course want to click. . . on "shoemaker" . . .no, the other one.
In addition to being a maker of shoes, a shoemaker is also someone who proves unsuccessful as a cook. That makes the word ever more funny as I may get the chance to use it one day. Restaurant cooks delight often in attempts to demean one another with slang and with slurs as to one's character or sexual proclivities or abilities in either the bed or the kitchen. Any new way to convey such thoughts only serves to promote one within this hierarchy of idiotdom.
I will seriously not tell Momma about this word just so that she doesn't get a chance to call someone this before I do. However, if any cooks or lesser restaurant people should happen to read this, they will most likely also use it before me. But I can rest easy for a time . . .okay, to use this term, I'd have to get a job, and while I continually expect that it will eventually happen, I'm happy to put it off. Them boys ain't getting any younger.
In addition to being a maker of shoes, a shoemaker is also someone who proves unsuccessful as a cook. That makes the word ever more funny as I may get the chance to use it one day. Restaurant cooks delight often in attempts to demean one another with slang and with slurs as to one's character or sexual proclivities or abilities in either the bed or the kitchen. Any new way to convey such thoughts only serves to promote one within this hierarchy of idiotdom.
I will seriously not tell Momma about this word just so that she doesn't get a chance to call someone this before I do. However, if any cooks or lesser restaurant people should happen to read this, they will most likely also use it before me. But I can rest easy for a time . . .okay, to use this term, I'd have to get a job, and while I continually expect that it will eventually happen, I'm happy to put it off. Them boys ain't getting any younger.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Ghana or Brazil?
That's the hard question. I love the way Brazil plays. I love the way Ronaldinho grins as if he is constantly reminded that he gets to play soccer for a living. I love also the story that is Ghana in World Cup 2006. Even though Ghana defeated my side to get to the round of 16, I still wish they could move on. I kind of don't see it. I'd love for them to have gotten paired up with almost any other team just so they could advance a little further.
Part of me just doesn't think Ghana can beat Brazil. They will try so hard, but in the end, they just won't have that little bit of help that a history in the World Cup lends Brazil. But then one has to admit that, yes, this is soccer, and one game really can change everything. Ghana has certainly shown themselves up to the task, and they could very easily prove how little rankings and odds are worth in the end. I kind of hope they do.
That game isn't for a couple of days. Tomorrow however, Ecuador is going to send the fancy boys (England) back across the channel. Rooney with his "bad boyfriend" demeanor, Beckham, showing nothing much so far, that goofy sack of tied together sticks that is Crouch, they won't do much beyond that one goal, and all the dancing in the world won't win the game when a much hungrier team shows up.
I'm leaning Netherlands tomorrow in the later game. It almost hurts to cheer for that much orange given my disdain for the local collegiate teams. I do make an exception for soccer, and the local collegiate soccer team, the Lady Vols, will likely make a good showing this fall. But regardless, the bright orange will win and go through only to be defeated by a team from the Americas.
That's my soccer post for the day. Hope you liked it.
Part of me just doesn't think Ghana can beat Brazil. They will try so hard, but in the end, they just won't have that little bit of help that a history in the World Cup lends Brazil. But then one has to admit that, yes, this is soccer, and one game really can change everything. Ghana has certainly shown themselves up to the task, and they could very easily prove how little rankings and odds are worth in the end. I kind of hope they do.
That game isn't for a couple of days. Tomorrow however, Ecuador is going to send the fancy boys (England) back across the channel. Rooney with his "bad boyfriend" demeanor, Beckham, showing nothing much so far, that goofy sack of tied together sticks that is Crouch, they won't do much beyond that one goal, and all the dancing in the world won't win the game when a much hungrier team shows up.
I'm leaning Netherlands tomorrow in the later game. It almost hurts to cheer for that much orange given my disdain for the local collegiate teams. I do make an exception for soccer, and the local collegiate soccer team, the Lady Vols, will likely make a good showing this fall. But regardless, the bright orange will win and go through only to be defeated by a team from the Americas.
That's my soccer post for the day. Hope you liked it.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
my pointless musing on net neutrality
One thing I notice among the arguments against net neutrality is the suggestion that sites like Google or You Tube should pay for the bandwidth that they use. But, I'm guessing that they already pay. Maybe they have some super secret free internet bargain, but I'm guessing not. I'm also guessing that they do indeed have the internet at Google and that their employees don't do the work at the office and then download it at home. I pay a certain company for my share of the internet, so what I'm wondering is, why should we now all have to pay more?
I once worked in a restaurant that once had a fire in the hood vents. In addition to the fire department and the loss in time and sales, the place had to pay to have the vents cleaned out and fixed after finding the problem that caused the fire. There were problems with other equipment, as will happen in restaurants, that required repair or replacement. But when these problems were encountered, the management didn't raise the prices to pay for them. The restaurant had to find a way to take care of the problem while still providing the customer with what they expected.
It seems to me that the telcos are tired of paying their part of the deal. They can't provide their service without some amount of work, an example of which is running cable lines. The argument is, in my opinion, that the telcos want to charge people because they have to update their hardware. To keep pace with technology and the spread of the human population, they want to make extra money for doing something that is integral to their business.
If you help me pay for the fryers, I'll open a restaurant, and you can come buy food there. The big difference here is that I have options when it comes to restaurants. And once I'm in the restaurant I still have options. If the corporations want more money, maybe they should worry more about their service than what they can manage to charge and how many people will pay twice.
But that's just how I see it.
I once worked in a restaurant that once had a fire in the hood vents. In addition to the fire department and the loss in time and sales, the place had to pay to have the vents cleaned out and fixed after finding the problem that caused the fire. There were problems with other equipment, as will happen in restaurants, that required repair or replacement. But when these problems were encountered, the management didn't raise the prices to pay for them. The restaurant had to find a way to take care of the problem while still providing the customer with what they expected.
It seems to me that the telcos are tired of paying their part of the deal. They can't provide their service without some amount of work, an example of which is running cable lines. The argument is, in my opinion, that the telcos want to charge people because they have to update their hardware. To keep pace with technology and the spread of the human population, they want to make extra money for doing something that is integral to their business.
If you help me pay for the fryers, I'll open a restaurant, and you can come buy food there. The big difference here is that I have options when it comes to restaurants. And once I'm in the restaurant I still have options. If the corporations want more money, maybe they should worry more about their service than what they can manage to charge and how many people will pay twice.
But that's just how I see it.
yyyeeeeessssssss!!!
I actually got a visitor here at the ol' blog searching the words Sweden and rat tail. I wish people would comment once in a while. I get really random visitors and would love the feedback. I'm not sure I could take the comments though, because they might be mean or harsh or disagreeable. I might also point out that I get regular visits from searches for Myspace and evil, and now they have two posts that will come up.
why schooling when we don't?
Why this bothers me I can't say, but I just don't like any of the terms used to describe what we homeschoolers do that involve the word "school" as any part of it. I honestly can't think of a single word or word combination that I actually like. Home education sounds like a more strict version of homeschooling, sort of a fixation on that "body of knowledge" that we are all supposed to leave school with. Unschooling as a word just shouldn't exist as it is a single word oxymoron. Life learning is a suggestion that Momma came up with, but we aren't hippies, and she agreed.
Honestly, I'm sort of anal about things sometimes, so it just may be that there isn't any thing to call it that I'd be happy with. I suppose that living is about as close as it gets. Maybe being a family and growing and hopefully maturing. But even those tend toward snobbishness as answers and turn us back to those granola hippy moms.
Whatever you call it, a main motivation for this thing we do with our kids instead of the school system is to give those kids a better start. Regardless of our political and religious drives, I think we could all agree that giving the kids a better start is at the end of many of our reasons.
So maybe that's my new answer. Maybe it will go something like this.
Honestly, I'm sort of anal about things sometimes, so it just may be that there isn't any thing to call it that I'd be happy with. I suppose that living is about as close as it gets. Maybe being a family and growing and hopefully maturing. But even those tend toward snobbishness as answers and turn us back to those granola hippy moms.
Whatever you call it, a main motivation for this thing we do with our kids instead of the school system is to give those kids a better start. Regardless of our political and religious drives, I think we could all agree that giving the kids a better start is at the end of many of our reasons.
So maybe that's my new answer. Maybe it will go something like this.
Random Person: So, where do you go to school?
Big Brother: We don't go to school.
Random person: Oh?
Me: No, we're giving them a head start by doing the job right.
Random Person: Hmmm?
Me: Don't worry about it. We homeschool.
Random Person: Ooooohhhh . . .(confused look) . . . so you go to school at home?
Me: Ya know, the very concept of school is . . .actually, yeah, we homeschool. We go to school at home.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
request for proposals for new team
There were no seven stages of grief when the US team got their plane tickets home today. As the day has progressed, I find that once again, I'm basically just disappointed. Our side, when it counted, played miserably. There is some amount of anger at the unfairness of a lot of what happened over the three games we played. There were several wrongly called fouls that resulted in cards, and as far as I know, the US is the only team to suffer two bloody faces due to elbows. There is some anger at the dives and the crying that I saw that seemed sometimes to result in called fouls, and I'm not just talking to Italy here. I'd like to think that our side was a little more honest in this regard, but I'm sure everyone thinks his or her team is the only one who doesn't try the dive.
So, I'll go through a few people that stood out on the US team, and I'll bitch about them as I see their performance deserves.
I'll start with that damn Landon Donovan. I'm over his smug looking ass. I've loved him in spite of the fact that he is the last guy we want as the face of the team. He just looks like everything the world hates about the US, the smugness combined with some sort of uppity airs. But when he decides to play, he really can. I won't deny that he can score goals. Why didn't he in Germany? I don't know. I'm waiting for DC United to pick his ass apart really soon. That's how irritated I am with him.
Brian McBride, please come home and play in the MLS and help this country get soccer wise. This guy personifies so much of what I love in the game. He went out and busted his ass for the most part. I'd like to have seen more of him, but he certainly made a lot of plays.
Clint Dempsey deserved to be on the field more than just about anyone else on the team. I'm not at all surprised that he scored the one goal we earned. If the US is ever going to not suck at the international level, I am quite certain that Clint will be a part of it. He may be the one person with whom I am not disappointed on the entire team.
As far as the referees, it can be said that the US suffered from some really bad calls. I have to wonder if this is that common soccer sickness where we blame the refs in the end. No one can argue that the US was dealt a fair amount of bad calls and improper cards. Many other teams can claim the same thing, but no other team seems to have paid quite so dearly. But, even this doesn't excuse that of our two goals in three games, we only earned one of them. The refs ruined Italy, but Ghana and the Czech Republic just beat us.
So now I need a new team in the World Cup. I'm leaning toward Brazil, and not because they are the favorites. I have loved watching Brazil play, with the exception, till today, of Ronaldo. Watching him today, I finally understood what his fat self was capable of. Brazil play the game exactly how it should be. They play the game like most players strive to. How is it that one country seems to have produced so many selfless players that would rather take the ball than the foul? That's one thing that seem most impressive about them. They don't seem to get fouled that much. Instead of falling down, they just try harder and win the ball. And they don't wing so many wild shots over the goal. They work the ball around and then, more often than not, they peg the ball straight into the goal keeper. They certainly make the keeper earn their keep, but in the end, the constant barrage of passes, all with the eye on the shot that's worth taking, all the while denying you the chance to even introduce yourself to the ball. And they seem to take turns shooting, regardless of who the star is.
My first pick for a new team might actually be Mexico, because they are our neighbors. Yes, I can be a geek like that. That's basically how I picked DC United in the MLS. I think, without actually looking, that DC may just be the closest city with an MLS team. I have a sneaking suspicion that we are about to get even more acquainted with Mexico than we have been in the past. We've certainly got our share of Mexico in the US, and that is only going to increase. I personally have no issues with that. I have this odd desire to one day move to Mexico and open an American restaurant. But in terms of soccer, closer association with Mexico might just help our side get better. Maybe what we need is more play between the Americas.
Other than today's game, I have loved Ghana. I didn't not love them today, but I wanted the US to advance. Ghana played beautiful soccer and earned their way into the next round. I might actually go with them as my favorite to win the cup. I am of course concerned because they immediately face Brazil. So that's a hard game to pick a favorite. Ghana might just be hungry enough for the win that Brazil doesn't stand a chance. Perhaps Brazil, with no yellow card issues, has the best chance of winning, but Ghana is more than welcome to surprise everyone some more. How cool would an African team winning the World Cup be?
I'm ending with Bruce Arena. I don't know what it's like to coach at the international level. But I have coached a number of AYSO teams in the time that Big Brother has been playing. And I am quite aware that U8 experience doesn't qualify me to make too bold a statement here. Having said that, I can think of a number of US players that I would have liked to see more of. But I'm done. It's over. Tomorrow is another day, and I might just take a break from soccer for the day. That's how much the US team upset me today. That's probably not true. I'll watch it because it's on and because this is some of the little soccer I'm guaranteed over the course of the year.
So, I'll go through a few people that stood out on the US team, and I'll bitch about them as I see their performance deserves.
I'll start with that damn Landon Donovan. I'm over his smug looking ass. I've loved him in spite of the fact that he is the last guy we want as the face of the team. He just looks like everything the world hates about the US, the smugness combined with some sort of uppity airs. But when he decides to play, he really can. I won't deny that he can score goals. Why didn't he in Germany? I don't know. I'm waiting for DC United to pick his ass apart really soon. That's how irritated I am with him.
Brian McBride, please come home and play in the MLS and help this country get soccer wise. This guy personifies so much of what I love in the game. He went out and busted his ass for the most part. I'd like to have seen more of him, but he certainly made a lot of plays.
Clint Dempsey deserved to be on the field more than just about anyone else on the team. I'm not at all surprised that he scored the one goal we earned. If the US is ever going to not suck at the international level, I am quite certain that Clint will be a part of it. He may be the one person with whom I am not disappointed on the entire team.
As far as the referees, it can be said that the US suffered from some really bad calls. I have to wonder if this is that common soccer sickness where we blame the refs in the end. No one can argue that the US was dealt a fair amount of bad calls and improper cards. Many other teams can claim the same thing, but no other team seems to have paid quite so dearly. But, even this doesn't excuse that of our two goals in three games, we only earned one of them. The refs ruined Italy, but Ghana and the Czech Republic just beat us.
So now I need a new team in the World Cup. I'm leaning toward Brazil, and not because they are the favorites. I have loved watching Brazil play, with the exception, till today, of Ronaldo. Watching him today, I finally understood what his fat self was capable of. Brazil play the game exactly how it should be. They play the game like most players strive to. How is it that one country seems to have produced so many selfless players that would rather take the ball than the foul? That's one thing that seem most impressive about them. They don't seem to get fouled that much. Instead of falling down, they just try harder and win the ball. And they don't wing so many wild shots over the goal. They work the ball around and then, more often than not, they peg the ball straight into the goal keeper. They certainly make the keeper earn their keep, but in the end, the constant barrage of passes, all with the eye on the shot that's worth taking, all the while denying you the chance to even introduce yourself to the ball. And they seem to take turns shooting, regardless of who the star is.
My first pick for a new team might actually be Mexico, because they are our neighbors. Yes, I can be a geek like that. That's basically how I picked DC United in the MLS. I think, without actually looking, that DC may just be the closest city with an MLS team. I have a sneaking suspicion that we are about to get even more acquainted with Mexico than we have been in the past. We've certainly got our share of Mexico in the US, and that is only going to increase. I personally have no issues with that. I have this odd desire to one day move to Mexico and open an American restaurant. But in terms of soccer, closer association with Mexico might just help our side get better. Maybe what we need is more play between the Americas.
Other than today's game, I have loved Ghana. I didn't not love them today, but I wanted the US to advance. Ghana played beautiful soccer and earned their way into the next round. I might actually go with them as my favorite to win the cup. I am of course concerned because they immediately face Brazil. So that's a hard game to pick a favorite. Ghana might just be hungry enough for the win that Brazil doesn't stand a chance. Perhaps Brazil, with no yellow card issues, has the best chance of winning, but Ghana is more than welcome to surprise everyone some more. How cool would an African team winning the World Cup be?
I'm ending with Bruce Arena. I don't know what it's like to coach at the international level. But I have coached a number of AYSO teams in the time that Big Brother has been playing. And I am quite aware that U8 experience doesn't qualify me to make too bold a statement here. Having said that, I can think of a number of US players that I would have liked to see more of. But I'm done. It's over. Tomorrow is another day, and I might just take a break from soccer for the day. That's how much the US team upset me today. That's probably not true. I'll watch it because it's on and because this is some of the little soccer I'm guaranteed over the course of the year.
is this appropriate?
I'll start with the comic book because that's where this post and the muse and myself, and here we are. Big Brother asked, in reference to a Paul Pope comic book, "is this appropriate?" He's learned that certain items in the household library are things that Momma and I have deemed inappropriate. His reading level is to a point where I honestly worry about some of the things that he could read. I wonder sometimes whether this should be a concern, but I also know that I want to give him room to grow some. I think there are certain things that children may not be ready for. Should a seven year old be reading Kurt Vonnegut? He is perfectly able to, but should he?
I feel as though I should say that my ideas of appropriateness may differ greatly from those of many parents. Certainly the family that seems to represent homeschooling has vastly different ideas than I have. But, accepting that each family is as individual as the members that make up that family, are we so different?
When Big Brother asked his question, my mind went through a litany of questions concerning this book's content. It's a basic scifi story, teen girl superhero, not presented sexually, artwork is really great, so he should read the thing. It's a great book, and there isn't anything that Momma or I would not want him reading.
But then I am forced to remember, even if only for a moment, that I could learn the lesson. Kids don't often wait till we are ready. They go and hear things, or they read the book of short stories with that one really creepy Ray Bradbury story. Or my favorite, when your sharing with your child a favored movie, and that one scene comes on that you had completely forgotten was in the movie, and you just kind of let it go and wait for whatever happens. But, hey, that's homeschooling/life.
The real concerns concerning appropriateness concern that ability to see things in a broader context. Mark Twain is a perfect example. He uses language that is very racist, yet he himself was not racist but wrote in the dialect of the day. It's a not uncommon practice, but how does a child know this? He has no context in which to place the word "darky," so we have to be sure to explain it. But I also want to let him have a little more innocence. I don't want him to know just yet that some people are racist, that such ugliness exists. I want my boys to be open and accepting, and I want them to learn how to truly judge the character of a person. But that's tempered by wanting them to not be ignorant and naive.
And here's the sad part of this whole thing. The comic in question is sitting out because I was looking for some good images of the feminine form to practice drawing while working on some ideas for Momma's roller derby team logo. From the comic being out we jump to me and Momma BC (before children) mid to late '90's and our then growing comic collection. That was one of the things to feel the bite of changing financial prerogatives. While I do have some great comics, and I have missed a few years worth of Blade of the Immortal, they certainly aren't worth the value of the two boys who pushed the comics to the back of the line. And yes, Paul Pope is good for kids, and tomorrow, I'm going to make sure that Big Brother stretches his small self out in the floor. This is a big comic by the way, 9.5"x13" as opposed to whatever size comics usually are. But Paul Pope's art works so perfectly in a larger size.
I don't know that we learned anything here today, but maybe we started a dialogue that will lead to healing, or just not being hippies!
I feel as though I should say that my ideas of appropriateness may differ greatly from those of many parents. Certainly the family that seems to represent homeschooling has vastly different ideas than I have. But, accepting that each family is as individual as the members that make up that family, are we so different?
When Big Brother asked his question, my mind went through a litany of questions concerning this book's content. It's a basic scifi story, teen girl superhero, not presented sexually, artwork is really great, so he should read the thing. It's a great book, and there isn't anything that Momma or I would not want him reading.
But then I am forced to remember, even if only for a moment, that I could learn the lesson. Kids don't often wait till we are ready. They go and hear things, or they read the book of short stories with that one really creepy Ray Bradbury story. Or my favorite, when your sharing with your child a favored movie, and that one scene comes on that you had completely forgotten was in the movie, and you just kind of let it go and wait for whatever happens. But, hey, that's homeschooling/life.
The real concerns concerning appropriateness concern that ability to see things in a broader context. Mark Twain is a perfect example. He uses language that is very racist, yet he himself was not racist but wrote in the dialect of the day. It's a not uncommon practice, but how does a child know this? He has no context in which to place the word "darky," so we have to be sure to explain it. But I also want to let him have a little more innocence. I don't want him to know just yet that some people are racist, that such ugliness exists. I want my boys to be open and accepting, and I want them to learn how to truly judge the character of a person. But that's tempered by wanting them to not be ignorant and naive.
And here's the sad part of this whole thing. The comic in question is sitting out because I was looking for some good images of the feminine form to practice drawing while working on some ideas for Momma's roller derby team logo. From the comic being out we jump to me and Momma BC (before children) mid to late '90's and our then growing comic collection. That was one of the things to feel the bite of changing financial prerogatives. While I do have some great comics, and I have missed a few years worth of Blade of the Immortal, they certainly aren't worth the value of the two boys who pushed the comics to the back of the line. And yes, Paul Pope is good for kids, and tomorrow, I'm going to make sure that Big Brother stretches his small self out in the floor. This is a big comic by the way, 9.5"x13" as opposed to whatever size comics usually are. But Paul Pope's art works so perfectly in a larger size.
I don't know that we learned anything here today, but maybe we started a dialogue that will lead to healing, or just not being hippies!
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