Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Rare

T1G: "Are there many 'gators in this area?"
Old Guy: "Nah... they ain't around here."
Other Old Guy: "Ain't true... I seen one ta other day. It was in that pond over by them new condos."
Old Guy: "You're on them goofy pills."
Other Old Guy: "I swear it..."
Old Guy (turning to me): "There might be some, but they don't generally hang in this area... too close to salt water. It's pretty damn rare."

Yeah. Right. Saw my first Florida 'gator coming back from Sun City. I don't know how big "big" is, but I'd say this was big. Damn near 10'. Big enough to make my skin crawl... and, of course, I thought of Jimbo. He loves'em.

"Rare" my ass.

Zidaning

Headutting. Or Zidaning... it's the in thing.

Now a jockey's gone and used his noggin on his horse. See it here. Personally, I liked Zidane's blast better.

Word has it that the horse took a page from Materazzi (Zidane's butting bag), insulting the jockey, Paul O'Neill, and his family. More specifically, he'd implied that O'Neill's mother had worked a show in Tijuana with a cousin of his.

Monday, July 24, 2006

A Note

Dear Pa,

Hope things are going well for you, and that the Big Guy has you set up right. I'm sure you know all about it, but I'm down here in Florida, helping out Aunt D., trying to get Uncle Russ' business rolling again, so that we can sell.

As I often do, I was thinking of you today. Alot. I was remembering how I used to follow you around in the machine shops and the garage, asking about tools and why certain things needed certain care and others didn't. All of us kids would ask if we could help saw, or drill things for you. You'd patiently explain everything to us, and sometimes allow us to help. And help for real, not just to entertain ourselves. I remember the first tool box you got for me... full of real tools. I think I was seven or eight at the time. You'd show us how to use some tools, and explain why we couldn't run others until we were older. I love ya for that...

Today, I had the chance to watch over S's boy (he's ten already!). He followed me around the shop asking questions, wanting to help, and playing with some of the tools I thought it safe for him. I got to spend most of the day with him. Kind of a learning experience, and a realization of what you did for us.

I just wanted to thank you, Pa, for not killing me.

Love and miss you,

Joe

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Watada

I know that it's not new news, but it's really starting to chaff me. Ehren Watada refuses to fight illegal war. Blah, blah, blah.... most stories make him out to be a hero, and it's seeing comments like this one from a KHNL 8 viewer feedback forum that have just gotten me steamed.
"I'm behind Lt. Ehren Watada 100%!I think it's wonderful that he's standing up for his rights!!" - Nicole
Were he a civilian, maybe. But he is an officer in the US Army. I'm pretty goddamned sure that he gave an oath similar to this:
"I, Ehren Watada, having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God." (DA Form 71, 1 August 1959, for officers.)
Emphasis added by me.
Something close to this, if not this exactly.

Watada, having "educated" himself about the current war, has deemed it illegal, and thus, he will not serve. He is making a stand by staying home. Some may see that as manly. I see it as being a bit selfish. He's hurting the unit and the men with whom he's trained. While it would seem that any officer can step into a position of leadership, and run that unit just as well, it doesn't happen like that. Especially when you've got an officer who shows as much promise as Watada did.

Hey, he does have a right to make a stand. But he's a member of the military... you've got to play differently. He was insubordinate to his superior officers. Now he's got the right to a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of pay and seven years in prison.

Hawnger

Damn... I've got a powerful craving for some 911 buffalo shrimp, curly fries, and a tall, ice cold Guinness.

Just sayin'.

Global Warming

I sat down and watched a bit of television, last night. I'm a fan of the Discovery Channel, so I went there to watch a few shows. Then came their show, "Global Warming: What you need to know..." While some of it was kinda interesting, most of it bored me to death.

"Never have CO2 levels been this high in the past 600,000 years..." was one of their quotes. And then they speculate that the reason that is, is because the rainforest, the Earth's lung, is being killed off by loggers, and lack of rain. The trees there can no longer process the CO2 into oxygen. This could be very true. Could be.

I noticed though, not once did they mention the real culprits behind this over abundance of carbon dioxide. They blamed fuel guzzling vehicles, our lifestyles and the energy expended maintaining them, and some other crap. But never were those fitness freaks mentioned. No aerobics instructors tossed under the bus.. it's not right.

I mean, think about it. Fitness buffs in general release more CO2 into the atmosphere than the average person. Respiration is increased, thus the rate of CO2 being released into the air is increased. Aerobics practicioners, in particular, are responsible for many times over what a sloth like myself would release into the atmosphere. Selfish bastards... killing the earth so that they might live. I'd like to see this added to the Kyoto Protocol.

One solution offered was for storage of CO2 in under-sea caverns. CO2 would be pumped into caverns under the sea bed, instead of being released into the atmosphere. It's a pretty cool idea, but you've gotta wonder what happens when the planet finally farts... No, seriously, it was pretty damn interesting.

Not a part of the show, but something that I had caught just a few minutes before it began, is Stephen Colbert's (of the Colbert Report) take on global warming, and Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth," with his own documentary, "The Convenientest Truth." Check it out...

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Scarevella

Christina has resurrected her novellas. Yes, she's had them up and running for awhile now... I just suck at keeping you up to date. You can check them all out at Fiesty Repartee... look down on the right sidebar, under "Fabulous Fiction."

Why remind you of this now? Chrissy has started a new one, one of which I'm part. Man, I can't wait to see how this one goes, as Chrissy's kicked it off with a bang! I only hope that I'll be able to keep up with the other writers...

Out

Went out with the aunt and cousin last night. We saw a local band called Three Floors Up, obviously a cover band. But I've got to say, those guys rocked... they were very good. Anything from Otis Redding to REO Speedwagon, from SRV to Deep Purple, the Cars to Cheap Trick, they played it and played it well. They did a kickass version of "Spooky," and, while I don't usually get excited about anyone (including Deep Purple) doing "Smoke on the Water," they rocked it. They kept people on the dance floor all evening... It was cool to hear them do the hometown boys' "I Want You To Want Me"... the floor was instantly packed. There's a lot of Midwesterners down here.

I did not dance, but I got a kick out of watching those that did. One old man asked a younger woman for a slow dance, after he had been dancing around her for a bit. She told him, "Maybe if you'd bathe!" When he asked her if it was that bad, she very loudly told him that he reeked! Heheheh... I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

Of course, Eric's point was proved when they played RSM's main man. The floor was swarmed by writhing bodies when they played "Purple Rain." Jeebus. The ladies do like it...

One couple, in their seventies, was out there grinding... I was in shock... at first I thought it disgusting. But then I thought about it, and just figured "Go, man! Go! Just don't have a heart attack!" Hey, at least they were having fun, though I about had a heart attack myself when she bent down and ground her ass into him. You should have seen his face...

Overall, it was a pretty damn good time.

Only strange part of the night was when the band played "Free Bird," a tune I almost hate, now that I've heard it 14,238 times. My aunt got up and walked out, looking pissed. Shortly, my cousin followed. I asked my cousin's hubby what that was all about.

She wasn't pissed. Turns out "Free Bird" was one of the songs played when they distributed my uncle's ashes. As a matter of fact, it was playing when they were heading back, followed by a single gull. That bird followed them until the song stopped. Obviously, that's what she was thinking of when they played it. She's still having a hard time. Seems possible that my uncle may be feeling the same...

There's a magic microwave that turns on by itself in the middle of the night, and doors that open by themselves.

Friday, July 21, 2006

Back...

Well, it's not like anyone is going to notice, but I'm back on blogsnot for right now. Munu has been biting shit that it's not supposed to bite. I don't blame Pixy (he rules for letting folks use his server space, and providing a community for all of us), but I don't get much time to blog anymore. Seems that when I do, MuNu is down again.

Whatever drivel I feel I need to post will be done here.

I knew I shouldn't have made that last post announcing that all was going well with MuNu...

Monday, July 17, 2006

Elsewhere

I'm back at the other site. I'm keeping this open just in case, but things are running well over there at the other Drunken Wisdom.

Update: Tempted fate by posting this... other blog dead.