Watching The Grammys?

I haven't watched the Grammys in years. But, thanks to technology, I streamed the live version blogging, so I knew who did what and when, before it was aired in my time zone.

I found it interesting, though, that the author of the live streaming was all negative on the live performances, even going so far as to claim it was all out of whack for the event, like everyone was trying to outdo one another, or show that they were "fierce."

Personally, I had to watch it just for the diss that was put on Lady Gaga's duet with Elton John. I mean, come on, you all know I'm a Gaga fan!

The diss was not felt here. I thought she sang unbelievably, and even played piano (get that, grandkid ... those lessons were not wasted, damn it). I liked their duet, as it made me appreciate Lady Gaga as an artist more than as a production number.

Beyonce's number was ok, she was definitely "fierce," but I don't think she had to prove it.

And give it up to Black Eyed Peas!!!!!! Man, they are always up to par.

Leon Russell and Zac Brown Band????? Goose bumps all around, and time for another shot of rum.

Stevie Nicks and Taylor Swift ... nice, but Swift was definitely nervous. (She was sort of flat in her notes on her performances). "You Belong With Me" is a well written and well performed song, for the record.

As for the Michael Jackson tribute... I am too choked up to comment. The shot of Beyonce rocking with her 3-d glasses was classic.

Of course, best way to catch my attention is to have Jennifer Nettles from Sutherland, singing with Bon Jovi! I hope she has the good sense to stay away from Richie, that two timing *0#^8_(*"

"Bridge Over Troubled Waters" was performed well by Andrea Bocelli, May J. Blige and introduced by Wclef Jean ... who amongst us hasn't felt the tragedy of Haiti.


Still smarting from the Les Paul tribute session.

Well, end of show coming up. Starting to drift (grins).

Ok, the hip hop set woke me up LOL. Eminem still gets my vote.

And you had no doubt Taylor Swift would win Album Of The Year? LOL.

Night.

Buggers, Under A Kid's Microscope

My daughter dropped off my grandson to babysit today. I was not prepared for it, but it was ok. However, he was eager to use his science kit and microscope he got for Christmas (from Santa, wink, wink). I was not prepared to do any experiments, but I was ok with using the microscope. He came prepared with a huge bugger he wanted to see (laughing).

So, he picks his nose (ewww, been there, done that), and we put it on a blank slide, then add the little dab of watter and then the slide cover, and place it under the scope. This scope is cool in that in addition to seeing 300, 600 and 900X, it has a feature that shows the slide on a screen in the front of the scope.

Off chance, with my ant problem, we killed one, and then put it on a slide, did the water thing and cover thing, and then looked at it under the scope. It was cool to see the legs, eyes, antenna, at such a close range. He really had fun. We taped and labeled the slides.

Next week, I'll have to really do an experiment with him. I'm going to have to look at which one we should do.

"Everything Is Jumping"

Sort of following up on Rix's musical evaluation, I think an Artie Shaw tune is appropriate (smiles).

Don't let the fact that my dad was a bones player influence you!

Ruby Summer Doing Lady Gaga's "Let's Dance"

Many know I'm a Lady Gaga fan. Got the ringtones and screens on my cell phone (laughs).

Ran into an old acquaintance without Facebook or MySpace, by her finding the link to my uncles blog and her sending an email to me to give her email address to one of my cousins, and then, she asked in her email how I and my kid were doing ... and I found this odd since I thought I was just forwarding a "get in touch" to one of my family members who's blog I manage.

When she mentioned that I gave her all of Mercedes' used clothes back in the day, I knew immediately who the person was because I only gave those clothes away to one person. Back when my daughter was born, I tended to drop 3 to 5 hundred every three months for imported cotton baby clothes, and I only gave them to this one person whose kid was about six months younger than my daughter.

It was fun chatting in email. I still have all her letters to me when I moved to Oregon (yes, I'm a saver of all letters, cards, etc. since 1979 ... true).

That lead me to give her my cousin's Leslie's girls MySpace link (they recently recorded and released an album) and I found this YouTube of them singing, acoustically, Lady Gaga's "Let's Dance." It was pretty cool, and I'm sharing it here.

Corporate America Running For Congress LOL

This is absolutely hillarious, and a great way to express an opinion about the SCOTUS ruling giving alleged First Amendment Rights to corporations.

The progressive PR firm Murray Hill Inc. has announced that it plans to satirically run for Congress in the Republican primary in Maryland’s 8th congressional district to protest the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision. A press release on its website says that the company wants to “eliminate the middle man” and run for Congress directly, rather than influencing it with corporate dollars:

“Until now,” Murray Hill Inc. said in a statement, “corporate interests had to rely on campaign contributions and influence peddling to achieve their goals in Washington. But thanks to an enlightened Supreme Court, now we can eliminate the middle-man and run for office ourselves.”

“The strength of America,” Murray Hill Inc. says, “is in the boardrooms, country clubs and Lear jets of America’s great corporations. We’re saying to Wal-Mart, AIG and Pfizer, if not you, who? If not now, when?” [...]

Campaign Manager William Klein promises an aggressive, historic campaign that “puts people second” or even third. “The business of America is business, as we all know,” Klein says. “But now, it’s the business of democracy too.” Klein plans to use automated robo-calls, “Astroturf” lobbying and computer-generated avatars to get out the vote.

Murray Hill Inc. plans on spending “top dollar” to protect its investment. “It’s our democracy,” Murray Hill Inc. says, “We bought it, we paid for it, and we’re going to keep it.”

Closing Out The Bar With Wes Montgomery

Nice piece. Didn't want to play the old standard "Bumpin On Sunset."

Too Many Computers

I am really old school when it comes to technology. I am there, ahead of my peers, but I tend to cling to earlier versions of things I like until I'm told (by the computer) that my program will not run until I upgrade!

In the years between 2001 and current, I started dabbling in the art of building computers. I have a better grasp of the hardware than I do of the software ... still have never installed Windows, always let my partner do the OS shit.

I've amassed a shitload of computer parts. My office is fully decked out, but ironically I have the only old computer, which none of the parts are compatible with the new stuff. But, hey, in the 9 years I've worked at my office, I've never had a virus, while everyone else has had to have stuff done to their systems because they got fucked up by some virus (laughs).

Well, for whatever reason, my boss brings in this top of the line HP quad processor puter with Windows 7 and says, "here, I got you the Cadillac version."

I've had the box on the floor for a week now going "holy shit" why me? I already upgraded at home and gave my 9 year old self-built puter (which had 1 gig of RAM 9 years ago, LOL) to the grandkid, now I have to look at wasting a perfectly good old school puter for this Windows 7 faster than shit puter. (I still have my first IBM XT bought in 1986, but it was a 1984 version ... still has WordPerfect 5.1 on it, and if I am in the mood to get an old school floppy, I can still use it in conjunction with my "Cadillac" new age computer ... how weird is that?).

So, I finally relented and installed it as the work puter for me. First off, it's wireless, and I had to change my home to office communication tools, plus I still don't know if the newer puter will accept my Desktop Themes program. But even if it doesn''t, I don't change the themes at work like I do at home (hell, I've got over400 themes to choose from so I have more than enough to change it every day, which I used to do ... but I'm not as anal about the themes these days).

Well, long story short, my office computer's parts are still compatible with my 9 year old home puter with the 1 gig RAM, which is currently having problems and showing its age. I brought the old office puter home, and it has three slots for the RAM, so I can actually boost it to 1.5 gigs, and all I have to do is take out the wireless card and the other new stuff I put on the 9 year old puter (new DVD/CD player/recorder) and put them in old office puter, and my grandson will have a faster old school puter than anyone around!

I've got to learn, though, to stop keeping these old computers. Next week will be an interesting test of "adapting" as I start to use the new HP Cadillac.

Hell, I've even decided to dump using my old Sidekick with T-Mobile and go with a Blackberry using Boost's $60 a month prepaid plan, that includes 3g technology, which I keep waiting for the prepaid T-mobile to offer. Funny, the BB is cheaper than my Sidekick, and has more to offer. I figure since I'm progressing into 2010 technology, might as well ditch the old school cell phone.

UPDATE: 5/29/10 - I still have my Sidekick. Never did buy he BlackBerry. Instead, I opted for a new netbook computer. But after using it for a long trip, I ended up giving it to my grandson to take home (since he no longer has his own computer at home and his mom hogs her computer and rarely lets him use it). It was funny ... he said to me, "grandma, you have THREE computers here, and I have none. Can't I have this little notebook, PLEEEEEEAAAAAASSSSSSEEEE??????" How could I resist, especially when it mostly sat on top of the tower unused under my desk!

I still want the BlackBerry, but I'll wait a few months. Maybe buy it as an Xmas gift for myself. Better yet, make my daughter buy it for me!

Ok, So I'm Not As Enthused As I Used To Be (aka Did Not Watch The SOTU Address)

I didn't watch the President's SOTU speech tonight. But, I've read enough to feel like I've been there and done that.

I thought this funny:

I can't stand when he mentions Ronald Reagan in a positive fashion and he did that again tonight. When will he realize that conservatives will never support him and to suck up to the Gipper is a mistake?

And this as well:

Dear Justice Alito:

The President is allowed to call your decision enabling corporate takeover of elections bad for America. It's his opinion, and he's more than entitled to it.

Hugs and Kisses,
The Constitution

Shatner's "Raw Nerve"

Shatner's interview with Whoopi on his show Raw Nerve was interesting. His questions about menopause elicited some of the funniest comments from Whoopi in years! Although, her honesty to Shatner's "you can't tell me you aren't lonely for a man?" was pretty straight forward.

Can't find that one on YouTube right now, but here is the one I watched last night with Mackenzie Phillips.




Even the one with Meatloaf was interesting to watch. Very much a "Shatner" I've not been acquainted with.

RIP Kate McGarrigle

Some cognac and memories for Arno.

What Is Your State Of Mind?

Nearly a year later, I am still in that "New York State Of Mind."

Late Night TV Wars

I am staying out of the war. Although, I've already registered my view on Rix's site (Letterman).

I do enjoy the new George Lopez show operating on cable in that same time slot. Tonight, I actually realized that the new voice over commenter is none other than Billy Vera! (ha ha ha).

Tonight was Betty White ... god, I wish I can live to her age and still have that sexuality that she puts out (although, it's for laughs now).

And You Expected A Different Outcome?

The fallout is starting to come, and I can't say that the liberals, progressives and left-wingers didn't tell the Democratic party "I told you this would happen."

As commenter Tony has repeatedly stated, politicians will say anything to get elected, then they'll do whatever they fucking want. Although, that holds true for his Republican party, which I know is not doing the business he thinks they should be doing either. But let's not stray from my point, which is, we liberals, left-wingers and progressives worked our fucking butts off contributing, canvassing, blogging and pushing for Democrats to take over in Washington (2006 and 2008). Especially in 2008, where Democrats were voted in all over the country in city, state and federal elections. We were galvanized by a poignant speaker of color who ran for President on the theme "Change We Can Believe In."

Once done, and with unprecedented voter turnout on the Democratic side, we waited for change ... any change. Like most of us liberals, the moment Obama put Rahm Emanuel in charge, we felt the shit starting to hit the fan. ALL of us remember his famous battles with Gov. Dean over leadership of the Democratic national senate committee, and how Gov. Dean's 50-state policy was pooh-poohed by Emanuel (and we also remember how many of Emanual's candidates of choice did not get elected). "Change we can believe in" turned into "what can I do for you Republicans," who promptly told Obama to go fuck himself and that they hoped, nay rooted, for him to fail in any and all endeavors, and proceeded to take on the title of the "party of no." And proudly, I might add.

One by one, each decision Obama made was wrong, from the too small stimulus plan (which still created jobs, but it just wasn't big enough, and it was watered down to where 40% of it contained tax cuts -- again!), to the corporate giveaways of taxpayer money, to those horrible DOJ briefs in support of DOMA, to the aversion to DADT repeal, and now this piss pour health plan -- which I am glad to see is not going to ever get passed. And it won't be because the Republicans vote no, it will be because the liberal Democrats have already indicated they will not hold their noses and vote for this piece of crap.

And the cous de gras was, of course, the MA election, where a Republican took over a seat in the Senate held for nearly 50 years by one man, Ted Kennedy. Now, as we have already "told you so," this win was not because the country has suddenly turned into conservative Republicans -- it is because the Democratic and liberal base is demoralized and, as we've said before, we ain't gonna vote no more. The numbers are clear that the Republicans were charged up and on the move, and the Democrats were unenthusiastic and uninterested. Hell, Coakley couldn't even get Obama to stump for her; either she didn't care, or Obama didn't care. Either way, it is a precursor of things to come.

By Star-Ledger Guest Columnist Alain L. Sanders:

In the handling of his first major domestic priority, Barack Obama has demonstrated the kind of presidency he is erecting. It is a presidency of change, as he promised. But perhaps not of the kind one can believe in. Not for the 21st century.

Absent from the Obama construct of the presidency, it seems, is the president as director-in-chief, the chief executive model crafted by modern-era heavyweights such as Franklin Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan.

Present in its place is the Obama concept of the office: The president as facilitator-in-chief, a lighter throw-back model, reminiscent of the 19th century era of congressional dominance — and largely forgotten presidents.

Directors-in-chief are the Oval Office leaders who set the agenda, present concrete proposals, knock congressional heads, strike deals, and sign legislation that bears the presidential stamp. That was the modus operandi for Roosevelt’s Social Security and sweeping economic programs, Johnson’s Medicare and landmark civil rights laws, and Reagan’s tax cuts and major defense buildup.

Facilitators-in-chief are the White House occupants who follow an agenda of consensus, offer suggestions, mediate deals that are struck by the barons of power in Congress and sign legislation (if any emerges) that bears the barons’ stamp.

Just remember, we told you so.

Question to Tony

I notice to you logging onto my site recently and clicking onto my menu options, which are, generally, liberal blogs. I sort of thought you restricted your reading to the Fox group, et al, and you wouldn't even consider reading a NYTimes Article (per an email that is now famous in the liberal blogasphere, lol). What is with all your new reading of MY favorite liberal blogs? (hey, seriously, just asking ... no hidden agenda, really).

Haiti, Katrina, It's A Black Thing

The lack of real action with regard to aiding the Haitians has reminded me very much of how our government responded to the Katrina disaster. See my posts here, here, and here, for just a few of my comments on Katrina.

As with Katrina, aid has been available. Just, no one is doing anything with it. No crews are in the capital, no medical supplies are sent in, and the only people that are actually getting flown out of Haiti are American citizens. Sounds more and more like a "black" thing to me. Like the American military aid ship off the coast just sitting there.

Lack of medical facilities and doctors for tens of thousands of injured people in the decimated Haitian capital is one of the major problems facing aid efforts in the aftermath of Tuesday's earthquake. U.S. Naval officials said earlier Saturday that the Vinson nevertheless didn't plan to take on care of earthquake victims, and was awaiting arrival of a ship with more operating rooms to arrive Sunday or Monday and a hospital ship to arrive a few days later on Thursday.

[snip]

Cmdr. Alfred Shwayhat, the senior medical officer who is an endocrinologist, said he had a plan to "treat 1,000 Haitians if necessary," when interviewed aboard the ship on Saturday. But he had received no orders to do so. "If the captain authorizes it, I will take anyone," he said. The Vinson's facility, he said, "exceeds anything in the civilian sector, bar none."

Now where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, Katrina! Everyone was allegedly available for help, but no one could do anything until there were "orders" from higher up.

We are just one fucked up country when it comes to actually helping black people and catastrophic events. Seems when faced with help or death, our country errs on the side of death.

It has been a week already, and only private (and very small) groups have actually made it into the capital to assist. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Doctors Without Boarders, and a few others, but that's about it. "Logistics" and "orders" seem to be the excuses made by the Americans who are apparently in charge, and as with the false reports regarding Katrina and all the "killing, raping and pillaging" that was supposed to have been going on, and which, in the end, proved untrue, the excuse in Haiti is that before any help goes in, it has to be "secured."

I am appalled at this country's inability to do anything right over the last ten years. And I would seriously advise the rest of the world to think twice when the next emergency occurs before they decide to let "the Americans" be in charge.

San Diego Chargers Suck

UPDATE: 12/3/10 Since I'm getting a number of hits off of searching "Chargers Suck," I would like to advise readers of the following pieces since I wrote this post, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Well, my Chargers sucked it big time today. I didn't even watch the fourth quarter as I was sure they were not going to win. If they couldn't get shit done, and led by 7-3 at the half, against the lowly Jets, for goodness sake, then obviously they had analyzed the game all wrong. Why the fuck were they running the ball, when Tomlinson was gaining ZERO yards a carry? Where was the passing game?

Being a Charger fan is a lot like being a Cubs fan ... every year ends in agonizing disappointment.

And, now, there's not a team I can really root for except for the Vikings, and that is only because of Favre.

I may even NOT watch the Super Bowl ... at this point, not even hearing the Who lip sync could make me watch it.

Gonna drown my sorrows in a lot of rum tonight.

4+20

Closing out the bar with Stephen Stills.

Who Says It Never Rains In Southern California?

I switched to Firefox today. This will be my first post using the browser, which is seriously faster than my old Internet Explorer 6 (ha ha). I hated IE8 and most things I use kept telling me they were phasing out IE6, so I either had to upgrade to IE8, Firefox or the Google browser. I still have IE6, mainly for reference, as I learn how to tweak the settings for the new browser.

I wanted to post my thoughts about the tragedy in Haiti, and about how long it is STILL FUCKING taking relief to get to the people, despite days and days of relief being on the FUCKING ISLAND. But, I still don't have my thoughts all in order. And today, I had a lot to do, especially since I woke up at noon, well, I woke up earlier, but went back to sleep, even though I have my grandson. Just give him a lot of cereal and milk, and the remote control to his TV, and he's good to go. He even knows how to utilize On Demand!

Anyway, the weather forecast for Los Angeles says there are four storms heading this way starting tomorrow, and rain is predicted for more than a week. I realized that I did not have any shoes to wear in the rain, my last pair of boots having hit the garbage heap a few weeks ago. So, I knew I had to (1) watch some football (2) buy boots (3) buy my grandson boots since I discovered he doesn't have any either, and (4) do my grocery shopping.

Since Arizona was taking a drubbing in game one, I chose to set game two (Colts/Ravens) on tape, and hit the road at about 3 p.m. to buy boots. I was lucky to find a really cool, shit kicking type of boot, old school punk style, at only $30 and then found some imitation Timberlake (is that the brand?) for the grandson. Took the Dash bus (they are phasing out that line, and I am definitely pissed) home, dropped off the boots, then grabbed all the shopping bags I have and pulled out the granny cart and walked to Ralphs to do the weekly shopping. Even my Bacardi was on sale so I didn't have to make a separate trip to Smart & Final.

Made dinner for the grandkid, watched some football (Ravens were seriously deficient tonight) and ended up watching Disney Channel's "The Incredibles," which I never tire of. Now, "Up, Up And Away" is on, and the grandkid (after giving him a bath) is ensconced on my couch/bed watching it, and I'm having my cocktails and blogging!

My cold is almost over. I didn't have to take any medicine today, but still had to use tissues for the occasional sneeze and runny nose. Tomorrow, rain is forecast, and the two remaining football games that I actually give a shit about will be on. I think it will be a stay at home kind of day.

UPDATE:

The grandkid went to his swords, shields and superhero's box and found a cape, glasses, belt, and he kept running around yelling "up,up and away," and then jumping in the air. I sure hope he doesn't really try this, like off the roof or something!



Picture courtesy of Carrie's blurry cell phone at night, without a flash!

Sorry, Got To Get Over The Recent Cold

Laid up with another "bad cold." The problems with colds are that they just have to run their course. A cold is usually runny nose and then stuffy and congested lungs. Antihistamine's and decongestants are all that are usually required. No fever, no aches and pains, so no need for pain relievers, and no sore throat or coughing, so nothing in that area needed.

Problem is that when you combine the antihistamine's and decongestants on the levels needed to stop a cold, you get sleepy (don't believe those "stay awake" medicines, they don't keep you alert, damn it) so my cold pattern usually starts at about noonish the first day, so that when I get home, I just hit the bed and sleep for hours. I only wake up just to take more medicine. Second day, I am out of commission, so if it's a work day, I don't go to work. Third day, no need for medicine until evening and I can go to work, fourth day (tomorrow) should be the passer, and Sunday, I should show no signs of anything.

Unfortunately, I have a lot to say about the Haiti situation, but I have just not been strong enough to put together a coherent post when I've been under the weather.

Stay tuned for my take.

No Live Cameras For Prop 8 Trial

Reporting from Washington - The U.S. Supreme Court, acting on an appeal from conservative defenders of California's ban on same-sex marriage, overruled a federal judge in San Francisco today and blocked video coverage of the trial on YouTube.

Well, well, well, another example of not letting the American public see how the "system" works! If we keep Americans stupid, then we can keep passing stupid legislation! God forbid we should actually get to see and hear all the vile rhetoric that will pass for arguments in favor of Proposition 8. I note, Jerry Brown, AG for California, has refused to argue the case on behalf of the Prop 8 supporters. Kudo's to him.

Ah, democracy -- just like our founders imagined it to be -- NOT!

Just A Little Lesson On Racism

rac ism–noun

1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3.hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
Origin: 1865–70; (Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009)


1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race. (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth EditionCopyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company)

The belief that some races are inherently superior (physically, intellectually, or culturally) to others and therefore have a right to dominate them. In the United States, racism, particularly by whites against blacks, has created profound racial tension and conflict in virtually all aspects of American society. Until the breakthroughs achieved by the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s, white domination over blacks was institutionalized and supported in all branches and levels of government, by denying blacks their civil rights and opportunities to participate in political, economic, and social communities. (The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third EditionCopyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company)

[emphasis added]

Trent Lott = racist. Trent Lott comment over which he was forced to resign (by the Bush Administration, I might add): "I want to say this about my state: when Strom Thurmond ran for President, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."

Strom Thurmond was a staunch segregationist, something he never tried to hide. His beliefs clearly encompassed the definitions of racist and racism listed above.

Harry Reid? His comment that has the righties' panties all in a bunch? Racist? Don't make me laugh.

I find it funny that lately people just throw around the word "racist" or "racism" when they actually have no idea what the words really mean, or the fact that it doesn't always relate to the African-American population.

Oy, What A Game(s) I Saw Today!

Game two, the highest scoring post season game ever, and it started out as a blowout, with Arizona going 17-0 against Green Bay in the first quarter.

I thought it was going to be a repeat of Game one, which was definitely a full fledged blowout between the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots - playing in the Pats' stadium. The very first play in that game was an 80 something yards kick-off return by the Ravens. New England (and the dreaded Tom Brady arggghhhhh) couldn't do anything right, and the Ravens won by a score of 33-14. I hate Tom Brady and so of course, was rooting for his teams' defeat.

Next came the Arizona vs. Green Bay game. As expected, all were picking Green Bay, and while I had a little emotion vested in game one (ever since New England took out my Chargers a few years back in the playoffs, and all I heard of was Brady, Brady, Brady - Kind of like "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha" from a famous Brady family television show), I sort of was pulling for Arizona, for no apparent reason whatsoever. And, like game one, it started out like a reverse blowout, with Arizona taking advantage of Rodgers' many mistakes and scoring. Arizona was up 24-10 by the end of the first half, and I knew that if Green Bay got its shit together, they stood a decent chance of winning the game. It was their mistakes and Arizona's ability to capitalize on them that made them ahead at the half. The third quarter kept them even with a 14 point spread, with each team scoring twice, but the third quarter was where it got dicey, and Green Bay scored three times to Arizona's one time, thereby leaving the game tied.

Arizona's defense won the game by capitalizing on another Rodgers fumble, which was picked up by Dansby, who ran it 17 yards into the end zone for the win. 51-45! Wow.

I'm exhausted. Two jam packed games and I had the whole day to kick back and just watch them (having run all my errands yesterday, but having to miss the two wild card games). Well, at least my Chargers will not have to see Cincinnati, and will instead, host the New York Jets next Saturday.

I did find the time to clean the kitchen, do the dishes, and make a meatloaf (laughing). They are rebuilding the apartment complex next door that burned last year, and have been tearing up the cement and land where the garages used to be. I think that is why I am experiencing an outbreak of tiny black ants in my kitchen and bathroom. They are weird in that they lack any of the ant-like abilities. It seems though there are many of them that come in batches, they are "dazed" like, not running fast, not going for the obvious, like the garbage, and just simply running around on the top of my white porcelain kitchen sink, or in the bath tub or in my bathroom sink. Although I did find one lone ant on my living room wall, and a few on the bathroom floor, mostly they appear to be coming out of the wall from somewhere, I think that is because both my bathroom and kitchen walls face where the digging up of the ground soil has been going on.

I just put on the hot water and wipe them off the sink and then put a little scouring powder along the entry ports, which tends to hold them back. I hope the ants find a new resting place, and stop trying to invade my house!

Shake, Rattle And Roll!

The original.



The movie version.



Kind of like the chick with the fringe!

Loved that little Elvis dig at the end, ha ha.

What I Did Today

First off, I slept until noon -- hurrah for me. Except there were two wild card football games playing today, 1:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Only the Jets/Cinci game concerned me, because if Cinci won, at some point, my Chargers might have to play them, and I already have NON fond memories of the infamous Freezer Bowl game. Glad the Jets won.

So, at around 2 p.m. I decide to hop the Dash bus (25 cents) to go to the Farmer's Market for chili at Johnny Rockets. While waiting for the bus, my neighbor was getting gas at the station where I was waiting ... offered me a drive to the Farmer's Market (and, later on, I figured given the mileage vs. the cost of gas/bus, that it was more expensive for him to give me the ride, by about 25 cents LOL). I wanted to see if my Bacardi rum was cheaper at CVS, knowing I could take the Dash back to Smart & Final where I know the damn huge ass bottle is only $16.45 (while a regular fifth costs $14.95 elsewhere). Since I took a pay cut to keep on my most experienced lawyer at the office, I have to cut back, so smack me if I'm looking to stock up on my liquor at a cheaper price!

I bought two bottles, and walked home. Took a break, then hopped the 212 bus at about 3:30 p.m. headed to Hollywood to put money on my pre-paid credit card at the usual Western Union One Stop Shopping Center (and also got next week's pre-paid bus pass).

I actually caught the same female bus driver going home as I got getting to Western Union. Hollywood was backed up for a long time because some Japanese hard rock band was filming a video (well, I can't swear they were Japanese, some one on the bus said they were, but on the way back, where filming was in full force and effect, the band was singing in English, and the drummer was not Japanese, as far as I could tell from the video posted high above the shooting).

It took us half an hour just to go about one mile thanks to the video shoot, but it was fun chatting up the bus driver. She was bitching at one point about how she hates driving and the traffic, and then I reminded her she had a union, benefits, and a decent salary, and she was like, thanks for bringing me out of my funk!

I then stopped off at Ralphs about two blocks from home, did most of my weekly shopping (sans booze, but still three bags, one over the shoulder, and two holding, and yes, I have those reusable ones from Walgreens, except I do have one kind of expensive foldable from Nordstroms that cost me ten times as much as my other bags LOL) and walked home.

Then I watched some Dallas/Philly football, but after the first half, I switched to The Mighty Ducks movie (see previous post) and had my epiphany re hockey. Funny, this year, I passed on purchasing Center Ice from my cable provider, and I have actually not watched one single game all year long, except for the New Year's Day outdoor game, where they announced the USA Hockey Team players.

USA Hockey Team ... ah, remembering where I was in 1980 (sigh).

The Good Old Hockey Game!

First off, hockey is one expensive sport, and requires dedication. Like 5 a.m. ice time practice because the arena is booked most of the day. Ice time for practice for kids is such a universal aspect of hockey, we hockey moms all know that early morning wake up. My kid had her bag, that she carried her equipment, and the vision of her, with her hockey bag over her shoulder and holding her stick in the other hand ... ah, the memories. Hell, I still have her first hockey stick.

Last night going to Pershing Square and watching the skaters, I was reminded of watching my daughter playing hockey when she was the same age as the kids in this movie.



Watching the movie The Mighty Ducks tonight, actually made me cry. Not because of the story, but because of the memories I have of my daughter training ... something the movie actually caught. These kids aren't pros that skate at that age, (well, unless your name is Gretzky) and they are simply amazing to watch, learning to play one of the most difficult of sports.

I may watch more football, and understand baseball history better than most people, but I cannot begin to explain my love of hockey. And, to be truthful, I probably know more about hockey than any sport. I remember once hanging out with the San Jose Sharks and the Calgary Flames in San Jose at a breakfast. True story (Tony knows it is), Theo Fleury says, "she knows more about hockey than you do," (meaning Tony). Ah, the good old days. After all, Tony and I met at a hockey game, when me and my girls were in New Jersey to see the Devils play (shit, right now, I can't remember what team, but it was not the Kings, which always intrigued him, as he knew I was a hockey freak). I do remember Bernie Nichols tossing a puck over the glass for us, during practice, though!

Let The C-Span Cameras Roll

I personally do not think we are getting any real "reform" of health care with the proposals that are coming out of the Senate and the House. First off, the things that Obama promised Americans he would push for, and the reason he and others who ran on similar health care reform plans, are not in the "reform" bills currently put forth by the House and Senate. There is, however, the final discussions that will bring out the final bill, and the current debate is whether or not C-Span cameras should be allowed to film it. I believe it should be filmed. Whenever I watch congress in action through the C-Span cameras, I am completely amazed at what passes for congressional actions. Generally, the seats are empty, and the speakers at talking to practically no one, they say such ridiculous things, most of which are never printed in newspapers or aired over television, and they really do expose the American public of just how dysfunctional our way of democracy has become. So, airing the debate over the finalization of the alleged health care reform will most definitely show Americans just how their elected leaders feel about them. And I am quite sure the American public will be disgusted by what they see, which is why congress and the Obama administration are trying NOT to let the cameras in. If this is supposed to be the signature legislation to come out of the Obama administration, and if the elected representatives that hammer this bill out are to be seen live, as they actually work at their job, America will finally get a glimpse of this dysfunction, and perhaps, a call for a new party will finally start to make sense to them.

John Podesta says it well:

Open government and citizen access to information is a first principle of liberty in a democracy that has to be defended — even when it’s unpopular or deemed unhelpful in the short term. It is my experience that corruption in government begins at the moment when officials in power believe no one is paying attention. The scrutiny of traditional journalists, citizen journalists, and other interested Americans serves as a powerful disinfectant for our legislative process and restores confidence in our participatory democracy.

Critics have argued that the presence of cameras is likely to produce political posturing and grandstanding by politicians. And indeed, with the cameras rolling, Republicans have said health care reform is a bigger threat than terrorism, claimed that seniors would be told to “drop dead,” and even called the President a liar. But I’m glad cameras were there to capture those demeaning comments. They have helped all Americans gain a better understanding of the unwillingness of some on the right to engage in a rational debate.

The presence of cameras has also produced some beneficial outcomes. For instance, C-Span cameras exposed House GOP efforts to silence members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus when they tried to speak on the floor. The cameras also shamed Senate Republicans when they tried to filibuster the debate by forcing the reading of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ single-payer amendment.

Democrats have nothing to fear from an open debate. They are working to expand affordable coverage to 31 million uninsured Americans, lowering premiums, ending the insurance industry’s denial of pre-existing conditions, and ensuring women will no longer be charged much more for the same coverage as men. When the House and Senate meet in the coming weeks to discuss this historic legislation, I would humbly urge them to let the cameras roll. We can handle the truth.

Members of Congress should not forget that they are representing actual Americans who stand to be either benefited or harmed by the choices they make. It’s my view that if the American people are allowed to bear witness to the conference negotiations, the most important health care reform in decades will be stronger for it. And the American public will rightly feel that they helped bring it about.

Ian Hunter "Once Bitten, Twice Shy," At The Bar & Grill

Ian Hunter's (Mott The Hoople) song, I Get So Excited was one of my faves in the 70's. Bowie did a cover or two of Hunter's song, but Ian was one of a kind.

YouTube yields NADA.

The best I can find with a clip of I Get So Excited is a silly Amazon site that offers the album for sale, and has links to about 30 seconds of each song.


Once Bitten ...


Go. Visit. Listen. Comment!

Although I relate more to 1980's music, I am a product 1970's musical influence re coming of age.

Family Time At Pershing Square Ice Skating

Not the best picture, but it was from my cell phone. My kid (who is a photography major in college, and FORGOT to recharge her camera's batteries) was unable to use her camera, so I had to resort to my cell phone, which was ok, except I tend to take blurry pictures, damn it!

It was funny watching Zaire skate ... he walks the skate. But for only three times on the ice, he's doing great. Even the skate monitors said he was good. Most of the people were clinging to the railing and walking. It reminded me of all those times I took my daughter to her hockey practice and had to watch the little kids (four years average age) learning hockey. I used to laugh so much I almost always had to pee! (true) The image of the little kid stepping (not skating) one foot at a time, in full hockey gear, which hell, the sweater came to the top of their skates for damn sake, and the helmets made them look like bobble heads (haha), and going in one direction and the puck passing them, and watching them slowly turn to face the puck only to have it seriously pass by them, and then they had to slowly turn around again to face the puck, which would, again, pass them. Ha ha.

My daughter played defense, and I hired a professional coach to train her in her backwards skating. Tonight, I noticed she has lost some of her skill, but the "dudes" that were monitors on the ice definitely noticed her (laughs). She needs to hit the ice a bit more ...

Bach's Sonata in G minor for Viola da Gamba & Harpsichord

The classical side of me comes out (grins).

I am a huge Bach fan, and love the harpsichord. Baroque music is in my blood for some reason. I have no idea why I am mesmerized and pleased by such sounds, I just am.

Enjoy!

Haole Hula By Raiatea Helm ft. Keali'i Reichel

Going to close out the night with Haole Hula (haole meaning NOT Hawai'ian). Enjoy!

Aloha Hawaii Ku'u One Hanau

A lot of times, most people want to remember the Tahitian aspect of the Polynesian islands, and call it Hawai'ian. Hawai'ian dancing is not Tahitian, although they share aspects.

This is a lovely example of traditional Hawai'ian dancing.

Chickenshit, In All It's Bloom!

It's not about what matters, it's about politics, for Republicans.

Former state legislator Allan Quist is a Republican running to replace Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN) in 2010. As the Minnesota Independent reports, Quist told an audience at the Wabasha County Republicans Christmas party that the “big battle” he thinks conservatives should be fighting is not against terrorists, but liberals in Washington, D.C. (emphasis added).

Who cares if the planet falls apart, just so long as it is not done on the Republican's watch. Who cares if what is actually coming out of the mouth of people isn't a pile of crap? Oh (smacks self) all the damage has already been done on the Republican's watch, and they've been repeating the lies over and over again, "it's not our fault!" Please, please, remember, it's not terrorisim we are fighting, it's fucking liberals! (Lions and tigers and bears, OH MY!) We can only hope the little niche we've carved for ourselves will withstand the collapse.

UPDATE:

For what it's worth, Rep. Walz, the one Quist is describing as a radical enemy of the U.S. and a more serious threat than al Qaeda, is a 24-year veteran of the National Guard, retiring as a command sergeant major and the highest ranking enlisted soldier in southern Minnesota.

It's going to be a long year.

How To Smack A Cheney!

For your enjoyment, a little Alan Grayson!

Will We Continue As Americans To Get Fooled By Republicans?

I can't say it better than John Amato has, so I'll just re-post some of it here:

Now that we've begun a new decade, the right wing will begin their new con game, and their "mark' will be the American people. What's a mark?

A confidence trick or confidence game (also known as a bunko, con, flim flam, gaffle, grift, hustle, scam, scheme, swindle or bamboozle) is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. The victim is known as the mark, the trickster is called a confidence man, con man, or con artist, and any accomplices are known as shills.

Typically con men feed on dishonest people, but in politics they focus on the unsuspecting. What we've learned from the previous decade is that conservatism is a total failure when it comes to governance. Under Bush and Cheney we've had a massive terrorist attack, two wars, torture and a global financial meltdown. We've had Hurricane Katrina expose how conservatives respond to Americans after a natural disaster hits two states. We've had government corruption at the highest order, which resulted in Cheney's chief of staff being convicted of multiple felonies. We had the horrendous Terry Schiavo affair. We had a news network actively become a propaganda arm of the GOP. We had Wall Street inflate a mortgage bubble that almost turned into another Great Depression.

I can go on and on, but because of a timid media, they will be allowed to perpetrate their newest con. "Only conservatism can save America," will be their motto. If the media actually acted like an independent monitor of the news, we might stand a chance against the new scam, but we know better. Drudge rules their world.

The GOP is brilliant at one thing, and that is tearing people down. Because they left this country in such tatters it's an easy scam to pull off, because hard-working Americans are vulnerable pickings. They have to try and survive in a world destroyed by conservative values. The con is easy. Just blame everything on President Barack Obama. All your job woes, all your fears about how your life will recover and the future that it holds for your children. If we had a real media that would expose the Bush regime for the manifest failure it was, it would be a much harder task, but we don't, and instead news programming has turned more into endless right/left opinion discussions.

"Don't Get Fooled Again" should be our national slogan, because even if we disagree as liberals in the way our president has handled the situation he was elected into, we are engaged enough to know what conservatism has done to this country.

A Look At How The "Tea Party" Movement Is Fracturing The Republican Party

Great article over at DailyKos regarding the split in the Republican party over the "tea baggers." (Never mind the fact that the term "tea bagging" is not exactly user friendly, LOL). While the Democratic party stands to lose a lot in 2010 based on the dissatisfaction of liberals and progressives, who feel Obama, et al, have reneged on the promises made to them, which promises made said liberals and progressives not only donate millions and millions of dollars in small amount contributions, but generated a base that came out in fantastic numbers to overwhelmingly vote Democratic, the Republicans are facing their own insurgency.

What has been buried in the main stream media, is how the Republican party faces implosion over this new insurgency in their ranks. NY-23 is a prime example of just how bad the Tea Party movement within the Republican party is.

What made the betrayal of DeDe Scozzafava so extraordinary was the reaction of the "official" GOP to the events as they transpired. In short, the reaction was so scattershot that it bordered on the comical.

In one hand, the Republican party funded the Scozzafava candidacy with independent expenditures that may well have topped a million dollars. In the other hand was the steadily increasing number of Republican "regulars" eager to embrace the third-party insurgent conservative, Doug Hoffman. It culminated in the campaign's final week, when no less a Republican figure than national party chairman Michael Steele essentially abandoned his own nominee, saying that a Hoffman victory would be just fine by him, since Hoffman, too, was a registered Republican.

This is a microcosm of the problem confronting the GOP. They want to harness the potential political energy and power of the "tea party" movement. But they are very wary of ceding their party to that movement. Thus, the often absurd dance of the Republican Party, which in one breath embraces the teabaggers while in the next breath endeavoring hard to keep them at arms length.

Go Chargers!

Chargers started out the season 2-3 while Denver was 6-0, and all was apparently lost and written off for the Chargers.

11 straight wins later, the Charges end the season 13-3, the number two seed in the playoffs, and a chance, once again, for the big game.

Only Indianapolis had a better record, 14-2 (although New Orleans ended the season at 13-3). However, both of these teams remained unbeaten for most of the season, while the Chargers started out with those three losses early on, then steamrolled the competition for the rest of the season.

11 straight wins in a row. Wow.

Brit Hume's Take On Tiger Woods And Redemption

If this isn't the height of Christian stupidity:

Buddhism is inferior to Christianity when it comes to forgiveness of sins, according to Fox News pundit Brit Hume. Tiger Woods should turn his back on Buddhism and become a Christian to be forgiven for cheating on his wife, Hume told Fox News' Chris Wallace Sunday.

"The extent to which he can recover seems to me depends on his faith," said Hume. "He is said to be a Buddhist. I don't think that faith offers the kind of redemption and forgiveness offered by the Christian faith. My message to Tiger is, 'Tiger turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world.'"

There are no words I can say that can convey my utter contempt for people who actually believe this crap.

Courtesy of Crooks & Liars.

Almost Got Killed Today, Maybe

You know when you read about the people that get hit by cars that are involved in accidents, who are innocent bystanders sitting at a bus stop or something like that? Well, today, that almost happened to me and Zaire, my grandson.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Wilshire Blvd. and Fairfax Ave., where we were waiting for the 217 bus to get to McDonald's. A car, wrongly trying to make a left turn after the arrow allowed it to turn, clipped a car going through the intersection, which caused the clipped car to go diagonally toward the sidewalk, and up onto it using the driveway-like wheelchair access to cruise up the sidewalk. The car was heading straight for me and my grandson, and sadly, I froze ... I don't know why. I could see the driver, and he was pissed and yelling and screaming at the other driver that hit him, and the driver that hit him, still in the intersection, was yelling right back, and I swear to god, I thought one of them was going to pull out a gun and start shooting the other.

What was equally weird was that within 30 seconds, one police car, with non-uniformed officers was flagged to the scene, and then immediately following that one, another police vehicle with non-uninformed officers also arrived.

I gave the driver of the car that almost hit my grandson and I my card, as I had witnessed the entire event, and the lawyer in me long ago learned that when you hear the crash of the accident, look at the light first ... the dispute is always over who had the right of way. So, I saw the light was green for the driver who almost hit us and knew he had the right of way. But I was definitely shaking in my shoes, seeing that car just keep coming in my direction and up onto the sidewalk. Luckily, he stopped, and for all parties concerned, it was really a small fender bender, one without injuries, just two pissed off men.

I need to work on my reflexes ...

What I Read Today

Many of my readers know that when I start a book, I generally finish it the same day I started it.

Today, Zaire wanted to go to McDonald's for lunch, the one with the playground. I find that when I go to Micky D's, and let him run around for an hour to two hours, it helps to have a book. I did try some People magazines once, that was joke. Hardly read anything in them, finished them up in less than half an hour, and then tapped my toes waiting for time to be up so I could drag Zaire off the playground and go home!

I started another Belva Plain novel entitled Crossroads. I read for about an hour and a half at Micky D's, got home at 4 p.m., read until I finished it about ten minutes ago, except for the half hour I took to make dinner for Zaire! The book was 322 pages, and like the other Plain novel I read in one day, Her Father's House, was exceptional. Having read two of her many novels, I am getting her "style," which involves the main characters saying things, and then in italics, their thoughts are written out. Of course, there are stories intertwined in each of the novels, but the writing style is beginning to be understood by me.

I tried to buy one of her books for a friend for Christmas, but at the only bookstore I had time to get to, Barnes & Noble, they only had her works in paperback, and I abhore paperbacks! Obviously, I am going to have to scour online book stores to buy any more Plain books, but it will be worth it.

Ever since I read that poll that said many Americans haven't read a book in two years, I've definitely increased my book reading, although, I doubt I'll ever be the book whore DJ Rix is (laughing!)

Streisand .. Second To None

Since I have already admitted that I saw "Funny Girl" on New Year's Eve at a drive in (Pickwick - Burbank, California) cuz I had a sprained ankle and couldn't go with the buds that year to hang out on Colorado Blvd. for the Rose Parade, I enjoyed revisiting the song. Plus, I got the Babs on tour 2006 CD for an XM's present ( yeah, for me).




Rumor has always been she did this recording live ... so as to keep up the emotions. Damn good, if you ask me!

Judge Dismisses Case Against Blackwater Guards Who Murdered In Cold Blood Iraqi Citizens

A federal judge dismissed charges against five Blackwater Worldwide security guards accused of killing 14 Iraqi civilians in a controversial shooting in a busy Baghdad square two years ago in a ruling that sharply criticized the tactics of Justice Department prosecutors handling the case.

It is so clear that this country condones murder. I am totally disgusted. To make matters worse, it was dismissed not because the judge felt that the Blackwater employees didn't actually kill the 14 Iraqis ... it was dismissed on procedural grounds, in that the statements made by most of the guards were used improperly (note that one of the guards plead guilty -- hence, to be honest, they were all guilty and we know it).

On Friday, the Iraqi government said it may pursue its own legal case against Blackwater because it believes the employees committed a "serious crime" against its people, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told Reuters.

"What happened yesterday confirms that the trial was biased," said Ali Adeeb, a lawmaker and top advisor to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. "This was an unreasonable, criminal operation, and there should have been justice in a trial."

Let's hope the Iraqis do prosecute these murderers.

Happy New Year, Oh, And Ice Hockey Outdoors At Fenway!

Ice hockey outdoors ... as it should be.

Flyers vs. Bruins at Fenway Park. Practice skate looked awesome. It's funny so see the players with wollen caps on their head instead of their hockey helmets. Yesterday it snowed, and the pictures showing the ice were awesome. They had a funny shot of the caveman clearing the ice new the Geico board advertisement ha ha ha! And Dropkick Murphys singing before the game starts, yeah, baby!

Happy New Year to everyone.

Last night we celebrated, as I do every year, on the New York timeline.I am a big web cam viewer and NYC has the best Times Square webcams. Every year they televise live across the world, and since we all watch the NYC Times Square ball anyway, just at midnight (yawn), watching it on the computer screen felt like we were sitting in the Marriott Hotel watching from the warmth of our room at the festivities outside.

We had giant crab legs for dinner, wore funny hats, had horns and blowers, and poppers with confetti for later (plus that damn silly string my grandson is in love with). With the ball dropping, we all counted down, popped the champagne (the kid had the usual Martinelli's non-alchoholic drink). It is more fun to celebrate the coming of the new year live with New Yorkers, although I am sure my neighbors were not sure why everthing was going off at 9:00 p.m.!

I had my grandson and my best friend, Linda, (her boyfriend was home in Chicago and couldn't be here and her son lives in D.C., while my daughter was out partying) here. Being almost 60, it's not like I have a strong drive to go "out" on New Year's eve, especially since I have under my belt a shitload of memories from when I did go out and celebrate!

Now, to clean up the mess! Damn, that silly string sticks to the floor and walls. I'm going to have to wash everything after I vacumn. I thought about cleaning last night and decided to leave it ... next time, I'll clean up right after!