I am so sick to death of Miley Cyrus. The formerly clean-cut Disney girl has tramped out in every way possible, and rather than becoming popular for any musical ability, she is a source of mockery for anyone who sees her antics. Frankly, she is about as classy as a plate of pus. Now, I'm no fan of Sinead O'Connor ... at all ... but her feud with Miley in which she accuses Ms. Formerly Hannah Montana of mocking the mentally ill is the stuff of TMZ joy.
It got me thinking of some things I've considered about actors and other performers: who stands out as classy and who stands out as classless? I've decided to make a short list, to which I hope others will add, and wonder if the differences stand out as starkly as they do to me.
Classless:
Just about any rapper
M. Cyrus
J. Bieber
Charlie Sheen
Alec Baldwin
Ted Nugent
Any Kardashian
Paris Hilton
Classy:
Sir Patrick Stewart
Nathan Fillion (argue with me ... I dare you)
Michael J. Fox (anyone who can do a series that not only increases the knowledge of Parkinson's but can also laugh at himself for the things he deals with is an incredibly classy guy)
David Tenant (tell me when you have read anything negative or disgusting about him)
Vin Scully (65 years and going strong as a broadcaster ... and loved by everyone ... even other teams)
Anne Hathaway (she's done some nudity, but she always seems so nice in all of her public appearances)
Hugh Jackman
Kate Middleton
OK....your turn. Give me some suggestions, and I'll keep thinking. I particularly want to note who qualifies as classy.
Friday, October 04, 2013
Wednesday, October 02, 2013
Human Governments: Not working so well, are they?
If this week should have taught people anything, it's that even the so-called "best form of human government" doesn't work. One can list tons of negatives about fascism, socialism, and communism. One can recite the crimes and inequities of dictatorships, monarchies, Islamic regimes, and totalitarianism. But one cannot state with all certainty that out of all of the governments that exist, the American form is the best. It is laden with special interests, selfishness, childishness, elitism, and other psychological oddities that make its leaders decide that shutting down all of its facets is better than being reasonable.
Jon Stewart pointed out that the Affordable Care Act is a law. It was voted upon by Congress, signed by the President, and ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court. Guess what? That makes it legal and an active law. Period. By trying to use it as a bargaining chip, the Republicans are denying the constitution that they claim to hold so dear.
Thousands of years of human governments, and not one of them has functioned for the ultimate good of its people.
My point is this: stop waving the flag and saying how awesome American government is. It has become a joke rather than a beacon. It's an embarrassment and the butt of jokes of other nations, not because they are jealous, but because the U.S. system has become so dysfunctional.
A guy took 19 shots at a group of Jehovah's Witnesses with a 9 mm pistol, just because they were following the Bible's requirement that they preach the good news. Part of this good news involves God's government. So now, I guess, if you don't agree with something, you shoot it. I wonder what the writers of the Constitution would say about that.
In any case, stop shouting "U.S.A." for one minute and ask yourself: If things are so great, why do politicians let babies go hungry to try to prove a point? (Don't believe me? Ask how WIC is funded and what it does.) Then maybe, just maybe, instead of hating Jehovah's Witnesses, you could give a listen to what they are saying.
One more thing...
The U.S. Postal Service wants to raise rates for a first-class stamp by three cents up to forty-nine cents. My questions are these:
Will this solve the financial issues they are facing?
How will they address the retirement funding? Will the Congress allow changes? (Yeah...right.)
Why not just raise it to fifty cents? A nice round number that will make buying stamps easier, maybe help the Post Office a bit more, and still be less than just about every other country on this planet charges.
Jon Stewart pointed out that the Affordable Care Act is a law. It was voted upon by Congress, signed by the President, and ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court. Guess what? That makes it legal and an active law. Period. By trying to use it as a bargaining chip, the Republicans are denying the constitution that they claim to hold so dear.
Thousands of years of human governments, and not one of them has functioned for the ultimate good of its people.
My point is this: stop waving the flag and saying how awesome American government is. It has become a joke rather than a beacon. It's an embarrassment and the butt of jokes of other nations, not because they are jealous, but because the U.S. system has become so dysfunctional.
A guy took 19 shots at a group of Jehovah's Witnesses with a 9 mm pistol, just because they were following the Bible's requirement that they preach the good news. Part of this good news involves God's government. So now, I guess, if you don't agree with something, you shoot it. I wonder what the writers of the Constitution would say about that.
In any case, stop shouting "U.S.A." for one minute and ask yourself: If things are so great, why do politicians let babies go hungry to try to prove a point? (Don't believe me? Ask how WIC is funded and what it does.) Then maybe, just maybe, instead of hating Jehovah's Witnesses, you could give a listen to what they are saying.
One more thing...
The U.S. Postal Service wants to raise rates for a first-class stamp by three cents up to forty-nine cents. My questions are these:
Will this solve the financial issues they are facing?
How will they address the retirement funding? Will the Congress allow changes? (Yeah...right.)
Why not just raise it to fifty cents? A nice round number that will make buying stamps easier, maybe help the Post Office a bit more, and still be less than just about every other country on this planet charges.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Supply and Demand
I like to think of myself as "reasonably intelligent". (Shut up, Red!) I can usually figure out perplexing issues, such as:
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? (2174 ... I figured it out as a bored teen.)
Why do kids like Cinnamon Toast Crunch? (Lots and lots of sugar.)
Why doesn't Justin Bieber date Miley Cyrus? (The stupid lack of talent and taste would cause sinkholes in time and space.)
But I can't figure out a couple of things about the roll-out of the new iPhone.
First off, I realized that I can buy my wife a new iPhone 5c AND get paid to do it! By selling her 4s to Gazelle.com for $200, I can buy her the 5c for around $140, and still have enough left to buy her a new case for it! (We were already going to renew the contract with AT&T.) How is this possible? Some kind of timey-wimey burp in the logic circuits of the TARDIS?
Second, word is coming out that the 5s will be in very short supply on release. Explain THAT one to me! Apple advertises this thing, but doesn't allow pre-orders. Why? 'Cause they haven't made enough of them! Look, Apple folks ... You've been at this for awhile now. Is it because Tim Cook has lost control of the ship? Are they creating their own demand for the new phone since it wasn't as innovative as past versions? What's next?
"The new iPhone 5s 1/2, with 10% brighter screen! But limited quantities are available, so stand in line 2 weeks early if you want yours!"
I refuse to give in to this kind of artificial pressure from Apple! So, to show my displeasure, I refuse to wait in line for a new phone! No. Instead, I will drive up to my AT&T store about an hour after it opens and calmly grovel until I get the phone. See? That's me not giving in to the man!
(I hope they have one for me...)
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? (2174 ... I figured it out as a bored teen.)
Why do kids like Cinnamon Toast Crunch? (Lots and lots of sugar.)
Why doesn't Justin Bieber date Miley Cyrus? (The stupid lack of talent and taste would cause sinkholes in time and space.)
But I can't figure out a couple of things about the roll-out of the new iPhone.
First off, I realized that I can buy my wife a new iPhone 5c AND get paid to do it! By selling her 4s to Gazelle.com for $200, I can buy her the 5c for around $140, and still have enough left to buy her a new case for it! (We were already going to renew the contract with AT&T.) How is this possible? Some kind of timey-wimey burp in the logic circuits of the TARDIS?
Second, word is coming out that the 5s will be in very short supply on release. Explain THAT one to me! Apple advertises this thing, but doesn't allow pre-orders. Why? 'Cause they haven't made enough of them! Look, Apple folks ... You've been at this for awhile now. Is it because Tim Cook has lost control of the ship? Are they creating their own demand for the new phone since it wasn't as innovative as past versions? What's next?
"The new iPhone 5s 1/2, with 10% brighter screen! But limited quantities are available, so stand in line 2 weeks early if you want yours!"
I refuse to give in to this kind of artificial pressure from Apple! So, to show my displeasure, I refuse to wait in line for a new phone! No. Instead, I will drive up to my AT&T store about an hour after it opens and calmly grovel until I get the phone. See? That's me not giving in to the man!
(I hope they have one for me...)
Friday, September 13, 2013
I'm So Glad It's Friday
I'm not going to say TGIF. Anyone who says that has a misconception on things to be thankful for.
That being said, I am truly glad that it is Friday, because I hope that next week will be better. Anyway, I think it's time for "Friday Rants" (Registered Trademark pending, Patent Pending, Copyright 2013, etc., etc.)
Let's start with:
Apple: Well, all of the predictions were true. Everything from the 5c to the 5s was leaked ahead of time. Normally, I wouldn't say that either one was so fantastic that I would have to go out and buy one on release day, but since I do "need" a new phone, and since I am now convinced that Android bites big robot butt, I'm going to try to get my greedy little hands on the 5s. I'm not getting it for something so mundane as the fingerprint sensor or the better camera. The geek in me likes those things, but the nerd in me also likes the new processing setup and speed. Nothing incredibly innovative, but still the best smartphone out there.
Tokyo Olympics 2020: Considering the financial successes of the past however many Olympic games, I have to ask the Japanese delegation: Is this really the wisest use of your money?
Miley Cyrus: Yes, a lot has been said about the mad twerking bimbette, but I really wonder if, when she left the protection of Disney, she wasn't able to get refills on the prescription medication that kept her from losing her tiny little mind. Let's see: talentless, trampy, daughter of a semi-famous country singer, various insane escapades...Hey! She should date Bieber! Oh wait ... is she gay? If so, then she can go ahead and date Bieber.
Doctor Who 50th: New rumor has Peter Davidson (5th Doctor) having a role in the 50th. Not sure how they'll pull that off, as he has visibly aged a lot since his regeneration. (Although not as badly as Tom Baker and Collin Baker...sheesh!) I'm just wondering....Where is Paul McGann??? Doctor #8 needs to have a big role! That would be fantastic!
Anthony Weiner: Is he off the stage yet? Please?
That's it for today! More next week!
That being said, I am truly glad that it is Friday, because I hope that next week will be better. Anyway, I think it's time for "Friday Rants" (Registered Trademark pending, Patent Pending, Copyright 2013, etc., etc.)
Let's start with:
Apple: Well, all of the predictions were true. Everything from the 5c to the 5s was leaked ahead of time. Normally, I wouldn't say that either one was so fantastic that I would have to go out and buy one on release day, but since I do "need" a new phone, and since I am now convinced that Android bites big robot butt, I'm going to try to get my greedy little hands on the 5s. I'm not getting it for something so mundane as the fingerprint sensor or the better camera. The geek in me likes those things, but the nerd in me also likes the new processing setup and speed. Nothing incredibly innovative, but still the best smartphone out there.
Tokyo Olympics 2020: Considering the financial successes of the past however many Olympic games, I have to ask the Japanese delegation: Is this really the wisest use of your money?
Miley Cyrus: Yes, a lot has been said about the mad twerking bimbette, but I really wonder if, when she left the protection of Disney, she wasn't able to get refills on the prescription medication that kept her from losing her tiny little mind. Let's see: talentless, trampy, daughter of a semi-famous country singer, various insane escapades...Hey! She should date Bieber! Oh wait ... is she gay? If so, then she can go ahead and date Bieber.
Doctor Who 50th: New rumor has Peter Davidson (5th Doctor) having a role in the 50th. Not sure how they'll pull that off, as he has visibly aged a lot since his regeneration. (Although not as badly as Tom Baker and Collin Baker...sheesh!) I'm just wondering....Where is Paul McGann??? Doctor #8 needs to have a big role! That would be fantastic!
Anthony Weiner: Is he off the stage yet? Please?
That's it for today! More next week!
Monday, September 09, 2013
Why So Syria?
As a complete non-political entity, I do have to ask one question: Why is it that dogs learn when you hit them in the nose with a newspaper, but politicians don't? Actually, maybe the smack on the nose would be a good idea for a politician!
In the years before World War I and for a few years of that slaughter, the United States was isolationist. They didn't want to get involved anywhere. After that, the U.S. decided to get involved in just about any conflict anywhere. And yet, after Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan ... there's talk of dropping bombs on the moms in Syria. Sigh.... and people wonder why we don't go to war. Even experts can't tell who the good guys are in Syria! Fact is ... there are no good guys. There are just bad guys and the innocents who get caught in the crossfire. And those innocents are flowing out of Syria into Saudi Arabia and other lands to get away from the executions, gas attacks, bombings, machine guns, and various other forms of slaughter.
I've got news for anyone who feels justified and "good" in going to battle: God isn't with you. Really. Check your Bibles. When God was with a military force, not only did that force win, but they won either with no losses, or without even having to fight. Ever see that happen in modern times? Didn't think so.
I believe that President al-Assad of Syria is guilty of using sarin gas on the "rebels". I also believe that the "rebels" are guilty of executing captured soldiers. Why do I believe this? Because the proof is there. Because we have been warned that people would go from bad to worse in this "time of the end". Because humans with weapons of any kind (and even without weapons) have proven themselves to be cruel and vicious beyond belief.
It's sad. Truly. And pitiful. And disgusting.
That's just another example of why we preach peace.
In the years before World War I and for a few years of that slaughter, the United States was isolationist. They didn't want to get involved anywhere. After that, the U.S. decided to get involved in just about any conflict anywhere. And yet, after Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan ... there's talk of dropping bombs on the moms in Syria. Sigh.... and people wonder why we don't go to war. Even experts can't tell who the good guys are in Syria! Fact is ... there are no good guys. There are just bad guys and the innocents who get caught in the crossfire. And those innocents are flowing out of Syria into Saudi Arabia and other lands to get away from the executions, gas attacks, bombings, machine guns, and various other forms of slaughter.
I've got news for anyone who feels justified and "good" in going to battle: God isn't with you. Really. Check your Bibles. When God was with a military force, not only did that force win, but they won either with no losses, or without even having to fight. Ever see that happen in modern times? Didn't think so.
I believe that President al-Assad of Syria is guilty of using sarin gas on the "rebels". I also believe that the "rebels" are guilty of executing captured soldiers. Why do I believe this? Because the proof is there. Because we have been warned that people would go from bad to worse in this "time of the end". Because humans with weapons of any kind (and even without weapons) have proven themselves to be cruel and vicious beyond belief.
It's sad. Truly. And pitiful. And disgusting.
That's just another example of why we preach peace.
Thursday, September 05, 2013
Why No Posts?
It always seems to come down to this. I stop writing because no one is reading.
I say no one, but I know of a few. Analytics say that I'm getting more than a couple of hits, but no responses other than a couple of friends.
I should be writing this for my own enjoyment, but I don't write every day because, let's face it, it isn't a job. So where do I go from here? I don't know. I guess I'll keep posting from time to time, perhaps 3 times a week.
Please understand, though, that this blog doesn't take sides politically. While I may seem liberal, that doesn't mean that I'm political. So if you are looking for my version of Fox, MSNBC, or anything like that, it isn't going to happen. Even if I make a social statement, it isn't a political statement.
So, I'll keep at this awhile longer. I'll try to be interesting, funny, topical, local, international, serious ... you name it. But -- and this is a threat -- if the readership doesn't pick up, I'm probably done.
With that, some quickies:
Apple: Whatever happened to Apple's famed secrecy? It used to be that you would never know what was in the pipeline until Steve Jobs unveiled the product on stage. Now there are pictures from Chinese factories and other locations giving just about every piece of information about a new product before it hits the stage. Can you say "anticlimactic"? I knew you could.
Microsoft: Wow. How many wrong turns can a company take? Microsoft used to be the powerhouse in the computer world, and now it's just one flop after another. Buying Nokia to get a replacement for Ballmer? What the...? What's next? The Windows toaster? The Microsoft rectal thermometer? (Trust me ... with Microsoft's record, no one's buying that item.)
Sacramento anti-arena forces: Please ... please ... go away. The arena will be good for downtown business. Period. Go protest something else, like idiots who waste time with signature-gathering efforts that no one wants. Oh ... wait.
Doctor Who: I am such a fanboy. With that, I just heard that after the Christmas special, we probably won't have any new episodes until autumn 2014. 2014??? Steven Moffat, I'm calling you out! Stop it! You may be good at lying and keeping secrets and playing with plot lines so that they make sense to you and no one else, but quit delaying seasons! (See: Sherlock.)
I say no one, but I know of a few. Analytics say that I'm getting more than a couple of hits, but no responses other than a couple of friends.
I should be writing this for my own enjoyment, but I don't write every day because, let's face it, it isn't a job. So where do I go from here? I don't know. I guess I'll keep posting from time to time, perhaps 3 times a week.
Please understand, though, that this blog doesn't take sides politically. While I may seem liberal, that doesn't mean that I'm political. So if you are looking for my version of Fox, MSNBC, or anything like that, it isn't going to happen. Even if I make a social statement, it isn't a political statement.
So, I'll keep at this awhile longer. I'll try to be interesting, funny, topical, local, international, serious ... you name it. But -- and this is a threat -- if the readership doesn't pick up, I'm probably done.
With that, some quickies:
Apple: Whatever happened to Apple's famed secrecy? It used to be that you would never know what was in the pipeline until Steve Jobs unveiled the product on stage. Now there are pictures from Chinese factories and other locations giving just about every piece of information about a new product before it hits the stage. Can you say "anticlimactic"? I knew you could.
Microsoft: Wow. How many wrong turns can a company take? Microsoft used to be the powerhouse in the computer world, and now it's just one flop after another. Buying Nokia to get a replacement for Ballmer? What the...? What's next? The Windows toaster? The Microsoft rectal thermometer? (Trust me ... with Microsoft's record, no one's buying that item.)
Sacramento anti-arena forces: Please ... please ... go away. The arena will be good for downtown business. Period. Go protest something else, like idiots who waste time with signature-gathering efforts that no one wants. Oh ... wait.
Doctor Who: I am such a fanboy. With that, I just heard that after the Christmas special, we probably won't have any new episodes until autumn 2014. 2014??? Steven Moffat, I'm calling you out! Stop it! You may be good at lying and keeping secrets and playing with plot lines so that they make sense to you and no one else, but quit delaying seasons! (See: Sherlock.)
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
So ... How's That Android Treatin' Ya?
In a previous post or two, I noted that I was thinking of moving from Apple to Android in the world of smartphones. After much trepidation, I pulled the trigger and got an HTC One. How did it go? I am the proud owner of an iPhone 4S.
You might ask what the heck was wrong with the HTC? Do you really want a review? You do? Suit yourself.
1) Transferring info from the iPhone to the One was presented as an easy thing to do. Just click the synch button on the program downloaded into your Mac and voila! Instant synch. NOT. I actually had to download two programs and manually move everything into the HTC. On top of that, the AT&T bloatware that is unremovable caused lots of problems with my address book and photostream. Fail!
2) The main screen that cannot be changed has a "feature" that is constantly updating with your Facebook, Twitter, news, etc. It's big, and ugly, and after five minutes I wanted it gone. But wait! You can't! It's part of the HTC operating system laid over Android. Fail!
3) Creating ringtones is supposed to be easy. You just go to your music, find a song, click "make a ringtone", change the start and finish points, and there you go! Not. There are two ... count 'em ... two music players on this phone, and when you find the right one, they make it impossible to figure out how to slice and dice! The speakers and sound are great, when you can find the song you want. Fail!
4) The Google Play store is a mess, since they allow anyone and everyone to put apps out there. Some look like the app you want, but if you look at the creator you find that it isn't the right one. Deceptive, opportunity for viruses, annoying, and ... yes ... Fail!
5) Downloading a document is easy. Finding it once it has been downloaded is virtually impossible. Fail!
6) Fail! (Just because.)
Between yesterday evening and this morning, I spend about 6 hours playing with the phone, trying to like it. I didn't. So, at noon, I went back to AT&T, got my money back (less a restocking fee ... criminals), and had the sim card put back into my old iPhone 4S. At which point, I went on to Gazelle.com, got a quote of $220 for the phone, clicked "Accept", and began my wait for the shipping materials to be sent to me. I have until the end of September to send it, by which time I will have either an iPhone 5, 5C, or 5S (6?). There may not be many new bells and whistles to the new iPhone, but I'll wager to say that it works, works well, and makes sense.
I usually learn my lessons by getting hit by a two by four with a nail in the end. Chalk this one up to another scar made by that rusty old nail. I am, and for the foreseeable future will be, an iPhone fan. Win!
You might ask what the heck was wrong with the HTC? Do you really want a review? You do? Suit yourself.
1) Transferring info from the iPhone to the One was presented as an easy thing to do. Just click the synch button on the program downloaded into your Mac and voila! Instant synch. NOT. I actually had to download two programs and manually move everything into the HTC. On top of that, the AT&T bloatware that is unremovable caused lots of problems with my address book and photostream. Fail!
2) The main screen that cannot be changed has a "feature" that is constantly updating with your Facebook, Twitter, news, etc. It's big, and ugly, and after five minutes I wanted it gone. But wait! You can't! It's part of the HTC operating system laid over Android. Fail!
3) Creating ringtones is supposed to be easy. You just go to your music, find a song, click "make a ringtone", change the start and finish points, and there you go! Not. There are two ... count 'em ... two music players on this phone, and when you find the right one, they make it impossible to figure out how to slice and dice! The speakers and sound are great, when you can find the song you want. Fail!
4) The Google Play store is a mess, since they allow anyone and everyone to put apps out there. Some look like the app you want, but if you look at the creator you find that it isn't the right one. Deceptive, opportunity for viruses, annoying, and ... yes ... Fail!
5) Downloading a document is easy. Finding it once it has been downloaded is virtually impossible. Fail!
6) Fail! (Just because.)
Between yesterday evening and this morning, I spend about 6 hours playing with the phone, trying to like it. I didn't. So, at noon, I went back to AT&T, got my money back (less a restocking fee ... criminals), and had the sim card put back into my old iPhone 4S. At which point, I went on to Gazelle.com, got a quote of $220 for the phone, clicked "Accept", and began my wait for the shipping materials to be sent to me. I have until the end of September to send it, by which time I will have either an iPhone 5, 5C, or 5S (6?). There may not be many new bells and whistles to the new iPhone, but I'll wager to say that it works, works well, and makes sense.
I usually learn my lessons by getting hit by a two by four with a nail in the end. Chalk this one up to another scar made by that rusty old nail. I am, and for the foreseeable future will be, an iPhone fan. Win!
Monday, August 19, 2013
Clarification and Rants
Wow. If more people read this blog, I think that I would have caused an internet meltdown with my last post. One thought it was a joke ... at first. Others who know the gist of it are still wondering if my brain has been taken over by little robots. (Robots ... Androids ... get it?) (crickets chirping)
Anyway, just to update my thinking here. I still love lots of things about my iPhone, including the backup method and how it "talks" effortlessly to my other Apple devices. I guess I'm just a bit miffed at the rumors coming out of Appletown that are telling folks that the only changes coming with the new phone are a possible fingerprint reader, a gold color option, and a cheaper version with a plastic back. Excuse me while I "yay" sarcastically with a yawn. I'm trying to justify plopping down an extra $100 or more for that over a different phone. And no, I can't just wait for another year. My iPhone gets hot enough to boil water (or skin) as it is, so keeping this phone for another 12 months isn't an option.
Therefore, some time in the next couple of weeks I am going to walk into an AT&T store and look at the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One to see what they are like. Then, on September 10, I am going to find out what Apple is doing with the next incarnation of the iPhone. By that afternoon, I will either have my order in for the next iPhone, or will be waltzing down to the store to get an Android.
The ball's in your court, Apple. Impress me.
Other notes:
Kings: Chris Hansen (of Seattle trying to steal the Kings fame) gave money to an anti-Sacramento Arena movement, AFTER the NBA decided to have the Kings stay in Sac. Hansen, you are a complete wanker and have harmed the chances of Seattle getting an expansion team. Go throw yourself on your sword ... now. Back out of the ownership group to get the Sonics back so that city at least has a chance now. Scumbag.
Disney: I am so rampantly "I don't like Disneyland" that you could bottle the hatred and sell it as mouse poison. But I have to say, a couple who shall remain nameless just got back from their honeymoon which they spend at the House of the Mouse, and the groom (who is also a Disney disliker) says that they had a great time and were treated incredibly well since they were honeymooning there. So ... well played, Disney. But I will not be so easily won over.
Doctor Who: As much as I like Matt Smith, I'm okay with the choice of Peter Capaldi as the 12th Doctor. Sure, he's older, but there have been older Doctors before. This allows the writers to play with other aspects of the Doctor's personality, and change the tone again. Trust me, folks ... it's fine. I've been a fan since Tom Baker, and the changes have always worked. (See Colin Baker to Sylvester McCoy.) Enjoy the ride.
DirecTV: Oh DirecTV... how do I hate thee? Let me count the ways. I have had the service for one year, have not been thrilled with the channel lineup, and a couple of weeks ago I found out that my rate was jumping $40 a month, not the $10 promised. Long story short? Paid the early termination fee on principle and had Comcast come out and get me back on cable. No, Comcast isn't perfect, but I'll take that old familiar and reliable cable service than the snotty little satellite company that not only overcharged me, but won't even come and take their dish down! I have to do that myself! Jerks...
Anyway, just to update my thinking here. I still love lots of things about my iPhone, including the backup method and how it "talks" effortlessly to my other Apple devices. I guess I'm just a bit miffed at the rumors coming out of Appletown that are telling folks that the only changes coming with the new phone are a possible fingerprint reader, a gold color option, and a cheaper version with a plastic back. Excuse me while I "yay" sarcastically with a yawn. I'm trying to justify plopping down an extra $100 or more for that over a different phone. And no, I can't just wait for another year. My iPhone gets hot enough to boil water (or skin) as it is, so keeping this phone for another 12 months isn't an option.
Therefore, some time in the next couple of weeks I am going to walk into an AT&T store and look at the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One to see what they are like. Then, on September 10, I am going to find out what Apple is doing with the next incarnation of the iPhone. By that afternoon, I will either have my order in for the next iPhone, or will be waltzing down to the store to get an Android.
The ball's in your court, Apple. Impress me.
Other notes:
Kings: Chris Hansen (of Seattle trying to steal the Kings fame) gave money to an anti-Sacramento Arena movement, AFTER the NBA decided to have the Kings stay in Sac. Hansen, you are a complete wanker and have harmed the chances of Seattle getting an expansion team. Go throw yourself on your sword ... now. Back out of the ownership group to get the Sonics back so that city at least has a chance now. Scumbag.
Disney: I am so rampantly "I don't like Disneyland" that you could bottle the hatred and sell it as mouse poison. But I have to say, a couple who shall remain nameless just got back from their honeymoon which they spend at the House of the Mouse, and the groom (who is also a Disney disliker) says that they had a great time and were treated incredibly well since they were honeymooning there. So ... well played, Disney. But I will not be so easily won over.
Doctor Who: As much as I like Matt Smith, I'm okay with the choice of Peter Capaldi as the 12th Doctor. Sure, he's older, but there have been older Doctors before. This allows the writers to play with other aspects of the Doctor's personality, and change the tone again. Trust me, folks ... it's fine. I've been a fan since Tom Baker, and the changes have always worked. (See Colin Baker to Sylvester McCoy.) Enjoy the ride.
DirecTV: Oh DirecTV... how do I hate thee? Let me count the ways. I have had the service for one year, have not been thrilled with the channel lineup, and a couple of weeks ago I found out that my rate was jumping $40 a month, not the $10 promised. Long story short? Paid the early termination fee on principle and had Comcast come out and get me back on cable. No, Comcast isn't perfect, but I'll take that old familiar and reliable cable service than the snotty little satellite company that not only overcharged me, but won't even come and take their dish down! I have to do that myself! Jerks...
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Why So Late? Wedding! (Not Mine!)
OK. I apologize again, but between being out of town two weeks ago and preparing for, and taking part in, a wedding, my mind hasn't been on this blog. But I'm back for now.
Today I would like to make a confession: I like Apple products. I always have.
That's not a surprise to anyone who knows me. I am an avowed Apple preferer. (Is that even a word?) But as of today, I am going to give many people coronaries, or at least dirty drawers after this announcement: I may buy an Android phone next.
I will wait until you have all calmed down. Okay? Let me explain.
I currently own an iPhone 4s. I like it a lot, but it is time to move on. The iPhone 5 has been out for awhile, and the next incarnation of this phone is on its way. But the rumors about the next iPhone have me checking out the competition. It isn't that the next iPhone won't be cool. It will be just as cool as the 5. And therein lies the problem. Apple has thrived upon innovation. The kind of innovation where people would go to the Apple announcement events and go "ooh" and "ahhh" over the surprises that Jobs had in store for us. But now Apple seems to have lost its way, at least temporarily.
The company recently announced iOS7, and there appear to be some good things about it, but the majority seems to be cosmetic. Oh, Siri will gain some more voices and will learn to pronounce strange words, but one writer described it as when Windows changed to Vista. He said that when the big change is that the borders have gone slightly transparent, there's more look than innovation. I have to agree with that. Sure, iOS7 looks nice, and I'm okay with the clearer icons. But what else is there? On top of that, the new iPhone is rumored to have a fingerprint sensor (very cool for password avoidance), more speed, and better battery life. Cool, certainly. But innovative? Enough for me to plunk down another $300 on the latest and greatest? I'm not so sure.
I have looked at phones like the Samsung Galaxy S 4 Active, and am impressed with some of the features there. Sure, there are many things that the iPhone does better, but $100 - $200 better? Yes, I would hate to lose the games and such that I already have, but would it hurt me that much?
I'm not sure what the future holds for Apple. An iWatch perhaps? Apple Glass? Something no one has even imagined, perhaps. But seriously, is the iPhone 5s or 6 or whatever it is being called going to be enough bells and whistles-y to make me drop a chunk of change on it? We'll see. But for now, I have to go pick my friends off the floor after the opening announcement. I won't even mention the Galaxy tablet that looks nice.
Today I would like to make a confession: I like Apple products. I always have.
That's not a surprise to anyone who knows me. I am an avowed Apple preferer. (Is that even a word?) But as of today, I am going to give many people coronaries, or at least dirty drawers after this announcement: I may buy an Android phone next.
I will wait until you have all calmed down. Okay? Let me explain.
I currently own an iPhone 4s. I like it a lot, but it is time to move on. The iPhone 5 has been out for awhile, and the next incarnation of this phone is on its way. But the rumors about the next iPhone have me checking out the competition. It isn't that the next iPhone won't be cool. It will be just as cool as the 5. And therein lies the problem. Apple has thrived upon innovation. The kind of innovation where people would go to the Apple announcement events and go "ooh" and "ahhh" over the surprises that Jobs had in store for us. But now Apple seems to have lost its way, at least temporarily.
The company recently announced iOS7, and there appear to be some good things about it, but the majority seems to be cosmetic. Oh, Siri will gain some more voices and will learn to pronounce strange words, but one writer described it as when Windows changed to Vista. He said that when the big change is that the borders have gone slightly transparent, there's more look than innovation. I have to agree with that. Sure, iOS7 looks nice, and I'm okay with the clearer icons. But what else is there? On top of that, the new iPhone is rumored to have a fingerprint sensor (very cool for password avoidance), more speed, and better battery life. Cool, certainly. But innovative? Enough for me to plunk down another $300 on the latest and greatest? I'm not so sure.
I have looked at phones like the Samsung Galaxy S 4 Active, and am impressed with some of the features there. Sure, there are many things that the iPhone does better, but $100 - $200 better? Yes, I would hate to lose the games and such that I already have, but would it hurt me that much?
I'm not sure what the future holds for Apple. An iWatch perhaps? Apple Glass? Something no one has even imagined, perhaps. But seriously, is the iPhone 5s or 6 or whatever it is being called going to be enough bells and whistles-y to make me drop a chunk of change on it? We'll see. But for now, I have to go pick my friends off the floor after the opening announcement. I won't even mention the Galaxy tablet that looks nice.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Flying Isn't Fun
When I was a kid, I had to fly from L.A. to Sacramento and back all the time on a kind of "shuttle" between two divorced parents. In that era (no...not bi-planes), I generally flew on Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) and was tended to by stewardesses in mini skirts. My dad or mom would meet me at the gate, and we would get the baggage without a hassle.
Fast-forward to our days. PSA no longer exits. The term "stewardess" is no longer used and is even considered sexist. We are helped along by flight attendants who have to deal with ruder and more demanding customers than ever before. No one is allowed into the gate areas due to security requirements, so they can't see you off or pick you up at the gate. The best that your friends can do is drop you off at the red line on the floor where only ticketed passengers may cross, and then say their goodbyes as you wait to go through the scanners in a shoeless manner.
Is it any wonder that flying is no fun? I never liked turbulence or the general fear of flying. But going to the airport was cool and kind of relaxed. But things can't be that way anymore. September 11 saw to that. So how does it go now? You arrive at the airport 2 hours early, check in at the counter and present your forms of identification; go into the secure area and wait in a looooong line to take your shoes off and stick every possible piece of metal on you into a basket to be scanned. (On that note, why does it seem that some people always - and I mean ALWAYS - get chosen to be taken aside and examined up close and personal? Is it a pheromone they give off?)
Now, a quick note here: I don't blame the TSA agents, nor do I give them any grief. In fact, I try to smile, say "thank you", maybe have a bit of a laugh with them, and move on my way quickly so that they can get to the next person. They may not all be the best and the brightest, but they're doing their assigned jobs.
Anyway, after I shove everything back in my pockets and put my shoes back on, I get to sit in the gate area for an hour or more, afraid to buy anything because the sticker shock might kill me, and wait to line up for my airplane boarding, stuck behind people who don't care that it isn't their turn or that they are standing in the wrong line or that they are supposed to wait.
In fact, that may be what has changed flying for the worse more than any other problem. People are rude. Not the gate agents, not the flight attendants, and not the security folks; the passengers. This percentage of "me first" types think that by their existence, they have the right to board first, take up any and all overhead compartment space, lean their chairs back as far as possible, demand this and that from the busy attendants, refuse to turn off their electronic devices, and generally think that rules apply to everyone but them. They are reason number one why flying is a nightmare now. They are the reason that zip ties and duct tape are a staple for every flight attendant's first aid kit.
To those passengers, I say this: sit your butts down until your seat assignments are called. Your seat will still be there. Be polite. Cooperate with the people in charge of your safety and the safety of the rest of the passengers. You don't need your Twitter feed so badly that you can't turn off your phone. And bathe once in awhile, will you?
I watched a video of a flight attendant in the SFO crash carrying passengers off the plane over her shoulder. She is over 40 years old and at the hospital it was discovered that she had a broken tail bone. Yet, she put her passengers first, and made sure that everyone was safe.
You jerks who won't behave on a plane ... rent a car.
Fast-forward to our days. PSA no longer exits. The term "stewardess" is no longer used and is even considered sexist. We are helped along by flight attendants who have to deal with ruder and more demanding customers than ever before. No one is allowed into the gate areas due to security requirements, so they can't see you off or pick you up at the gate. The best that your friends can do is drop you off at the red line on the floor where only ticketed passengers may cross, and then say their goodbyes as you wait to go through the scanners in a shoeless manner.
Is it any wonder that flying is no fun? I never liked turbulence or the general fear of flying. But going to the airport was cool and kind of relaxed. But things can't be that way anymore. September 11 saw to that. So how does it go now? You arrive at the airport 2 hours early, check in at the counter and present your forms of identification; go into the secure area and wait in a looooong line to take your shoes off and stick every possible piece of metal on you into a basket to be scanned. (On that note, why does it seem that some people always - and I mean ALWAYS - get chosen to be taken aside and examined up close and personal? Is it a pheromone they give off?)
Now, a quick note here: I don't blame the TSA agents, nor do I give them any grief. In fact, I try to smile, say "thank you", maybe have a bit of a laugh with them, and move on my way quickly so that they can get to the next person. They may not all be the best and the brightest, but they're doing their assigned jobs.
Anyway, after I shove everything back in my pockets and put my shoes back on, I get to sit in the gate area for an hour or more, afraid to buy anything because the sticker shock might kill me, and wait to line up for my airplane boarding, stuck behind people who don't care that it isn't their turn or that they are standing in the wrong line or that they are supposed to wait.
In fact, that may be what has changed flying for the worse more than any other problem. People are rude. Not the gate agents, not the flight attendants, and not the security folks; the passengers. This percentage of "me first" types think that by their existence, they have the right to board first, take up any and all overhead compartment space, lean their chairs back as far as possible, demand this and that from the busy attendants, refuse to turn off their electronic devices, and generally think that rules apply to everyone but them. They are reason number one why flying is a nightmare now. They are the reason that zip ties and duct tape are a staple for every flight attendant's first aid kit.
To those passengers, I say this: sit your butts down until your seat assignments are called. Your seat will still be there. Be polite. Cooperate with the people in charge of your safety and the safety of the rest of the passengers. You don't need your Twitter feed so badly that you can't turn off your phone. And bathe once in awhile, will you?
I watched a video of a flight attendant in the SFO crash carrying passengers off the plane over her shoulder. She is over 40 years old and at the hospital it was discovered that she had a broken tail bone. Yet, she put her passengers first, and made sure that everyone was safe.
You jerks who won't behave on a plane ... rent a car.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Royal Baby ... Blah, Blah, Blah
Can you believe the news reports about the new Petit Prince in England? Yes, Kate had a baby. Lots of people do every day. Well, not men, but lots of women do. Yet, because the child is born of so-called "royalty" in a so-called "constitutional monarchy", everyone loses their minds. Why? I mean, ok, the British care because that's how their line of succession runs. But why on earth is it big news in the U.S.? I can only come to one conclusion:
Americans want to be British subjects again.
Maybe not all Americans (certainly not those who claim to be part of the modern-day Tea Party who, instead of throwing tea overboard they lob their sanity over the rails), but seemingly a large number. And I can guess why. The approval rating of Congress has dropped to historical lows, with nothing getting done at that level of government except for a continuous exercise in futility called "Repeal Obama Care". People see this and think, "Wouldn't it be great to be subjects of the Crown again?"
Just think, you could spell words like "color" and "favor" with their missing "u". You could stand in a queue instead of a line, could avoid insane lorry drivers instead of truck drivers, could ride in a lift instead of an elevator, and add petrol to your gas-guzzler instead of, well, gas! Just think! You could get rid of your old apartment and live in a flat instead! Doesn't that better describe the shape of those buildings? They aren't "apart", but are usually quite "flat".
We could keep certain aspects of our lives with just a few tweaks. We could keep the dollar, just as Canada has. But we could put Doctor Who on the $10 (wait...it's 11 now, isn't it?), and the Stig and the fellows from Top Gear on the $20, since that needs "More Powerrrrr"! Hey! This is going well! We wouldn't even have to drive on the left hand side of the road. The Canadians don't! Of course, National Health Care would be implemented, but right-wingers say that's Obama-Care anyway! It all fits!
So you people ooohing and aaahing over the new Prince George, have your fun! Just remember, when you describe the new cuisine from Britain, add the "u" when saying that the food doesn't have any flavour.
Americans want to be British subjects again.
Maybe not all Americans (certainly not those who claim to be part of the modern-day Tea Party who, instead of throwing tea overboard they lob their sanity over the rails), but seemingly a large number. And I can guess why. The approval rating of Congress has dropped to historical lows, with nothing getting done at that level of government except for a continuous exercise in futility called "Repeal Obama Care". People see this and think, "Wouldn't it be great to be subjects of the Crown again?"
Just think, you could spell words like "color" and "favor" with their missing "u". You could stand in a queue instead of a line, could avoid insane lorry drivers instead of truck drivers, could ride in a lift instead of an elevator, and add petrol to your gas-guzzler instead of, well, gas! Just think! You could get rid of your old apartment and live in a flat instead! Doesn't that better describe the shape of those buildings? They aren't "apart", but are usually quite "flat".
We could keep certain aspects of our lives with just a few tweaks. We could keep the dollar, just as Canada has. But we could put Doctor Who on the $10 (wait...it's 11 now, isn't it?), and the Stig and the fellows from Top Gear on the $20, since that needs "More Powerrrrr"! Hey! This is going well! We wouldn't even have to drive on the left hand side of the road. The Canadians don't! Of course, National Health Care would be implemented, but right-wingers say that's Obama-Care anyway! It all fits!
So you people ooohing and aaahing over the new Prince George, have your fun! Just remember, when you describe the new cuisine from Britain, add the "u" when saying that the food doesn't have any flavour.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Small Furniture Makes Big Rooms - Why I Like IKEA
First off, an apology for being late. Things have been mildly psycho around here this week.
I have a small house. Two stories, three bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms ... but small. When we first shopped for furniture in so-called "normal" stores, the furniture came in two sizes; big and "we're from another country and showing off our huge American leather couch". As we looked around and considered the size of our rooms, we realized that if we put a regular American couch in our living room there would be no room for living. Thus, we went European.
If you have ever watched a program on HGTV called "House Hunters International", you will realize that when people from the U.S. look for homes overseas, they come across as whiny, "where's the closet space", "how can I cook in this tiny kitchen" complainers. They are spoiled here, and fail to realize that in the rest of the world, more than one bathroom is a luxury, a full-sized bathtub is mansion material, and kitchens are designed to cook and not to host a slumber party. The way that Euros make this work is that they buy smaller furniture than can sometimes even be hidden away when not in use. Brilliant!
Americans tend to make the IKEA stores the butt of jokes, largely because buyers of their furnishings generally have to take the flat-pack items home and assemble the tables / couches / beds themselves, often with an enclosed Allen wrench. Put that aside, along with the cost savings that are passed on to consumers with items that are flat-packed and less expensive to ship and store. Look at the general size of the furnishings. Sure, you can buy things that are larger and capable of seating 6 and a Yorkie, but you can also buy furniture that can make a small home look larger. And that is a prime selling point for me, and for other folks who realize that a bigger room makes you feel better.
An example: we have an open floor plan that has the kitchen flowing into the dining area flowing into the living room. A table from a normal furniture store would either be ridiculously large, ridiculously cheap and tacky, or just ridiculous in its uselessness. We went the IKEA route, and bought a nice round table that seats four, but when you open a couple of latches and pull the table apart, there is a butterfly leaf that folds out from the center and seats up to 6 (or more!) in the new arrangement. Brilliant! Our couch is small, our entertainment center is small, and yet, we have plenty of room for friends to visit and we didn't sell any vital organs to afford the furnishings.
Say what you will about IKEA, but I love it. I look at the examples of how to live in 200 square feet and think, "I could live like that!" Americans need to take a look at how other people live, and then take another look at how they live. Maybe then Americans won't look like complete jerk-faces on "House Hunters International".
I have a small house. Two stories, three bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms ... but small. When we first shopped for furniture in so-called "normal" stores, the furniture came in two sizes; big and "we're from another country and showing off our huge American leather couch". As we looked around and considered the size of our rooms, we realized that if we put a regular American couch in our living room there would be no room for living. Thus, we went European.
If you have ever watched a program on HGTV called "House Hunters International", you will realize that when people from the U.S. look for homes overseas, they come across as whiny, "where's the closet space", "how can I cook in this tiny kitchen" complainers. They are spoiled here, and fail to realize that in the rest of the world, more than one bathroom is a luxury, a full-sized bathtub is mansion material, and kitchens are designed to cook and not to host a slumber party. The way that Euros make this work is that they buy smaller furniture than can sometimes even be hidden away when not in use. Brilliant!
Americans tend to make the IKEA stores the butt of jokes, largely because buyers of their furnishings generally have to take the flat-pack items home and assemble the tables / couches / beds themselves, often with an enclosed Allen wrench. Put that aside, along with the cost savings that are passed on to consumers with items that are flat-packed and less expensive to ship and store. Look at the general size of the furnishings. Sure, you can buy things that are larger and capable of seating 6 and a Yorkie, but you can also buy furniture that can make a small home look larger. And that is a prime selling point for me, and for other folks who realize that a bigger room makes you feel better.
An example: we have an open floor plan that has the kitchen flowing into the dining area flowing into the living room. A table from a normal furniture store would either be ridiculously large, ridiculously cheap and tacky, or just ridiculous in its uselessness. We went the IKEA route, and bought a nice round table that seats four, but when you open a couple of latches and pull the table apart, there is a butterfly leaf that folds out from the center and seats up to 6 (or more!) in the new arrangement. Brilliant! Our couch is small, our entertainment center is small, and yet, we have plenty of room for friends to visit and we didn't sell any vital organs to afford the furnishings.
Say what you will about IKEA, but I love it. I look at the examples of how to live in 200 square feet and think, "I could live like that!" Americans need to take a look at how other people live, and then take another look at how they live. Maybe then Americans won't look like complete jerk-faces on "House Hunters International".
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
How NOT To Get Justice
I didn't watch even one minute of the Zimmerman trial. I must confess, I'm not a trial junkie. I don't like watching them, I'm not interested in them, and I really don't like sitting on jury duty.
But I do know that certain high-profile trials don't always go the way that the general public thinks it should (see Simpson, O.J.). The George Zimmerman acquittal appears to be another such case. However, I'm not writing this entry to say if the jury was right or wrong. As I said, I didn't watch the trial, so I'm in no position to second guess the jury. I am writing to comment on what happened in Oakland, California yesterday. Protesters of the verdict blocked freeways, broke windows, attacked news reporters and vans, and generally got up to no good. They blocked a freeway, for goodness sake! Are you people nuts??
And for what? Do you folks think that protests will get the decision reversed? Do you imagine there will be another criminal trial? That's called "double jeopardy", for those who just want to have things their own way despite what the law of the land says. When O.J. was found not guilty of his criminal charges, they didn't hold another trial of the same kind. Instead, the families of the victims tried another tactic, and filed a civil case against Simpson for wrongful death. That succeeded, and bankrupted Simpson, as well as put him on the path to a prison sentence for other crimes.
If the family of Trayvon Martin want to file civil charges against Zimmerman, more power to them. If people want to try to amend Florida's laws to require a 12-person jury, go for it. If you want to hold a peaceful rally to promote more understanding among people, or try to get some of the handguns out of private citizens, you are entitled to do so. But if you just want to protest and get loud because you don't agree with a verdict, and you want to destroy the property of people who had nothing to do with that verdict? No. If you want to block the freeways and roads and verbally assault people just because they are driving in the area? I don't think so. If you want to assault news reporters who are only there because you are causing trouble? Go directly to jail.
In any case, protesters need to understand that nothing will change by you getting violent. The only thing that will happen is that another innocent person will be injured or killed. Some of you will go to jail. Some may commit crimes and go to prison. What will you accomplish? Nothing.
You want to protest? You go right ahead. But don't hurt others; don't destroy property; and don't expect positive results from you cussing out the police. It isn't going to work that way.
But I do know that certain high-profile trials don't always go the way that the general public thinks it should (see Simpson, O.J.). The George Zimmerman acquittal appears to be another such case. However, I'm not writing this entry to say if the jury was right or wrong. As I said, I didn't watch the trial, so I'm in no position to second guess the jury. I am writing to comment on what happened in Oakland, California yesterday. Protesters of the verdict blocked freeways, broke windows, attacked news reporters and vans, and generally got up to no good. They blocked a freeway, for goodness sake! Are you people nuts??
And for what? Do you folks think that protests will get the decision reversed? Do you imagine there will be another criminal trial? That's called "double jeopardy", for those who just want to have things their own way despite what the law of the land says. When O.J. was found not guilty of his criminal charges, they didn't hold another trial of the same kind. Instead, the families of the victims tried another tactic, and filed a civil case against Simpson for wrongful death. That succeeded, and bankrupted Simpson, as well as put him on the path to a prison sentence for other crimes.
If the family of Trayvon Martin want to file civil charges against Zimmerman, more power to them. If people want to try to amend Florida's laws to require a 12-person jury, go for it. If you want to hold a peaceful rally to promote more understanding among people, or try to get some of the handguns out of private citizens, you are entitled to do so. But if you just want to protest and get loud because you don't agree with a verdict, and you want to destroy the property of people who had nothing to do with that verdict? No. If you want to block the freeways and roads and verbally assault people just because they are driving in the area? I don't think so. If you want to assault news reporters who are only there because you are causing trouble? Go directly to jail.
In any case, protesters need to understand that nothing will change by you getting violent. The only thing that will happen is that another innocent person will be injured or killed. Some of you will go to jail. Some may commit crimes and go to prison. What will you accomplish? Nothing.
You want to protest? You go right ahead. But don't hurt others; don't destroy property; and don't expect positive results from you cussing out the police. It isn't going to work that way.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Why So Vulgar?
I don't get it. Is there something in the contracts that HBO signs that states the following:
As part of this agreement, HBO will air your program ____________ for 13 weeks. However, in order to qualify your program to air each week, each half hour must contain a minimum of five (5) "f-bombs", three (3) scatological references, two (2) scenes of sex and/or nudity, and 5 other words deemed to be vulgar according to attachment 1A.
I don't subscribe to HBO, mainly for that reason. It is just too vulgar for my sensibilities. And yet, I am a big fan of Aaron Sorkin. I loved Sports Night, West Wing, and Studio 60. Thus, when "The Newsroom" came out on DVD, I decided to give it a try. Bad idea.
The old Sorkin-isms were there, some of which (many of which) have been recycled from his previous series. But then, this is HBO, and right from the beginning, the bad language flowed out of my television like raw sewage from the Oakland Coliseum locker rooms.
It's funny in a way. Funny in the idea that in order to be on a cable channel, expletives are required for a truly mature program. Mature? None of my friends feel the need to curse at every opportunity. I can actually manage a whole day at work without hearing one "f-bomb"! I heard more curse words daily when I was a teen than I do now. I guess the whole maturity thing is backwards on HBO.
Aaron Sorkin doesn't need to be crude to be successful. He proved that with his previous series. Originality is nice, though. We could use some of that. But as for "The Newsroom"; it is done in my house. I don't need the language. Nor do I need the violence of other shows, such as "The Walking Dead", "Game of Thrones", or "Adventure Time". (Just kidding on the last one. I just wanted to see if you were paying attention.)
Seriously, HBO. Weren't you responsible for "From the Earth to the Moon"? Good television can be done without blood, guts, and disgusting language. Fortunately, I have a secret super power. I can grab the remote, and change the channel. Better still, I can turn off the television entirely. Top that power, Iron Man.
As part of this agreement, HBO will air your program ____________ for 13 weeks. However, in order to qualify your program to air each week, each half hour must contain a minimum of five (5) "f-bombs", three (3) scatological references, two (2) scenes of sex and/or nudity, and 5 other words deemed to be vulgar according to attachment 1A.
I don't subscribe to HBO, mainly for that reason. It is just too vulgar for my sensibilities. And yet, I am a big fan of Aaron Sorkin. I loved Sports Night, West Wing, and Studio 60. Thus, when "The Newsroom" came out on DVD, I decided to give it a try. Bad idea.
The old Sorkin-isms were there, some of which (many of which) have been recycled from his previous series. But then, this is HBO, and right from the beginning, the bad language flowed out of my television like raw sewage from the Oakland Coliseum locker rooms.
It's funny in a way. Funny in the idea that in order to be on a cable channel, expletives are required for a truly mature program. Mature? None of my friends feel the need to curse at every opportunity. I can actually manage a whole day at work without hearing one "f-bomb"! I heard more curse words daily when I was a teen than I do now. I guess the whole maturity thing is backwards on HBO.
Aaron Sorkin doesn't need to be crude to be successful. He proved that with his previous series. Originality is nice, though. We could use some of that. But as for "The Newsroom"; it is done in my house. I don't need the language. Nor do I need the violence of other shows, such as "The Walking Dead", "Game of Thrones", or "Adventure Time". (Just kidding on the last one. I just wanted to see if you were paying attention.)
Seriously, HBO. Weren't you responsible for "From the Earth to the Moon"? Good television can be done without blood, guts, and disgusting language. Fortunately, I have a secret super power. I can grab the remote, and change the channel. Better still, I can turn off the television entirely. Top that power, Iron Man.
Monday, July 08, 2013
One tragedy after another
Wow. Just wow.
Three major transport accidents in a single day.
The major newsmaker was the crash of the 777 at San Francisco airport. I'm absolutely amazed that only two people died in the accident. The video of the crash looked horrendous, but somehow the flight crew got the vast majority of the passengers out of the jet and away from danger. One has to feel very sad about the two young women who lost their lives, and the numerous injured passengers (some severely so) who couldn't walk away from the crash. And yet, it boggles the mind how many escaped. I have flown on a 777 a couple of times, and I was very impressed with the plane in every way. From the news reports, though, I found out that the plane was designed so that all passengers could be evacuated from the plane in 90 seconds, even if half of the exits were unusable. That's truly incredible. Who could imagine such a thing even ten years ago? A jumbo jet crashes at SFO and most people walk away.
Another thing that amazes me, though, is how a couple of other tragedies fell by the wayside, and received much less attention from the news media. The first was a train that crashed in Canada. A train carrying crude oil rolled down a hill from a parking spot, jumped the track and crashed into a town. A town!! Forty people are missing, and a number of buildings were destroyed. This received far less coverage than the plane crash, but the actual damage appears to be much greater. Is it because it took place in Quebec?
How about the plane crash in Alaska, which killed all ten people on board? It isn't even on MSNBC's front page! Is it because the crash that killed five times more people wasn't as dramatic? At least the media is staying on top of the violence in Egypt, where over 50 are dead. But still ...
I'm not sure where I'm going with this. I guess I just wonder where drama goes away, and real news begins. I don't care about a Kardashian baby, or if the tanning mom is in rehab, or if Lindsay Lohan snorts all-purpose flour. I really don't. And yet, the news media continues to put drivel out there as "news".
Even though watching the news on BBC America is far more depressing, at least I get the feeling that I am watching real news, and that the viewpoint is somewhat balanced. Stop showing the SFO crash fifty times an hour! Tell me what is going on, leave the Fox News / NPR / Al Jazeera preaching out of it, and give me facts. Don't tell me what I should think. Sure, you can tell me the various viewpoints on a story, but let me decide how I feel about it. And let me know that there is more going on than a crash in SF.
Condolences to all affected by these horrible events...
Three major transport accidents in a single day.
The major newsmaker was the crash of the 777 at San Francisco airport. I'm absolutely amazed that only two people died in the accident. The video of the crash looked horrendous, but somehow the flight crew got the vast majority of the passengers out of the jet and away from danger. One has to feel very sad about the two young women who lost their lives, and the numerous injured passengers (some severely so) who couldn't walk away from the crash. And yet, it boggles the mind how many escaped. I have flown on a 777 a couple of times, and I was very impressed with the plane in every way. From the news reports, though, I found out that the plane was designed so that all passengers could be evacuated from the plane in 90 seconds, even if half of the exits were unusable. That's truly incredible. Who could imagine such a thing even ten years ago? A jumbo jet crashes at SFO and most people walk away.
Another thing that amazes me, though, is how a couple of other tragedies fell by the wayside, and received much less attention from the news media. The first was a train that crashed in Canada. A train carrying crude oil rolled down a hill from a parking spot, jumped the track and crashed into a town. A town!! Forty people are missing, and a number of buildings were destroyed. This received far less coverage than the plane crash, but the actual damage appears to be much greater. Is it because it took place in Quebec?
How about the plane crash in Alaska, which killed all ten people on board? It isn't even on MSNBC's front page! Is it because the crash that killed five times more people wasn't as dramatic? At least the media is staying on top of the violence in Egypt, where over 50 are dead. But still ...
I'm not sure where I'm going with this. I guess I just wonder where drama goes away, and real news begins. I don't care about a Kardashian baby, or if the tanning mom is in rehab, or if Lindsay Lohan snorts all-purpose flour. I really don't. And yet, the news media continues to put drivel out there as "news".
Even though watching the news on BBC America is far more depressing, at least I get the feeling that I am watching real news, and that the viewpoint is somewhat balanced. Stop showing the SFO crash fifty times an hour! Tell me what is going on, leave the Fox News / NPR / Al Jazeera preaching out of it, and give me facts. Don't tell me what I should think. Sure, you can tell me the various viewpoints on a story, but let me decide how I feel about it. And let me know that there is more going on than a crash in SF.
Condolences to all affected by these horrible events...
Friday, July 05, 2013
Happy 4th ... you idiots
We set a record yesterday. Our area had its 7th day in a row with temperatures over 105 degrees.
Let us bow our heads for a minute of silence for my sweat glands.
One can only imagine just how dry the grasses and trees are in the general area. All it takes is a spark to start a nasty fire. So, imagine my lack of surprise when I see illegal fireworks shooting overhead and exploding in a shower of pyrotechnics. Follow that up with exploding M-80s and other forms of miniature dynamite and we have the makings for a disaster. Fortunately, our place of worship and my house was spared any catastrophe of this kind, but I do have a message to the mouth-breathers out there who think their antics were clever: you are idiots, morons, self-centered knuckle-draggers who deserve a swift kick in the seat of the pants.
Let's face it...people who use illegal fireworks are nothing more than selfish jerks, who think that their own visual pleasure and excitement torn from doing something illegal trumps the safety and well-being of others. That's what it comes down to in the end. And frankly, that kind of person shouldn't possess explosives anyway, but particularly when they are no doubt loaded up with Budweiser or some other form of colored water containing alcohol.
You can celebrate so-called Independence Day if you want to, although I do wonder if you really can claim independence when you have the NSA on your phone, computer, and probably your showerhead. But leave the explosives to the military. Leave the pyrotechnics to the pros.
Although even the pros have problems. Just do a search on the fireworks accidents that happened yesterday. If these professionals can't go error free, what makes you nincompoops with the bottle rockets think that you can do better? Take your selfish, ooohing and aaahing and burping, illegal explosive launching selves and go somewhere where you can't harm anyone. I hear Death Valley is nice in the summertime.
Let us bow our heads for a minute of silence for my sweat glands.
One can only imagine just how dry the grasses and trees are in the general area. All it takes is a spark to start a nasty fire. So, imagine my lack of surprise when I see illegal fireworks shooting overhead and exploding in a shower of pyrotechnics. Follow that up with exploding M-80s and other forms of miniature dynamite and we have the makings for a disaster. Fortunately, our place of worship and my house was spared any catastrophe of this kind, but I do have a message to the mouth-breathers out there who think their antics were clever: you are idiots, morons, self-centered knuckle-draggers who deserve a swift kick in the seat of the pants.
Let's face it...people who use illegal fireworks are nothing more than selfish jerks, who think that their own visual pleasure and excitement torn from doing something illegal trumps the safety and well-being of others. That's what it comes down to in the end. And frankly, that kind of person shouldn't possess explosives anyway, but particularly when they are no doubt loaded up with Budweiser or some other form of colored water containing alcohol.
You can celebrate so-called Independence Day if you want to, although I do wonder if you really can claim independence when you have the NSA on your phone, computer, and probably your showerhead. But leave the explosives to the military. Leave the pyrotechnics to the pros.
Although even the pros have problems. Just do a search on the fireworks accidents that happened yesterday. If these professionals can't go error free, what makes you nincompoops with the bottle rockets think that you can do better? Take your selfish, ooohing and aaahing and burping, illegal explosive launching selves and go somewhere where you can't harm anyone. I hear Death Valley is nice in the summertime.
Monday, July 01, 2013
Gentle Seasonal Changes
So, summer has arrived. And where I am, it has arrived ever so gently. It started with a couple of days of rain showers, and somehow morphed into a new Syfy special: When the Earth Went Nuclear!
How we go from rain to 110 degrees is beyond my comprehension. We have always had warm (read: hot) summers here, and a running joke is that we have two seasons; rain and blistering heat. But this week goes beyond sanity. How insane?
We are expecting at least 5 more days over 100 degrees and nearing 111 degrees before we gently cool to 99.
Death Valley, which in anyone's book translates into "Valley where things die" is near 130 degrees. 130! The news reports say that people's tennis shoes are melting as they walk on the pavement!
Las Vegas, NV hit 117 degrees! People actually had to go inside and watch lounge singers to avoid the heat. Ten minutes later they decided that they preferred heat stroke.
Even Seattle, Washington hit the 90s which, as you might guess, is just a bit unusual for them.
So, to all you who deny that humans are having an effect on the weather, I would like to invite you on a tour of Death Valley in a station wagon with no air conditioning.
On a more serious note, I think it appropriate to mention that 19 firefighters died while working a serious blaze in Arizona. My wife and I discussed it this morning, and a thought occurred to me: what defines a 'hero'? I'm sure that there are many different definitions of the word: someone who rescues helpless animals, someone who donates time at a women's shelter, someone who flies to other countries to provide medical care to the impoverished. I would like to throw another definition out there. A hero is someone who runs into danger while others run away; someone who works in catastrophic conditions to save someone else's property; someone who would willingly sacrifice his or her life for the benefit of others.
In this case: firefighters.
How we go from rain to 110 degrees is beyond my comprehension. We have always had warm (read: hot) summers here, and a running joke is that we have two seasons; rain and blistering heat. But this week goes beyond sanity. How insane?
We are expecting at least 5 more days over 100 degrees and nearing 111 degrees before we gently cool to 99.
Death Valley, which in anyone's book translates into "Valley where things die" is near 130 degrees. 130! The news reports say that people's tennis shoes are melting as they walk on the pavement!
Las Vegas, NV hit 117 degrees! People actually had to go inside and watch lounge singers to avoid the heat. Ten minutes later they decided that they preferred heat stroke.
Even Seattle, Washington hit the 90s which, as you might guess, is just a bit unusual for them.
So, to all you who deny that humans are having an effect on the weather, I would like to invite you on a tour of Death Valley in a station wagon with no air conditioning.
On a more serious note, I think it appropriate to mention that 19 firefighters died while working a serious blaze in Arizona. My wife and I discussed it this morning, and a thought occurred to me: what defines a 'hero'? I'm sure that there are many different definitions of the word: someone who rescues helpless animals, someone who donates time at a women's shelter, someone who flies to other countries to provide medical care to the impoverished. I would like to throw another definition out there. A hero is someone who runs into danger while others run away; someone who works in catastrophic conditions to save someone else's property; someone who would willingly sacrifice his or her life for the benefit of others.
In this case: firefighters.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Not So Common Sense
I read an article today that mentioned a woman who followed her GPS directions and ended up stranded in California's Death Valley. (Or, as Bill Engvall calls it, it's a valley ... of death!) I cannot understand this. Certainly I could understand ending up on the wrong street or the wrong neighborhood, but how do you drive on the freeway with signs saying "Death Valley next exit" and think that the signs must be wrong because there's no way the GPS could be wrong? If you were about to drive off a pier, would you refuse to believe there was water ahead of you because the GPS says there isn't? Guess what? You're going to get wet!
This is the lack of common sense that I constantly mourn in this world. You see it in things large and small.
For example, an NFL player was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. What was one of the clues the DA used to press charges? The defendant had bought a pack of a particular kind of bubble gum, and the cops found a chewed piece of that gum at the murder scene. Leave out the DNA testing sure to follow. How do you spit your gum out at a murder site and not think to get rid of it? The guy is an idiot and an evil person for committing murder, but he's a complete moron to leave that kind of evidence laying there!
Another example: the CEO of Chik-Fil-A has made it clear that he is opposed to homosexuality. That's his right. But then he posts an idiotic statement on Twitter, deletes it after it is discovered(?), and then can't figure out how the news media has gotten a hold of things! If you post something online, it's there. It's the same thing with people who post embarrassing things on Facebook and wonder how it went viral. Why not post your phone number and then wonder why you get crank calls?
Paula Deen wonders why she's getting flak? Oh, I don't know... because you showed extremely racist behavior? Westboro Baptist Church wonders why Anonymous is hacking their site after they publicly make their idiotic statements and basically dare the hackers to go after them?
The electronic age has been amazing. But nothing is perfect, and if you start to think it is, then you're a fool. If you don't want something out there, don't type it. Don't photograph it. Don't post it. No one cares about your breakfast. But if you're going to post a picture of yourself in a stolen car, don't be shocked if the cops find you. If you're going to post a picture of yourself in Nazi regalia, don't be surprised if you don't get hired anywhere.
And if you see a sign that says Death Valley, don't get off the freeway if you wanted to go to San Diego.
This is the lack of common sense that I constantly mourn in this world. You see it in things large and small.
For example, an NFL player was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. What was one of the clues the DA used to press charges? The defendant had bought a pack of a particular kind of bubble gum, and the cops found a chewed piece of that gum at the murder scene. Leave out the DNA testing sure to follow. How do you spit your gum out at a murder site and not think to get rid of it? The guy is an idiot and an evil person for committing murder, but he's a complete moron to leave that kind of evidence laying there!
Another example: the CEO of Chik-Fil-A has made it clear that he is opposed to homosexuality. That's his right. But then he posts an idiotic statement on Twitter, deletes it after it is discovered(?), and then can't figure out how the news media has gotten a hold of things! If you post something online, it's there. It's the same thing with people who post embarrassing things on Facebook and wonder how it went viral. Why not post your phone number and then wonder why you get crank calls?
Paula Deen wonders why she's getting flak? Oh, I don't know... because you showed extremely racist behavior? Westboro Baptist Church wonders why Anonymous is hacking their site after they publicly make their idiotic statements and basically dare the hackers to go after them?
The electronic age has been amazing. But nothing is perfect, and if you start to think it is, then you're a fool. If you don't want something out there, don't type it. Don't photograph it. Don't post it. No one cares about your breakfast. But if you're going to post a picture of yourself in a stolen car, don't be shocked if the cops find you. If you're going to post a picture of yourself in Nazi regalia, don't be surprised if you don't get hired anywhere.
And if you see a sign that says Death Valley, don't get off the freeway if you wanted to go to San Diego.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Getting Older
I'm back, and it's time to address an issue that is staring me in the face like a rabid ferret: aging.
Not aging in general this time, but the aspects of aging that involve medical testing.
I was watching a Bill Engvall performance video the other evening, and one of his routines had to do with having that oh-so-fun colonoscopy. He joked about the laxative he had to take the day before, and how anyone who tried to use his bathroom got yelled out of the house. He told about the IV that turned him into a wasted guy that got distracted by the movement of his own finger. He had the audience laughing about the length of tube curled by the machine, and how he passed gas afterward like a bull elephant. If you're wondering, yes, I laughed, too. How could I not? He was hilarious! And yet, behind my laughter was the frightening aspect of the same procedure in my future. It wasn't so funny at that point.
I'm nearly fifty, which means that the AARP is right around the corner (yay discounts!), but it also means that fun times involving prostate exams and colonoscopies are now on the medical schedule for me. Every time I hear about these exams, I never fail to ask, "Shouldn't a modern technological society have come up with a better and less invasive way of conducting these exams?"
Imagine someone from 100 years ago getting a tour of a modern hospital:
"Here, sir, is where we can scan your brain without opening your skull! It's a machine that can show us layers of your brain and where a problem may exist. And here's something interesting! This is called a gamma knife, and it allows us to operate without opening the skin. And where we do open the skin, we have things like electro cauterization and the cell saver which minimizes the loss of blood in a patient. Oh, and look at this! This is a robot that allows doctors to operate safely down to the smallest and most delicate areas of the body!"
"Excuse me, Doctor, but what is that machine over there?"
"Oh, well that's a tube we stick up the patient's backside so we can look for things in the colon!"
"Barbarians!!!"
Seriously, though... Doesn't it seem odd that we can scan an active, living brain for damage without opening the skull, and we can't check a colon for polyps without sticking a tube into it? With all of our technology, Doctor Squint has to still shove a fire hose up the chute to look for bumps? When he finds some, will he shove leeches up there?
I know my loved ones want me to be healthy and live a long life. I want that, too. But when is a technology that gives us Google Glass, iPhones, and Double Stuf Oreos going to get going on a true benefit to mankind: the external scanner for colons? Oh Steve Jobs, why did you have to be such an anti-medicine type? Why couldn't we have an iScope? It's not too late, Bill Gates. While your foundation is offering money for people who come up with ways to solve the world's problems, how about a little cash in the direction of the male colon?
Don't get me started on prostate exams....
Not aging in general this time, but the aspects of aging that involve medical testing.
I was watching a Bill Engvall performance video the other evening, and one of his routines had to do with having that oh-so-fun colonoscopy. He joked about the laxative he had to take the day before, and how anyone who tried to use his bathroom got yelled out of the house. He told about the IV that turned him into a wasted guy that got distracted by the movement of his own finger. He had the audience laughing about the length of tube curled by the machine, and how he passed gas afterward like a bull elephant. If you're wondering, yes, I laughed, too. How could I not? He was hilarious! And yet, behind my laughter was the frightening aspect of the same procedure in my future. It wasn't so funny at that point.
I'm nearly fifty, which means that the AARP is right around the corner (yay discounts!), but it also means that fun times involving prostate exams and colonoscopies are now on the medical schedule for me. Every time I hear about these exams, I never fail to ask, "Shouldn't a modern technological society have come up with a better and less invasive way of conducting these exams?"
Imagine someone from 100 years ago getting a tour of a modern hospital:
"Here, sir, is where we can scan your brain without opening your skull! It's a machine that can show us layers of your brain and where a problem may exist. And here's something interesting! This is called a gamma knife, and it allows us to operate without opening the skin. And where we do open the skin, we have things like electro cauterization and the cell saver which minimizes the loss of blood in a patient. Oh, and look at this! This is a robot that allows doctors to operate safely down to the smallest and most delicate areas of the body!"
"Excuse me, Doctor, but what is that machine over there?"
"Oh, well that's a tube we stick up the patient's backside so we can look for things in the colon!"
"Barbarians!!!"
Seriously, though... Doesn't it seem odd that we can scan an active, living brain for damage without opening the skull, and we can't check a colon for polyps without sticking a tube into it? With all of our technology, Doctor Squint has to still shove a fire hose up the chute to look for bumps? When he finds some, will he shove leeches up there?
I know my loved ones want me to be healthy and live a long life. I want that, too. But when is a technology that gives us Google Glass, iPhones, and Double Stuf Oreos going to get going on a true benefit to mankind: the external scanner for colons? Oh Steve Jobs, why did you have to be such an anti-medicine type? Why couldn't we have an iScope? It's not too late, Bill Gates. While your foundation is offering money for people who come up with ways to solve the world's problems, how about a little cash in the direction of the male colon?
Don't get me started on prostate exams....
Monday, June 24, 2013
Delay of Posts
Just wanted to let folks know that I'm not dead. I have had several really busy days, and haven't been in the frame of mind to post anything. Will try to pick it up tomorrow.
Thanks for your patience.
Or lack of interest.
Or whatever.
Thanks for your patience.
Or lack of interest.
Or whatever.
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