Walkies!

Anybody remember Barbara Woodhouse and her gratingly cheerful "Walkies!" command to her dogs? Well, I'm going walkabout for a bit -- a polite way of saying I've entered the doldrums, my sails are slack from the lack of wind and the current is carrying me towards the Tropic of Capricorn at only 2 knots. I'll be back after I enter the "Trades" and get some wind back in my sails. Behave in the meantime -- I should be back after the election sometime.

Please talk about me behind my back and in my absence...

A Great Musical History Find

Are you a Bob Dylan or Johnny Cash fan like I am? You're going to love these outtakes over on
Kwaya Na Kisser: Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash: Studio Outtakes, Johnny Cash Show Jams, 1969.

Via The J Walk Blog.

What if Tom Cruise met Katie Holmes and they had children?

After spending 15 minutes messing with this, I decided to blatently steal it and offer it up to my few readers... but really, all credit goes to Christine (Hi, Chrissy!) at Infinitepink.

The Suri Cruise Halloween Dressup Game!

MEME: Wednesday Mind Hump – Literary Humping

Rfduck has “been to the future on a horse with no name” and finds that it's pretty darn lame: “Hi everyone! I'm back with another mind hump. I'm going to make my own theme today, because I don't like the other theme. So today is Book Day here at the hump!”

1. What are some of your favorite books, and why?
Robert Heinlein's “Time Enough For Love,” “Friday,” and “The Past Through Tomorrow” spring immediately to mind, followed by John Scalzi's “Old Man's War,” Ursula K Leguin's “The Left Hand of Darkness,” and Frank Herbert's “Dune” (as well as the rest of his books set in the Dune universe).
2. How many books do you read during a typical month?
I've slowed down considerably of late, finding myself lucky to read two or three all the way through in four weeks.
3. Where do you buy most of your books?
The local Borders Books.
4. Recommend a good book to me (and your readers).
Any of the ones mentioned in question #1. above qualifies, of course, but if you like your reading a little lighter and funnier, allow me to I suggest Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife.

Leisure-time Geniuses

Courtesy of my uncle, yesterday's email brought us this bit of a cautionary tale...

AN ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE STORY HEARD ON A WISCONSIN RADIO STATION REPORTING ON THE INCIDENT.

A guy buys a new Lincoln Navigator for $42,500.00 (with monthly payments of $560.00). (Hey - this has to be a U.S. story because, if Lincoln Navigators sold for this price in Canada - there would be a lot more of them around.)

He and a friend go duck hunting in mid-winter; and of course all of the lakes are frozen.
These two guys go on a lake with their GUNS, a DOG, and of course the new NAVIGATOR.

They decide they want to make a natural looking water area for the ducks, something for the decoys to float on. Now making a hole in the ice large enough to invite a passing duck, is going to take a little more power than the average drill auger can produce.

So, out of the back of the new Navigator comes a stick of dynamite with a short 40 second-fuse.

Now our two Rocket Scientists, afraid they might slip on the ice while trying to run away after lighting the fuse (and becoming toast, along with the Navigator), decide on the following course of action: they light the 40 second fuse; then, with a mighty thrust, they throw the stick of dynamite as far away as possible.

Remember a couple of paragraphs back when I mentioned the NAVIGATOR, the GUNS, and the DOG???

Let's talk about the dog: A highly trained black Lab used for RETRIEVING, especially things thrown by the owner. You guessed it: the dog takes off across the ice at a high rate of speed and grabs the stick of dynamite, with the burning 40-second fuse, just as it hits the ice.

The two men swallow, blink, start waving their arms and, with veins in their necks swelling to resemble stalks of rhubarb, scream and holler at the dog to stop.

The dog, now apparently cheered on by his master, keeps coming.

One hunter panics, grabs the shotgun and shoots the dog!

The shotgun is loaded with #8 bird shot, hardly big enough to stop a black Lab. The dog stops for seconds, slightly confused, then continues on.

Another shot, and this time the dog, still standing, becomes really confused and of course terrified, thinks these two geniuses have gone insane. The dog takes off to find cover, under the brand new Navigator.

The men continue to scream as they run. The red hot exhaust pipe on the truck touches the dog's rear end, he yelps, drops the dynamite under the truck and takes off after his master.

Then"""""""""KA___BOOOOOOOOOOOOM""""""""""!!!!

The truck is blown to bits and sinks to the bottom of the lake, leaving the two idiots standing there with "I can't believe this just happened" looks on their faces.

The insurance company says that sinking a vehicle in a lake by illegal use of explosives is NOT COVERED by the policy. He still had yet to make the first of those $560.00 a month payments. The dog is okay.

Two Weeks Before The Election

If you want government to intervene domestically, you're a liberal. If you want government to intervene overseas, you're a conservative. If you want government to intervene everywhere, you're a moderate. If you don't want government to intervene anywhere, you're an extremist. – Joseph Sobran (1995)

MEME: Monday Madness – Inmates Revolt!

Otto looked up from saddle-soaping her black leather bustier and remarked, “This week, 5 more questions from our fellow participants! Thank you all for playing, AND for offering suggestions. Have a fabulous week!” =)

1. From: cassie:
Dramas or comedies?
Comedies, m'dear ... they're really much finer than beer.
2. From: nutmegnine:
Your neighbor has frequent noisy parties on nights before you need to get up early. Do you confront him directly, call the police, call your landlord, join in the debauchery, or seethe quietly and do nothing?
Until 11PM, I do nothing. After 11 o'clock, I call the po-po. If the tumult continues, well, thats what they make semi-automatic shotguns for...
3. From sherle:
Are you more comfortable in big crowds or small groups?
I'm most comfortable alone, followed by small groups. I fear and loathe mob mentality.
4. From zeno:
Do you prefer Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox?
I've been a Mozilla user since verson 1.1 on the Sun and then the Apple Mac, followed by Netscape. I still use Netscape for business, but the rest of the time I use Firefox. I only use Micro$oft's Internet Explorer if there is no other possible choice – when updating Windoze, for instance.
5. From briar:
They say you learn something new every day. What new thing did you learn today? Hmm, the day is early – I only just got up. I'll get back to you on that, briar.

You can participate, if you are so inclined, by visiting Mistress Otto at her House of Pleasure, Pain and Grapes of Wrath to obtain your own copy of the questions (and to leave a link to your answers in the comments there).

Maine - The Way Life Should Be

"Guns, Wedding Gowns & Cold Beer" reads the sign at Hussey's General Store

via All Things Maine

MEME: Do-It-Yourself Monday Music Mambo

Rfduck, your Monday Mambo mememeister, took a moment from his busy migration to give us the following on the sweet and low: “Welcome to another Monday Music Mambo! Today is Do-It-Yourself Day.”

1. If you could play any musical instrument, which would you choose?
The piano would be my primary choice, with violin/fiddle a close second.
2. If you started your own band, what kind of music would be played? How many members would there be, and what instruments would everyone play?
Well, I suspect it'd be a hybrid barrel-house blues & bluegrass quartet. There'd be the percussionist, who is at home on just about any drum you can name or put before him, then the bassist, on both upright as well as electric bass along with occasional cello accompaniments. I, in my pipe dreams, would play mandolin, guitar, piano and fiddle, while my sideman would play banjo, rhythm guitar, ukulele, harmonica and sing, too. We'd tour 250 days of the year and have a barrel of laughs.
3. If you could manage an artist or band's career, which artist or band would you want to manage?
Just for the fun of it, I'd like to take on Nora Jones and her band. In my not so humble opinion, she's the best young vocal talent to hit the jazz/popular music scene since Maria Muldaur. Although, Queen Latifah's 2004 solo album, The Dana Owens Album, shows she can sing the balls off a brass monkey when she wants to.
4. Make up your own question here and answer it!
You know, there's a reason that rfduck asks the questions and I merely respond. Original thinking isn't my forte, particularly after the brain burn that accompanied the after-effects of my coronary bypass. So, whereas mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery, I'm going to tweak the question above. And, in keeping with Do-It-Yourself Day, I ask,

If you could make a musical instrument by hand, which instrument would you choose to make, and why?

My choice would be a guitar. More specifically, a twelve string acoustic guitar in the Martin Super Dreadnought style that was popular in the seventies. You know, like Leo_Kottke and John Fahey used to play. Mostly because I have most of the tools needed to do it and a few of the skills. Besides, I always wanted a twelve-string...

The rules are, there are no rules!!! All you need to do is copy and paste the above questions into your blog and add your responses. After you've finished, return here and leave us a comment so we'll know you've Mamboed. Be sure your Mambo is linked back to http://bdinsanity.blogdrive.com so others can dance too.

Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. If one of the questions doesn't inspire you then simply "pass" it. Just use your imagination and dance like crazy!

If you don't have a blog or you're an exhibitionist *woo hoo* feel free to Mambo right here in our comments section. There's absolutely no pressure ... although it's called the Monday Music Mambo you can Mambo on any day.

Until next time, this is your music-lovin' Mememeister saying have a good Monday and a good Mambo!

MEME: Sunday Seven -- Episode 60

Patrick lifted his head from a box long enough to say, “Yes, I'm still unpacking, but I've gotten much of my kitchen and pantry unpacked. And I was loading one of my cabinets, a question for this week's Sunday Seven came to me.

“But first, Carly, of "Ellipsis...Suddenly Carly" was first to play last week! Congratulations, Carly!

“On to this week's question!”

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Name seven spices, seasonings, extracts or flavorings that you use often enough that you keep them on hand in your pantry.

1. Salt

2. Black Pepper

3. Paprika

4. Soy Sauce (Tamari & a Black Mushroom Soy)

5. Cayenne Pepper

6. Vanilla extract

7. Oregano, dried

   There's seven of the thirty or so spices, extracts, seasonings and flavorings on hand in my kitchen at any given time.

   Have a spicy week, compadres...

MEME: Unconcious Mutterings -- Week 194

15 hours, 58 minutes ago

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Stuff :: it

2. Block :: head

3. Ingredient :: aisle

4. Flagrant :: disregard

5. Dandruff :: shampoo

6. Betty :: Crocker

7. Tide :: detergent

8. Judges :: Bible

9. Take it easy :: Peasey

10. Chef :: Boy-ar-dee

Bet you couldn't guess I just came home from the grocery store ... sadly, the “food for lions” phreaks were out in full force.

If you want to play along, you can get a list of the words over here. And don't forget to leave a link to your efforts in the comments there. Have a good rest day.

John M. Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #135: Songs for a Spooky Evening

Weekend Assignment: We're making a Halloween Music Mix! Suggest a song. The song can be scary, spooky or silly, but it should fit into Halloween somehow. All genres are acceptable; indeed, I'd be very interested to know of a country or samba song that would work.

Extra Credit: Are you spooked easily?

Dear John,

Almost a dirge, the Pearls Before Swine song There Was A Man has always struck me as a sad, sour song that fits well with Halloween, despite the fact that it speaks of the “suit of red” worn by the man in question. Just the sound of it raises the hairs on the back of my neck.

But the piece of music that is indelibly linked to Halloween in my mind is Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain, a “tone poem” -- mostly because a music appreciation teacher took the time to introduce to me in class some fifty years ago. It's had a varied history, as the Wikipedia article points out. It actually is a tonal depiction of the celebration of the Russian witches sabbath on St. John's Night (June 23-24).

But, we can blame Uncle Walt for the mental connection – he included a version in his “Fantasia” in the 1930's and it's been stuck in the Yank's psyche ever since... and in mine since the late 1950's.

As to whether I spook easy, the answer is no. But once spooked, I take a while to come down from the adrenaline rush.

wil

"There Was A Man"
By Tom Rapp

There was a man came to our town
He wore a suit of red
He memorized with secret eyes
That he hid away in his head

He had a scar upon his head
Where there used to be a crown
But he sold his robes at the five and ten
And lived on the edge of town

That fall he showed us a magic leaf
That he could change to snow
He bought it partly with his grief
And partly with his soul

He scattered seeds in the alley way
He never seemed to rest
And when you went to ask him why
All he ever said was yes

He made a swan from waving grass
Beside a crystal shore
And a sunrise spun from broken glass
And many things wondrous more

But then his hands began to burn
When he heard the news from the war
When we cannot find each other he said
Then we can't run away any more

Next day with tears along his face
He passed us on the hill
No one thought to ask him to stay
And he knows that we never will

There was a man came to our town
He wore a suit of red
He memorized with secret eyes
That he hid away in his head.

MEME: Saturday Six - Episode 132

Oh yeah...it's Saturday, isn't it? Sorry for keeping you all waiting. I had a busy day of running errands and getting out and exploring the city a bit. And as I was sitting here at the computer having a very late dinner, it occurred to me that it was time -- past time, actually -- to post the questions!

But first, Nichole of "My Two Cents" was first to play last week! Congratulations, Nicole!

Here are this week's "Saturday Six" questions. Either answer the questions in a comment here, or put the answers in an entry on your journal...but either way, leave a link to your journal so that everyone else can visit! To be counted as "first to play," you must be the first player to either answer the questions in a comment or to provide a complete link to the specific entry in your journal in which you answer the questions. A link to your journal in general cannot count. Enjoy!

1. Who is the last person who you spoke to by telephone?
My wife, this evening on her dinner break. She called me...
2. Who is the last person you spoke to online?
I don't remember. I do not “IM” people often and do not use VOI at all.
3. Which of the two have you seen more in person?
Obviously, my wife.
4. Take the quiz: How is your self-esteem?

You Have Low Self Esteem 56% of the Time

While you sometimes feel good about yourself, you tend to struggle a little with self esteem issues. It's not about changing who you are, it's about accepting your faults. You just need to be less critical and demanding of yourself!

How is Your Self Esteem?

5. What is the longest period of time you have gone without internet service since you became a "regular user?"
Two weeks – the ice storm of '98
6. How much did the lack of internet availability bother you?

The deep scratches from gouging my eyes bothered me a bit...

MEME: Which Sportscar Are You?

Paul sucked me into another one...

I'm a Porsche 911!

You have a classic style, but you're up-to-date with the latest technology. You're ambitious, competitive, and you love to win. Performance, precision, and prestige - you're one of the elite,and you know it.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

This appeared in this morning's email, compliments of my uncle...

The Stranger

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger...he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home... not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.

My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... and NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name?....

We just call him, "TV."

**Note: This should be required reading for every household in America!**

He has a younger sister now. We call her "Computer."

MEME: Wednesday Mind Hump -- Long Distance Day

Greetings! Ready for another mind hump? Today is Long Distance Day.

1. What's the longest distance you've ever traveled?
From Bangor, Maine via San Diego, California to Saigon, Vietnam – about 13000 miles.
2. What's the longest distance you've ever walked?
I've walked portions of the Appalachian Trail a couple of weeks at a time (about 200 miles was the most at one time).
3. How far away is the friend/relative who lives the longest distance from you?
About 1800 miles by road, just under 1600 miles straight-line distance to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Have a good hump day, y'all.

The rules are, there are no rules!!! All you need to do is copy and paste the above questions into your blog and add your responses. After you've finished, return here and leave us a comment so we'll know you've humped. Be sure your hump is linked back to http://bdinsanity.blogdrive.com so others can hump too.

Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. If one of the questions doesn't inspire you then simply "pass" it. Just use your imagination!

If you don't have a blog or you're an exhibitionist *woo hoo* feel free to hump right here in our comments section. There's absolutely no pressure ... although it's called the Wednesday Mind Hump you can hump on any day.

Until next time, this is your music-loving mememeister wishing you a happy hump day!

Unconscious Mutterings -- Week 193

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Weeks :: months

2. Cough :: syrup

3. Jail :: time

4. Produced :: Directed

5. ? :: !

6. Stapler :: nailer

7. Next :: time

8. Perky :: tits

9. Oxygen :: tubing

10. Musical :: tent show

If you feel like playing along in your journal or blog, just visit Mistress Patricia, that full moon chica. There you can scarf up the week's words without my answers already attached. If you are bereft of webbery outlets, just leave your answers in the comments over there...

MEME: Monday Madness – Ten Things

Madam Otto took a moment from flogging her latest customer to explain, “This week's challenge comes from trista. Thank you, Trista!

Have fun with this one, and let's make it our goal to MAKE more time for ourselves to have fun! Thanks to all of you for playing!” =)

1. Name 10 things you would do if you had more time.

• Spend time with my 16 grandchildren (they all live “away”)

• Spend more time with my wife doing what SHE likes to do

• Organize my photos and slides

• Catalog my books

• Travel more – particularly overseas

• Train another Schutzhund dog

• Read more books

• Volunteer in hospital

• Learn stone masonry

• Learn blacksmithing

  What about you? Want to play along? Then visit Madam Otto's Pleasure Palace and Ye Olde Candle Shoppe to obtain the weekly questions and to leave a link to your answers. Who knows – if Otto is feeling particularly frisky, she might tickle your fancy...

MEME: Monday Music Mambo – Food for thought.

Hello! Another Monday, another Mambo. Today's theme is World Food Day.

Well, I'm behind the eight ball this week -- it's Tuesday already. But it's still the Mambo:

1. Name at least three bands/artists with food in their name.
Pearl Jam, Cream, Black-eyed Peas.
2. Tell me a song that reminds you of the following tastes (one song for each taste):

Sweet – Sweet Adeline -- Elliott Smith
Sour - Sour Girl -- Stone Temple Pilots
Salty – Salty Dog – Johnny Cash
Bitter - Through the Bitter Frost and Snow - Susan McKeown
Bland - Way too many songs are bland – I tend to forget their names right away, if ever I knew them.
Spicy - Spicy Mama – Michael Thomas

3. You're a rock star, and you can request any food item for your post-show party backstage. What yummy food awaits in your dressing room?
I'm in a lobster mood ... so let's come offstage to iced Cajun steamed rock lobster tails, lobster stew, garnished with lobster chips and fried clams, lobster & clam dip with blue-corn tortilla chips, lobster rolls, and some flaming broiled Maine lobsters with drawn butter. Yea, that'll keep us on the porcelain pot for a week or so...

The rules are, there are no rules!!! All you need to do is copy and paste the above questions into your blog and add your responses. After you've finished, return here and leave us a comment so we'll know you've Mamboed. Be sure your Mambo is linked back to http://bdinsanity.blogdrive.com so others can dance too.

Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. If one of the questions doesn't inspire you then simply "pass" it. Just use your imagination and dance like crazy!

If you don't have a blog or you're an exhibitionist *woo hoo* feel free to Mambo right here in our comments section. There's absolutely no pressure ... although it's called the Monday Music Mambo you can Mambo on any day.

Until next time, this is your music-lovin' Mememeister saying have a good Monday and a good Mambo!

MEME: Saturday Six - Episode 131

Here's the first Saturday Six posted from my new, mostly-still-unpacked writing office! To mark the occasion, I thought I'd do something a little different this time. This week's edition focuses on some of the Seven Deadly Sins. It's maybe a little quiz-heavy, but it should give some interesting responses.

But first, Wil of "The Daily Snooze" was first to play last week! Congratulations, Wil!

Well, thank you! I just thought I was in a queue of respondents...

Here are this week's "Saturday Six" questions. Either answer the questions in a comment here, or put the answers in an entry on your journal...but either way, leave a link to your journal so that everyone else can visit! To be counted as "first to play," you must be the first player to either answer the questions in a comment or to provide a complete link to the specific entry in your journal in which you answer the questions. A link to your journal in general cannot count. Enjoy!

1. Take the quiz: How much sloth do you have?
Your Sloth Quotient: 31%
2. Take the quiz: How much wrath do you have?
Your Wrath Quotient: 71%
3. Take the quiz: How much lust do you have?
Your Lust Quotient: 37%
4. Take the quiz: How much envy do you have?
Your Envy Quotient: 30%
5. Take the quiz: How much pride do you have?
Your Pride Quotient: 25%
6. Of these five sins, which quiz's response seemed most different from your real personality?

Number 2 – I'm pretty easy-going, except behind the wheel.

MEME: Monday Madness - Inmates Run Amuk!

More great questions from our fellow Monday Madness members! Have fun, and thank you all for playing, and for the questions!! Have a great week! =)

1. From amaranth:
Name three people you would pick (and why) if you could choose who to be stranded on a deserted island with.
My first choice would be my youngest brother, he was a quiet, introspective fellow who knew how to survive in most. Steve Irwin, because of his indomitable spirit. And finally, Madonna – she's woman enough to take us all on and keep us from killing each other in jealous rages...
2. From julie:
What is your favorite genre of film and what is your favorite movie from that genre?
I like romantic comedy and drama. My wife prefers action movies. Almost Famous fits the bill, except she hates it – except for the scene where the plane almost crashes – she finds that terribly funny. Nurses are weird peoples.
3. From tiffany:
Which country would you like to visit and why?
Right now, I'd like to visit New Zealand and see their mountains before my lung disease makes it impossible for me to leave sea level and environs. I've been a mountain lover most of my life.
4. From wil:
What are you driving these days? What's it's (their) good and bad points? Would you buy another one, and why or why not?
I'm driving a 2004 Volkswagon Touareg which belonged to my brother. It's an overpriced, over-complicated, pretentious piece of German automotive engineering assembled by Islamic illegal aliens who secretly hope each and every vehicle they make will fall apart at high speed on the autobahn's of the world, killing the infidels inside.
5. From cindy swanson:
"Lost," "24," or both?
I don't know – I've never seen either of them.
6. From lady starlight:
You've been very good this year. What should Santa bring you for Christmas? (the sky is the limit). Money enough to take a world cruise with my wife, after first allowing her the luxury of visiting her grandbabies for however long she can stand the little ankle-biters ... but I'd settle for world peace.

You, too, can play along. Just visit Mistress Otto's Dungeon and Flower Shoppe, where all the original questions live.

MEME: Monday Music Mambo - Week 120

Hello gang! Ready for another mambo? I think this is the last time I'll put the week number in the header. Does it really matter? Not to me. Today's theme is Meet A Friend For Lunch Day. Guess what? You get to invite some musicians for a lunch at your favorite restaurant! But it's not that easy. You have to follow some rules.

First, tell us where you're going and what kind of food they serve.

Next, choose one person for each category to invite to lunch. They can be alive or not-so-alive:

A guitar player
A lead singer
A woman
A Beatle
A country artist
The least-famous member of your favorite band.

That's all you have to do this week. Enjoy your lunch with rock stars!

The rules are, there are no rules!!! All you need to do is copy and paste the above questions into your blog and add your responses. After you've finished, return here and leave us a comment so we'll know you've Mamboed. Be sure your Mambo is linked back to http://bdinsanity.blogdrive.com so others can dance too.

Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. If one of the questions doesn't inspire you then simply "pass" it. Just use your imagination and dance like crazy!

If you don't have a blog or you're an exhibitionist *woo hoo* feel free to Mambo right here in our comments section. There's absolutely no pressure ... although it's called the Monday Music Mambo you can Mambo on any day.

Until next time, this is your music-lovin' Mememeister saying have a good Monday and a good Mambo!

Lunch at the tastiest restaurant in town, specializing in fusion fare, with Spanish, French, Portuguese & German regional specialties, it's Thistles. I'd invite Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Joni Mitchell, John Lennon, Johnny Cash and Scotty Pettio, current bassist of The Fugs. Indeed, his is so diminutive a reputation that, until today, I'd never heard of him!

The rest of us might not have much fun, but Joni will have a field day being the center of attention at a table full of men...

MEME: Unconscious Mutterings -- Week 192

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Opinion :: considered

2. Tardy :: late

3. Peer pressure :: compulsion

4. Grownup :: children

5. ! :: ?

6. Beer :: barrel

7. Sit :: down

8. Shower :: bathe

9. Consummate :: artist

10. Wasting :: disease
    

MEME: Sunday Seven - Episode 58

I'm posting this one a few hours early because I likely won't have internet access tomorrow. In any case, please be patient for comments to actually be posted. As soon as I can get back to a computer, I'll post responses.

While packing up the pantry, I came across a fair number of cans of Campbell's Soup. It's amazing how little it can take to inspire a question, isn't it!

Last week's "first to play" required a bit of sorting. To be considered "first to play," you must be the first one to post the link to the specific entry in the blog where you posted your answers. So it would appear that Jude, of "My Way," who was actually the third person to post a comment was technically "first to play" last week because she was the first one to leave the whole URL for the specific post. That makes Jude first for the second week in a row! Congratulations!

On to this week's question!

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Name your top seven favorite flavors of soup.

Either answer the question in a comment or answer it in your journal and include the link in a comment. (To be considered "first to play," a link must be to the specific entry in which you answered the question.)

1. Hot and Sour Soup – my favorite – I have it at least once a week, year-round

2. Won-ton Soup – I've tried it all over the world – such simple ingredients; so often screwed up.

3. Cream of Leek – fresh only

4. Clam Chowder – a mainstay

5. Corn Chowder – a fall favorite, made fresh

6. Lobster Bisque – what's not to like? Lobster meat, lobster broth, cream, butter, sherry, pepper.

7. Cream of Tomatoe Soup – Now this is what Campbell's does best. The rest pretty much suck.

MEME -- The Saturday Six – Episode 130

I made it back to South Carolina, but I don't have internet access at home just yet, so I'm posting this (and Sunday's a little early) from my parents' house while I have the chance. I'll get back to regular posting as soon as possible...which will likely mean as soon as Bellsouth sends that modem!)

Please be patient for comments to actually be posted. As soon as I can get back to a computer, I'll post responses.

Before this week's questions, De of "De's" Thoughts" was first to play last week! Congratulations, De!

Here are this week's "Saturday Six" questions. Either answer the questions in a comment here, or put the answers in an entry on your journal...but either way, leave a link to your journal so that everyone else can visit! To be counted as "first to play," you must be the first player to either answer the questions in a comment or to provide a complete link to the specific entry in your journal in which you answer the questions. A link to your journal in general cannot count. Enjoy!

1. You move to a new city: what is the first thing you're most likely to check out in your immediate surroundings: restaurants, grocery stores, shopping malls, movie theaters or historic sites?
IF I moved to a new city, I suspect the first thing I'd check out is where to let a dog run – dog parks, fenced “sanctuaries” or other appropriate venues. The grocery store and food co-ops would be next, ethnic restaurants a distant third.
2. Consider the local television stations in your area: do you generally stay more with one station for entertainment and local news, or do you tend to rely on one station for local news and others for entertainment?
I prefer the news from the local NBC affiliate, but of the OTA's, I watch the CBS affiliate most often.
3. Is there a set time of day or night that you blog, or do you just post whenever the spirit moves you?
Much like other events – when the spirit or other things “move me”...
4. How often do you write a blog entry, then save it as a "draft" rather than publishing it immediately to think it over before actually posting it?
Quite a lot. And those rarely see the light of day again, unless I come back to it the same day. If it scrolls off the 'recent documents' list, it is generally a goner.
5. Which makes a better dessert after a good meal: ice cream, pie, or cake?
Mmmmm, Pie.
6. What is your favorite flavor of the item you selected in question #5?

My most favorite is “Toll House Pie” - sort of like a giant, thick wedge of chocolate chip cookie! But, diabetes has displaced me from that to the Unsweetened Apple Pie line... But if it's pie – it's all good.

MEME: Weekend Assignment #132: Cell Phones -- Threat or Menace?

Weekend Assignment #132: Cell Phones -- Threat or Menace?

Weekend Assignment #132: Was that professor justified in doing what he did (go to the site in the link above to view the video)? Have people completely lost all sense of courtesy when it comes to their cell phones? This is a pure opinion piece, folks -- tell me what you think.


Extra credit: Do you sometimes answer your cell phone at inappropriate times?

Dear John,

Well, the leaves are swirling in the winds of Autumn, temperatures are plummeting into the “nippley” zone and damn fool students think that THEY aren't subject to the rules.

Most institutions of higher learning have specific rules regarding the activation of pagers, cell phones, “Blackberries” and their ilk, cameras, etc. If an institution has a policy forbidding the use of such devices in classrooms and lecture halls, with confiscation and destruction spelled out in the policy (e.g. “Any university employee may confiscate and immediately destroy banned devices or return same to their owner at a later time, at the employee's discretion...”), then the actions of the professor are justifiable. If not, he has destroyed private property and the student has legal recourse in the matter (any bets how sympathetic a small-claims judge might be?). In the end it really does depend on the institution's own policies.

The demonstrative professor in question may have stated in person or in writing that “no cell phones/pagers/cameras, etc. would be tolerated” in his lectures. If he did that, while his reaction was more than a little extreme from my point of view, he was nevertheless justified in the action he took. Regardless, the sad thing is that the onus is on the professor or the institution to regulate the behavior in the classroom. Neither common courtesy nor common sense prevail in our institutions of higher education these days, if they ever did.

It is completely possible and is most desirable to NOT be in touch 24/7. Just turn the damn cell phones, pagers, telephones and computers off. There is no need for you to be endangering me as you weave and wobble out of your lane because you have a phone in your ear and your concentration is more on the conversation than on the traffic around you. I followed one of those fools into town the other day. She was driving a minivan with at least three kids I could see and had a bloody cell phone held up to her ear. The only thing I could do was to call the Bangor PD and advise them that a possibly impaired driver was heading their way. I accurately described the driver's behavior to the dispatcher and they were waiting for her when she crossed the city line... I had pulled off to make the call, so she was pulled over by the time I came upon the rotating blues... I'm sure the officer gave her a stern talking to, if nothing else. If only more of us would call the police when we see unsafe behavior such as this, perhaps the next time a bill comes up to ban talking on a cell phone while driving a moving vehicle (even with the so-called “hands free” option) it will pass into law.

We can't legislate morality, it is true. But we can legislate acceptable behavior by drivers while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Driving is a privilege, not a right. Talk on a cell phone while driving – lose your license. What could be more straightforward? If people can't utilize common courtesy and self-regulate their behavior for the common good, then strict laws mandating behavior becomes the only other viable alternative. I'm not ready to return to the 18^th century, when all and sundry carried the law in their own hands and enforced same with a revolver on their belts.

Hope you have a better conclusion to your weekend than the way it started out. And if I catch you with a cell phone to your ear while behind the wheel, don't be too surprised when the cops pull you over for DUIE – Driving Under the Influence of Electronics.

wil

P.S. My cell phone is for emergencies. I do not carry it turned on. I end any call on the fool thing by simply turning it off. Sure, I've missed a call back or two – but I haven't used it in an inappropriate locale or manner, either.

Updated @20:12PM Sunday evening to delete a reference that was taken as a personal attack. That was never the intention, so the offending material has been removed. I sincerely apologize to my cyber-friend, Carly Gordon, for any real or perceived harm I have caused. It doesn't take a cell phone to behave in an inappropriate manner... wil

Merry Catmas!

Newest feline resident of the Funny Farm -- Ms. LexyCat, former dominatrix of my brother, has taken up uneasy residence. She is convinced we named Lucifer correctly and she is definately not fond of Willow der Wunderhund. Here she takes a break from wrapping Catmas mice to pose for the camera. 

MEME: Would You Have Been A Nazi?

It's Dax Montana's fault:

The Expatriate Achtung! You are 23% brainwashworthy, 40% antitolerant, and 9% blindly patriotic

Congratulations! You are not susceptible to brainwashing, your values and cares extend beyond the borders of your own country, and your Blind Patriotism does not reach unhealthy levels. If you had been German in the 30s, you would've left the country. One bad scenario -- as I hypothetically project you back in time -- is that you just wouldn't have cared one way or the other about Nazism. Maybe politics don't interest you enough. But the fact that you took this test means they probably do. I'm gonna give you the benefit of the doubt. Did you know that many of the smartest Germans departed prior to the beginning of World War II, because they knew some evil shit was brewing? Brain Drain. Many of them were scientists. It is very possible you could have been one of them. Conclusion: born and raised in Germany in the early 1930's, you would not have been a Nazi. The Would You Have Been A Nazi? Test - it rules -

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on brainwashworthy You scored higher than 99% on antitolerant You scored higher than 99% on patriotic

Link: The Would You Have Been a Nazi Test written by jason_bateman on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

OKCupid! The Would You Have Been a Nazi Test

Boing Boing: Report: Ketamine aids the chronically depressed

Boing Boing: Report: Ketamine aids the chronically depressed

I'm pooped!

Going to be cold tonight – forecast says frost and temps below freezing are very likely. Big yellow moon came up in the East around 5:30 pm or so while we were at camp. It was a busy day – pulled the water line from the lake, drained the pump and hot water tank and put them up for the winter. Got all the hoses rolled up and put away until next spring.

Looks like the lawn will need another mowing before I can take the mower off for the winter and mount the snow blower. There's a mess of leaves still on the trees, though, so can't be too hasty or I'll have to rake – I hate raking. Much more enjoyable to chop them up into little bits with the mower and mulch them in the lawn with a little fertilizer

Hunters were having a grand old time in the cove shooting at ducks and geese. Sounded like a skeet shoot at times. It was windy and cool, so not much boat traffic but did see a warden out about mid afternoon and saw some kids in a skiff later on. Saw a bunch of geese in chevron flight flying north at sunset to escape the hunters...

We put away the hammock and frame today, too. Definitely the end of summer when you do that!

So what'd you do today?

MEME: Wednesday Mind Hump -- 'dis 'n' 'dat do dallas

Greetings, humpers! Today is Visit Your Cousin In Prison Day. Yikes!

I need some new questions. Should I do Halloween-themed questions? No, too early for that. I suppose we'll do a "this or that" format this week.

Apple pie or pumpkin pie?
Cars or SUVs?
Pen or pencil?
Electric guitar or acoustic guitar?
Shower or bath?
Daffy Duck or Yogi Bear?
Butter on a biscuit or jam on a biscuit? And what is wrong with both???
Bringing sexy back or dropping it like it's hot? Huh?
In keeping with the theme today, I watched the movie “I Walk The Line” with my wife this past weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. Joaquin and Reese do great jobs in the lead roles. Supporting actors were spot on, too. Wish I could have personally known the man...

Have a great hump day, what's left of it...

The rules are, there are no rules!!! All you need to do is copy and paste the above questions into your blog and add your responses. After you've finished, return here and leave us a comment so we'll know you've humped. Be sure your hump is linked back to http://bdinsanity.blogdrive.com so others can hump too.

Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. If one of the questions doesn't inspire you then simply "pass" it. Just use your imagination!

If you don't have a blog or you're an exhibitionist *woo hoo* feel free to hump right here in our comments section. There's absolutely no pressure ... although it's called the Wednesday Mind Hump you can hump on any day.

Until next time, this is your music-loving mememeister wishing you a happy hump day!

Completely inappropriate content

Completely inappropriate content: Men, go visit, NOW! (Not work-safe).

MEME: Monday Madness -- Auto-Nomencon

Hello everyone! Here's another mambo for your enjoyment. Today is Name Your Car Day. I'm going to play around with that theme a little and give you a list of fake liscense plates. Each plate corresponds to a song title. It's up to you to tell me what the song is, and who sang it (the most popular version of it, anyway). Let's play!

BN2BWLD = Born To Be Wild -- Steppenwolf
8DYSAWK = Eight Days A Week – The Beatles
VDOCLD SLTRTRN =
IWLKTHELN = I Walk The Line – Johnny Cash
123XALDY = One, Two, Three Times A Lady – Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie
STY2HVN = Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin
$4NTNG = Money For Nothing – Dire Straits

Yes, I know it's challenging. Give it a shot! I'll try to stop by everyone's blog to tell you which ones you got wrong.

The first, and only, new car I've ever owned was named “CLIMB” -- she was a 1970 SAAB 95 wagon and she crisscrossed North America many times, traveling to Alaska, the Yukon, Mexico, and to almost every one of the states in the U.S.A. Do you name your cars?

The rules are, there are no rules!!! All you need to do is copy and paste the above questions into your blog and add your responses. After you've finished, return here and leave us a comment so we'll know you've Mamboed. Be sure your Mambo is linked back to http://bdinsanity.blogdrive.com so others can dance too.

Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. If one of the questions doesn't inspire you then simply "pass" it. Just use your imagination and dance like crazy!

If you don't have a blog or you're an exhibitionist *woo hoo* feel free to Mambo right here in our comments section. There's absolutely no pressure ... although it's called the Monday Music Mambo you can Mambo on any day.

Until next time, this is your music-lovin' Mememeister saying have a good Monday and a good Mambo!

MEME: Monday Madness – “The Inmates Run The Asylum” edition

Miss Otto, the dominatrix of the Monday Madness Dungeon & Dragons Club, stopped the excruciating struggle to don her latex body suit for amoment to share these thoughts:

"More questions from our fellow participants! Have fun, and if you don't see YOUR question posted, please be patient; it'll show up soon! Thanks to all of you for playing! =)"

1. From amanda f:
What do you do when somebody complements you?
a. Smile and say Thanks
b. Ignore it and change the subject
c. Complement them back
d. Turn red in embarrasment at the attention and look around to see other people's reaction
e. Take it as your due!

2. From shelly:
What color are your eyes?
My eyes are hazel – it says so right on my driver's license. So how come they look gray in the mirror?
3. From kia:
What do you like most about yourself?
I have a nice beard.
4. From julie:
How do you spend Christmas?
Sleeping in, reading emails and blogs. Usually, SWMBO works on Christmas Day, so the animals and I have the house to ourselves.
5. From wide imagination:
When do you normally blog? Day or night?
Very early morning, usually. I'm up so late today waiting to call a doctor's office that doesn't open until 9.
6. From rach:
What song can you relate to your personal life? Share a line or two of that song.
Well, the Fugs' only hit, “I Like Boobs A Lot” resonates a chord in me... from the chorus:

Do you like boobs a lot?
(Yes, I like boobs a lot.)
Boobs a lot, boobs a lot.
(You gotta like boobs a lot.)
Really like boobs a lot.
(You gotta like boobs a lot.)
Boobs a lot, boobs a lot.
(You gotta like boobs a lot.)
7. From sherle:
What is your favorite color for a sleeping environment?

Dark. I sleep days, with the covers over my head.

MEME: Unconscious Mutterings -- Week 191

Free association is described as a "psychonanalytic procedure in which a person is encouraged to give free rein to his or her thoughts and feelings, verbalizing whatever comes into the mind without monitoring its content." Over time, this technique is supposed to help bring forth repressed thoughts and feelings that the person can then work through to gain a better sense of self.

That's an admirable goal, but for the purposes of this excercise, we're just hoping to have a little fun with the technique. Each week I'll post ten words to which you can respond to with the first thing that comes to mind.

"Rules are, there are no rules." There are no right or wrong answers. Don't limit yourself to one word responses; just say everything that pops into your head. AND you don't have to have your words up on Sunday. Take all week if you want! Read the FAQ for more information.

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Taxes :: Death

2. Hooray :: Hip, Hip

3. Justification :: Ledger

4. Shocking :: Revelation

5. Bureaucracy :: stifling

6. Porn :: Star

7. Silly :: Rabbit

8. DJ :: Thomas

9. Swing :: Bugle Boy

10. Anti- :: War Protester