Idiots!

In this day and age, you would think even the most stupid would know not to do this.

But apparently not. Do you remember right after 9/11 one of the things everyone was concerned with was the water supply? Well these idiots apparently did not remember that. Or maybe they thought people would not worry about this now?

I remember hearing about the discovery of this break-in on the news this morning as I got ready for work, and while listening to the newscasters talking about how the local authorities were treating this suspiciously and taking all the proper precautions, I just knew it would end up being dumb kids.

And haven't they seen enough made for Lifetime movies starring Meredith Baxter and/or Markie Post by now not to go running around blabbing about it at school the next day?

Idiots!

Cross-walk Signals

Sometimes I think these are only a box with a button that is not really connected to anything that will change the traffic lights. These are the times when I am waiting at a cross walk and trying to cross the street.

Other times I am sure that they work as we are told they do. This is when I am driving, trying to get somewhere quickly and all four ways at an intersection are at red because Of the "Walk" light someone requested.

But the only thing that really annoys me about these things, are the people who walk up to them, press the button to get the walk light, and then do not wait for it, they run across the street against traffic anyway. This leaves us stuck at another four way red light with no one actually crossing the street.

Kind of a waste of a thing if you ask me, these cross walks usually have an interval timed light anyway.

Good Post

I like Daily Kos alot, being the fairly liberal minded person that I am. But this post sums up much of what I have been feeling recently, but have not fully said.

Anyone who might read here knows how I feel about President Bush and his ingorant administration. But this post really expresses it better than I ever could.

What do you think?

Two years ago, I quit smoking. It was a personal choice, not influenced by any other person. I was surprised how easy it was. I did this, even though I live full time with a smoker, and he continues to smoke.

I have never pushed for him to quit, the only two things I have asked is that he does not smoke in the bedroom, or in my car. These are the only restrictions I have asked for. However, he still does it, and that makes me mad. When I complain, he dismisses my complaints as my "making a big deal out of nothing".

Am I wrong in making these requests? After two years of not smoking, cigarette smoke has started to bother me in close quarters, and I can smell it for days. If he borrows my car, I know if he smoked in it, even if he says he did not.

Am I making too big a deal out of this?

"Its my Birthday and I want a Bloodfeast!"

"Party Monster" is a great movie. What I refer to as a great CABLE movie. The kind you can watch over and over again and still enjoy. It has some great lines and the actors who play the major rolls are very good in them.

Memorable lines:

Michael (Mess #1) to James: "Would I lie to you James?"
James (in response): "Yes! All the time!"

Mess # 2 to James: "Oh the drugs are just a sideline. A profitable one" (you have to see that one to appreciate it).

James to Michael: "Make sure you are always on the right. That way, in the picture you are on the left and the caption will read 'James St. James' and blah, blah, blah".

James to Dallas show promoter: "Show? We don't have a show. We don't do anything".

Michael, with Gitzy: "It's my birthday and I want a bloodfeast".

There are so many good lines in this movie it would be impossible to list them all. Oh, and the costumes are outrageous. But what makes this whole story impossibly absurd is the fact that it is based on a true story.

I was just coming out to the Boston clubs when all this was going down in NYC - I do not remember hearing about any of it, but do enjoy watching the movie about it!

The Simple Things

We just got a new vanity, sink and medicine cabinet, as well as tile floor, in my bathroom. You'd think I got a new car. You realize you are getting older when you get so excited about these things. Other things I find myself excited about that would have bored me 20 years ago:

• New Sheets (600-1000 thread count only).
• New vacuum cleaner (it has a pivot!).
• Lazy Susan for my television (now I can lightly swing it around to view it while dusting the curio cabinet).
• Curios for the curio cabinet (don't ask).
• New silverware (we finally replaced our college-era mismatched stuff with all new matching heavy duty stuff!).
• Stainless steel bathroom accessories.

And the ultimate insult came yesterday. I went to Microcenter to buy some things I needed for work. Ten years ago, I would have come out of there with all kinds of electronics and computer toys that I did not need and could not afford. Yesterday I wandered the aisles and realized I had everything I wanted, and was more interested in getting back to my new bathroom!

At least I still like to go out and drink!

Quick Bird Update

I have been so busy with work I hardly post any more. But I need to give you a funny Bird Update.

I have mentioned before that the Bird, Rick the Parrot, loves to find funny hiding places and "nest". The partner has been doing some work on our home and he recently opened a crawl space under the eves of the front room to build some storage cabinets. The bird, recently clipped to stop him from flying and perching up on the ceiling fan, discovered an opening that allows him in under the eaves of the roof.

How do we know this? The other day I come home from work and the Bird is missing, but when I call him I hear him whistle - so I know he is around somewhere, the place is a construction mess, but I am sure he is OK.

About an hour later I am sitting on the couch when all of a sudden the Bird starts calling me - "Jack!", "Jack?!" (this ability was picked up from David constantly yelling "Jack!" for almost 17 years). So I look all over the place and wonder where it is coming from when I realize the Bird is inside the wall. So, I open up the crawl space, shine in the flashlight and there he is, complete with a towel he dragged in there to cuddle (he likes to cuddle a towel, maybe some day I will post a pic).

Anyway, I coaxed him out and sealed the opening he used - he then proceeded to be a bratty child who was pissed I had taken away his little fort.

God, I never though I would have to child proof my home.

Why I love Tony

This Sunday, an American icon returns....


Tony Soprano rocks

I am not a big mafia story fan. Although I loved the drama of the first two Godfather movies, I was never very interested in other stories.

And for that reason, I avoided "The Sopranos" furor of 1998/1999. It was everywhere - the first two seasons of "The Sopranos" had taken the world by storm and the world was getting ready for season three. It was everywhere - photos in TV Guide and other magazines made it impossible to avoid. And one Sunday night I was flipping through the channels looking for something to watch and then, boom, there it was.

I knew it was "The Sopranos" - I had never seen it, but I knew. So, I started to watch. And, like many others, I was caught.

This show is NOT a mafia story. It is not a crime story. It is an old fashioned story, about a family and its interpersonal realtions. The characters just happen to be in the mafia.

We watch these mobsters deal with the events in their lives - and we often forget who we are dealing with, until Tony suddenly shoots a kid he has hostage with the zeal of a ten year old killing ants using the sun and a magnifying glass.

Regardless, it is one of the best shows on TV in recent years, and it comes so rarely. I am tickled pink knowing that I have four months to enjoy it.

Oh Slobadon, we hardly knew ye..

Or maybe we knew ye too well.

Evil doer Slobadon Milosevic died today, exactly how is unknown. His war crimes trial was not completed, and I guess the world will never get full closure on his evil.

But he is dead, and like with the Hitlers, Stalins and Pol Pots of the world, all I can say is "good fu&*ing riddance!".

Good Stuff

It seems some people know what's good for this country after all. It would be nice to see this actually happen, as this President truly deserves to be impeached.

Not in my Clam Bake

This new lobsterish thing is kinda weird. I keep thinking of the "lobstrosities" from the Dark Tower books by Stephen King.


the "lobstrosity"

Being from New England, it is Maine lobster or nothing for my clam bakes.

I'm a Geek

And not because of my leaning towards all things computer. In a moment of nostalgic weakness, I ordered up the DVDs of the original "Battlestar Galactica" and "Lost in Space". It is possible that this moment of nostalgic weakness was fueled by wine and enabled via internet access.

Remember that:

"Credit card + Internet access + Wine = Debt"

Both of these shows are true camp sci-fi, but I love them anyway. Being able to hear Dr. Smith yell, "bubbling Booby" at the robot at any moment tickles my fancy so much.

And to make matters worse, I already have the new Battlestar Galactica on DVD, as well as some of Star Trek the Next Generation.

I guess I am just a hopeless Geek.

Chinese Food and the forces of evil

Why is it that every time I get Chinese food and have to drive home with it, that all the forces of evil conspire to prevent a timely homecoming?

Every red light, every little old lady crossing the street with a walker, every racing fire engine, every mother duck with her family of ducklings - everything that can happen to slow my progress does.

This, of course, is coupled with the fact that the Chinese food is filling my car with its sweet aromas and making me practically drool.

"The Ring 2"

Just what you all need, a very late movie review:

"The Ring" was one of those rare horror movies - actually scary, with an original story idea. I love those (like "the Grudge" and "Saw", movies that were actually better than you expect). Unfortunately, successful movies prompt sequels. Rarely are they as good as the original, usually they are pretty lame.

Such was the case with "Ring 2". I was happy that the lovely Naomi Watts returns, but the story was just boring. And they never fully explain how the deaths from the supernatural videotape keep happening. I was mostly bored, never really scared but stuck with it to the end hoping that something would make sense. Even a somewhat inspired appearance by Sissy Spacek could not help.

Mechanic Syndrome

As an IT professional, one who often responds to user problems, I often encounter "mechanic syndrome" - when you are experiencing trouble but the trouble miraculously disappears when you bring in an expert to deal with it. I suppose it is only fair that it happen to me too.

I get my car back Wednesday after three weeks in the auto body shop and it looks damn good, even though the back of the car looks brand new and the front looks four years old. The very first day I get it back, the "check engine" warning light comes on.

You know, there is probably no less informative gauge light than this. I refer to the owners manual, which instructs me to "call my VW dealer", so I do. I tell them that the light has come on. "Is it flashing?", they ask me. "No", I answer, "it is solid". "Well, that's good", they reply. So of course I have to ask, "what would it have meant if it was flashing?". They tell me I would have to pull over, abandon the vehicle and call for a tow. "Thank god for solid engine warning lights then", I responded.

So I make an appointment to bring it in the next morning, and profusely apologize to my employer for all the last minute time out I need due to this car. I decide to take this opportunity to have the dealer address other petty things, like an annoying squeak, a suspicious clatter and a strange groan. These things have been bugging me for a while, and had planned on having them checked before the accident.

So I get up really early this morning to bring the car in. The Check Engine Warning light? No longer on. The annoying squeak? Suspicious clatter? Strange groan? All quiet. So they take the car for the day and check it all out - nothing wrong, they say. At least I have "peace of mind" they say.

Yeah, right.