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May 28, 2011

dudgeon

dudgeon \DUH-juhn\ , noun;

1. A state or fit of intense indignation; resentment; ill humor -- often used in the phrase "in high dudgeon."



I was "in high dudgeon" earlier;  I was in a conservative political site and had commented on Glenn Beck - that I didn't like him, mainly-  and I was told to not "shoot the messenger". I replied, saying I didn't want to kill him, but I WOULD like someone to shoot him in his butt, the sorry SOB.

I then got a reply from the same guy, accusing me of uncivility and how it was a shame when people today could't be polite, citing several instances such as "RINO", "Libtard", calling Michelle Obama a "wookie" and how people made fun of Sarah Palin and her mentally challenged child.  He gave several more examples of namecalling that "hurt America" and insinuated that I was what was wrong w/ America.

(I've never called anyone a libtard - my friends and regular readers of this blog know how I feel about people using "retarded" as a pejorative. I do think *some* liberals are dumb as a box of rocks, but I also think some conservatives are that way as well. I wouldn't dream of making fun of Sarah Palin's child and think it admirable that she bore the child and didn't abort him, even though that would have been the easy way out. I've never called Michelle Obama a "wookie", either. First, I'm not a huge Star Wars fan and secondly, she doesn't seem to be all that hairy. I will admit to not finding her as attractive as some do, but I think the ugly thing about her has been some of her public statements about not being proud of America until her hubby was elected and sitting with him and listening to their preacher Wright's anti-American rants and not getting up and walking out.)

It didn't take long to look through his Intense Debate profile and find just a day ago where he said "I could kill him for that." and calling another poster a POS and telling Newt Gingrich to "STFU".  He also had several instances of calling Ron Paul a "loon" and not coming to his defense when others called him worse names.  I found a dozen examples of his own rudeness about politicians and to other posters;  I gave up after I had enough and had scrolled through a dozen pages of his posts.

I tried to be polite, telling him what I said was hyperbole, and saying if he wanted civility, then he should practice it himself.  I then I pulled out my old standby retort when someone is being hypocritical, telling him that getting advice on civility from him was akin to getting drug counseling from a crackhead.

I don't like Glenn Beck;  he's a weepy, overly-dramatic fear monger.  If you love him, that's fine...it's a free country, after all, but I'm not changing my mind about him.  I was flipping through the channels last night and he had an excellent show going on about black people who helped found our country and had influence in its shaping.  Then he started to cry over something, and I turned over to something a little less dramatic. 

I've become misty-eyed over some things - old veterans carrying the US flag, thinking of all the things my parents did for me and I didn't let them know how much I appreciated it, even the endings to the last Harry Potter book and the movie "Rudy".  I consider myself to be overly-emotional and that's hardly ever a good thing, but if we had in Texas the on-air tears that Beck has wept, we'd be drought-free for the next hundred years.

May 27, 2011

3 Bowls of Spiders

Very strange questions - of course, my answers might be different if I were really desperate or if the money would help save a friend or family member's life. There were a couple of questions I had to really consider if I would do them for ten million dollars, but in the end, I said "No", although the one about framing someone I didn't like for a heinous crime made me give pause.

The only question I answered "Yes" to for ten million bucks is if I'd eat three bowls of live spiders. I'd probably do that for much less...unless they were poisonous. As long as I had something to wash them down with, I'd just swallow them whole.  I'd probably want to wash them down with grain alcohol because I don't think I could stand feeling them crawl around in my tummy.

Not sure how they came up w/ the final figure saying I'd sell out for a little over a million.  Depending upon the circumstance, I might very well sell out for less.




You Would Sell Out for $1,118,111




And not a penny less!


May 26, 2011

More PC Problems

Well, not "more" because I *think* it's still the same one.  Had a little problem w/ it this a.m. and almost didn't get it to boot up. 

Just a head's up to everyone, letting you know if I disappear for a while, I'm fine...but the computer ain't.

Love to all.

May 22, 2011

Knot in MY Country!

Another LMAO post from the Amarillo Globe-News Facebook page. The thread was about the "meat" trial in Amarillo a few years back.  Oprah was accused of slandering the meat industry and a local rancher sued her.  Oprah broadcast her show from Amarillo for several weeks;  one of the segments on the first show was about Texas "big hair" and I later met and dated one of the women interviewed.  Oprah eventually won the lawsuit.

The woman and I had a passionate fling (the one with big hair, not Oprah), then it ended on a sour note. (I could say the same thing about nearly every one of my relationships) It was just as well...I'm allergic to hairspray.

On the thread, some are bashing Oprah while others are coming to her defense.  I didn't state my opinion - I don't like her, but my dislike isn't enough to take the time or make the effort to announce to the Facebook world that I don't care for her or her show.  One functional illiterate had this to say:


I know it was a typo, but it was still funny as hell.

May 19, 2011

There's "P" in Pool

Go figger; before I took the test, I predicted I'd be "Hot Tub"




You Are a Pool





You expect the best from the world. You remain open to life and completely optimistic.

You believe in yourself and the people around you. You know that others can always surprise you.

You are lovable, endearing, and affectionate. People gravitate toward your positive spirit.

You’re very unique, but you meld well with a group. You are easy to get along with.

I haven't been in a swimming pool OR a hot tub in ages. I've never been fond of either, especially because of the chlorine. Oh, I realize they HAVE to put chlorine in both mainly because people don't shower before entering either one. I'd love to have both a pool and a hot tub, but would insist people wash themselves before climbing in. Rules don't stop people from peeing in them, though.

When I was a kid I was kicked out of the city pool for peeing in it. I asked the lifeguard "What's the big deal? Everybody does it!"

"Not from the diving board." she replied.

May 17, 2011

Dumb (Ass) Comment

I subscribe to the Amarillo Globe-News Facebook page. Recently they linked to an article on their website about the US Marines bringing home Smoke, a donkey that had been a mascot of the Marines in Iraq.

The comments on the FB page were mostly positive, except for some who griped that it wasn't news, and then there was this, a comment about education funding and a few posts later, another comment. (I put them together in order to save space.)  For privacy, I blacked out the names.


Education is very important and we need to fund it, but if our educational system is churning out functionally illiterate jackasses like that, then something has to change.

The donkey is probably smarter than that person.

May 14, 2011

I'm Not Typical



We Can't Predict Who You Voted For





According to our quiz, there's a 42% chance you voted for Obama.

But that means there's an 58% chance you voted for McCain.

You aren't very typical. You tend to be independent, and your vote is highly coveted.

While we can't predict how you voted, there's a good chance you voted for the winner!

An interesting political quiz. As I've said before, I'm a conservative, but that's by my own definition and not by anyone else's. Some of the answers I gave are responsible for the 42% chance I voted for Obama (I did not)such as gay marriage (I really don't care, but let them call it something else - "marriage" is between a man and a woman. My only objection is one of semantics, I suppose)

Another question that put me in that 42% is "Do you think America has changed for the worse since September 11, 2001?" I said yes but it's not for a single reason - it's the economy, the political hatred from both sides, the ever present threat of terrorism, the eroding of our civil liberties...many reasons. Another question that put me in the percentage is "What should we do in Iraq? Keep our troops there/bring them home?" I want them home, just as I want our troops home from all over the world. We're financing the very socialism we decry in other countries mainly because they're not paying for their own defense and are instead spending that money on socialistic programs.

Other questions that put me in the other percentage category are where do I live, do I have a favorable opinion on Bush (I did when I took the test, but ask me again tomorrow and I might have a different answer)

Take the test, see for yourself. I know these tests aren't to be taken seriously or literally, but I AM proud of what it says in my results:

"You aren't very typical. You tend to be independent, and your vote is highly coveted."

misnomer

misnomer \mis-NO-muhr\ , noun;

1. The misnaming of a person in a legal instrument, as in a complaint or indictment.
2. Any misnaming of a person or thing; also, a wrong or inapplicable name or designation.



I've been seeing plenty of misnomers lately in the political forums I frequent;  since I am a conservative, that's the type of discussion group I most often read.  Many posts from my fellow conservatives label liberals as baby killing America haters - a silly and stupid characterization - while I often see posts by professed liberals saying that conservatives are environmental hazards and religious nutjobs - again, an idiotic and false stereotype.

The worst I see, however, are the misnomers by both sides towards Ron Paul, namely that he's a racist, an anti-Semite as well as an isolationist.  Those accusations, as well as many others leveled at the good doctor, are all patently false. Paul's supporters are almost always labelled as "Paulbots" or "Paultards" because of the heated exchanges between themselves and RP devotees. The detractors take offense at the heat they get, but it's almost always started by the ones doing the name calling.

Personally, I think what really scares the Repubs and the Dems is the vast spectrum of the American public (as well as many in other countries) that love Ron Paul and for what he stands for and his steady consistency over the years on the issues.   His broad base of supporters includes young and old, conservative and liberal but the common ground they all have is the belief that the U.S. Constitution should be the supreme law in this great country and that our govt. ignores the Tenth Amendment of the Bill of Rights - powers not granted to the federal government nor prohibited to the states by the Constitution are reserved, respectively, to the states or the people.

I don't think Paul has a chance in hell of gaining the nomination, but I still plan to vote for him.  I don't care who tells me it's a wasted vote (if you vote it's not a waste, no matter who you vote for) but I'm so tired of voting for "the lesser evil". 

Even the lesser evil is still evil.

May 13, 2011

Zeitgeist

Zeitgeist \TSYT-guyst; ZYT-guyst\ , noun;

1.[Often capitalized] The spirit of the time; the general intellectual and moral state or temper characteristic of any period of time.


I've loved this word since I first saw it used in a sentence and had to go look it up to see what it meant. I actually considered using it for an MSN Group back when I was involved there, but "Zeitgeist" was already taken. (and annoyingly, the group was empty and not being used). After finding that out, I wanted to use some sort of alliteration such as "Zany Zeitgeist" but that was just a bit too cutesy.

I never did create a group using the word, though, because I wanted it to be a discussion group that adhered to the definition, namely current events and the politics of the day. After seeing how busy the successful groups were in that category, I changed my mind. I foresaw the hard thing wasn't just going to be keeping up with the news of the day, but also having to patrol the group, monitoring each and every post to keep it within the MSN Code of Conduct. I predicted it would quickly turn from fun to work - or at least a hassle - and MSN provided enough of that.

May 9, 2011

Picked One - But I'm Not Picky



Your Hatred of Tofu Says You're Old-Fashioned









You are conventional and traditional. You don't feel a need to change what works.

You are always ready to take a leap of faith. If something doesn't work, you will change!

You dance through life, even when there isn't any music playing. You spice things up.

You are good at getting people to let loose. You are the fun one in your group.

I had to pick one,so I chose tofu. I'm not a huge fan of the soybean product, but I will eat it. In fact, it's not bad in Chinese dishes, especially stir-fried w/ some slices of beef or chicken. It's not horrible on its own, just bland, like oatmeal with no sugar or cinnamon. (and I love oatmeal)

That's the trouble with some of these quizzes, the choices offered. In this quiz the choices were:

Tofu
Mayonnaise
Mushrooms
Fish
Broccoli
Chocolate

Now, my second choice for food I "hate" would have been mayonnaise. I prefer the similar salad dressing (such as Miracle Whip) because mayo is so rich. I will eat it, though, and don't "hate" it. I also love mushrooms, fish and broccoli...and I would probably really love a dish made with all three. As far hating chocolate?

What are you, nuts?

I really can't think of any food I hate.  Oh, I'm not fond of coconut, but love it in Mounds or Almond Joy candy.  What I really don't like is how it works its way in between my teeth.   I'm also not fond of pineapple, but that's because I O.D'd on brandied pineapple as a kid, plus I'm slightly allergic to it. (as I am kiwi fruit, which I used to love to eat.  Now it makes my throat itch, just like pineapple.)

I'll eat just about anything - mountain oysters (bull testicles), snake, even liver and onions.  I've had calamari before that didn't taste good, but I expect that was because it wasn't fresh, ditto for snails.  About the only things I can think of offhand that I bet I wouldn't like are eels and geoduck. Still, I'd certainly try them once. I've never had tongue, but I bet I'd like it. Shoot, I've always wanted to try some brains.(I wouldn't be too enthused if Hannibal Lecter was the cook, though.  I'd be afraid I'd be the next course)

No, I'm not picky. I'll even eat leftovers.

May 8, 2011

Officially Summer

Oh, I know the calendar date for the start of summer is still over a month away, but I put up my air conditioner just now. Yesterday was horrible (heat-wise) and I think it was hotter in my bedroom than it was outside. I drank 4 liters of water and 6-7 Diet Dr Peppers and lay sweltering with only a wet wash cloth for relief. It was after midnight before it got cool enough to fall asleep.

Wrestling with my huge window unit is always a chore and I always cuss myself for not buying a smaller one....until I crank it up and get my bedroom cold enough to hang meat.

Growling Mother, Munching Monkey

I think about my mom every day, but more so that today is Mother's Day. I often beat myself up, thinking about the times I disappointed her or wasn't the son I should have been, but most memories are about the good and funny times. I like to think I inherited her sense of humor.

One recollection I had earlier made me smile; we were having a family dinner with the main course being ribs. I had just polished off my last rib (there were none left on the platter) and jealously looked over at mom eating one of her ribs. She saw me eyeballing her rib and she put an exaggerated bite on the bone, narrowed her eyes and growled at me.

I laugh out loud every time I think of that.

Things My Mother Taught Me

15 Things My Mother Taught Me!


1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE:
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside -- I just finished cleaning!"

2. My mother taught me RELIGION:
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL:
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC:
"Because I said so, that's why!"

5. My mother taught me FORESIGHT:
"Be sure you wear clean underwear in case you're in an accident."

6. My mother taught me IRONY:
"Keep laughing and I'll give you something to cry about."

7. My mother taught me about OSMOSIS:
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper!"

8. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM:
"Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck!"

9. My mother taught me about STAMINA:
"You'll sit there 'til all that spinach is finished."

10. My mother taught me about WEATHER:
"It looks as if a tornado swept through your room."

11. My mother taught me how to solve PHYSICS PROBLEMS:
"If I yelled because I saw a meteor coming toward you, would you listen then?"

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY:
"If I've told you once, I've told you a million times -- don't exaggerate!!!"

13. My mother taught me THE CIRCLE OF LIFE:
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION:
"Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY:
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do!"

May 4, 2011

Store up to 25,000 contacts

This just hit my reader- not only do I NOT have 25,000 email contacts, I don't think I've met that many people in my entire life.
_________________________

Store up to 25,000 contacts: "Posted by Mike Helmick, Software Engineer



Gmail used to have a limit of 10,000 contacts. For most of us, this was way more than enough, but we heard from some of you who use Gmail to communicate with more than 10,000 people. We want you to be able to store all of your contacts in a single place, so starting today, we’ve increased the limit for all Gmail users, including all those of you who use Google Apps, to 25,000 contacts.





Also, previously an individual contact could be no larger than 32KB — big enough for most people, but not always sufficient for those who like to keep a lot of notes on individual contacts. Now, each contact may be up to 128KB in size, allowing you to store more information in the notes field.



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