Poetry Corner
When I was a boy
I thought there were
People in the TV,
Acting out the parts.
The flying monkeys of Oz
Scared me terribly,
And I wondered how they
Ever got in there.
The ad for angel food cake
Scared me too. With the
Angel on the cloud playing
His harp and telling me how
Wonderful it tasted.
I was too young to know I
Feared my mortality already,
But I don’t know any
Other explanation.
Wrong Again, Kids.
Another woefully, painfully bad decision from the Supreme Court. Read the opinion here and just bask in the glow of the Court’s indifference to the importance of the 4th amendment.
The Illinois Supreme Court, in its decision that led to this case, said they didn’t want police roadblocks to become an everyday, common feature of American life. The highest court in the land, it seems, doesn’t have a problem with that possibility.
Media Notes:
During Sunday’s NFL Playoffs coverage on Fox, did we really need a slow motion replay of Brett Favre putting on his helmet? With the telestrator for emphasis? Guys, please, it’s too much; bring it down a bit, huh?
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News events don’t need titles and theme music. If the event is important enough, it carries its own drama, and doesn’t need cheesy production values. If it doesn’t, then what’s the point?
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Since I still remember the halcyon days of the mid-1970’s when Saturday Night Live was funny, I occasionally tune in to see if they’ve recaptured any of the early fire. They haven’t. This past week’s show, with Jennifer Anniston, was not funny. At all. Even a little. Which wouldn’t be so bad, as there are a lot of things on television that aren’t funny. But what made it intolerable was the “I’m so funny I can barely keep from laughing during the skit” pompousness of the cast. These folks really think they’re funny, which makes the unimaginative writing and offhand, pedestrian performances even more offensive.
Fortunately, the show was followed by an old episode from 1976 with Candice Bergen and Frank Zappa. Gilda Radner was at the height of her powers as a performer then, ad-libbing and covering for Candice Bergen’s flub in the “Support the Rights of the Extremely Stupid” skit; a thing of beauty. The holiday song entitled “Let’s Kill Gary Gilmore for Christmas”, that was genius. The live audience reaction of groans, gasps and laughter was just priceless. Classic.
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I liked “The Simpsons” more for some reason back when the animation wasn’t quite as polished as it is now. I know that doesn’t make complete sense, but I just think the slightly rough-edged look matched the offbeat quirkiness of the characters.
The Trials and Challenges Of Modern Suburban Life
I would have made a lousy pioneer.
I had to walk to work today because my clutch isn’t working on the ol’ truck. It’s all of a .9-mile walk. That’s point nine, not nine, miles. Less than a mile. It was neither uphill both ways, nor was there knee-deep snow on the ground. Just a really, really cold north wind and a temperature of about 19 degrees Fahrenheit.
Now, I’m not saying it was a great ordeal or anything like that. I’m not so old that a good walk in the cold is going to kill me (’why take chances?’ is my usual reply). But what I am saying that it was just about the limit of what I think I could willingly endure on a regular basis. A two-mile walk in the same conditions? Uh, maybe, once in a while, if I had to. Three miles? I don’t think so, not unless it was an emergency. Four-plus miles? Uh, no, sorry.
Hopefully, the clutch will be a cheap, easy fix, and I can get back to commuting the whole .9 miles like a civilized American should. Or, at the very least, maybe it will get warm again, so the long trek each morning will actually be somewhat pleasant, and not the grueling, Donner-Party like tribulation I have made it out to be in my mind.
Oh, and did I mention the Satellite TV goes out sometimes during storms?
Yes, I would have made a lousy pioneer.
Courtesty of Heather
What one thing are you most looking forward to . . .
1. …today? Eating something.
2. …over the next week? Getting my evaluation over with at work.
3. …this year? Finding a new job.
4. …over the next five years? Marriage and children. In that order.
5. …for the rest of your life? I’d like to become financially independent and become a better person.
Anti-Resolutions, ‘04 Style
It just seems easier to resolve not to do things in the coming year. I can’t remember the last time I actually carried out a New Year’s Resolution, so without further eloquence, I give you the much more accessible 2004 New Year’s Anti-Resolutions:
1. I will not run for public office this year.
2. I will not give up something for Lent that I don’t even enjoy in the first place.
3. I will not campaign for Howard Dean. Or Wes Clark. Or any of those other guys.
4. I will not turn 40 in September with any modicum of grace or dignity.
and, finally,
5. I will absolutely, positively NOT take a job with a law firm. Unless it pays really well. And doesn’t require a whole lot of long hours. Or lots of legal knowledge.
And this year, I MEAN IT!