Five billion years from now the sun becomes a red giant, so if the world doesn't end by then, that should do it. There is some talk about us colonizing other planets before then so that the great human race does not end then. If we do that successfully we will have until the big rip which is tentatively estimated at 22 billion years. Myself I am not that big on us colonizing other planets, because what is so great about us? There are surely other intelligent beings like us out there and I reckon they can carry on with their version of western civ.
Nice little bit of fiction Old Dog. What the story lacks in in-depth characterization, it makes up for with its happy ending.
I feel a little unmanly talking about relationships. Not that it's unmanly to have a relationship, but talking about it feels unmanly. I guess it is when you are not going your own way, but you are altering your own way to accommodate the other person, what you give up in travelling your untrammeled path, is compensated by having some help with stuff by the other person, and you have to realize that the other person is not having their own untrammeled path anymore either because they are accommodating you. Or something like that. Put that in your Dear Abby pipe and smoke it.
You can move around in a video, but it's not as easy as your eye scanning across the page, and myself I have a tendency, especially under the influence of beer or wacky weed, to hit the wrong button and bam, I am back at selecting scenes, or worse yet, having to watch all those trailers again and that very obnoxious penalty for piracy screen.
Old Scratchy Bob. I remember hearing him the first time in some hippy dippy record store. I was a big fan of the Byrd's Mr Tambourine Man, so pretty, and then I heard Old Bob gnarling it out and I was all like what the fuck.
But I learned to like it, and I fell under his spell, it was so righteous and maybe we should all fight for what was right, and look cool doing it, and maybe get a little too, you know. And those cryptic interviews where he stuck it to the establishment, how cool. I remember seeing Don't Look Back about that time and I thought how cool. I saw it again maybe ten years ago and I thought what an asshole.
I loved the surreal imagery about the time of Blonde on Blonde, I tried to figure out what it all meant, but anymore I just see it as well, just music, which is fine. Anymore I like the later cds like Time Out of Mind and Love and Theft. I seem to detect a kind of tired cynicism which suits my current worldview.
Friday, October 14, 2016
Thursday, October 13, 2016
It's Not the End of the World
I don't know what all the fuss is about, everybody knows that Hillary is going to win. Well, I suppose it's possible that Trump will win but, as a wise old philosopher once said, "All things are possible, but not all things are bloody likely." Even if Trump does win, it won't be the end of the world. People have been predicting the end of the world since the beginning of the world, and yet the world is still here. I suppose the world will end some day, everything does, but chances are that our world will come to an end before the whole world comes to an end. Let's face it boys, we don't have that much time left, and then it will be somebody else's problem.
I know that women hate that locker room talk, which is why guys don't talk that way in the presence of women. The more I think about it, all guys don't talk that way. I don't think that I did, at least not nearly as much as some other guys, but I never claimed to be normal.
I know that women hate that locker room talk, which is why guys don't talk that way in the presence of women. The more I think about it, all guys don't talk that way. I don't think that I did, at least not nearly as much as some other guys, but I never claimed to be normal.
A poor bit of fiction
There was once a young beauty who moved to the United States from a small eastern European country to pursue a career in modeling. She fell into bad company and became enthralled with a supposedly wealthy, and married, real estate developer. Romance, and a divorce, ensued after which they were happily married. The union produced a lovely child, and all was well.
But years later, the husband's behavior became erratic, with episodes of great delusion. As the delusions became more profound, the wife was slowly made aware of her husband's past which involved countless situations demonstrating predatory sexual behavior. Some of this behavior involved minor children but was publicly stated as a matter of pride by the husband.
This came as a complete shock to the wife and mother; she had no idea her husband had such a sordid history, behavior unheard of in the old country. When confronted directly he flew into a rage and struck her repeatedly, breaking her jaw and blackening one eye. The child, now a boy ten years of age, came to his mother's defense and he, too, was struck but knocked unconscious. The mother, still groggy from the previous blows and slightly weakened, flew into a fit of maternal rage and grabbed the first item at hand: a gilt model of one of the husband's most famous buildings and proceeded to strike him once, hitting him on the head. He died instantly.
The household staff came rushing in when they heard the obese body of the husband crashing to the floor and called the police, while the mother lay weeping next to her unconscious son. As the boy slowly revived, the mother cried out, "What have I done?"
After a short pause, the staff replied, "You've done good, Missus. You've done good."
But years later, the husband's behavior became erratic, with episodes of great delusion. As the delusions became more profound, the wife was slowly made aware of her husband's past which involved countless situations demonstrating predatory sexual behavior. Some of this behavior involved minor children but was publicly stated as a matter of pride by the husband.
This came as a complete shock to the wife and mother; she had no idea her husband had such a sordid history, behavior unheard of in the old country. When confronted directly he flew into a rage and struck her repeatedly, breaking her jaw and blackening one eye. The child, now a boy ten years of age, came to his mother's defense and he, too, was struck but knocked unconscious. The mother, still groggy from the previous blows and slightly weakened, flew into a fit of maternal rage and grabbed the first item at hand: a gilt model of one of the husband's most famous buildings and proceeded to strike him once, hitting him on the head. He died instantly.
The household staff came rushing in when they heard the obese body of the husband crashing to the floor and called the police, while the mother lay weeping next to her unconscious son. As the boy slowly revived, the mother cried out, "What have I done?"
After a short pause, the staff replied, "You've done good, Missus. You've done good."
If I had to yammer
Seldom does a word have only one definition in the dictionary, and relationship is one of those words. To some people, a relationship between men and women implies dating, friends with benefits, sport fucking and things of that nature, but I think those activities are the precursors to a relationship.
When you see a couple out shopping, and the guy is holding the purse (in good humor) you know that couple is in a relationship. Or, at the checkout line, when a single guy is buying a package of feminine hygiene products, you know for sure that he is in a relationship. That's my take on it, anyhow. A relationship requires trust and respect, not something easily achieved while simply "dating." I don't know what the kids these days use to describe casual encounters; is "hooking up" still a thing?
Another word with multiple meanings is video, a term Uncle Ken and I don't seem to agree with. To me, video is a technical term used to describe the transmission of moving pictures and sound, also used as a noun to describe the product of that process.
When Uncle Ken watches the political debates, he is watching a video. When he views his eagerly awaited movies from Netflix, he is watching something displayed on video. If, instead of stating that I watch videos on YouTube, I would say that I am watching online documentaries he may not bat an eye. And, much like reading, you can pause a video or go back a bit and reflect upon what you have seen. You are still in power.
Enough of these antics of semantics; I think we have enough of an understanding of what we're trying to talk about. Correct me if I'm wrong, please.
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The time has passed for the GOP to do anything about invoking Rule 9, unless the candidate is "otherwise" indisposed. More info here: http://qz.com/804571/donald-trump-rnc-lawyers-are-looking-to-replace-the-republican-nominee/
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It's a little late in the game for me to consider those fancy soaps as a suitable gift, but it's a good tip. Flowers were always my go-to gift when I was desperate for something appropriate, but they make a lousy Christmas present. A small silk scarf works well and they can be pretty cheap, but then you have to go out shopping and make decisions about color and pattern. It can get complicated, but the ladies usually like those little items with which they can accessorize. But it's the thought that matters, right?
-----
If the lunatics start lobbing nukes, global warming will become a moot point. The subsequent nuclear winter will cool things down rather quickly, but I'm not suggesting that as a solution.
Pollution continues to be a problem, but at least there is an awareness of it and steps are being taken to stop it. Sadly, it may already be too late in many areas. Aren't the oceans already contaminated by pharmaceuticals that have been flushed down toilets? Also, I read that there are a lot of different hormones in some of our drinking water, and they cannot (yet) be removed.
-----
So, Bob Dylan is awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. Are we not living in an age of miracles?
When you see a couple out shopping, and the guy is holding the purse (in good humor) you know that couple is in a relationship. Or, at the checkout line, when a single guy is buying a package of feminine hygiene products, you know for sure that he is in a relationship. That's my take on it, anyhow. A relationship requires trust and respect, not something easily achieved while simply "dating." I don't know what the kids these days use to describe casual encounters; is "hooking up" still a thing?
Another word with multiple meanings is video, a term Uncle Ken and I don't seem to agree with. To me, video is a technical term used to describe the transmission of moving pictures and sound, also used as a noun to describe the product of that process.
When Uncle Ken watches the political debates, he is watching a video. When he views his eagerly awaited movies from Netflix, he is watching something displayed on video. If, instead of stating that I watch videos on YouTube, I would say that I am watching online documentaries he may not bat an eye. And, much like reading, you can pause a video or go back a bit and reflect upon what you have seen. You are still in power.
Enough of these antics of semantics; I think we have enough of an understanding of what we're trying to talk about. Correct me if I'm wrong, please.
-----
The time has passed for the GOP to do anything about invoking Rule 9, unless the candidate is "otherwise" indisposed. More info here: http://qz.com/804571/donald-trump-rnc-lawyers-are-looking-to-replace-the-republican-nominee/
-----
It's a little late in the game for me to consider those fancy soaps as a suitable gift, but it's a good tip. Flowers were always my go-to gift when I was desperate for something appropriate, but they make a lousy Christmas present. A small silk scarf works well and they can be pretty cheap, but then you have to go out shopping and make decisions about color and pattern. It can get complicated, but the ladies usually like those little items with which they can accessorize. But it's the thought that matters, right?
-----
If the lunatics start lobbing nukes, global warming will become a moot point. The subsequent nuclear winter will cool things down rather quickly, but I'm not suggesting that as a solution.
Pollution continues to be a problem, but at least there is an awareness of it and steps are being taken to stop it. Sadly, it may already be too late in many areas. Aren't the oceans already contaminated by pharmaceuticals that have been flushed down toilets? Also, I read that there are a lot of different hormones in some of our drinking water, and they cannot (yet) be removed.
-----
So, Bob Dylan is awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. Are we not living in an age of miracles?
video shmideo
It appears then that it takes somebody, and in this case I don't believe there would be much problem in finding somebody, to declare Dumbo Whatever, The method by which the national convention would be reconvened is not spelled out, but I can't see it happening if the Whatever candidate and his followers are against it, No I expect it is all up to Pence and his artfully concealed dagger.
"Why Mike, is that a toga you are wearing? Whatever for?"
"Oh no reason Mr Trump, no reason."
Probably I should stop talking this way. You never know when the feds might be having a slow day and be cruising the internet for low hanging fruit.
It was probably in 1964 when the Chicoms got their atomic bomb, that I got to thinking well it is just a matter of time until everybody gets one. Fifty years later I think we are eight. Clearly the newest member, seven years now, is the riskiest, the rhetoric is scary enough, but to me more worrisome is those big hats, they are likely to poke each other in their eyes and bam, there goes the nuclear button. For all that I don't worry about it that much, global warming and general pollution seems like the bigger threat,
I think I have already related the story, but as Beagles says, that has never stopped me before. A few years back I had to get a Christmas gift for a sister-in-law who was diabetic so that ruled out candy, so what the hell could I get her? I asked my sister what could I get her, and my sister said, soap, all women, she added, like soap (and by this I don't mean a case of ivory, I mean those fancy dancy daintily wrapped things that they sell in those little shoppes where we men can feel our gonads shriveling the minute we step in. Well I said I have been wondering what women want my whole life and now that I am an old man I am first learning this? Wait a minute, aren't you afraid that I'll tell other men? My sister sighed, who would believe that you knew what women wanted.
I say this by way of explaining to Old Dog what crap women hate. It's talk like that Mr Trump talk, that's what women hate. Some men may go all aw pshaw about that kind of talk, just boys being boys, but women hate it. Over half the voters in the USA are women. There's my case.
I know YouTube has a lot of fans. Many people besides Old Dog think it is the greatest thing since sliced bread, and maybe it is, and I am happy for whatever makes them happy. But I don't care for it. I don't like video. When I go to my political sites and there is video of something I never watch it. If I have a text I am in power. If the writer goes on about something I already know or am not interested in I can skip to the next paragraph, if it's somebody flapping their jaws I have to wait them out. When I am reading something I can go at my own speed and I can even backtrack, but if I am watching I have to go at the talker's speed.
"Why Mike, is that a toga you are wearing? Whatever for?"
"Oh no reason Mr Trump, no reason."
Probably I should stop talking this way. You never know when the feds might be having a slow day and be cruising the internet for low hanging fruit.
It was probably in 1964 when the Chicoms got their atomic bomb, that I got to thinking well it is just a matter of time until everybody gets one. Fifty years later I think we are eight. Clearly the newest member, seven years now, is the riskiest, the rhetoric is scary enough, but to me more worrisome is those big hats, they are likely to poke each other in their eyes and bam, there goes the nuclear button. For all that I don't worry about it that much, global warming and general pollution seems like the bigger threat,
I think I have already related the story, but as Beagles says, that has never stopped me before. A few years back I had to get a Christmas gift for a sister-in-law who was diabetic so that ruled out candy, so what the hell could I get her? I asked my sister what could I get her, and my sister said, soap, all women, she added, like soap (and by this I don't mean a case of ivory, I mean those fancy dancy daintily wrapped things that they sell in those little shoppes where we men can feel our gonads shriveling the minute we step in. Well I said I have been wondering what women want my whole life and now that I am an old man I am first learning this? Wait a minute, aren't you afraid that I'll tell other men? My sister sighed, who would believe that you knew what women wanted.
I say this by way of explaining to Old Dog what crap women hate. It's talk like that Mr Trump talk, that's what women hate. Some men may go all aw pshaw about that kind of talk, just boys being boys, but women hate it. Over half the voters in the USA are women. There's my case.
I know YouTube has a lot of fans. Many people besides Old Dog think it is the greatest thing since sliced bread, and maybe it is, and I am happy for whatever makes them happy. But I don't care for it. I don't like video. When I go to my political sites and there is video of something I never watch it. If I have a text I am in power. If the writer goes on about something I already know or am not interested in I can skip to the next paragraph, if it's somebody flapping their jaws I have to wait them out. When I am reading something I can go at my own speed and I can even backtrack, but if I am watching I have to go at the talker's speed.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Locker Room Talk
You don't have to be in a locker room to hear locker room talk. It's just a figure of speech that refers to the way guys talk about girls when there are no women or children within earshot. Maybe they don't do that anymore, you couldn't prove it by me, but I know some guys were talking like that at least until 1990 when the paper mill closed down. Actually, by the time the mill closed, there were women working in all the departments, so we were seldom in a situation where there were no women around but, when we were, guys still talked like that. I don't remember hearing a lot of that in the bus garage, but there were women there too, so we had to watch our mouths. Plus, we were accustomed to being around kids, and you really had to watch your mouth with them because they would gleefully repeat anything you said like that to their parents, and then you would be in big trouble........ or so I have been told.
I don't remember hearing a woman use the word "relationship" to refer to what goes on between men and women until after the mill closed, and I don't believe I've ever heard a guy use that term except on television. We used to say that we were "going" or "going out" with somebody in polite company, or that we were "fucking, hammering, or nailing" her in impolite company. I don't know how the young people talk about each other today, but I suspect they talk differently amongst themselves than they do when adults are around. I don't remember ever hearing anything exactly like the Trump quote that Ken cited, but that's probably because I don't know any stars. For all I know, stars might be able to get away with kissing strange women and grabbing them by the pussy, but if anybody I knew tried something like that, I'm pretty sure there would be unpleasant consequences.
It seems that Rule 9 pretty well covers what happens when a presidential candidate is eliminated from the race, but I didn't see anything there that says he can be arbitrarily removed at the will of the committee. Maybe that's in Rule 10. As far as what happens if the president elect dies before Inauguration Day, that is covered in the U.S. Constitution, Amendment XX , Section 3. The vice president elect steps right in, the same as he would do if it happened after the inauguration. If it's the vice president who kicks off, the president names his replacement, but it also has to be approved by congress.
I don't remember hearing a woman use the word "relationship" to refer to what goes on between men and women until after the mill closed, and I don't believe I've ever heard a guy use that term except on television. We used to say that we were "going" or "going out" with somebody in polite company, or that we were "fucking, hammering, or nailing" her in impolite company. I don't know how the young people talk about each other today, but I suspect they talk differently amongst themselves than they do when adults are around. I don't remember ever hearing anything exactly like the Trump quote that Ken cited, but that's probably because I don't know any stars. For all I know, stars might be able to get away with kissing strange women and grabbing them by the pussy, but if anybody I knew tried something like that, I'm pretty sure there would be unpleasant consequences.
It seems that Rule 9 pretty well covers what happens when a presidential candidate is eliminated from the race, but I didn't see anything there that says he can be arbitrarily removed at the will of the committee. Maybe that's in Rule 10. As far as what happens if the president elect dies before Inauguration Day, that is covered in the U.S. Constitution, Amendment XX , Section 3. The vice president elect steps right in, the same as he would do if it happened after the inauguration. If it's the vice president who kicks off, the president names his replacement, but it also has to be approved by congress.
rule 9
I thought I would present the text of this mysterious rule 9, so as to save googling back and forth during discussion. I like the phrase death, declination, or otherwise. I reckon otherwise could be replaced by whatever.
This does not preclude my morning post.
This does not preclude my morning post.
Rule 9 of the 2012 Rules of the Republican Party is entitled Filling Vacancies in Nominations.
Rule 9
| Filling Vacancies in Nominations
(a) The Republican National Committee is hereby authorized and empowered to fill any and all vacancies which may occur by reason of death, declination, or otherwise of the Republican candidate for President of the United States or the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States, as nominated by the national convention, or the Republican National Committee may reconvene the national convention for the purpose of filling any such vacancies.
(b) In voting under this rule, the Republican National Committee members representing any state shall be entitled to cast the same number of votes as said state was entitled to cast at the national convention.
(c) In the event that the members of the Republican National Committee from any state shall not be in agreement in the casting of votes hereunder, the votes of such state shall be divided equally, including fractional votes, among the members of the Republican National Committee present or voting by proxy.
(d) No candidate shall be chosen to fill any such vacancy except upon receiving a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election.[1]
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