Here's to a strange post -
if you had to give a color and scent to things, what would it be?
Examples for me -
Happiness would be yellow and the scent would be lilac. Someday I would love to have an area of lilacs with a table set inside just surrounded. To me, it is the most beautiful scent there is. I love vanilla but something about lilac tops it all.
Sad, I guess would be gray and smell like dirt?
what do you think?
What scents make you feel something? good? bad? reactions to colors?
ah yes, a tired mind at work, indulge me here :)
Saturday, January 22, 2011
WOW, so pretty!!
I know there was no way to get a picture of the beauty that was outside at 3am this morning, but the new snow shimmered as if covered in diamond dust, mesmerizing and absolutely gorgeous, I just wanted to keep driving to keep it sparkling, it was the most beautiful thing I've seen in a long time. Please tell me I wasn't the only one to see that incredible site!!
Ok, yes, I - ME - I was actually excited by the beauty of the snow, it really isn't ALL evil, just the driving in it part when there are other people on the road, but this morning was the best drive to work I've ever had!! :)
Ok, yes, I - ME - I was actually excited by the beauty of the snow, it really isn't ALL evil, just the driving in it part when there are other people on the road, but this morning was the best drive to work I've ever had!! :)
Friday, January 21, 2011
OK, let's just call it Poetry
A couple of weeks ago, I had the idea to start an irregular feature entitled Poetry Corner:
http://www.jtirregulars.com/2011/01/poetry-corner.html
As it turned out, the JTI already had blogs featuring and/or about poetry published with the labels Poetry, Poems, Poetry Corner, and Poem. In an effort to simplify matters, I've decided to go with just the label Poetry. That's what the feature will be titled in the sidebar and previous labels will be amended. If you post a blog containing poetry and/or about poetry, please add the label Poetry when you are composing it (lower right corner of the composition form). Thank you.
Live Black Bear Den
This is a live webcam for Lily, a black bear in Ely, MN. She had a cub last year (Hope) and has just given birth to two cubs this afternoon!
It's kind of cool to watch. I didn't see the births, but I did just see her face!
Check it out!
http://www.bear.org/livecams/lily-hope-cam.html
It's kind of cool to watch. I didn't see the births, but I did just see her face!
Check it out!
http://www.bear.org/livecams/lily-hope-cam.html
Giffords Leaves Tucson
You may have seen on the news that Gabrielle Giffords is leaving Tucson today to continue her physical therapy in Houston where her husband is based as an astronaut. The move makes sense from the perspective of her family.
The route from the hospital to the airport passed about two blocks from my office so I walked down there this morning. News chopper flying overhead and some media photographers on the sidewalks as well as members of the community coming out to wish her well.
The police at the front of the procession.
The ambulance in which she was riding. Obviously she couldn't wave to the crowd or even see them, but that didn't seem to matter to the people lining the street.
Some motorcycles from the local VFW brought up the rear of the procession. I was kind of surprised they didn't lead it (at least after the first wave of motorcycle cops cleared the way).
I was watching the twitter feed as I was waiting to see if they were on schedule (they were) and was happy to see many people from Texas welcoming her and saying she would be well cared for there. The only negative thing I saw was some people complaining that their local station cut into the Price is Right to cover this and a few people criticizing them for publishing the route of the procession.
On a slightly lighter note, has anyone else seen the coverage of her using an iPad? Apple must be thrilled with the free publicity they are getting from this!
The route from the hospital to the airport passed about two blocks from my office so I walked down there this morning. News chopper flying overhead and some media photographers on the sidewalks as well as members of the community coming out to wish her well.
The police at the front of the procession.
The ambulance in which she was riding. Obviously she couldn't wave to the crowd or even see them, but that didn't seem to matter to the people lining the street.
Some motorcycles from the local VFW brought up the rear of the procession. I was kind of surprised they didn't lead it (at least after the first wave of motorcycle cops cleared the way).I was watching the twitter feed as I was waiting to see if they were on schedule (they were) and was happy to see many people from Texas welcoming her and saying she would be well cared for there. The only negative thing I saw was some people complaining that their local station cut into the Price is Right to cover this and a few people criticizing them for publishing the route of the procession.
On a slightly lighter note, has anyone else seen the coverage of her using an iPad? Apple must be thrilled with the free publicity they are getting from this!
One Day at Gurnee Mills
A Chicago family went shopping at Gurnee Mills. The son asks to go into the Sports Authority. As he is there he is pondering a life change. The spirit of St. Lombadi enters the boy. He grabs a Aaron Rodgers jersey and walks up to his mom.
"Mom?" "Yes Son?" "I'd like to become a Packers fan and would like this Jersey. His mom whacks him in the head and says "Go see your Father!"
The kid walks up to his Dad, Packer Jersey in hand.
"Dad?" "Yes Son?" "Dad, I am now a Green Bay Packers fan and would like this #12 Jersey." The Dad whacks him on the head, takes the jersey away and states "No son of mine will ever ever wear this! Go go get in the car!"
On the way home, the Dad turns to his Son and asks him "So I hope you have learned something today Son"
"I sure have Dad! I've only been a Packer fan for one hour and I already hate you FIB's!
"Mom?" "Yes Son?" "I'd like to become a Packers fan and would like this Jersey. His mom whacks him in the head and says "Go see your Father!"
The kid walks up to his Dad, Packer Jersey in hand.
"Dad?" "Yes Son?" "Dad, I am now a Green Bay Packers fan and would like this #12 Jersey." The Dad whacks him on the head, takes the jersey away and states "No son of mine will ever ever wear this! Go go get in the car!"
On the way home, the Dad turns to his Son and asks him "So I hope you have learned something today Son"
"I sure have Dad! I've only been a Packer fan for one hour and I already hate you FIB's!
Four for Fridays
Hello everyone! It's Friday again? Whoa...Either I've been sleeping the whole week or the week flew fast. This week's questions are about the big game.
1) Are you going to watch the Packer/Bear game this Sunday?
2) Who do think is going to win?
3) What your prediction for the final score?
4) Are you doing anything special in preparing for the game?
Enjoy your weekend!
1) Are you going to watch the Packer/Bear game this Sunday?
2) Who do think is going to win?
3) What your prediction for the final score?
4) Are you doing anything special in preparing for the game?
Enjoy your weekend!
Hale Bopp, about the speed of light
You are standing still and a train goes by. You notice it's speed. Now you're in a train car with no windows, and a glass smooth track so you don't feel the clacking jars as the wheels pass over the rail joints. You toss a ball between you and a friend, and the ball to your present perception is just moving at the speed it's thrown.
A jet is moving through the air at Mach 3. it's gotten quieter in the cockpit, because the jet is moving faster than the noise it is producing. The pilot keys his mic and talks to the tower. His voice is being spoken in a bubble of air (interior of the cockpit) that is moving at Mach 3 so the sounds he makes seem normal in that enclosed environment.
A space ship is flying near/at the speed of light. Light as we know it is perceived far differently depending upon which direction an observer is viewing. Blue shift red shift. An observer inside the spaceship however turns on a light and views his surroundings with no problem. I understand the Doppler affect of a train whistle as it goes by, but wonder what exactly happens if a search light were aimed forward of the speeding space ship. Would the photons/light energy be amassed near the front of the space ship? Sort of a "Photon torpedo," or would it become a different form of energy that travels faster than the speed of light. Because everything gains in mass the nearer it approaches the speed limit of light, why don't photons have annihilating properties? They are traveling at light speed, so they should ave infinite mass. Their mass is used for solar sails and move space craft with light pressure
I'm curious and want to know. I hate junk science in sci-fi and want to write a good one.
A jet is moving through the air at Mach 3. it's gotten quieter in the cockpit, because the jet is moving faster than the noise it is producing. The pilot keys his mic and talks to the tower. His voice is being spoken in a bubble of air (interior of the cockpit) that is moving at Mach 3 so the sounds he makes seem normal in that enclosed environment.
A space ship is flying near/at the speed of light. Light as we know it is perceived far differently depending upon which direction an observer is viewing. Blue shift red shift. An observer inside the spaceship however turns on a light and views his surroundings with no problem. I understand the Doppler affect of a train whistle as it goes by, but wonder what exactly happens if a search light were aimed forward of the speeding space ship. Would the photons/light energy be amassed near the front of the space ship? Sort of a "Photon torpedo," or would it become a different form of energy that travels faster than the speed of light. Because everything gains in mass the nearer it approaches the speed limit of light, why don't photons have annihilating properties? They are traveling at light speed, so they should ave infinite mass. Their mass is used for solar sails and move space craft with light pressure
I'm curious and want to know. I hate junk science in sci-fi and want to write a good one.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
What Should I Do?
First, there was the Nike commercial featuring professional basketball player Lebron James:
Now comes the Brett Favre parody commercial, made by Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, featuring Sean Carrigan as Brett Favre: [Adult Language & Situations]
Personally, I don't care what he does.
Now comes the Brett Favre parody commercial, made by Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, featuring Sean Carrigan as Brett Favre: [Adult Language & Situations]
Personally, I don't care what he does.
Simulating a Curious Landing
The next generation Mars rover, named Curiosity, is scheduled to launch later this year. Construction is nearing the final phases and lots of tests are being conducted on Curiosity. The latest test is a test of the landing system. JPL released a short video of the test.
Curiosity can't use the airbag system of previous rovers as it is too big and heavy, hence the sky crane concept. Curiosity will be the first spacecraft to use this system so the testing has to be rigorous. You can see from the video, a platform has small rockets on it that hovers while the rover is lowered to the surface. The rockets won't be able to make this craft hover for long since they carry very limited fuel so they only get one shot at it. Everything has to work perfectly the first time without intervention from us on Earth (Mars is much too far away...round trip light travel time varies from about 8 minutes to over 20 minutes depending on their positions in their respective orbits).
If you want to watch curiosity under construction, JPL has a "Curiosity Cam".Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.
The "I'm too stupid" files
Another case of "The coffee is hot, be careful" idiocy. Lawsuits. anyone can play if they're stupid. This gal is suing the mall for not coming to her aid. I'm going huh? She was drowning? She needs to dye her blond. She does a disservice to brunets.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Retroactive Political Correctness
"Radio stations told to censor Dire Straits"
"(Reuters) - Canadian radio stations have been warned to censor the 1985 Dire Straits hit 'Money for Nothing,' after a complaint that the lyrics of the Grammy Award-winning song were derogatory to gay men.
"A St. John's, Newfoundland, station should have edited the song to remove the word
'faggot' because it violates Canada's human rights standards, according to ruling this week by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.
"A unnamed listener to OZ FM in the Atlantic Coast province complained to the industry watchdog last year after hearing the song, which features Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler and fellow rock star Sting.
"The council said it realized Dire Straits uses the word sarcastically, and its use might have been acceptable in 1985 when the best-selling 'Brothers in Arms' album was released, but said it was now inappropriate.
. . .
"The ruling comes in the wake of an uproar sparked by a U.S. scholar who decided to publish an edition of Mark Twain's novel 'Huckleberry Finn' that would remove the word 'nigger' to make it less offensive to some readers."
It's sad that some people feel the need to impose their notions of what is "proper" not only on their contemporaries, but even on the past. What's next? Putting clothes on nudes in paintings and sculpture? Shakespeare's work is full of bawdy material. Ban the bard!
Personally, I thought Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" was kick-ass then, and I still think it's kick-ass today:
"i carry your heart with me"
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
-- e. e. cummings (1894 -1962)
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
-- e. e. cummings (1894 -1962)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._E._Cummings
"Burglars snort man's ashes, thought it was cocaine"
"(Reuters) - Burglars snorted the cremated remains of a man and two dogs in the mistaken belief that they had stolen illegal drugs, Florida sheriff's deputies said on Wednesday.
"The ashes were taken from a woman's home in the central Florida town of Silver Springs Shores on December 15. The thieves took an urn containing the ashes of her father and another container with the ashes of her two Great Danes, along with electronic equipment and jewelry, the Marion County Sheriff's Office said.
"Investigators learned what happened to the ashes after they arrested five teens in connection with another burglary attempt at a nearby home last week.
"'The suspects mistook the ashes for either cocaine or heroin. It was soon discovered that the suspects snorted some of the ashes believing they were snorting cocaine,' the sheriff's report said."
That is funny, sad and macabre, all at the same time.
Dear Madame Zoltar
Hello, my pert Packer backers! How are you? The big chill is supposed to be upon us this week. Oh my, I really dislike it when the temperature gets near zero or below. I may have to give Ms. Beejay a visit in Florida, or perhaps Mr. hale-bopp in Arizona. I’m willing to go anywhere that is warm. (Mind you, hell is hot, not warm.) Maybe I’ll astral project myself to someplace tropical. Aruba? Mr. logjam just returned from Cancun – perhaps there? Oh, I don’t know, but if it gets too cold, I may take off for a few days in the sun.Of course, if I do go, I’ll make sure I see the Green Bay Packers play. (Astral television now comes in HD.) Wasn’t the spanking that the Packers gave the Atlanta Falcons last Saturday something? The game started so ominously for the Packers, and the crowd noise was unbelievable. However, the game was already over at half time. Mr. Aaron Rodgers displayed a superb command of the game, as did the rest of the Packers. Now our green and gold gladiators face the infamous Chicago Bears on their home turf this Sunday for the NFC Championship, and a trip to the Super Bowl. Oh dear, this will be a battle that scribes will write about for ages. Songs will be sung and poems will be written about this game. The legendary Packers-Bears rivalry will explode on Soldier Field this weekend. Don’t miss the Packers beating the Bears in their own backyard. Onward, our Wisconsin warriors, to the Super Bowl!
I hope that all of you made it safely through the snowfall we had on Monday. It seems to me that the winter drivers get worse every year. If it isn’t someone who has no idea of how to drive in this weather, then it’s Mr. Overconfident, blasting along in his 4 wheel drive Conestoga wagon, rushing past everyone else. A tow truck driver once told me that he likes 4 wheel drive vehicles because they get stuck deeper in snow or mud and then he can charge more to free them. One of my biggest pet peeves is people who don’t clean the snow and ice from their car. While they drive, snow blows off or breaks loose and hinders others drivers. Meanwhile, they can’t see a thing around them because they’ve only cleared a little space to look out of the windshield. And their lights are blocked by ice, too. Oh, that steams me! One of these days I will find myself behind such an ignorant driver and they may feel the wrath of Zoltar power.
As a public service, I thought I’d post a video of winter driving tips. As it turns out, there are a lot of winter driving tip videos out there. After watching about a dozen, I still had not seen one that covered all of the bases. I finally settled on the one below, “Safe Winter Driving Tips from The Hartford.” Of course, it contains a plug for Hartford insurance at the end. (Almost all of the videos were sponsored by some company or the other.)
And this video concerns one of my pet causes for winter:
Thank you one and all for taking the time to read my blog today. I do so enjoy having you visit. Quality time, spent with quality people - is anything better?
I predict that your future awaits you here: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.
Be very careful driving and walking out there. Stay alert and you won’t get hurt. And bundle up for the deep freeze. Brrr! I love you all. Umquhile!
Epic Escalator Man
You know it's a slow day in the funny video business when Epic Escalator Man is the best that you can come up with.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The Weekend After in Tucson
I was out of town and today is the first chance I had to go visit the various sites you have been seeing on the news the last week.
First outside her office. I pass this corner near the turnaround on a 12 mile running route I do.
Now to University Medical Center. This is an easy walk from where I work and where I was taken after my auto accident and where I have said goodbye to a couple of friends.
Finally to the Safeway (which is open again).
First outside her office. I pass this corner near the turnaround on a 12 mile running route I do.
Now to University Medical Center. This is an easy walk from where I work and where I was taken after my auto accident and where I have said goodbye to a couple of friends.
Finally to the Safeway (which is open again).
Packers Versus da Bears
The Sea Hawks aren't going to manage spanking the Bears it looks like. Now that Buckets is non-smoking, I might enjoy the game over there next week. Unless my neighbor is having a party.