"We've been expecting you."
As far as welcomes go, that which the avatar told me was right up there with the most welcoming of opening lines.
Still, though, it made me wonder *exactly * what the voice meant by its proclamation. After all, it was 2084 ... and I had arrived in Old Orleans only by the power of the time travel via the app in my cell phone. Did it really know that I would be showing up in the manner in which I arrived ... or was it just being polite?
"My grandfather knew you well."
For the first time since I slid into the seat of the sex-porium I suspected that my debriefing to expect to be put in touch with the local faction of the Intransigents was on point.
"You and he drove across the country together. Out of Florida. Through Winston Falls. To Chicago. Many many hours spent side by side, charged, as you both were at that time, with keeping Gator safe."
"Mattie?" I whispered in reply. "Is that really you?"
"Mattie was my grandfather," came the response. "And *his* stories became my history," the shadow in the screen continued.
"Your reputation precedes you!" it said excitedly. "And your ability to transcend time was foretold. It is both my honor and my privilege to meet with you again."
"Me you too," I muttered. After all -- what could I say? My arrival in 2084 was somewhat sudden and unexpected. Yet somehow the representation in front of me knew my lineage ... and he knew that I would one day, generations later, be standing in front of him in Old Orleans.
And so began my interaction with the progeny of my closest friend ... an interaction about which there is much to tell ... but a tale that I can only tell on the last day of the month next, when the VitalNet is updating and I can take advantage of a loophole to contact you via Troy's social media of 2018.
Until that opportunity presents itself, I remain Ilion in 2084, brought to the future via Troy in 2018's social media account ... as hosted by t1a7n72.lif., the remnants of my soul in the future. Stay safe. Be careful. Take care of one another. And keep your eyes open for your loved ones - in the future though it might be.
Monday, April 30, 2018
Random Memorial for Monday 4/30/18
Yep, there's another cassette in the trash can tonight because we already also have the CD in the music collection.
Tonight, it's Michael's little sister -- a star in her own right (even if she tricks Arab baby daddies into giving her the one little thing that she couldn't have [and yes, this is a shout out to Heart]) ... and there's nothing quite representative of the late 80's/early 90's (the era when I grew up) than 'That's the Way Love Goes'.
In other words ... 'like a moth to the flame fueled by the fire ..."
YOUR LOVE IS BLIND, CAN'T YOU SEE MY DESIRE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpQ88a6zy8E
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 4/29/18
Yet another sewer leak.
This one is right across the street -- this picture is taken from the corner in front of ye new olde homestead.
The good news (well, at least for me and mine) is that the big street in the middle (13th) is actually the dividing line between really really old pipes (over there) and somewhat slightly newer pipes (over here) -- or at least according to the landlord. The bad news -- it's not the first time there's been a leak in that spot ... and it's most definitely not the only sewer leak in this fair city.
As a matter of fact, things are so bad here pipe-wise, that there's an up and coming neighborhood with heavy heavy development where trucks suck out the sewer on one street ... and then drive a few blocks over to a poor 'hood where they pump it back down in that spot in order to bypass a particularly weak section of infrastructure.
Here's to hoping all the newly elected finally fix the problem (it was one of the top three issues in the area, according to the recent election season) ... Fingers crossed (except for those fingers that are in use to hold your nose).
THE SH!T IS GETTING REAL:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/fl-op-editorial-fort-lauderdale-sewage-pumping-20171208-story.html
THE SH!T IS GETTING FIXED:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-sb-lauderdale-approves-sewer-bond-20180122-story.html
THE SH!T ISN'T JUST A PROBLEM IN THE FTL:
http://wlrn.org/post/south-florida-faces-costly-sewage-problem
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Random Soapbox for Saturday 4/28/18
... NO Netflix, NO!
I have the type of very mild OCD that means that I have to sing along (or hum along if it's only instrumental) as television shows open. And I watch so MUCH television (my name is Troy ... and I'm a TV addict), that I rely on those "previously on" recap sequences at the beginning of an episode to get me in the mood.
So you can imagine how disheartened I was to learn -- the hard way -- that Netflix has a "skip intro" feature that's supposed to encourage healthier binge-ing habits by skipping both of those things. Mind you, I know there are still kids starving in Africa and nuclear weapons proliferating around the world and such -- but I don't like someone else making decisions about how I'm going to watch my favorite programs. Luckily, the rewind button will work in these scenarios ... but still. It's annoying.
OH NETFLIX ... HOW COULD YOU!:
https://www.avclub.com/skip-intro-netflix-could-ve-saved-tv-title-sequences-1802926420
15 BEST OPENING SEQUENCES OF ALL TIME:
https://screenrant.com/best-tv-opening-credit-sequences-ever-all-time/
IN PRAISE OF THE RECAP SEQUENCE:
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/02/previously-on-in-praise-of-the-television-recap/385036/
Friday, April 27, 2018
Random Flashback for Friday 4/27/18
After all, she was my first solo-owned kitty (as distinguished from the photos of me taken as a child in the pre-divorce years with felines ... or of me with Tuppy at the Woodwards [the family that all but adopted me when I ran away from home] ... or of me with Smokey [the kitty from our college dorm room that our little village raised as a group]).
Meaning -- if that meant that she wanted to go explore the tiny back yard behind the second fraternity house we had set up two decades ago on Walnut Street next to Big Bertha's in my hometown of Lebanon, then outside she would go. And, because she was who she was, she didn't run away ... she just took her time enjoying a bit of outdoor play. She was, quite clearly and most definitely, in charge.
Monday, April 23, 2018
Random Memorial for Monday 4/23/18
Fear not -- it wasn't totaled like the Chevy Cruze was this last Ides of March (update to the post from 3.31 on this site: not only did the policeperson completing the incident report misidentify our model of car, he also mixed up the insurance information for all parties -- but luckily our State Farm tracked down the driver over at the Geico) ... Instead, it was returned.
Because when you buy a car off of the internet, you can't really do a test drive ... and so they give you seven days to trade it in for something else if you so desire ... and we so desired this Ford Focus SEL instead. NOTE: Like those who wait to announce their pregnancy until after a safe date, I can report that the second seven day waiting period has passed, so this automobile is going to stick around.
Little Kia that we owned for not quite a week ... you will NOT be missed -- because you've been replaced.
PROVING YET AGAIN THAT YOU CAN ORDER *ANYTHING* OVER THE INTERNET:
https://www.carvana.com/
UPDATE TO *THIS* POST:
https://sosaystroy.blogspot.com/2018/03/random-soapbox-for-saturday-33118.html
EVEN STRANGER THINGS YOU CAN BUY ON THE INTERNET:
https://www.lifewire.com/weirdest-things-to-buy-on-internet-3485759
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 4/22/18
The fact that there was a big bust at the Booby Trap last night.
In case you haven't guessed, the Booby Trap is a strip club down Miami way ... and the "big bust" was a raid that turned up some cocaine, a few guns and that led to nine arrests.
Me personally, I don't know how the Sunday news guy announced the headline with a straight face. After all, one would hope that there are big busts EVERY night at the Bobby Trap. It's kind of exactly what the clientele are looking for (unless they're headed next door to La Bare where the boys perform). Most folks aren't looking for little busts when they stop in for a free lunch. Just sayin'!
THE BIG BUST:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article209453979.html
CRAZY FUN NEWS HEADLINES:
https://thoughtcatalog.com/nico-lang/2013/10/25-crazy-news-headlines-that-will-make-you-laugh-yourself-silly/
MORE CRAZY FUN NEWS HEADLINES (SOME ARE ON BOTH LISTS):
http://boredomtherapy.com/funny-newspaper-headlines/
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Random Soapbox for Saturday 4/21/18
... I'm DONE with the Burger King.
For the most part, anyway. I will definitely miss those chicken fries ... and they did get pretty bacon-friendly in the last few years (although not as bacon-forward as that Wendy's girl has gotten in her middle age). But here's the problem. I'm going to have to boycott the two that are closest to me due to abhorrent customer service.
(Note: whilst looking for companion links for this post, I discovered that boycotting Burger King has actually been a very popular past time these last few decades. Models have called for a boycott due to their pictures being used in ads without their permission [it was probably a vegetarian model at that] ... certain types of "Christians" have called for a boycott due to the existence of something called a "pride burger" [in case you haven't updated your bigot scorecard, according to the modern day Pharisee: Chik Fil-A good, Burger King bad] ... certain types of "patriots" have called for a boycott due to the company's purchase of a Canadian donut franchise that made it seem like the business was trying to dodge paying taxes [as all corporations try to do] ... certain types of religious fanatics have called for a boycott due to them allegedly "bowing to sharia law" and/or opening a branch in an occupied territory in the armageddon tinderbox known as the Middle East [do religious extremists even EAT flame broiled burgers?] ... and, last but not least, Al Sharpton called for a boycott because not enough black folks own franchises [which, I can attest, is most definitely not the situation down here in the SoFlo].)
My intent to go Whopper-less is not in any attempt to support any of those calls for boycott, but it's simply because I can't bring myself to support gross incompetence and overall apathy with regards to the customer experience. Long ago, I had chosen to skip the location closest to me (Andrews and Oakland Park here in the FTL for any local readers) because they consistently got the drive-thru order wrong ... and instead, when the Burger King urge hit, I would drive out of my way to the next closest one further out Oakland Park by the vet's office. I didn't mind the extra mileage if it meant that I could guarantee that that which I ordered was actually in the bags I opened up when I got home.
In a moment of weakness, I recently returned to that first Burger King this week -- but walked in to the counter to ensure that I could check the purchase before I left. Within a few minutes, I had walked out, though -- because the counter order taker announced she had to leave after taking the order of the customer in front of me. She attempted to tag in the drive-thru employee, who took a stand to say that she wasn't about to work both jobs. So I stood there, ignored until a manager-type returned from outside where she had been delivering a fast food order. And then I was ignored again as the manager-type found out about the counter situation and endorsed the drive-thru employee's decision. Wanting to avoid having a Michael Douglas style "Falling Down" moment, I walked out before I could be further ignored -- and decided that I wouldn't let any of these ladies -- who all looked like Burger King was the halfway house that their parole officer had arranged for them to spend time in so that they could stay out of jail -- wash my balls let alone make me my lunch.
Thinking it was mostly my fault for trying to give a second chance to those who had wronged me previously, I felt secure knowing that I could drive two dozen blocks away and still have a satisfactory encounter with the King of Burgers. Despite my order taker there needing a lot of assistance (I do believe she was a trainee, because she was hella confused about how to put in a cheeseburger as plain without the cheese itself being omitted), I thought things were still heading to a good place. Despite the fact that they ran out of my frozen lemonade mid-pour at the machine, I thought all would be well since I talked them into mixing in a little frozen cherry to fill it up, making my own new drink that I told them they could add to the menu so long as they gave me 10% of any future orders. All went to flame-broiled hell though, when it took them 21 minutes between the time of my receipt and the time they handed me my food. I do blame the management at this location, as the kids sure did try to make things work, but were just overwhelmed and didn't know how to handle the situation. I was tempted, once my order all finally came together, to walk up to the counter and return it for a refund ... but then I decided that if management didn't care during the whole ordeal, they sure as hell weren't about to care about the outcome.
So there we are ... I'm fresh out of Burger Kings (although there is one on the way to the beach that might still be in play) and my rant for this week is over ...
OF COURSE THEY HAVE THE WORST RECORD:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/caroltice/2012/10/12/rude-employees-and-order-errors-worst-fast-food-chains-for-drive-through-service/#17a840404877
OF COURSE THEY HAVE HATERS:
https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/01/eating-badly-burger-king-the-saddest-chain-in-fast.html
OF COURSE AL SHARPTON DOESN'T LIKE THEM:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=95438&page=1
Random Posting for Penn State 4/21/18
1.) Fair warning -- probably eight of them are going to be about how much I'm continuing to despise the greedy bastards at Comcast/Xfinity (as they continue to clash with the greedy bastards at the Big10 Network).
2.) Before I rant about that, though, (and spoiler alert) -- congrats to the boys in BLUE for their win today.
3.) And congrats to the boys in WHITE, 'cause even though they "lost", they're still our boys #springgame.
4.) Now -- on to Comcast/Xfinity who, during the last season surprisingly moved the Big10 Network out of the regular line-up and hid it in a special sports premium package because they thought that only rich people should watch college sports -- a move for which I took them to task previously.
5.) Today -- imagine my shock to discover that the lineup here in the SoFlo no longer even includes the channel at all -- hidden in a premium section or otherwise. It's completely disappeared, as it has for many across the country.
6.) Courtesy of the interwebs, I discovered that their customer service (well known as one of the worst in the world) was suggesting to use the BTN2GO app -- except logging in there left me with a message that "Comcast unilaterally decided to remove access in your area".
7.) Did I mention how much I'm not a fan of the greedy bastards at Comcast/Xfinity for not playing nice with the greedy bastards at the Big10 Network.
8.) Okay ... rant over. Except to say that I expect to spend a lot more Saturday afternoons huddled around the streaming radio on my cell phone come fall.
9.) And one Friday night ... 'cause *that's* apparently happening this year as well!
In closing, a pox on the house of Comcast/Xfinity ... and although there's a whole summer still to experience, here's hoping it's soon Labor Day weekend!
BLUE WHITE GAME REVIEW:
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2018/4/21/17265128/blue-21-white-10-penn-state-spring-game-recap-mcsorley-keegan-parsons-hippenhammer-football-franklin
BIG10 BLACKOUT REVIEW:
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/4/12/17231278/big-ten-network-comcast-subscription
FRIDAY NIGHT GAME REVIEW:
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2017/10/20/16510478/penn-state-nittany-lions-football-illinois-illini-to-play-friday-night-game-in-2018-big-ten
Monday, April 16, 2018
Random Memorial for Monday 4/16/18
This one is the second to last one before he retired ... and by "retired", I mean before he went classical ... and then released various and assorted greatest hits compilations ... and then started his live concerting to put his daughter through college.
To me, it will always be the "modern" Billy Joel, because it was released the year I graduated from high school and started a decade's worth of college and other post-graduate education. As such, many of the tracks are tied to actual experiences -- 'We Didn't Start the Fire" was playing at the cast party where I actually turned over a table at the Lebanon Knights of Columbus long before housewives were doing it ... the lyrics to 'And So It Goes' were pinned to my dorm room door in an awkward attempt to break up with a girlfriend ... 'I Go To Extremes' was frequently blared at a volume of 11 to celebrate the emotional ups and downs of that era.
Al that said, the tune I'll feature will be the one that speaks to a different time in a different day when the Cold War was winding down and we were all realizing that we were more like "the enemy" than we thought. Maybe we all could benefit from a return trip to 'Leningrad' in modern times ...
COLD WAR KIDS HARD TO KILL UNDER THEIR DESKS IN AN AIR RAID DRILL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgD_-dRZPgs
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 4/15/18
Whether it is time to wave goodbye to the Wave.
In case you hadn't heard of the Wave, it's a $195 million public transportation project for the FTL that's been in the works since 2004 (demonstrating just how slowly government gets things done) for which ground hasn't actually yet been broken. Now that there is new leadership after the most recent local election, there is talk to cancel those plans -- despite the years and years of development work -- because folks feel that it is outdated technology (overhead electric lines powering trains running on tracks embedded on existing busy streets) ... and that it doesn't go very far beyond downtown (although there are dreams to connect it to the airport or the area shared by local college campuses) ... and that it simply will cost too much money (perhaps much more than the budgeted amount, 'cause government not only works slowly -- it also works very expensively).
If it does get cancelled (it looks like there will be a vote in just two weeks), the consequence could be that the federal government (which is supplying some of the funds) would hold it against the area with regards to any future requests ('cause government not only works slowly and expensively -- it also holds a hell of a grudge) -- not to mention the three billion (yes, that's with a 'b') of development in the area allegedly because improvements were coming. Mind you even if it stays on track (I'll pause whilst you groan at the pun), it's not supposed to be functional until sometime in the early part of the next decade ... so whether I'll actually ever get a chance to ride the Wave depends on the way the vote goes AND if me and mine will still be SoFlo-based at that time.
In other words ... to be continued (maybe)?
THE HOME OF THE WAVE:
http://wavestreetcar.com/
UNLESS IT GETS CANCELLED:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-sb-wave-new-commission-20180319-story.html
AND IF IT DOES, THERE MAY BE CONSEQUENCES:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-sb-wave-streetcar-wasserman-schultz-20180329-story.html
Saturday, April 14, 2018
Random Soapbox for Saturday 4/14/18
... omg you guys ... the Swedish Chef MUPPET has HUMAN hands and I am thoroughly creeped out.
Mind you, as a child, I never noticed the man hands on the guy -- including what appears to be a wedding ring so I'm assuming that somewhere there's a Mrs. Swedish Chef (or a second Mr. Swedish Chef as I'm pretty sure Sweden is super-progressive that way). But sure enough, on a repeat episode from the last season of 'MasterChef Junior', said Chef and Miss Piggy were both the celebrity guests and that was when I noticed the Franken-muppet effect. A quick google search confirmed what I saw ... AND confirmed that others found the hybrid look as disturbing as I did.
To my surprise, that same google search turned up the fact that, based on the way he speaks, the Swedish Chef is actually Norwegian -- but that's another post for another day ...
SWEDISH CHEF *TRANSLATED*:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/08/28/what_is_the_swedish_chef_actually_saying_one_swede_translates_.html
SWEDISH CHEF *WIKIFIED*:
http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/The_Swedish_Chef
SWEDISH CHEF IN THE COMPANY OF OTHER *CREEPY* MUPPETS:
https://www.therobotsvoice.com/2013/01/the_15_most_nightmare-inducing_muppets.php
Friday, April 13, 2018
Random Flashback for Friday 4/13/18
As you might remember, Mauler Jean was the tiny little kitten that I had found in the woods of Mt Gretna the year before ... the one who slept inside my shirt for the first few days I had her ... the one who was partly raised by Little One the ferret and who was fascinated with Demon the original pit bull (who also arrived in the extended family around the same time).
In this photo, she was probably a year or so old, hanging out with the things that smelled like me up in my attic room of the second fraternity house (the one on Walnut Street) ... seeing as how she had to entertain herself whilst I was out and about taking my law school classes and working multiple jobs. By the year's end, she'd have fellow kitty housemates in a completely different house ... but for this specific time, she was enjoying her status as an "only kitty".
PS ... you can tell for sure that this is a photo from the late 90's by that braided brown belt still looped in my jeans ... although, truth be told, I was wearing braided belts long after they should have been sartorially retired ... so there's that.
Monday, April 9, 2018
Random Memorial for Monday 4/9/18
H Wayne -- the founder of Waste Management back in my former hometown of Chicago.
H Wayne -- the founder of Blockbuster (kids -- ask your parents what this was).
H Wayne -- the founder of Auto Nation.
H Wayne -- the only person to have founded three Fortune 500 companies.
H Wayne -- the person who spent his later years promoting all the sports in the SoFlo (Marlins, Dolphins AND the Panthers -- but not the basketball team with the flaming onion for its logo).
H Wayne -- the person who created a legacy of philanthropy that puts a lot of the rich folks to shame.
H Wayne ... you will be missed.
HE WAS KIND OF A BIG DEAL DOWN HERE IN THE SOFLO:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/obituaries/fl-reg-h-wayne-huizenga-obituary-20180118-story.html
HE WAS KIND OF A BIG DEAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/23/obituaries/h-wayne-huizenga-entrepreneur-and-team-owner-is-dead-at-80.html
HE WAS KIND OF A BIG DEAL IN THE BUSINESS WORLD:
https://pulsosocial.com/en/2013/08/04/wayne-huizenga-the-man-who-built-three-fortune-500-companies/
Sunday, April 8, 2018
Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 4/8/18
What will likely be ... The. Most. Expensive. Senate Race. EVER!
Lookit -- I've joked that one of the prime benefits of moving across the country from Chitown to the FTL was so that I would feel like my vote counted. (Disclaimer -- everyone's vote counts. Don't NOT vote. Especially now more than ever.) Although it's too early to make an official endorsement on the upcoming Nelson-Scott race, you can probably read between the blog posts to figure out where my mind will be on November 6th.
Between now and then, though, I'm fully expecting to be the "beneficiary" (?) of TENS of millions of dollars that will likely be spent in the state. And in the meantime, I'll be monitoring how closely the weaselly looking one associates with the weasel currently occupying the White House on a part time basis. Let the political games begin (and may the odds be forever in our favor)!
AND HERE. WE. GO!:
http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/04/08/rick-scott-to-announce-senate-run-at-10-a-m-monday/
THERE'S ABOUT TO BE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON THIS:
http://fortune.com/2018/04/09/why-floridas-senate-race-could-become-the-most-expensive-in-history/
SCOTT JUST SEEMS SO TRUMPY (AND NO, THAT'S NOT A COMPLIMENT):
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-worst-governor-the-history-florida
Saturday, April 7, 2018
Random Soapbox for Saturday 4/7/18
... let's put things in perspective with the Roseanne reboot. (Admittedly, I did not gravitate toward her in her initial run because she bore a striking resemblance to my dad's wife-o-the-moment [the one from the 80's -- seeing as how we weren't Mormon, he had them in different eras as opposed to all at the same time], but her 'Roseanne's Nuts' show about her in Hawaii might have just won me over.)
First, let's not over-tribalize ourselves. Just because Roseanne has gone on record that she voted for the Trumpster does not mean we need to boycott her show. It is produced by Sara Gilbert, after all, so ... you know ... things will be tempered.
Second, let's not forget that, in addition to the Trump vote, Roseanne has gone on record that she is dealing with her mental illness -- which might help explain the choice of hers in that election ... and might give you insight into those of your connections about whom you've been wondering for months and months.
Third, let's not forget the value that the Archie-Bunker-archetype brings to the discussion. It just may be that we may need a similar character to allow us to find a way to laugh us through the national nightmare we're all currently experiencing. As Archie represented the regressive party of *his* time, so might Roseanne do just the same.
Fourth, Laurie Metcalf. I'm going to trust my sanity to her and I'm gonna feel just fine. She. Will. Represent. And John Goodman won't be far behind ...
Finally, if nothing else, the reboot is a *perfect* time to call hypocrite on all your Trump-loving connections who have issues with the take-a-knee-protest for how allegedly disrespectful it is to the national anthem ... yet who laud Roseanne's re-entry into pop culture despite her murdering the same thing a few years back.
Can't we all just agree to get along ... and let's just all agree to laugh ... 'cause we sometimes have to laugh so we don't cry ...
WATCH IT BECAUSE IT'S MORE REAL THAN YOUR BUBBLE:
https://hellogiggles.com/news/roseanne-politics-2018/
LET HER BE THE NEW ARCHIE:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-roseanne-reboot-cant-escape-politics-20180404-story.html
THIS SHOW ACTUALLY WON ME OVER:
https://www.mylifetime.com/shows/roseannes-nuts
Monday, April 2, 2018
Random Memorial for Monday 4/2/18
And you *know* this one was released in the early eighties what with it being the latest cassette going in the trash since the CD version also exists in the collection. (This old man doesn't have a digital music collection ... because he was around in the 80's and had one [or more] memberships with Columbia House [before it became BMG before it became non-existent]).
The song from this set of amazing tracks that I'm featuring as I say goodbye (ish) is the one co-written by none other than L.v. Beethoven (yes -- THAT Beethoven) ... the one that wasn't even RELEASED in the US ... the one inspired by Billy's relationship with a supermodel (surprisingly not THAT supermodel, but Elle M [according to the omniscient Wiki]) ... the one that starts all doo-woppy and then challenges your falsetto with the "movement" at the end ... the one known as 'This Night'.
'An Innocent Man' in its totality -- you will be missed (but only until I pull out the CD to listen to over and over again.
IT'S ONLY YOU AND I:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uz7KMVUEH4
Sunday, April 1, 2018
Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 4/1/18
Easter!
Except, what with the breakdown of the population here, it's just as likely that folks are talking about Passover.
Whether you spent the day thinking about a Walking Dead crossover with Negan and zombie Jesus ... or contemplating how lucky you were that the Angel of Death didn't take your oldest child because of what was pretty much the equivalent of flashing your gang colors for safety ... or, as a bonus this year, reminiscing about life before 44.5* made EVERY day feel like April Fool's Day (*I still believe in my heart of hearts that he won't last the whole term) ... here's hoping that your day was a happy one -- and that maybe it included ham (and carrot velveeta casserole [with an UTZ chips topping], mashed potatoes, rolls and pineapple bread pudding for dessert).
If nothing else, maybe we can join in with the Pope dude, who went on record thusly earlier: "Today we implore fruits of peace upon the entire world."
JUST ONE MORE ... coping mechanism (April 2018)
JUST ONE MORE ... coping mechanism.
Life is hard. But Facebook (which, admittedly, is often an alternate version of life -- full of alternate facts and such as it is) just might be harder.
For April's focus on a concept to embrace incremental change in order to empower folks (or just me) to stay positive and solution-focused in a day and age where problems often seem insurmountable, control often seems out of reach and apathy often seems to be running rampant ... it's way past time to talk about how to cope with modern Facebook living.
Besides the obvious -- pulling the plug on it completely -- there are some simple things that folks can do to stay in control of what they consume and to retain the last bits of sanity that might still be present in people.
On top of something we've already touted -- the social media's snooze button (my favorite new feature) -- we'll take time this month in the weekly reminders (only found on the Facebook, ironically enough) to talk about learning to resist the urge to comment ... trying to understand a bit of the "other" side ... lowering your expectations of certain individuals ... and figuring out when it's time to actually say goodbye to one of your connections. Perhaps one (or more) of these tips will be what you need to have happier days in the midst of all this foolishness, courtesy of just one more ... coping mechanism.
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