Another sign of imminent seasonal change; we bought a bicycle chain this afternoon. Son #3 had lost his, during a mechanical failure last season, so the winter riding was (as usual) non-existant. We’re not a four season cycling family. Something about windchill and accumulated precipitation tend to put the bikes into winter hiatus.
posted in technology | Comments Off on Putting the chain back into play | 281 words
The pleasure of a good live concert shouldn’t be underestimated. After a long week at work, and a long session at the hospital, I didn’t have the fire in my belly to go out this evening, but… son #3 was to be onstage, doing his part. I don’t hear him in performance very often. So, we saddled up the horses and rode into town.
posted in ham radio, music | Comments Off on An evening at the orchestra | 297 words
This morning, I happened to read an intriguing offer from a politician. Note; this was something I read, rather than heard, because who actually listens to what politicians say, other than journalists? Given that their incentive for listening is that someone might pay for what they write, their motive is already suspect.
posted in politics | Comments Off on In the unlikely case of a true fact | 292 words
Fewer fingers needed each week, as the Idol decimation continues. For me, a chance to forget my growing stress, and the mute button serves as protection from the commercial interludes that more and more intrusive. At least we’ll soon get to hear more than one “less than two minutes to show your star quality” song; right now the comments are taking a lion’s share of airtime. Except for the final performance this evening, where Simon spoke for the team and even stood up and applauded. My “emo” mood wasn’t on for Adam, though.
posted in Idol | Comments Off on Songs, stress and serious cinema | 257 words
Today I returned to the fold. After all, I asked to go back to normal duty, and the doctor was obliging. Little changes in the big picture, and you can take that several ways. My cubicle shrunk; my list of responsibilities didn’t. By the end of the afternoon, I was anxious to return home, where everybody knows my name, and there’s no need to explain.
posted in environment | Comments Off on Incredible shrinking workspace | 311 words
It doesn’t take much to get the civilized world excited. The ruling nutter from “North of 38” has fired another of his super high tech missiles into the ocean for the Nth time, while assuring the rest of us that he has launched a new satellite into orbit. Nobody else can see the bird, or hear the bird, but that’s his story and he’s sticking to it. Sad. So much effort to convince the western alliance that he has a big gun and he’ll use it if a) he doesn’t get some respect and b) it doesn’t fall into the water.
posted in politics | Comments Off on Did it fly or simply sink out of sight? | 265 words
It is with great disappointment that I announce the passing of my old speakers. The pair hung around for more than a quarter of a century, but over the last few years they’ve languished, almost forgotten, in the back of the TV hutch. Our stereo amplifier had developed a case of terminal deafness on one side, so the compromise was to forego home sound, replacing quality with quantity. We bought personal media players and cheap earphones and learned to sing off-key with the various videos showing on the appropriate channels. Home sound was downsized.
posted in economy, music | Comments Off on The sound has got smaller | 335 words
Just like in retail, to get what you are after in our government run medical system, you have to show up early. Today, I went shopping for a “physical” at my local clinic. Caught a transit bus just after dawn, joined the queue around the railing overlooking the mall and when the doors to the clinic opened, I took my number and joined the assembled masses to wait for my turn to plead my case.
posted in health | Comments Off on Free is not the same as free | 278 words
Sometimes, it would be nice to have just a little more information. Take, for example, my visit to the hospital this morning. A simple control visit, which should have taken less than an hour in the worst of times. I arrived early, which is a good idea, and the usual nurse met me on the ward and asked me if I’d checked in to the admin window. Not yet, but I was on my way. Slight correction; they’d moved things around and I had to go to the information desk on the first floor, first (is this a new way of naming levels?).
posted in health | Comments Off on All around in a circle | 463 words
The girl with the hippy-hippy-shake-shake has gone home, and she doesn’t care. Neither does Simon, which shows that it’s still his show. Big dog won’t allow no disrespect in his junk yard. With all the other things going terribly wrong in the world, I’m glad that we still have American Idol to sneer over. Puts things in an odd perspective.
posted in Idol | Comments Off on No more hippy-hippy-shake-shake | 302 words
