' Say what..?!? ' Number 3

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Previous 'say what' posts ... where I discuss and link various 'unique phrases' I have found while reading online.

Say What #2, Feb 2009

Say What #1, Sep 2008





What defines a 'unique phrase'..?? Well, it has to be at least two words. A one word phrase makes no sense, right..?? These unique phrases also have to be made up of real words, though I will stretch the definition for a word or phrase that still would be recognizable for most readers.

With more and more bloggers every day . . .I am sure more and more unique phrases will continue to be created and shared across the web


So again, as I stated in my earlier post two word 'unique' phrases earn a gold medal, three words a silver, and four word unique phrases draw a bronze medal.

See, that is all kinda cool. Come along with me. Lets see what shiny baubles we have found this time.



Unique phrases I have crafted or discovered:





No results found for "feeling autopsied"

Not even the place where I found it. What is up Google..??

"This book left me feeling autopsied." From an Epinions review of a Patricia Daniels Cornwell novel featuring Dr. Kay Scarpetta, ... a renown(sic) forensic pathologist. Apparently some of the medical descriptions were a bit over the top...

Two results found for "poise of emptiness."

From another Epinions review: "They have to be to fix such poise of emptiness."

The writer was describing a book that captures that island of Cuba in photographs. As the author of the review notes: "There's no depth, no momentum" to the pictures of the book. A wonderful phrase and a wonderful review.

No results found for "cooing idiocy"

A comment on yet another Epinions review: " ... she has neither 'hardened' to the point of detached coldness nor 'softened' to mere cooing idiocy as many people we've encountered seem to in the professional animal care industry."

The comment was addressing the idea that some animal shelter workers become 'cold and hard' by their work while others go to the opposite extreme of "cooing idiocy"

Two results found for "with wincing beauty"

Yet another Eps review: "They're authentic emotions encountered on the rollercoaster of feelings during life ... displayed ... with wincing beauty."

These words are from a review of the film Marley and Me, describing the experience of viewing the film.

Just another example of the quality of writing found on Epinions.

Once again, just the latest update on my little web reading-n-writing obsession. Looking forward to sharing more once again on down the road.

Hey, if you have any examples of your own please share them in a comment..!!


...tom...
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Obsession Confession...

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Even the name of the song is cool: 'Obsession Confession'.

First heard it while listening to a 'smooth jazz' station on-line. When I alt-tabbed backed to the page, to see who was playing the guitar . . .my jaw dropped.

So much for that stereotype..!!


'Obsession Confession'



Apparently this was featured in the 1996 film Curdled. Never heard of the film before, never heard the song before. But wow..!! It impresses me right now.

I guess stereotypes are made to be broken. This is the last song I would have guessed Slash to be playing..!!

Anyway . . .hopefully you did/will enjoy it as much as I did.


...tom...

In my mailbox...

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Detecting Pancreatic Cancer Before It Begins was the subject line of a recent e-mail I received.


I was a subscriber to Newsmax magazine at one time and one of the 'benefits' is a seemingly endless stream of 'infomercial' e-mails from them. Along with financial and medical news, you get links to various products sold through the magazine. Certainly something you can 'opt out of' (I believe) if you like. But harmless enough and easy enough to delete as they are received.


This one caught my eye though. 'Detecting cancer before it begins'.

Huh..?? Would that not be like knowing the next card dealt at the blackjack table ...before it is dealt..?? Or knowing the tomorrow's Dow Jones Average closing number ...today..??

I know what they mean. Reading the accompanying article in e-mail confirms my thought.



The new technology information they are sharing is about 'partial-wave spectroscopy', a method for looking for subtle changes in the intracellular, the "nanoarchitecture", of a cell. Changes in the 'order' of components inside the cell could be early indicators of possible cancerous processes beginning. These changes might be visible some time before visible microscopy or other methods would indicate the possible presence of cancer.

Image source: xmatt via flickr dot com

So yeah, the thought and the intent of the message are well founded; just poorly expressed by an attention-seeking subject line.

Not like that is the first time that has ever been tried..!!


...tom...
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Sadness redoubled...

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My previous post spoke to my worst fears for an online 'friend' and her son.

Unfortunately, my worst fears were confirmed and I learned shortly afterward that her son had indeed succumbed to his illness.


I would encourage any who care to do so to check the Dr. Smak link blogrolled at my page.

Reading a few or many of the previous posts at her blog will afford you an intimate glimpse into the heart of this mother and her son and family. Her courage in sharing his ...their story has not gone unnoticed by many.

I am sure the message of strength and love and family evident in her posts and in her readers' comments will echo across the lives of many friends and readers.


...tom...
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I am so sad...

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It has been a long time since I felt compelled to post, since I really had something personal and of import to me to share.


I have been reading a fellow blogger here at blogger dot com for some months now. Not because her blog is fun or informational. But perhaps more because I found great value in her blogging the experience of her son dying of cancer.

Yes ... it sounds weird to say that ...to think that one might find value in the great sorrow of another. But I really do ...did.

Over the months I have been following her she has spoken of both the joys and sorrows of such a diagnosis. She speaks so lovingly of her son ...so intimately of her own reactions to the whole 'thing', the whole situation. She speaks so strongly and from the heart about her own doubts about today, tomorrow, the future. She speaks so strongly of the unknown and fears and unanswerable questions we all would have in a similar situation.

In my many years online I have never found a blog that spoke so freely and intimately of matters of great importance to the human condition. She was always one of my first stops when I hit the web. I never failed to find inspiration or value in her posts.


Today I found her blog blocked, available only to 'invited readers'.

Perhaps her son has finally passed and this is a reaction to that. Perhaps the comments on her blog have become too challenging to read. Perhaps the growing attention I have seen her blog draw over the last few months, perhaps she is drawing back from that. Perhaps she has lost her ability to continue to tell her story coherently and clearly.


I am literally at the verge of tears thinking of the worst that might have happened, at the pall of grief that might be hanging over her and her family as I write this.

At the same time I am almost embarrassed to think that my being able to see her blog (such a minor concern...!!) should be of any importance now.


It seems silly to worry about a name on a computer screen. But we all come to know, to value, to cherish the names, the words, the thoughts we see every day online. We become drawn into their lives intractably, knowing that we can pull back at any time while they continue to meet daunting challenges and tasks.


Anyway . . .to my friend and her son ...my fervent hopes and prayers that things are going as well as they possibly can for you and yours. My thoughts mean nothing in the here and now. But I humbly and hopefully offer them regardless.


...tom...
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' Say what..?!? ' Number 2

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I have previously talked about 'unique phrases' I have found online. My September 2008 post listed just a few.

Since then I have been trying to note and 'save' others that I have found.

What defines a 'unique phrase'..?? Well, it has to be at least two words. A one word phrase makes no sense, right..?? These unique phrases also have to be made up of real words, though I will stretch the definition for a word or phrase that still would be recognizable for most readers.

With more and more bloggers every day . . .I am sure more and more unique phrases will continue to be created and shared across the web


So again, as I stated in my earlier post two word 'unique' phrases earn a gold medal, three words a silver, and four word unique phrases draw a bronze medal.

See, that is all kinda cool. Come along with me. Lets see what shiny baubles we have found this time.



Unique phrases I have crafted or discovered:





One result found for "steeped in heartaches"

The writer is describing a young Otis Redding and the sound of his youthful voice: And he sounded very experienced, steeped in heartaches despite that young age. A beautiful phrase to my ears.

Three results found for "bring the grump"

From a personal e-mail exchange. I had noted that I was already 'bothered' by the actions of a third party and thus probably 'brought a grumpy disposition' to the next stupid thing they had said/did. The uses Google found seem to refer to particular individuals or characters rather than an attitude. So a unique thought with several thinly-related web uses.

Two results found for "Seussian season"

One by a writer on Epinions dot com, a consumer reviews site. Commenting on reading a Dr. Seuss book, the writer said: "In fact, you could say it was the beginning of a long Seussian season at our house." when her daughter fell "hook, line and sinker" in love with the book. Another beautiful, unique phrase.

One result found for "ghetto days of dial-up"

A thought by Alison Stewart, Click Chick at midweek.com while describing her cell phone connection to the Internet while using GPRS (say what..?!?). A truly unique 'ghetto' phrase.

Anyway, just the latest update on my little web reading-n-writing obsession. Looking forward to sharing more once again on down the road.

Hey, if you have any examples of your own please share them in a comment..!!


...tom...
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A heart for my valentines...

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I knew that if I looked long enough I would find something to share with my readers for Valentine's Day.

Little did I know that, once again, it would APOD coming to the rescue.


I offer you a 'heart' ... seemingly as big as all creation...






Image from Astronomy Picture of the Day, Valentine's Day, February 14, 2009.


...tom...
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Nine on the Ninth__February

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Hopelessly addicted...

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OK. I might as well admit it. I am hopelessly addicted to the images created by this young lady/blogger.

And now she has posted a video featuring many of her images set to music.






Ah ... to be young and talented...


Previous posts re: Acroline ... ...qui aime gribouiller...


...tom...
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Treasure is fun..!!

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I think every kid who has ever read Treasure Island or Robinson Crusoe has dreamed of one day sailing the high seas, plundering ships, taking treasure, and never going to bed until they wanted to...


Then we grow up and find our spot in the grown-up world. Which usually does not involve sailing, plundering, and other pirate-y stuff.





But even today we can be taken back to those days by news of old shipwrecks newly discovered and gold coins and storms at sea and brave men long gone.

I first learned of Odyssey Marine Exploration several years ago when they made the news for discovering the sunken wreck/remains of the SS Republic off the coast of Georgia. Bound for New Orleans from New York, she carried 80 passengers and crewmembers and a large supply of goods and money to help aid the rebuilding South after the American Civil War. After sinking in a storm in October 1865, the shipwreck was lost for over a century.

The site of the shipwreck was found in 2003, confirmed by discovery of the ship's bell and an archeological excavation of the site began late that year.


Since then the company has discovered several other shipwrecks around the world and at widely varying times in history.


Recently, the Odyssey company reported their discovery of the wreck of the HMS Victory which sank during a storm in the English Channel in 1744. She is reported to have carried nearly 4 tons of gold and other period artifacts.





Gawd, who can not begin to dream of sailing the high seas and treasure and adventure of grand scale when hearing stories like this..??


Anyway, check out the Odyssey Marine Exploration for tons of more information. Make sure you have your imagination turned on and your wanderlust tuned in.


...tom...
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Chocolate sadness...

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I had intended to title this post 'Chocolate madness' ...but some times life changes your plans. Hopefully it will be the small things, like this, and not the more important things in your life that change for the bad.


A local radio station, WHO, 1040 AM, has hosted a 'chocolate breakfast' for some years now. Program director Van Harden and the AM 'drive-time' co-host Bonnie Lucas are known for finding new and unique events to invite listeners to attend and enjoy.

Skating parties, tours of local mines (yes, mines in central Iowa), outdoor skating parties, silly money give-aways, decorating a listener's home for Christmas and on and on.

My wife and I had attended these 'chocolate breakfast' events before. They are similar to a 'home show' or other large auditorium show you might have attended in the past. Local food businesses bring samples of their chocolate specialties and the attendees/listeners can come and sample a wide variety of chocolate treats during the broadcast of the radio show. They always draw big crowds to sample the chocolate confections and candies being given away. The lines were often long but the spirits of the patiently waiting crowds was always high.

This year they moved the event to a larger building with the promise of no waiting outside in line in the cold Iowa January pre-dawn morning. Well, that was true, much shorter waits outside but the larger inside space just made a larger space for the line of visitors to snake through the building. First through the outer foyer and then into the main exhibit hall as the line continued to grow.

My wife an I waited perhaps 35-40 minutes in the outer foyer area before passing into the larger hall and seeing the line continued to snake back and forth. My wife had to be at work in less than an hour and it seemed like there might be a wait of at least another 35-40 minutes in there before even getting to the areas where the food samples would be shared.

So we bailed out of line. Disappointed of course, missing the samples, the AM chocolate rush, the chance to try some new treats, takes some pictures to share... Big disappointment.


There are several suggestions I have for the organizers of the event next year. I hope they are willing to listen. I know we are not the only ones who left early, disappointed with the organization of the event. I am trying not to whine here and it helps to realize it was just a silly little throw-away moment in life.


Oh yeah, the one crappy picture I snapped on the way in:




Did not get a chance to take, or feel like taking, any more... And do not ask me what the crazy flare is . . .I am not in the mood right now.


Anyway . . .my beef of the day.


...tom...
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My desktop, January 23, 2009...

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"Of three objects prominent in this thoughtful telescopic image ... two (the spiky ones) are nearby stars. The third is the remote globular star cluster NGC 2419, at distance of nearly 300,000 light-years. NGC 2419 is sometimes called "the Intergalactic Wanderer" ..."

Photo courtesy of Astronomy Picture of the Day, January 23, 2009.


...tom...
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PEBKAC

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I am not a 'help desk' worker, never have been one.

But I have tried, more than a few times, to help co-workers or my kids drill their way through a computer problem or two. I do not think I made things much worse than they already were...


But when I saw this cartoon on teh intertubes recently:




...I just had to laugh.

I am sure I will be thinking 'PEBKAC' about many things I see online going forward.



...tom...
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Pimping APOD again...

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I have it blogrolled there at the left, I make a point of checking it daily, and I pimp it out here all too often.

But I love the science, the beauty, the value of the photographs published daily at Astronomy Picture of the Day. This link is a bit clunky when you go there. But it dumps you on the main page for checking out the various offerings of the site, ranging from pics of the Cosmos, the Solar System, Space Technology, and more.


Most visitors access the site from the 'picture of the day' page. For instance, yesterday's image page:





This particular picture appears, at first, to not meet the usual high quality of the daily APOD pictures.

Until you stop to realize that it is a picture of the International Space Station taken from Earth..!! Indeed, the living blue of planet Earth is reflected from some of the panels on the Station.

APOD has several/many links in each day's picture text and you can soon find yourself wandering around website, forgetting what you had planned to do online just then.


Anyway . . .just another roll out of APOD by this blogger. I can guarantee you there will be more.


...tom...
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Tell me again about 'global warming'...

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I know it is a superficial take on the phenomenon . . .but given the below zero temperatures spread across the upper Midwest today ... tell me again about 'global warming'.

Image source: Weather dot com

Brrrrrrrr...

...tom...

Nine on the Ninth__January

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Picture descriptions, top to bottom:

A garden frog sinks beneath a layer of snow-ice...

Dining room floor, rug, chair, shadows...

Hanging ivy plant and shadows on the wall...

A bowl painted/decorated/fired at a commercial kiln...

Close-up of our flag, purchased at this event...

Daughter's cube bookshelf with shadows...

Bookshelves again...

DVD cases on another bookshelf...

Flag, as above, w/o flash...


...tom...
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Postpone your love bomb's explode

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It is always a little scary to go dumpster-diving into your e-mail account's spam folder. But sometimes you are missing a message someone swears they sent you ... so there you are. Time to lift the lid and start digging through the garbage.

Image source: stumptownpanda via flickr dot com

I would not be so upset with spam in general if they would not get so personal ...why they gotta bring my wife into it..??

"Your wife need attention? Solve all the problems with IT"

What..?!? This 'businessman' has been hacking her e-mails to her friends or eavesdropping on water-cooler conversations with her friends at work..?? How come I gotta here this from you..??


Other peeps think my girlfriends are suffering...

"You want to impress your girlfriend tonight?"

Another perv wonders the same thing in an earlier e-mail.


While many just keep it uncomplicated, not worrying whether my love is a wife or a girlfriend. But somehow they all know I need to make her happier:

"Make your hammering fantastic 8N907"
"Hey, are you the guy who cannot make love?"
"Make sure that you made your woman happy tonight"
"Give your lady crazy enjoyment"
"For those who want to satisfy their women"


And hey . . .when they start pointing out my possible ...'shortcomings':

"Worried that tiny size will get you down?"
"The longer your tool is, the longer your fun in bed lasts"
"Do you want enlarge yours penis?"
"Make it reach your knee"
"Natural large hose maker"
"Wanna get a larger boner?"
"Power up your package"
"Put on inches instantly"
"Easiest way to gain mass"
"Be happy with measurements"

. . .well hey, that is the last straw, you bastards..!!


Geezus. Why doncha just come over and kick sand in my face..?? After all this you want me to click your e-mail open and read your message, eager to 'turn (my) bedroom life into a volcano of pleasure' by sending my money to you..?!?

Fat chance. Which just happens to be my wife's answer to my desire to 'put (my) doughnut in her oven tonight.'


Anyway, my thanks to Adger, Anibal, Antoinette, Aldridge, Alain, Adan, Adolf, Alair, Adlai, Alic, Alastair, Alfy, Alfonso, Adair, Aditya, Al (Al Davis for crying out loud..!!) Albie, Abram (you all noticing a pattern here..??) and all the rest.


Now get the hell out of my e-mail account..!!


...tom...
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Chillin' with the lettuce ladies...

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I am sure you all have your own ideas about the actions and goals of PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Myself, I enjoy the meat thing: steaks, grilled hamburgers and brats, sausage pizza. All the stuff that is surely killing me. Here in Iowa, where the hogs outnumber the people, the meat-eaters definitely outnumber the vegans and vegetarian.


Today, two young PETA representatives were in town doing their part to raise awareness of the rights of farm animals. I think all the meat-lovers in Central Iowa embraced them. The animal rights ideas I mean.

To call attention to their ideas they dressed in 'lettuce wraps' (essentially a bikini with a wrap skirt) and stood on a downtown corner in Des Moines to hand out free 'tofurkey' and lettuce sandwiches. This on a day when the January temperatures in Iowa were in the twenties and the windchill temps in the teens.




From the pics here you can easily see why this 'event' caught my eye.







Unfortunately, I was not able to get downtown and grab my free, and surely tasty, 'tofurkey' sandwich. Yum.


Here is the link to a short video by the local newspaper and an mp3 link to a local talk show that had the young ladies on as guests. You can imagine the friendly reception they got from the livestock farmers of Central Iowa.


I applaud the young ladies efforts and beliefs. Not sure they or their organization are getting to the real truth of animal farming or accomplishing anything substantive . . .but such is the American way.


...tom...
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Sexy panda..!!

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Shamelessly stolen, err ...borrowed from car54 ...err Colloquy ...err Stacy.
(Damn, this girl has a real identity crisis..!!)


Some Barry White would have really 'sexed' this one up...





I feel almost silly for labeling this one 'Nature'... This video almost perfectly defines my sense of humor ... yes, it is dark and awfully silly in here.


...tom...
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Quadrantid this..!!

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While the Perseid and Leonid meteor showers seem to get all the publicity, there are a few others that make regular visits to North America.

One is the Quadrantid meteor shower that peaks in January. Somehow it does not seem especially enticing to be out in the elements in the middle of winter. But that does not stop some fools from staying up to nearly dawn and driving miles out into the frozen countryside to view a meteor shower in Iowa.

My daughter had seen an online article about the Quadrantid meteor showers that occurred last night and decided that she wanted to 'go see them'.

Okay . . ..

Image source: Spaceweather dot com

These showers are actually expected to be one of the best displays of this year, 2009. While some sources cite meteor rates of up to a hundred per hour for the Quadrantids, we saw nothing near that rate earlier this morning. Though we did see several that looked like this shot by another viewer of this morning's shower:

Image source: Jodie Reynolds via Spaceweather dot com

It was very peaceful out in the Iowa countryside, far away from the nearest farmstead or highway. That it was as cold as a walk-in refrigerator and the wind blew like a dervish was just a minor inconvenience.


So if you get a chance to go sit in the dark and cold with your daughter in the middle of winter ... go for it. What is the saying..?? Oh yeah . . .priceless..!!


...tom...

Good things in small packages...

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Sometimes good (and hot..!!) things come in small packages...

























A picture of a seasonal decoration in our house: some glass bulbs, tinsel ...in a woven basket.






























Candles on my kids birthday cakes. Twins, boy/girl, turning 21 ...lots of candles..!!




























Unwrapping presents, reading cards; where did my little babies go..?!?

























...tom...
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Sunday, Icy Sunday...

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Actually, the ice was deposited about 24 hours ago, but it was still hanging around this morning. Luckily I did not have to scrape any windshields or do any driving so it was a minor inconvenience for me. Though the weekend guests (wife's sister and family) did stay an extra day.

No major power outages that I am aware of, perhaps typical Iowa winter weather, looking at the big picture.



This was the view looking out the north-facing window of our living room. Shadow of the house, animated Christmas deer, crabapple tree, driveway, street, yellow house opposite ours ...all combine to make a very abstract image. Looks very cool (if only to me) at the larger image, just click on it.










Our picnic table also has some nice seasonal decoration hanging on it...

















Finally, a view up between the main branches of the silver maple in our backyard. It is terribly out of focus, but that seems to emphasize the ice on the high branches. The overall effect reminds me of a particular artist; I will let you make your own connection.


It also looks, if only to me, like some weird astronomy image...













Hey, ya never know what you are gonna get when you live in the Midwest, in Iowa. Tomorrow it could be in the 50s again (as it was the day before this ice-storm) and the plants might wanna start pushing up out of the ground.

Thank god for the variety of life wherever it is found.


...tom...
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Saying goodbye always feels so wrong...

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In my first month of blogging I posted about a website, Mixwit dot com, that allowed users to create their own 'mixtapes' of songs. Songs that when all perfectly selected, matched, and sequenced by a listener meant something special to them, something the creator would want to share with others.

They even went so far as to use images of the old cassette tape to visualize the mixtape format.





Recently they announced in emails to users and on their website:

We regret to announce that Mixwit is shutting down before the end of the year. Our thanks go out to everyone for your participation and amazing creativity.

We’ve put a year of work into Mixwit so this choice wasn’t taken lightly. I won’t go into the details of our situation but state simply that we boldly marched into in a position best described as "between rock and a hard place." We’re very grateful to be have been part of the mixtape revival of ‘08 and are satisfied to be able to to bow out while things are still good.

As expressed elsewhere, it seems to be yet another instance of the Recording Industry Association of America, RIAA, acting to hinder innovation in the delivery of online music. Damn them to hell.


It is sad to lose an 'always there for ya' and talented friend. That is how I will feel when Mixwit finally say goodbye.


...tom...
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I hope the Iraqis realize... Part 2

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It is always nice to see ones thoughts confirmed by another. Especially one whose work is found worthy of national distribution.

Mark Hemingway, a staff writer for National Review, seconded my thoughts on the progress of true freedom in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein so long ago:

With the hurling of shoes at Bush, the relationship between the people and their government has moved in the span of five years from a murderous tyranny, through armed resistance to a temporary occupation, to symbolic acts not any more threatening than you’d find in an unhappy marriage.

It ain’t pretty, but it’s progress.

Exactly.


Link: Free Two Shoes


...tom...
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A seasonal thought ... every day of the year...

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Bring Him Home Santa






...tom...
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I hope the Iraqis realize...

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RE: the shoe-throwing incident involving President Bush and an Iraqi journalist:





I read now the 'shoe thrower' is being celebrated as a 'folk-hero'.

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Ya know, I wonder how Saddam Hussein would have dealt with someone who threw a shoe at him..?? Or one of his guests..??


I hope to hell the Iraqi people realize just how free they are now.


Unfortunately, I am afraid the irony will be lost on them. Such is the thanks we get for our years of work and our blood shed on their soil.

Thank you very much.


...tom...
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A beautiful life too short...

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She was a bright star a bit before my time. But from my first viewing of Some Like It Hot I was hooked.




image circa 1953

Sure some of it was the hormones of a teenage male. But I also like to think my addiction was due to the sheer innocence and vulnerability of both the film character and of the beautiful Marilyn.

No one did comedy and 'sexy' on the silver screen any better. Not a dirty, wink-wink, nudge-nudge 'sexy'. But 'sexy' that was pure and feminine and wholesome and devastating.





These pictures are from 1947, near the beginning of her career. She had a bit (and uncredited) part in The Shocking Miss Pilgrim and did nothing of consequence for several more years.

These pictures are a stunning 'time-capsule' look at a young lady yet untouched by the expectations of others and the many troubles of her later years.






















We can only imagine what might have been had her personal devils and the expectations and demands of other not consumed her spirit and body.



All the photos featured here are found at shorpy dot com. They define their site as:

... a vintage photography blog featuring thousands of high-definition images from the 1850s to 1950s. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago.

It truly is an amazing site that will bring something new to you every day. You can not expect more from any website.


...tom...
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A lazy Sunday morning . . ..oh so long ago...

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No, not today.

But a warm, lazy tropical day two generations, if not more, ago.





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President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Address to joint session of the U.S. Congress, December 8th, 1941

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

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As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.

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With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our People - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941 a state of War has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

It seems so ...strange to remember a day when the people of the United States were united in a common cause. When 'the enemy' was so clearly defined, and clearly identifiable. When the national will was so clearly and resolutely fixed on achieving a common goal.


Hopefully it will not require a similar act or a similar conflict to once again draw the many together to meet a common challenge.


God watch over us and guide us into the future . . .and remember the few remaining soldiers and sailors still among us from World War II.


...tom...
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I am here for the party..!!

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OK, it is a cheap post . . .but I got this one stuck on my player and stuck in my mind right now:


Gretchen Wilson LIVE!!! ...as someone titled it at youtube...


Edited Feb 19, 2010: As is often the case at youtube . . .the original video was pulled. Here is a different live performance. Still a great song and singer.




...tom...
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