Monday, March 30, 2009

Being Specific

I did not say that it was your fault; I said I was going to blame you. (From son's shirt today)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Early Bird By Shel Silverstein

Oh if you’re a bird, be an early bird
And catch the worm for your breakfast plate.

If you’re a bird, be an early bird
But if you’re a worm, sleep late.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

When's The Next Bus?

I rarely just take the time to simply write on this blog with out knowing where it will go. Usually I try to have something in mind before I start or at least a preconceived point to make. Today I do not. Let's see where the typing takes me.

I am sitting on a bus trying to figure out why it takes so long to get anywhere while we sit and go no where...literally. We just sit here!

So I guess therein lies my argument today.

There is no shortage of plans to reduce this carbon based attack on the planet or that one. Everyone wants to figure out how to "eliminate" something.

Why not just master the bus route schedules, make riding mass transit more efficient and easier, and people won't have to be "convinced" to leave their cars at home. Offer a better alternative and people will come.

Of course, the cities, states and governments who make a fortune on "our addiction" to oil will have to face the facts and figure out what next to tax to make up their losses in gas tax revenue?

Monday, March 23, 2009

Lost in Translation

Book title by author Adrienne Kress in English:
Alex and the Ironic Gentleman
.

In German:
Die halsüberkopfundkragendramatischabenteuerliche Katastrophenexpedition der Alex Morningside
.

No wonder most of the German people I have met are the quiet type!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

The Twilight Effect

If a girl takes a guy to a "girl event", the guy i s miserable.

If a guy takes a girl to a "guy event", the whole thing is ruined!

As quoted from Kirtland Jensen

Friday, March 20, 2009

A Great Thought for Me

Your Success In Life Is In Direct Proportion To The Amount Of Uncertainty You Can Comfortable Deal With" - Tony Robbins

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Different Strokes


If this doesn't get your pulse racing, you've never dreamed of catching a steelhead.
Wow! I wish it was me.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Got Books?

I read an article yesterday explaining that the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or something like that, recommended that libraries and parents remove any children books dated prior to 1986. Their reasoning is that inks used prior to that date may contain lead. Most librarians and parents are responding in the same way as I first thought- Yeah Right!

The danger with lead based inks is that it has been found to contribute to irreversible learning disabilities and behavior problems.

Therefore, I must ask: what is truly the greater threat for developing learning disabilities? Lead based ink or taking books away from kids?

And as I understand it, the only way that a child can be affected by the "bad ink" is if the kid mouths the book.

And, if it takes a kid that eats books to really have a problem, wouldn't you assume that maybe the learning and behavioral problems have already set in and maybe it's best to just let alone?

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

To Make A Short Story Long

When someone tells you something defies description, you can be pretty sure he's going to have a go at it anyway. -Clyde B. Alster

Friday, March 13, 2009

Question?

"Why do writers write? Because it isn't there."- Thomas Berger

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Feed Hollywood

The Prime Minister of Great Britain visited Washington last week. He brought with him a pen holder made out of the wood from the HMS Gannet, an anti-slave ship and sister ship of the HMS Resolute and offered it to our President as a gift. The Resolute is the ship that provided the wood for the twin desks residing in London and the White House. An emblem of hands across the sea, friends in leadership, and a share in a common good.

President Obama gifted in return 25 DVD's.

Maybe I'm making more of this than I should, but I cannot help to notice that there was no mention that these DVD's were on Blu-ray. Therefore, I think it is safe to assume that they were not.

Forget about the obvious lack of equality between the two gifts, the glaring lack of symbolism, and the embarrassing lack of understanding of Head of State protocol. What really needs to be mentioned and asked is this: What message does this send to the many people suffering in Hollywood?

What support was shown to the cause of enticing the millions of selfish Americans who still cling to their conventional DVDs and DVD players and refuse to embrace the higher priced Blu-Ray copies of the movies they already own.

Mr. President, it's OK. I'm sure no one noticed.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Book Critics

Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamppost how it feels about dogs. - Christopher Hampton

Monday, March 09, 2009

Only In California...


What if the animal is in the crosswalk?
What if the cat is a stray and not from a farm?
Is it OK if you do not "flee" but in stead just drive away?
In case of an incident, do you report to the Police Department or to the local Animal Control office?
Can you leave after exchanging insurance information?


Friday, March 06, 2009

When is 69%, 66% wrong?

According to some polls detailed on the Glenn Beck Radio Program today:

69% of people think it is a bad idea to raise taxes during a bad economy yet 66% of these same people say that we should raise taxes on the wealthy.

Is it a bad idea or not? Are we so willing to change our stance so long as it will not negatively affect us personally? Is it good to sacrifice, so long as I do not have to sacrifice?

And what is wealthy? $1,000,000/year? $500,000/year? $250,000/year? $100,000/year? $50,000/year? $25,000/year? Most likely, most people would say that it is the bracket that is somewhere more than where they find themselves.

Maybe the answer is not in trying to find out who should pay for who, but it is deciding and doing what you personally feel is fair for you to do and then apply that evenly across the board to all.

Or as Glenn Beck concluded, as well someone a little more important said a few thousand years ago: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

But that, probably, is too simple.

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Love is...

Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly it flips over, pinning you underneath. At night, the ice weasels come. -- Matt Groening, "Life in Hell"

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Inspiration

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.- Jack London