Friday, December 30, 2011

New Year's Resolutions

~YES!

The New Year number 2012 is right here........

And it is time for those New Year Resolutions everyone makes, and everyone swears they will keep...but never do.

MY Resolution is the same one I make every year...and that is-- "To only make ONE Resolution every year."

And I just made it.

But...I heard on the radio today about making Resolutions for OTHER people---people who obviously need them. So here are my Resolutions for other people:

*To my daughter, my granddaughter, and my grandson --
RESOLVE: To get off the damned pills, the pot and the food stamps. Get a job and show some adult responsibility!

*To Pres Hussein Obama --
RESOLVE: to resign immediately, return to Hawaii, and never be seen or heard from again!

*To all those crappy drivers who go too slow --
RESOLVE: to drive the speed limit, not 3, 4, 5, etc. mph below the posted limit!

*To Progressive Insurance Company --
RESOLVE: to get rid of that disgusting, nauseating, vomit-inducing, red-lipped piece of shit on your TV commercials!

*To anyone who has never seen or heard of Grace Helbig --
RESOLVE: to go to YouTube or MyDamnChannel and watch her daily Vlogs (video blogs)!


You won't be sorry!!
~

Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas is over ---IT'S ABOUT DAMNED TIME!!

~
I'm not really a Grinch. I just don't like the Christmas season.

And it's not that it's too commercialized, or because everybody who isn't a Christian gets insulted because the holidays started out as a Christian holiday but they want to be included but not in a Christian way, or because the roads and stores are clogged with the most un-merriest people around, or because you are expected to go out and find that perfect gift for everybody.

Mainly, it's because I'm not in that 3 - 18 age group (who Xmas should REALLY be for!). Sure, it's nice to buy stuff for your sweetie or spouse or grown kids, when you know what they want/like, or have plenty of $$ to spend. But if you go out and just watch the Xmas shoppers you will see that they are angry, impatient, aggravated, grouchy ... anything but happy and jolly and full of Christmas spirit (the exception being Christmas "spirits" - if you know what I mean).

About the only good thing I can think of coming from this time of year is a paid day off from work. I don't have to get up at 5:30; I don't have to go out into the cold; I don't have to spend all day at work when I could be home where it is warm and I can sit around and watch TV or nap or piddle around doing whatever interests me.

And it's only a week away from New Year's, and another paid holiday.

Okay, maybe I am a little bit of a Grinch. So sue me.
~

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

I LOVE the cold!

~
Winter is coming on, meaning the temps will be/have been dropping down to near freezing and below. And there are two things that really irritate me (well actually there are about two million things).

The first is people walking around saying over and over just how much they love cold weather, despite the fact that they are bundled up with sweatshirts and jackets and gloves. If they like the cold so much, then why aren't they wearing shorts and T shirts? In fact, if I were KING, every person who says that would be forced to wear nothing BUT shorts and T shirts. Then we'd see just how much they LOVE cold weather.

The other thing that pisses me off is the weather people on TV talking about how nice it is to have a change of weather when the temperature drops. Sure, it's nice for THEM - they go from a heated house to a heated vehicle to a heated studio! Not everyone can work inside. There are many of us who go from a heated house to a heated vehicle to a frigid outdoors job!

And again, if I were KING, these people would have to give their weather reports in T shirts and shorts standing outside - all day long until they go home for the day.
~

Monday, December 5, 2011

Crappy TV Programming

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Last summer I wrote a list of TV channels and TV programs I watch and how they overlapped and how I had to try to catch some of them (about half of what I watched) on Comcast's OnDemand service.

I'm not going to make a grid, but ---well, you'll see.

Okay. Sunday night at 8:30 EST, ABC Family channel was airing the Harry Potter movie 'Half Blood Prince' which I hadn't seen, so I watched it (plus about an hour's worth of commercials [HAH - I DIDN'T! During the commercials I switched over to PBS to watch Celtic Woman]). So that meant I missed 'Once Upon a Time,' 'The Good Wife' and 'Hell on Wheels' which I'll have to watch OnDemand.

So tonight, Monday - I'm watching 'The Closer' at 9, and 'Castle' at 10, and will have to watch 'Rizzoli & Isles' OnDemand.

Tuesday night is 'Eureka' at 8, 'Warehouse 13' at 9, and 'Sons of Anarchy' at 10. Which means I'll have to watch 'Body of Proof' and 'Covert Affairs' OnDemand.

There isn't CRAP on Wednesdays night I want to watch!

Thursday night is 'The Secret Circle' at 9, and 'The Mentalist' at 10. So I'll have to watches 'Bones' and 'Burn Notice' OnDemand.

Friday - 'Nikita' and 'Grimm' at 8 and 9.

Saturday - Zippo, nadda.

So why the hell can't some of these shows be on Wednesday, or at 8 pm?

And I'm sure you're thinking - "Why doesn't he just get a DVR?"

I would, if I could buy one and hook it up like we used to do with a VCR. But I've been told the cable (or satellite) company has to provide it, and I'd have to pay extra for it.

NO THANKS. I already pay enough for cable.
~

Sunday, November 20, 2011

If I Were King - Part Two

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The first time I posted on this subject, I ranted about stupid reality and talent(less) shows.

Today I am ranting about all the radio stations that started playing Christmas songs the first week of November.

So, if I were KING, any radio station that played any Christmas songs or ran any Christmas ads before December 1st would lose their FCC license for one year and would be fined a minimum of $50,000.

And further, any TV stations, including cable stations, that ran any Christmas commercials or aired Christmas movies or shows with Christmas themes before December 1st would also lose their FCC licences for one year and would be fined a minimum of $1,000,000.
~

Monday, October 31, 2011

Goodbye AT&T; Hello Comcast

I have had to dump AT&T.

On Saturday, Oct 22nd, my DSL modem stopped working. So I called AT&T support and they determined that my modem was bad and said they'd send me a new one for $100! Of course I said NO and had the operator connect me with the lady who cancels accounts. She told me she could have new one sent to me for FREE; so I said okay. She said I would get it Wednesday or Thursday.

Come Friday I still hadn't received it so I called again. I was told there was a notation about the modem but the order had not been put in. So once again I told the lady to cancel both the phone service (which I've had ever since I first got a phone, many many many many years ago) and the internet service (I've had DSL for 10 years). She said the service would end at midnight.

I then called Comcast to get cable phone and internet. The installer showed up about 1:30 the next day (Sunday) and after an hour, everything was in and was working. The cost will end up cheaper than what I was paying for cable TV plus phone and internet.

Today (Oct 31) I had to call AT&T again because the phone service had NOT been canceled and I didn't want to pay for service I wasn't using.

So far, no problems with the cable internet, but it doesn't seem any faster than the DSL, but I haven't tried to download any large files yet, either.

We'll see.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Steve Job' Passing

~

This past week the world mourned the passing of Steve Jobs. And anytime anyone of note dies there is a compilation of his/her accomplishments.

Most reports about Steve say that everyone has been touched by his innovative products. Which I suppose in a way is true.

But I have never bought an Apple computer, an iPod, an iPhone, nor an iPad. And I probably never will.

And the main reason is that they, in my opinion, are WAY overpriced. They could cut the prices in half and still make millions of dollars.

So, until the prices come down to a reasonable cost, I will continue to use my HP PC, my plain, ordinary Sony cell phone, and no mp3 player.

That's all.
~

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Not That Great

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Couldn't help but see that the 3D version of the cartoon movie 'The Lion King' is in theaters (or soon will be).

I saw the original, and In My Opinion, it wasn't that great.

I can think of three Disney cartoon movies that were much better - 'Alice in Wonderland,' 'Snow White,' and 'Pinocchio.'

Of course I am probably dating myself, but whatever.

That's all.

Oh, and for some reason this text is in italics and bold font and I can't change it.
~

Sunday, September 4, 2011

You Pronounced That HOW?

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I supposed that no matter what part of the country you live in, people from other parts pronounce words that just sound wrong.

For example, I live in north Florida, and everyone I know pronounces the word 'either' (and 'neither') as ee-ther. But in so many moves and TV shows, I hear it pronounced as eye-ther. And that just sounds wrong!

Also, I grew up pronouncing 'often' as offen, with the silent 't' as in soften, hasten and listen (but no one says soft-ten or list-ten or haste-ten). So when I hear off-ten, well, it just sounds wrong!

And it irked me to no end when, back in 1978 there was the mass suicide at the Jim Jones compound in Guyana, and everyone was pronouncing it Guy-ana, even though everyone who knew any Spanish at all knew it was pronounced Gu-ya-na (but, of course, like almost everyone else I pronounce Cuba as Q-bah even though the correct way to say it is Coo-bah. And as an aside, President Kennedy, who pronounced words like fathah and brothah, etc., pronounced it as Q-ber - go figure!).

And one more example -- how many times have you heard someone who is delighted at an outcome say voilá! and pronounce it wah-LAH, when, in fact, being a French word, it should be pronounced as V-wah-LAH. (And let me say for the record, after taking three years of Spanish in high school, I think French words have the most screwed up spelling of any language I can think of.)

I could write endlessly about such "mis-pronunciations", but I guess you get my drift.

Also, in this essay, I wrote pronounce, and it's many derivations, thirteen times, including in the title and in this paragraph.

That's all.
~




Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Drive the Speed Limit, Dammit!

~
Nothing irritates me more than people who won't drive the speed limit. I'm not talking about those who drive too fast, I'm talking about the ones who drive too slow!

As an example: I drive down a six lane highway (four car lanes and two bus lanes) to and from work everyday, about 15 miles each way. The speed limit is 45 mph, and since gas is so high, over $3.50 / gallon, I use the cruise control to keep from burning too much gas by going too fast. And it really pisses me off when I come up behind cars going 40, 41, 42, etc. miles per hour.

But if I try to pass them, I have to worry about being rear-ended by drivers going 50 - 55 mph in the other lane.

People think that speeding is the cause of auto accidents, but it isn't. It's cars going different speeds.

The slow drivers make the ones who want to drive the posted limits to slam on brakes, risking a rear-end collision. And the speeders weave in and out of traffic trying to get ahead of the car in front of them.

Dammit, people, just drive the speed limit!
~

Monday, July 25, 2011

The Horrors of Television Programming

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Like everyone else (I presume) when watching our favorite TV shows, we often have the dilemma of trying to decide which show to watch that is airing on the same night at the same time (or sometimes, more than two shows) as another show we want to see.

I don't understand why networks do this. Why put on an obviously popular show opposite another one that gets big ratings? Wouldn't it make more sense to to air a popular show the same time another program on another station that isn't so popular, and therefore, make sure your show gets more viewers?

(Of course, the down-side to this for viewers is that a show they might like that doesn't get big ratings might be cancelled because of even lower ratings. This happens to me all the time, it seems.)

But maybe now that almost everyone has either a DVR or has a cable system's OnDemand, I suppose networks figure that eventually their shows will be seen.

I don't have a DVR, but I do get Comcast's OnDemand, so I can still watch shows I would otherwise miss. But it's still aggravating that so many shows (that I watch) seem to air at the same time, on the same night.

And to show you what I mean, below are the programs I watch during the week. (And when the Fall shows start up, I may post that list as well.)

Sunday -
8 pm --
9 pm --
10 pm --
"The Glades" A&E
"The Protector" Lifetime
"Falling Skies" ** TNT
"In Plain Sight" USA

Monday -
8 pm -- "Eureka" Syfy
9 pm --
"Switched at Birth" * ABC Family
"Warehouse 13" Syfy
"The Closer" TNT
10 pm --
"Alphas" Syfy
"Rizzoli & Isles" TNT

Tuesday -
8 pm --
9 pm -- "The Nine Lives of Chloe King" * ABC Family
10 pm --
"Combat Hospital" ABC
"Hawthorne" ** TNT
"Covert Affairs" USA

Wednesday -
8 pm --
9 pm -- "Royal Pains" USA
10 pm --

Thursday -
8 pm --
9 pm -- "Burn Notice" USA
10 pm -- "Rookie Blue" ABC

Friday -
8 pm -- "Flashpoint" CBS
9 pm --
10 pm --
"Haven" Syfy

Saturday -
8 pm --
9 pm --
10 pm --

The two shows on ABC Family with the asterisks ( * ) are shows that aren't offered On Demand so I have to watch them when they air.

And the ones with the double asterisks ( ** ) are the ones I watch at the time they are on.

So, as is pretty obvious, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday programming can certainly be improved.

.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

It's a GUY Thing

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There seem to be more and more female TV reporters and news anchors. And they seem to be getting younger and prettier all the time. Which is fine with me. Nothing I like better than looking at attractive women.

But the irritating thing is that whenever they are on air, the lower quarter to third of the screen always has the reporter's name and station ID, or their location, or some other something that makes it impossible to look at their breasts!

Now, I don't know if this is done on purpose because whoever is in charge thinks it makes these women look more professional if their breasts can't be seen, or if the cameraman/woman doesn't realize the bottom of the screen will be covered when focusing on the the top third of the reporter.

But it's aggravating as hell! If a woman is on the screen, I want to look at their breasts, regardless of the size - small, medium, large, extra large. I want to see them (of course, if they were bared, all the better, but I know that will never happen).

And I have a feeling I'm not the only guy who thinks this (and maybe even the Lesbians do too).

And if this makes me sound sexist - too bad. It's a GUY thing.

.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

2011 Emmy Awards

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Just short and not-so-sweet----

The Emmy nominations are out, and although I never watch (mainly because 99% of the shows I like and watch are never nominated - Lauren Graham and "Gilmore Girls" as perfect examples), I think that shows on the pay channels (HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc) should NOT be nominated because not everyone (including me) can afford to subscribe to them, and therefore aren't able to watch the shows.

That's all.


.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Casey Anthony "not guilty" is NOT "Innocent!"


~
I guess I might as well weigh in on the Casey Anthony trial results.

And like so many others, I was surprised that she wasn't found guilty of killing her daughter Caylee. But I have to admit I didn't follow the trial on a daily basis. What I know is only what I'd heard on the nightly news and read in the newspaper.

I suppose if I had heard all the evidence (and "non-evidence"), I might have have agreed with the the jury. But I didn't. I only heard bits and pieces about the (maybe) smell of human decomposition in the trunk of Casey's car, the duct tape, the chloroform search by Casey's mother, the supposed child abuse perpetrated on Casey by her father, the partying Casey did the month Caylee was missing, etc.

And I saw the videos of Casey playing with Caylee.

I wasn't in the jury room, so I don't know what was in the jury's mind, but apparently, there WAS reasonable doubt as to Casey's guilt because there was NO hard evidence proving Casey did it. Everything was circumstantial -- damning and (almost) convincing, but circumstantial nevertheless.

I watched Casey as the verdict was read, and I kept wondering (and still do), was she thinking, "Thank god! I've been exonerated!" Or was she thinking, "I did it! I got away with murder!"

Only Casey knows the truth, and I suspect she will take it to her grave. (Unless, of course, Caylee DID drown and the grandparents knew about it as the defense claimed.)

But regardless, that little girl died somehow, and I would hope that the investigation into her death will continue.

Once she is set free, Casey will really have to be careful where she goes (if she even dares to go out in public at all) and who she's seen with (anyone with her will be some kind of target!).

And there is the question -- will she eventually write a tell-all book, and make the talk-show circuit? And WHO will get that first interview? (Anyone putting money on Oprah?)

So, all that being said, I think Casey did it. But there just wasn't enough evidence to prove it.

Oh yeah, now there is the race for the first made-for-TV movie about the trial - who will play Casey, and which network will get there first?

~

Sunday, May 15, 2011

If I Were King!

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Haven't posted in a while, so some fantasy stuff.

If I were king and had unlimited power, there would be many things I would change, starting with some TV shows.

First of all I would get rid of ALL of the reality shows -- all the singing shows, all the dancing shows, and all of the so-called "unscripted" shows (Survivor, Ghost Hunters, etc. etc.).

AND -- everybody who was ever associated with these shows would be blackballed for life -- no television or movie appearances. This includes the creators, the writers, the producers, the directors, the hosts and hostesses, the actors, and the participants.

Obviously, I HATE these kinds of shows.

Next, I would go after all the "slasher" and "horror" movies (such as Saw, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, etc., etc., etc.) . As far as I'm concerned, anyone who enjoys movies like this has something seriously wrong with them!

And again, everyone associated with them would be blackballed for life.

Then maybe there would be television shows (and movies) actually worth the time to watch, and not be canceled because people are too busy rotting their brains out with crap! Shows like Gilmore Girls, Stargate Universe, Veronica Mars, Monk, Farscape, Battlestar Galactica, Chase, Life Unexpected, Dollhouse, ER, NewsRadio, and dozens more.

Obviously, I really liked those shows. And if I were king, they would still be on!



Saturday, April 2, 2011

Ice Cream

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Who doesn't like ice cream? No one I know doesn't. When I was a kid my favorite was strawberry. And that was when strawberry ice cream had real chunks (chunks, not bits and pieces) of real strawberries, and not just strawberry flavoring like the ice cream now.

But as I got older and my tastes changed, I discovered that my favorite now is mint chocolate (chip) ice cream, and specifically, Breyer's. I've tried other brands, but I found I like Breyer's best.

And when I started buying it a few years ago, it was $4.99 for a half gallon sized carton (okay, you might as well say $5 per half gallon), which pretty much adds up to $10 per gallon -- pretty expensive if you ask me.

So I bought some this week.

And first of all you don't even get a half gallon any more (32 ounces). The carton was only 20 ounces (quart and a half)! AND it cost $6.99 (say $7) for this carton! Which works out to . . . . . $22.40 per gallon.

Let me repeat that -- $22.40 for one -- ONE -- gallon of ice cream!!!

As much as I like it, I have bought my LAST carton Breyer's of ice cream.
.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Somalia and the Pirates

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On the news recently was the report that four Americans that were hijacked in Somalian waters by Somalian pirates were killed during a rescue attempt. Obviously, this is a great tragedy.

But even though the waters are patrolled (ineffectively, apparently) by various nations to protect shipping from pirates, I keep wondering why Somalia hasn't been invaded by U.S. (or other) troops, and occupied, until the pirates are eliminated.

And the only reason I can think of is that Somalia doesn't have any oil reserves. It doesn't matter that scores of ships have been hijacked, and the crews killed, or imprisoned until some kind of ransom can be paid.

No oil - no strategic importance. If it were Iran or Iraq who were sending out pirates, then there would be no hesitation to invade them.

No, wait! That's already been done, and they have oil.

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Saturday, February 19, 2011

Somali Pirates

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I read in the newspaper this morning that four Americans on board a yacht were captured by pirates . . . off the coast of Somalia!

Now I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but even I know that you don't travel in, or even anywhere near, someplace where pirates are operating!

I'm sure these people are scared and possibly have been harmed, but maybe, just maybe, they are getting exactly what they asked for.

Use some freakin' common sense for a change!

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Sunday, February 13, 2011

Fairly Legal


I started watching a new show lately on the USA network on Thursdays at 10 pm ET called "Fairly Legal" starring Sarah Shahi who plays Kate Reed, a former lawyer who is now a legal mediator. I know, I never heard of her either (unless you watched "The L Word" - she played Carmen).

Anyway, it is a pretty darned good show - some good drama, some good humor, and so far some pretty good stories.

And the cast is pretty good too. Besides Kate (Sarah) there is her young ex-mother-in-law Lauren (Kate's father died leaving the firm to Lauren) played by Virginia Williams (who I never heard of either), a co-worker Leonardo (Baron Vaughn; ditto on not knowing him) and Kate's ex-husband Justin - someone I know! Michael Trucco (he played Sam Adams on Battlestar Galactica).

Sarah is very good in the role, but I have to admit I only started watching because in the previews she looked damned hot - and she IS! (Check out the link - the "Fairly Legal" title.)

Don't know how long it will be on the air, but from what I've read it's getting good ratings so maybe it will last a few years. Here's hoping.

The official site - http://www.usanetwork.com/series/fairlylegal/