One of the best things about working at a newspaper when news happens is I get to hear all of it as it is reported.
One of the worst things is that I get to hear ALL of it.
It's difficult to read the stories as they come in, the devastation, the despair.
I helped compile this roundup of human stories from the Hurricane. There were many more that didn't make the paper. More to come tomorrow.
Give money if you can, and pray if you so believe.
-Zube.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Give me gridiron!
So football is starting up ... finally.
I'm a big football fan. I'd rather watch a rerun of a college game from the 70s than watch most live baseball or basketball games. Football is a big player for me.
I was a Cowboys fan from really early, so it's hard for me to select a moment that I became so football-centric. But I do recall something that really piqued my interest: NFL Films.
There used to be a highlights show every week on TV, usually Saturday. Great visuals, and especially great music. Very dramatic, to go with the slow-motion, mud chunks flying up, helmets flying off slowly because of a great hit. Very cool.
A couple years ago, I found a CD with the NFL Films music on it. Here it is.
I hate to sound like an old curmudgeon, but it was a different game when I was growing up. The 90s were great, with the Cowboys winning 3 Super Bowls in 4 years, but things were already changing. There was a lot of swagger and attitude to winners, and the Cowboys of the 90s were really bad about that. Michael Irvin, especially. But he is nothing compared to Terrell Owens of the Eagles and Randy Moss of the Raiders. Why does everybody feel they have to not only beat their opponent, but humiliate him? It's like basketball now, it's all about making the other guy look silly, not just to score more than they did.
My son and I went to a basketball thing during the summer, the And1 tour. Street basketball. It's all attitude and nastiness. He loved it, I was less enthusiastic after than I had been before. I'm going to try to disabuse him of the idea that humiliation is the best weapon.
One time, when he was with the 49ers, Terrell Owens scored a touchdown in Dallas, then ran to the star in the center of the field and raised his arms up, like he owned the place. He got clocked by one of the Cowboys players who had a 30-yard head start run at him. There's no need for Owens' stunt.
Other than that, I love football!
-Zube.
I'm a big football fan. I'd rather watch a rerun of a college game from the 70s than watch most live baseball or basketball games. Football is a big player for me.
I was a Cowboys fan from really early, so it's hard for me to select a moment that I became so football-centric. But I do recall something that really piqued my interest: NFL Films.
There used to be a highlights show every week on TV, usually Saturday. Great visuals, and especially great music. Very dramatic, to go with the slow-motion, mud chunks flying up, helmets flying off slowly because of a great hit. Very cool.
A couple years ago, I found a CD with the NFL Films music on it. Here it is.
I hate to sound like an old curmudgeon, but it was a different game when I was growing up. The 90s were great, with the Cowboys winning 3 Super Bowls in 4 years, but things were already changing. There was a lot of swagger and attitude to winners, and the Cowboys of the 90s were really bad about that. Michael Irvin, especially. But he is nothing compared to Terrell Owens of the Eagles and Randy Moss of the Raiders. Why does everybody feel they have to not only beat their opponent, but humiliate him? It's like basketball now, it's all about making the other guy look silly, not just to score more than they did.
My son and I went to a basketball thing during the summer, the And1 tour. Street basketball. It's all attitude and nastiness. He loved it, I was less enthusiastic after than I had been before. I'm going to try to disabuse him of the idea that humiliation is the best weapon.
One time, when he was with the 49ers, Terrell Owens scored a touchdown in Dallas, then ran to the star in the center of the field and raised his arms up, like he owned the place. He got clocked by one of the Cowboys players who had a 30-yard head start run at him. There's no need for Owens' stunt.
Other than that, I love football!
-Zube.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Faith at work
One great development at work.
No, not raises that keep pace with inflation! ;)
I and 5 other folks at the newspaper have formed a loose group for Bible study and the like. I tried to see if there was any enthusiasm for this a year ago, and was met with a crushing silence. Timing seemed to be better this year, so I tried again and did get some interested people.
It's nice to put together a group like this. Too often, Christians don't really feel welcome in newsrooms ... I get odd responses when people find out. Some smile and nod, like you've just told them you're joining the Raelians, some mentally survey a list of things they can no longer talk to you about. Some, without knowing about me, will get loud and nasty about Christians in general.
I usually work Christmas day, since we open presents Christmas eve and then Christmas morning, and the rest of the day is spent playing and napping and watching football. One Christmas a few years ago, there was an odd, hateful thing said. There was sectarian violence at the time in Pakistan, Muslims largely attacking Christians. Well, a "place of worship" was hand-grenaded, many dead. This was brought up in the budget meeting for the day. One person there said "Only Christians celebrate their holiday by killing people." I pointed out that the Christians were the ones who died (it was a church), and the Muslims were the ones who lobbed the grenade. He shut up, but I don't think he changed his mind.
So anyway, yesterday we had a devotional, all 6 of us, and it was a great time. The guy who led it is a reporter and teaches Sunday school. He said that when he was preparing for our meeting, he had his Bible out and was reading it. Some other person in the newsroom came over and started talking to him. Eventually, this person (he wouldn't say who) said "I'm a Christian, too, but I don't want people to know it."
If nothing else, I hope people here feel comfortable enough to practice their faith openly.
-Zube.
No, not raises that keep pace with inflation! ;)
I and 5 other folks at the newspaper have formed a loose group for Bible study and the like. I tried to see if there was any enthusiasm for this a year ago, and was met with a crushing silence. Timing seemed to be better this year, so I tried again and did get some interested people.
It's nice to put together a group like this. Too often, Christians don't really feel welcome in newsrooms ... I get odd responses when people find out. Some smile and nod, like you've just told them you're joining the Raelians, some mentally survey a list of things they can no longer talk to you about. Some, without knowing about me, will get loud and nasty about Christians in general.
I usually work Christmas day, since we open presents Christmas eve and then Christmas morning, and the rest of the day is spent playing and napping and watching football. One Christmas a few years ago, there was an odd, hateful thing said. There was sectarian violence at the time in Pakistan, Muslims largely attacking Christians. Well, a "place of worship" was hand-grenaded, many dead. This was brought up in the budget meeting for the day. One person there said "Only Christians celebrate their holiday by killing people." I pointed out that the Christians were the ones who died (it was a church), and the Muslims were the ones who lobbed the grenade. He shut up, but I don't think he changed his mind.
So anyway, yesterday we had a devotional, all 6 of us, and it was a great time. The guy who led it is a reporter and teaches Sunday school. He said that when he was preparing for our meeting, he had his Bible out and was reading it. Some other person in the newsroom came over and started talking to him. Eventually, this person (he wouldn't say who) said "I'm a Christian, too, but I don't want people to know it."
If nothing else, I hope people here feel comfortable enough to practice their faith openly.
-Zube.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
From the home front
My wife's been home now, away from work, for a week and a half, and it's really been an eye-opener.
She quit her job as a teacher's aide at the end of the last school year, deciding she'd had enough and wanted to be more available to the kids. She was with them there for 10 years (9 total for my daughter), so we were always very lucky to have her around them anyway, but with my daughter now in high school and my son heading into junior high next year, it was time to move on. Plus, there was pressure from the school to devote time there, instead of with the kids.
It was a difficult decision, one not lightly taken. The money will be tight, I'm sure there will be more than a little boredom. But it's just as important to her to make the house a home, which is a big goal now.
It's been funny for her when she's taken our son to school, dropping him off and visiting with other moms and staff. I guess most of them didn't know why she wasn't around until she told them, because no announcement was made. A lot of the women who work there are very supportive of her and seem almost intrigued by the idea of leaving work! My wife's afraid she's going to set off an exodus of teachers and aides quitting! When I left the newspaper in El Paso for Phoenix, a similar thing happened to the copy desk there, when they found out that you could get pretty good pay elsewhere! A year later, about half the desk was gone!
My wife got the feeling that at least some of the women at the school work because they have to, or because they're expected to or their husbands want them to. When she and I were talking about quitting, she asked me what I preferred she do. I told her that I was never against her working, and I would not be against her NOT working, but that I thought it would be better for her to be home. She told me later that what I said made it a lot easier for her to leave.
I remember reading an article, in Time, about younger women leaving the workforce for home, raising kids, etc. Seems a lot of them grew up in daycare or as latch-key kids, and don't want their kids being raised the same way.
The article was interesting because of the feedback it generated. Feminists wrote back saying that women who leave work are betraying the "movement" or are less valuable now than women who work. Some were inimating that women SHOULD work to prove their worth. I thought the goal was to give women the choice to work (or not), not to force women to work. It would be the same as forcing women NOT to work.
Anyhoo, we've only just begun (cue Carpenters music here), but I think we've made the right choice. At least, until the bills pile up! ;)
-Zube.
She quit her job as a teacher's aide at the end of the last school year, deciding she'd had enough and wanted to be more available to the kids. She was with them there for 10 years (9 total for my daughter), so we were always very lucky to have her around them anyway, but with my daughter now in high school and my son heading into junior high next year, it was time to move on. Plus, there was pressure from the school to devote time there, instead of with the kids.
It was a difficult decision, one not lightly taken. The money will be tight, I'm sure there will be more than a little boredom. But it's just as important to her to make the house a home, which is a big goal now.
It's been funny for her when she's taken our son to school, dropping him off and visiting with other moms and staff. I guess most of them didn't know why she wasn't around until she told them, because no announcement was made. A lot of the women who work there are very supportive of her and seem almost intrigued by the idea of leaving work! My wife's afraid she's going to set off an exodus of teachers and aides quitting! When I left the newspaper in El Paso for Phoenix, a similar thing happened to the copy desk there, when they found out that you could get pretty good pay elsewhere! A year later, about half the desk was gone!
My wife got the feeling that at least some of the women at the school work because they have to, or because they're expected to or their husbands want them to. When she and I were talking about quitting, she asked me what I preferred she do. I told her that I was never against her working, and I would not be against her NOT working, but that I thought it would be better for her to be home. She told me later that what I said made it a lot easier for her to leave.
I remember reading an article, in Time, about younger women leaving the workforce for home, raising kids, etc. Seems a lot of them grew up in daycare or as latch-key kids, and don't want their kids being raised the same way.
The article was interesting because of the feedback it generated. Feminists wrote back saying that women who leave work are betraying the "movement" or are less valuable now than women who work. Some were inimating that women SHOULD work to prove their worth. I thought the goal was to give women the choice to work (or not), not to force women to work. It would be the same as forcing women NOT to work.
Anyhoo, we've only just begun (cue Carpenters music here), but I think we've made the right choice. At least, until the bills pile up! ;)
-Zube.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
What kids read
Does this bother anybody else besides me?
Essentially, it's about novelists writing trashy novels for teens and tweens. So now tweens need trashy novels?
Best quote: The author says that few mothers have complained about her books’ naughtiness.
"They say, ‘I’m just thrilled that my daughter is reading,’ " she says.
Take a look ... a book opens with a sex scene, and drug use is common. This is what we want for our kids? Don't we want better? Shouldn't we want better?
-Zube.
Essentially, it's about novelists writing trashy novels for teens and tweens. So now tweens need trashy novels?
Best quote: The author says that few mothers have complained about her books’ naughtiness.
"They say, ‘I’m just thrilled that my daughter is reading,’ " she says.
Take a look ... a book opens with a sex scene, and drug use is common. This is what we want for our kids? Don't we want better? Shouldn't we want better?
-Zube.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Braces!
My daughter got braces today. She seemed to be handling them well, but we'll see this afternoon, when they told her she'd be sore.
There was a good lesson for her at the chair next door. Our orthodontist's office has about 7 chairs in one central room where they put on braces, take them off and tighten them on several patients at a time. The girl next to her was getting hers taken off, with a lot of drama, and pain. Then, they took a look at the teeth: She had bad cavities back where the brackets were around her molars. I heard a doc say she had a big buildup of plaque. Apparently she wasn't taking care of them. They had to tell her she was going to need fillings and I don't know what else. Apparently, she didn't like the news.
I'm pretty sure my daughter will be conscientious about keeping them clean and all. We just have to wait and see how long this is going to take!
-Zube.
There was a good lesson for her at the chair next door. Our orthodontist's office has about 7 chairs in one central room where they put on braces, take them off and tighten them on several patients at a time. The girl next to her was getting hers taken off, with a lot of drama, and pain. Then, they took a look at the teeth: She had bad cavities back where the brackets were around her molars. I heard a doc say she had a big buildup of plaque. Apparently she wasn't taking care of them. They had to tell her she was going to need fillings and I don't know what else. Apparently, she didn't like the news.
I'm pretty sure my daughter will be conscientious about keeping them clean and all. We just have to wait and see how long this is going to take!
-Zube.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Disneyland redux
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Trip report
Back from Disneyland ... and I'm pooped.
It was loads of fun, plenty to see for the 50th. And they have great merchandise, and we bought this mug, this paper, this memo pad and this ashtray. Also saw some merchandise by Shag, a funky artist I like. We got this t-shirt for my daughter and I got this stationery set.
Oh, and we rode some rides, too! Buzz Lightyear ride is great, and new. Here's a fake picture of what it's like ... I found this Photoshop piece on the Internet!
So now we're settling back into life, back to work, and my daughter will be getting braces this next week. Back to the grind.
-Zube.
p.s. yeah jodie, you were too late! :)
It was loads of fun, plenty to see for the 50th. And they have great merchandise, and we bought this mug, this paper, this memo pad and this ashtray. Also saw some merchandise by Shag, a funky artist I like. We got this t-shirt for my daughter and I got this stationery set.
Oh, and we rode some rides, too! Buzz Lightyear ride is great, and new. Here's a fake picture of what it's like ... I found this Photoshop piece on the Internet!
So now we're settling back into life, back to work, and my daughter will be getting braces this next week. Back to the grind.
-Zube.
p.s. yeah jodie, you were too late! :)
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Disneyland beckons
So the clock's ticking, and i only have another day or so of work, then preparation for the big Disneyland trip.
Can't wait, it IS one of my favorite places on Earth (a co-worker overheard me making reservations, asked me where i was going, i said "Mecca" ... she knew what i was saying!).
I have found a great site for Disneyland fans, Visions Fantastic. It has great photography, and they play sounds and music from the rides and all over the park through Live 365. Here is the link for Live 365, then search for Visions Fantastic. For some reason, I can't post a direct link to the station.
Wish me well!
-Zube.
Can't wait, it IS one of my favorite places on Earth (a co-worker overheard me making reservations, asked me where i was going, i said "Mecca" ... she knew what i was saying!).
I have found a great site for Disneyland fans, Visions Fantastic. It has great photography, and they play sounds and music from the rides and all over the park through Live 365. Here is the link for Live 365, then search for Visions Fantastic. For some reason, I can't post a direct link to the station.
Wish me well!
-Zube.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Old friends
My pal Stephanie visited today, down from Oregon. Nice to see her, one of my favorite people. We were going to go get coffee (like we always did), but time ran out, dagnabbit!!
It was a nice visit, but we didn't get to talk much. It's always tough to talk at work. Too many ears opened wide! So if you're reading this, steph, you need to email me so we CAN talk!
-Zube.
It was a nice visit, but we didn't get to talk much. It's always tough to talk at work. Too many ears opened wide! So if you're reading this, steph, you need to email me so we CAN talk!
-Zube.
Monday, June 06, 2005
A New Hope
My wife resigned today. We're excited! No, honest!
She was a teacher's aide at a charter school (a GOOD one, not a last-chance one), for about 10 years, but she'd finally had enough. The politics were driving her nuts, as was her teacher's emotional baggage. She's going to concentrate on home for now.
We were thinking she'd quit by the end of the next school year anyway, when my son moves on into junior high, so it wasn't THAT big a move. She just was feeling conflicted about doing it.
She met with her employers today and they were surprised. They told her to keep them in mind for maybe part-time or substitute work, and she was happy to hear that they don't consider her bridges burned.
When we explained to the kids last week what we had decided, we were out having dinner. I told them that we probably wouldn't be able to go out to eat as much because we won't be able to afford it, but that Mom would be able to have more energy to cook more, the lack of which is one reason why we go out so much! My daughter locked onto it right away, understanding the dominoes that fall with decisions we make. We get two incomes because we live like we have two incomes, which necessitates two incomes ... etc. At the expense of family and home.
When I moved from management back down into the rank and file, I got back decent hours and weekends off. Which meant I got my family back. I don't want to ever change that.
We're both glad we're going to leave that cycle.
-Zube.
She was a teacher's aide at a charter school (a GOOD one, not a last-chance one), for about 10 years, but she'd finally had enough. The politics were driving her nuts, as was her teacher's emotional baggage. She's going to concentrate on home for now.
We were thinking she'd quit by the end of the next school year anyway, when my son moves on into junior high, so it wasn't THAT big a move. She just was feeling conflicted about doing it.
She met with her employers today and they were surprised. They told her to keep them in mind for maybe part-time or substitute work, and she was happy to hear that they don't consider her bridges burned.
When we explained to the kids last week what we had decided, we were out having dinner. I told them that we probably wouldn't be able to go out to eat as much because we won't be able to afford it, but that Mom would be able to have more energy to cook more, the lack of which is one reason why we go out so much! My daughter locked onto it right away, understanding the dominoes that fall with decisions we make. We get two incomes because we live like we have two incomes, which necessitates two incomes ... etc. At the expense of family and home.
When I moved from management back down into the rank and file, I got back decent hours and weekends off. Which meant I got my family back. I don't want to ever change that.
We're both glad we're going to leave that cycle.
-Zube.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Ends and means
OK, so I'm a journalist, so I think I should blog on this whole Throat thing (I'm not fond of the nickname the guy had, so I'm not using the full thing).
Nixon was corrupt. Agreed.
He should have been ousted. Sure.
The No. 2 guy at the FBI held information, so he should have shared it. Right.
He violated FBI rules and possibly the law. Yeah.
But the ends justify the means, don't they? ... uh. No.
This was the big glory moment for journalism, especially "investigative" journalism. Turns out Woodward and Bernstein were just taking dictation from a guy at the FBI. Who now is a hero, right?
"The ends justify the means" masks some of the particulars of this case. W. Mark Felt was apparently in line to become the big guy at the FBI when J. Edgar Hoover died. But Nixon didn't install him, he installed a White House crony, L. Patrick Gray (what's with all these guys with initials for first names?!?!). So Felt was angry and he gave info that undermined Nixon.
Thirty-some years later, Felt's daughter needs money to retire debt, so she persuades an addled Felt to go public. She has dollar signs in her eyes ... take a look at the video and tell me otherwise.
So there you have it: Revenge and greed are the two top motivating factors for the information leak and the reveal. Wasn't that what Nixon was being accused of, too?
The FBI has had information on presidents for years and years. Should they have unveiled it? What would've been gained had FDR's mistress had been presented? Or Truman's? Kennedy not only had a mistress (he had many, actually), but one of the most notorious was the girlfriend of a mobster. Wonder how that compromised him. And of course, our previous president had quite a problem with fidelity.
It wasn't all about sex. Johnson shuffled cash around (like Nixon) to keep people quiet.
So why didn't somebody at the FBI tell about any of that information? And if they did, to what end?
Would the ends have justified the means?
-Zube.
Nixon was corrupt. Agreed.
He should have been ousted. Sure.
The No. 2 guy at the FBI held information, so he should have shared it. Right.
He violated FBI rules and possibly the law. Yeah.
But the ends justify the means, don't they? ... uh. No.
This was the big glory moment for journalism, especially "investigative" journalism. Turns out Woodward and Bernstein were just taking dictation from a guy at the FBI. Who now is a hero, right?
"The ends justify the means" masks some of the particulars of this case. W. Mark Felt was apparently in line to become the big guy at the FBI when J. Edgar Hoover died. But Nixon didn't install him, he installed a White House crony, L. Patrick Gray (what's with all these guys with initials for first names?!?!). So Felt was angry and he gave info that undermined Nixon.
Thirty-some years later, Felt's daughter needs money to retire debt, so she persuades an addled Felt to go public. She has dollar signs in her eyes ... take a look at the video and tell me otherwise.
So there you have it: Revenge and greed are the two top motivating factors for the information leak and the reveal. Wasn't that what Nixon was being accused of, too?
The FBI has had information on presidents for years and years. Should they have unveiled it? What would've been gained had FDR's mistress had been presented? Or Truman's? Kennedy not only had a mistress (he had many, actually), but one of the most notorious was the girlfriend of a mobster. Wonder how that compromised him. And of course, our previous president had quite a problem with fidelity.
It wasn't all about sex. Johnson shuffled cash around (like Nixon) to keep people quiet.
So why didn't somebody at the FBI tell about any of that information? And if they did, to what end?
Would the ends have justified the means?
-Zube.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Wecome to Windows XP
So we got a new computer over the weekend ... actually, got it picked up. We bought it last weekend.
It's a Compaq blah blah blah and it has a Pentium 4 blah blah blah 40 gigs blah blah blah. And it runs really fast.
This is only our 2nd computer (well, 3rd, if you count the one we had just for word-processing purposes). My time has been taken up reloading old programs and trying to find bookmarks and such. I thought I had lost the Internet access disc and the printer disc. I have to keep better track of these just in case.
There was one glitch, tho: We bought an MS Office Suite for it, but they gave us the wrong one. We bought the one with PowerPoint, and it wasn't there. So now, we have to unhook the dang thing and take it back to Best Buy so they can uninstall the wrong MS Office and put the right one in.
The best part of the new computer is that now we don't have to deal with mud-slow response anymore. The worst part is trying to get all the settings just right, so it mimics all the settings it took 5 years for us to get on our old computer!
-Zube.
P.S. Thanks for the feedback. I still gotta clarify what I'm doing here tho!
It's a Compaq blah blah blah and it has a Pentium 4 blah blah blah 40 gigs blah blah blah. And it runs really fast.
This is only our 2nd computer (well, 3rd, if you count the one we had just for word-processing purposes). My time has been taken up reloading old programs and trying to find bookmarks and such. I thought I had lost the Internet access disc and the printer disc. I have to keep better track of these just in case.
There was one glitch, tho: We bought an MS Office Suite for it, but they gave us the wrong one. We bought the one with PowerPoint, and it wasn't there. So now, we have to unhook the dang thing and take it back to Best Buy so they can uninstall the wrong MS Office and put the right one in.
The best part of the new computer is that now we don't have to deal with mud-slow response anymore. The worst part is trying to get all the settings just right, so it mimics all the settings it took 5 years for us to get on our old computer!
-Zube.
P.S. Thanks for the feedback. I still gotta clarify what I'm doing here tho!
Friday, May 27, 2005
Too old to blog?
I don't know, maybe I just don't have enough energy to blog constantly.
I keep reading blogs of people who post constantly, several times a day. But they have specific topics ... politics, religion. I would do something like that but 1) i'm not THAT knowledgable about politics, and 2) people do a far better job than I would with religion. So the only alternative is my life. Which is not spectacular. No that I'm whining or crying, but it just isn't. I'm married with 2 kids, I'm not 20 and going out every night and taking whirlwind trips with friends. With my hours, I don't make loads of friends.
So what to do? Any ideas, steff and jodie, my only 2 readers? ;)
-Zube.
I keep reading blogs of people who post constantly, several times a day. But they have specific topics ... politics, religion. I would do something like that but 1) i'm not THAT knowledgable about politics, and 2) people do a far better job than I would with religion. So the only alternative is my life. Which is not spectacular. No that I'm whining or crying, but it just isn't. I'm married with 2 kids, I'm not 20 and going out every night and taking whirlwind trips with friends. With my hours, I don't make loads of friends.
So what to do? Any ideas, steff and jodie, my only 2 readers? ;)
-Zube.
Friday, May 20, 2005
... But it's a dry heat?
Summer has arrived.
It's supposed to be 107 degrees here today, 110 tomorrow. Yeah, it's bad, but I welcome it for one reason (and one reason only): When it hits 100+ for a few days in a row, my allergies finally go away. All the weeds and stuff that produce the pollen that bothers me die off. Finally, I'll be able to breathe.
Not this weekend, tho. I have a head cold.
Timing is a funny thing ...
-Zube.
It's supposed to be 107 degrees here today, 110 tomorrow. Yeah, it's bad, but I welcome it for one reason (and one reason only): When it hits 100+ for a few days in a row, my allergies finally go away. All the weeds and stuff that produce the pollen that bothers me die off. Finally, I'll be able to breathe.
Not this weekend, tho. I have a head cold.
Timing is a funny thing ...
-Zube.
Monday, May 09, 2005
Disneyland!
Ok right off, it's NOT the 50th anniversary of Disneyland yet. It opened July 17, 1955. So let's not get ahead of ourselves!
That said, I'm pretty happy about Disneyland, that it is going strong at 50 and there are a lot of plans for bigger and better things, and refurbishments.
I'm a big fan of the place ... we're planning a trip in late June. I know, I know, it'll be crowded. But it's the 50th, people!
I also sent away for a special 6-CD box set on the history of Disneyland, using music and sounds from the first 50 years. If you have a few bucks, look into it!
-Zube.
That said, I'm pretty happy about Disneyland, that it is going strong at 50 and there are a lot of plans for bigger and better things, and refurbishments.
I'm a big fan of the place ... we're planning a trip in late June. I know, I know, it'll be crowded. But it's the 50th, people!
I also sent away for a special 6-CD box set on the history of Disneyland, using music and sounds from the first 50 years. If you have a few bucks, look into it!
-Zube.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Dial 911
I'm driving in to work today, and I'm waiting to make a right so I can get on the freeway. I had a red. So the cars turning left on the arrow turn, and then I hear a squeal of brakes, and there it goes, a big white minivan slides into the intersection and hits TWO, count 'em, TWO cars. Lucky the driver had hit her brakes, it could've been worse.
So I pull over and call 911 ... and then proceed to argue with the operator with where exactly the accident was. "Intersection of Price and Warner," I say. "East side."
"So is the accident on Price or Warner?"
"At the intersection! East side."
"But another caller says it's just North on Price."
"Whichever, it's AT THE INTERSECTION!" I say, making the international sign for "Intersection" with my hands so she could understand better ... if she could have only seen me.
So finally they stop arguing with me and send out cops and such.
Nobody was hurt seriously, although I did see a guy get out of his car and hold his arm and side. A lawsuit waiting to happen.
For the record, it was a tad East on Warner, a tad North on Price. You know, at the INTERSECTION!
I hate intersections. I had an accident at one [ed. actually, TWO] , and have seen 2 other wrecks at intersections. One just like today's, only different, only 2 or 3 miles south of where this one was.
The moral: Drive safe.
-Zube
So I pull over and call 911 ... and then proceed to argue with the operator with where exactly the accident was. "Intersection of Price and Warner," I say. "East side."
"So is the accident on Price or Warner?"
"At the intersection! East side."
"But another caller says it's just North on Price."
"Whichever, it's AT THE INTERSECTION!" I say, making the international sign for "Intersection" with my hands so she could understand better ... if she could have only seen me.
So finally they stop arguing with me and send out cops and such.
Nobody was hurt seriously, although I did see a guy get out of his car and hold his arm and side. A lawsuit waiting to happen.
For the record, it was a tad East on Warner, a tad North on Price. You know, at the INTERSECTION!
I hate intersections. I had an accident at one [ed. actually, TWO] , and have seen 2 other wrecks at intersections. One just like today's, only different, only 2 or 3 miles south of where this one was.
The moral: Drive safe.
-Zube
Christmas in ... what is it, April?
You know how I like Christmas music? (If not, look at the archive)
So sometimes I find really good stuff, for $1 or so used, or on ebay or something. I found a few for $1 at Half Price Books, got a great Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn. one, which they gave out free a couple years ago. Don't be scared! The band doing it is called the Tommy Coomes Band, and they do some great songs, including a great, rousing Gospel version of Joy To The World. Don't know if you can find it in the real world, tho. I got lucky.
And then I got this "Caribbean Christmas" CD on ebay. Awful. Just awful. Nice cover, tho.
Moral: Beward bad Christmas music. And you can quote me on that.
So sometimes I find really good stuff, for $1 or so used, or on ebay or something. I found a few for $1 at Half Price Books, got a great Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn. one, which they gave out free a couple years ago. Don't be scared! The band doing it is called the Tommy Coomes Band, and they do some great songs, including a great, rousing Gospel version of Joy To The World. Don't know if you can find it in the real world, tho. I got lucky.
And then I got this "Caribbean Christmas" CD on ebay. Awful. Just awful. Nice cover, tho.
Moral: Beward bad Christmas music. And you can quote me on that.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
So apparently I have issues ...
So I'm back.
I took a personality disorder test that was posted by a friend of mine at her blog. It says I may have a high possibility of being schizoid!! (Thanks loads, Steph!)
-OR- Do a free search for singles in your area (with pictures) on Yahoo! Personals
Schizoid?? No problem!! Find other schizoids at Yahoo! Personals!!!!
.... ohhh-kay.
-Zube.
I took a personality disorder test that was posted by a friend of mine at her blog. It says I may have a high possibility of being schizoid!! (Thanks loads, Steph!)
Quick Summary:
People with schizoid personality disorder avoid relationships and do not show much emotion. Unlike avoidants, schizoids genuinely prefer to be alone and do not secretly wish for popularity. They tend to seek jobs that require little social contact. Their social skills are often weak and they do not show a need for attention or acceptance. They are perceived by others as humorless and distant and often are termed "loners."
Symptoms of Schizoid Personality Disorder:
- Weak interpersonal skills
- Difficulty expressing anger, even when provoked
- "Loner" mentality; avoidance of social situations
- Appear to others as remote, aloof, and unengaged
- Low sexual desire
- Unresponsive to praise or criticism
Now, there's a couple things you can do:
E-mail a friend about this test! Everyone has a friend who might have a disorder. (Am I right?) The exact URL can be found at the bottom of this page.
-OR- Do a free search for singles in your area (with pictures) on Yahoo! Personals
Schizoid?? No problem!! Find other schizoids at Yahoo! Personals!!!!
.... ohhh-kay.
-Zube.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
... And we're back.
OK, so I don't blog as often as I'd like to. So sue me.
I've found a lot of blogs recently, all of whom seem to blog more than me, that are all really good. Here are 3 (be forewarned, they are religious and/or right of the political sphere):
GetReligion, about the media and their coverage of religion-based stories.
He Lives, a self-described "Reformed viewpoint of a nuclear physicist."
Thinklings, a group of guys blogging about life and issues from a Christian viewpoint.
Check them out.
...
Had an interesting conversation with a pod-mate at the newspaper. He and his girlfriend have been living together 10 years and have 2 kids. I finally asked "Why don't you get married?"
He took it well and we had a great conversation about beliefs. His main reason for not getting married seemed to be the old "I don't need a piece of paper" argument. But another part of him seemed to fear what happens if you DO get married. He thinks it shouldn't be entered into lightly (he's right) and that he should be in it for the long haul (he should). Then he said he wasn't sure his relationship held up to that scrutiny. Then he said he did, indeed, intend to be with his girlfriend forever.
"So," I asked, "why not make the committment?"
"I am committed," he says.
"But not the BIG committed."
"No."
Uncomfortable pause.
He says marriage should be more than it is now. More than impermanent (he is a kid of divorce). I say that he's right.
"But isn't it more effective to change marriage from WITHIN it, instead of just ABANDONING it?"
"... That's a good point. ... "
The conversation went astray from there, because it needed to.
I hope we have more chances to talk.
-Zube.
I've found a lot of blogs recently, all of whom seem to blog more than me, that are all really good. Here are 3 (be forewarned, they are religious and/or right of the political sphere):
GetReligion, about the media and their coverage of religion-based stories.
He Lives, a self-described "Reformed viewpoint of a nuclear physicist."
Thinklings, a group of guys blogging about life and issues from a Christian viewpoint.
Check them out.
...
Had an interesting conversation with a pod-mate at the newspaper. He and his girlfriend have been living together 10 years and have 2 kids. I finally asked "Why don't you get married?"
He took it well and we had a great conversation about beliefs. His main reason for not getting married seemed to be the old "I don't need a piece of paper" argument. But another part of him seemed to fear what happens if you DO get married. He thinks it shouldn't be entered into lightly (he's right) and that he should be in it for the long haul (he should). Then he said he wasn't sure his relationship held up to that scrutiny. Then he said he did, indeed, intend to be with his girlfriend forever.
"So," I asked, "why not make the committment?"
"I am committed," he says.
"But not the BIG committed."
"No."
Uncomfortable pause.
He says marriage should be more than it is now. More than impermanent (he is a kid of divorce). I say that he's right.
"But isn't it more effective to change marriage from WITHIN it, instead of just ABANDONING it?"
"... That's a good point. ... "
The conversation went astray from there, because it needed to.
I hope we have more chances to talk.
-Zube.
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