2.52", for today
2.60", for the storm
15.05", for the month
28.62", for the (rain) year
22 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 22 February 2009
Yet Another Reason Micro$oft Ain’t “It”
On ZDNet’s Between the Lines blog this afternoon:
Microsoft to laid-off workers: Give us back our money back
“No matter how you slice it or dice it, there’s no way Microsoft comes out smelling like a rose on this one.
“As the company was handing out pink slips to some 1,400 employees last month, the accounting department apparently was using fingers and toes to calculate severance packages. It turns out that the company overpaid these former workers and, now that the error has been discovered, Microsoft wants its money back.
“The copy of the letter floating around the Internet has the names and dollar amounts blacked out so it’s hard to say if the payback amount is $10, $100, $1,000 or more. And we also don’t know if all 1,400 laid-off workers were affected. But, just for laughs, let’s do some very simple layman’s math:…”
Here’s where it starts getting hysterical; check it out!
21 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 21 February 2009
.08", for today
.08", for the storm
12.53", for the month
26.10", for the (rain) year
19 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 19 February 2009
.01", for today
10.49", for the storm
12.45", for the month
26.02", for the (rain) year
18 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 18 February 2009
.01", for today
10.48", for the storm
12.44", for the month
26.01", for the (rain) year
Al Sharpton Needs a Chill Pill
Spotted in Top of the Ticket, the LA Times’ political blog just now:
Cops shoot bad monkey cartoonist or something crazy
OTOH, maybe ole Al just needs to grow up?
God and Friends
The last page of Reader’s Digest magazine is a collection of quotes revolving around a theme that changes monthly. The theme in the March 2009 issue is friends. The best one, attributed to anonymous:
“Friends are God’s way of apologizing to us for our families.”
Advice on Talking Too Much
From Quotes of the Day, today:
Never try to tell everything you know. It may take too short a time.
- Norman Ford
17 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 17 February 2009
1.20", for today
10.47", for the storm
12.43", for the month
26.0", for the (rain) year
The (Musical) World Is Diminished
In the LA Times obituaries today:
Louie Bellson dies at 84; Duke Ellington called him “the world’s greatest drummer”
“…Ellington returned Bellson’s high regard, noting, ‘Not only is Louie Bellson the world’s greatest drummer… he’s the world’s greatest musician!’
“Other artists concurred. Oscar Peterson described Bellson as ‘the epitome of musical talent… I consider him one of the musical giants of our age.’
“Bobby Colomby, former drummer for Blood, Sweat & Tears, pointed to Bellson’s pioneering work with the difficult technique of employing two bass drums, saying, ‘Louie had awesome, jaw-dropping technique. And I really don’t think he was ever fully appreciated for what an amazing drummer he really was.’…”
16 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 16 February 2009
1.63", for today
9.27", for the storm
11.23", for the month
24.80", for the (rain) year
We Got Us a RIVER Now!!
Now that we’ve gotten a bit of rain.
Looking down-river from the south bridge, from inside the Burb, on Irwin Way.
Looking up-river from the south bridge, from inside the Burb, on Irwin Way.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
Did You Miss This New Law, Too?
In today’s Roadshow column in the Merc, this question came up:
Q Did I miss a new law that bans smoking in cars when kids are inside?
Stephen Reynolds
Santa Cruz
A You sure did. This law took effect in 2008, banning smoking in vehicles when a child is along in a car seat. Drivers get a warning on the first offense, and a $100 fine the next time they're pulled over. A smoker can be found guilty even if the car is parked. This law does not apply if the child is at least 6 years old and not required to be in a safety seat.
Not a clue; neither Bob nor I had heard of this one, either. You learn something new every day.
15 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 15 February 2009
5.39", for today
7.64", for the storm
9.6", for the month
23.17", for the (rain) year
Behind the Financial Crisis
From bloomberg.com, 22 September:
How the Democrats Created the Financial Crisis
“…For the first time in history, a serious Fannie and Freddie reform bill was passed by the Senate Banking Committee. The bill gave a regulator power to crack down, and would have required the companies to eliminate their investments in risky assets.
“If that bill had become law, then the world today would be different. In 2005, 2006 and 2007, a blizzard of terrible mortgage paper fluttered out of the Fannie and Freddie clouds, burying many of our oldest and most venerable institutions. Without their checkbooks keeping the market liquid and buying up excess supply, the market would likely have not existed.
“But the bill didn’t become law, for a simple reason: Democrats opposed it on a party-line vote in the committee, signaling that this would be a partisan issue. Republicans, tied in knots by the tight Democratic opposition, couldn't even get the Senate to vote on the matter.
“That such a reckless political stand could have been taken by the Democrats was obscene even then. Wallison wrote at the time: ‘It is a classic case of socializing the risk while privatizing the profit. The Democrats and the few Republicans who oppose portfolio limitations could not possibly do so if their constituents understood what they were doing.…’”
14 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 14 February 2009
.25", for today
2.25", for the storm
4.21", for the month
17.78", for the (rain) year
Anderson Valley Brut
:::sigh:::
In honor of St Valentine’s Day, bubbly was in order. I was wandering down the wine aisle somewhere earlier in the week, and realized I hadn’t had a bottle of Roederer lately; a bottle obligingly hopped into the cart.
It was as good as I remembered. And, even better, it makes a superb Black Velvet, the best, actually, IMHO.
Roederer Estate, Inc.
Philo, CA
http://www.roedererestate.com/
13 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 13 February 2009
1.35", for today
2.0", for the storm
3.96", for the month
17.53", for the (rain) year
12 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 12 February 2009
.11", for today
.65", for the storm
2.61", for the month
16.18", for the (rain) year
11 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 11 February 2009
.28", for today
.54", for the storm
2.50", for the month
16.07", for the (rain) year
10 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 10 February 2009
.26", for today
.26", for the storm
2.22", for the month
15.79", for the (rain) year
09 February 2009
A Breath of Fresh Air
From American Thinker tomorrow morning:
Obama’s Busted Bubble
“…Some bubbles are more transparent than others, some are more open. Some of us are aware of our bubbles, some are not. Those who are aware attempt to compensate when judging events occurring outside the walls. Those who are unaware as a rule tend to take their bubble as identical to the universe at large. They judge the great world solely by what’s within reach. This state of affairs can distort the workings of democracy, on occasion to a serious extent. We are now living through such an occasion. This past election the bubble people elected one of their own, the consummate dweller in dream reality, Barack Obama.…”
Praise Jehovah!!
Finally someone who’s not falling all over himself gushing about the miracle, the new beginning, the wondrousness of it all; gah, it’s enough to make me sick.
It’s All Just English, Right??
On El Reg today (thanks, Brett, for the link!):
Brits and Yanks struck with embarasment embarrassment
“It’s official: English is going directly to hell in a handcart because more than half of native speakers of the lingo can’t spell ‘embarrassed’ - and even more have entered the new millennium without the foggiest idea of how 1,000 years pan out in our beloved mother tongue.…”
Make sure you check out the Times’ “Spelling Bee” and the comments, both at the end.
08 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 8 February 2009
.48", for today
1.96", for the storm
1.96", for the month
15.53", for the (rain) year
I Am Not Worthy!!
Stopped off at New Leaf in Felton to grab a thing that the Boulder Creek store no longer carries, and wandered around the place to see what there was to see. Imagine my amazement to see the Arrogant One!! Not only did they have the big bottles, but sixers, too! Ah’m in LUV!
Body Parts in the Beer Cooler
Was wandering through Verutti’s (in Felton), seeing if there was anything interesting (oh, please!), and got stopped in my tracks by Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball Ale. Mental picture notwithstanding, it came home. Stay tuned.
We Did *Not* Plan This
When I got up this morning, as usual, I grabbed the next blouse (basic black) and blue trousers to be worn, put them on, and carried on.
Gary showed up, wearing a black polo shirt and blue trousers.
Diane showed up, wearing a black sweater and blue trousers.
It got worse.
At 10:30, Elaine was wearing a black sweater and Roy, a black pullover (and black trousers both). Suzy Brown, who was lectoring, had a black top and roasty-toasty-looking shawl (and brown trousers).
It’s not my fault.
07 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 7 February 2009
.01", for today
1.48", for the storm
1.48", for the month
15.05", for the (rain) year
06 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 6 February 2009
.76", for today
1.47", for the storm
1.47", for the month
15.04", for the (rain) year
*Really* Old-Fashioned Music!
On YouTube, Dr. Adam Gilbert, Director of the Early Music Program at the USC Thornton School of Music, introduces and demonstrates several early musical instruments: the recorder, the bagpipe, and the shawm. Video courtesy of artistshousemusic.org
Mercury Rising
While Curtis was mooning (being mooned?), Dustin and I were sipping Cinnabar’s “proprietary red wine blend”, Mercury Rising.
I’d tried one or two Cinnabar (well, duh! Cinnabar is my favorite perfume, after all) single grape offerings, and IIRC, they weren’t bad; it’s been a while, so I’ll have to revisit. Dustin had no trouble at all recalling that Mercury Rising was his favorite, bar none.
It is wonderful!! And it’s even better with good blue cheese. Point Reyes Original Blue is heavenly! I imagine Maytag Blue would be just as splendid.
As a matter of fact, one of these days (real soon now), we’re going to have a red-wine-and-stuff-that-goes-good-with-it happening at beer thirty. Maytag and Point Reyes will be there, as will some dark chocolate. :::sigh:::
Cinnabar Cellars
Paso Robles, CA
http://www.cinnabarwine.com/
Rising Moon Spring Ale
Made by Blue Moon Brewing Co., out of Colorado and Toronto.
I’d tried their Blue Moon Belgian White, but wasn’t particularly impressed with it. The Web site mentions something about having it with a slice of orange?? I’ll have to give that a try and report back.
I was on a beer run, though, and noticed the Rising Moon. I just can’t resist a seasonal, so home it came. Not bad, although I don’t think I’m gonna try the orange slice… ;-)
I poured Curtis a glass at beer thirty, and we got to talking about it. Turns out he’s also not a big fan of the Blue Moon.
Rising Moon has three seasonal siblings: Honey Moon Summer Ale, Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale, and Full Moon Winter Ale. More stuff to be on the lookout for!
Brewed by BMBC, Toronto
Imported by Blue Moon Brewing Co., Golden, CO
(800) BLE-MOON ((800) 253-6666)
http://www.bluemoonbrewingco.com/
Golf: Your Salvation?
Today’s Quote of the Day on my iGoogle page is about golf and work; it’s from Bob Hope, so, of course, it’s funny.
Golf also makes a rather humorous appearance in the first story in Debbie Macomber’s On a Snowy Night. Let’s just say it involves an ice storm, two formerly best friends, and the contents of a golf bag… It’s hysterical!!
Do What Is Right
The quote on The Hunger Site today:
The time is always right to do what is right.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
05 February 2009
Rain Numbers - 5 February 2009
.71", for today
.71", for the storm
.71", for the month
14.28", for the (rain) year
Prohibition, Here We Come Again?
From abcNews.com today:
Big Brother Might Be Watching You Booze
“The governor of Utah has two problems with a State Senate proposal to scan the IDs of everyone who visits a bar in the state and make that database available to law enforcement officials.…”
Thank God there’s someone in Utah’s state government with some sense.
Mind | Memory
Somehow, Bob and Dustin got on the subject of goofy answers, and Bob posited that a great answer to the question, “Where were you born?” would be “Mars.” The thought flitted through my mind that another good answer would be “Alpha Centauri.”
Immediately, memory took over: Crystal Gayle sang a song with Alpha Centauri in it that I was enthralled by. On the Muppet Show. Back in the ’70s. Hadn’t thought about it in I don’t know how long…
Off to the iTunes Music Store. No luck on searching “Alpha Centauri”. Google next. Tried “"Alpha Centauri" +Crystal” (couldn’t remember how to spell her last name). Seventh hit on the list was “YouTube - crystal gayle muppets show "we must believe in magic"”:
Searching iTMS for “We Must Believe in Magic” brought the album right up.
I’m still stunned. I’ve been playing the video, off and on, all afternoon, and I still don’t have any glimmer of remembering the song, but I’m still enthralled!
:::shaking head:::
02 February 2009
VUE Alert!
(Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T)
I walked out the front door of Johnnie’s and made the left towards the parking lot, and there he was!! And in a VUE, to boot.
01 February 2009
I Dunno…
You’re St. Jerome! You’re a passionate Christian, fiercely devoted to Jesus Christ and His Church. You are willing to labor long hours in the Lord’s vineyard, and you have little patience with those who are less willing or able to work as you do. Your passions often carry you into temptation zones of wrath, lust, and pride. Find out which Church Father you are at The Way of the Fathers! |
And This Comes as a Surprise to Whom??
On the spine of this month’s Real Simple:
Research tells us that fourteen ouit of any ten individuals like chocolate.
-Sandra Boynton
Writing Tip
From Quotes of the Day, today:
Autobiography is an unrivaled vehicle for telling the truth about other people.
- Philip Guedalla
Duck!!
Saw a mallard pair in the river from the bridge on the way to Mass; suppose they’ll be showing up in the pond soon?
31 January 2009
More Signs of Spring
Saw an orange-ish butterfly outside the slider in the bedroom this morning. By the time I got out on the deck and started getting close, it fluttered off… :-(
27 January 2009
Rain Numbers - 27 January 2009
.01", for today
.01", for the storm
1.54", for the month
13.57", for the (rain) year
25 January 2009
Rain Numbers - 25 January 2009
.02", for today
1.25", for the storm
1.53", for the month
13.56", for the (rain) year
24 January 2009
Rain Numbers - 24 January 2009
.01", for today
1.23", for the storm
1.51", for the month
13.54", for the (rain) year
23 January 2009
Rain Numbers - 23 January 2009
.39", for today
1.22", for the storm
1.50", for the month
13.53", for the (rain) year
Jaysus Bless You, Arthur Guinness!
Day of mourning; put on the black, and draw a pint of the black: Arthur Guinness, founder of the Guinness brewery died today in 1803.
22 January 2009
Rain Numbers - 22 January 2009
.41", for today
.83", for the storm
1.11", for the month
13.14", for the (rain) year
21 January 2009
Rain Numbers - 21 January 2009
.42", for today
.42", for the storm
.70", for the month
12.73", for the (rain) year
16 January 2009
Eroica
I was cruising by BLM’s wine refrigerator a bit back, and a slender, slightly taller bottle caught my eye; the label said Eroica, and it was inevitable that it ended up in the shopping cart.
A 2005 Columbia Valley (Washington) Riesling, this is a collaboration between Dr Ernst Loosen and Chateau Ste Michelle and is quite yummy (yeah, I know, not exactly proper wine tasting terminology; deal with it!). I’ve been back several times to restock, but the last few times, it hasn’t been there…
OTOH, the 2007 is available at the Web site
Michelle Loosen LLC
Woodinville, WA
(425) 488-1133
http://www.ste-michelle.com/
08 January 2009
Rain Numbers - 8 January 2009
.01", for today
.02", for the storm
.28", for the month
12.31", for the (rain) year
07 January 2009
Rain Numbers - 7 January 2009
.01", for today
.01", for the storm
.27", for the month
12.30", for the (rain) year
05 January 2009
Rain Numbers - 5 January 2009
.09", for today
.10", for the storm
.26", for the month
12.29", for the (rain) year
04 January 2009
Rain Numbers - 4 January 2009
.01", for today
.01", for the storm
.19", for the month
12.20", for the (rain) year
This Has Got to Be the Most Ridiculous Thing…
…I’ve seen in a while:
> Q I feel the new law banning texting in the car is discriminatory to deaf people,
> who use text pagers to communicate with others. We do realize that this is a
> dangerous practice, and therefore understand that the ban is for safety reasons.
> However, hearing people are still allowed to use Bluetooth sets while driving,
> even though you have cited research showing that using a cell phone, whether
> hands-free or not, is still dangerous due to the mental distraction caused by
> the act of talking, instead of paying attention to your driving. So, our right
> to keep in communication in the car has been taken away from us, while hearing
> people retain that right for themselves. If all telecommunications, hands-free
> or not, were banned, I would have no problem with the ban on texting. But, in
> effect, deaf people are once again relegated to second-class citizen status.
I kid you not.
This appeared in New Year’s Eve’s Roadshow in the Merc. Hearing people get to use Bluetooth headsets to communicate, so this guy (I doubt he speaks for all deaf folk) demands his “right” to be allowed to do something he admits is dangerous?? Uh huh.
I must admit, however, that his blog, Dr. DonG.’s Deafhood Discourses, is quite interesting, and he does makes some good points, this one example notwithstanding.
Read Your Labels, Mom Always Said
I stopped off at Safeway in Scotts Valley on my way home from Mass this afternoon. Amongst other things on my list was cottage cheese. I grabbed a carton and checked the expire date. 2 Jan 2009. Ooops!
Grabbed the next carton. Same date. Went through several cartons and got a date back in December amongst the Januarys.
Kept going. Found one from 23 Nov 2008.
I looked at the whole lot, at least two dozen, and not one of them was in date…
Caveat emptor.
02 January 2009
Rain Numbers - 2 January 2009
.18", for today
.18", for the storm
.18", for the month
12.19", for the (rain) year
30 December 2008
Rain Numbers - 30 December 2008
.01", for today
.01", for the storm
4.78", for the month
12.01", for the (rain) year
29 December 2008
26 December 2008
Rain Numbers - 26 December 2008
.01", for today
2.99", for the storm
4.77", for the month
12.00", for the (rain) year
25 December 2008
Rain Numbers - 25 December 2008
.98", for today
2.98", for the storm
4.76", for the month
11.99", for the (rain) year
24 December 2008
Rain Numbers - 24 December 2008
.84", for today
2.00", for the storm
3.78", for the month
11.01", for the (rain) year
23 December 2008
Rain Numbers - 23 December 2008
.11", for today
1.16", for the storm
2.94", for the month
10.17", for the (rain) year
22 December 2008
Rain Numbers - 22 December 2008
.09", for today
1.05", for the storm
2.83", for the month
10.06", for the (rain) year
21 December 2008
Rain Numbers - 21 December 2008
.96", for today
.96", for the storm
2.74", for the month
9.97", for the (rain) year
19 December 2008
Rain Numbers - 19 December 2008
.36", for today
.65", for the storm
1.78", for the month
9.01", for the (rain) year
18 December 2008
Rain Numbers - 18 December 2008
.29", for today
.29", for the storm
1.44", for the month
8.65", for the (rain) year
16 December 2008
Rain Numbers - 16 December 2008
.3", for today
1.09", for the storm
1.15", for the month
8.36", for the (rain) year
15 December 2008
Rain Numbers - 15 December 2008
.26", for today
.79", for the storm
.85", for the month
8.06", for the (rain) year
I’m Agreeing With Joe Biden? I Must Be Mad!!
OTOH, he certainly should be able to get his new puppy from wherever he damned well pleases; PETA and the HSUS can go pound sand (until they get their priorities straight).
From csmonitor.com today: Biden gets new dog - animal rights advocates not happy.
14 December 2008
Rain Numbers - 14 December 2008
.48", for today
.53", for the storm
.59", for the month
7.80", for the (rain) year
13 December 2008
Rain Numbers - 13 December 2008
.05", for today
.05", for the storm
.09", for the month
7.32", for the (rain) year
11 December 2008
Drinking Problem
From Quotes of the Day, today:
Electricity is actually made up of extremely tiny particles called electrons, that you cannot see with the naked eye unless you have been drinking.
- Dave Barry
09 December 2008
The Golden (Shaw) Rule
From Quotes of the Day, today:
Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.
- George Bernard Shaw
08 December 2008
01 December 2008
’Tis the Season…
On the spine of this month’s Real Simple:
Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
Arrives the snow.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
30 November 2008
26 November 2008
Rain Numbers - 26 November 2008
At least as of about 9:30p, when we left for Oregon…
.33", for today
.33", for the storm
5.55", for the month
7.2", for the (rain) year
21 November 2008
Rain Numbers - 21 November 2008
.01", for today
.01", for the storm
5.22", for the month
6.87", for the (rain) year
Canadians Need to Retrieve Their Supreme Court…
…from whatever alternate universe they seem to have slipped into.
From gadling.com yesterday:
Obese passengers in Canada have the right to two seats for price of one:
“…According to Reuters, today the Supreme Court of Canada ruled… that obese people have the right to two seats for the price of one on flights within Canada.…”
And I thought the 9th Circuit Court came up with some doozies!
10 November 2008
09 November 2008
Rain Numbers - 9 November 2008
.01", for today
.12", for the storm
5.21", for the month
6.86", for the (rain) year
08 November 2008
Rain Numbers - 8 November 2008
.11", for today
.11", for the storm
5.2", for the month
6.85", for the (rain) year
Not When I Was Growing Up…
From Quotes of the Day, today:
Conscience is what makes a boy tell his mother before his sister does.
- Evan Esar
05 November 2008
Rain Numbers - 5 November 2008
.01", for today
6.06", for the storm
5.09", for the month
6.74", for the (rain) year
04 November 2008
Rain Numbers - 4 November 2008
.01", for today
6.05", for the storm
5.08", for the month
6.73", for the (rain) year
Good Advices
From Quotes of the Day, today:
Here’s a rule I recommend: Never practice two vices at once.
- Tallulah Bankhead
03 November 2008
Rain Numbers - 3 November 2008
1.28", for today
6.04", for the storm
5.07", for the month
6.72", for the (rain) year
Adjust This
From Quotes of the Day, today:
Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.
- Martin Luther King Jr.
02 November 2008
Rain Numbers - 2 November 2008
.53", for today
4.76", for the storm
3.79", for the month
5.44", for the (rain) year
01 November 2008
Rain Numbers - 1 November 2008
3.26", for today
4.23", for the storm
3.26", for the month
4.91", for the (rain) year
Wow!!
The rainfall picked up a bit a minute or two back, so I checked the weather station console; it was coming down at a rate of 1.55" per hour!! Fortunately, it’s backed off to a more comfortable .12" per hour.
Why Didn’t Someone Think of This Sooner?
From Quotes of the Day, today:
Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.
- Doug Larson
That’s Two…
Power dropped again at 8:25p; came back about 8:51p. Much cleaner on both ends this time around.
Fortunately, That Wasn’t Too Bad
Lost the juice about 3:20p; came back quite a bit sooner than PG&E’s predict (3:45p - 5:45p): 4:05p or thereabouts.
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