| Accidental Cat Chaperone |
[Aug. 25th, 2008|07:54 am] |
I heard a plaintive sound. Something outside, or was it in the lobby? It was intermittent, so I didn't investigate right away. The sound began again with more constancy, so I peeked out to take a look. An orange tabby had been wandering the halls, it was cozying up to one of my neighbors. It wasn't her cat. She pointed out an address tag on its collar, and said that she had to leave for work now.
The furry beast is now ensconced on my deck. There are plants to investigate and a bowl of water. I placed a board at the base of the screen door in an attempt to to shield it from those fearsome claws. But the wily creature worried its body between the door and the board easily removing the barrier. Now it is sitting outside, a few feet from my computer table, making poor little me noises.
A pink post-it is in place on the door of the presumed owners alerting them to the cat's location should they ever return. This superintendence can not become permanent. I'm having slight allergic symptoms already.
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| Key per |
[Aug. 3rd, 2008|06:07 pm] |
McCain has a brother named McAbel
who hasn't been seen around lately. |
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| Bliss Stick |
[Jul. 15th, 2008|02:10 am] |
You can use it to point
To gesture emphatically
It is made out of wood
But didn't grow on a tree
4 out of 5 non-dentists
Would be forced to agree
That the bamboo back scratcher
Delivers ecstasy |
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| It's Zbig's Birthday! |
[Jul. 8th, 2008|03:37 pm] |
I'm now the parent of an 18 year old.
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| Floats and Diggers |
[Jul. 7th, 2008|06:21 pm] |
Latest pool annoyance: A nylon rope with plastic floats now bisects the rectangle, not lengthwise creating a lane, but across the width. In pursuit of a segregated shallow area for non-swimmers, I am expected to turn my 30 mini laps into 60 DEMI-MINI laps. This is unacceptable.
My solution: Swim at an early dinner hour when the water is undiluted by juveniles. Untying the floating barrier was a snap. I then replaced it within half an hour. Yes, there were a few witnesses, but they will keep mum. |
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| Water in, In Water |
[Jun. 20th, 2008|03:40 pm] |
The homeowner association rules state that while in the pool area one must "bring a nonalcoholic drink in a plastic container." Now usually I flaunt this, preferring to wait until later in my own dining room to attend to re-hydration needs, But the weather was warm today, so I brought an 8 ounce container of eau municipale along with my Liz Claiborne hat, and my goggles. There were a handful of kids in the pool throwing around beach balls, and they politely moved over a bit to accommodate my mini lap swimming. On one corner of the deck some non-aquatic types blabbed away in deck chairs. One of them found the need to chain smoke.
I didn't stick around much after swimming. It wasn't only the smoke, there was this alarming brightness everywhere. My hat and the Aveeno non-oily sunblock on my nose were no match for the ionizing radiation. When I got back, I mentioned the smoker to the PrissKids.
Zbigniew said, "You should have whipped out a one hundred page book and pointed to the rule."
I responded with more theoretics, "Here is my non-alcoholic drink in a plastic container. Where's yours? And put out that cigarette!" |
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| Rolled Oaths |
[Jun. 16th, 2008|07:31 pm] |
A current Slate article http://www.slate.com/id/2193359/ discusses the practice of California State public colleges of requiring that new hires sign a loyalty oath as a condition of employment. Two teachers objected this requirement based on their religious beliefs. They are both Quaker, and the oath includes a provision that they will "defend" state and federal law against "enemies." To them, this terminology would commit them to engage in violence should the constitution of California or of the U.S. government ever come under attack. These two instructors have had some success after drawn out negotiations, in becoming eligible to work while objecting to that specific part of the oath.
This solution appalls me. Citizens and those with visas allowing them to work in this country are eligible to work in this country. Their employment should be based solely on ability and performance. While something like this may be appropriate for military and possibly for law enforcement, teachers should not be required to serve as a reserve militia. If their area of study extends to exploring possible constitutional changes, the product should be treated the same as any other researched opinion.
The problem is the loyalty oath, not one specific item within it. |
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| Mark of the Beastie |
[Jun. 12th, 2008|12:52 pm] |
Camera recognition of hand signals, or of other body movements, eventually including facial expressions is going to replace the touch pad inputs we have gotten used to. A small camera facing your hand could pick up signals for all text characters or menu/toggle choices.
In this video, the user outlines an object in their hand, or the hand itself for the camera. The program then recognizes it as a pointer for playing a game or using an interactive music application.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/11/camspace-creates-a-wii-for-everyone-minus-the-nintendo-console/
The only downside I see is that I may need to learn sign language.
This is going to be huge! |
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| Media Reality |
[Jun. 10th, 2008|10:25 am] |
Poignant article on the whole mother daughter dynamic. If any of you guys read it, comments here would be great. What it made me think about is that our lives aren't going to be idyllically perfect. Family life is stressful. That's why so many people who are financially able to live alone, end up doing so. (Then some of them bemoan their lack of a partner.)
The Zbigster is graduating from High School today, and Maddy is trying to get out of attending based on her homework and dance rehearsal obligations. Empty nesting is just around the corner here in Prisstopia. |
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| Gyrations |
[May. 11th, 2008|09:35 pm] |
I went to see a modern dance performance today. All I knew beforehand, was that my daughter’s friend was in it. It was an end of the year recital by 7 to 15 year olds. They all participate in the choreography, and the work was quite advanced. I thought about how much communication there is in gesture as they were able to transmit mood. Some of the dance steps were straight out of yoga class, and they used muscle to lift each other. Facial expressions were a big part of the storytelling as well.
It was a mother-daughter day, my son having demurred at the balletic excursion, and we also went to a vegetarian restaurant to hang out with some raw fooders. I traded lists of smoothie ingredients with a few people. One guy said that he feels an energy rush every time he drinks coconut water. Sometimes pineapple does the same thing to me.
On the way home, we stopped for produce at the Jedi market. I bought a cactus leaf, which has now been shredded in the cuisinart, and mixed with cilantro, onion, lime juice, tomato, and mexican spices.
We did quite a bit of walking too. I feel tired, but also, really good. |
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| Jeremiad |
[Apr. 30th, 2008|05:24 pm] |
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/04/the_full_wright_transcript.php
The Atlantic Monthly site posted the full text of aptly named Jeremiah Wright April 28th interview at the National Press Club. I didn't find it to be bizarre or shocking, Political dissent from religious sources has an ancient tradition. He is advocating for a less militaristic society, and I would be in favor of that. As to fears about biological weapons, we did develop and stockpile anthrax bacteria, so far from being unimaginable, an attempt at preparation for germ warfare by the American government has already happened.
Contrary to what I have been hearing as a television news sound bite, he did not specifically say that HIV/Aids was developed on purpose to infect black Americans. He did refer to an alarmist book and author. Not having read the book in question, I don't know the content. Even if it is as unfounded as the newscasters seem to imply, our lack of priority for access to healthcare does have the effect of shortening the lives of the low-income, who are disproportionately of minority ethnic groups.
One more thing: I had no idea that Protestants had co-opted the term "Liberation Theology". That's so cool! |
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| Raw-k Roll! |
[Apr. 28th, 2008|02:44 pm] |
(Sing this to the tune of "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley)
We're familiar with food that's cooked
You used to eat it and so did I
Just a taste is what I have in mind
You won't know if you like raw, until you try
Just a word about how great I've been feeling
Since I entered live foods land-
Never gonna steam it up
Never gonna boil it down
Never gonna roast a crown and skirt you
Never gonna gonna grill walleye
Never gonna braise Birds Eye
Never gonna toast on rye, and serve it to you
I've not been at this for very long
I know it all looks strange if you've not tried it
That's the message of this song
We could have pineapple, or raw banana split
And if you ask me why I do this
The results are easy to see-
Never gonna steam it up
Never gonna boil it down
Never gonna roast a crown and skirt you
Never gonna make you fry
Never gonna bake a pie
Never gonna carmine dye, and squirt you
Never gonna steam it up
Never gonna boil it down
Never gonna roast a crown and skirt you
Never gonna gonna grill walleye
Never gonna braise Birds Eye
Never gonna toast on rye, and serve it to you
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| Nightly Noobs |
[Apr. 26th, 2008|09:00 pm] |
Stay tuned for the Nightly Noobs with your anchors: May Zhorboubs and Fabula Snockers
Our meteorologist Ray Kneeskiez has the weather forecast
Tay Thurble will fill you in on the sports scores
Health reporter Rick Olah with a word on Spring allergies
The farm report is by Till Theland
Restuarant trends from Sue Shi
Political reports from Cam Payntrail and Em Tipromise
Special reports tonight from:
Global warming alarmist Harry Binger
Economist Law Fercurf
And art critic Jess O.
As always
Movie reviews from Moe Shun and Music scene by Lei Dievfspaine
Stay tuned! |
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| MinHaggadah - Passover Shopping |
[Apr. 19th, 2008|11:34 am] |
I told my daughter that I was going to buy some holiday groceries. She asked me what I was going to get. I already had apples, but we still needed the horseradish and more eggs. There was also the matter of the matzah.
"Don't we also need to get an orange?"
"If you say that we need an orange, then I will get an orange."
"But don't we NEED an orange."
"If an orange is part of your minhag, then we should have one."
She tried the phrase "supposed to" on me, but that didn't specifically apply either.
So, about the orange:
The seder plate includes five symbolic foods, although the seder is based around three symbolic foods including the unleavened bread which is not even one of the five on the plate. A Venn diagram might be useful here. Israeli seder plates include a space for a fresh green in addition to the mild parsley and the bitter horseradish. This is usually lettuce, and my haggadah does not mention any symbolism for it. An orange is not among the five.
There is a very modern story, probably originating in our lifetimes, and in my opinion, like an earlier one about George Washington and the cherry tree, quite likely after the fact, about the passover orange. Today there are many female rabbis, but this is a phenomenon of the last half century. Before that, rabbis were all male. Orthodox synagogues still do not have any women in rabbinical roles. Since those guys say that they are doing everything correctly, and all else is inauthentic imitation, adherents would be of the opinion that there STILL are no women rabbis.
We could get into many advantages and disadvantages of an all-male clergy. I like the idea that it gives men something to do. Hanging out with their rabbi and discussing a Jewish equivalent of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin provides camaraderie and defrays boredom. This can contribute to a congenial home life. When women are discouraged from this esoteric knowledge, some of them desire inclusion. For example, if I were more informed, I might understand the significance of the not-so-bitter Israeli lettuce. There is also an increasing trend of clerical authoritarianism, I see that as the real issue in this citrus conversation. When both sexes are involved in a process, that egalitarianism is transmitted to those they serve. That would be the congregations.
Returning to the orange:
Once upon a time, not too long ago, a young woman asked her rabbi if she could also become a rabbi when she grew up. He responded: "When women can be rabbis, there will be an orange on the seder plate." Since that time, oranges have shoe-horned their way onto crowded holiday tables.
The haggadah doesn't say anything directly about why an egg is included either, only that you need one. Tradition has always been an evolving fusion.
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| Twitter Overload |
[Apr. 7th, 2008|12:03 pm] |
In the interest of de-cluttering the ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) pr1ss journal, I have created the pr1ss_raw_food journal. Now all of my twitters will be preserved there in daily amalgamations. Everything else that I twitter-post about will go there as well. This main journal will be for the usual songs, poems, political rants, bragging about the PrissKids. There will be some food writing, but I will try to avoid simple lists.
In other words:
Out with the new (raw vegan) spam.
Back to the old spam!
Update: The only way to direct daily twitter posts to a new location was to delete my loudtwitter account, and create a new one. Their menu has an easy way to change the source (which twitter account you access,) but no way to change the destination (your blog or site.) Facebook does its own imports, so that wasn't affected. |
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| Ode to a Haircut |
[Apr. 5th, 2008|09:07 am] |
(Sing this to the tune of "Somewhere Out There"
Photos are at http://pr1ss.blogspot.com/2008/04/ode-to-haircut.html)
Somewhere nearby I hear the buzzing sound
A song of barbershop clippers hummed in four part round
Even closer my favorite seventeen-year old
Soon to undergo shortening of his glorious locks of gold
And though no razor`s touched his hair since last June or July
I`d like to think underneath that mane is still the same sweet guy
To the strip mall a mere mile away
First thing on the agenda of a balmy spring break day
As the strands fall it soon reveals a trace
Of what is becoming a grown-up chiseled face
Floor-length tresses no longer decorate my mature tyke
But by summer they may evolve into a surfer spike
This has been a successful haircut event
I for one am glad that both of us went
And the clippers continue buzzing along
Will your own teenager soon attend a concert of their song?
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| Tw(Eats) for the day |
[Apr. 3rd, 2008|04:07 am] |
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Chirptastically flown in by LoudTwitter |
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| Tw(Eats) for the day |
[Apr. 2nd, 2008|04:07 am] |
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Chirptastically flown in by LoudTwitter |
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| Tw(Eats) for the day |
[Apr. 1st, 2008|04:05 am] |
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Chirptastically flown in by LoudTwitter |
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| Tw(Eats) for the day |
[Mar. 31st, 2008|04:02 am] |
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Chirptastically flown in by LoudTwitter |
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