Past and Future Predictions in Technology

In 1993 AT&T ran this seriers of ads.  Most of these have arrived. 



And here's a video from Microsoft about future technology in 2019:

Photo Friday

Y'all have accents, but we don't



Here's very interesting site where someone has mapped North American dialects.  You can click on an area and You-tube links are shown where you can hear the spoken dialects.

As I have said many times, I live in an area where we have no accent. This site indicates I live in Central Midland, the "Least distinctive dialect in the U.S."   His map indicates South Florida residents speak a similar way.


According to my SIL, who has a degree in linguistics in addition to computer engineering, we do have a quirky use of words in Central Illinois.  In most parts of the country "any more" is used in the negative (i.e. I don't want any more), but in our area we also use the words "any more" in the positive to mean "nowadays" (i.e. Any more I enjoy doing that.).  So we don't have accents around here, but we like to rearrange words to keep people guessing what we really mean.

PSA - Why the other lines at the checkout move faster

Here's an interesting video explaining checkout lines and why you should shop at stores with a single queue line if you're in a hurry.

Tuesday Titillation

They always brag about their big equipment

but now there's proof:  country boys' parts are bigger than city boys.

In the December issue of the journal Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Bulgarian doctors report results of a 6,200-boy survey showing “a modest though significant difference … with respect to penile size between urban and rural populations.”

These doctors used the latest scientific instruments to make their calculations.  A rigid tape measure was used for determining length and an orchidometer was used for measuring testicle size. An orchidometer is a series of beads that one holds up to the testicle and judges size by comparison (eye-balling it).

Now you understand why John Denver was thanking God.

Music Monday - For those of you meeting the family this week

Photo Friday

Christmas 1953

Thursday Thoughts - Repost just to annoy certain people

You long-time readers know of which post I'm speaking. For you new followers you can read it here.

Now if you live in warmer climates or don't want to deal with scratchy sweater material, you can purchase ugly Christmas sweater t-shirts here. I didn't see any with blinking lights or 3-D red noses so you may be forced to wear the real thing if you want to go first-class.

And here's a catchy apropos seasonal song for you to enjoy:

Gift suggestion for raising a feminist child

Tuesday Titillation

In Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, a local postal worker not only delivered a package to a local business, he delivered his OWN package.

"A male postal worker was arrested for lewd and lascivious behavior after walking naked into an office to deliver mail"

It was his personal effort at trying to bring some holiday cheer.

"he told an employee in that office that he was going to come back naked to deliver mail because she seemed stressed out and he wanted to cheer her up and make her laugh. "

She apparently didn't appreciate getting "junk" mail.

9 Questions to Ponder & Good Advice from Jefferson

Music Monday

Oh, Ricky, how I loved you when I was but a wee thing and you were a handsome older man. And I do believe those stories that you had sex with thousands of women. Who could resist those dreamy eyes?

Ninja Meme-Part I

From Sunday Stealing:

1. What do you add to your coffee?
Coca-cola, hold the coffee

2. What are you reading now?
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

3. Do you own a gun?

I won't tell. It's best to keep 'em guessing.

4. Are you registered to vote?

Unfortunately I'm probably still in the system.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?

Only if I have to take off my clothes or get on a scale.

6. What do you think of hot dogs?
I'm a fan of big (Chicago) wieners.

7. Favorite Christmas Song?
If this doesn't make you feel good after hearing it, you're a Grinch.



8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Coca-cola (Why have a doughnut and coffee when you can get your caffeine and sugar an easier way?)

9. Can you do push ups?
No, but my bras can.

10. What was the name of your first boyfriend/girlfriend?
I think is was Randy in first grade, but I was always concerned he was trying to look under my dress.

11. What’s your favorite piece of jewelery?
I don't wear any jewelry except on rare occasions, but I do treasure a small locket I have that belonged to my grandmother.

12. Favorite hobby?
writing or going to auctions

13. Do you work with people who idolize you?
Since I now work in a single person office, I suppose that answer is yes (and no).

14. Do you have ADD?

No, but I shake my foot if I'm bored.

15. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself?
that I'm not 5 inches taller and this just isn't working:

16. What’s your Middle name?
The last name of some stranger.

17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.
The wind is howling.  I'm hungry.  BTL sandwich.

18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday.
Coca-cola, romaine lettuce, bacon

19. Name 3 beverages you regularly drink.
water, Coca-cola, milk

20. Current worry right now?

What, me worry?  It's easier to laugh about things.

21. What side do you dress to?
I'm a female, so it's not that complicated.


22. Favorite place to be?
Home

23. How did you bring in the New Year?

zzzzzzzzzzzz

24. Where would you like to go?
Anywhere but the bathroom. I've seen too much of it lately.

25. Name three people who will see today.

mom, dad,  and my brother-in-law from California who has been brave enough to stay at my house this week -a decision he may regret when he flies back home tomorrow and the airplane rest room is occupied.

TGI Saturday!

What a week!  I'm finally back and all three parents are now home from the various hospitals.  Yes, they were not all in the same hospital but at least they were in the same town.

FIL, who gave us a scare earlier this year, has amazed us again and recovered from pneumonia, an ear infection, and very serious sepsis. We knew he was back to normal when he did the Crypt-o-quote on Thursday.  He will be home to celebrate his 99th birthday next week.

What was originally thought to be more serious for one of my parents during an emergency room trip, turned out to be dehydration from intestinal flu.  The original diagnosis was discarded when the following day the other parent and my brother came down with vomiting and diarrhea. So my two parents were in the hospital getting fluids while my brother took care of himself and I cleaned the bathrooms.  We brought them back home on Wednesday.

I was bragging to them about how cautious I had been using latex gloves and sanitizers and how I rarely get sick because I have such a great immune system, when Mother Nature had had enough of my boastfulness and decided to make me pay for it. Thursday morning brought me 8 hours of misery ejecting fluids simultaneously from top and bottom, followed by 12 hours of sleep, and Friday spent gaining back my strength. I haven't been this sick in decades.

It is hard enough to deal with this kind of illness when you are normally very healthy and have the ability to run very fast, shower, and clean the bathroom before the next wave begins.  When one is elderly, however, and needs medical equipment simply to walk, speed isn't an option and the results are humiliating and degrading to the ailing patient.  If I find out who gave this to my dad and started it all, I'm gonna make him pay!

Of course, now that it is all over and under control, we laugh about how most of our discussions this week involved bodily fluids - blood, mucus, phlegm, vomit, diarrhea, urine.  Why there wasn't any pus this week is a mystery to all of us. The fact that semen was absent wasn't even questioned.

Quick update

Maximum number was reached this morning. 

This blog may be quiet for a few days

I am getting mighty close to the maximum number of my parents who can be in the hospital at the same time. Even the lone wolf remaining needs assistance.

Despite what Meatloaf said, 2 out of 3 is bad.

Snow tonight!

Thursday Thoughts - Civil Unions in Illinois

It appears that Illinois will become the fifth state in the US to allow civil unions.  The law is awaiting the governor's signature and he has indicated he will sign it. 

 According to the website, Equality Illinois, this Act will ensure all couples (including heterosexual, not just gay/lesbian) in Illinois access to nearly 650 plus rights, benefits, and protections guaranteed to married couples and their families, including:

*Emergency medical decision-making power and hospital visitation rights
*Equal access to state spousal benefits (including workers' compensation, spousal pension coverage, etc.)
*Equal access to domestic relations laws and procedure (including divorce and division of property)
*Equal access to civil actions dependent upon spousal status (wrongful death actions)
*Equal tax treatment at the state and local level
*Spousal testimonial privilege
*Inheritance rights and equal estate tax treatment
•Couples would be able to enter into a civil union by obtaining a license, exchanging vows before a secular or willing religious official, and then registering their unions. All current rules governing annulment, divorce, and property division would apply to partners in a civil union.

It seems to me that the only thing this bill did was create another fee generating license that duplicates the marriage license rules - a duplication done simply to appease those people/religions who define marriage as a union between two people of opposing genders - semantics.  But then, governments are experts in duplication.
 
It is surprising that Illinois legislators would pass this bill in the wake of the financial situation of this state.  The biggest ramification from this bill will be the inclusion of additional people collecting spousal benefits on state employee pensions.  The state pension program is one major reason Illinois is in such financial dire. The collection of civil union license fees will not absorb the additional expenses on the pension funds.  In addition, private insurance and businesses will have increased costs when mandated to provide coverage for these additional people.
 
Many of the other issues can be resolved through legal contracts such as wills, powers of attorney, estate planning, and other legal documents, which many married couples also currently utilize. Equal treatment for income tax issues is a moot point since Illinois has the same flat tax rate and exemption amount applied to both single and married persons. Spousal testimony privilege should be revoked.
 
What should have been done is to get rid of all spousal benefits to married couples, eliminate marriage license requirements, and treat all individuals in the state equally under the laws.