"Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom" Albert Einstein

"A dame who knows the ropes isn't likely to get tied up." Mae West

Monday, January 31, 2011

Music Monday

50 years ago today, a HAM was sent into outer space.

What differentiates Ham's mission from all the other primate flights to this point is that he was not merely a passenger, and the results from his test flight led directly to the mission Alan Shepard would make on May 5, 1961 aboard Freedom 7.


Saturday, January 29, 2011

ACE Meme - Part II

From Sunday Stealing:

HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF YOUR HOME COUNTRY?
I've been out of the country and out in the country.

WEAKNESSES?

None. I'm superwoman with super powers.

FIRST JOB?

Filing at the family business

EVER DONE A PRANK CALL?

Never

DO YOU THINK EVERYONE OUT THERE HAS A SOUL MATE?


More than one, but one at a time please. Sole mates cause fewer problems than multiple mates.



WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU DID STEALING?

Steal? I don't steal.  "Never ask for what ought to be offered."  Winter's Bone

HAVE YOU EVER HAD SURGERY?

I had a mole removed.  Does that count?

WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?

Smile and hair

HAVE YOU EVER HAD BRACES?

If you saw my overbite, you'd know the answer.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?

Piece of chocolate cake (which I did get this week)

HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT AND WHAT DO YOU WANT THEIR NAMES TO BE? (OR IF YOU HAVE KIDS, TELL US ABOUT THEM.)


I have two daughters and to make things simple, to name the second one, I just rearranged the letters of the first one.

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

Well, there were many of us in the hospital named "Baby Girl."

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST TURN OFF OF THE SEX(ES) YOU'RE ATTRACTED TO?

I refuse to publicly disclose the type of sex that turns me off.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU LIKED ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL?

Nothing

WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO DO YOU USE?

Pantene

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?

Who hand writes anything these days?

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

ham as long as it isn't iridescent.


ANY BAD HABITS?

Many, but none that are annoying.

ARE YOU A JEALOUS PERSON?

No, I'm happy you have what you have (unless you stole it).

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?

Sure, I'm easy maintenance and a good listener.

DO YOU AGREE WITH FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS?

If they are adults and they are happy with that arrangement, it's fine with me.

DO LOOKS MATTER?

Only if they're dirty looks.

HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER?

Pound out a fast and furious song on the piano.


WOULD YOU RATHER GAIN 58 POUNDS OR LOSE 58 POUNDS?

Gain. When you lose a great deal of weight, people think you're deathly ill. Besides, it's much more fun eating fattening things than dieting.

WHAT'S YOUR MAIN GOAL IN LIFE?

To live another day.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD?

erector set


HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE?

An infinite number since it also has a calculator.

WERE YOU A FAN OF BARNEY AS A LITTLE KID?

Barney Fife, yes.


DO YOU USE SARCASM?

Wry is not sarcasm

MASHED POTATOES OR MACARONI AND CHEESE?

depends on how they're made, but, please, neither from a box

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A LOVER?

Equipment

WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES?

Shermy, Catchy, Mom

 FAVORITE SUPER POWER?

telepathy

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Wacky Wednesday Wisdom

"If you're playing a poker game and you look around the table and can't tell who the sucker is, it's you."

Paul Newman, born 1/26/1925
 (For some reason I'm stuck in 1925 this week.)





Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Tuesday Titillation


A dentist numbs patients with dirndls and cleavage.


"The sight of cleavages gets patients narcotised and distracted from the pain rather quickly.  Some patients’ mouths are already wide open on entering the practice.’

The change has been such a hit that she's turned the entire office into an "Alpine Lodge."  No mention if she serves patients beer in steins to rinse their mouths.

Monday, January 24, 2011

1925 Redux

The 1925 version of  "Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue" that I posted yesterday, reminded me of a photo I have of my grandparents who were married that same year.  Here is the favorite photo that includes their automobile properly decorated for the era:

Saturday, January 22, 2011

ACE Meme - Part I

From Sunday Stealing:

1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT?

From way back in college days -burn on a finger from playing "fondue" with a plastic straw in a candle holder with an open flame; hot dripping plastic can seriously melt some skin.

2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM

paint

3. DO YOU SNORE, GRIND YOUR TEETH, OR TALK IN YOUR SLEEP?

There are rumors that I snore, but no one has yet proved it to me.

4. WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?

You name it, I probably like it.

5. WHAT TIME WERE YOU BORN?

In furniture terms, my time is mid-century modern.


6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?

To have a blizzard-free birthday, but perhaps not a Blizzard-free birthday.


7. WHAT DO YOU MISS?

Daughter #1

8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION(S)?

grandmother's locket

9. HOW TALL ARE YOU?

five foot two, eyes of blue  (singing begins around 1:00)



10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC?

only when the lid is shut



11. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK?

Nope, that's when I start roaming around the neighborhood

12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY?

Must be long ago because I can't remember.

13. WHAT'S YOUR WORST FEAR?

that federal and state spending won't be slashed substantially in all areas

14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON PEOPLE YOU'RE ATTRACTED TO?

If I'm attracted to them, it doesn't matter that they even have hair or eyes.

15. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF PROPOSING?

I can proposition anyone anywhere.

16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK?

Neither. See #11

17. FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING?

Anything but ham, pineapple, and anchovies, otherwise I've never met a pizza I didn't like.

18. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

coconut cream pie

19. FAVORITE COLOR OF ALL TIME?

Blue

20. HAVE YOU EVER EATEN A GOLDFISH?

No - too many bones and not enough meat

21. WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEANINGFUL GIFT YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED?

repeat: grandmother's locket

22. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH?

Once in a while



23. ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED?

No.  I prefer the natural order of body parts.


24. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND?

whatever is on sale 75% off

25. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE/MALE CELEBRITY?

A witty rule breaker: Mae West



26. DO YOU HAVE A PET RIGHT NOW?

yes

27. WHAT KIND IS IT?

felines, canine


28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING?

Yes, and he leaves me every day.

30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED?

"a number from one to a hundred"

31. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES?

Grey is best.


32. FAVORITE QUOTE?

The two at the top of this blog and this one:

 " A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others." - Ayn Rand

33. FAVORITE PLACE?

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Random political rants

1.  A mentally disturbed person goes berserk at a political gathering and kills and injures people.  These things do not happen because of rhetoric, political or otherwise.  If that were the case, these types of incidents would happen more often.  Discussions, disputes, and anger have been present in politics since this country was founded.  If venomous rhetoric was the cause, there would been many more politicians being treated for bullet wounds.

2.  Stopping demonstrations at or near funerals would be another step in denying free speech in this county.  It may be disrespectful, despicable, and somewhat malicious, but it is a Constitutional right.  If we aren't careful in defending free speech, we'll soon see censorship appearing elsewhere, such as classic novels. Oops.

3.  Illinois lawmakers passed a 66% increase in the state income tax rate.  It's a "temporary increase." I remember when the 2.5% rate was only tempory, then made permanent because "it really isn't an increase in taxes; just maintaining what we have now."  The same thing was said when the rate rose to 3% and then made permanent.  With the corporate tax rate also increasing, just say bye-bye to businesses in Illinois.  Neighboring states are much more business-friendly.  Perhaps lawmakers should be considering making substantial cuts in  padded State expenditures instead of trying to milk the taxpayers dry.

Some argue that Illinois' income tax rate is low compared to most states, but Illinois has a flat tax with very few allowable deductions (retirement income is one) except for the standard deduction and few tax credits.  Most other states allow similar deductions as those available on federal income tax returns and offer numerous tax credits.  The result is generally higher taxes in Illinois, despite the "low" rate.

4.  The State of Illinois does not tax ANY retirement income.  The State and its retirement system are in financial trouble. Yet, state employees continue to get generous pensions and benefits.  In fact, many government bodies give employees substantial raises their last four years prior to retirement so that the employees will receive larger pensions upon retirement. Even the re-elected governor gave substantial salary increases to his staff late last year.  (Pensions are 100% of the average salary of the last four years of employment - for the rest of their lives!)  Of course the lawmakers don't want to tax retirement benefits - that's a tax that would directly affect their own pensions.

5.  Residency requirements to run for office are a big joke, especially when it comes to Chicago politics.  Chicago election board and a Chicago judge ruled Rahm Emanuel met the residency requirements to run for mayor of Chicago, even though he hadn't lived there the past two years. Now you understand why Chicago politics and corruption are one and the same.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Tuesday Titillation

Indiana University has just opened the Indiana University Cinema to showcase its film collections. 

There's just a little problem:  What should they do with all those 2000 +  stag films?


For you young-uns, we're not talking about deer here.  Stag films were pornographic, mostly underground, films often shown only in private homes and clubs, way before pornography was somewhat legitimized in the USA in the 1970's.

Indiana University owns the Kinsey Collection of films.  Yes, that Dr. Alfred Kinsey who did sexual research for years prior to his death in 1956.  The collection includes over 14,000 films and videos including sex-education and art-house movies and are grouped in the following categories: 

Historical Stag films
Peepshow
Sex Education
Animal Sex Behavior
Swedish Erotica and Art
Exploitation
Pornographic feature films.

The stag films were made from 1920's to 1960's and represents the largest category in the collection.

You can view some film posters of the collection here.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Music Monday

Time to celebrate the New Year.  Those in the know say the recession is over and 2011 will be a great year.  What do you think?

Sunday, January 2, 2011

The Over the Edge Meme

From Sunday Stealing:

1. What curse word do you use the most?
Crap

2. Do you own an iPod?
No, but only because I'm too busy doing other things to listen to an iPod or any other audio device so I can't justify the purchase.

3. Do you still remember the first person you kissed?
No, but it was probably my mom or dad

4. Would you rather take the picture or be in the picture?
My face has broken too many cameras; I'd rather be the photographer.

5. Has anyone ever called you lazy?
Not me entirely, only my left eye.

6. Has anyone told you a secret this week?
No, but if you know a good one, I'm willing to listen and I promise not to tell.



7. What is the first thing you notice about someone that you are attracted to?
How quickly I remember that I'm married.

8. What are you looking forward to?
At least 30 more New Year's Days

9. Do you own any band t-shirts?
No, but I have some band pants.


10. When was the last time you slept on the floor?
Once a week.  I snore and suck dirt out of the carpeting simultaneously. No vacuum cleaner required.

11. What did you do last night?
Got dinner for my parents, watched a DVD, read, slept - typical Saturday night for me these days

12. Do you get along better with the same sex or the opposite sex?
Opposite sex. Most women are generally too dramatic and emotional for me.  I've been told I think and react like a man, and I have more interests in common with men than I do with most women. 

13. Who was the last person to make you mad?



14. Who would you want to be tied to for 24 hours?
Me kangaroo.




15. T or F: All’s fair in love and war?
False - It's always best to follow a moral code, which would probably make war a moot issue.

16. What’s something you’ve always wanted?


17. Do you enjoy spending time with your mother?
Yes, every moment spent with her is precious now at her age.


18. Do you want a bright yellow ‘06 mustang?
How about a '66 bright red mustang instead?


19. Where is/are your best friend(s)?
Right next to me - felines to the left, canine to the right. They can be a bit catty, but they are doggedly loyal.


20. Would you rather swim in the ocean or a lake?
Ocean - swimming with sharks keeps you motivated