Thursday, September 23, 2004
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TICK TICK ....
A man died and went to heaven. As he stood in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks behind him. He asked, "What are all those clocks?" St. Peter answered, "Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on earth has a Lie-Clock. Every time you lie the hands on your clock will move. "Oh," said the man, "whose clock is that?" "That's Mother Teresa's. The hands have never moved, indicating that she never told a lie." "Incredible," said the man. "And whose clock is that one?" St. Peter responded, "That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The hands have moved twice, telling us that Abe told only two lies in his entire life." "Where's Bush's clock?" asked the man. "Bush's clock is in Jesus' office. He's using it as a ceiling fan."
A man died and went to heaven. As he stood in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks behind him. He asked, "What are all those clocks?" St. Peter answered, "Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on earth has a Lie-Clock. Every time you lie the hands on your clock will move. "Oh," said the man, "whose clock is that?" "That's Mother Teresa's. The hands have never moved, indicating that she never told a lie." "Incredible," said the man. "And whose clock is that one?" St. Peter responded, "That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The hands have moved twice, telling us that Abe told only two lies in his entire life." "Where's Bush's clock?" asked the man. "Bush's clock is in Jesus' office. He's using it as a ceiling fan."
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
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GIVE US A SONG...
I have a story to share from the bank instead of the bar this time. I worked at the former today and am off work from the latter tonight.
A little old lady came to my teller window and said that she needed some help. She seemed nervous and excited and asked me to look up the balance in her savings account. While I was doing that, she kept talking nervously, saying that it was her money and she should be able to do what she wanted with it. She also said that she thought it would be better to get a check, safer than handing him cash.
This was starting to concern me a little, because the bank is always warning us that old people are easy targets for scams and we should be alert for signs that they are being taken advantage of, so I'm wondering how to look out for her without being too nosy.
I wrote her balance down and handed it to her, and she said, "Oh, good." Then she handed a note back to me and said, "I need a check for this." On the paper was written $2,187.54, and the name of a music store, with an address and phone number.
At this point, she couldn't contain her excitement any longer, and she said, "I always had a piano my whole life until I moved and I had to sell mine. But they have a small one that I can have in my apartment. I think it's okay to use my savings." My impression was that she was afraid someone would criticize her for spending her savings on a piano, so I told her I thought she should spend her money any way that makes her happy.
The piano is being delivered tomorrow and she is so excited, she can hardly stand it. She invited me to stop by and visit her any time.
I have a story to share from the bank instead of the bar this time. I worked at the former today and am off work from the latter tonight.
A little old lady came to my teller window and said that she needed some help. She seemed nervous and excited and asked me to look up the balance in her savings account. While I was doing that, she kept talking nervously, saying that it was her money and she should be able to do what she wanted with it. She also said that she thought it would be better to get a check, safer than handing him cash.
This was starting to concern me a little, because the bank is always warning us that old people are easy targets for scams and we should be alert for signs that they are being taken advantage of, so I'm wondering how to look out for her without being too nosy.
I wrote her balance down and handed it to her, and she said, "Oh, good." Then she handed a note back to me and said, "I need a check for this." On the paper was written $2,187.54, and the name of a music store, with an address and phone number.
At this point, she couldn't contain her excitement any longer, and she said, "I always had a piano my whole life until I moved and I had to sell mine. But they have a small one that I can have in my apartment. I think it's okay to use my savings." My impression was that she was afraid someone would criticize her for spending her savings on a piano, so I told her I thought she should spend her money any way that makes her happy.
The piano is being delivered tomorrow and she is so excited, she can hardly stand it. She invited me to stop by and visit her any time.
Monday, September 20, 2004
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A NEW LEAF FOR FALL
I really am just as tired of politics as everybody else. I get sucked in sometimes, but I'm making a pledge to avoid political debate for at least a month. Too much trouble.
Speaking of leaves, though, this is one of the times of year when I miss Chicago. Fall is great time of year and it doesn't feel the same in the tropics.
I really am just as tired of politics as everybody else. I get sucked in sometimes, but I'm making a pledge to avoid political debate for at least a month. Too much trouble.
Speaking of leaves, though, this is one of the times of year when I miss Chicago. Fall is great time of year and it doesn't feel the same in the tropics.
Friday, September 17, 2004
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A CHALLENGE TO US ALL
I've been thinking a lot about the comments of Aaron Austin (Really Is That So) in response to my comments on his blog. Here is the last comment I received from him:
"Don't give up yet on me, Ryan has got me thinking with his comments. Which is exactly what I was hoping for. I've rarely had my conservative views challenged in a reasonable way. It's causing me to take a closer look at what I believe. It also is pointing out to me my vast lack of experience and knowledge. I would like to be better at not lumping people and view together. I want to be able to see through the claims of liberals and conservatives alike. Ryan has made some very good points and we've emailed back and forth a little. I don't think I'm completely beyond hope. I hope we can continue to share insights with one another."
I believe most of the people who read my blog regularly (all six of you) have views that are not very far from my own, and if you have read my blog much, you know that I'm a liberal. If you read Aaron's blog, it won't take long to recognize his conservative views. But I am so impressed by his willingness to have his views challenged, that I hope we can argue with reason and open mindedness, and with respect for each other.
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I've been thinking a lot about the comments of Aaron Austin (Really Is That So) in response to my comments on his blog. Here is the last comment I received from him:
"Don't give up yet on me, Ryan has got me thinking with his comments. Which is exactly what I was hoping for. I've rarely had my conservative views challenged in a reasonable way. It's causing me to take a closer look at what I believe. It also is pointing out to me my vast lack of experience and knowledge. I would like to be better at not lumping people and view together. I want to be able to see through the claims of liberals and conservatives alike. Ryan has made some very good points and we've emailed back and forth a little. I don't think I'm completely beyond hope. I hope we can continue to share insights with one another."
I believe most of the people who read my blog regularly (all six of you) have views that are not very far from my own, and if you have read my blog much, you know that I'm a liberal. If you read Aaron's blog, it won't take long to recognize his conservative views. But I am so impressed by his willingness to have his views challenged, that I hope we can argue with reason and open mindedness, and with respect for each other.
LOST IN SPACE
I have developed Blogger's Block. I either have too much to say and don't know where to begin, or my brain really has stepped out for air.
Watch this space.
I have developed Blogger's Block. I either have too much to say and don't know where to begin, or my brain really has stepped out for air.
Watch this space.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
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EMPATHY
The father of a dear friend of mine passed away this week. It's hard to know how to show support for a friend when he is dealing with a loss like that. But I think it's important to make an effort, even if it feels inadequate.
I didn't know my friend's dad, but I love my friend.
The father of a dear friend of mine passed away this week. It's hard to know how to show support for a friend when he is dealing with a loss like that. But I think it's important to make an effort, even if it feels inadequate.
I didn't know my friend's dad, but I love my friend.
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
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SLOGANATOR
The background story is as follows:
Earlier this year, the website for the Bush-Cheney campaign - the real one, paid for by MBNA America and Richard Scaife - featured a "create your own banner" tool, where you could enter your own slogan and print out your own poster, with the Bush-Cheney logo, and a note at the bottom "paid for by Bush-Cheney '04, Inc."
The best "organization behavior/sociological" part is that they must not have thought about the fact that Democrats, of course, wouldn't be able to get enough of this. The original sloganator accepted everything, then it started censoring profanity and words like "dictator," and "evil." Nevertheless, many clever folks exploited the sloganator to their own ends before its sad demise only a couple of weeks after its birth, and its mourners assembled some of the best for the slide show.
This is absolutely hysterical in terms of "what were they (not) thinking"? The link is best enjoyed with the sound on: http://homepages.nyu.edu/~meo232/sloganator/
The background story is as follows:
Earlier this year, the website for the Bush-Cheney campaign - the real one, paid for by MBNA America and Richard Scaife - featured a "create your own banner" tool, where you could enter your own slogan and print out your own poster, with the Bush-Cheney logo, and a note at the bottom "paid for by Bush-Cheney '04, Inc."
The best "organization behavior/sociological" part is that they must not have thought about the fact that Democrats, of course, wouldn't be able to get enough of this. The original sloganator accepted everything, then it started censoring profanity and words like "dictator," and "evil." Nevertheless, many clever folks exploited the sloganator to their own ends before its sad demise only a couple of weeks after its birth, and its mourners assembled some of the best for the slide show.
This is absolutely hysterical in terms of "what were they (not) thinking"? The link is best enjoyed with the sound on: http://homepages.nyu.edu/~meo232/sloganator/
Sunday, September 05, 2004
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GAS HOGS - YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK
(Don't Blame the Saudis)
I've been reading Newsweek.
This makes me angry:
In 1990, SUV's made up 5% of American cars. Today they make up 55%. They violate all energy-efficiency standards because of an absurd loophole in the law that allows them to be classified as trucks.
This doesn't:
Kristen daughter-of-Al Gore has written a Bridget Jones-Carrie Pilby type book called "Sammy's Hill," a comic novel about a Capitol Hill staffer. Anybody out there read it?
(Don't Blame the Saudis)
I've been reading Newsweek.
This makes me angry:
In 1990, SUV's made up 5% of American cars. Today they make up 55%. They violate all energy-efficiency standards because of an absurd loophole in the law that allows them to be classified as trucks.
This doesn't:
Kristen daughter-of-Al Gore has written a Bridget Jones-Carrie Pilby type book called "Sammy's Hill," a comic novel about a Capitol Hill staffer. Anybody out there read it?
Friday, September 03, 2004
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ETCH-A-SKETCH PRESIDENT
"The party of Lincoln and Liberty was transmogrified into the party of hairy-backed swamp developers and corporate shills, faith-based economists, fundamentalist bullies with Bibles, Christians of convenience, freelance racists, misanthropic fratboys, shrieking midgets of AM radio, tax cheats, nihilists in golf pants, brownshirts in pinstripes, sweatshop tycoons, hacks, fakirs, aggressive dorks, Lamborghini libertarians, people who believe Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk was filmed in Roswell, NewMexico, little honkers out to diminish the rest of us, Newt’s evil spawn and their Etch-A-Sketch president, a dull and rigid man suspicious of the free flow of information and of secular institutions, whose philosophy is a jumble of badly sutured body parts trying to walk. Republicans: The No.1 reason the rest of the world thinks we’re deaf, dumb and dangerous." - Garrison Keillor
I had to pass this along. Wouldn't have guessed Garrison Keillor had that in him. I'm impressed.
"The party of Lincoln and Liberty was transmogrified into the party of hairy-backed swamp developers and corporate shills, faith-based economists, fundamentalist bullies with Bibles, Christians of convenience, freelance racists, misanthropic fratboys, shrieking midgets of AM radio, tax cheats, nihilists in golf pants, brownshirts in pinstripes, sweatshop tycoons, hacks, fakirs, aggressive dorks, Lamborghini libertarians, people who believe Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk was filmed in Roswell, NewMexico, little honkers out to diminish the rest of us, Newt’s evil spawn and their Etch-A-Sketch president, a dull and rigid man suspicious of the free flow of information and of secular institutions, whose philosophy is a jumble of badly sutured body parts trying to walk. Republicans: The No.1 reason the rest of the world thinks we’re deaf, dumb and dangerous." - Garrison Keillor
I had to pass this along. Wouldn't have guessed Garrison Keillor had that in him. I'm impressed.
