Tonight I'm leaving town and enjoying 11 straight days away from work thanks to the most glorious word in the automotive world, shutdown. (And an added vacation day for tomorrow to make it a bit sweeter)
I'll be very near a computer, but I doubt I'll be using it much, as I've got some reading, dvd watching, and spending time with the boyfriend to do once the Christmas festivities dwindle down. So, my posting will be even more in-frequent during this time.
To my 3 faithful readers, merry Christmas to you and yours.
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Go Eagles!
I live in Lexington, home of the University of Kentucky Wildcats; where basketball is a religion, and where UK news is more important than actual news. I've grown quite used to that fact, or maybe just numb, no matter how ridiculous I think it is.
So, it is with great pleasure that I present to you a favorable mention of my alma mater, Morehead State, with a glorious dig at UK, in today's H-L opinions page.
Flagship university?
I read with amusement Herald-Leader staff writer Linda B. Blackford's Nov. 29 article, "UK adds compressed semester," concerning UK's first intersession, a group of enrichment courses taught between the fall and spring semesters.
I was amused because Morehead State University and many other public and private institutions in the state have offered these opportunities for more than three decades.
The courses also have been available between the spring and summer sessions and the summer and fall sessions. Next thing you know, UK will be offering tutoring for non-athletes.
Flagship university? More like a rudderless rowboat missing its oars.
Jerry F. Howell Jr. Morehead
So, it is with great pleasure that I present to you a favorable mention of my alma mater, Morehead State, with a glorious dig at UK, in today's H-L opinions page.
Flagship university?
I read with amusement Herald-Leader staff writer Linda B. Blackford's Nov. 29 article, "UK adds compressed semester," concerning UK's first intersession, a group of enrichment courses taught between the fall and spring semesters.
I was amused because Morehead State University and many other public and private institutions in the state have offered these opportunities for more than three decades.
The courses also have been available between the spring and summer sessions and the summer and fall sessions. Next thing you know, UK will be offering tutoring for non-athletes.
Flagship university? More like a rudderless rowboat missing its oars.
Jerry F. Howell Jr. Morehead
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
The Clean Version
It's no wonder I don't buy music at Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart, which promotes itself as selling clean versions of albums, is being sued by a Maryland couple who purchased an LP containing an obscenity - Evanescence's new live CD/DVD, Anywhere But Home - in one of the retail giant's stores, according to The Associated Press. The suit accuses Wal-Mart of deceiving its customers by selling the LP.
The CD did not feature a "parental advisory" warning sticker; Wal-Mart does not sell albums carrying them, per the chain's policy.
I ran into this issue, though in the reverse, years back in my hometown where Wal-Mart is the only place to buy CD's. I bought The Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream without noticing "clean version" on the irritating white sticky label. I did once I got home, and promptly went right back to return it. I want my cuss words, dammit. I also bought The Pumpkins' Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness there and got all my obscenities on the CD and in the booklet since one song is titled "Fuck You", but I believe it was listed as "An Ode to No One" on the outside since that was part of the song title though in parentheses.
I don't like that they don't sell albums with warning labels. In many small towns across America, Wal-Mart is the only place in town since they've run everyone else off. Regardless of your age, this is where you will buy CD's because you have no choice unless you leave town or buy off the internet. Most small towns can't support an independent CD shop where you can get what you want, uncensored. If they want to sell clean CD's, then sell them, but also offer the Parental Advisory version. Not everyone purchasing CD's from Wal-Mart are children.
The thing I find funny about Wal-Mart is that they only sell clean versions of CD's, but take a look at their DVD section...no censorship there. You can buy The Sopranos, The Godfather Series, Sex and the City, and Scarface and buy a copy of Monsters, Inc. and The Lion King too.
This was a CD/DVD combo the Maryland couple bought, so I guess it doesn't count on their clean version policy.
Wal-Mart, which promotes itself as selling clean versions of albums, is being sued by a Maryland couple who purchased an LP containing an obscenity - Evanescence's new live CD/DVD, Anywhere But Home - in one of the retail giant's stores, according to The Associated Press. The suit accuses Wal-Mart of deceiving its customers by selling the LP.
The CD did not feature a "parental advisory" warning sticker; Wal-Mart does not sell albums carrying them, per the chain's policy.
I ran into this issue, though in the reverse, years back in my hometown where Wal-Mart is the only place to buy CD's. I bought The Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream without noticing "clean version" on the irritating white sticky label. I did once I got home, and promptly went right back to return it. I want my cuss words, dammit. I also bought The Pumpkins' Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness there and got all my obscenities on the CD and in the booklet since one song is titled "Fuck You", but I believe it was listed as "An Ode to No One" on the outside since that was part of the song title though in parentheses.
I don't like that they don't sell albums with warning labels. In many small towns across America, Wal-Mart is the only place in town since they've run everyone else off. Regardless of your age, this is where you will buy CD's because you have no choice unless you leave town or buy off the internet. Most small towns can't support an independent CD shop where you can get what you want, uncensored. If they want to sell clean CD's, then sell them, but also offer the Parental Advisory version. Not everyone purchasing CD's from Wal-Mart are children.
The thing I find funny about Wal-Mart is that they only sell clean versions of CD's, but take a look at their DVD section...no censorship there. You can buy The Sopranos, The Godfather Series, Sex and the City, and Scarface and buy a copy of Monsters, Inc. and The Lion King too.
This was a CD/DVD combo the Maryland couple bought, so I guess it doesn't count on their clean version policy.
Friday, December 03, 2004
To Do List
Something funny via my mom.
Some things to do before the Inaugural:
1. Get that abortion you've always wanted.
2. Drink a nice clean glass of water.
3. Cash your social security check.
4. See a doctor of your own choosing.
5. Spend quality time with your draft age child/grandchild.
6. Visit Syria, or any foreign country for that matter.
7. Get that gas mask you've been putting off buying.
8. Hoard gasoline.
9. Borrow books from library before they're banned - Constitutional law books, Catcher in the Rye, Harry Potter, Tropic of Cancer, etc.
10. If you have an idea for an art piece involving a crucifix - do it now.
11. Come out - then go back in - HURRY!
12. Jam in all the Alzheimer's stem cell research you can.
13. Stay out late before the curfews start.
14. Go see Bruce Springsteen before he has his "accident".
15. Go see Mount Rushmore before the Reagan addition.
16. Use the phrase - "you can't do that - this is America".
17. If you're white - marry a black person, if you're black - marry a white person.
18. Take a walk in Yosemite, without being hit by a snowmobile or a base-jumper.
19. Enroll your kid in an accelerated art or music class.
20. Start your school day without a prayer.
21. Pass on the secrets of evolution to future generations.
22. Learn French.
23. Attend a commitment ceremony with your gay friends.
24. Take a factory tour anywhere in the U.S.
25. Try to take photographs of animals on the endangered species list.
26. Visit Florida before the polar ice caps melt.
27. Visit Nevada before it becomes radioactive.
28. Visit Alaska before "The Big Spill".
29. Visit Massachusetts while it is still a state.
Some things to do before the Inaugural:
1. Get that abortion you've always wanted.
2. Drink a nice clean glass of water.
3. Cash your social security check.
4. See a doctor of your own choosing.
5. Spend quality time with your draft age child/grandchild.
6. Visit Syria, or any foreign country for that matter.
7. Get that gas mask you've been putting off buying.
8. Hoard gasoline.
9. Borrow books from library before they're banned - Constitutional law books, Catcher in the Rye, Harry Potter, Tropic of Cancer, etc.
10. If you have an idea for an art piece involving a crucifix - do it now.
11. Come out - then go back in - HURRY!
12. Jam in all the Alzheimer's stem cell research you can.
13. Stay out late before the curfews start.
14. Go see Bruce Springsteen before he has his "accident".
15. Go see Mount Rushmore before the Reagan addition.
16. Use the phrase - "you can't do that - this is America".
17. If you're white - marry a black person, if you're black - marry a white person.
18. Take a walk in Yosemite, without being hit by a snowmobile or a base-jumper.
19. Enroll your kid in an accelerated art or music class.
20. Start your school day without a prayer.
21. Pass on the secrets of evolution to future generations.
22. Learn French.
23. Attend a commitment ceremony with your gay friends.
24. Take a factory tour anywhere in the U.S.
25. Try to take photographs of animals on the endangered species list.
26. Visit Florida before the polar ice caps melt.
27. Visit Nevada before it becomes radioactive.
28. Visit Alaska before "The Big Spill".
29. Visit Massachusetts while it is still a state.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
The holiday season is here and I've become an online shopping addict. I've spent countless hours comparing prices on books, CD's, DVD's, and strange little knicknacks for those near and dear to me. In the hunt for a bargain, I've found quite a few things to add to my Amazon wish list as well. My most recent discoveries include the special widescreen collector's edition of Top Gun, a brand new Shakespeare biography called Will in the World, an intriguing book titled Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books, and a Cocomotion Hot Chocolate maker.
I also get at least 3 new catalogs a day in the mail and am finding treasures in them as well. I think I'm on the museum list since I continually get catalogs from The Art Institue of Chicago, The Met, & MOMA. Last year's Christmas cards came from the Art Institute, and I may return again this year. I'm also on the strange knicknack list too, but I think it is because my mom gets all those catalogs too and they say, oh, well, here's another family member to add to our list. I feel like a kid looking through the JC Penney and Sears catalogs circling all my desires.
Then there are all the friends and family I'm buying for, and trying to maintain a budget, but keep seeing more cool stuff to get. I swear, if I had the money, my friends and family would hit the motherload this year. But, alas, I am making little more money than last year, and the budget will have to stay close to its boundaries.
One good thing about my addiction is that I've only ventured to the mall and Hamburg once on my quest, though I think another visit to Hamburg is in the cards this weekend. I guess its just not Christmas without mingling with the irritated public on a weekend in December.
Happy Holidays and happy shopping to my 2 loyal readers out there. May you find what you're looking for, and not encounter too many grinches.
I also get at least 3 new catalogs a day in the mail and am finding treasures in them as well. I think I'm on the museum list since I continually get catalogs from The Art Institue of Chicago, The Met, & MOMA. Last year's Christmas cards came from the Art Institute, and I may return again this year. I'm also on the strange knicknack list too, but I think it is because my mom gets all those catalogs too and they say, oh, well, here's another family member to add to our list. I feel like a kid looking through the JC Penney and Sears catalogs circling all my desires.
Then there are all the friends and family I'm buying for, and trying to maintain a budget, but keep seeing more cool stuff to get. I swear, if I had the money, my friends and family would hit the motherload this year. But, alas, I am making little more money than last year, and the budget will have to stay close to its boundaries.
One good thing about my addiction is that I've only ventured to the mall and Hamburg once on my quest, though I think another visit to Hamburg is in the cards this weekend. I guess its just not Christmas without mingling with the irritated public on a weekend in December.
Happy Holidays and happy shopping to my 2 loyal readers out there. May you find what you're looking for, and not encounter too many grinches.
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