MOST Excellent

Keith Olbermann on Gordie Howe:



I used to hate, Hate, HATE Olbermann when he was doing politics on MSNBC.  Sports is quite another thing altogether and this video is a fitting... even elegant... tribute to the great Number Nine.  Olbermann  notes that Mr. Howe has taken a turn for the worse; The Freep has details about his condition and it doesn't look good.  Our best thoughts go out to Mr. Howe and the family.

Are You Happy?

The answer might depend on your age.  I spent about 20 minutes earlier this morning learning about the U-curve, which attempts to explain why some... most, even... people go through what's known as a midlife crisis.  The opening grafs from "The Real Roots of Midlife Crisis:"

This summer, a friend called in a state of unhappy perplexity. At age 47, after years of struggling to find security in academia, he had received tenure. Instead of feeling satisfied, however, he felt trapped. He fantasized about escape. His reaction had taken him by surprise. It made no sense. Was there something wrong with him? I gave him the best answer I know. I told him about the U-curve.

Not everyone goes through the U-curve. But many people do, and I did. In my 40s, I experienced a lot of success, objectively speaking. I was in a stable and happy relationship; I was healthy; I was financially secure, with a good career and marvelous colleagues; I published a book, wrote for top outlets, won a big journalism prize. If you had described my own career to me as someone else’s, or for that matter if you had offered it to me when I was just out of college, I would have said, “Wow, I want that!” Yet morning after morning (mornings were the worst), I would wake up feeling disappointed, my head buzzing with obsessive thoughts about my failures. I had accomplished too little professionally, had let life pass me by, needed some nameless kind of change or escape.

My dissatisfaction was whiny and irrational, as I well knew, so I kept it to myself. When I thought about it—which I did, a lot—I rejected the term midlife crisis, because I was holding a steady course and never in fact experienced a crisis: more like a constant drizzle of disappointment. What annoyed me most of all, much more than the disappointment itself, was that I felt ungrateful, the last thing in the world I was entitled to be.

Illustration from the article.

The article is relatively long but seriously interesting, none the less.  After I finished the article I sat and reflected for a while, asking myself if I went through a midlife crisis and were things better today than they were, say, ten or 20 years ago?  It's a mixed bag.  I definitely went through some difficult times following my divorce (some people would say I'm not out of those woods yet) and I experienced what author Jonathon Rauch calls a "constant drizzle of disappointment" about life in general during that time.  Yet I think I remained happy in an overall sense and went on to achieve the pinnacle of my professional career after running away from home and gallivanting all over the country for a year.  

These days, when that U-curve should be on the upswing as I approach age 70 (this coming March, if you must know), I range from ambivalent to reasonably satisfied with most things in life.  There's at least one caveat, however: I'm not a terribly introspective person.

So... midlife crisis?  Here's one answer:

Heh.  From The Shoebox blog, obviously.

Just Because

Bikes and wimmen... what's NOT to like?



We were floundering around, trying to find sumthin' suitable for posting on this too-damned-cold Monday morning (23 degrees as we speak, on its way to 41) and came across what you see above.  Which brings to mind that ol' Richard Thompson song, wherein he maintains "red hair and black leather" is his protagonist's favorite color scheme.  Or blonde.  Or brunette.  Whatever floats yer particular boat.  I'm rather partial to blondes, myself.

The Second Mrs. Pennington on my box-stock RD400, 1979.  The bike didn't stay stock for long.

Aiiieee Redux

From the study window at 1045 hrs:

I'm SO not ready for this: snow for the second time in the last three days.  The damned leaves haven't even fallen from the trees yet... and to think it was 66 degrees yesterday.

Get OFF my frickin' lawn!

It's Our Blogoversary...

... and here we are, entering our tenth year of disseminating drivel to an uninterested world.  Our first posts:

So far: 6,379 posts, 726,193 page views (according to Blogger), and 45,951 comments; a lot of those comments are mine in response to what other folks had to say.  That said, I never thought I'd keep it up this long.  Srsly.  I'm at the point now where I only hope I can make this thing last a full ten years.

In other news... I don't believe what ol' Ben said about "early to bed," mainly coz I'm neither healthy (well, sorta), nor wealthy, nor wise.  But I AM up early, yet again.

It's Already Begun, With a Twist

I'm pretty sure I saw the first Christmas shopping ads on my teevee at least a week ago, or longer.  It's getting to the point of ridiculousness if it hasn't already passed that point.  (Minor digression: we're waiting for blog-bud Jim to kick off his annual "Thanksgiving Comes First" campaign; we don't want to jump into the fray before he does.)   That said, this week I noticed a completely new aspect to the usual Black Friday crap.  This:

Americans are exceptional at creating spectacle out of commerce. And yes, the eager-to-normalize marijuana biz is ready to behave (and benefit) like all of the others. At least one pot shop in Colorado will be marking Black Friday with legitimate “door-busting deals” that will bring many a toker to the lines that will inevitably stretch outside its doors on the weekend after Thanksgiving.

But when Denver recreational pot shop The Grass Station opens its doors for Black Friday sales at 8 a.m. Nov. 28-30, what will be their equivalent to Walmart’s dirt-cheap flat-screen TVs?

“It’ll definitely be the $50 ounces,” said Grass Station owner Ryan Fox. “Right now our cheapest ounce is $250, and some of those ounces in the $250-$325 range will be selling for $50 an ounce on that weekend.”

Celebrating Black Friday with loss-leader deals in the hopes of luring more regular customers is Fox’s way of saying that legal marijuana businesses are normal businesses.

There's no word if The Grass Station will advertise on teevee but I don't think they'll really need to do that (if Colorado law even allows pot shops on teevee).  A 50-buck bag in this day and age is advertising enough. 

Heh

Oh, this is good...



Just in case you've been under a rock for the past week or three, the vid is a parody of this "tempest in a teacup."

H/t: Cassandra.

In Which We Become a Shill For Our Browser

I upgraded to Firefox 33.1 this morning... or rather FF upgraded me, auto-majickly.  Part and parcel of the upgrade was this short lil vid for my viewing pleasure, which is now yours*:



There's a LOT to like about Firefox from a technical and user-friendly perspective, in addition to that "independence" thingie.  I really don't understand why people still use Internet Exploder or the like.

* We couldn't have a weather report as our only post today.

Aiiieee!

The view from the study window at this moment...

I don't remember which cartoon character uttered the famous "What a revoltin' development THIS is!" (Bugs Bunny? Foghorn Leghorn?) but that was my precise thought when I opened the blinds this morning.  It's still snowing, albeit very lightly, and the NWS out of ABQ sez we'll only get "a light dusting."  Like this:

It's also colder than the proverbial witch's mammary glands*.  All in all, not a good day.

It's always sumthin'.

* I'm slightly peeved at Weather Underground coz they've eliminated P-Ville and Cannon Airplane Patch as weather station choices.  That's why you see "Melrose Gunnery Range" above.

Today's Happy Hour Soundtrack

We haven't done a Happy Hour Soundtrack post in quite some time and that's coz on most days we've been listenin' to Not Particularly Relevant radio whilst taking our beers on the verandah.  But today?  I damned sure ain't outside for what should be obvious reasons.  So... here's Loudon Wainwright:

I can picture you there on that stool, drinking like a drunken fool.
Yeah, you're sitting there on your ass, muttering into your glass.
Paying for your lowlife thrills with wet quarters and soggy one dollar bills.

I know where you are, baby.
You're down drinking at the bar.

Heh.  There were people in my past lives who might coulda sang this song to me.  Once upon a time.  Mebbe.

Why Are These People Laughing?

Me?  I'd be praying to EVERY known Deity At Hand and mebbe even making up a few.  Watching this made my knees all watery.

In other news...  We broke the seal on the furnace last evening, given our high was only 41 degrees yesterday.  It's gonna be even colder today, like this:

At least there's no snow.  Yet.

Veterans Day 2014

Presidential Proclamation -- Veterans Day, 2014

VETERANS DAY, 2014

- - - - - - -

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Since the birth of our Nation, American patriots have stepped forward to serve our country and defend our way of life.  With honor and distinction, generations of servicemen and women have taken up arms to win our independence, preserve our Union, and secure our freedom.  From the Minutemen to our Post-9/11 Generation, these heroes have put their lives on the line so that we might live in a world that is safer, freer, and more just, and we owe them a profound debt of gratitude.  On Veterans Day, we salute the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who have rendered the highest service any American can offer, and we rededicate ourselves to fulfilling our commitment to all those who serve in our name. 

Today, we are reminded of our solemn obligation:  to serve our veterans as well as they have served us.  As we continue our responsible drawdown from the war in Afghanistan and more members of our military return to civilian life, we must support their transition and make sure they have access to the resources and benefits they have earned.  My Administration is working to end the tragedy of homelessness among our veterans, and we are committed to providing them with quality health care, access to education, and the tools they need to find a rewarding career.  As a Nation, we must ensure that every veteran has the chance to share in the opportunity he or she has helped to defend.  Those who have served in our Armed Forces have the experience, skills, and dedication necessary to achieve success as members of our civilian workforce, and it is critical that we harness their talent.

Across our country, veterans who fought to protect our democracy around the globe are strengthening it here at home. Once leaders in the Armed Forces, they are now pioneers of industry and pillars of their communities.  Their character reflects our enduring American spirit, and in their example, we find inspiration and strength.

This day, and every day, we pay tribute to America's sons and daughters who have answered our country's call.  We recognize the sacrifice of those who have been part of the finest fighting force the world has ever known and the loved ones who stand beside them.  We will never forget the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice and all those who have not yet returned home.  As a grateful Nation, let us show our appreciation by honoring all our veterans and working to ensure the promise of America is within the reach of all who have protected it.

With respect for and in recognition of the contributions our service members have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation's veterans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2014, as Veterans Day.  I encourage all Americans to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans through appropriate public ceremonies and private prayers.  I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I call on all Americans, including civic and fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, and communities to support this day with commemorative expressions and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth.

BARACK OBAMA

In the rest of the Anglosphere, which is to say the British Commonwealth, today is Remembrance Day.  This is the poster the Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs uses to publicize Remembrance Day:

To all those who wore the uniform of our country and its allies, in times of peace or times of war: thank you. 

OK, That's It... You're Outta Here

I cancelled my subscription to SiteMeter today.  Why?  This:

Zero visits and zero page views today?  I think not.  SiteMeter went belly up sometime early yesterday morning and still isn't back on line.  According to SM I only had seven visits yesterday (which knocked my traffic figures into a cocked hat) and I KNOW that's BS.  Enough is enough; Blogger stats will work well enough for me in future.

O, My Aching Ass

There are conspiracy theories and then there's this...



I think there's a better reason not to indulge in energy drinks...



"Get thee behind me, Satan!"

So Very MODERN!

More from old car brochures... these illustrating the 1952 Lincoln.  I was struck less by the car and more by the depiction of what "modern living" meant in the early 1950s.  Uniformed servants, Eichler homes, "push button magic," tuxedo-wearing dinner guests (eating in the kitchen!), and 3,721 square inches of GLASS!  (one wonders if glass was at a premium back then) Oh, yes... how very modern.

There are four more images from this brochure here.

Saturday: 25 Years On

Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.  From an AP article in the Sacramento Bee:

BERLIN

Germany on Sunday celebrates the 25th anniversary of the night the Berlin Wall fell, a pivotal moment in the collapse of communism and the start of the country's emergence as the major power at the heart of Europe.

A 15-kilometer (nine-mile) chain of lighted balloons along the former border will be released into the air early Sunday evening — around the time on Nov. 9, 1989 when a garbled announcement by a senior communist official set off the chain of events that brought down the Cold War's most potent symbol.

And here's a flavor of what that lighted balloon memorial looks like:

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/article3660988.html#storylink=cpy

I remember the fall of the Berlin Wall quite well; the news reports were both stunning and riveting.  That grotesque edifice had been in place all of my adult life and I'd never even dreamed about seeing it come down in my lifetime, and yet it did.  Thank God.

Just a Couple o' Few Things

I've been up since 0330 hrs this morning, which is my own stupid fault, what with retiring at very early hour o' 2130 hrs last evening.  I knew this would happen, but for some inexplicable reason I surrendered to the yawns and went down early.  A lil over six hours later and Bing! Eyes wide open.  I think nap time just might happen BEFORE Happy Hour today.

We've been in that sweet spot that comes twice a year, once in Spring and again in the Fall, said sweet spot bein' that time when we require neither AC nor heat.  I love this time o' year mainly for the comfort that's in it but also for the fact my electric bill falls by nearly half, which is a significant savings.  Well, all that is gonna come to a screeching halt by the middle o' next week.  Note:

It's been nice while it lasted.

Occasionally I'll mention the fact there are certain things I miss about city living and here's yet another item: wonderful food delivered to your door, just for the asking.  Case in point:

That's from an article titled "The Most Expensive Food You Can Order on GrubHub," which is food pr0n at its finest!  Apropos o' not much, I used to order wonderful delivery-food about once or twice a week when I lived in SFO and had a myriad of choices.  These days?  Not so much, coz the only food establishments that deliver here in P-Ville bring me either pizza or sandwiches.  Yup, I DO miss certain things about city living.

And finally... The First Mrs. Pennington turns 71 today.  SN2 is out in Sandy Eggo doin' Navy things and plans to take a couple days o' leave and drive up to the ancestral home in Lompoc to surprise TFMP on her birthday.  I'm thinkin' she'll like that... a lot.  Happy Birthday, Ramona!

Plane Pr0n of a Different Sort

Once again, Occasional Reader and Constant Correspondent Lin sends along sumthin' really good...



Pretty cool, that.  But just because the aircraft is capable of such maneuvers doesn't necessarily mean its driver should actually DO those things.  I'd not take kindly to bein' in the back of the aircraft when or if the pilot wanted to impress someone, anyone.  "Hey Bob!  Hold my beer and watch THIS!"

No, no, NO!

Update, a couple o' few minutes later:  The vid above brought to mind another Boeing demonstration flight:



That barrel roll is world famous, as is Tex Johnston, who was the pilot that day.

It's Fun to Be an Astronaut

Pretty danged cool, this:



Well, they have to fill up their time somehow, no?  It ain't "all work and no play" up there.

A Good Night

Well, yes.  Or better: YES!

And then there's this:

That's GOP spam I found in my in-box this morning.  MY vote didn't have a gotdamned thing to do with the results, coz my guy, Allen Weh, lost to the Democrat incumbent senator Tom Udall by 55-45 percent.  OTOH, my county (Roosevelt) is deep, deep red.  Note:

NM is generally red, with the exception of a few poor counties and the urban areas of ABQ and Santa Fe, not unlike a lot of other states.  To quote that dumb-ass dating site... "City folks just don't get it."