I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

Arrrgh--I just lost a post and haven't a clue why--must have hit something on my keyboard, but no idea what it could have been.

Anyway, dull day here...which is fine. I'm still trying to recover from that flu/pnuemonia thing, so a couple of downtime days are actually probably good for me. I've been cleaning the bathroom and reading a book, blogging and paying attention to the cats.

My dinner was terrible, but I had chocolate pudding for dessert, so it all came out evens in the end, ha-ha.

I'm so thrilled to be getting that check. I didn't really mention it, but I was extremely worried about paying my electric/gas bill in January, because of our pending "annual" January lay off. Now, knowing that I've got a at least couple of hundred dollars (after I pay a couple of bills) to put aside for the lean times--that's great. I need a few things, but will put off getting them until I know what's going to happen in the new year.

Really, outside of getting a haircut and paying off the layaway on my snow boots, as well as donating to the food pantry (which helped me a couple of times this year) and buying something for my office's toys for tots bin, buying some christmas cards, oh, and buying my nephew a present--first time in four years I've been able to do that--it'll be business as usual for the holidays...but I'll be relaxed--I have a computer this year, I'll have food to eat and a roof over my head, lights and heat...who needs anything more, ey?

From the local paper today:

* The comedian known as "Larry the Cable Guy," is slated to give a performance at the city's civic center sometime in March

* A local serial criminal is once again arrested:

A local--who was out prison on parole-- man went into the Walmart's in Queensbury, and reported he'd lost his wallet to staff there. They showed him a wallet, asked if it was his, and saying yes, he took it. Then, he used the credit cards in the wallet to pay for a meal at a local mexican resturant, and, to pay for cab fare from Glens Falls, NY to the state of massachusetts.

The man has a long criminal record--after serving 6 years for kidnapping an elderly woman from her home in a small Adriondack mountain community, just days after his release for that sentence, this man, posing as a bounty hunter, abducted a man from a local bar at gunpoint.

After serving 4 years for that crime, again, just days after his release, he stole a van and drove it to Boston, Massachusetts, where he robbed a man of 50 dollars at gunpoint, and tried to kidnap another woman.

The man is currently being held in the Washington County jail without bail, on charges of violating his original parole, and several other counts. Somehow, I don't think we've heard the last of this bugger.

* An 83 year old man from New Hampshire, whom had been reported as missing, was found dead when he crashed his pick up truck in the town of Lake George, the other night. They believe the man was lost. The man--who was in the early stages of Altzheimers, left his home to go visit a friend, and never showed up. He apparently got lost and crossed into New York from the Vermont border--it is believed he got off Exit 21 of the I-87 motorway, and then veered off the icy road, crashing head-on into a tree. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

* The annual Canadian Pacific Railway Holiday Train, pulled into Fort Edward station this weekend. The special freight train--decorated from end to end with special holiday lights displays (really cool--took mum one year to see it), collects food donations for local needy families, and presents for needy children--and has Santa on board--at each stop it makes. This year, people were treated to carols sung by blues band, playing from an open boxcar door. This year was one of the biggest collections of donations volunteers had ever seen. At the Fort Edward Amtrak station, local food pantry volunteers said they collected hundreds of pounds of food for local north country residents.

One local food pantry volunteer described a family that is going through hardship, and using their services: "It's a situation where they're raising their grandchildren, and their retirement income just isn't enough to take care of themselves and their grandchildren," Griffin said. The Holiday Train, which began rolling Nov. 26 in Rouses Point, not only brought in cash and goods for the local food banks, but also provided a dose of holiday cheer for the kids. Activities for the little ones included an early visit with Santa Claus and entertainment by Catherine Sprague, known to the kids as Penelope the Clown.

This year marks Canadian Pacific's 10th anniversary of running the Holiday Train--actually 2 trains running in different locations, which has collected tons of food and gifts for the needy at each of its stops in the US and Canada, every Christmas season. All told, the two trains make over 100 stops, visiting 7 US states and provinces of Canada on thier tour, each year.

* A local man had part of his ear sheared off the other night, in a bar fight.

* Snow, ice pellets and freezing rain were blamed for multiple car crashes Sunday...except for the crash in Lake George though, none of the accidents were serious, only minor fender-benders.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE HOLIDAY TRAIN:

http://www8.cpr.ca/cms/English/General+Public/Holiday+Train/default.htm

Stuff I remember from my childhood and teen years--some of it is still around, some is long gone.

Butoni's toaster pizzas (which were actually great)
Pillsbury space food sticks (seriously)
garlic and onion beef jerky
cheese fondue
Mug o' Lunch
Quisp and Quake cereals
Tang
spoon candy
those tiny wax soda bottles filled with colored sugar water
wax lips
red hot dollars chewy candy
cigarrette candy
pixie sticks--that suggary candy in a straw tube, that made your teeth change colour
whistle pop (a lolly pop that was a whistle, too)
Tab and Fresca diet sodas
Hires root beer
Danish-go-rounds
Adams gum--black liqorice, sour, and teaberry
Alba 77 diet shake (mum used to buy those--BLEH)
Orange Julius drink
Bazooka bubble gum--with the little "Bazooka Joe" comics inside each wrapper
Big League chew---chewing gum packaged to look like the chewing tobaaco baseball players used
Boil-in-a-bag foods---food in a pouch you boil: turkey or beef w/gravy, chicken ala king
Boo-berry cereal
Burger King's hot ham & cheese sandwich--the "yumbo"
McDonald's answer to the yumbo--the McFeast
Pepsi Light with lemon
Teem cereal
Tiny size chicklets gum
Frozen mini pizzas
Tru-Ade soft drinks
McDonalds McDLT
Morton pot pies
Munchos
Nutter-butter peanut butter cookies
Sky bar
Mallo cup
chunky bar
Partridge Family bubble gum with trading cards
Pillsbury hot dog wraps
Purina Fried Chicken
pop rocks
popcicles with building sticks
bubble gum cigars
candy necklace
Carefree sugarless gum
Carnation instant breakfast
C & C cola
Count Chocula and frankenberry cereals
Crispy Critters Cereal
Fireballs
Fluffernutter marshmallow spread
Fonzies
Fruit stripe gum
Gino's pizza
milk duds candy
Green Giant Toastwiches
Razzle Dazzle candy
Shasta soda
Burger King's "Whaler"--a big size fish sandwich

Do you remember?

The burger wars of the mid-70's?

McDonalds had their chant:

"Twoallbeefpattiesspecialsaucelettucecheesepicklesonionsallonasesameseedbun."

that was a big hit with us kids, trying to say that--one of local radio stations was even giving away Big Mac tee shirts to people who called in and could say it in one breath.

Then, there was Burger King's launch of the jingle

"Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don't upset us, all we ask is that you let us, servie it your way...."Yes, it's pathetic, I do still remember these things.

BIG MAC

VS

WHOPPER

So, the highly paid researchers at the US's National Bureau of Economic Research have finally finished a study that pretty much says what we in my telemarketing office have known all along: That the US's economic recession began in January of 2007.

No sh_t, Sherlock. Oh wait, I forgot, Both George W. Bush, AND the Secretary of the Treasury, Henry-I'm-an-idiot-who-has-just-been-given-a-blank-check-for-700 billion-dollars Paulson, said, as late as May of 2008, that we WEREN'T in a recession or even headed for a full-blown recession...that it the American economy was still BOOMING.

Okay, all you stupid people who thought it was a terrific idea to give Paulson a blank 700 billion dollar check to do with as he wants....leave the room, if you don't want to hear this:

MORONS.

And STILL, the president and Paulson are in denial!

Read this:

The White House commented on the news that a second downturn has officially begun on President George W. Bush's watch without ever actually using the word "recession," a term the president and his aides have repeatedly avoided.

That's right dufus, ignore the problem and it will go away--NOT.

1. What influence do you think television commercials* have had on you in your lifetime?

*(a_ve_tsisng---sorry, bcuk will no longer let me type that word...stupid bug in the system)

I think as a child, growing up in America, sure it did have some influence on what type of cereal, snacks, junk food, records or shampoo I wanted--but as far as toys, not so much. I had my ideas of what I liked in toys, and don't remember my mum ever buying me any toys merely 'cos of a TV commercial.

As an adult--very little. I make my own paths to follow, and rarely pay much attention to the ads on televsion now.

2. Who would you consider to be a modern hero?

Volunteers, who genuinely choose give their time, only because they want to help. A truly commpassionate doctor or nurse or social worker. Ordinary people, overcoming odds, and then passing their caring on to others who are having difficulties. People battling illness or grave injury without much complaint. People who aren't afraid to stand up for their beliefs, even when it's unpopular. And, people who just care, when all around them are people who don't. That's not easy, in today's world. ...and, in a small way, people who take the time to be nice to someone...just because.

3. Why would you want--or not want, to live in a large city?

I'm very much the small town gal, country bumpkin and a cowgirl, the tree-hugging transcendentalist nature girl--but, I suppose if the city was interesting enough, and I had a good job there, and good mates to hang with, I could probably learn to be okay with living there, why not?

4. Do you think television has made people more proactive, or reactive?

I think the door swings both ways. I think there's a lot less thinking going on, the people much more take things at face value than they used to, without question. That said, I believe that television reports have helped gel people into groups to fight against poverty, cancer, injustice, and a host of other causes, that they might not support or even care about, otherwise.

5. Which do you think helps to build better character: Participating in team sports, or participating in a group activity, such as theater, music or debating?

think sports has a tendency to be very limiting and exclusionary...if you aren't good, you don't really get the chance to play, and you're sometimes openly derided. That's a pretty negative message, really.

But, with theater and music and debating--it gives you time to develop skills, gives you a space to explore and go in another direction...and if you aren't very good, you still can participate, regardless of your skill level...you might never get to be in the limelight, but you don't have to worry about strangers yelling at you, if you're less than perfec--as well they might you miss a goal or something.

6. Do you think doing some sort of volunteer work, for credit, should be a requirement for high school students?

If it's a voluntary credit course, sure, I think that would be fantastic. But, if it's manditory, no. Some people are just not cut out for voluntter work, and they make life miserable for those who do want to be there, sometimes.

7. Do you long for the past, or look towards the future?

Oh, sometimes I long for the past, sure--mostly I live day to day, it's a survival thing. I never look at the future anymore, I'm too afraid of what I might see.

8. Has buying on credit ever effected the way you live?

It did, at one time in my life. Now, I don't buy on credit at all, so that's a moot point.

9. Do you think raising the legal drinking age to 21 is a good or a bad idea?

The legal age in New York State has been 21 for about 25 years, give or take. It was 18 when I came of age, though, and I had to deal with a lot more peer pressure at 18 than I did at 21, in regards to getting drunk at parties and such. Yes, it helped a little--there's a lot less drunken brawls on college campuses and such. And, certainly, it makes it easier for police to enforce drinking related laws-- but did it make that big a dent? I've no clue.

10. Is there any job(s) that you would never do?

Well, my lack of math skills kind of cuts me out of a lot of jobs. I've done so many jobs in my life tiem, there's actually few--provided I'm physically and educationally able--that I'd not do. That said, I'd hate the idea of working at Walmart's or McDonalds, even tho' out of desperation I have applied there. I don't know if I'd be comfortable working for the republican party, and, in that same vein, I don't think I'd be comfortable either, working in a sewer or as a septic tank cleaner.

11. In the wake of cable and dish television and the internet, why do you think radio is still so popular?

Well, it's still the best way to hear new music, and, some DJ's are quite fun to listen to. We don't have radio plays or quiz shows in the US--strictly talk shows, sports and music. With the advent of the internet, we can now programme our own music, or listen to radio stations from around the world, live. I think that has only enhanced radio, really

12. Have we become too dependant on our cars?

Can't answer for Europe, but here in the states? Oh yes, a little too much. We have some of the worst poblic transportation in the world--thanks to our dependance on cars, and our national penchant for sweeping away the past, in favour of the latest fad or upcoming trend, without thinking about the consequences of our actions, 10, 20 or 50 years down the road. .

13. Do you think good manners are still revelant in this day and age?

Personally speaking? Oh yes. Unfortunately, too many people don't seem to share that view.

14. Censorship is largely gone from many western societies, do you feel this is a good thing?

Mostly it's not a bad thing, I suppose--yet, that said, some censorship is a necessary evil. My take is that a civilized society needs rules--if you take out ALL the rules, then you have absoulte anarchy...which is one of the things that has been leading us down the garden path to the state the nation is currently in. Censorship is difficult...where do you draw the line between protecting children, minorities and others, from those senseless and/or adult things that can emotionally hurt them--while also giving people freedom of speach and/or the freedom to learn about the less pleasant side of life?

It's a sticky issue, that. I think on the issue of censorship, some common sense and moderation is needed--but common sense and moderation seems to be the last thing people want, in today's world.

15. In this era, more schools are placing an emphasis on teaching students to pass tests, rather than teaching them to think abstractly or objectively; do you think this attitude promotes medioctity?

Oh very much so. I've heard teacher after teacher lament on the fact that they seem to be told more and more to teach kids to pass tests, rather than to encourage them to think and be curious, turning the population's brains into puree of bat guano seems to be a government policy--my loose therory, is that it's easier to control a population of stupid people, than it is to govern people who can think for themselves and aren't afraid to ask questions.

16. Do you think the feminist movement of the sixties and seventies, has hurt the image of women, today?

I actually think it's become more hurtful than helpful--it's been helpful in gaining us acess into places we'd never been allowed--yet, this sexual freedom that came with it, has caused women to lose a LOT of respect in this world...to the point where they went from being treated like ladies, to been treated like whores..and liking it.

17. Do you prefer learning from a book/classroom, or from a television programme/film documentary?

Books and classrooms, hands-down. Especially love the interaction of a class, easier to exchange ideas, ask questions and get lots of different opinions, that way...and I'm a bit of a book junkie, as well.

18. Do you think people commit suicide merely to get attention, or because they are genuinely hurting inside and want it to stop?

Speaking with authority, the latter. Yet, I'm sure there's some people who fall into the former category--still, I think it's more wanting pain to stop than wanting attention.

19. Do you think television is worse today than it was 30 years ago?

Mostly it's worse, yes. Though, that said, there are some real gemss: Law and Order, West Wing, Doctor Who, etc. Unfortunately, for the most part I find TV today to be dull, unimaginative, repetitive, and downright bleak on its insistance in catering to the lowest common denominator.

20. How do you best express yourself creatively: music, art, writing, body art, clothing/style, interior decorating, other (if other, explain)?

Mostly through writing. I do on rare occaisions do silk floral arrangments, and I like to mess about decorating the apartment--if you can call what I do, "decorating," that is. I like using my voice to convey things to people, and briefly I enjoyed doing stuff in theater.

Wow, this having two days off in a row, it takes some getting used to...I'm gonna' get spoiled now...have to go back to my weird old schedule after the new year--if we're not laid off, that is. No complaints from me, though. I'm lovin' this!

I'm very relieved to be getting a few extra hundred this month--not just because I can buy my nephew a present and get myself a way long overdue haircut...but, if we do get laid off in January--which so far has always been the case--I'll have an extra two hundred dollars stashed away, for emergencies and/or the electric bill, etc...I normally used my second and third pay checks to pay the electric and gas bill--if I'm I'm out of work even for a week, that's gonna' mess that plan up, pretty much. And, I've been really worried about that, quite frankly. We got laid off for a week in Jan 2007, and nearly 2 weeks, in Jan 2008--they've not said..never do, whether they'll be a lay off in '09, but I think it's probably a given, the current economic situation being what it is...and, my supervisors have all passed me by for training on the new marketing programmes--either giving new work to new employees, or other reps. So, I've got the message: I'm office poo, and on the short list for lay off, I reckon.

Well, went downstairs to bring up the post this morning--only, I got my neighbour's mail instead---now, here's the thing: I've this little black city mailbox, stuck on a porch pillar, with a whopping huge number __ on it in white. My neighbour, has a little florescent green sticker--clearly displayed, with the number___ on it. Both his last name, and my last name, are also on our separate boxes---so, why the hell am I getting HIS mail, with his name and apartment number, clearly marked on it???

Stupid post men--they get nice pay checks, cradle to the grave benefits, lots of holiday and sick pay and overtime pay---but they STILL can't read a bloomin' address!!!

I'm clearly in the wrong profession. The minute I make a mistake at my job--no matter how small, they're all over my case...and, I get no benefits, etc., just a pay check.

Well, not much to do today but some odd bits of house work. Cheers.

Two priests met Saint Peter at the pearly gates. St. Peter told them they'd have to wait a week before they could enter, because the computers were down. He told them they could go back to earth, but not as people.

The first priest says, "fine, okay. I want to go back as an eagle, and soar over the mountains, a free spirit." St. Peter says, "Okay, that's fine, see you in a week."

The second priest says, "I hope this won't change my status in heaven, but I want to go back to earth as a stud." St. Peter shrugs, "No problem with that. See you in a week."

A week later, the IT angels in heaven have fixed the computer, and God tells St Peter he can bring back the two priests.

"Will you have any trouble finding them?" God asked. St. Peter shrugged. "Well God, the priest that was an eagle shouldn't be too hard to find, after all, there's not that many eagles out there. The priest that asked to be a stud, that's another story."

"What's the problem?" God asked. "Well," St. Peter replied, "He's on a studded snowtire somewhere in Minnesota."

This had me rolling on the floor laughing. I'm only vaugely famiar with Tate's comic characters, and was glad to have the opportunity to view this. I'm always up for a good laugh...this was a true delight.

It's an old video, and my British pals have likely seen this--but I just laughed to hard, I wanted to share this.

You know, I've only just realized that the previous post title, didn't quite sound right, did it?

"Bad Trojan" ---sounds like a faulty condom...and "tad poles.." well, I'll let you figure that one out.

I'm a bit under the weather tonight, I seem to be having trouble in the area of the bad tooth that I had, a year ago. I hope it's just ghost pains, but I've got a wee lump forming in my jaw again...still can't see a dentist, one year on...still have crap health coverage---only dentist available is in Warrensburg--a rural mountain town something like 12 or 14 miles north of here. The only transport is by coach--which only goes there twice a day: around 8 in the morning, and 7pm at night. If anyone thinks I'm going to cool my heels for 11 hours in some dead tourist trap town in the middle of winter, just to fix a bad tooth...not gonna' happen. I'm too old for that rubbish, mateys.

And people, that's the bad side of getting an increase in my monthly check from the government--I'm going to lose some of my health care benefits, and some food stamps--I can manage fine with the food bit, but the co-pays...ouch. It was costing me 80 dollars a week (on a 150 dollar a week average paycheck) just to go get my procrit shots, three times a week! Still have that $1000 hospital bill sitting in my drawer, for my overnight stay last January...so, happy about the extra funds, but not thrilled with losing more health care benefits.

Yeah, what the US government gives...they also take away. Just like God, really...only God doesn't require you to pay taxes...he just sends you to Hell. I've been thinking of building a beach house, by the Lake of Fire...be so easy to have the neighbours over for BBQ's and clam bakes, I should think. "No need to throw any shrimp on the barbie, mate, just put 'em into the lake there."

Oh, and as someone who's been literally forced to suffer horrendous pain and other illness, because I'm not privlieged to get private health care, and financially fall between the cracks when it comes to getting government health care--I'm of the opinion, that those well off public and private sector workers--the one's with good health care insurance-- who whinge and moan about national health care being a bad idea, should burn in hell for all eternity, by the way. Hey, if I have to suffer, so should they. I mean, it's only fair, isn't it?

I wanted to go to bed early, but the boys upstairs are making a racket again--yeah, like a bunch of ten year olds on crack, they are. It's a blinking two-room apartment, and they haven't stopped bouncing off the walls for about 3 hours now. It's like having Frankenstein pacing the floor like an anxious new father, it is. I don't want to know what the hell they're doin, but....might make interesting gossip at the office.

God, I'm not only the old maid downstairs, I'm the crotchety old fart, as well. "will you boys stop making so much noise, I can hear my porn movies---erm, movies!"

My little ginger cat Flame, she's sitting on my lap as I type this. She's very content tonight, as she's eating her favourite tinned cat food again. Becuase of a number of lean pay checks the last 6 weeks or so (due to my not being able to do my job 'cos I couldn't talk, what with the coughing and sore throat), I've had to buy them the cheap stuff. They don't like the cheap stuff. They let me know they don't like the cheap stuff, as well:

See what I mean?

I got invited out to a church dinner by a co-worker. Meh--it was okay. Spaghetti and meatballs...I like Italian so it was good...and it was free. The downside was that I had to sit through a lecture on faith in the global world order or some such blather. It was interesting I suppose, but...I just gave my beliefs, so it was sort of wasted on me. I don't normally like going to chruches any more--on my own, anyway. It's hard to explain, other than that I jsut feel a lot more alone by myself inside a church, than I do when I'm by myself at home or somewhere else. I don't know if that makes any sense, or not. But, that's how I feel. And, I do think prayer is rubbish. In the last few years, pretty much every single time I prayed, something really horrible happened. I don't ever want to pray again, truth to tell.

But, I don't disrespect most religions. On the contrary, I have nothing but respect for moderate relgions. Of course, extremists in any religion, will never get my respect. Extremism isn't a sign of intellect, as far as I'm concerned. I don't like blind faith either--by which I mean, people going along with whatever the church says, without question...especially on issues like gays, abortion, gene therapy, etc. Utterly blind faith can make one push aside one's human capacity for compassion and empathy, to the point where that person may actually cause someone a physical or emotional injury. That's not good, I don't think.

There's no sign of God's love in extremism. Extremism is about love of power, it's about hate, it's about control. It's never been about peace on earth, forgiveness and good will towards men.

Well, that's a dreary subject...how'd I get off on that tangent? Sorry.

Time for a little humour:

A man came into a shop with a 'Salesman Wanted' sign in a window.

He went up to the owner and said, "I-I-I w-w-waannn-t the j-joooob-b."

"I don't know if this job would suit you because of your speaking impediment," said the owner.

"I h-h-havvve a w-wi-wiiiife and s-s-s-six k-kkkids, iiii-I re-really neeeed thi-thi-this j-j-job!" said the man.

"O.K. Here are three Bibles. Go out and sell them." said the owner.

So the man went out and came back an hour later.

"H-here-sss your m-m-money." said the man.

The owner was impressed, so he gave the man a dozen more Bibles and sent him out.

The man came back in two hours and said, "Her-ers y-yooour m-m-money."

The owner said, "This is fantastic. You sold more Bibles in three hours than anyone has sold in a week. Tell me, what do you say to the people when they come to the door?"

"W-welllll," said the man, "I r-r-ring the d-door bell, a-a-and s-s-say 'H-Hel-Hello, M-m-maaaaddam, d-d-do you w-w- want t-t-t-to buy thi-thi-this B-B-Bible, oooor d-d-do y-you w-w-want m'me t-toooo read it t-t-t-t-to you?"

www.tadspoles.com has a malicious trojan attatched to it. If you got to this website without good anti-virus protection, your computer wiill be slammed

As I'd written previously, I tragically lost both myself and my family's Christmas decorations--from tree to stockings--while moving from my caravan in March of 2006. One of the things lost, was my cat's Christmas stocking.

So, this year I decided to put one on layaway--they had nice stockings at the one-dollar shop, but since I was only buying one, I wanted it to be something that was special. I want things are are unique to me. I am trying to begin again, with holiday decorations that have a personal touch and meaning. I'm on my own now at the holidays, so I think if I'm going to celebrate--why do it half-arsed? If that means I can only get one or two carefully chossen items each year--instead of a boat load of cheap gimcracks...so be it.

Not having much in the way of furniture--or room, I'm sort of limited by space, in what I can decorate with. I can't replace mum's antique manger display, alas. It was lovely--handpainted ceramic figures made in Italy, with a detailed wooden manger. How do I ever replace that? A new one certainly wouldn't have a much meaning for me as the old, and I don't really believe in God that much, any longer--it's complicated. Anyway, since I never have company for the holidays, I'm only decorating for myself, so getting a new manger scene is sort of unnecessary.

So, I started by buying a couple of new ornaments for the tree, and a Christmas stocking for my "kids"---which on Christmas eve will be filled with tins of tuna and furry mice and cat nip, by Santa.

I can't find a pic of my stocking--but here's some other cool stockings I found: