Jan came home from Walmart a few days ago with a new pair of scissors. Why she did this I cannot imagine since we have lots of them already, those excellent ones with the orange handles that most everyone has. Why should I worry?
This pair was entirely of black plastic with thin strips of sharpened steel attached to the cutting edge. It cuts more easily than the orange type and seems superior to them in every way.
Why worry ? It was made in China and cost $1.00 ( one dollar !). Goodbye US scissor industry. It goes the way of electronics, hardware, toys, medical supplies, fish, etc. etc.
The good news: We still make the best hamburgers.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The Burlap Barrel ( Cont)
Once agian we were at the Burlap Barrel last Monday. We breathed the wonderful smoke free air but ------
The smokers stayed away in droves. I misspoke when I suggested the business was not affected. From the partial evedence at hand, I think my favorite bar may be ruined. Thanks alot, busybody bureaucrats.
The smokers stayed away in droves. I misspoke when I suggested the business was not affected. From the partial evedence at hand, I think my favorite bar may be ruined. Thanks alot, busybody bureaucrats.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
BOOKS
Jan's book club keeps me supplied with more reading matter than I can handle.
The Bookies ( That's the overly cute name they call the club) meet once a month and vote on new books to buy and then they somehow get to read them in some predetermined order.
This was how I got to read THE ROAD a few weeks ago. It came with Jan's highest recommendation. I recommend that you read it if you want to be totally depressed and don't mind endless repetition.
Jan also reads the NYTs weekly book review and I think that is where she ran across
a 1989 book called THE POWER OF ONE by Bryce Courteney which she found to be still in print. It is quite a long book with tightly printed pages but I consumed it in just a few days.
It takes place in South Africa so the history involved is hardly up to date. Apartheid is in full swing but the seeds of it's demise are clearly evident. The last 38 pages seem to me to be
unnecessary They added nothing to the riveting 474 preceding pages. If one can stand a sneery anti Christianity running throughout the book it is a wonderful story of something that might really have happened.
The Bookies ( That's the overly cute name they call the club) meet once a month and vote on new books to buy and then they somehow get to read them in some predetermined order.
This was how I got to read THE ROAD a few weeks ago. It came with Jan's highest recommendation. I recommend that you read it if you want to be totally depressed and don't mind endless repetition.
Jan also reads the NYTs weekly book review and I think that is where she ran across
a 1989 book called THE POWER OF ONE by Bryce Courteney which she found to be still in print. It is quite a long book with tightly printed pages but I consumed it in just a few days.
It takes place in South Africa so the history involved is hardly up to date. Apartheid is in full swing but the seeds of it's demise are clearly evident. The last 38 pages seem to me to be
unnecessary They added nothing to the riveting 474 preceding pages. If one can stand a sneery anti Christianity running throughout the book it is a wonderful story of something that might really have happened.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
TRIVIA
As you can easily see, I am not adept at the use of the computer. What I want to write about is the weekly trivia game which we play at the Burlap Barrel. 4 or more teams of 4 or fess compete for free drinks. We enjoy it for the reasonably priced drinks and the not too bad meal which is free of charge. The participants volunteer to call 2o questions . I volunteered yesterday and here is a small sample of the trivia that I presented:
When smoked, what fish becomes lox?
Name the 7th US president? ( Hint, a famous general)
What is the last name of the Beverly Hillbillies?
What is the last name of the late Anna Nichol Smith's daughter ?
Freud divided self into ego, super ego and what?
Now I have a small confession to make. As of September 1st, new local laws do not permit smoking in all sorts of places ( Like bars) . The first Monday we all smoked, as usual and the second hand smoke was overpowering.
Yesterday the bar owner was present. A nice little area outside with tables and chairs was made available. We were told that if caught the bar would be subject to terrible penalties. Everyone conformed with the new law. Presto ! the air inside was pure . We got home feeling better and certainly smelling better. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves even with the smoking restriction. Business did not seem to have been affected.
I still hate the nanny state. Business rights and individual rights are being trampled on. My confession, I kinda liked the pure air .
When smoked, what fish becomes lox?
Name the 7th US president? ( Hint, a famous general)
What is the last name of the Beverly Hillbillies?
What is the last name of the late Anna Nichol Smith's daughter ?
Freud divided self into ego, super ego and what?
Now I have a small confession to make. As of September 1st, new local laws do not permit smoking in all sorts of places ( Like bars) . The first Monday we all smoked, as usual and the second hand smoke was overpowering.
Yesterday the bar owner was present. A nice little area outside with tables and chairs was made available. We were told that if caught the bar would be subject to terrible penalties. Everyone conformed with the new law. Presto ! the air inside was pure . We got home feeling better and certainly smelling better. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves even with the smoking restriction. Business did not seem to have been affected.
I still hate the nanny state. Business rights and individual rights are being trampled on. My confession, I kinda liked the pure air .
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Learning something new
Experiment
Once again I am trying to cut and paste something from word
to blog. This makes me very nervous, sweating profusely and
actually trembling like a dried up leaf, about to fall to the inevitable
garbage bag on the way to the local land fill.
Eureka!
It actually worked.
Now that I have done this, I discover that there is a spell check
on the blog page so maybe I didn't have to go through this at all.
Jan and I are off to San Antonio to celebrate the GRITO with our
old Mexican friends this weekend. It looks like it will be a big
pachanga .
Once again I am trying to cut and paste something from word
to blog. This makes me very nervous, sweating profusely and
actually trembling like a dried up leaf, about to fall to the inevitable
garbage bag on the way to the local land fill.
Eureka!
It actually worked.
Now that I have done this, I discover that there is a spell check
on the blog page so maybe I didn't have to go through this at all.
Jan and I are off to San Antonio to celebrate the GRITO with our
old Mexican friends this weekend. It looks like it will be a big
pachanga .
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
ATTENTION COIN COLLECTORS
I was thrilled to get my $25 roll of Jefferson dollars the other day. When I pointed out to the clerk who sold them to , that there was a limited issuance and they would never again be issued, he purchased a roll for himself and several other bank emplyees also were inspire to buy some.
I picture, many years down the road, when I or my hiers have the complete collection, selling the whole thing for some prodigious sum. They will aalways be legal tender so one can not
ever really lose on the investment.
The Madison dollar will be out early December.
I picture, many years down the road, when I or my hiers have the complete collection, selling the whole thing for some prodigious sum. They will aalways be legal tender so one can not
ever really lose on the investment.
The Madison dollar will be out early December.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
THINGS I DONT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT ANYMORE
1) The Holocaust : This was a terrible thing and we hope never will happen again. Everyone is well aware that it did occur and no one is likely to forget it. The constant reminders are absolutely unnecessary.
2) JFK : This handsome, eloquent president was loved throughout the world. However, his short stint , tragically cut short, was a terrible failure. His personal life was inexcusable. His posturing as an intellectual is suspect. He had a best seller book, written by someone else. And yet, year after year we commemorate his death, orchestrated by his family, some members of which are
not the best of role models. Tiresome.
3) Diana : What's with all the adulation for this woman. We keep being forced to hear of commemorative celebrations of her life. She was a self confessed adulteress who got away with it. Yes, she was involved in charity work , very commendable but by no means unique. One of her kids may not be of royal blood. How fortunate for him.
4) Karina : A terrible hurricane that created havoc in New Orleans and the gulf coast, happened a few years ago. Many thousands were driven out, settling largely in Houston where they largely remain to this day. The US government continues to support many of these unfortunate people, paying rent and food for them. That was years ago. How long does it take one to get back on ones feet? The reconstruction has cost something like 13 billion bucks to date. When will it end?
5)9-11 : We need never forget this terrible disaster. The victims are treated as heroes ( The firemen were heroic indeed ) and the families have reaped enormous monetary rewards.
It is a good idea to continue to remember who caused this but who needs a constant reminder.
None of us is likely to forget.
2) JFK : This handsome, eloquent president was loved throughout the world. However, his short stint , tragically cut short, was a terrible failure. His personal life was inexcusable. His posturing as an intellectual is suspect. He had a best seller book, written by someone else. And yet, year after year we commemorate his death, orchestrated by his family, some members of which are
not the best of role models. Tiresome.
3) Diana : What's with all the adulation for this woman. We keep being forced to hear of commemorative celebrations of her life. She was a self confessed adulteress who got away with it. Yes, she was involved in charity work , very commendable but by no means unique. One of her kids may not be of royal blood. How fortunate for him.
4) Karina : A terrible hurricane that created havoc in New Orleans and the gulf coast, happened a few years ago. Many thousands were driven out, settling largely in Houston where they largely remain to this day. The US government continues to support many of these unfortunate people, paying rent and food for them. That was years ago. How long does it take one to get back on ones feet? The reconstruction has cost something like 13 billion bucks to date. When will it end?
5)9-11 : We need never forget this terrible disaster. The victims are treated as heroes ( The firemen were heroic indeed ) and the families have reaped enormous monetary rewards.
It is a good idea to continue to remember who caused this but who needs a constant reminder.
None of us is likely to forget.
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