Tag Archives: books

6861 – the saga continues

from yesterday afternoon – phones were out – I can see that my writing style changes a little bit, depending on how comfortable my sitting position is.

Getting tired of waiting out the storm here… looking forward to going back home and putting my house in order. Ivan is coming up right behind, and if Frances doesn’t get moving, I may never get back home.

Dan and I went into the back room to read “Lord of the Rings” and “Reaper Man” respectively, while J watched a video in the living room about how Harry Potter books, violent video games and other media trends toward the supernatural promotes a lifestyle set on the path to damnation. Sort of a “gateway drug” kind of thing.

I’m feeling a little worn thin, and wonder how my other pals are hanging in there.


Popular interests among scottobear’s friends
1. writing (21) 11. cats (12)
2. photography (18) 12. books (12)
3. reading (17) 13. history (12)
4. music (17) 14. nature (10)
5. movies (16) 15. poetry (10)
6. art (15) 16. gardening (9)
7. hiking (13) 17. humor (9)
8. cooking (13) 18. travel (9)
9. rain (13) 19. coffee (9)
10. love (12) 20. snow (8)
Interests gestalt
My most interesting friend is edbook who has 12 of these interests,
followed by tempestmir (12), wickenden (10) and gael (10).
Normality Index
My friends are 76.77% normal.
Analyze me !
Username:
Popular interests created by _imran_


Medicare premiums are going up 17.5% next year. Continue reading 6861 – the saga continues

6845 Well, no walkabout for me anytime soon.

Ugh, on call all weekend. Friday night through Monday morning. I hope absolutely nothing happens. Slim odds, but anything’s possible.


Mail: Good news and bad news.

Good News, got my plastic man archives.

Bad News, A gift pouch I sent out in November was just returned to me as unclaimed.(they checked on 12/3, 7/12, and 8/20. back to me it came… I wonder if they put it in the wrong box?) I’m going to have to call up, and see what I can do about reshipping it out again, and add a few more fun trinkets to the mix.


Hmm, GrayPumpkin showed me this rumor about a new Aquaman movie sounds a bit like a wet match in a dark cave. I still think Owen Wilson would make a better Iron Fist. I’m not sure who’d make a good Luke Cage.


August is flying by. It seems that I mark time with checks for rent. I hope that next weekend will be a good one for condo-questing. Speaking of which, nice house… keen view on the third pic, too. (via tarpo)

6841 – Travel Pix, part 3 (Deseo la última edición con cantos dorados.)

Okay, last batch form the Saturday walkabout. I won’t be doing much this coming weekend, because I’m on call both days. I’ll settle for playing with Newtie, and watching my New DVDs that came in just last night (If I can wait that long)! Thank you again Oneyed, Sedef, and Granny! I fell strongly that my Plastic Man Archives will make it to me by then, too! Ah, comfort is truly giant monsters, plastic man, newton kitty, and spending the weekend in my jammies.

From the outside area of the swap shop – The Fairgrounds –

do ya wanna go fast-aa?

6796 – Thoughts on this journal, etc

I’ve been at it for more than a few years now….posting at least once a day. Sometimes a good deal more, but generally first thing in the morning.

I think that keeping a daily log of stuff is a low-grade compulsion… what would it be in champions? Common, Moderate? 10 points? Maybe I’ve bought it down closer to a 1-point GURPS quirk in recent years. Still devoted enough to do daily entries, but the 8x a day is probably gone until I’m bedridden or something.

I’ve been working on my writing again, and am going to try to submit a few oldies to a few new places.


Major Reworking of the company website ahead. I look forward to it having some freshness, but I fear for a lack of marketing skill and “too many cooks” syndrome before everything settles back down.


I got my $20 back! The ATM guy went to look at the machine, saw the bill wedged in the device inside the hopper, and called my voice mail about 10am. I called him back at about 4pm, and he rant the bill right to my door. you can’t ask for better service than that!


It’s occurred to me that if anyone else did to my brother what he did to himself, I’d probably have killed the bastard.


Gallery of retro science book covers – I had access to a *lot* of these as a kid. I know for certain that I had Dinosaurs, Rocks & Minerals, Rockets & Missiles, The Human Body, and Oceanography.

My neighbor Jason had copies of Horses and Primitive Man, too. I wonder how much the impacted our growth as kids? Not a great deal, I suspect.. don’t most kids go through a dinosaur / science phase? (Some never escape it.)


6793 I don't know why he's complaining… he can stay home.

https://pics.livejournal.com/scottobear/pic/0000cf1t

I’m not really fond of Monday’s week-start review meetings. it takes hours, and isn’t as productive as I’d like. At least I usually get to give my presentation first, and then bail. I have a lot of stuff to get out of the way this morning, to boot.

Strong sweet tooth lately… not sure why I’m craving it so much. It’s not like my body is in need of raspberry sugar for proper functioning.

I have a case of wanderlust, and as soon as I get the new tech fully worked out, I’m certainly going to take a trip. I just have to decide the duration and destinations.


Recently received this as ebay feedback: – I would, without hesitation, endorse this man for president. Well thanks, Kevin! Site Meter


APOD: A Solar Filament Lifts Off – Amazing.


World’s Finest – Batman/Superman Fan film, from the makers of Batman – Dead End. (via)


I didn’t know until yesterday that Ray Bradbury has been wheelchair-bound since his stroke in ’99. Or if I did, I forgot that I did.

His short story, A Sound of Thunder has been made into a movie… (previews)

It seems the movie takes the introduction and runs with it, probably not in the direction that I want to see, let alone the message.

Speaking of Movies, I really don’t see how the studios could improve on The Manchurian Candidate. Someone tell me what the new Gulf War version has to do with Manchuria ? (The Original was based on the Korean war… thus the title.)


Mathematical Atlas: A gateway to Mathematics


“It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.” ~Ansel Adams


Hmm… that image up top might make a good icon. Let’s see… Maybe.

https://pics.livejournal.com/scottobear/pic/0000cf1t


I don’t know which Private Eye is the most definitive to me… Lew Archer, Richard Diamond, Sam Spade, or Philip Marlowe. Digging Archer right now, because I just finished The Drowning Pool. (the first time I’ve read it since my days at the BBCL) I’ve never seen the movie, but wouldn’t mind checking it out, now that the tale is fresh in my mind.


Archives –

1 year ago – Bambi hunt a hoax, online games, lj diversity, comic book/cartoon thoughts, including the doom song.

2 years ago – some missing pictures, wondering about my eyes, watching TV, evil news, some palm pics, Newt pics

3 years ago – senescence, thegosis, arrival as a pod, loving thoughts

4 years ago – Buds for lunch (I’ll miss that rare treat), dealing ok with winding down.

6793 I don’t know why he’s complaining… he can stay home.

https://pics.livejournal.com/scottobear/pic/0000cf1t

I’m not really fond of Monday’s week-start review meetings. it takes hours, and isn’t as productive as I’d like. At least I usually get to give my presentation first, and then bail. I have a lot of stuff to get out of the way this morning, to boot.

Strong sweet tooth lately… not sure why I’m craving it so much. It’s not like my body is in need of raspberry sugar for proper functioning.

I have a case of wanderlust, and as soon as I get the new tech fully worked out, I’m certainly going to take a trip. I just have to decide the duration and destinations.


Recently received this as ebay feedback: – I would, without hesitation, endorse this man for president. Well thanks, Kevin! Site Meter


APOD: A Solar Filament Lifts Off – Amazing.


World’s Finest – Batman/Superman Fan film, from the makers of Batman – Dead End. (via)


I didn’t know until yesterday that Ray Bradbury has been wheelchair-bound since his stroke in ’99. Or if I did, I forgot that I did.

His short story, A Sound of Thunder has been made into a movie… (previews)

It seems the movie takes the introduction and runs with it, probably not in the direction that I want to see, let alone the message.

Speaking of Movies, I really don’t see how the studios could improve on The Manchurian Candidate. Someone tell me what the new Gulf War version has to do with Manchuria ? (The Original was based on the Korean war… thus the title.)


Mathematical Atlas: A gateway to Mathematics


“It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.” ~Ansel Adams


Hmm… that image up top might make a good icon. Let’s see… Maybe.

https://pics.livejournal.com/scottobear/pic/0000cf1t


I don’t know which Private Eye is the most definitive to me… Lew Archer, Richard Diamond, Sam Spade, or Philip Marlowe. Digging Archer right now, because I just finished The Drowning Pool. (the first time I’ve read it since my days at the BBCL) I’ve never seen the movie, but wouldn’t mind checking it out, now that the tale is fresh in my mind.


Archives –

1 year ago – Bambi hunt a hoax, online games, lj diversity, comic book/cartoon thoughts, including the doom song.

2 years ago – some missing pictures, wondering about my eyes, watching TV, evil news, some palm pics, Newt pics

3 years ago – senescence, thegosis, arrival as a pod, loving thoughts

4 years ago – Buds for lunch (I’ll miss that rare treat), dealing ok with winding down.

*Happy 4th Birthday, Newt!*

(Link above goes to a pic of him from the first couple of days I had him at work… about Oct 21, 1999, I think)

The Birthday boy!

Most recent shot of Newt to his B-day

Newt!


AVENGERS #71 – NOW RATED MATURE READERS
This morning, Marvel notified retailers that the next issue of Avengers, #71, originally due to be in stores next Wednesday will be delayed until October 15th, and its normal “PSR” rating changed to “MR” or Mature Readers due to adult content. Continue reading

I’m on call this morning while Kahuna goes to get her hair done… probably until 2 pm or so.

Clickorama

I wonder if Danny’ll take the day off of work…. A few months ago New Line Cinema announced they would hold special screenings of the extended editions of the first two Lord of the Rings installments in the weeks prior to the release of the third and final film in the trilogy, The Return of the King. In addition there was talk of a special ass-numbing marathon screening, in which all three films would be shown consecutively. The last would only be available at a few theaters around the country, though. I’d like to do it, but I prefer to watch movies at the house in my jammies these days. I don’t think I’d be up to twelve hours in a movie theatre with whatever crowd of Tol-cretins I feel it might attract. Con-folk. Loudies and smellies, wrecking the experience.

Speaking of people that suck… “You have drunk 10063 pints of blood. Your rank is Supreme Vampire “ next rank at 17000 pints.

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/ – “Stuff you don’t need…but you really, really want.”

The Surrealist Compliment Generator.

“Your fingers sublimate into volcanic gases with the slightest cooling touch from the antennae of a passing lyre.”

“Send me your hang nails. With great eagerness I will knit them into divine papal integuments.”

Famous Funerals (not for the squeamish)

Picasso Archive , and Picasso Gallery – Large size images

Leviticus 11:22 “These of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.”

Cool. You can eat something that was a plague! Yum, locust! (But leave the pelicans alone! 11:18)

current mood:
current music: World Leaders sing ABBA

Had some lovely veggies, rice and tempura… bro got spicy chicken. We gabbed and played yahtzee… spent some quality time together. I’m going to miss not seeing him on his birthday or Halloween, but we’ll be in letter contact pretty much daily.

Going to the doc first thing tomorrow morning, at last to have him review my most recent MRIs. I hope that he and I both like what he sees.

Ever Been in a Turkish Accident? – The U.S. State Department warns of 25 significant dangers to look for when driving in Istanbul or Ankara, Turkey: “Vehicles backing up (in reverse) on exit ramps and on main highways.”

Free PDF ebooks, mostly classics.

Today’s Eats –

Water: 6 Veg/Fruit: 2 Milk: 0
Points: 41.8 Adj: 0 Act: 4.9 Rem: -2.9
Bank: 30.4 Adj: 0
Bank Max: 35 Point: 0 Act: 0
Bank Method: Start on Monday
Vitamins: Yes

Breakfast: 8.0 points
8.0: Croissan’wich w/ Egg & Cheese

Lunch: 6.5 points
0.0: Side salad
1.0: Kraft Fat Free Ranch dressing
5.5: BK Veggie Burger w/o Reduced Fat Mayo

Dinner: 10.1 points
3.1: Rice; white; glutinous; cooked
3.1: Rice; white; glutinous; cooked
0.0: Mixed veggies
0.2: Soy sauce made from soy & wheat (shoyu)
0.2: Soy sauce made from soy & wheat (shoyu)
3.5: Oil; peanut; salad or cooking

Snack: 17.2 points
4.3: Toaster Pastries; POP TARTS; Frosted chocolate fudge
4.3: Toaster Pastries; POP TARTS; Frosted chocolate fudge
4.3: Toaster Pastries; POP TARTS; Frosted chocolate fudge
4.3: Toaster Pastries; POP TARTS; Frosted chocolate fudge

Activity Log: (Min:Int:Points Desc)
25:M:2.7 Bus-walk
20:M:2.2 Evening- stretches

Put the poodle back in the basket.

A few sites for positive change – None of them cost a penny but can help to do good works.

The hunger site – free food to the hungry
Breast cancer site – Help to fund free mammograms
Child Health site – Help save young lives for free
Rainforest Site – help to preserve our rainforests
Animal rescue site – Feed an animal in need.

Ok.. now that I’ve built up some positive karma, let’s whine a little about whiners.

In The Silence of the Lambs the egregious psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter explains to Agent Clarice Starling why he killed one of his own patients: “I simply could not endure his interminable whining any longer. Besides, his therapy was going nowhere. Believe me, Clarice, there isn’t a psychiatrist in the country who wouldn’t like to refer a few cases to me.”

That sums up how I feel about a lot of the journals out there. I’m glad that I have the easy way out, and can opt not to read them or even link. I feel that a few of the journals I’ve seen (none that I regularly read, though some certainly exist on my friends friends page) in passing are written by “professional victims.” I can’t help but wonder if a daily whiney / angst journal can be good, because they’re getting it out of their system, or if it’s a bad idea they’re feeding that sense of misery and isolation to the exclusion of any other feelings. I suspect it’s more often the latter. I do know that journals will sometimes have hostility, angst and melancholy in them… heck, I do it enough. The flipside, of course is the folks that write that way out of a desire for attention or coddling. “Woe is me, woe is me” loses a lot of its strength after hearing someone say it for a year.

The ones that complain and *only complain* deeply, heartfully about the most non-issues are what get me. If something bugs you, do something, and make a positive difference. The world’s a big place with plenty of room for improvement.

This cartoon sums it up pretty well.

I still feel free use the term “fairer sex”, because as a whole, I do find women to be more pleasing to the eye than men. If politically correct monkeys don’t like it, they can lump it. On looking up fair maid, I think definition two is rather comical. I may yet use that in the future.

I’m looking forward to this… Apparently it’s running trailer son Finding Nemo (when you can get there in a timely manner). The Incredibles – Pixar. Oh, you can bet I’m looking forward to it. Pixar supers! I notice that the music is like a slower version of OHMSS.

Also, Columbia Pictures has bought the rights to Marvel Comics’ most famous black superhero, Luke Cage. Ben Ramsey (THE BIG HIT) will write the adaptation of the long-running character. Luke Cage is a former gang member from Harlem that is framed by his best friend and sent to federal prison on drug charges. While in prison, Cage volunteers for a medical experiment that ultimately gives him super strength and bulletproof skin. Using the new powers, Cage escapes and becomes Luke Cage: Hero for Hire. Avi Arad will produce for Marvel Studios. I wonder who could play him well? As long as it’s not Will Smith, I’m cool. What about Iron Fist? Luke Wilson would be horrid, yet well cast, I think.

Sweet Christmas!

There’s a weakness in my heart for zombie movies…I hope 28 days later is good. I’ve heard some positive things already.

Scottobear’s Weekly Fotolog Stats/Reminder

* Your Fotolog has been viewed 88 times.
* You uploaded 5 photos in the past week.
(They’ve been viewed 93 times in the past week.)

Spreading a meme from who knows where

COMFORT TV OR COMFORT BOOKS?

Comfort books, unless I’m too tired to even read, but unable to get to sleep. (Which happens a lot when I’m in need of comfort.) Cartoon Network, Discovery, and History Channel work wonders.

WHAT COLOR IS YOUR FAVORITE SHIRT?

My current favorite shirt is a black white and red Tie-dyed “Pirates of the Caribbean” shirt I got from Disney world back in 2000. It’s comfy, has hippy and pirate context, and reminds me of a lovely little vacation.

DO YOU WRITE? IF SO, WHAT DO YOU OVERUSE?

I write, and probably rely too much on detail of the area rather than cutting to the point of the story. Too much scenery. (It’s the first thing I start trimming.)

BAND YOU HATE MOST?

Any that’s playing too loud outside my bedroom window. I really like all sorts of music.

PUNK IN DRUBLIC?

Nah, I don’t even drink all that much in private.

DUDE, I CAN’T *BELIEVE* PEOPLE…
Worry so much about the opinions of strangers with no apparent knowledge about what they’re talking about. I’m concerned with opinions of folks that matter to me, and professionals in the field…not Joe Blow off the street. (Even most professionals don’t matter to me, either, honestly.) The opinion of someone I know and respect however is very valuable.

FIRST BOOK I REMEMBER READING ALL BY MYSELF.
I can’t recall much of my very young childhood, but an issue of Spidey Super Stories (a kids comic cross-promoted on The Electric Company television show.) Sometime in the early 70s. Easy Reader was in it, and Spidey was fighting the Lizard, while Spidey teamed up with Easy Reader to fight the Vanisher. (Edit) In fact, after a little googling, I just found a picture. April 1975 issue (so I was about 6 years old), picked up at the grocery store. I’m sure there were books before that, but that one stands out in my mind because I bought it with my own money and made a point of reading it on my own. There was a teenage-girl named “Thumper” who likes to dress like Napoleon Bonaparte and uses a boxing glove she hides in her vest to whack people in the back of their head when they’re not looking. Her origin? “When the Thumper didn’t get a Yellow Pony for her birthday… she got very angry and turned to crime. Dressed as the great French Hero Napoleon, the Thumper looks for someone to Thump.” It was something very close to along those lines.

Hmm. You know, I hear that’s the exact same origin Mysterio originally had. Except replace the line about ‘someone to Thump’ with ‘someone to try desperately to frighten with rubber bats’.

I’ve come to a conclusion. Morgan Freeman must reprise his role as Easy Reader in the next Spidey movie.

I need to go to a comic book store and pick up a copy of this just to have again. Three Villains, Lizard, Thumper, and Vanisher. Pretty good for a kid’s comic. 35¢ well spent.

the comic in question

It’s such a pleasant surprise to see a rational, human response to the screw-up yesterday. I’m really glad that it was received as well as it was.

Just noticed a cool name subscribed to my journal… Sernya. (it’s a pair of golden fish, Symbolizing resurrection of eternal life, rebirth etc. The pair signifies the ability to swim with ease without obstruction in the ocean of this world. They may also be taken to symbolize the eye of perception as fish can see through muddy water. The fish couple suggests mutual aid and indispensability between male and female material life.) I wonder who they are, and if I know them?

I hear Hagrid is sort of a second-string character in the latest HP. That’s sort of a bummer, he’s my fave. I wonder if having such a huge franchise is allowing her to write stuff that’s an 870 page children’s book. Sounds like an editor is needed.

Groceries coming by between 1:10-2:10, Dan’s Coming by today sometime midday…after he registers at FAU. Hooray for key lime pie and Danny!

I don’t watch Smallville, but I hear that they got Terence Stamp (General Zod) to Play Jor-El recently. How keen is that to a Fanboy?

Gravity Defied with ‘Spider-Man’ Gloves –

“If that’s a confession, my ass is a banjo.”

Edgar Allen Poe story… Hop-Frog… men dressed in orangutan outfits set on fire, the perils of drinking wine, and why you shouldn’t piss off a dwarf, even if you are a king.

Mmm…. Mexican sugar skulls.

I lost a game of world war to the palmtop…Mongolia finished my last landmasses in Asia. Before I knew what I was saying, I muttered “F-ing MON-GO-REE-ANS!”. I need a great wall to keep ’em out.

I’ve seen no sign of Oktoberfest anywhere. I missed it! German-American Club (warning, tacky embedded wav), you’re slacking with the advertising. I want a hot pretzel with mustard, and a beer! I guess I’ll have to enjoy Bavarian music and chicken dancing in the privacy of my own home.

Looks like a rainy day today… I’m all for that… I just hope it doesn’t make me too sleepy!

Valhalla, I am coming! Image of Newt as a Viking Kitten, shamelessly taken from rathergood.com

Is Thomas a Rhymer? A Peeper? A Doubter? A Tank Engine?

Spellcheck thinks Chupa is Chapeau. I have a goatsucker for a hat!

An insanely cute collection of costumes for babies.… speaking of which, Mayah was in good form last night… she can push Cathi on the little kid scooter by putting weight into her toddles. Pretty good for a munchkin under a year old! Supper last night was veggie burger, salad and brownies for dessert. I fell asleep just about 5ish am, I estimate… and woke at about 9. I’ll probably take a midday nap to crank my juice back up a little. My sleep was a sound one… of the sort where it was an eye blink, and four hours had gone by. Took Luna and the baby for a walk, before dessert… Jack the evil dog was out there. I got to use my sonic boom authority voice on him.. “*GO HOME*”… he went to his yard and barked from there, after a few stern yells. I wonder where his owners were?

Went for a little bike ride with the bro this morn, and checked out a local yard sale. a couple of good items… a nice pup tent, bed rolls, an ancient laptop, lots of unusual tools… hatchet, crowbar, pickaxe… and a couple of books all looked good, but I abstained on all but two tomes… Chronicles of Robin Hood, and Great American Ghost Stories. I rather like yard sales, just because you get to look at all the loot… form a mental snapshot of the person selling the stuff. Did they get a new tent? Did the family member that liked to camp pass away? Was this stuff found left behind in the house?

I’d like to have psychometry. As long as I could turn it on or off at will. The last thing I need is to get readings off of my clothes and sheets’ last trip in the washing machine, let alone the scene of a violent crime or other off-putting act.

Chupaaaaa!!!The history channel’s doing a documentary on Bigfoot and Other Monsters –

The mermaid, Abominable Snowman, giant squid, and dragons are all parts of myths and mysteries. But are some real? The Komodo Dragon was merely the stuff of local legend–until the dinosaur-like, very real giant reptile with an orange tongue and a fierce disposition was tracked down. Giant squids, measuring as long as 100 feet, have been found to really exist. We’ll explore every possible explanation for these and other legendary creatures and find out if some might really exist. TV G

Current Flavor – Chupacabra!… a personal fave.

Speaking of mermaids… I’m thinking nice thoughts of my sweetheart… hoping that she’s digging her day and is feeling my admiration and love for her. She’s had an even more busy week than myself…here’s to her being able to sink into a warm, fragrant tub of bathwater, scented with exotic oils, and gentle unwinding.