Is this thing on?

One of these days, Alice. One of these days.

Let’s play “See if he remembers how to insert pics in a blog post.”

Okay yes, I cheated and copied stuff from an existing post. But it worked, and I think that’s all that matters. Those with opposing views can discuss the matter with my new-found feiend in charge of the Radioactive Complaint Department.

Greetings. 

Have I mentioned I’m in Japan - working, sad to say, not touring - for the month of August? I haven’t mentioned? Maybe that’s because of my UNBELIEVABLY HORRIFIC SLOW internet connection here?

Nevertheless, Japan = awesome++.

Awesome.

I’d post pics but cannot because UHS connection means no uploading.

Perhaps when I get back to the US, hmm?

I have managed to go on a day trip to Miyajima, which was cool. There were supposed to be hordes of wild monkeys roaming the island; I saw none.

None.

NONE.

*sigh*

Maybe next weekend!

How ya doing?

Me, I’m thinking about coming up with a couple blog-related New Year Resolutions. I’ll let you know as soon as I have some.

Okay seriously, I’m a total slacker and I’m sorry. As in “pathetic.”

But I’ll stop slacking and start bligging again soon I promise.

I’m trying to find a for-real poster like the picture shown below, to give to a car enthusiast co-worker. So far I’ve hit Teh Googles and despair.com but not found it available for purchase. Any ideas?

Remember that (estimated) $700 billion dollar bail-out thing, where the US taxpayers I mean Federal Reserve will “loan” - ha! Hahaha! - mind bogglingly huge sums of money to– well, I’m not sure who will receive all that money, but by gum it’s going to be a TRANSPARENT PROCESS or my name isn’t Beulah Oglethorpe.

But wait, there’s more!

$2,ooo,ooo,ooo,ooo.oo more, give or take a few billion. Except these loans (completely separate from the $700 billion “deal”) are different: The Fed refuses to disclose either the recipients or the “collateral” - ha! Hahaha! - for this big ol’ pile of money.

Two trillion dollars. Give or take a few billion. Two. TRILLION. Dollars. Of US taxpayer money, being loaned without watchdog oversight or anything remotely resembling public scrutiny, loaned to… undisclosed someones. For undisclosed somethings.

Is this a great country or what?

Metaphorically speaking of course.

My car has been leaking oil, and last night our washing machine started leaking water.

All of which makes me think of the “word” pond-o-leaky. Though I might not have it spelled correctly, it’s from a way favorite children’s book. Anyone recognize the word and remember the book?

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get a ducket racket and clean up some of that pond-o-leaky.

Saw a bumper sticker on a co-worker’s car: “got hope?” I walked closer to read the fine print; I expected to see a bible verse, maybe the name and url of some sponsoring church youth group. There was a url, all right: barackobama.com.

Please understand I think Mr. Obama could become one of our best presidents, and hope he does so. But I did not vote for him.

I tried. I really, really tried to “get” him, to understand why so many people joined the ranks of his faithful followers. Where some saw a kind of savior, I saw a first-term senator with an accomplished orator’s style, a hard-left liberal voting record, and an apparent immunity from scrutiny by the mainstream media.

Why do these recently counted millions think he is The One? Why did US school teachers enlist their students to promote his cause? Earlier today I interacted with a 15-year old who said Obama was going to be a great president because “so many people voted for him.”

I think there is some truth in what he said; momentum and inertia apply in politics as well as physics.

“He gives people hope,” said a 30-something who lives inside my computer.

Hope for… what? That he will be our Agent Of Change? If so I have to ask, what does that mean? What do people think Barack Obama is going to do, exactly, besides preside over a massively bloated government of the people, by the elite, for the agendas of the elite?

I hope Mr. Obama brings change, and for the better. But I don’t feel like my hope is the same kind held by my co-worker and yes, more than sixty million other people. I lack their optimism and excitement.*

I wish him well, and hope - there’s that word again - hope I begin to see the substance of what makes others believe in him so fervently.

* Some Democratic lawmakers are pushing for massive reductions in the US defense budget. Since that would have a direct and long-term impact on my livelihood, it does tend to damage my calm.

Last weekend I met one of my wife’s friends, who happens to be deaf. Since then I’ve been thinking about deafness, thinking about some audible things I take for granted:

• Footsteps
• Background conversations
• Soundtracks
• Favorite songs
• Breathing
• Hissing/ringing in my ears

I try to imagine my “world” without these things, and find I… cannot, at least not convincingly.

I want to ask someone who knows, but I’m not sure how my curiosity and fascination would be perceived. I’m not interested in hurting anyone’s feelings, or making someone uncomfortable.

Perhaps someday I will ask. In the meantime I’d appreciate any reading suggestions on this subject from you.

Thanks

“What’s this button do?” — Dee Dee (Dexter’s sister)

Spotted a few miles from where we live. And in case you’re wondering I have not tried to body slam press that key.

Yet.