The Morning Show

Rating: MS
I think I've had a bad run with radio programs lately. At least Issues, Etc. has come back on the air. Now if Garage Logic goes away, I may give up radio entirely. Okay, not so much. I'm just disappointed that, as I alluded to in my previous post, the Morning Show on Minnesota Public Radio is ending on December 11. It doesn't help matters that the hosts continue daily to remind us that the show is ending soon.


I really enjoyed listening to this show when I lived where I could hear it on real radio; now I listen most weekday mornings via internet. I continue to ask myself whatever will I do in the morning without Jim Ed and Dale serving up the eclectic smorgasbord of diverse music?


I have purchased at least two CDs thanks to this show. What other radio program plays Moxie Fruvous? How else can future generations learn to love Throat Culture's song "Easter Island Head?" Where else can on hear showtunes, klezmer, Celtic, Leo Kottke, Nancy Griffith, and ads for Bowzer Beds all woven together in a miscellaneous mix which can inspire or (gasp) remind one that it is Bosses' Day?


So many memories. Near Labor Day I will ever strain to recall the words to the State Fair song. I will always consider a move to Memphis when I see a road sign for Memphis. I will always think of "King of Spain" whenever I see a zamboni. I will ever chuckle when I drive under the sign near the merge of I-44 and I-55 in St. Louis which reads, "Downtown Illinois" and remember Ann Reed's song, "Where the (ahem) [Heck] is Boston?". You can't buy stuff like that.


Dale, Jim Ed, I will miss you terribly.

It's Been an Up/Down Day

Rating: ?
Today has had its share of smiles and frowns. It's been like riding the kiddie coaster. No real huge highs and lows; just the minor ones.
I had much to ponder during Bible class--smile
I heard that the Morning Show on MPR is ending in December--frown (a big one)
I have an organ fill-in date for Sunday--smile
My students were not so good today--frown
I got paid and on time!-- double smile
It was a rainy, gloomy afternoon--frown
I got to listen to Issues, Etc.--smile
I discovered a crack in my windshield--frown (a big one)
I suppose that all-in-all everything balances out to make it another average day.

The Princess Bride

Rating: Just-for-fun (yeah, I made up a new rating; it's my blog, I don't care)

I found this Princess Bride meme at the blog Drowning Myself Whenever I Can, and I had to post in like manner. Let me just say at the outset: I LOVE The Princess Bride. It is my favorite movie of all time. In fact, people refuse to watch it with me anymore because I can quote pretty much the whole thing. This is why it was difficult to find one quote, so I picked a whole scene because it has a few memorable quotes including Westley's line "Drop--your--sword." What women doesn't swoon there? So here is my favorite, um, scene.

Prince Humperdinck: First things first, to the death.
Westley: No. To the pain.
Prince Humperdinck: I don't think I'm quite familiar with that phrase.
Westley: I'll explain and I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand, you warthog faced buffoon.
Prince Humperdinck: That may be the first time in my life a man has dared insult me.
Westley: It won't be the last. To the pain means the first thing you will lose will be your feet below the ankles. Then your hands at the wrists. Next your nose.
Prince Humperdinck: And then my tongue I suppose, I killed you too quickly the last
time. A mistake I don't mean to duplicate tonight.
Westley: I wasn't finished. The next thing you will lose will be your left eye followed by your right.
Prince Humperdinck: And then my ears, I understand let's get on with it.
Westley: WRONG. Your ears you keep and I'll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, "Dear God! What is that thing?" will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever.
Prince Humperdinck: I think your bluffing.
Westley: It's possible, Pig, I might be bluffing. It's conceivable, you miserable, vomitous mass, that I'm only lying here because I lack the strength to stand. But, then again... perhaps I have the strength after all.
Westley: DROP— YOUR—SWORD. . . Have a seat. Tie him up; make it as tight as you like.
Prince Humperdink: Oww!

At Least it Wasn't Torched

Rating: NSS

They vandalized our yard sign--again! The first time I slandered the liberals, in my mind, mind you--mostly because I was displeased over finding out a certain someone I knew keeps their blog on Obama's website. Not that people can't be Democrats or liberals, or Obama supporters; don't misunderstand me here. I was mostly displeased because first, I thought this person was someone other than what they were professing to be; second, what they had written was just spouting the media's retoric. Very disappointing to me. So to find my yard signs had been torn down the day after the above unpleasant discovery, my reaction was understandable. Still, I did not call the police. I just picked up the two signs, put back up one as it still had its metal holder intact.

Last night there were reports of yard signs in a nearby suburb getting vandalized and even burned on their metal holders.

Today, my remaining yard sign was torn down again; the metal holder missing this time. I called the police (not 9-1-1, just the non-emergency number). They took down the information, which is all I expected. I didn't figure them waging a large-scale manhunt for yard sign vandals. Just know--stay out of my yard, you leftist-liberal-Obama-lovers! For all you rightist-conservative-McCain-lovers, stay out of their yards too! Elections are stressful enough without resorting to petty vandalism. Keep it on the level, not stooping to pettyness.

Tips on What NOT to Do

Rating: NSS
Just a few tips during Debate Season.
#1: If you post a comment on a blog, you might want to know the spirit in which the blog post was written.
#2: If you wish to debate in posting of said comment, avoid using"texting" language while stating your argument. [Scroll down to the anonymous comment.]
#3:While you are debating, please state your argument in logical terms, not emotional terms; and please don't insult your audience.
#4: If you are planning on robbing a bank, don't rob the one closest to where the Vice-Presidential debate is being held; and definitely DON'T have your escape route being TOWARD the Vice-Presidential debate venue. You know the place is swarming with police. You don't stand a chance.
I merely want to help.

Follow Up

Rating: S
I've upgraded the rating, since I was the patsy on this one. I'm following up on a previous post with reiterated advice, which borders on a warning. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT post something of major, life-altering information on MySpace or Facebook before you tell your family. I'm pretty sure my principal did not want to hear from the school secretary (me) or church secretary (unbeknownst to her followed up my faux pas) that his son is now engaged. For crying out loud, tell mom, dad, siblings, etc. FIRST. Then share the happy tidings with the internet.

Check and Recheck. . .

Rating: MS

I found this ad in the phonebook (the phone book was expired; don't worry), and I found it funny. Then I read it more closely. Um, here's a hint, folks, if you're going to talk about people reacting to "hey stupid," you might want to make sure your grammar is correct. By the way, slower is an adjective. It's modifying respond, which is a verb. Verbs are modifed by adverbs, therefore it should be more slowly.