Is anyone still out there?

Just came in to sweep out the cobwebs and dust things off. **Cough, cough**  Man, I forget all about this place.  It reminds me of our storage shed when I have to go out once a month or so to get something.  Of course, it's easier to get around here, since it isn't half full of stuff belonging to Kristina and Michael. :-)

The only time I remember these blogs, once one of the only places I was able to rant and review, is when I'm reading someone elses and they are in my list of fellow bloggers.  I admire other folks who blog everyday, or at least frequently enough to still call themselves bloggers.  I'm more a Facebooker or Tweeter now, although I have put myself up on Linked In, where I barely ever venture.  Seems far too respectable for me over there.  Besides I don't think Linked In is really the place to talk about the Anti-Christ & Boy Wonder running for President on the GOP side or why Marvel Now means less to me than the New 52 from DC.

Really isn't a whole heck of a lot to report, since I think everybody reading this probably keeps up with me on one of the other social media sites.  My job hasn't really changed, even with the increase in public service hours.  We're currently getting ready to vote on a new contract with the city, but I don't expect that to change much of anything, except how much we pay for our benefits.  At times like this I do miss being a member of a 'real union' as I was in New York.  Go DC-37!!!

We're still working on our place, even after two years here.  We just replaced the ceiling tiles in the 'computer/comics' room, only to discover we had a wasp nest sitting over head unknown to us.  The pest control folks were nice and came out, discovering a second nest outside under the awnings.  There is a gap in the roof which may need filling-in.  We are also looking to get a ramp for the backdoor, to make it easier for Donna. Having never lived in a place I didn't simply rent before, this homeowner thing continues to surprise me with all the little things that have to be done inside & out.

Kristina is threatening to make us get iPhones now that our Verizon contract it running out and we are able to get new phones.  Donna and I are pretty happy with what we have now and I'm not sure I need a phone smarter than I am.  Not as if I'm not already using my LG for Twitter & Facebook updates way too much.

Coming up the next few months are Comic Fest in San Diego for me, a visit from the Stoffo ladies & Dan (for both of us) and after Thanksgiving another cruise to celebrate our 13th Anniversary.  I'll have more to say on all those things as time grows closer.  Bye for now!!

Beer & Loathing in Las Vegas, Part II

We actually did some stuff in Las Vegas besides eat, drink and gamble, honest!

For me, a highlight was going to the CSI: Experience at the MGM Grand. The show is an inter-active presentation based on the original CSI, which takes place in Vegas. It does cost about $30, for adults, so I’d advise you going only if you are a big fan of any of the three shows. No spoilers, but the “job” you have as a rookie CSI is to investigate one of three murders/deaths that have occurred by using observation at the crime scene. There you list or draw in as many clues as you can use a rough sketch provided on your worksheet. You are given a clipboard, pen and a two-sided sheet where you list the evidence and lab results as you find them. The various labs contain the “evidence” and computer workstations where you check the clues and view video of actual forensic scientists and the actors from the Gil Grissom era of the show. It is Gil who gives you the initial presentation and your orders. Donna, Fran and I went through and were all able to solve the crime. Just so you know we had Case #1 which involved a man killed after apparently driving his car into his own house. You even get a ‘junior investigator’ diploma after the successfully finish. Cool!!

While Donna & Fran were off to the spa on Friday, I took the opportunity to ‘preview’ and review a new TV show. Each day different television pilots are shown to small groups (about ten to twelve each showing), roughly every couple of hours. The shows vary from half-hour sitcoms to full-hour dramas, so expect to be in the viewing room for a little over an hour depending on the program. Before the show you are asked some questions about your age and where you are from. Basically, because the shows range in subject matter they need to know if you are within the acceptable range. Primarily this might limit it to older teens or adults, but most shows are of the 8-10pm network variety according to the person leading the presentation.

The ‘reviewers’ are taken to a room on Studio Walk and shown into a room containing ten computer stations, there you sign into a station with your ID and asked a few more demographic questions. You have a small box with a dial next to the terminal marked from 0 – 100. As you watch the program you indicate (with the dial) if you are bored (0) or completely interested (100) with what you are viewing.

The day I was there they were showing the pilot for PARTNERS a sit-com already on the Fall schedule of CBS. It’s from the creators of WILL & GRACE, and like that show features a number of gay characters as the leads. In this case, two life-long friends who have both become architects and ‘business’ partners in the small firm they created. The show’s title also refers to the respective partners of the two main characters, Charlie (David Krumholtz) who is straight, and his business partner Louis (Michael Urie) who is gay. Not sure if the cast will change after the pilot (given my input at least two changes should be made), but neither of them the leads. I thought Brandon Routh (who wore the blue tights in SUPERMAN RETURNS) was very, nice as Louis’ partner, a male nurse whom Louis continues to introduce as a doctor. On the other hand, I found Sophia Bush who played Charlie’s fiancé was a total cipher going from sweet to harpy according to the whims of the script. There was, IMHO, no chemistry between them either. The one other character, set up as a regular apparently, was the Tracy Vilar (best known maybe as Nurse Regina on HOUSE, M.D.) who plays their secretary and is wasted in the role. I think she is supposed to remind folks of Rosario on W&G, but comes across as someone auditioning for a minor role in a touring version of WESTSIDE STORY. Not great, but a fun show I thought and one that I might watch for a few episodes to see if it improves. For our efforts, we were given some coupons for free items at the Food Court and discounts in other places around the hotel. I actually used one to get $5 off my CSI: Experience admission.

After breakfast on Saturday, the three of us were picked up by Kristina & Sarah for a trip over to the Venetian, where Fran wanted to find a shop that sold blown glass and jewelry. She had been there on a previous visit and wanted to see what they had, all items being from Italy and Venice in particular. Donna and I had been to the hotel/casino before, but had never gotten beyond the casino part. Going to the shopping/restaurant area was a revelation, as you actually feel that you are walking along a canal in Venice (or at least what we Americans believe it would be like). Donna, who has been to Venice, felt it smelled a bit better. :-)

Being who we are, of course, we had to sample some of the Italian baked goods at a small café. Everyone seemed happy with their choices and Sarah was a good sport, sampling each of the items she had never had before. Guess cannolis and Napoleons weren’t part of her upbringing.

Went on longer than I had planned again, but wanted to give you a general idea of what we did while away. Not sure the next time we’ll get out there, but I think we might pick a bit cooler month, if that’s possible.

Beer and Lounging in Las Vegas!

We had a great time in Las Vegas last week and I'd like to share some of that with you.

Donna and I both only worked a half day last Wed. so we were able to get on the road by around 4:00pm. You'd think that on a mid-week there wouldn't be a lot of traffic, but you'd be wrong. Fortunately, it cleared off by around Fontana, CA and we didn't hit anymore until outside Primm, NV (about twenty miles outside LV). We stopped for gas there and were at the MGM Grand and checked in by about 9:00pm that night. We were up on the 13th floor (so much for superstition in Vegas), with our room overlooking the Tropicana, the airport and the Hooters casino/hotel across the avenue. Who knew that Hooters even had a hotel/casino? I joked about going over for wings one night, but nobody else seemed up for the experience. Something about being the only guy in the group, perhaps?

We still had some sandwiches that Donna had packed and other snacks, so we skipped trying to find a restaurant that night. This gave us a chance to meet Fran & Christina Stoffo for drinks at the Rouge bar just off the casino floor (as is just about everything to be honest). Nice to catch up, even though you had to get loud to be heard over the music.

Not going to detail everything but I did want to hit a few highlights. One being the inevitable Elvis sighting, this time in the Food Court after midnight. Where else, right?

Three of us (Fran, Donna & I) had dinner at the Rainforest Cafe on Thursday, which took a bit of searching to actually locate. Lack of signage, plus some renovations being made in the West Wing made it harder than it probably normally would have been. The food was good, with Donna and I both having a steak/ribs/shrimp combo. Service was a bit slow, but the place was packed so I'll forgive them that. To be honest, I think the place is a bit over-rated, despite the food being good. They advertise a 'show' but all it amounts to is them flashing the lights every twenty minutes or so to the sound of thunder and rain. It was more fun watching the tropical fish in all the tanks. I'm sure kids would like it, and the place was packed with families who seemed to be having a good time.

On Saturday evening,the three of us also got reservations to Wolfgang Puck's Bar & Grill at the MGM. I had an amazing Pancetta Wrapped Meatloaf with Mushroom Gravy, Yukon Gold Potato Puree and Buttermilk Onion Rings. Donna & Fran each had the Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Blue Cheese Butter, Red Wine Sauce and French Fries (which were more like quartered potatoes fried extremely crispy). We shared a very, nice Riesling (from their decent wine list) and were all very happy with our meals.

In between, on Friday, we met up with Kristina & Sarah who were staying in town. We met Sarah's family and had dinner at Metro Pizza over on Tropicana Ave. It's Sarah's favorite pizza place and I can see why. The pizza is pretty good (even coming from a Brooklyn guy, like me), the chicken fingers had just enough of a kick and they had a really, nice selection of beer (which we sampled, of course). Everybody had more than enough and we finished the evening by going to a frozen custard place (the name escapes me) where we all had dessert standing outside in the parking lot.

Believe it or not, we actually did things besides eat, although that seemed to involve gambling, drinking or planning our next meal. Did you know that when you gamble you get free drinks? To be honest, that was one of the first things I learned in my first visit to a casino in Freeport/Paradise Island in the Bahamas, when I was in the Navy. I also learned that you can hold a drink in one hand and pull the lever on the slot machine with the other. A skill, I'm proud to say, I still have. :-)

This has gone on longer than I meant it to and I still have a few more things to talk about (some of which may also involve eating and drinking). I'll try to get to that later today or tomorrow. By the way, did you know that it gets hot in Vegas in June? But...it's a dry heat!

Cha..cha...cha...changes!

Been a while but I wanted to catch you up once more. Looks like the Library will be expanding hours and trying to move a bit more into the modern era by offering eBooks to our patrons. My understanding is that, prior the recontruction of the new building the system did have eBooks for a period. It will be interesting to see the circulation of these items once word gets out. Staff has been asked to refrain from downloading any in order to give our patrons the opportunity. Things are always in flux here so it's never sure what is going to happen in the future. As is always the case, you have to prepare for anything. Remember to keep those resumes updated, kids! Hate to sound like I'm so down, but we all have to face reality. On a more positive note, Donna and I are heading to Vegas next week to meet up with the Stoffos. Some others may join us, but that seems up in the air at the moment, so I'm not going to jinx things by saying anything. We've gone back and forth about whether to fly or drive, but the prices of airline tickets is a joke, plus the hassle of either taking a shuttle to the airport or parking for several days. As of now we're going to drive and I'll keep my fingers crossed that I don't annoy Donna and end up walking across the desert. If you are keeping up with my Facebook and Twitter posts you probably have a better idea of things anyway, so nothing else needs to be said. Anyway, after Vegas the next big thing is heading down to the San Diego Comic Con in July. Only able to get a one day pass for Sunday, due to the wonderful new ticket

Been a while but I wanted to catch you up once more. Looks like the Library will be expanding hours and trying to move a bit more into the modern era by offering eBooks to our patrons. My understanding is that, prior the recontruction of the new building the system did have eBooks for a period. It will be interesting to see the circulation of these items once word gets out. Staff has been asked to refrain from downloading any in order to give our patrons the opportunity. Things are always in flux here so it's never sure what is going to happen in the future. As is always the case, you have to prepare for anything. Remember to keep those resumes updated, kids! Hate to sound like I'm so down, but we all have to face reality. On a more positive note, Donna and I are heading to Vegas next week to meet up with the Stoffos. Some others may join us, but that seems up in the air at the moment, so I'm not going to jinx things by saying anything. We've gone back and forth about whether to fly or drive, but the prices of airline tickets is a joke, plus the hassle of either taking a shuttle to the airport or parking for several days. As of now we're going to drive and I'll keep my fingers crossed that I don't annoy Donna and end up walking across the desert. If you are keeping up with my Facebook and Twitter posts you probably have a better idea of things anyway, so nothing else needs to be said. Anyway, after Vegas the next big thing is heading down to the San Diego Comic Con in July. Only able to get a one day pass for Sunday, due to the wonderful new ticketing program the Con has in effect. It gets worse each year and not better, so I may just begin skipping the whole thing entirely. I enjoyed Wonder Con and liked the Long Beach Comic Con, so I may just go to those from this point on. San Diego may have grown too big and too much of a hassle for older fans like myself. Unless you are more into media (other than comics) or already a pro there isn't a need to attend. I mean if you aren't going to have fun why bother? I'll try to remember to get back with a Vegas report and maybe other things in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, look for me on Facebook. I can still afford a few more friends.

Nothing major of note has happened recently, but I felt it was time to check in. Donna and I are firming up plans for visits later this summer. We'll be having houseguests, namely her sister Marilyn and family for about a week. Not sure all of what we may be doing, although Disneyland and the beach have been discussed. I've never been to the California Adventure part of the park, so we may take that in if only for the Muppets & Toy Story related rides and shows. I know that there is a Great White waiting off the coast for me to put my fat ass in the Pacific, so I'm going to give it another chance. Later this summer, as things now stand, we may be driving to Vegas for a weekend. The Stoffo ladies are scheduled to fly in for an event and it seems a perfect time to visit with them and maybe see what Bingo is like at the casinos there. Wouldn't mind hitting some of the casino slot machines for a bit, either. For those interested, it looks like they may be extending the hours at the Library shortly. I'll miss having the Friday's off each week, but if the city drops the furlough scheme it may mean a few more dollars in my paycheck. Speaking of which, it's hard to believe that I have been working for Orange Public Library for over five years. Actually got a certificate and shook hands with the Mayor & city council a couple of weeks ago, which was kind of cool. That's it for now! take care and stay in touch.

It hardly seems possible that I have been working here in Orange for five years. Yeah, okay sometimes it seems forever, but the point is that the past five years have certainly been interesting. Of course, it was also a surprise to realize that I was with Brooklyn Public for over fourteen years and at the University of New Haven for four. You find yourself in a routine and just keep going through whatever changes are happening around you.

It is equally shocking to recall that in August, Donna and I will have been in California for six years. As with OPL, it seems like longer some days, while on others I have to remind myself that I don't need a return ticket to NYC. We're here for keeps!

Got nothing to add or report, but I did want to get that out of my system. The City of Orange actually gave me a certificate and I got to shake hands with the Mayor and City Council yesterday. Certainly something I never got to do back in Brooklyn.

Ya know, I kind of like it here. :-)

This might fit more into Shot's Shack, but thought I'd post here since more of you read this.

Went to Wonder Con yesterday, being held in Anaheim this year. Not sure what it is like in its usual San Francisco home, but it was a nice change from SDCC which can be pretty overwhelming. The Anaheim Comic Con, that was held last year, was barely half this size, but with more one-time movie & TV stars and "B" listers. Stan Lee and others are scheduled to appear today (Saturday), but for me the biggest (pardon the expression) celeb I saw was Cassandra Peterson (aka Elvira, for those who didn't have 8x10s of her on their walls). She had a small group around her and as I was getting ready to leave I failed to get a snap-shot or autograph.

A couple of the LA TV stations had crews there during the day, but I only caught a report on the NBC affiliate this morning. As usual, the focus is on the folks who appear in costume, giving the impression that 80% of the folks are running around in ill-fitting costumes. The reporter did about ten seconds standing behind a dealer table saying something to the effect that 'this is what the attendees are really here for' and pulling out some random Marvel X-title. Immediately the video went back to showing a Scarlet Witch and a couple of the folks you see above. (Before you ask, it was explained to me by my co-worker David, that these are villains from Cartoon Network's The Venture Bros. animated series.)

David, along with his brother, Jeff, and I had a pretty good time, not taking in any of the panels, but just walking about the convention picking up some freebies and other things. As I said, unlike SDCC, the place is really set up for folks who want to buy collectibles and artists wanting to sell their books and sketches. The movie stars, 'big name' creators and huge publisher/movie company displayes are not in evidence. Wonder Con still has the feel of the San Diego cons I attended thirty years ago and smaller cons you can still find around the country.

In an odd bit of scheduling the Convention center was also hosting the "SCVA Junior National Qualifier Volleyball Tournament". Not sure who was more curious about the other group. Hundreds of teenage girls in shorts & tee shirts and dozens of older teens and adults dressed up in tights and articial armor taking photos of each other. There seemed to be a lot of staring and good natured posing going on in both groups.

I'd do it again, if Wonder Con returns, but I doubt they will. What I do hope is that the folks behind SDCC & Wonder Con realize that there is room for another convention, perhaps scheduled between the two or later in the year.

More changes at the Library, but I guess that's to be expected. Usual rumors and concerns, which does nobody any good. Time to update that resume?

Been strange not having Donna home the past week. I don't know that I am cut out for a bachelor lifestyle anymore. How did I get by when I was living on my own? I do want to give two thumbs up to Marie Callender's for making some really tasty frozen dinners. I recommend their various pasta microwavable entrees. I've paid a lot more in restaurants for fettucini with chicken & broccoli that wasn't as good as this. A perfect size for one meal and great for when I get home at night from work. (This was not a paid endorsement!)

On the other hand, I can't recommend the flavorless Farmer John's Franks. Even homemade chili and mustard couldn't save these. Shouldn't have gone cheap,as Donna told me I was, but I thought I would give them a try. I'll stick to Hebrew National or Nathan's from now on.

Got to see JOHN CARTER last Saturday and recommend it. I'll be posting my YouTube review over on Shot's Shack later today. Also, borrowed a couple of DVDs from the Library (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo {original from Denmark w/ English subtitles} and the Coen Bros.' True Grit). I'll try to give a quick review over on the other site when I get a chance. Although, I must say right here (not having seen the new American version of Girl with...) that the two scenes involving Salendar with her guardian were extremely disturbing.

With that warning I'm going to wrap things up for now. Hope to be a more frequent poster and see you soon.

All the changes being made to Facebook,Twitter and MySpace are making things even more difficult than easier, IMHO. I'm not crazy about the Timeline thing on Facebook and, unless I'm just dense, they have made changing your Profile picture a royal pain. I might start to find it easier to start posting more here and at Shot's Shack.

It's going to be strange being on my own next week with Donna going back East. Guess I have to stock up on frozen TV dinners, Moxie and some beer. Also, might be a good time to catch up on some movies on DVD and spend a day at the movies. I'm curious about the new John Carter movie coming out next Friday and I could sneak in to some other films while I'm there. Haven't done the multiple movie thing since back in New York.

That's it for now!

I really should know better than to get into political stuff in my blogs, since not everyone who reads them are union loving, progressive, agnostics. In fact, not even my own family and good friends agree with me a good part of the time and I've learned to keep quiet about a lot of things. Still it is nice to have a place where I can rant and not bother Donna by yelling at the television.

In my humble opinion, as bad as the past year was in Washington and in the media, the countdown to Election Day (and probably way past then) is going to be even worse. The GOP has made it clear since Obama won in '08 that their one & only job was to ensure the man was a one-term President. It doesn't matter if they block even things they themselves once tried to pass or that the majority of the American public thinks they doing a horrible job. All they can focus on is creating an atmosphere so poisoned that only the most toxic swamp dwellers are voting in their caucuses and primaries. The candidates they are voting for would be a joke in any other election year, yet this is the 'best' the Republican Party can come up with. Mitt Romney (or as he is known in Chez Chaput: The Anti-Christ) is the kind of guy you fear sitting next to on a long flight. Newt Gingrich is a serial-adulterer and was tossed out of the Congress he lead for years. Rick Santorum avows some strange form of Catholicism that I certainly don't recognize from my youth growing up in the church. Ron Paul is...well, Ron Paul!

This is probably not the last time I rant here about all this and frankly I've kept it shorter than I had originally intended. All this stuff makes me angry and after a while I just want to get back to talking about comics & zombies.

Catch you all later!

Needless to say it's been way too long since I last posted and for that I apologize. I've become so accustomed to posting on Twitter & Facebook (and I'm still on MySpace, if anyone cares) that anything over 140 characters seems like beginning a novel. I recall promising sometime in 2011 that I'd post more frequently but that promise fell quickly by the wayside. I'm not going to redo that resolution again, but I will try to remember that I do have these two blogs.

If you've been looking at Shot's Shack, you'll notice that about once a month or so I'll put up one of my infrequent YouTube videos. You should probably only look for those if you are into comics, since that's primarily the topic I cover. They'll sometimes be something about TV or movies and even an occasional prose novel. Of course, since I'm also posting on several comics sites, along with Good Reads & Shelfari I generally get my ranting done before I even remember I have a pop culture blog.

I guess I should start off this New Year by briefly going over the last one.

Donna and I continued to work on our new place. We've gotten some new furniture (okay, second hand but in good condition) to make the place more inviting to any guests we may have. Over the holiday break from work we went back East to visit Donna's family in New York and mine in Connecticut. Seems hard to believe that it had been almost six years since I saw my family. Fortunately, they all seemed to be doing well, and I only wish I could have seen more of them. Trying to cram friends & family into two days wasn't enough. There were too many cousins I would have loved to have seen, if only for a few hours. I think I lost track of how many people I invited out to visit us. We'll have to restock the bar, if nothing else. :-)

My 2002 Saturn gave up the ghost and I'm now driving a 2010 Chevy Impala out and about. Sadly, my driving skills (or lack of concentration) has already left me with a dent on the rear driver's side wheel well. The only good thing is that the guys at the car wash (where it happened) were able to buff it up so that you really don't notice it. Hopefully, this will mean that I'll be accident free and not have to worry for a while. Could also mean that I have to pay closer attention when pulling into gas stations from now on.

For those of you wondering, my new 'job' (position really) at the Library seems to be going smoothly so far. Still learning the regular patrons and routines that go with a smaller branch. Certainly much quieter, most of the time, than working at the Main library, but it can be hectic when you are on the Reference Desk and have to be both Adult & Children's librarian, plus computer tech all in one. Fortunately, I have a very good & experienced staff to keep me from making too much of a mess of everything.

Not sure if it's the job, getting older or my terrible diet, but I discovered a week ago that my blood pressure has reached a point where my doctor has decided that medication is necessary. Considering my weight and lack of exercise I shouldn't be surprised that things have finally caught up to me. As he said, "If it tastes good, don't eat it." *sigh*

I believe that I've kept you from more important things long enough, so I'm going to wrap this up. If you're checking in from New York, I hope that winter will not be around much longer, although from what I hear it really hasn't been all that bad. If you are here on the West coast, you know that things have been cooler than we like but we'll be down at the beach in a couple of months (if not sooner). If you are located in the vast wastelands between the coasts, there's not much I can say to cheer you up I'm afraid.

Take care and stay in touch!

When you hit Sixty you start to think about those things you have wanted to do but have never gotten around to. At least in my case that's true. I've seen hang-gliders and para-sailers for years and always wondered what that might be like. Donna has pictures of her up several hundred feet, from years ago and I'd always envied her being brave enough to do it. Finally, when we were on our latest cruise I decided that this was my chance.

The Carnival Splendor (yeah, the one that caught fire last year!) was in Cabo San Lucas for two days, so I signed up for a two hour shore excursion that would take you out to para-sail. We were picked up at the dock and the ten of us donned our life-jackets for the trip out to the 'launch area'. There were three couples, and a married couple with their son, besides myself. I let the the other four pairs go up before me (the father took photos while the mother & son took flight) and then my turn finally came. Even though I had watched the others go up and down with no problems I was still a bit nervous. At least the others had someone to calm them down if they freaked, in my case I was literally on my own.

You don't realise how slim that line is or how small the knot that attaches you to the boat hundreds of feet below you. At the highest point you are close to six hundred feet above the blue waters and tiny boats. Ten minutes never seemed to last so long or seem so amazing at the same time.

The photos can only begin to show you how it was. It really is something I recommend that you try if you haven't already. As Donna always says, life is too short.

I also have to recommend, for anyone who goes to Cabo, that you check out Cabo Wabo Cantina, Sammy Hager's bar & restaurant in town. Go for the tequila shots, especially the 'doubles' and do it the right way. Woof!

I don't often wish that I was back East, since I really do love it here in California. However, from all I have seen, heard and read I do think that I would like taking part in the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. This is what those folks deceived into buying the Tea Party agenda should be doing. They are being led by the very, folks who are doing their best to bring about the destruction of democracy in the United States.

I find it interesting that I am moving back into the Leftist positions I held when I was in my twenties. The funniest part is that I'm living in one of the most conservative areas in all of California. It's anti-union, racist and homophobic.

So, what have you been up to lately?

Been going through and deleting some spam comments that slipped through. Most were to blog posts from years ago, but I will try to keep more current. I'll also try to do the same over on Shot's Shack when I get a chance later.

Probably a good time, while I have a few minutes to check some of the links I have up, as I have discovered a few that don't work any longer. I some cases the links still work but the sites & blogs haven't been updated since they were originally set up. Not that I am the best at updating my own blogs, of course. :-)

A few personal things, while I have your attention.

Donna and I just renewed our passports. Man, it is hard to believe that it has been ten years since I first applied for one. It was actually issued just about a week before 9/11. In fact, our applications were still in the mail during the weeks leading up to and we received them about a week or so after the incident.

Quickly, political: Is it time to change my registration from Democrat to Independent? The past few weeks have me wondering if I can still identify with that Party, but changing now will limit what I can do next year during the primaries. Might take the opportunity to vote against any incumbent and then change before the November election. I've swallowed about all I can at this point and know that no matter who the Teabaggers nominate I'm not voting for Obama. Third Party is the way to go in 2012. I know that I'm going to hear from Joe on this, and I don't blame him.

I highly recommend that you check out this website, "The War You Won't See" by film-maker/journalist John Pilger. An amazing film that via leaked video (some of which you may have previously seen) and interviews you'll learn about actual events taking place in "our name" in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Disturbing but important.

It's difficult to believe that I began blogging at the beginning of 2003. When I go through the archive it is about as close to a diary as I have come in years. Elayne was the big one for diaries, but I never had the attention span. Probably why I do so well with Twitter and Facebook where I'm limited and my mind doesn't wander in the middle of a tweet. Why not unless the TV or radio is on and I hear something else I want to rant about.

If you aren't Following or Friending me I thought I would take a few minutes to fill you in a bit on what has been happening at Chez Chaput and at work.

My attempt to set up a couple of bird feeders for all the finches, sparrows and smaller birds in the neighborhood backfired. It started with the pair of ducks (Ozzie & Harriet, as Donna dubbed them) and quickly expanded to close to a dozen geese visiting our patio everyday for the feed dropped from the feeders. If that was the extent of it I wouldn't have minded and initially we loved watching the parents and goslings coming by each morning. Unfortunately, we discovered that goose poop does tend to accumulate pretty rapidly and I was out cleaning the driveway, patio and sidewalk at least twice a week, if not more often. Now the feeders sit in our shed in hopes that when the flock flies off in a few weeks (according to our neighbors who have lived here for years) I can put them back up, at least until late in the year when the bigger birds return.

On the work front, the City is in negotiations with the bargaining units for all City departments. We might not know what a new contract will contain until August at this rate, so we are all working minus a contract. If you have followed the news you probably know that California finances aren't in the best of shape, thanks in no small part to the ex-Governator and the Republicans in the legislature. Not that the Dems, who have a majority in both houses are blameless, nor current Governor Brown. A lot of this goes all the way back to Prop 13 and the refusal of any in the GOP to allow any hikes in taxes for the wealthiest. Pretty much the same crap we are seeing on a Federal level. Better to cut funding for education, fire, police, parks & recreation than get another few thousand from some banker making millions in bonuses this year.

That's my rant on that for the moment, but you can expect more I'm sure as we get closer to the 2012 election and that whole circus.

I expect to post something tonight, if possible over on Shot's Shack, about my recent reading (comics & prose novels, plus things on movies). That does it for me here, but expect me to be changing some of my links, adding and deleting stuff I no longer find useful or entertaining.

Hope you are all doing well and gearing up for the Independence Day weekend. Hard to believe that almost half of 2011 has passed and The Rapture didn't hit yet, huh?

The Book of Mormon - Hasa Diga Eebowai

"When God fucks you in the butt (Hasa Diga Eebowai), fuck God right back in his cunt. (Hasa Diga Eebowai)."

I really would love to see this play!

From George Washington's Farewell Address (1796):

"All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They [political parties] serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests.

"However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines, which have lifted them to unjust dominion."

Obviously, this George W. would not have been welcome in the GOP.

It was bad enough when the Republican Party was simply a tool (as are a number of Democratic politicians, let's be honest here) of the Corporations and the wealthy in this country. Now however it is obvious, from the actions of a number of Republican governors and their wholly-owned congressional houses that the idea of democracy (small "d") does not fit into their plans for the American future they envision. The idea of a permanent Republican majority, put forth by Carl Rove, is still their ideal despite the momentary bump in the road caused by the 2008 elections.

Following two years of 'birthers', Teabaggers, and ranting about the "Socialist/Muslim" President the 2010 elections put the Republicans in position to undermine the Constitution they claim to hold sacred. Momentarily blinded by what many of us thought was a change for the better, progressives now find themselves treading water with the riptide pulling us further into dangerous waters.

Sorry, to be so heavy but things are not looking good.

Is anybody still reading this? To be honest, I forget I have the damn thing unless I post a video via YouTube. As I mentioned earlier on SHOT'S SHACK, I am spending all my time over on Facebook & Twitter so my ranting is down to under a 140 characters most of the time. To be honest, I'm reTweeting more than anything, since many of the folks I Follow are much more clever than I could ever hope to be. Hell, when you can read stuff from Steve Martin, Wil Wheaton, Neil Gaiman and Keith Olbermann, among others, why bother trying to come up with something clever on my own. Steal theirs!

Frankly, I don't even know what to make of what has been happening the past few weeks. I listen to the news and all I can do is shake my head. There is nothing I can say about the tragedy in Japan and the on-going aftermath that others aren't already filling bandwidth and the airwaves saying. I'm certainly not smart enough to add to the conversation on what is happening in the Mid-East. Yeah, Qadaffi (or however you want to spell it) has to go, but are we doing the right thing? Did we take too long or go in too soon. If best-selling author and multiple adulterer Newt Gingrich is puzzled then I am out of my league.

Are you like me? Have you finally decided that any faith you had in Obama was ill-placed? If not, than I admire your conviction since mine was lost a while ago. Every so often he will say something or do something that makes me remember why I voted for him in the first place. Not in the primaries, but in the general election. I've decided that I'm going to remain registered in the Democratic Party until the primaries next year, just to see if anyone will be running against the President. Then I'm changing to Independent. My dad was right that Parties really don't mean anything, then again, my dad voted for Nixon three times.

Not even going to say that I'll try to post more often, since I'd be lying to myself as well as you. Seek me out at Facebook or Twitter, where you can generally find me at least 4-5 days a week.