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- January 23, 2022
- Louie Anderson RIP
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One of my favorite entertainers over the years was Louie Anderson.
He was born Louis Perry Anderson on March 24, 1953.
I could relate to his weight problem, his observations from a fat man's perspective, and somewhat cynical deadpan schtick, and his over all self-effacing nice guy persona.
His was a repertoire very unique characters on the large and small screens and there was so much to like in his interactions with his public that I always had time to listen to what he had to say.
Some of his material was very subtle and even that lent it self to hilarious impact in both those roles he portrayed and his stand-up performances.
He passed January 21, 2022 at age 68 in Las Vegas from large B-cell lymphoma which is a non-Hodgkins form of the disease.
It was only recently announced that he was ill.
He was one to tour regularly with his stand-up act and his presence and wit as a stand-up comedian will be missed.
Rest in peace.
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- January 22, 2022
- Ted Kaczynski the Unabomber put away for life
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Once upon a time I was a gruff ruffian crass and unfeeling about most things. I could call you down and stomp you relentlessly as long as it humored me and nowadays I suppose I could still browbeat someone into submission but it's simply not where I am anymore.
In all that hubub I never sought to actually hurt people and really and truly it would not have been worth that much to me in the context of who I was and that comportment I was required by work to project.
I reached a point where I simply avoid confrontational interaction anymore as a function of that unsocial loner I suppose I've always been.
Others take a different tack when dissenting with others.
Theodore John Kaczynski who was born May 22, 1942. He was also known as the Unabomber and is a former math professor turned American domestic terrorist.
He killed three people and injured 22 in 16 separate attacks between 1979 and 1995.
He was apprehended April 3, 1996 and was sentenced to four terms of life in prison without parole.
I was 41 years old and teaching at a local technical college thinking how curious it was for a logic and rules oriented mind would find the concept of mechanized murder a suitable past time.
I suppose common sense gets lost sometimes in that maze of high order thinking skills which sometime assumes control of us subconsciously.
Key to his capture was his alleged 'manifesto' which had a style of writing with "linguistic idiosyncrasies" which led investigators to him.
The U.S. government seized Kaczynski's deep woods "off the grid" cabin and placed it on display at the Newseum in Washington, DC until late 2019 then later transferred it to a nearby FBI museum.
I have wondered in the scrutiny of events while alone collecting his "complex analysis" thoughts if he thought it was all worth it.
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- January 21, 2022
- USS Nautilus is launched in 1954
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Navy curiosa has always followed me from duty station to duty station. First, they were the duty stations of my late father. Later they were my own duty stations. Regardless, I always pick up various items of information along the way. Ultimately, I became quite knowledgable on ships and armaments back in the day.
Now we have entire new classes of vessels and capabilities and my nephew whom I used chase around the house in diapers is now a chief petty officer of the line. Suffice it to say I am as much a relic as the AN/SPG 55-B radar I use to maintain and operate on the USS MacDonough back in the old days of my own enlistment.
On this day in 1954 the United States launched our first operational nuclear-powered submarine. Named the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) it was launched in Groton, Connecticut by Mrs Mamie Eisenhower who was the First Lady of the United States at that time. It was built by General Dynamics as a Tang-class submarine for the US Navy in 1952 and was in commission from 1954 through 1980.
She was first submarine to complete a submerged transit of the North Pole on August 3rd 1958.
Nautilus was decommissioned in 1980 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1982.
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- January 20, 2022
- Biggest Mistake in US History
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On this day in 2021 the Biden and Harris debacle began.
Never in the history of The Republic has the reins of the nation been placed in to more incompetent hands.
Biden with his monetization of public office in the finest Clinton democrat tradition and never ending stream of logistical and tactical mistakes and failures and Harris with her hateful rude demeanor and inability to take charge of anything substantial has lead the nation down the primrose path of inflation and a loss of prestige on the international stage we may never regain.
So ...
The failed 46th President of the United States of America and his doofus rude crude and socially unacceptable vice president continue unabashedly touting their foundering at everything relevant in an executive branch.
The democrats might have rethought stealing the election for a 78 year old imbecile who soils his pants during state engagements with the pope and farts on Camilla Parker Bowles (of ALL people) ... who likely brings it up in conversation at every opportunity.
The first female Vice President of the United States could at least have been a halfway likable person with ability and manners and not this boorish inconsderate mean spirited unskilled politcally irrelevant trollup.
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- January 19, 2022
- First Compatible Virus in 1986
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My career has been based on the "compatible" computer. This is what began as the intel cpu "IBM PC" compatible machine which originally ran on MS-DOS in 640K of RAM and has evolved over the years dragging me kicking and screaming into the information age where I abandoned my childhood career dreams and pursued technology without looking back.
From the totally frivolous efforts file we remember the first virus let loose on the compatible PC world back in 1986.
It was a boot sector infector called ©Brain by the Farooq Alvi Brothers in Lahore, Pakistan, reportedly to combat the unauthorized copying of the software they distributed.
The first iteration was released on January 19, 1986 and was pretty doggone mild as far as such cyber attacks go.
ALSO it should be stated that the brothers explained profusely that this effort was not an exploit and the payload even reported their name, address, three phone numbers, and a message explaining the mess.
Welcome to the Dungeon © 1986 Basit & Amjads (pvt). BRAIN COMPUTER SERVICES 730 NIZAM BLOCK ALLAMA IQBAL TOWN LAHORE-PAKISTAN PHONE: 430791,443248,280530. Beware of this VIRUS.... Contact us for vaccination...
The program was designed to track a heart monitoring program for the IBM PC as well as pirated copies of the distrubution media.
It kind of went overboard and I'm glad I escaped it entirely.
Since this humble beginning we have experienced much more devastating exploits written by those who would harm the world for personal gain.
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- January 18, 2022
- Answering Machine Syndrome
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When I get a call on my home phone I answer by stating my name and usually get a pause ...
The person on the other end invariably says they thought they were talking to an answering machine.
I am evaluating my present response habits in an effort to ascertain if they are indeed as inadequate as they appear in retrospect.
Maybe the simple addition of 'hello' up front is in order. In my pursuit of efficiency perhaps the humanity needs a little work.
I'm not one of those people who will actively engage in much in the way of theatrics, conventions, platitudes — drivel, etc on the telephone ...
So I don't really understand why the issue associated with my answering of the phone by stating my name should be confusing.
It gives me pause to think so many believe they're not engaging me when I answer the phone.
The phone conversation shouldn't be so high maintenance.
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- January 17, 2022
- Gary Gilmore executed in 1977
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When I was in the Navy Gary Gilmore was one of those news items I read in the magazine subscriptions to Time, Life and Newsweek I maintained while on active duty.
On this day in 1977 the American murderer Gary Gilmore was executed in Utah at 8:07 am by firing squad at Utah State Prison in Draper, Utah. , ending the nationwide moratorium on capital punishment that had been in effect for almost 10 years.
Gary Mark Gilmore was born Faye Robert Coffman on December 4, 1940 and died by highly publicized firing squad execution on January 17, 1977.
He was a criminal who gained international attention for demanding the implementation of his death sentence for two murders he had admitted to committing in Utah.
After the SCOTUS upheld a new series of death penalty statutes in the 1976 decision Gregg v. Georgia, he became the first person in almost ten years to be executed in the United States.
His famous last words were allegedly "lets do it" prior to receiving the very accurate volley from those chosen for the squad. His utterly cavalier attitude toward the judicial proceedings and his execution in particular was what shocked me about him the most.
These days I'm much more brazen and jaded regarding such matters.
His life and execution were rendered into a 1979 nonfiction novel by Norman Mailer called "The Executioner's Song" which became a 1982 TV film starring Tommy Lee Jones as Mr Gilmore. Having watched the movie myself I can attest to a number of very stark and disturbing aspects of his life as portrayed in the film.
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- January 16, 2022
- The final episode of Bonanza
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When I was a kid there was Hoss Cartwright on Bonanza. He was a childhood hero and I enjoyed Dan Blocker's portrayal of him immensely.
His stature, his gentleness, his simpler plot affect and dialog ...
My fantasy prone child ability to suspend disbelief with immediate reconfiguration of reality lent credence to that which I viewed as a western alter ego in my young entertainment centric mind.
On January 16, 1973 the final episode of Bonanza aired on NBC ending 14 seasons of the popular western television show. It ran for 421 episodes making it a record holder in the annals of television history.
I graduated from high school the following May 30.
Bonanza starred Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker and Michael Landon.
I was a regular viewer of this program for the better part of my childhood then lost interest with the passing of Dan Blocker who portrayed Eric "Hoss" Cartwright on May 13, 1972 — as did my paternal grandfather — and we just never thought the show was the same without him.
I think it was the only thing I ever had in common with the man who exhibited little interest in me otherwise except constant ridicule. Still, I cried unconsolably when he passed January 12, 1973 a scant 4 days prior to that last episode.
Bonanza was set in the trappings of nearby Virginia City and it was one of those clean cut morality plays by and large and the impact was great on a young impressionable kid such as myself.
Each of the initial stars have passed and the reruns stopped long ago.
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- January 15, 2022
- Mama Likes Good Witch
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"Good Witch" is a Hallmark Channel fantasy television program about a mystical woman lead named Cassie Nightingale and her daughter Grace.
It began as a television film from 2008. It has become a series of 6 television films as well as the television series Good Witch.
A character named Dr Sam Radford moves in next door to Grey House with his son and they both become close with the occupants of casa Nightingale aka Grey House.
It seems that Ms Nightingale has the knowledge to fix most anything that ails a person and this skill is not lost on the good Dr Radford.
The lead characters have a reserved presence and there are no ugly people in the entire cast ... only those who with personalities more or less scheming, ruthless as well as personable or even nice.
There are a variety of supporting roles and there is humor interspersed with some infuriating situational themes and it's all about as G rated as anything I've ever encountered.
I think that's why Mama likes it so much. She doesn't go for the harsh and foul language nor graphic violence. Anyway we went over the episode list and I think she wants to watch all programs in the series.
As her entertainment choices are my responsibility at this time I'm making the streaming device available to her through 10 pm seven days a week so that she has the opportunity to watch any and all programs she wants.
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- January 14, 2022
- The Feast of the Ass 2022
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The Feast of the Ass aka Festum Asinorum aka asinaria festa aka Fête de l'âne was a medieval Christian feast observed on January 14th, celebrating the Flight into Egypt by Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.
It is rooted in the French Feast of Fools celebrating the donkey-related stories in the Bible, in particular the donkey bearing the Holy Family into Egypt to escape Herod's slaughter of the innocents after the birth of Christ.
These observances are important to me as they are a part of that theology I was immersed within throughout my life.
Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. 2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 2:20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. 2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
Holy Bible, King James Version
See Also:
asinaria festa
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- January 13, 2022
- The Warrior Gene and Me
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I have felt hostility and rage on numerous occasions during my lifetime. I sometimes I have not the slightest notion of why I engage in such severe reactions while other times I understand completely why I react as I do.
It's almost like I have some aspect of a raging 'hulk persona' embedded in my psyche which surfaces on occasion whether under provocation ... Or triggered by some internal mechanism relevant to my attitude toward a situation, topic, or individual.
This renders me hazardous to be around in the presence of that for which I have disdain should I find myself confronted with situations which warrant severe response.
It also provides a need for vigilance and personal self control.
I attribute some of this all to my genetics.
Over the years I have been a student of Monoamine oxidase A which is produced as the result of the MAOA (mao-a2r) gene.
The sum total of what I have experienced in the way of anger and rage could have just as well been subdued as far as I am concerned. While I do not exhibit antisocial behavior I am decidedly unsocial and fine left to my own devices.
Alternatively, I enjoy the company of young ladies in particular and attempt to be socially aware in the presence of others.
I find the notion of reducing my personal adverse reactions to mitochondrial enzymes as well as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin but alas, there I think is the root cause of the hostility I suppress regularly.
Yes, I truly feel I have at least fragments of the so-called "warrior gene" so don't F☠ck with me or I might jack you up.
While not a proponent of violence and fighting I know where to hit to cause pain and injury. Luckily my modus operandi is self control and moderation in all things. I'm glad that the games some play simply never interested me.
Physical violence has never been an attractant. Jealousy, coercion, emotional edges and other psychological games don't interest me either. My sexual proclivities have never been motivation either. While some are body proud I've never had any such incentive nor desire to enact any form of demonstration toward that end.
I'm just a big subdued lout with designs on fading away outside the confines of violence and subsequent incarceration.
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- January 12, 2022
- Jeff gd Bezos birthday
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Jeffrey Preston gd Bezos
January 12, 1964
Albuquerque, New Mexico
American entrepreneur
Single handedly ruined both ecommerce and brick and mortar retail on planet earth
Die Satan die
This is Jeff Bezos.
He has enticed persons like my two nieces and girlfriend who like the idea of shopping without having to travel.
All I can say is I hope the concept of Amazon dies sooner than later.
Rudest automation on the planet.
Boo to ecommerce in the absence of brick and mortar establishments.
Today is Jeff Bezos birthday.
F U & D you P O S
See Also:
If it's only available on Amazon I don't want it
eCommerce is Tedious
Alexa Enabled Devices
I hate STUPID web sites
Alexa has been eavesdropping on owners from the beginning
Resisting Amazon Hating on Walmart
The Internet is Rude
Alexa big seller for 2017
Net Neutrality and Bickering Vendors
I don't do Amazon anymore ...
Retail Seems to be Going Away
Typos, Server Farms, and You
New Amazon VM Venture
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- January 11, 2022
- Cigarettes linked to lung cancer in 1964
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A historical event caught my eye the other day. On this day in 1964 Surgeon General of the US Luther L Terry announced that cigarette smoking is linked to lung cancer.
That poignancy struck me hard because my father succumbed to the sequela of smoking yet never suffered lung cancer.
He had just about every other pathology it may cause, however.
To complicate matters, the medical visits were kept hidden from me because he didn't want me to 'worry' about him.
The end result of this consideration was his passing hit me like a ton of bricks and even though I was 45 years old all I could do is cry.
I felt betrayed.
I quit smoking some 30 years back. Though I tried my utmost to get my daddy to quit smoking my efforts were to no avail.
When I quit smoking Marlboros it was because I had come to a personal impasse and I knew the things were killing me even though I smoked the "reduced tar and nicotine" brand and the act had lost it's allure because it was no longer enjoyable to me.
Smoking is one of the biggest causes of death and illness worldwide.
Yearly many die from the effects smoking imparts to the body and many suffer with debilitating smoking-related illness.
Smoking increases your risk of developing numerous ailments, many of which eventually are fatal.
Those which aren't fatal can cause irreversible long-term damage to the human body.
Smoking affects you if you smoke.
Smoking affect those around you who breath your smoke passively.
Smoking causes most (but not all) cases of lung cancer.
It also causes cancer elsewhere in locations such as:
• mouth • throat • larynx • esophagus • bladder • bowel • cervix • kidney • liver • stomach • pancreas
Smoking damages your heart and your blood circulation, increasing your risk of developing conditions such as:
• coronary heart disease • heart attack • stroke • peripheral vascular disease • cerebrovascular disease
Smoking also damages your lungs, leading to conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which incorporates bronchitis and emphysema as well as pneumonia.
Smoking can worsen or prolong the symptoms of existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, or respiratory tract infections such as the common cold.
Smoking can cause impotence because it limits the blood supply to the junk in males.
It can also reduce the fertility of both men and women.
Secondhand smoke comes from the tip of a lit cigarette and the smoke that the smoker exhales.
The act of breathing secondhand smoke is called "passive smoking" and it increases your risk of getting the same health problems "actual smokers" develop.
The moral of the story is that it's best to never smoke. If that isn't possible a person should quit the habit at the earliest possible moment.
See Also:
My Sister had a heart attack
Giving up those Vices
World No Tobacco Day 2019
WNTD - World No Tobacco Day
Help Recovering from Addiction
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- January 10, 2022
- National Houseplant Appreciation Day 2022
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Today is National Houseplant Appreciation Day.
Since the democrats have placed a housplant in the oval office it is appropriate to mark the occasion.
Even though he is without that freshness and vibrancy that a competent plant might bring to the nation we should remember that the democrats did this to us and should not ever foreget their criminal asses for it.
So happy National Houseplant Appreciation Day.
Joe gd Biden and Kamala gd Harris are the house plant chief executives to which the democratic party chose to subject you.
They, like the dieffenbachia dumb canes they are and their WHOLE party are entirely without merit.
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