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Sagittarius Horoscope for week of May 28, 2015
Petrarch was an influential 14th-century Italian poet whose main work was Song Book. It's a collection of 366 poems, most of which are dedicated to Laura, the woman he loved. For 40 years he churned out testaments of longing and appreciation for her, despite the fact that he and she never spent time together. She was married to another man, and was wrapped up in raising her eleven children. Should we judge Petrarch harshly for choosing a muse who was so unavailable? I don't. Muse-choosing is a mysterious and sacred process that transcends logic. I'm bringing the subject to your attention because you're entering a new phase in your relationship with muses. It's either time to choose a new one (or two?) or else adjust your bonds with your current muses.
My morale has been very low lately, and I have to apologize to the human race that I've been very poor company to keep. I'm mulling over re-configuring Chillin' Out for a possible Kindle Store, and other news in my life has me trying to figure out the usual depression and demoralization from outright self-loathing and anger. I don't know what would make me feel better.
FreeWill: Hate Is In The Air
Apr. 30th, 2014 12:07 pmSagittarius Horoscope for week of May 1, 2014
Actor Matthew McConaughey prides himself on his willingness to learn from his mistakes and failures. A few years ago he collected and read all the negative reviews that critics had ever written about his work in films. It was "an interesting kind of experiment," he told Yahoo News. "There was some really good constructive criticism." According to my reading of the astrological omens, Sagittarius, now would be an excellent time for you to try an experiment comparable to McConaughey's. Be brave!
I aspire to other people's indifference.
Lack Of Interest
Jul. 30th, 2012 07:21 pmIt's odd that there were dozens of times I wanted to blog, but couldn't, this month, and yet when I have the opportunity now, I've forgotten what was so important I needed to share it with everybody.
This has been a horrible month and I'll be glad when it's gone.
FP
This has been a horrible month and I'll be glad when it's gone.
FP
You may want to skip this entry if you have an aversion to TMI.
When my Mom had to choose a Medicare health plan, she picked Cariten because she didn't want to belong to Humana as she saw Humana being nothing but trouble. Soon after, Humana took over Cariten's business in Tennessee and it has proved to be just as troublesome as she imagined.
When she went through her terminal health emergency she was at a specialty clinic (covered by Humana) that had been prescribed by her surgeon (covered by Humana) who in turn had been referred by her Humana primary care doctor. The doctor in charge of the clinic determined that Mum's condition was so critical that either he or his staff arranged an ambulance to take her to the nearest hospital (also covered by Humana). Neither Dad, nor I, had anything to do with this choice.
Now Humana wants us to pay up for her ambulance ride, with their excuses being 1) the company operating the ambulance was "out of their network" (?!) and 2) her primary care doctor (who wasn't available!) had to approve or endorse the decision to transport her by ambulance.
No matter that Medicare should be covering this transportation, because the circumstances fit the Medicare rules and requirements on the matter.
We're looking at a bill in excess of $500, and paying it would hurt us. Dad's trying to challenge the charge, but the Humana lawyers are giving him the runaround.
Meanwhile, Humana's marketing division is still sending Mum junk mail asking her to expand her coverage to include dental care and other specialty services. What stupidity!
When my Mom had to choose a Medicare health plan, she picked Cariten because she didn't want to belong to Humana as she saw Humana being nothing but trouble. Soon after, Humana took over Cariten's business in Tennessee and it has proved to be just as troublesome as she imagined.
When she went through her terminal health emergency she was at a specialty clinic (covered by Humana) that had been prescribed by her surgeon (covered by Humana) who in turn had been referred by her Humana primary care doctor. The doctor in charge of the clinic determined that Mum's condition was so critical that either he or his staff arranged an ambulance to take her to the nearest hospital (also covered by Humana). Neither Dad, nor I, had anything to do with this choice.
Now Humana wants us to pay up for her ambulance ride, with their excuses being 1) the company operating the ambulance was "out of their network" (?!) and 2) her primary care doctor (who wasn't available!) had to approve or endorse the decision to transport her by ambulance.
No matter that Medicare should be covering this transportation, because the circumstances fit the Medicare rules and requirements on the matter.
We're looking at a bill in excess of $500, and paying it would hurt us. Dad's trying to challenge the charge, but the Humana lawyers are giving him the runaround.
Meanwhile, Humana's marketing division is still sending Mum junk mail asking her to expand her coverage to include dental care and other specialty services. What stupidity!
Photoshop Phodder
Feb. 18th, 2012 03:23 pm
A NASCAR Dodge Charger for 2012, altered to the shade of orange used for the General Lee Charger in THE DUKES OF HAZZARD. I did this because of the Bubba Watson/General Lee/Phoenix racetrack story in the news.
Writer's Block: State of the Union
Jan. 20th, 2012 03:05 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
I don't think it's possible. Americans hate one another so much now they'll never let anybody in office do anything great.
I don't think it's possible. Americans hate one another so much now they'll never let anybody in office do anything great.
Rest And Unrest
Nov. 6th, 2011 06:40 pmNo, I'm not going to talk about the Autumn of Discontent. Tho' it is tempting.
That extra hour of rest from the end of daylight savings time was welcome...but I don't like having to pay for it every spring. *shrug*
I have this bizarre notion now that if war breaks between Iran and Israel, hostilities will begin at either midnight Teheran time (2030 GMT/3:30 PM Eastern US) or midnight Jerusalem time (2200 GMT/5:00 PM Eastern US). Because, as Revelation puts it, the Apocalypse comes "like a thief in the night".
* * *
Meanwhile, I've had to update my Amazon wishlist, because a great many things on it have since become unavailable. Mainly in the fields of graphic novels, CD audio, old movies and collectable game booster packs.
My week 3 contribution to the Sweepstakes? A pilot's uniform jacket from Gibson-Barnes.
That extra hour of rest from the end of daylight savings time was welcome...but I don't like having to pay for it every spring. *shrug*
I have this bizarre notion now that if war breaks between Iran and Israel, hostilities will begin at either midnight Teheran time (2030 GMT/3:30 PM Eastern US) or midnight Jerusalem time (2200 GMT/5:00 PM Eastern US). Because, as Revelation puts it, the Apocalypse comes "like a thief in the night".
* * *
Meanwhile, I've had to update my Amazon wishlist, because a great many things on it have since become unavailable. Mainly in the fields of graphic novels, CD audio, old movies and collectable game booster packs.
My week 3 contribution to the Sweepstakes? A pilot's uniform jacket from Gibson-Barnes.
Tags:
Writer's Block: Night tremors
Oct. 27th, 2011 03:02 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
Barking canines. At about 2AM overnight, EVERY SINGLE ONE in a two or three mile radius had to go berzerk and howl or scream or belch or whatever.
Barking canines. At about 2AM overnight, EVERY SINGLE ONE in a two or three mile radius had to go berzerk and howl or scream or belch or whatever.
Writer's Block: Anti-bullying month
Oct. 3rd, 2011 12:00 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
The State of Tennessee. It just doesn't want me to be happy, or let me do anything I want to do.
The State of Tennessee. It just doesn't want me to be happy, or let me do anything I want to do.
Writer's Block: Eraser dust
Sep. 15th, 2011 04:34 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
I'd remove a disease. Not sure which one. Cancer has been pretty nasty to us (my family).
I'd remove a disease. Not sure which one. Cancer has been pretty nasty to us (my family).
Writer's Block: Jumped the shark
Aug. 19th, 2011 06:58 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
The Evening News programs from the commercial networks. They're too biased and centered around specific people (celebs and politicos, mainly). And they get too much stuff wrong.
The Evening News programs from the commercial networks. They're too biased and centered around specific people (celebs and politicos, mainly). And they get too much stuff wrong.
Baits And Switches
Jun. 20th, 2011 10:31 pmToday I took Dad to Morristown to shop for replacement wheels to fit his mulcher. There is a little place just east of downtown (Tools N More) that we shopped at when I was in school...they were the best source because they handle surplus stock parts. I didn't expect to go there; I did expect to go to Lowe's because sister Lynn gave him a Lowe's card for Father's Day. But he told me he had already checked with them and they didn't have what he needed.
He was unclear about what he wanted to do when we sortied out...but we worked it out eventually.
After downtown we had an adventure finding the Social Security office in Morristown. They instructions he'd received on where it is were also rather unclear and perplexing. It took us three tries to find the place, as there weren't proper signs in the places they need to be, and the building's back is to the main road.
But now he knows where it is, and can take a friend for a required conference soon.
On Facebook today, I clicked on an ad about high school yearbooks...but if I had known it was classmates.com I would have passed it by. I HATE classmates.com; they don't get it that not everybody had a good time in teenage life. But now I'm on the hook again for their stupid junk e-mail and I'm going to have to dredge out that old Dear John e-mail I sent them years ago. Bleh.
He was unclear about what he wanted to do when we sortied out...but we worked it out eventually.
After downtown we had an adventure finding the Social Security office in Morristown. They instructions he'd received on where it is were also rather unclear and perplexing. It took us three tries to find the place, as there weren't proper signs in the places they need to be, and the building's back is to the main road.
But now he knows where it is, and can take a friend for a required conference soon.
On Facebook today, I clicked on an ad about high school yearbooks...but if I had known it was classmates.com I would have passed it by. I HATE classmates.com; they don't get it that not everybody had a good time in teenage life. But now I'm on the hook again for their stupid junk e-mail and I'm going to have to dredge out that old Dear John e-mail I sent them years ago. Bleh.
Writer's Block: Merlin revisited
May. 17th, 2011 02:13 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
What I've always said I'd do if I had the power of God--build dozens of life-supporting planets across the cosmos and drop a lot of people from here on them so as to prevent future wars and conflicts here.
What I've always said I'd do if I had the power of God--build dozens of life-supporting planets across the cosmos and drop a lot of people from here on them so as to prevent future wars and conflicts here.
Tags:
Signal To Noise
Apr. 15th, 2011 03:56 pmErrands today, came back, and...
We learn that Dad had all the local NPR pledge drive gibber he could endure, so he switched the radio in the living room to a commercial Top-40 station for the afternoon.
Now, I probably have the most open mind about music of anybody in the house.
But ninety minutes of autotuned rubbish is all that I can stand. Music these days is nothing short of horrible.
We learn that Dad had all the local NPR pledge drive gibber he could endure, so he switched the radio in the living room to a commercial Top-40 station for the afternoon.
Now, I probably have the most open mind about music of anybody in the house.
But ninety minutes of autotuned rubbish is all that I can stand. Music these days is nothing short of horrible.
(I think everybody with a Facebook identity ought to do something like this.)
On Facebook, there is A Page called "Discover Facebook Pages", in which it will show you which Pages are the most popular among your Facebook friends. I went there, and looked over the main choices. I didn't pull EVERYTHING I don't "Like" (because that would have literally taken DAYS!), but these are the larger pieces, as well as samples of a lot of similarly-themed Pages.
* Star Wars -- I'm kind of ambivalent about the franchise. Loved "New Hope", "Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi"; hated "Phantom Menace" (for a number of reasons); have not seen the other two movies.
* Texas Hold'em Poker, Mafia Wars -- Games I don't play.
* Troy Polamalu, Joe Pa, Hines Ward, Mike Tomlin, Michael Jordan, Mario Lemieux, Evgeni Malkin -- I follow the TEAMS, not necessarily the PLAYERS or COACHES.
* Family Guy, Two And A Half Men, Futurama, The Big Bang Theory, South Park, House, The Office, Dexter, LOST, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Scrubs, True Blood -- Don't like 'em.
* Metallica, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley, Eminem, Sons of Anarchy, Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, Lady Gaga -- Not who I am musically (tho' for individual songs/albums I sometimes make exceptions).
* The Daily Show, Barack Obama, The Colbert Report, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, RightChange -- I hate what American politics have become.
* Manga, Music, Cooking -- Catagories that are too general.
* NCIS, This American Life, Car Talk, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me -- Okay, but not stuff I'm too wild about.
* Bruce Campbell, Megan Fox, Adam Sandler -- I follow ROLES, not necessarily ACTORS. I'm not a stardom junkie or a red carpet groupie.
* Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville -- I used to "Like" these pages, but gave up because most of the traffic was about libation establishments in Florida or gigs by tribute acts.
* Ashes To Ashes -- I loved the AMERICAN version of LIFE ON MARS and was sorry to see it fail, but I haven't seen the ORIGINAL series yet, so I'm not interested in the sequel to the point of wanting to expose myself to spoilers for it.
* Playboy, Jeff Dunham, UFC Ultimate Fighting, Chevy Camaro, iTunes, Hooters, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dos Equis, Victoria's Secret -- Just not who I am.
* Anthony Bourdais: No Reservations, The Walking Dead, SportsCenter, Disturbed, Deadliest Catch, Pawn Stars, Weeds, American Pickers -- I don't have cable.
On Facebook, there is A Page called "Discover Facebook Pages", in which it will show you which Pages are the most popular among your Facebook friends. I went there, and looked over the main choices. I didn't pull EVERYTHING I don't "Like" (because that would have literally taken DAYS!), but these are the larger pieces, as well as samples of a lot of similarly-themed Pages.
* Star Wars -- I'm kind of ambivalent about the franchise. Loved "New Hope", "Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi"; hated "Phantom Menace" (for a number of reasons); have not seen the other two movies.
* Texas Hold'em Poker, Mafia Wars -- Games I don't play.
* Troy Polamalu, Joe Pa, Hines Ward, Mike Tomlin, Michael Jordan, Mario Lemieux, Evgeni Malkin -- I follow the TEAMS, not necessarily the PLAYERS or COACHES.
* Family Guy, Two And A Half Men, Futurama, The Big Bang Theory, South Park, House, The Office, Dexter, LOST, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Scrubs, True Blood -- Don't like 'em.
* Metallica, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley, Eminem, Sons of Anarchy, Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, Lady Gaga -- Not who I am musically (tho' for individual songs/albums I sometimes make exceptions).
* The Daily Show, Barack Obama, The Colbert Report, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, RightChange -- I hate what American politics have become.
* Manga, Music, Cooking -- Catagories that are too general.
* NCIS, This American Life, Car Talk, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me -- Okay, but not stuff I'm too wild about.
* Bruce Campbell, Megan Fox, Adam Sandler -- I follow ROLES, not necessarily ACTORS. I'm not a stardom junkie or a red carpet groupie.
* Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville -- I used to "Like" these pages, but gave up because most of the traffic was about libation establishments in Florida or gigs by tribute acts.
* Ashes To Ashes -- I loved the AMERICAN version of LIFE ON MARS and was sorry to see it fail, but I haven't seen the ORIGINAL series yet, so I'm not interested in the sequel to the point of wanting to expose myself to spoilers for it.
* Playboy, Jeff Dunham, UFC Ultimate Fighting, Chevy Camaro, iTunes, Hooters, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dos Equis, Victoria's Secret -- Just not who I am.
* Anthony Bourdais: No Reservations, The Walking Dead, SportsCenter, Disturbed, Deadliest Catch, Pawn Stars, Weeds, American Pickers -- I don't have cable.
Those Who Can, Do--Those Who Can't, Censor
Mar. 5th, 2011 11:29 amFrom the commentary on today's Wonderella:
My comics hero, Steve Purcell, once got a cartoon deal with FOX in the 90s. He quickly learned that censors didn't dislike violence so much as they disliked accessible violence - the sort of violence kids could easily mimic. Thus the more exaggerated it was, the safer you were. If your knife fight doesn't work, simply replace the knives with atomic bombs. It's a good rule to live by.--Justin Pierce
You know, censors, it doesn't work. Kids will learn violence from the real world, not TV. How I found out. Didn't need help from Bugs Bunny or Mighty Mouse.
FP
My comics hero, Steve Purcell, once got a cartoon deal with FOX in the 90s. He quickly learned that censors didn't dislike violence so much as they disliked accessible violence - the sort of violence kids could easily mimic. Thus the more exaggerated it was, the safer you were. If your knife fight doesn't work, simply replace the knives with atomic bombs. It's a good rule to live by.--Justin Pierce
You know, censors, it doesn't work. Kids will learn violence from the real world, not TV. How I found out. Didn't need help from Bugs Bunny or Mighty Mouse.
FP
