Over the moon

Why is 220 pounds of water the 'equivalent' of 26 gallons? Is the density of water different on the moon or is a Moon gallon like an Imperial gallon, bigger just to confuse us poor Yanks?

Yeah. These kids today. My daughter is having a little tantrum right now because she is bored.

Bored? Bored? Here's a rake sweetie. There's the leaves.

Besides, we have so much audiovisual entertainment equipment in this house that we should sell tickets. Have you *seen* how many Nintendo DS games we have? Of course not. Nobody has because there are scattered in so many locations that an accurate enumeration is impossible.

Contrast this to my hardscrabble upbringing where three boys shared a single 13 inch black and white television.

And we were *happy* fer it.

Well whaddaya know, I'm still sorta on kit with this response to Shriek:

Andersen's stories made me cry for I saw enough misery around me in Bombay to believe he told the truth about farwaway places. Yet I read them over and over again for they made me feel lucky. Which felt good. I know I hugged my mother a lot tighter after an Andersen story (remember that one about the mother? *shivering*).

I think perhaps I did my nieces and nephews a disservice by not countering the happy pap they read with some of these old stories.

They're lovely young people, thank goodness, but so privileged (as was I), and I don't know if they appreciate their good fortune enough to share it.

FYI:
http://www.tonightsbedtimestory.com

Nevermind. Joel explains that the water is a mixture of ice and vapor. Since the triple point pressure of water is 611.73 Pa and there is for all intents and purposes no atmosphere on the Moon (planetary atmospheric astrophysicists please feel free to correct me), it is impossible for liquid water to exist on the surface. Any frozen water that gets heated would sublimate directly to vapor like dry ice.

However, the equivalent of 26.4 gallons (US) of water would weigh 220 pounds on Earth, but only 36.5 pounds on the Moon. On either place, that is about 100 kilograms of mass which is an oddly round number. I guess the scientists reported the mass in kilograms and the value has been misconverted for U.S. readers.

That little match girl
could've been me but for grace;
I lived in warm hands

And speaking of resentment. I just got an e-mail from my son who is annoyed that some woman got on the front page of the Washington Post because she *failed* to get into the college of her choice.

And since the 'boiling' point of water at zero pressure is only about 200 degrees Kelvin (-100 F), that ice wouldn't last long exposed to sunlight.

Beautiful DNA_Girl, I always enjoyed The Little Match Girl, my kids not so much, of course me sobbing as I am reading it probably didn't help sell the story.

Yello - You are over thinking this. One gallon of liquid water weighs (on earth) about 8.35 pounds. So 220 pounds would be just a smidgen over 26 gallons.

Yes, it could have been reported in kilograms (which is mass) and not pounds (which is force.) Or it could have been reported in slugs (which, believe it or not, is the English equivalent of mass.) But that would have been silly.

I also agree about the "dry wet" complaint.

Although this discovery is exciting, it doesn't imply that astronauts can just bring the stuff into their moon bungalow with a bucket. There must still be equipment, and fuel to operate the equipment, and lots of other overhead to extract the stuff. Which means that the benefit compared to just hauling water from earth still needs to be carefully demonstrated.

Coincidentally, 26 gallons is just about equal to the amount of water used in a typical shower.

Which I clearly need.

I hate slugs. Never made any sense to me at all. The kilogram is a much more logical unit, but in the SI system, weight is in Newtons. So just convert your slugs to newts. Which is a long way to go for the OMPR (obligatory Monty Python reference): Well, I got better.

I'll repeat this exchange from the previous Kit, written after Joel's full-fledged story appeared scant hours after the announcement:

What I want to know is, how does he do that so *fast?*

Posted by: Yoki | November 13, 2009 2:52 PM

Yoki:

*Master Thespian-like voice*

JOURNALISM!!

:-)

Posted by: Scottynuke

Slugs are a unit of measurement? How does that work? It seems like they'd be very inexact, being so squirmy.

Hmmm. They don't know how MUCH water is on the moon, just that they found some. What if that is all there was? What if we blew up the moon looking for water, found the only water there, and released it into space? Won't we feel silly.

RD,
I read the "out of state students are taking all the slots" whine as well.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/13/AR2009111301940.html

First, I have a semantic gripe. If out of state students pay the full cost (which they don't), they aren't subsidizing the in-state students. It's only if they are being charged more than the full cost that they begin to pay for some other student's share. It's the state that subsidizes everybody's cost and they subsidize in-state (IS) more than out-of-state (OOS).

At the bottom of the whine is the idea that OOS students are 'stealing' slots from IS students.

The acceptance rates of the IS applicants versus OOS applicants, which the article focuses on, is a completely useless stat.

If qualified IS students were being rejected in favor of less qualified OOS applicants just to bring in higher tuition, the IS kids would have a more valid gripe, but I doubt this is the case.

From my experience, the admission standards for OOS applicants are much higher than for the IS pool. When I was at Georgia Tech, the general impression was that a Georgia resident was being spotted about a hundred SAT points. And sometimes it showed.

So the more OOS freshman a school takes, the higher the stats get and the more prestigious it becomes. And the more they can charge OOS students. A vicious positive feedback loop.

I keep hearing anecdotal evidence that UVA and Chapel Hill are tougher tickets for an OOS high schooler than some Ivy Leagues. That may be hype, but clearly it rings true to some.

Funny stories of how we attacked the moon http://bit.ly/4jX5Y2 ... and it surrendered http://bit.ly/3MKCHC

Other obscure units are rods, pecks, links, hogsheads, and barleycorns.

I agree yello. The implication is that the young woman mentioned in the article was rejected because of an increased preference for out-of-staters. (And this might, indeed, be the case - we are provided with none of the other acceptance criteria usually used.)

But a 3.9 GPA isn't really going to cut it anymore at a lot of places because of the prevalence of AP classes, which can easily allow a student to graduate with a GPA well *above* 4.00.

Why is NASA really seeking water on the Moon?

see:

http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/water-on-the-moon/

DNA Girl... have I said lately that I love you? Thank you for your beautiful humanity.

CqP... you reminded me of these things I've heard in my home:

1. Niece to me, speaking of noodles: "My brother is so silly. He thinks Pasketti is called Basketti!"

2. Argument between Son of G and his cousin S about a pre-butterfly:

SoG: It's callipittar!

S: No! It's callipiLLar!

Repeat ad nauseum...

God loves us so much more than we can imagine through Him that died for all, Jesus Christ.

Good morning, friends. I went back and read some of the comments from the kit before this one. I'll just say, interesting, and as always RD, you expressed yourself quite well. I had to laugh at your post here about the rake and the leaves. My grandkids always say, there's nothing to do, I say yes, there is. Of course, they don't want to hear that.

Water on the moon. I guess now we'll start up a colony and try to modernize. Wonder how much would a round trip ticket cost?

Shrieking, how are you and your germs after that big swill? I'm afraid to take the shot for swine flu. I've had the regular flu shot. Just seems like too many germs floating around, and when one throws in my own set of germs, it's mind boggling.

Enjoy your weekend folks, have a blast.

And JA, as one gets older the grouchiness gets worse, you're not on that island alone, and you're among friends. Don't worry about it.

'Morning, Boodle.

Food Lion has frozen snow crab legs on sale for $3.99 a pound. That's our dinner tonight. Got six for $12, so that's about $2 per cluster (half a crab, in other words). Or $4 per entire crab. Still a great price. Also good to know one snow crab weighs about one pound. The math works out really well: basically one crab = one serving per one person (two clusters).

I hate to confess this, but I'm just not getting anything out of the water-on-the-moon story. I'm glad they found it, and all the pointy heads seem happy, so I'm happy for them. Perhaps this discovery will come in handy maybe a thousand years from now. In the 21st century? Not a bit.

I'm with you mudge. I just want to see what NASA is going to do about 2012. I'm not sure how much luck I would have looking for water on the moon. Maybe do better looking for rubies in the Badlands.

I don't know about a round trip ticket Cassandra, but I can tell you that some of my Republican friends would work really hard to get me there one-way for next to nothing.

The story on out of state admission said that an extraordinary portion of Penn State students are out of state. Was it 44 percent? When I was a student, it was 10 percent. Period. I also had the option to be admitted to the University of Delaware under in-state admission standards (but out-of-state tuition). That was a big deal.

UNC Chapel Hill welcomes out of state applicants, but there's so many of them that I can't encourage kids to join the mob. I wonder whether the University of California system might offer better chances of out-of-state admission. Not Berkeley, but how about San Diego? Seems a superb place to be an undergrad.

Here is a recent update on my son's Facebook:

"Gonna go to dook for the weekend."

I was impressed that he was roadtripping for a road game when he wasn't even part of the pep band. But my wife told me he was really going to this event:

///Dungeons and Flagons

Come for a night of mayhem in [redacted] with the Chi Delta and Gamma Tau brothers of [Rather Geeky Fraternity]! Prove your mettle/metal in events such as JOUSTING and SWORDFIGHTING!!!! and afterwards FEAST upon delicious food and PARTAKE of flagon-y goodness!!!///

I doubled over laughing at the name 'Dungeons and Flagons.' My wife just started mumbling something about acorns and trees.

Morning all...

The 10:18 has my blogspam filter twitching.

The 10:32? Not so much.

*off-to-the-stores-and-such Grover waves* :-)

And no, no Front Page Alert I can detect...

Update: I checked the Penn State website. 27 percent of first-year students at the main University Park campus are out-of-state. Twenty percent for the university as a whole.

Penn State has campuses everywhere. It seems that back in the 1960s, the university doubled in size by setting up simple undergraduate centers all over the state. Some have grown into substantial campuses. I suspect the university's aggressive growth pre-empted development of community colleges.

Yep, he does sound like he's yours, Yello.

This website puts PSU-University Park at 23% OOS.

http://www.insidecollege.com/reno/Percentage-of-OutofState-Students-at-Public-Universities/360/list.do

A lot of those other percentages in the article seemed unusually high as well. From that list, here are some of the others.

Chapel Hill - 18%
UVA - 29%
VT - 27%
Bemidji State - 7%

GT's website states the 2009 freshman class is 40% out of state.

C.S. Lewis does get a lot of press for being a "Christian" writer (including some motifs he stole from Andersen).

But Andersen was the better christian writer-- which is why the recurrent theme of suffering in his stories. He also knew children were suffering about him; the Match Girl is based on his own mother's nearly freezing to death that way.

As Yoki says, children relate to his stories on a visceral level; his stories just add imagery and vocabulary for how they feel, and helps give them a common language with their parents.

DNAGirl,

That is a beautiful poem. Eloquent and poignant.

A lot of California State Universities have only 1% out of state students. It's a pretty big state, though.

The U of MD campuses except for Baltimore hold at around 26%.

It's one thing to find traces of water on the moon. Whatever would we have done had they found oil?

You've heard all this before, but its brilliance is that it remains funny, every single time:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/arts/television/15karp.html

I was suprised I didn't know the full breadth of their collective accomplishments.

Scotty, you know were Brooks stole that old man schtick from, doncha? Uh huh.

The funniest line in the whole thing: "Murray."

And thanks for the link: now I know what's going on my Channukah list.

Kinda figured you'd want to know, 'Mudge...

And I'm sure ftb, engelmann, Imom, et al would be happy to help you pursue a copyright infringement case. At a Boodle discount, of course.

:-)

Hello boodle! Just popping in before I double back to see what I've missed.

Great time in St. Paul thus far, biopsy results negative for anything dreadful, more tests to follow but mostly just a "treat and wait and see" kind of thing. Wear sun screen folks!

My experience as a grad student at UVA is over a decade old now, but it was distressing to see the uniformity in undergrads. They were different colors and had different accents, but beyond that they were pretty interchangeable.

Off to back boodle.

Very relieved frosty! Yep. Sunscreen is your friend. Besides, the smell of Coppertone always makes me smile.

Oil on the moon would certainly get my attention....

Very glad to hear the good test results, frosti! :-)

What good news, frosti. And belated happy birthday!

A couple hours ago, Giada made this recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/cda/recipe_print/0,1946,FOOD_9936_414085_RECIPE-PRINT-FULL-PAGE-FORMATTER,00.html

A pork loin. Wrapped. Twice. in. Overlapping. Bacon.

Frosti that is great news.

Thanks for the good-news update, frostbitten.

I'm having trouble remaining upright today. I don't feel that bad, I just can't seem to stay vertical. I have indulged this peculiarity for several hours now, so I'm going to venture out and see if I can accomplish a few errands - on the theory that it'll just get worse. With any luck I'll be back soon.

RDP, maybe she needs to learn to knit?

You win either way. If she is a knitter in her heart, she learns and gains a fascinating thing and if she isn't interested, you can use it as a threat. A nice socially acceptable threat, just like raking leaves.

I have a little tip for everyone, hoping you avoid a little situation I had earlier today. Grabbing something out of the back of my small SUV, when to pull down the hatch but neglected step back far enough - whack right on the top of my head. You might also want to consider shutting the cupboard doors before standing up after pulling something out of the dishwasher - yup banged my head for the second time.

I have mentioned I am a big klutz right.

Too beautiful outside to care though, and after three years we finally have a light fixture over our dinning room table, no more guessing what is on your plate.

Hope everyone is having a fantastic day.

What a relief, Frosti! I'm glad to hear you don't have anything to worry about.

Mudge, that sounds like a French-canadian dish. Is it served with wild rice or poutine, by any chance?

Hmm argula, or rocket...

Window sog's lonely;
Gnome's turned into chair mushroom
Cabin fever day....

-Wilbrodog-

I think it's been almost two years since I learned to hit submit. I am still startled at how easy it is to share intimacies (not those kind yello!) with the boodle. This was not a gift I had expected from the internets. Thank you.

Oh this can't be good...
writer and cabin fever
harken the shining

No-one expects the Boodle.

Shining teeth glisten
In my darkest thoughts, alas
Heart's soft as pudding.

-Wilbrodog-

I have so many comments to make about this story but am restraining myself,

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091114/moose_border_091114/20091114?hub=Canada&s_name=

Quite so Yoki!

Nobody expects the boodle, for amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as: silliness, surprising kindness, ruthless pedantry, an almost fanatical devotion to Joel, and nice red-haired women.

Okay. I made that last bit up.

That is sad Dmd. (although A Møøse once bit my sister.) But seriously, I hate that the border between Canada and America is becoming more restricted.

Realize, of course, that I was raised in the Pacific Northwest and so experience the affection of proximity. I mean, filed away somewhere are pictures of me as a seven-year-old with one foot proudly located in each country at this location:

http://www.peacearchpark.org/peacearch.htm

I understand the realities of the modern world, but still I fear that something valuable is being lost.

Well, CqP is certainly very nice indeed.

I agree RD, crossed the border many, many times growing up, you used to be able to walk across the border at the falls on the Whirlpool Bridge, the bridge was closed after 9/11.

I think for anyone who does not live close to the border it is difficult to explain how integrated the communities can be - whilst being separate nations.

True...a bleeding heart
cannot wreak bloody redrum!
Plus you'd need eyebrows

I just hope it wasn't a deaf moose.

Whining got me chores.
Shirts, cans, bags to put away;
then tug, chew, and nap.

-Wilbrodog-

yello, looks like GT has reached escape velocity and is departing from Georgia. Maybe we need a new category of quasi state-related national universities. It would surely include Michigan.

I suspect that Penn State has always had somewhat too many out-of-state first-year undergrads at University Park, just because it wasn't terribly workable to tell someone from Brooklyn to report to, say, McKeesport.

Hi, all. I went to one of those author talks at Hendersonville library. The author was Terrel Garren promoting his new book The Fifth Skull.
http://thereadonwnc.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=1972559%3ATopic%3A3570
Interesting. I'm no Civil War buff but this guy was interesting. His focus is understanding how criminals took advantage of war, as they always do in any war. Unspoken subtext was, well, unspoken. I sure got it. I had never been to one of those things. I had hoped the books for sale would be inexpensive. Oh, no.

The lunar water information release was good. I see they continue to hold back for further analysis the rest of the info. I predict someone one of my nephews meets will end up depending on it to drink.

I've met some Antarctic scientists personally and a good friend applied for the same long ago. (Rejected! Think he's too much of a loner; not a team player. In any case he went on to get a MS in electronics and has retired recently with a fine record from the U.S. Government who had him working in D.C., not Antarctica.) In fifty years I expect the moon to be similarly staffed.

'night woman's best friend
dream superdog hero dreams
tell tales tomorrow

Krypto, super dog
Never got killed by a car
saved Superman's heart.

DNA_Girl, right back atcha.

Not a pretty day here, but dry. I'm raking the last of the leaves, and now that I've come inside for a break, the sun has come out. And Mr seasea and I survived a trip down to Seattle Center for the art show (he has no patience for traffic and one-way streets).

dmd, I've done that thing with a hatchback - yowch!

Smells cats miles ahead;
Marks trees in single leg lifts;
A wolf, a lion, Krypto!!!

-Wilbrodog-

It used to be fun to drive to visit the states for a few minutes, do the photo op and come back home. Though nobody ever questioned us about coming over to your 'side of the line' for a quickie photo op, we did get questioned coming home, even if it was just a few minutes later.

All the paperwork you'd have to carry with yourselves these days to have such fun, means it isn't worth doing.

Hockey hockey hockey hockey

We got stopped for a random vehiclar search coming to Canada last summer... for a funeral.

I was pretty upset that day; the one time they had to stop us, and we were told to leave the car while they searched. It felt intrusive.

I first crossed into and out of British Columbia in 1980. Utterly simple. I wonder about the hordes who are supposed to arrive at Seattle's airport, then make their ways up to Vancouver for the Olympics. At least Amtrak service has increased a bit.

The car about 2 ahead of us got stopped when we were on our way to Boston, what looked like the "short line" turned into a considerable wait. Five US border patrol officers came out surrounded the car - the passenger and driver left the car and officers drove the car off to be searched.

I get freaked out by the fifteen cameras photographing you as you approach the boarder - I feel guilty even though I am doing absolutely nothing wrong.

Does a dog of steel
chew on adamantine bones
and titanium kongs?

LOL, Wilbrod. Try the public airport pat-down for intrusive. It happens to me every bloody time. Who knew I was such a sketchy-looking character?

Don't forget Seattle's light rail - the leg to the airport is supposed to be complete by Christmas:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010272103_airportlink14m.html
"We focused on opening to Sea-Tac by the end of 2009, so that holiday travelers can use it," said Sound Transit Chairman Greg Nickels, the departing Seattle mayor, during Friday's announcement. "Also, so that those folks who are going to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler can use this system, when they come through Seattle."

One of the ligt rail stations is a couple of blocks from the Amtrak train station.

I haven't been on the light rail yet. Today we drove through the section of town where much of it runs, where I hadn't been in a long time because of the construction. It looks good - although I pictured the stations as being bigger - they're more like large covered bus stops with public art. I probably will take a ride on it downtown sometime soon.

DotC, traffic considerations have been taken into account for the Olympics (will it be enough time will tell). Also plans for potential terrorism.

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=18441.html

And this is for yello:
http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=3325

Yoki, done it a few times myself. That I can prepare for.

The worst was in Moscow. Now that woman really felt up my bra too much for my comfort. I almost wished I knew the Russian for "Sorry, I'm not giving you my phone number, /cherie/," but Russian security have no sense of humor.

Compared to that, TSA is a walk in the park. I once had to be wanded and checked twice on Wilbrodog's first flight.

He did great each time (I had to take him out on the layover and go back through TSA again). I do have the routine down relatively pat to avoid unnecessary screening, though; no metal on me or Wilbrodog, equipment through the x-ray, etc.

It just felt really strange to be subject to a vehiclar search, because in the USA you just can't do that unless you have a warrant or probable cause (driving drunk or whatnot.)

I've been stopped by plenty of cops in my time, and not one ever tried to search my vehicle.

Border security is entirely separate from policing - the police can't search randomly. But why are you pulled over so often? I think it has happened to me only once in 35 years of driving.

DotC,
The escape velocity of the North Avenue Trade School has actually decelerated. In my day, the out-of-state percentage hovered around 50%. Since then the state of Georgia has put tons of money into the school system and the Hope Scholarship system makes in-state tuition for good students enviably affordable.

DNAGirl,
All my intimacies with fellow boodlers are strictly Platonic and intellectual. To quote Murray Head, "I get my kicks above the waistline, Sunshine."

Although like all boodlers I have an inexplicable crush on rdP. He's the only boodler that could talk me into FMPs if he so desired. And I am a natural (if slowly balding) redhead. Just sayin'.

Funny yello!

Do RIDE checks count as random Yoki?

I don't know what RIDE is, dmd.

I am Pavlov's dog
platonic, intellectual
seem pornic, sexual :-)

Oh yello, you made me choke on my laughter. Where would the boodle be without you? But trust me, your footwear is your own business.

RIDE - (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere), Impaired driving spot checks, most frequent here around Christmas, they randomly pull over cars to see if the driver has been drinking, if they suspect the driver has been drinking they will give a breathalizer.

Vaguely remember some cases arguing the legality of them - but not the details.

Frosti, glad you had good news. Ouch dmd, sorry you had a rough day with cars and cabinets. When we visited New Brunswick before 9/11, the border check was just a quick look at our driver's licenses. Coming back from Nova Scotia, we were in line forever and there were quite a few questions, but they didn't search us or the car.

We had a very rainy and windy day and we did go to the ocean to check out the waves. There was no comparison to the monsters of a few weeks ago tho.' I just started reading Moby Dick after having read a book about the ship (Essex) it was based on. Have a good evening everybody.

Off to get ready to go to a fancy birthday party, where I will be so out of place amongst the well educated, well dressed, crowd. Can you say fish out of water :-)

Somehow thing an outfit other than my regular ratty jeans and well worn keds is in order. Need a miracle to get the dirt out of my hands and nails - forgot the gardening gloves - again!

IIRC, during spot-checks for impaired driving, at least in Alberta, a judge grants the force some sort of blanket warrant for a limited period of time, and the police are obliged to publicize the dates and other details of the program widely and well in advance. So it isn't random the way it would be if a copper just didn't like the cut of your jib. It is arbitrary, however.

Every time I come back to this kit, I once again admire this perfect sentence:

"I still feel bad that I said mean things about those pundit contestants simply because some of their stuff was so dreadful."

Just love it.

nellie, me too. Joel has such a way with words. And as Dave Barry said while signing my Achenblog bookbag (thanks, kbertocci!), "Joel's a good man."

Dave's just saying that because he knows that his fans are not as creepy and maniacal and well-organized as Joel's. He's afraid. Very afraid.

SciTim,

You are clearly unfamiliar with Dave Barry's fan base. The boodle looks like a gardening society women's auxiliary compared to the depravity of hard-core Barryians.

Re the frequent stops: it was after 9/11 and my roommates/ car-mates looked muslim, Yoki.

Two words: tinted windows

Dave Barry's forum has a saying.acronym I need to take to heart and use where necessary:

WARNING: DO NOT OPEN AT WORK, OIYDWYMTTY(NY)G = ...Or If You Don't Want Your Mother To Think You're (Not Your) Gay

Flames 5-2 over the Leafs, final.

Vancouver 3-0 over Colorado in the 1st.

A very good Hockey Night in Western Canada.

Not into hockey? How about: The University of Calgary Dinos won the Western Conference in college futbol.

No? Poetry?

Lot's Wife

The just man followed then his angel guide
Where he strode on the black highway, hulking and bright;
But a wild grief in his wife's bosom cried,
Look back, it is not too late for a last sight!

Of the red towers of your native Sodom, the square
Where once you sang, the gardens you shall mourn,
And the tall house with empty windows where
You loved your husband and your babes were born.

She turned, and looking on the bitter view
Her eyes were welded shut by mortal pain;
Into transparent salt her body grew,
And her quick feet were rooted in the plain.

Who would waste tears upon her? Is she not
The least of our losses, this unhappy wife?
Yet in my heart she will not be forgot
Who, for a single glance, gave up her life.

Anna Akhmatova
Translated by Richard Wilbur

How about Georgia Tech clinching a place in the ACC championship game? My wife is now making travel arrangements using as many soon to expire frequent flier points as possible.

I Ask You

by Billy Collins

What scene would I want to be enveloped in
more than this one,
an ordinary night at the kitchen table,
floral wallpaper pressing in,
white cabinets full of glass,
the telephone silent,
a pen tilted back in my hand?

It gives me time to think
about all that is going on outside--
leaves gathering in corners,
lichen greening the high grey rocks,
while over the dunes the world sails on,
huge, ocean-going, history bubbling in its wake.

But beyond this table
there is nothing that I need,
not even a job that would allow me to row to work,
or a coffee-colored Aston Martin DB4
with cracked green leather seats.

No, it's all here,
the clear ovals of a glass of water,
a small crate of oranges, a book on Stalin,
not to mention the odd snarling fish
in a frame on the wall,
and the way these three candles--
each a different height--
are singing in perfect harmony.

So forgive me
if I lower my head now and listen
to the short bass candle as he takes a solo
while my heart
thrums under my shirt--
frog at the edge of a pond--
and my thoughts fly off to a province
made of one enormous sky
and about a million empty branches.

Sonnet 46

Mine eye and heart are at a mortal war,
How to divide the conquest of thy sight;
Mine eye my heart thy picture’s sight would bar,
My heart mine eye the freedom of that right.
My heart doth plead that thou in him dost lie,
A closet never pierc’d with crystal eyes
But the defendant doth that plea deny,
And says in him thy fair appearance lies.
To side this title is impannelled
A quest of thoughts, all tenants to the heart;
And by their verdict is determined
The clear eye’s moiety, and the dear heart’s part:
As thus; mine eye’s due is thy outward part,
And my heart’s right, thy inward love of heart.

Shakespeare

Wild Nights

Wild nights. Wild nights!
Were I with thee,
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!

Futile the winds
To a heart in port
Done with the compass
Done with the chart.

Rowing in Eden.
Ah, the sea.
Might I but moor
Tonight with thee!

~ Emily Dickinson

I am Not Yours

I am not yours, not lost in you,
Not lost, although I long to be
Lost as a candle lit at noon,
Lost as a snowflake in the sea.

You love me, and I find you still
A spirit beautiful and bright,
Yet I am I, who long to be
Lost as a light is lost in light.

Oh plunge me deep in love, put out
My senses, leave me deaf and blind,
Swept by the tempest of your love,
A taper in a rushing wind.

Sara Teasdale

i carry your heart with me

by E. E. Cummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

--
Beckons morpheus. I am away.

Anon, whenst football players play.

A dashing young swordsman named Fisk
swung his blade exceedingly brisk.
So swift was his action,
the Fitzgerald contraction
turned his rapier into a disc.

There was a young lady named Bright
who traveled much faster than light.
She went out one day,
in a relative way,
and came back the previous night.

-- Time-Life Books, "Space"

Goodnight, 'mudge.

I Like For You To Be Still

I like for you to be still
It is as though you are absent
And you hear me from far away
And my voice does not touch you
It seems as though your eyes had flown away
And it seems that a kiss had sealed your mouth
As all things are filled with my soul
You emerge from the things
Filled with my soul
You are like my soul
A butterfly of dream
And you are like the word: Melancholy

I like for you to be still
And you seem far away
It sounds as though you are lamenting
A butterfly cooing like a dove
And you hear me from far away
And my voice does not reach you
Let me come to be still in your silence
And let me talk to you with your silence
That is bright as a lamp
Simple, as a ring
You are like the night
With its stillness and constellations
Your silence is that of a star
As remote and candid

I like for you to be still
It is as though you are absent
Distant and full of sorrow
So you would've died
One word then, One smile is enough
And I'm happy;
Happy that it's not true.

Pablo Neruda

Muskrat, Muskrat, candle light
Doin' the town and doin' it right in the evenin'
It's pretty pleasin'
Muskrat Suzie, Muskrat Sam
Do the jitterbug at a Muskrat Land
And they shimmy, Sam is so skinny

And they whirl and they twirl and they tango
Singin' and jinglin' a jangle
Float like the heavens above
Looks like Muskrat Love

Nibblin' on bacon
Chewin' on cheese
Sam says to Suzie
Honey, would you please be my Mrs
Suzie says, yes, with her kisses
Now, he's ticklin' her fancy
Rubbin' her toes
Muzzle to muzzle
Now anything goes as they wriggle
Sue starts to giggle

And they whirled and they twirled and they tango
Singin' and jinglin' a jangle
Floatin' like the heavens above
Looks like muskrat love

--Willis Alan Ramsey

*Snort*

Because once or twice per year I feel compelled to stay somewhat upon-Kit, I'll say that Joel is as full of effusive praise for potential WaPo pundits as the Moon is full of water.

There is no evidence yet to support the theory that the LCROSS impactor did not remove the last remaining water from the Moon, you know.

I'm just not not saying.

OK, since nobody else is playing, I'll tell ya this: I came very, very close to tears when I noted that J-bach correctly made use of, "abjured the tradition" & "pored over the data."

Not that I don't know full well that nearly all of the bright, funny, paying-attention-to-even-the-tiniest-detail writers on the Post staff [and most of the 'boodle] could casually have thrown those phrases about with wild (& accurate) abandon. But mostly, they/we don't.

Good morning you all.

Am wondering what RD & yello might say if I came to a BPH in my red headed wig? I've become quite fond of it, but usually wear salt & pepper wigs, as that was my natural hair color. When my hair grows back in, maybe by springtime, I will continue to wear "red" when I need a little humor in my day.

I am over the moon that there is water on the moon, hard for that to sink in. Will that be the most important discovery of this century?

My contribution to breakfast this morning is pumpkin pancakes with butter, freshly ground coffee and just peeled naval orange sections.

First light has come and gone.... sunshine today...God Bless.

Good morning boodle!

Thinking of VL in a red wig makes me smile.

The sky is bright enough in the west facing windows of the Hip Urban Loft that it's tempting to head outside to see the sunrise. Not tempting enough though. The newspaper won't be here for another 20 minutes or so, and that's what it takes to draw me out early on a Sunday morning.

Sorry I missed the poetry duel in real time. Not that I would have had anything to add.

Pumpkin mini muffins and latte ready for anyone who needs a little something until breakfast.

Interesting legal-religious analysis for a Sunday:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/13/AR2009111302220.html

And it's off to the coffee pot to wake up more completely...

*bleary-eyed-from-all-that-bright-stuff-in-the-sky Grover waves* :-)

Oh my, a poetry duel overnight and pumpkin pancakes and muffins. What's not to love? Thanks, VL and Frosti!

VL, I hope the red wig is comfortable. I understand many are not. I am hearing all too much about such things these days, with two friends battling breast cancer. Both are/will be fine, but in the meantime life is difficult. Thank God for some parts of modern medicine.

Another busy day ahead, but there will be fun involved. I get to have a tailgate lunch with my two favorite toddlers! It will be an adventure.

Good morning everyone! This is a work day for me today...

Really good short piece in the Post on the Dow/Market and what it really means:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/13/AR2009111304975.html?hpid=sec-business

I have to laugh about the work thing! I have gone from getting 48 hours per week three months ago, to 40, to 24, to 12 and now 6. It has as much to do with the byzantine way that large corporations work with the unions than anything else.

I saw the posts by Weazy and others and I certainly feel for you. If I didn't have other choices and work stacking up in my small little side business, then I would be really whining.

The humor, the gallows humor I would have to say, is that I get to listen to managers complaining about how the staff limitations are making life so hard on them. The complications, the stress ... oh, the stress!

Try the stress of having no income.

Ohhhhhhh, your Vintage Ladyship! Pumpkin Pancakes, indeed! And pumpkin mini-muffins from Frosti! What is a hungry-for-breakfast person to do???

And the poetry! My goodness! Well, *I* think one of these days, Joel is going to have to write a best seller about our Boodle. Imagine any other blog with this talent -- with this joy -- with this humo(u)r -- with this *fill in the blanx, but they gotta be "good"*

So, how's this (not original to me):

There was a young lawyer named Rex
With exceedingly small organs of s3x
When booked for exposure
He replied (with composure)
"De minimus non curat lex" [the law does not cure small things]

Clothes are in the dryers, after all the fluffing and folding are done, off to do that pesky errand in the SUNSHINE FCOL! Whazzat???

Then finishing off the preparations for my wonderful houseguest whom I am picking up at Dulles (he's arriving at 6 in the morning (geez!)). I made his bed last night and got the towels set for him. This is soooooo exciting!

Off to my breakfast (wheat chex, alas, but in my heart of hearts and in my fertile imagination, those pumpkin pancakes and muffins are gonna start my day the best way possible).

Cya later.

Pore over data?
Nah, abjure that tradition,
go rogue like Palin

A lovely clear leaf-rakin' kind of day.

VL - I am sure you can pull of the redhead look with great panache coupled with personal dignity, as befits you. I am just sad for the reason behind this wig.

Wow, punkin pancakes and punkin muffins! To die for!

From the WaPo front page:

"On Faith and Love

"Ellen McCarthy and Sally Quinn | One in four married Americans has a spouse of a different faith. How does love survive?"

As I may have mentioned, I have this problem, since I'm Jewish and my wife worships HGTV.

*rimshot*

'Morning, Boodle.

Actually, Mudge, I think that's "nothin' but net".

Morning, especially to VL. Be brave; Go red-head. They go together.

This op piece about two UM struggles hits close to home for me:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/14/AR2009111402347.html?referrer=facebook

I am part of a campus movement to keep the last uncut forested on the NorthEast campus hillock alive.

The quoted student is one of mine.

Moist leaves to rake. Watch out because the warm temps mean the ticks are making a last withdrawal from any available blood bank.

Good morning all. Sorry to grab a muffin and run but the boys are coming for brunch and we are going to the neighbors for dinner. They are not letting me near the stove while the bacon cooks for brunch, and I am contributing salad for dinner. Should be safe eatin' here today.

Lovely poetry. Nice to wake up to. I do need to change my shirt though thanks to ftb.

Howdy y'all. Thanks for the pumpkin treats, VL, and I would love to see your red wig.

I always wanted red hair but have been vigorously discouraged from attempting it at every opportunity.

I am still having trouble staying upright, and keep having odd dizzy attacks. Please note I refer to posture, not moral fiber, and that dizziness is not related to blondiness. Hmm, vertical and vertigo. I think I'd better skip church this morning and focus my abilities on this afternoon's Evensong.

Out of an active-duty voluntary force of 1.4 million, a tiny fraction apply or succeed. Of the 425 applications between 2002 and 2006, 224 were approved, according to the Government Accountability Office report in 2007.

*saw "Pirate Radio" last night and although it initially looked promising, I was disappointed with this male buddy bonding movie. Time for Phillip Seymour Hoffman to seriously consider dieting?*

Good morning, Boodle. VL, always glad to have a new recruit to our Red Power Brigade. Ivansmom, Red is as Red does, I always say. Vertigo is most unpleasant, hope you feel better soon.

Today is housework, followed by coffee with a friend, followed by dinner with Himself. A balanced Sunday.

I hope everyone finds that balance, in whatever form suits.

The first part of my post got lost...

Reporter Abe Levy's reporting about conscientous objectors--as well as Muslims and Hasan (who, in another story, is thought to be paralyzed in the lower extremeties) wetn front page yesterday.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/Fort_Hood_major_had_focused_on_objector_status.html

Fourth graf:

Love the poetry slap down of last night; like playing war with cards but the cards are printed with perfect words. Do you all agree that Yoki and Mudge are the Royalty of Hearts? I thought so.

I am also thinking of DNAGirl's help to me about why I cannot abandon HC Anderson stories. Thank you dear. I guess that children long for real things: real work, tools instead of only toys, to be taken seriously, and even to begin to shoulder grief and suffering and unfairness.

And, WB, thanks for the reminder about HC Anderson's focus on harsh redemption.

I now recall a professor once saying that Anderson was reacting against the reformation-Scandinavian world view of logic, rational spiritually, and a tendency to hold the wild self with the sinews of restraint. So, Anderson's excesses make sense in that world.

At a BPH, another boodler and I realized we color our hair to be each other's natural hair color. Which makes us both red-heads.

Have a happy and sunny day all.

Good morning all, survived the party last night, great location 51 stories up with views all around of downtown Toronto, very pretty.

Off to finish (I hope) the leaf clean up and then put up the Christmas lights and evergreen garlands while I can do so without freezing.

Back from my outdoor errands in the absolutely, glorific and indescribable sunshine. It is so gorgeous out there that I am almost at a complete loss for words (which, in case you've been noticing throughout the years, is *so* unlike me).

Ivansmom -- your vertigo sounds like maybe something to do with the inner ear. Ear infections happen to adults, too, but maybe not so often as to children. Just a mere suggestion, as to go further would mean that I'd be practicing medicine without a license, and I would *never, ever* do that . . . . honestly and really.

Got to get a letter out, like, right now this very minute, and then onto the indoor chores (like watering plants -- they have their little green tongues hanging out, although they really are grateful for the sunshine -- but they do want water, too).

Go Lions and Redskins . . . . HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

You have a very sick sense of sports humor, ftb. (Not that I disagree, mind you.)

seasea1,
I'm amazed that Seattle's making such progress on light rail. The link to the airport connects to the downtown Bus Tunnel, so it'll have a station across the street from the Amtrak terminal.

How on earth was funding found for the light rail tunnel connecting the Bus Tunnel to the University of Washington? My recollection is that the cost of an all-tunnel route was prohibitive, while there was something terribly wrong about every surface alternative. I thought it looked like no rail to UW.

Hey, Mudgekins -- great minds think alike, eh? And suffer alike, as well.

*sigh*

Dave, it's been a struggle to get light rail going. I suppose a combination of awful traffic, high parking fees, and Seattle citizens' willingness to tax themselves is (are?) what got it done. I think there is a tax included in the car license tabs, which may be county wide. Hey, we voted for extending the monorail too, but never got the funding done. The UW link won't be open till 2016 - but we know how time flies.

Anybody know who Denver is playing this week? I ask because I'm convinced there's been a mistake in the program announcements.

CP, re your last, also Pippi Longstocking.

football update: Iowa lost to Ohio State in OT, so I think their Icarus moment seems to be over.

Something has gone VERY wrong with my television set.

Vintage Lady,
Any hair color would be fine as long as it's not Bozo red. My dad's hair coloring tip is to go one shade lighter than your natural color. Except he would go too long between touch-ups and the MPs wouldn't recognize him at the gate.

My mother-in-law went the shaved head route for religious reasons many years ago. She just wears a gray knit cap out in public. Which always looks just a bit warm in Florida.

Vat? You don't like Bozo-red?

I mean, to give up two ridiculously long undefended pass plays and THEN score on a fake field goal you'd already telegraphed?

Surprisingly entertaining, that Washington NFL Franchise...

And yes, I do have the windows open to take advantage of the lovely weather. :-)

Your dad had red hair, yello? And colored it?

Tailgate party was an adventure, indeed. I tried to carry P, a plate of food, and a drink. Big mistake. I put P down and he took off running across the parking lot - which is what 19-month-old boys do. Fortunately, our minister to children got to him before he ran into mischief, or I got to him.

Trying to eat with a squirming child on my lap was fun, too. He was okay as long as we had chips, but the child is part squirrel, part rabbit (meaning fast).

Thank heavens for pumpkin pancakes and muffins this morning. I was exhausted when I got home. Without them, I wouldn't have made it!

The Bozo hair color is not as bad as the facepaint white bald spot. Not that I have room to judge.

My mom is the redhead. My dad's hair was dark brown, but since the Irish comes from my hiss side, there were some recessive genes along for the ride. My son has thick black hair but there is just a touch of red highlights to it. We'll see what happens in the generation to come.

Outrage of the day:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/us/politics/15health.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&src=tw

Can't say I'm surprised though.

I have the windows open just to keep the upstairs from becoming an inferno.

Instead of watching football of any stripe (ah, the mixture of metaphors), I am listening to Frank Sinatra and the "September of My Years" CD, which I finally got after that obstreperous tune cootie. I bought another one for a friend's birthday on Tuesday (shhhhh -- don't tell her!). The CD really is lovely, and brings back memories, and, well, you know . . . . memories. . . .

Almost done with indoor activities. The plants have been watered -- I told them not to gulp, as this has to last them for a time. I think they disparage me behind my back.

Toodley Doodley Boodley . . . .

Leaves are done, however a few late trees are still raining leaves down - make it stop!

Lights and garland up along with a decorative mesh material. Haven't decided if I like it - garland is black/gold - little bit of a victorian funeral look .

Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.

'good day all. The Lions could claim a half moral victory at the half, they were losing only 10-3 to Minnesota at that point. Early in the fourth they are now down 24-10, a more normal proposal. Thanks to the Warshington Snyders they won't have another perfect season, their pride will be saved.

Wow the Lion just gave 40 then 15 yards in about 20 seconds. First and ten on their fifteen.

I think I'm going to be sick. I can't believe this game.

The wife actually called me in from the workshop to watch the end of this game. I resisted as she often pulls cruel tricks on me. But this wasn't one of them.

Poor Zorn. he stops calling plays and the team does better.

Incredible.

Eight football games so far today and it looks like five will be upsets. Sure makes it hard to be a progosticatin' genius. The pool chart is a sea of red.

Not that there's anything wrong with red, of course. Didn't mean to offend anyone's coiffurial choices.

Wowie-Zowie! Good for the Skins!

And, LOOK! LOOK! -- the Lions are losing . . . .

Make that six upsets.

Nope. Dolphins field goal. 10 seconds left. Four upsets.

What upset?

The Lions always lose, Mudge. The Vikings are 7-1; the Lions are 1-7 this season.

Wait a minute... you mean the deadskins won one? Say it ain't so.

Sadly (at least to me) Wilbrod, it is so.

Aw, don't be so hard on the Lions. They *used to be* a good team. You know, sometime during maybe the middle of the last century. Does anyone remember Schoolboy Rowe? I do remember the name, but little else about him.

Hey, Yoki! My Red Wings have finally found their skates! They're just demolishing other teams.

*getting out the anti-jinx machine, having been oiling it just a leeetil too much for the Lions -- and cleaning it up for hockey and basketball*

Nice about the Skins, but this win will give Snyder even more reason to stick around. Isn't this part of the "be careful what you wish for" moment?

*oops*

I just Wikied Schoolboy Rowe -- he played for the Tigers, and not the Lions. Silly me. I think I remembered his name because it was so unusual.

*slinking back to my den for a different, more kind, source of reality*

I walked over to the grocery store, just as an excuse to get outside today. The store PA was playing Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now." Made me smile (gonna be a bright, bright, bright, bright sunshiny day).

Everybody seemed to be in a better mood now that the last of Ida is gone. Cars were even stopping for pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Or maybe it's just that the 'Skins finally won one.

Kerric says Hi!

High Drama. Yoki's Stampeders are playing the Eskimos, to see who goes to play the riders next week. I cheer for the Esks, not just for the win, but because they are more likely to lose against the Riders next week. You can take the girl out of Saskatchewan but you can never take the Riders from her heart.

Hi Y'all... got a cold, but not feeling too bad. We'll see where it goes, though.

We spent last night in Charlottesville in anticipation of today's First Birthday Party for my great niece. She was beautiful and gracious and truly enjoyed each present. It was a fun way to gather some family together and let her entertain us, of course.

Good to see some classic toys... a Fisher Price "chatterbox" phone (remember those?), wooden blocks, a cylindrical push-toy (which she pushed while making a vacuum cleaner growl) and some lovely books.

Hey... is anyone familiar with a Virginia law that requires hotels to see a valid state ID at check-in? I didn't have my drivers license on me (Dr G was driving) and they wouldn't let me check in. Dr G had to do it.

Is this REALLY state law or merely the hotel's policy? I had picture IDs aplenty, but none was acceptable to the clerk, who kept quoting this so-called State Law.

I'm a UVA fan for the next week. They have to beat Clemson for Boston College to have a shot at the ACC championship.

Sometimes I cheer for the Esks, dr (legacy loyalty from the 70s) but I have to go with the Stamps on this one.

The less said about my Ti-Cats the better.

dmd, a question for you or other Canadians to answer, "S" and I complain every year about the Christmas music on the radio, decorations in stores and other signs of the holiday that show up before Thanksgiving. Because you guys have already had your Thanksgiving, what date do you use as the 'kick off' for the Christmas rush? This would be the date before which you would be annoyed to see holiday ads, music etc. "S" is mighty upset that the radio stations he listens to on the way to work started playing nothing but Christmas music this past Friday.

We don't have a lot of ambient Christmas music yet, but I noticed that the bigger chains (Shoppers Drug Mart, etc.) are putting out decorations for sale already. I wish it were not before the 1st of Dec., but I lost that battle a long time ago.

I picked up two boxes of ceramic C-9 sized colored lights yesterday in the now-full-blown Christmas section at Target.

I wanted to walk around and tell people, "I'm buying these to decorate my deck in the summertime!"

Hah! TBG! Those of us who have had the privilege of deck-sitting with you know that that is nothing but the bald truth.

The answer badsneaks, is the day after halloween, worked for the largest department store in the country for a number of years. Overnight after halloween the store was transformed, by the morning it would be 75% decorated, Christmas music would start then. I did not mind the decorations - but two months of the music drove me nuts.

Last night we were in downtown Toronto, on Bloor St, where lots of swanky stores are - all with amazing Christmas window displays, actually met someone at the party who had helped prepared the Christmas windows at Holt Renfrew - they were very original.

I am a Christmas fanatic - so the early decor does not bother me but I do understand how many people see it as overkill. I generally try to restrain myself until at least US Thanksgiving - with the exception of the lights outside - they go up when it is warm - as a convenience more than anything - we do not really turn them on that early though.

This year many houses have had lights on for a week or two already!

Of course the stores in downtown Toronto are also normally decorated for the Santa Clause parade - which was today, we saw them setting up the stands last night.

http://www.thestar.com/fplarge/photo/726178

Thanks Yoki and dmd. Yes, we've had the store displays since Halloween too but I really dislike hearing all the music so early, I tend to get tired of it. I don't think I'd have that reaction if they didn't play it until after Thanksgiving.

I actually bought a new fake tree in October at Lowe's. Both the cashier and one other worker there exclaimed, "you're buying a Christmas tree!!!" It is a nice little five foot tree, which must be popular as I'd been looking for the past two years. And yes, I've started shopping. It won't take long this year as we are cutting back significantly.

Like Yoki, I wish that the festivities could begin on or close to December 1, or float with the date of advent.

I do like prepping early, as with Sneaks.

I am learning that the CindyLouWho lesson of the Grinch is really true, however. Christmas comes even if we are unprepared or gremlims sneak away in the night with treasures or trimmings.

I now think that the food and some festive rituals, say mostly old but one or two new each year, are the heart of this.

Presents? Sure. But not necessary. Will type out poems and quotes in a custom fashion for those I love. And tie them with some candy-cane red ribbon.

*sigh* Costco had Christmas trees and decorations out in early September.

I bought a couple of high-tech sleds for Mr. T on that visit...

I'm just about done with the Christmas shopping, and totally broke. But it's okay, at least I'm almost done!

Along the lines of appreciating gifts in many forms...

http://1000awesomethings.com

The contemporary-styled ScienceHousehold normally is not decorated for Christmas until after Chanukkah (choose your favorite spelling). This policy is reinforced this year, as I will be back in Hawaii for the first two weeks of December. If anyone needs some Hawaiian gifts, place your order now, but remember that you will be unable to ship them in time for Christmas delivery, since I won't be back to give them to you until the 14th.

Great site TBG, and hope you feel better soon.

Here is one of the 1000 things that I truly have fun doing. Sometimes the clumps are really hard and icy though and I have been known to hurt my toes.

http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/11/05/641-kicking-those-clumps-of-frozen-slush-off-the-back-of-your-cars-mud-flaps/

Thanks, dmd. Daughter and I are enjoying the site. And I don't have a full-fledged cold or flu (yet, at least). I guess I'd say I feel about 80%, which is still pretty good.

But I'm glad I don't work tomorrow. I see the couch and Macbook in my future all day.

TBG, maybe that's a Homeland Security regulation - doing their bit against terrorists. You'd think they'd be more adamant about seeing your credit card. At least you didn't get frisked.

Stores here are very anxious for Christmas - decorations, etc out since right after Labor day, but no Christmas music yet (not sure my grocery store ever plays Christmas music). The gas station I stop at was playing Christmas music the other day. Back in September they were playing German music, which seemed weird. Usually it's pop or hip hop.

This comment from the post I linked to cracked me up - so true. There are at least 10 hockey sticks in our garage.

"I miss living in Canada when I hear people talk about how they can just solve problems with a MacGyver-like use of their Hockey stick, because honestly, who doesn’t have a half dozen hockey sticks in their garage.

*sigh*.. I haven’t seen a hockey stick in about 10 years"

General question: I don't know my C&W chanteuses all that well: who was the blond singing the intro song to the Pats-Colts "Rivalry of the Decade"?

I don't know about the football song, but the Tennis Night theme is sung by Jenna Maroney.

http://www.nbc.com/30-rock/video/clips/full-nbc-sports-promo-with-jenna-maroney/1166811/

My extensive research reveals that said singer is Faith Hill.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=sunday+night+football+singer

Mudge,

You said "blonde country chanteuse" and I give you the classic Skeeter Davis on "The End of the World"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgcy-V6YIuI

2:04 is the spoken moment.

Herman's Hermits covered this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSAvVRgHzl8

And finally, Nancy Sinatra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoBsZKrMVJc

Her patishe of blonde chanteuse -- Jersey girl version are priceless.

Karen Carpenter!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-CN1yg2t4w

Little Lena
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG4y6WCY1RA
on the Tonight Show in the 70s,

And, even Brenda Lee but alas no YouTubie on that.

So, Mudge. There you are.

Now here's a singer I do know:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/15/AR2009111502797.html?hpid=topnews

Bless you, SeaSea, you hath preventh me from Boodle-slayage.

Feh! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhHhKIa8jbo

Ha! That Skeeter Davis song soured me on country music for, oh, possibly forever. No wonder I missed Gram Parsons.

The library had that potato peeling book for me. I need to finish reading poor Anne Frank, then get to it. Might as well spend some time in WWII. Also saw Inglourious Basterds the other day, which is really good. Kept me on the edge of my seat (with eyes closed a good bit of the time).

Good evening, all.

Had a fine, fun weekend with friends and family, and relaxing while watching New England play the Colts at Indy.

Peyton Manning is having a tough night -- a couple of wounded-duck throws were intercepted by Pats' DBs, and now the Colts are down by 13 with 5 minutes left.

A good NFL Upset Weekend, as Mudge pointed out. Me, I don't intend to review at how my predictions at this point. This would likely best be done through my fingers, anyway.

TBG, I hope you're feeling better soon.

bc

Wow -- that was some ending to the NE/Indy game.

As they say, it ain't over 'till it's over.

[I'm leaving the Opera singin' lady out of it.]

bc

So what you are really saying, is, perhaps, bc,

"Please note that the phrase 'The Fat Lady Singing' has not been used in this post?"

Finally got my AP style guide. Bwah ha ha! Now I'll really be dangerous. Or less dangerous. Depending on how you look at it. Now I know the difference between the blond blond and the blond blonde.

beware the blonde

I'm not a number!

Did anyone else watch The Prisoner on AMC? I thought it was pretty good, although I watched the 2nd half first, and then the first part. I like the little cars and the buses. Ian McKellen and Jim Cavieziel (sp?) are good. All the food seems to be wraps. I barely remember the original Prisoner, but I know I never understood it at all.

'Mudge, NOW you tell me football prognostication means picking the WINNERS? Sheesh...

I tried to keep my head on straight during "The Prisoner," but it was a little too not-quite-flashback-y for me. Acting was fine, sure.

As for that NYT piece on "lobbyists' influence," FWIW getting a statement in the Congressional Record is about equivalent to getting something printed in the local penny saver, innit? Sure, it's something nice to hang on the wall, but really now.

*off-to-yet-another-wonderful-work-week-ow-I-just-strained-my-sarcasm-muscle Grover waves* :-)

Good morning, you all. My goodness, lots of nice red headed comments! Ivansmom, I too, was discouraged when thoughts of being a carrot top danced through my head at a younger age. Natural redheads have no idea how lovely their hair is. But, the wig is fun at a time when I need it.

TBG, hope you cold is just that, and goes away quickly, chicken soup, of course. Last Sunday we rode the train, Amtrak, to Charlottesville, just for fun on a pretty day. Met lots of people from all over. Coming from Chicago, going to New Mexico. Train travel is so much more comfortable than planes, very nice staff, tiny diner car, tho. Not quite like the old college days of the late '50s, but close.

As far as I am concerned Christmas comes after Thanksgiving, no matter what the retail folks want. ;-)

Good morning, all! Hi Cassandra! It's going to be a sunny day in the Carolinas, my goal is to get maximum enjoyment out of that.

I awoke early, a good thing as there is much to do today. The upside about having guests this week is that it spurs me to get the house clean, so it will be done for Thanksgiving. Now if I just had time to buy fabric and make new curtains....

It was a good sports weekend in the T household: Carolina won, Carolina won, Carolina won. That would be Tarheel football Saturday, Panther football Sunday, and Tarheel basketball Sunday. For the peace and joy of the household, I hope there are many such between now and spring...

Slyness, no discomfort, but soft caps are nice for keeping one's head warm, I wear them in the house most of the time.

"and Mama and her kerchief, and me and my cap"

As the baby boomers retire, they have been taking their Glaucoma Test Pilot License out of retirement.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/15/AR2009111503007.html

They specifically mention empty-nesters as a growing group of users. Hmmmm. Except that I'd probably have to call my kid to find a source and that would be awkward.

Ladell Betts... FROM IOWA... stars.

The IOWA staff did a mediocre job of recruiting (from Wikipedia):

Betts, who was also a sprinter in high school, gained 1,813 yards and had 34 touchdowns as a high school junior. As a senior, he rushed for 2,183 yards and 32 touchdowns while playing most of the season with a broken right hand. Betts, who led his team to a 10-1 record, was named USA Today's Missouri Player of the Year after earning first team all-state and all-metro honors. He also earned the Thomas Simone Award, which goes to the best high school player in the Kansas City area, and was named a Parade and SuperPrep All-American.

Joel? new kit?

'morning all. We'll have perfect weather to watch the Leonids on this moonless night.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Nearly+ideal+conditions+Leonid+meteor+shower/2227797/story.html

Bring a scarf, it will be below 0C/32F.

SD, aren't those tomorrow night? We're holding out for the Geminids next month.

Yes, tomorrow (sort of LiT), from the article.

"A caution: Anyone who Googles the Leonid shower will find it listed on Nov. 17: Tuesday. But that's because it happens after midnight. Rest assured, it's tonight."

The Stampeders won last night and according the the hosuehold, the offense has occasional flashes of genius. The Ti-Cats did go down, dmd, but it was as tight a game as you could wish for. Bothe deserved the win.

Now onward, to Saskatchewan. Where the wind cuts through the stadium like a knife. Calgary will not be used to such cold. Bwhahaha (This might just be where I start praying for real winter. It isn't here yet.)

dmd, I have it as the next few days (really, the 14th - 21st), with the peak being the night of the 17/18th. Hmmm.

Gee, with the ride range of education and talents around here, you'd think someone would know this stuff like the back of his hand.

Since I don't get the Sunpaper anymore, but my wife's coworkers know of my Top Chef obsession, someone gave her this article about hometown (if your hometown is central Maryland) heroes, the hunky Voltaggio Brothers:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/tv/bal-topchef-1103,0,1014173.story

The article does say that Friday and Saturday nights have to be booked up to six weeks out.

'Morning, Boodle.

I believe I may have coined a new psychiatric term. It is based on Munchausen's by Proxy, and I think I want to call it Belichick by Proxy. Here's an example: I feel really bad for Scotty, who I'm sure is in deep mourning and distress over a certain 4th-and-2-on-your-own-27 decision made by a certain coach, which needed perhaps 54 more inches and got about 48 of them.

In this case of Belichick by Proxy, the therapist will have very little success by mentioning the woulda, shoulda, coulda, oughta, whydincha factors to the grieving patient (Scotty) or his proxy (moi). At this point in the malady's treatment, the only known therapy is repeated doses of oral analgesics such as Bushmill's, Old Grandad, Smirnoff, Bombay Sapphire, and similiar ameliorative restorants.

As it happens, I was listening to a local football panel show on the radio this morning ("The Fan," 107.9), and the following stats emerged: the Pats have a 78% chance of successfully converting a 4th and 2. Manning probably has anywhere between a 30% to 50% chance of going, say, 70 yards in 2:08. Thus, it would appear Belichick actually made the correct decision; he just lost the 4-in-5 odds.

But as I said, such considerations do very little to assuage the feelings of those suffering from Belichick by Proxy.

Thanks to TBG, I have been wasting my time going through the 1000awesomethings blog, really great stuff in there.

To start your week, I give you this an ode to the mixed tape - it brought back so many good memories. Mixed CD's just don't bring back the same memories.

http://1000awesomethings.com/2008/12/16/873-finding-a-mix-tape-given-to-you-by-an-old-boyfriend-or-girlfriend/

I have no son named Belichick...

:-)

Georgia Tech won the other week by going for 4th and inches in overtime when a field goal would have taken the game to a second overtime. Tech got the first down and went on to a touchdown on the next play. But it was still the the gutsiest call I have ever seen.

4th and 2 on your own 27 is just hubris. Movie screenwriters don't call such ridiculous plays.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
With so many troubles, are we jolly?
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Those with no income, dressed in a barrel,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

With unemployment at a record number,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
And foreclosed homes, where will kids slumber?
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

The rich will party in merry measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
For too many this Yule holds little pleasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

With Afghanistan's war in its eighth year,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Let's all raise glasses for a toast of good cheer,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

In tough economic times, all in this together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Oblivious to hard times' financial weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Thanks for the blond-chanteuse clips, CqP. Until this very moment, I never heard of Lena Zavaroni. Seems very talented, though not zackly a country/western singer.

Morning boodle! Drive by before I drive back up north.

Don't know whether to curse or praise TBG for pointing us to awesome things. But, dmd has me reaching for some CDs to take on the ride today. I wish I had kept a copy of the last real mix tape I made for someone, though I do have the hand written play list. What was I thinking to include this Cowboy Junkies tune?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9N5T-4dOuk&feature=related

It's the kinda night that's so cold that your spit freezes before it hits the ground.
And when a bum asks for a quarter, you give a dollar,'cuz if he's out tonight, he must be truly down.
And I'm searchin' all the windows for a last minute present to prove to you that what I said was real...
For something small and frail and plastic, baby.
Cause cheap is how I feel.

Half a moon in the sky tonight- not enough
to come up with an answer
to the question why is it that every time I see you my love grows a little stronger.
But your memory leaves my stomach turning,
feeling like a liar about to be revealed...
But I hoard all this to myself,
Cause cheap is how I feel.

It's not the smell in here that really gets to me, it's the lights-
How I hate the shadows that they cast
And the sound of clinking bottles is the one sure thing I'll always drag with me from my past.
I think I'll find a pair of eyes tonight to fall into and maybe strike a deal:
Your body for my soul, fair swap,
Cause cheap is how I feel.

Can't even claim teen angst for that one.
Later gators.

The rich will party in merry measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
For too many this Yule holds little pleasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

http://www.nytimes.com/gift-guide/holiday-2009/2009styleamerican/list.html

Yes Loomis for those less fortunate sitting around in morose depression is a much better option. Technically we should be in that group but why would I want to be miserable, Christmas is not just about money, but about the joy of friends, family and all that Hallmark crap. I for one will have a great time - even if the present pile will be smaller and less extravagant. I will also do what I can for those less fortunate - better than complaining or trying to bring others down.

Bless you dmd.

Speaking of when retailers start with Christmas, a friend went to Walmart on Halloween afternoon to figure out a costume for that night. The costumes were all gone, and the displays were all Christmasy. So he bought ornaments and went to the party as a Christmas tree.

Good morning everyone. After the dreary rain of the last few days here in the DC area I find the sun and blue skies amazingly invigorating. It makes me want to do just about anything but venture into a dark windowless facility illuminated by naught but glowing screens. Fortunately I have some correspondence to catch up on out here in the world of light.

The early arrival of the Holiday Season is a perennial source of annoyance. Of course, the final word on this topic was uttered years ago in that timeless classic "The Peanuts Easter Special" in which Peppermint Patty (One of my all-time fav redheads) encounters Holiday decorations in, like, May.

This is also the special with the dancing bunnies.

The notion that enjoyment of the yuletide is limited to times of universal economic prosperity and peace would essentially preclude the celebration at all. Please. The holidays are all about celebrating family, friends, hope, and good feelings despite, not because of, the realities of the world.

Reference "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" for more.

Remember. All the big lessons of life can be found in animated Holiday specials.

That's funny bia.

Since we are throwing out gift and costume ideas, perhaps a full-face Grinch mask for your favorite humbug.

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=208285125&listingid=34314824

Oh, and I just noticed this. The URL kinda says it all.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20091116/sc_space/strongleonidmeteorshowerpeaksearlytuesdaymorning

They aren't blond, but this is a keckuva cover (speaking of Kennedy Center Gershwin award winners): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Lwx9F81Zs&feature=related

I loved this bit at the end of the weed story, referring to 88-year-old Florence Siegel:

Siegel smokes occasionally with her daughter Loren Siegel, 64, a recently retired lawyer. But does her 93-year-old husband ever join her?

"Oh, no," she said. "Well, only very rarely."

///Dress warmly, and take a blanket or lounge chair so you can lie back and scan as much of the sky as possible. "At this time of year, meteor watching can be a long, cold business," Rao reminds people.///

My mother used to tell me tales of going to watch the submarine races. Are the Leonid showers kinda the same thing?

It's not the presents, it's the presence. Of course this doesn't fly with the granddaughters yet, but someday it will.

Nice link Mudge, you have sent me off to find Alison Kraus and Yo-Yo Ma perfoming the Wexford Carol, but I shall spare you all for a few weeks yet. Which is now leading me to more Christmas music - I am hopeless :-)

New Kit!

A little music for the meteor show "Tonight"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihnsO-DZryA&feature=channel

Don't you think guys that if man landed in the moon several times during the 60s and 70s, today with the technology we now have it would be a piece of cake to send people again to investigate and set up camp?, if not, why?. This question really bugs me and no one seems to be bother about it but me.