20 Questions Tuesday: 118 - Thanksgiving (A Day Late)

Consider this my obligatory Thanksgiving Day post where in I focus on the holiday. Thanks this week go to Capt McArmypants, JA Coppinger, Dr B-Dawg, Belsum, and Nadolny.

On to the questions:
1. When you look at the accepted "origins" of Thanksgiving and compare them to what you know of history do you think our traditional history is a function of lore (as in the story evolved into what was presented to us in Elementary School as the origin of Thanksgiving over the course of generations) or in this particular case the whole thing was created in the 1600's by one imaginative nutbar and repeated verbatim ever sense? It seems to have a coherence like it was all the idea of one person doesn't it?
Many myths and legends converge to a singular story, so in this case I would say that it is not the imaginative work of a singular nutbar, but the collective work of generations of nutbars.

2. Who will be at the table this year? not me..... le sigh.
Q, Little Man, Wifey, Mimma, G-Ma D, G-Pa R, Grandma H, Papa H, the 2 nephews and me. It will be a pretty full table.

3. Tofurkey? I understand why it exists, I mean some ideas no matter how crazy really take off (see 1 above). My question is: People who insist it is an acceptable substitute for Turkey and tastes good. Are they damnable liars or did they just lick too many nine volts as a kid and destroyed their ability to taste?
Firstly, one cannot lick too many nine volts as a kid…. Ooooh tingly. Secondly, I don’t understand the need to shape tofu like a turkey unless it is in an attempt to trick the mind into thinking it is, in fact, turkey. It is not and trying to trick yourself or anyone else into thinking it is should be criminal.

4. I noticed a disturbing trend as of late. Why is pumpkin being used more as dessert flavor in the last 5 years or so? I mean for nigh on 400 years it has been a once a year traditional dessert from a time when we had less choices. Now all of a sudden Coldstone.... mmmmmmmmColdstone... has a Pumpkin flavored ice cream, Cheese Cake Factory....... mmmmmmmmCheese Cake Factory has a Pumpkin flavored cheese cake......mmmmm cheese cake....Dairy Godmother has the same and all these candy companies are making pumpkin flavored candy!!! I mean what the hell people IT IS A GOURD!!!! Do you see Squash flavored pie? NO!!! Do you see cucumber flavored ice cream ....well outside of Japan!!?? NO!! So what is the deal!!!!???? (do not reference Watermelon in your answer as I feel it lessens mine argument.)
The US is one of the few places that does not attempt to flavor more things with pumpkin. In Australia, if I remember correctly, pumpkin is used in all kinds of different dishes… some sweet and some savory. Of course, in Australia the noble pumpkin is referred to as an oolooowannabee.
5. I feel it is time to update this antiquated holiday as the average American is thankful for absolutely nothing. Preferably this new Holiday should implement the use of lasers and should have an X in it. Please Discuss.
I think in about a year, Thanksgiving will have more meaning to the average American as the economy crumbles, people will start realizing what they have and more importantly, what they had. As it is, this year’s holiday should be referred to as TurkeyDayROXOR Fest 08, and there should, indeed, be lasers.

6. Thanksgiving doesn’t have an iconic figure (i.e. Santa, Easter Bunny, etc.) to boost its popularity. Who should we use to improve its marketing potential.
Thanksgiving really doesn’t need an iconic holiday figure because this holiday is based almost exclusively on food. Christmas and Easter have some kind of religious occurrence that they are commemorating, and therefore need the sustained marketing effort of an icon. Thanksgiving just needed to be named a federal holiday and then people would eat themselves silly.

7. It has been claimed that the original Thanksgiving feast did not serve turkey at all – how did the poor bird end up on so many plates?
It turns out that the federal government people who instituted Thanksgiving also thought Ben Franklin was an ass.

8. Is it right to be thankful that we killed, subjugated, and stole our lands from indigenous type folks?
To the winner go the spoils. When we go around the table mentioning what we are thankful for, I think to myself “Smallpox, because that made the indigenous populations ‘leave’ their land for us.” I don’t say it. I am not a heartless barbarian.

9. Yeti vs. turducken - who wins?
I am going to go with the Yeti on this one. I think the Yeti, when hungry enough could take down 3 fowl. If it were a Biscoderpig (a Bison stuffed with a cow stuffed with a deer stuffed with a pig) my money is one the Biscoderpig, especially since those are usually wrapped in a flour tortilla and deepfried.
10. So, the pilgrims and the American Indians are sitting down for their big meal. A pilgrim sneezes into his hand. A friendly Indian says "may the great spirit grant you a long life". And the pilgrim smiles and says "thank you". Did either realize that the pilgrim just released a bio-weapon at the dinner table?
Nope.
11. Favorite side dish at casa de SRH.I love mashed potatoes.

12. Do schools still have Thanksgiving Day pageants? And, if so, what did Little Man dress as?Little Man’s preschool does not have a Thanksgiving Day pageant, but if they did I am sure he would go as one of the 3 wise men.

13. What will be the top five thanks receiving items?
5: Donuts (and not those fancy High Fallootin Doghnuts neither)
4: Mashed potatoes
3: Wii bowling
2: Family
1: Continued health and prosperity

14. Am I the only one that’s addicted to the Thanksgiving themed episodes of Iron Chef America?
I believe so... and by that I mean, “Iron Chef America is still on?”

15. White meat or dark? First round or leftovers?
I like the white meat on the first round. I am not much for leftovers. There is a story to accompany the lack of liking left-overs, but that is for a different day.

16. Favorite part of Thanksgiving?
The eating part, followed closely by the napping part.

17. Tryptophan, discuss how the womenfolk have poisoned us for years! You didn't see Charlie Brown poisoning his friends with it! /ahem, ok, I'm calm again
Well, the special where Charlie Brown and Snoopy started up a Meth Lab never really made it to air. The censors didn’t like what happened to Woodstock. Poor Woodstock. It turns out that even birds can’t fly… when they are tweaked out on meth.

18. Describe how the Yeti might interrupt the SRH feast.
Probably with gas. He is rather gassy.

19. Any plans to go shopping on Friday?
The nephews, Little Man, Papa H and I will go to Krispey Kreme donuts and that is probably it.

20. So, Christmas decorations, are they put up by the time the table is cleared?
Sometimes the weekend after Thanksgiving is when the decorating begins, but this year I think we will be waiting until the following weekend.


To recap:
Ummmm… I wrote this out yesterday and forgot to post it
No formating or hyperlinking
Whoopsie
Happy Thanksgiving everyone

Ack!

The 'Rents are coming waaay earlier than we had expected. No time for a proper post.

To recap:
They will be here too soon
I have work that needs done
I will post the finished map tomorrow for Digital Thursday
Cheers

2 things

2 things to get to today, so lets’s get at it.

Thing the First:
Wifey and Q are back in town and that makes me a happy camper. Both Little Man and I missed them greatly this past week and weekend. Little Man and I survived well enough, but it just wasn’t as much fun as having the rest of the household around.

The 2 womens-folk of the household returned last night, and while I have had some time with Q, I am still waiting to get the ability to have a conversation with Wifey. It seems that when one works for a week while doing the primary parenting of a baby and then travels with a baby to an airport, the trend is for one to be beyond exhaustion. Wifey was asleep on the couch by 8:30 last night. She was asleep downstairs before Little Man was asleep upstairs.

Today she had 2 conference calls and a meeting to go to as well as taking care of Little Man and Q. I fear that she is going to be crispy toasty this evening as well. So eventhough she is back, I still miss her.


Thing the Second:
The parental units and my nephews will be arriving on Wednesday afternoon for the upcoming Feast of Fowl. Usually this family incursion into SRHland would require briefings and de-briefings and strategy sessions utilizing Lucite Maps with technicians who write backwards and mark positions with toy boats…

However, as of late we have had to prepare ourselves less and less for visits with the parental folk. They seem to be respecting our boundaries more and starting to interact more lovingly. It is a pleasant change. There is this strange sensation of “not dread” at their impending appearances. I cannot go so far as to say that I am wholeheartedly looking forward to their visit. That is a mistake you only make a few times before having the cruel reality come crashing about your head and shoulders area.

This visit is intended to be a short one. For all of you who did not know (and that includes all of you, save Wifey) my dad went to the hospital (again) for chest pains last week, and does not quite feel “up to “ and extended stay here in C-bus. The tests on said chest pains seem to indicate an ulcer in his upper GI system, so no one start praying for him just yet.

To recap:
I have to stop by the grocery store on the way home
It seems I ate all of Little Man’s cheese puffs
In my defense they sat unperturbed in the cupboard for 4 days before I devoured them
They were the All Natural White Cheddar kind
I am only human
Crew took the MLS Cup yesterday 3 -1
Hopefully they use this win as an opportunity to change their logo from the village people logo to something more soccer oriented
Maybe they will become F.C. Columbus and be affectionately known as “the Crew”
That would be nice
Never happen, but it would be nice
Tomorrow’s 20 questions is about Thanksgiving Day
Listening to Wallflowers by MC Frontalot

Digital Thursday

The November Cartographer’s Guild Challenge is a space traveler’s map. The idea is that the map has to encompass at least more than a planet. Maybe a planet and it’s moons, maybe a solar system, maybe a galaxy, maybe a universe, potentially a multiverse, but definitely more than a typical planet map. Anyhoo… I decided to do a space-farer’s solar system map in a Victorian style with portraits and filigris and cartouches and scrollwork and such.

Here is the basic concept.


And here are the insets for the lower left and lower right portraits. I, of course still need to add the borders and scallops and plaques and stuff to them.
At first with trips to Battle Creek and Thanksgiving holidays and other obligatory stuff, but since Wifey and Q are in Massachusetts and Little Man will be spending the evening with Mim on Friday, I have some time to push this mapping challenge out.

Things left to get finished

The filigris (one can never have too much filigris)
The cartouches (2 styles to be mirrored)
The coats-of-arms
The border elements
Oh! And the map

Ummm… sooo… pretty much everything

So… at least I have that going on for me.

To recap:
Day 1 of bach-ing it with Little Man and he is alive and well
Last night he had Chinese food for the first time ever
He did really well with it
Amazingly well when you consider that he has never really had any of that Asian flavor set before
Chicken fried rice and some lo mien
Nothing too crazy
He doesn’t quite get my love of the egg-roll
No one really does… to tell the truth
I don’t sleep so well without the Wifey in town
Not listening to anything
Have a great weekend

Fake Post

No real time to post today so I will fake post to my heart’s content. I love me some fake postin. One can not fake post enough. I should fake post more often actually.

The reason I only have time for a fake post is that I will be heading home to help Wifey prepare for here impending departure to parts unknown (Unknown = Rockport, MA). She will be taking Q with her on the flight and leaving me and Little Man behind to fend for ourselves in this dark, cold, lonely world devoid of light, love and hope.

Little Man has already complained that he will be tired of me and was disappointed when he found out I was staying and that he would not, in fact, be spending 3 days in a row again with Mimma.

I will have to fight my urge to be curt with him in the mornings because I did not get enough sleep. Luckily there are only 2 mornings that require me to motivate him into motion. So at least I got that going for me.

Oh well, I will have something digital for you for Digital Thursday.

To recap:
Pressed for time
Not listening to anything
Chat more tomorrow

20 Questions Tuesday: 117 - Unexpected Absence

One week away from posting and all of the sudden I have to make up questions for myself. I guess unexplained absences will do that. Thanks this week go to John P, Belsum, Nadolny, and Capt McArmypants for the 16 questions that were sent in.

Onto the questions:
1. Whatever happened to the Star Wars Christmas Special? Some say it was terrible. My recollection of it is not that great I just felt there was a strange void in the Force for awhile.
Most traces of it were removed by Lucas because of the horror it induced. It was… as if millions of voices suddenly groaned out in horror and were suddenly silenced.

2. Is being wrapped up in Xbox play a good unexplained absence to a) the wife, b) work?
I would go so far as to say it is an explained absence from the wife and/or work, but not a good one.

3. What has happened to the promise of 7 minute abs? You just don’t hear about it anymore.
Turns out it took more than 7 minutes, and people aren’t willing to abide that kind of mis-representation.

4. If there is one thing (book, toy, school trip, etc.) from your childhood that went missing and you wish you could get it back what would it be?
Not that I can think of. I am at peace with most everything lost from my childhood. I think I would have liked cable TV as a kid though. I always felt so left out of the Fraggle Rock conversations.

5. Has Little Man ever lost something that turns up later in the oddest and most unexplained place? My wife once lost one of our phones which turned up in the storage under the stairs about a month later. The ringer locator needs to have a slightly higher volume in my opinion.
We find the remotes in odd places, but nothing oddly remarkable. More than anything we find his trains all over the place. I have seen one in the fridge before. Turns out the Rio Grande was too hot.

6. Can you find my sanity please? I think I need it back.
I am not the one to come to regarding lost sanity.

7. Whatever happened to DB Cooper?
He died in the mountains of southwest Washington state. Les Stroud has difficulty surviving in high mountain ranges for a week, and he is the Survivorman. How do you think Coop would do?

8. The 50s promised us more than just air cars. What about robots? And Dick Tracy watches? And circular space stations creating their own gravity? And jet packs?
Robots exist and are doing bunches of stuff. They just aren’t our assistants like we thought they would be. I think Dick Tracy watches have occurred, they just aren’t on our wrists, they are in our pockets or holsters on our belt or in our pockets. Cell Phones would be science fiction to a transplanted denizen of the 1950’s. I am sad that there is not a big old visible from space rotating space station up in the sky, but more than anything I do miss not having jet packs.

9. Why does Waldo keep hiding?
Because if I ever find him, he will suffer a fate worse than a hippo.

10. Back to my sanity, really, where is it? I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to hold on to it.
Wrong person to look for anything approaching sanity.

11. Ok, so everyone is going to ask where you were, which I think you should answer, but more importantly, make up a good lie about where you were and what monster abducted you.
I was in the steamy Brazilian forests along the mighty Amazon riverbanks. Taken there by El Chupracabra only to be handed off to the dreaded oversized vampire bats from the Ribeira Valley. I escaped by my wits alone. I had to leave my pants. No Questions! You weren't there! You don't know what it was like!

12. Second obligatory question if not answered in #1, are Q, Little Man and Wifey all
OK?
Everyone in Casa Del Ryan-Hart is doing peachy.

13. Were you missed at work or are you now worried that you weren’t missed?
A little of Column A and a little of Column B

14. Didn't they just find the bones from an adventurer millionaire guy whose plane crashed in California? Is this at all related?
They did just find what is most likely Steve Fossett’s crash and death site, but that had nothing to do with my trip to the Brazilian rain forest… or Battle Creek, Michigan.

15. Will New Orleans disappear in the next 200 years? 100 years? 50?
I think the Big Easy will slowly relocate within the next 100 years. I do not think that it will cease to exist.

16. Why is there a dearth of news about the Gigantor Bail-out/slash end of America as we know it?
What are you talking about? Everything is fixed. My gas prices have gone back down and a new administration has been elected. Problem solved. Move on. Sheesh. Everyone is sooo wanting to live in yesterday.

17. There is this puss filled thing on my dog’s leg, and I don’t know where he… wait a second, it says “Unexplained Absences.” My Bad
No problem… and ewwww.

18. Did you lose readers by being gone for a week unexpectedly?
If I lost readers I would be in negative numbers which would mean a net gain.

19. Who are you and what did you do to SRH?
I am a giant vampire bat from Brasil and I drank in his soul. It corrupted me a little and gave me some gas. To be fair though, most everything gives me gas.

20. You asked if we missed you yesterday in the recap, a better question would be “Did you miss us?” You being SRH and not us plural. Basically act as if we asked you that question not like you are reading it out loud. My goodness, did you read it out loud? That would be odd.
Ummm… I missed you (plural)?


To Recap:
Tomorrow is a wacky day, so I will most likely not post anything
I have to get Wifey and Q to the airport
I don’t want to get Wifey and Q to the airport
I have some irons in the fire that need to be tended to
I have very little energy to focus on those irons
Regardless of how burny those fires may be
Wow, am I tired
Listening to MC Frontalot’s Wallflowers from his newest release Final Boss

2 Things

I decided at the last moment Thursday evening to take a bloggy break. Sure I said I woul have something for you for Digital Thursday on that Friday, but I clearly did not understand the heights of apathy that I could achieve. So instead I decided to take an impromptu week off from the blogging. Much of this impromptunity was predicated by being in Battle Creek, MI for the week and not having the best intertube connectivity at my disposal.

Could I have smurfed out a way to post daily from the dead confines of Battle Creek? Of course I could, I am resourceful and capable. Did I smurf out a way? Of course I did. Did I implement my smurfy plan? Hells no! I am also lazy well beyond my inherent cognitive abilities. Honestly my laziness knows no bounds… because to know one’s limits one must test to see the extents of those limits. Testing is inherently not lazy. Therefore all true laziness is limitless. Q.E.D.

Anyway… I have 2 Things to chat about today other than my Theory of Infinite Laziness*.

Thing the First:

Battle Creek, Michigan is a dead husk of a city. I have rarely been in a city where there really were not any people noticeable. The sidewalks were basically deserted. The city was constantly quiet. It was eerie.

Oooh I like typing “eerie”

Thing the Second:

Wifey will be heading out of town Wednesday with Q for some work she needs to get done in Rockport, MA. She will be getting back Sunday evening. It will be difficult for everyone involved. I will be soloing with Little Man and Wifey will be soloing with Q. I definitely got the better end of this stick effortwise, but it will be difficult without the womenfolk here. I will dearly miss the big toothless smile of Q and the companionship of my wife. We are trying to figure out the logistics of how she will be able to work this.

I am primarily concerned with how she is going to wrangle Q, and all of Q’s accoutrement as well as her own stuff in the airport. I think an umbrella stroller may be in order. The other concern is about sleeping. If Q has an opportunity to nurse, she will. Lately she has considered sleeping next to mama much akin to all you can eat popcorn shrimp. You can always eat one more. She nurses in her sleep for 10 seconds and sleeps quietly for 5 minutes and nurses in her sleep for a little and just plain sleeps for a little. I have had to be an interventionist in the middle of the night to keep Q from the nursey nursey. I am going to try some different techniques tonight and see if we can keep the constant nursing to a minimum.

I don’t believe anyone is looking forward to this. Little Man inquired upon hearing these plans, “But won’t I get tired of Papa by then?”

To recap:
Last week I was in Battle Creek, Michigan
Wooooooo
I will be grilling in the snow this evening… maybe
Now it looks like I will be doing double bed-time ritual since Wifey has an evening meeting
I am not sure what will be for dinner tonight
Maybe cheap pizzas
Those are easy
Easy can be good
Cheap pizzas are not good
In the way that pizza cannot be good
Meaning “not as good as other pizza but still good cause it is pizza”
Little Man is getting his room painted this week
That aught to be nice
Did you miss me?



* patent pending

No so Digital Thursday

Ummm... I am postponing this Digital Thursday until tomorrow for an odd Digital Friday experience. That's right, I will post something on my Friday sabbath. I will whip something up tonight for the digital experience tomorrow.

Any requests?

To recap:
Busy today...
Not so much tomorrow
Ergo the postponal

Yes we can

So there was this election yesterday and the guy that my little boy hit the submit button for won. Everyone in the household is beyond happy about this… Well, almost everyone is out of their head happy about this. Q seems to be out of her mind happy about drinking from a cup. Ice water is her favorite.

Anyway, yesterday was game changing. There was a palpable shift yesterday. I felt it and it was not gas (this time).

I do not get overly political on my blog because I don’t want it to become one of THOSE blogs. You know the blogs that I am talking about. But there comes a time when something so momentous occurs that as a citizen of this country we must pause and take note.

Prior to yesterday my children really could not become president of these United States. It really was not a dream they could hold on to. Prior to yesterday anyone whose skin was too brown did not really think that President was a reachable goal. Technically it was, but “technically” is merely a technicality. Did I honestly think the Obama campaign had a real shot at The House? Not when he started this journey. Around 3 weeks ago I started to really let hope wash over me. Cycles and calendars were starting to align. Drawn cards were of crowns and hearts. Constellations were in the right houses. Chicken entrails were painting hopeful pictures.

Even though all the signs pointed towards the hopeful conclusion, I could not fully embrace the hope trying to find me. It was not until election results were coming in that I started to let the hope thaw me… Yesterday was a great result for my family. Yesterday was a great result for my country. Yesterday was a great result for our culture. Yesterday was a great result for the world.

But, it is important to note that yesterday was not the culmination. Yesterday was only the beginning. Yesterday only matters if the future promised by it comes to pass. Yesterday reminded me that I have more to do for my little boy and little girl. Yesterday told me to get off my ass.

To recap:
Yes we can

20 Questions Tuesday: 116 - Political Ads

Well, the election is FINALLY here. That means that tomorrow all but the few straggling political ads will be off the TV. It would be nearly criminal for me not to at least mention the election here in the US since I blog. I think there is some un-written rule that once someone starts a blog they have to get all political and shit during the US election time.

Anyhoo, because I try to not be too partisan on this here blogarooney, I will rail against something most everyone hates, political commercials.

Thanks this week go to All Rileyed Up, Belsum, Capt. McArmypants, JA Coppinger, Amy, IC Yellow, and Nadolny.

On to the questions:

1. What do you think of the suggestion to decorate with vintage election campaign ads? (I read it in either domino mag or real simple in the last month or two)
I think if you like vintage and you like the colors red and blue, it could be a good fit.

2. Favorite political slogan? Least favorite political slogan?
Favorite: Local judge election slogan: Bring us Dingus
Least Favorite: Fob James’ political campaign slogan in 1998: More Fob

3. Why do new candidates like to point out that they didn’t vote for the Evil Laws that the incumbent voted for? They weren’t even in office!! They couldn’t have voted for jack!
I think you are over thinking this a bit. Start thinking about the election with the reptilian part of your brain. mmmm tasty election... oh oh election made of fire! Run!

4. Candidates make a big deal about pulling their attack ads. But when all the various special interest groups are still running theirs, does it matter? Would you rather have the “official” attacks instead?
I would love to see the candidates say the things their official campaigns say about their opponents to each others faces at least 5 times during the electoral process.

5. Does it irk you or make you sympathetic when family members are trotted out to advocate for their parent or spouse in a televised campaign commercial?
It would be better if the opposition would trot out an uncle who thought that the candidate was an absolute imbecile who could get out of a wet paper bag.

6. Why do local races insist on airing their ads in other jurisdictions? I can’t vote for you! I don’t care!
This is something that I think will change as time goes on. The targeting of advertising is on the horizon. Right now political campaigns have to pay for air time on stations whose broadcast radius is larger than their jurisdiction. Instead of using a TV shot gun, they could use a sniper rifle ad or something in about 12 years.

7. How do you think the general public would react if we reverted to the straight up lying of the good ol’ days of yellow journalism? Actual real live name calling and completely fabricated slander sounds like a helluva lot more fun to me right about now.
Things like “Adams is a howling hermaphrodite!” that Jefferson slung around in the 3rd US election? That would be awesome. (thank you the Daily Show.)

8. So what DO you think of Willie Horton? Is that the bear for the Geisel book? I used to love those things as a kid!
Willie Horton Hears a Who.

I love it (it is hard to draw Willie Horton in a Suessical style)

9. It is disturbing how effective negative campaigning is though every year people are polled and constantly say they don't like it. Please explain the discrepancy? I bet it is those evil pollsters! (of course that brings up a similar question of does anyone actually believe polls anymore? But don't answer that question answer the first one.)
People are hypocrites. They hate negative ads, but are unwilling to look on their own to see what their candidate of choice stands for.

10. Every year people make general statements like I will fix this and stop that and people no one wants to hear the details (which is good because there aren't any). Then people go off to enthusiastically cheer and hope and make much jolly about all their problems that will soon be solved. To me this seems like going to a bank asking for a loan so I can start a business to ..uh.... do stuff and make ..... uh.... money. So I guess what I am asking here is why do people suck so much?
That is a question for the ages. I think it has something to do with the pull between free will/self determination and laziness.

11. Every for years I am reminded that people are unthinking dullards who will vehemently support candidates with ideas and agendas that they don't fully believe in or understand. Do you know where the switch is that would allow me to NOT examine and apply my own thoughts because I want to try that out (other than beer).
There are other forms of alcohol than merely beer.

12. So according to the news today the price tag for this whole Prez 2008 Obama v. McCain campaigning thing seems to have run about 1 (pinky finger to side of mouth) Billion dollars. Thus, I am reminded of the old Rich Hall joke where he discusses the annual billion dollar advertising budgets of Coke and Pepsi and the punchline is. "So these guys spend 3 billion dollars a year so when I go up to the counter and ask for a burger and a coke and the guys says "is Pepsi ok?" I can say "whatever."".... but I digress.... So do you have any words of wisdom as to why this should not depress me greatly? I mean if the goal is to elect a representative whose priorities and philosophies most closely align with yours and our method for coming to this conclusion is a BILLION dollar laser light show instead of 2 simple web pages with a nice 4 to 5 page document composed by the actual candidate what does this really say about us? Ok so this is more of a rant then a question, but feel free to answer it, comment on it or just not post it I am cool with any combo of the 3.... well actually if you answer the question but don't actually post the question it will seem kinda weird.
I think I am going to have to start vetting my questioneers more stringently. It seems that some questioneers’ bitterness is getting in the way of incisive questions that I can sidestep with a goofy un-expected answer.

13. Everyone yells about “negative ads” but is it really wrong to point out that your opponent is a dumb ass?
If the claim that your candidate is a dumbass is substantially possible, then it is a defensible attack ad. The problem with most attack ads is that thyey tear down the opponent without building up the other candidate. For example an attack ad that says something to the effect of “Candidate A has no executive experience, is he ready to lead a country?” but fails to mention that the executive credentials of Candidate B is also just as non-existent. To make a claim like “Candidate A has no executive experience” candidate B should have loads of it.

14. Is it wrong to spend a billion dollars on advertising for a single office, or is actually good for the economy?
It is both good and bad for the economy. It lets people know that money has not gone away, but it does beg the question that 600 million dollars worth of schools or hospitals or roadway imporvements with a candidates name on it might be better than an ephemeral TV ad.

15. Ever seen a funny political ad?
Yes.

16. Where was the stupidest political ad placement you’ve ever seen?
Above a urinal.

17. Do you think that the scantron type ballots lead more to test, er, election anxiety amongst the folks that have to fill the bubbles in?
I imagine that, yes, there are some people whose palms are sweating at the thought of filling in bubbles. They also probably have trouble with “in” and “out” doors.

18. If McCain and Palin don't win, do you think Palin should try for a spot on SNL as Tina Fey?
I am not sure she has the comedic chops for it.

19. Don't the repeated political commercials have the opposite effect on you? Most of them are relatively inane, so I would think that folks would get sick of them and actually vote against the person running the ad.
I have been conditioned by years of exposure to my parents to tune out messages that don’t need to be heard.

20. I keep wanting to ask if people are really dumb enough to believe some of the stuff in the ads, but then I think, yes they are.
You are too correct.

To recap:
If you are a US citizen I hope you vote today
Or voted earlier
That way you can complain if things don’t work out how you like
Listening to: For the past 4 hours I have had the Munsters Theme Song running through my head
Oh God! MAKE IT STOP!

2 Things

I thought that I should continue on with the recap of the third and fourth years of the blog, but because the public has demanded that I do not do that. Therefore, in order to keep my 5 fervent readers, I will refrain from doing a post of the first sentences for year 3 or for year 4. I listen… I am a listener.

There are 2 things to talk about from this weekend.

Thing the First: Halloween

Little Man enjoyed himself immensely on Halloween. He does not do the “trick-or-treat” thing, but he does enjoy handing out the candy. He dressed as a black “Halloween Cat” for the holiday. He did a great job meting out candy to all the kids trick or treating.

There was a surprising lack of 14 year olds just wanting free candy this year. Usually there are about 10 kids who are way too old to be trick-or-treating, who did not wear a costume, and who seem to feel entitled to my candy. This year, I did not see that. There were a few kids who were questionably aged for the event, but they were costumed, so that seemed okay.

Little Man was invited to a Halloween Party on Saturday that he bravely went to. It was for a friend of mine’s kids and he wasn’t going to know anyone there. He went and the party goers whilst costumed were still very cliquish. He did not have a good time, but he did eat their pizza before we left. That showed them!

Thing the Second: Vertigo

The vertigo that Wifey suffered through about 2 years ago came back on Sunday. Since we already knew that the symptoms might come back (per the ER doc) we knew that it might rear its ugly head again. She was diagnosed with BPPV last time around and the remedy for that particular bout of vertigo was the Epley Maneuver. While not a trained medical professional, I helped Wifewy through the set of postures for the Epley. It seemed to help but she was out of commission for most of yesterday.

She is doing much better today, but alas and alack for Q, she is no longer able to rock the little girl to sleep.

To recap:
I won the Cartographer’s Guild October Challenge
Go me!
I have a boo boo on my right birdie finger
It makes lots of people think that I am flipping them off
I am not
Maybe…
No one bought me lunch in celebration of my Blogaversary
I am flipping them off
Listening to my throbbing headache