11 November 2009
09 November 2009
je vous verrai quand je te vois
s'il vous plaît pardonnez ma traduction approximative - je suis un peu rouillé. Je n'ai pas parlé ou écrit en français dans près de vingt ans.
Roger Eyraud était vraiment un bon gars. il a toujours été rapide avec un mot gentil, un bonjour, un mot de préoccupation, encore plus rapide avec son esprit. depuis qu'il a appris que je pouvais parler français, je n'ai jamais été à l'abri de ses tentatives de conversation en français occasionnels, voire sournoise son double sens. il voulait même me présenter à son père pour que nous puissions converser en français.
il n'est jamais arrivé. aurait dû, aurait pu, aurait.
Roger était un bon professeur, un grand collègue, un mentor exceptionnel. J'ai beaucoup appris de Roger. mon seul souhait est que j'avais plus de temps pour apprendre à mieux le connaître.
roger va nous manquer beaucoup.
28 October 2009
23 October 2009
it was a bear of a day at the kyrgyzstan circus
a bear on ice skates attacked two people during rehearsals at a circus in bishkek, the capital of
in the incident, which happened thursday, the 5-year-old animal killed the circus administrator, dmitry potapov, and mauled an animal trainer, who was attempting to rescue him.
"the incident occurred during a rehearsal by the russian state circus company troupe which was performing in bishkek with the program, bears on ice," ministry of culture and information director kurmangazy isanayev told reporters.
it is unclear what caused the bear to attack potapov, 25, nearly severing one of his legs while dragging him across the ice by his neck. medical personnel were unable to save potapov, who died at the scene.
the 29-year-old circus trainer yevgeny popov, who attempted to rescue potapov, was also severely injured, according to doctors.
"the victim has sustained serious injuries - deep scalp lacerations, bruising of the brain, lacerations on his body. his condition is considered critical," dr. gulnara tashibekova told reporters on russian state television.
after the incident, the circus was cordoned off by police and emergency service workers. experts have been brought in to examine the bear, which was shot and died at the scene.
--from cnn.com
07 October 2009
03 October 2009
27 September 2009
in the words of the great philosopher,
baz luhrmann,
everybody should wear sunscreen
2 words. skin cancer. mildest kind--of the basal-cell carcinoma variety. had it removed from my nose, and am having my nose reconstructed wednesday.
------------------------------------------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine. Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you.
Sing.
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. . .the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. . .the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. . .what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.
Enjoy your body, use it every way you can. . .don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own. . .
Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don’t expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth. But trust me on the sunscreen…
------------------------------------------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine. Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you.
Sing.
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. . .the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. . .the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. . .what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.
Enjoy your body, use it every way you can. . .don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own. . .
Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don’t expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth. But trust me on the sunscreen…
26 August 2009
05 August 2009
if only my cats were this smart. . .
London, July 30 (ANI): Casper, a 12-year-old pet cat, has caught the same bus regularly for four years.
The feline boards the No3 service at 10.55am from outside his home in Plymouth, Devon, and travels the complete 11-mile route before returning home.
Casper has become so known that all First Bus drivers have now been told to look out for him to ensure he gets off at the right stop, reports The Telegraph.
Susan Finden, 65, a care worker who is Casper's owner, said: "Casper has always disappeared for hours at a time but I never understood where he was going.
"I called him Casper because he had a habit of vanishing like a ghost. But then some of the drivers told me he had been catching the bus.
"I couldn't believe it at first, but it explains a lot. He loves people and we have a bus stop right outside our house so that must be how he got started - just following everyone on.
"I used to catch the odd bus too so maybe he saw me and got curious what I was doing.
"Casper is quite quick for his age so he just hops onto the bus before the doors close. He catches the 10.55am service and likes to sit on the back seat."
Rob Stonehouse, one of the drivers on the route, said: "He usually just curls up at the back of the bus. Sometimes he nips between people's legs but he never causes any trouble." (ANI)
The feline boards the No3 service at 10.55am from outside his home in Plymouth, Devon, and travels the complete 11-mile route before returning home.
Casper has become so known that all First Bus drivers have now been told to look out for him to ensure he gets off at the right stop, reports The Telegraph.
Susan Finden, 65, a care worker who is Casper's owner, said: "Casper has always disappeared for hours at a time but I never understood where he was going.
"I called him Casper because he had a habit of vanishing like a ghost. But then some of the drivers told me he had been catching the bus.
"I couldn't believe it at first, but it explains a lot. He loves people and we have a bus stop right outside our house so that must be how he got started - just following everyone on.
"I used to catch the odd bus too so maybe he saw me and got curious what I was doing.
"Casper is quite quick for his age so he just hops onto the bus before the doors close. He catches the 10.55am service and likes to sit on the back seat."
Rob Stonehouse, one of the drivers on the route, said: "He usually just curls up at the back of the bus. Sometimes he nips between people's legs but he never causes any trouble." (ANI)
29 July 2009
i got lost somewhere between
translation and oblivion
"three types of ball are offered.
they are one. two. three."
they are one. two. three."
-- instructions for chinese baoding exercise balls.
26 June 2009
no tribute to the gloved one would be complete. . .
without steve martin's sendup of billie jean.
click the picture to watch
24 June 2009
you might be a redneck cop. . .
A young couple, Joshua Kelly and Llara Brook, of Chantilly, Virginia, found themselves lost while driving in Baltimore, Maryland. They were relieved, of course, when they spotted a police cruiser.
When "officer" Preston spotted them asking another officer for directions she decided to bite. She stepped between the couple and the other officer, snarling, "My partner is not going to step in front of me and tell you directions if I'm not." Then she hauled their butts to the station where they remained locked up for "trespassing."
"It was a nightmare," said Brook. "In jail for 8 hours. Sleeping on a concrete floor next to a toilet."
Wrong one, wrong type of pound
Kelly's car was sent to the police car pound where the police left it both unlocked and with the windows down. Stuff, of course, was stolen from the car.
Brook's parents are both Pennsylvania police officers. We'll follow this story and report updates.
Click here to see original story with video!
- Kelly: "Could you please get us to 95?"
- Officer Natalie Preston: "You found your own way in here, you can find your own way out."
When "officer" Preston spotted them asking another officer for directions she decided to bite. She stepped between the couple and the other officer, snarling, "My partner is not going to step in front of me and tell you directions if I'm not." Then she hauled their butts to the station where they remained locked up for "trespassing."
"It was a nightmare," said Brook. "In jail for 8 hours. Sleeping on a concrete floor next to a toilet."
Wrong one, wrong type of pound
Kelly's car was sent to the police car pound where the police left it both unlocked and with the windows down. Stuff, of course, was stolen from the car.
Brook's parents are both Pennsylvania police officers. We'll follow this story and report updates.
Click here to see original story with video!
WBAL TV (Baltimore, MD) 17-May-06
19 June 2009
you might be a redneck. . .
. . .if your idea of a day at the spa. . .
. . .is sitting in a kiddie pool in the bed of your F-250.
. . .is sitting in a kiddie pool in the bed of your F-250.
15 June 2009
to sum up. . .
or,
how to freak out your cats
step two. move to an apartment.
12 June 2009
that was then, this is. . .
that was then.today you are 14-going-on-15, or if you had your way. . .
14-going-on-driver's-license. ack.
today you finish middle school. 14 years have gone by in the blink of an eye, some of the time good, most of it great.
you have gone from adorable baby to gorgeous young woman, and i've witnessed the most remarkable transformation along the way. i am pleased that i was here to enjoy it with you, and i am so very proud of you.
happy graduation. high school is next, and then the rest of your life, whatever that holds.
i love you, moira.
25 May 2009
20 May 2009
03 May 2009
tips for assembling the drawers in the bed for your 8-year-old
step one: decide which drawer goes where--especially if it's one of those pedestal beds with the drawers under the sleeping surface.
step two: gentlemen, look away--this particular drawer is full of an 8-year-old's "unmentionables."
step three: slide the drawer into the selected hole.
step four: close the drawer completely. voilá! a complete bed.
oh. . .i almost forgot. . .step one-point-one. . .
make sure there are no cats hiding in the hole.
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