Friday, December 30, 2022

Friday 5 for December 30: Out with the old

This is the last Friday 5 for 2022. Questions are from its usual source.

1. Among people with whom you are not personally acquainted, who most made you laugh in 2022?

The people who made me laugh in a cynical way were local government officials who were busted for various crimes.

I had to laugh at former State Senator Kalani English, once the Senate Majority Floor Leader, who tried to hide a $6000 check of illegal bribe money. It was found under the rug of a vehicle he was riding in when busted by law enforcement. It was part of a federal wire fraud investigation.

Today English is serving a 40 month sentence in the federal slammer for taking bribes from a lobbyist to manipulate sewer legislation. It was so criminal that this became funny in a sick, warped way. Shit happens.

English was not the only one. Former State Representative Ty Cullen was busted on similar charges.

We have the former Honolulu Police Chief serving time in the federal slammer for numerous crimes. His wife, a former deputy prosecutor is also doing time in federal prison for a number of crimes including stealing from a trust fund, her grandmother and framing another relative. There was also a cover up involved between the two and other officers in the police department at the time of her husband's tenure.

Three former City and County of Honolulu officials were arrested by the FBI for misuse of city funds to pay for a severance to the convicted police chief mentioned above. Their trials are upcoming.

This past election year saw two state legislators arrested for D.U.I. Their charges were dropped by the court for various reasons. The voters were not as forgiving. Both lost their re-election bids.

Hawaii is full of corruption that go back many years and decades. I am sure the comedy of corruption will continue in Hawaii for years to come. We're just like a banana republic.

2. Among people with whom you are not personally acquainted, who most inspired you in 2022?

Nobody I can think of.

3. What were your food discoveries in 2022?

I tend to eat the same things day in and out. This is due to the high cost of living in Hawaii. Because fuel, energy and shipping prices have spiked up since 2020, I don't have the income to eat at fancy places or buy exotic grocery foods. The price of groceries and dining out have increased.

That said, probably the only new foods I tried is when my seasonal employer took us out for lunch one day at a high end restaurant I never been to before. I had some fancy burger and exotic dessert. Can't remember what they're called. See pictures below.




4.What were your music discoveries in 2022?

The top ten artists that I discovered and played for the first time this year are the following:

Rank & ArtistMost Played TrackCount
1. CannonsHurricane331
2. CucoSitting at the Corner84
3. Stephen SanchezUntil I Found You48
4. Duke & JonesJiggle Jiggle (It Folds)38
5. RammsteinZick Zack33
6. Envy of NoneNever Said I Love You28
7. Cazzi OpeiaI Can't Get Enough21
8. LiamooBluffin21
9. Jay PhungStep By Step19
10. BrimCalifornia Gold16

Data pulled from my Last.FM profile as of December 30, 2022.



5. Where will you be when the clock strikes midnight on January 1?

I am 99.999% sure I will be at home with Lisa listening to the crazy and reckless people setting off legal and illegal fireworks.

Friday, December 23, 2022

Friday 5 for December 23: On the dotted line

The following questions are from Scrivener's weekly Friday 5 blog.

1. What did you last put your signature on?

Hand drawn e-signature on a prescription pick up this week.

2. How legible is your signature?

With cursive handwriting, it is fairly easy to read and make out my first and last name. Sometimes I rush through it, other times I take my time. More and more I am doing less signatures on paper and more with electronic media which means funky block letters or just typing it in... or cut and paste a scanned handwritten copy. Whatever.

3. How has your signature changed over time?

Went from mostly signed on paper to electronic signature in recent years.

4. When did you last initial something?

Right now: MAC

5. Is there a story behind your given name, or is it just a name?

My first name is from my Dad. My sir name is a result of a screw up by the territorial government of Hawaii from when my paternal grandfather arrived off a boat from China. That bureaucratic mistake has carried down to 4 generations. I was screwed by the government before I was born!

The song link below has just about nothing to do with this blog entry.



Friday, December 16, 2022

Friday 5 for December 16: Gimme some sugar

Aha... another Friday 5,,, this one on sugar sweet... which can be detrimental to our health. But let's go... Questions courtesy of Scrivener....

1. How much of a sweet tooth do you have?

A big one. I like chocolate and most sweet tasting dessert type foods. The good thing is that all the good ones are expensive, which means I rarely indulge and that is good for my health. No one wants to get diabetes. 

2. What sweet dishes do you prefer at breakfast?

  • Waffles with maple syrup, butter whipped cream and a cherry on top.
  • French toast with maple syrup, butter and whipped cream. Ditto for pancakes.

3. What have you recently gotten a sweet deal on?

Last year during Black Friday I got not one, but two Amazon Echo balls... In the year that I have owned them, they've been a mixed bag of information, entertainment, music and stupidity. Honestly, Alexa is not as smart as Amazon makes it out to be unless you want to dish out more cash to make purchases. 

Amazon wrongly thought that people would use Echo devices to make more purchases at Amazon and through other services that they could get a revenue stream from. In the end they were wrong, and the Alexa service will probably lose up to $10 billion this year. Most people use their devices just to get the news, weather, ask trivial questions, play a few free games or listen to music. 

And then there are still those privacy issues that you have to take care of once you get a device.

4. What are some good songs with the word “sweet” in the title or lyrics?

  • Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
  • Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
  • Sweet Talkin' Woman - Electric Light Orchestra
  • Sweet Nothins' - Brenda Lee
  • Ain't She Sweet - The Beatles
  • My Sweet Lord - George Harrison (the lawyers for The Chiffons loved this song)
  • Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith
  • Sweet City Woman - The Stampeders
  • Sweet and Innocent -  Donny Osmond
  • Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N Roses
  • How Sweet It Is - Marvin Gaye or James Taylor
There's probably more from the 1980s, 90s, 21st century... 

5. What evidence might someone present to prove you are a sweet person?

Since I became a whole lot older, I am generally more grumpy and pessimistic. Sweetness is not me unless it is chocolate, free money or a good pop-rock song.

Sunday, December 11, 2022

When the Friday 5 is the Friday 10

It's catch-up time for at least two cycles... Friday 5....

Friday 5 for December 9: Trivial Pursuit

1. What’s something you’re into that others don’t get?


2. What’s something you’ve wanted to get into?

Getting back into developing my own black and white film and making prints from that. Haven't done it since college. Cost and lack of space is too prohibitive.

3. What are you less into than you once were?


I stopped buying vinyl records. I ran out of space and in the last 3 years the price of vinyl records have significantly increased making purchases out of my budget range. I have to be satisfied with the 600+ record albums I already own and a couple hundred 45s. I had to severely cut back my music collection of records, CDs and tapes back in 2016. 😐

4. What difficult-to-find item would you really like to get your hands on?

A copy of "Beach Rock" 45 rpm record on SeaWest Records by the rock group Blue Finn. I think that was their only record and it has never been issued to a digital format as far as I know. I have a copy but someone in my family severely played it too many times and made a scratchy mess out of the recording. Ugh!

5. What is the standard attire for people into whatever you’re into? If there is none, what would be the appropriate dress?

Casual. I am not a dress up type of person and I get along best with people who are casually dressed.


Friday 5 for December 2: Seconds

1. When did someone last offer you a second chance?

God. I got a second chance on life in late 2015.

2. For how many seconds can you hold your breath?

I like breathing. I don't hold my breath for anything.

3. What movie was better on second viewing?

Generally when I don't like a movie on first viewing, I never bother to give it a second chance. I can't think of anything recent or from the past that I gave a second chance to watch again.

4. What’s your second-favorite song by your second-favorite musician?


Currently, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John.

5. When did you most recently have to redo something because you were careless or sloppy?

I hate redoing anything. It is like one step forward and three steps back! Ugh.... most recently some elements of the Assistance League of Hawaii Newsletter.

Monday, November 14, 2022

Friday 5 for November 11: Seemingly (but not actually) unrelated questions

 



The music of The Beatles are among my most played songs.

It's late Monday night and Tuesday in some parts of the globe. This is a late post to the last Friday 5 of November 11.


1. When did you last have something custom-made to your specifications, not counting meals?

Long ago, built to order Apple Macintosh G4 tower computer - 2001. Prior to that PowerCenter Power Computing Mac Clone - 1997

2. In what way were you reminded this week that we’ve been experiencing a pandemic for nearly three years?

I got sick before Halloween with the dreaded COVID bug. Got over it this past week.

3. Who did you recently see in person for the first time in ages?

About 4 weeks ago - D.R. from my college days.

4. What will me-time look like for you this weekend?

Stayed at home about 98% of the past weekend.

5. What songs have you been enjoying lately? 

Plenty. My songs change almost daily. You can view what I most recently listened to:


List of my most played rock and pop artists of all time since 2006:

Friday, October 21, 2022

Friday 5 for October 21: In the now

 The questions are from Scrivener's Friday 5 blog.

1. When did you last have to MacGyver something?

I can't remember anything specific that I had to cobble together with tape and miscellaneous objects recently.

2. In what way were you spontaneous this week?

I am not very spontaneous. Mostly everything I do I have to think about the consequences and cost of the action... or in-action.

3. What have you recently completed at the last minute?

Last month's newsletter for Assistance League of Hawaii and likely this month's edition too. The good thing is that it is totally electronic and I have most of the pieces sent to me. All I have to do is meld them together into a congruent whole.

4. How good are you at thinking up a quick lie?

See #2 above. I have to think about it first.

5. What’s your personal organizer system like?

For the life of me, I am terrible and hate organizing paper files. I still have plenty of paper, but if you looked at my place, it would be fairly chaotic with paper documents all around.

Since the late 1980s I have done most of my organizing using a computer, such as this Macintosh Plus in 1988. Getting that Plus was the beginning of trying to get typed documents saved and organized.

Through many years, in addition to typed documents, my filing needs had to evolve into storing, organizing and archiving scanned images, digital photos, PDFs, eBooks, numerous audio files of all formats and videos.

Needless to say the ol' Macintosh Plus got replaced with more powerful computers with greater storage options over the years... Mac IIsi, Mac Centris 650, Power Computing Powercenter 150, Quicksilver G4 Mac tower, MacBook Pros, Chromebooks, Android devices and an iMac. Storage and organization also moved or was backed up to the cloud... Google Docs, Google Photos, Google Drive and a few others.

Despite all of this, I still have to struggle to find stuff. At least most of it is not on paper.

Oh and I do have vinyl records, cassettes, CDs and a few DVDs... So there. More media mediums and storage options.


Friday, September 23, 2022

Friday 5 for September 23: Dancing in September


The following questions came from Scrivener's Friday 5 blog.

1. How did you spend the 21st night of September?

I stayed home and did stuff on my computer.


2. When did you last hear bells ringing (real bells, not something electronic)?


I think the bells at Kawaihao Church several years ago. Not too many people use bells today.


3. What have you done in recent months to chase the clouds away for someone else?


Lisa lights up when I get her small gifts, flowers and pizza.


4. What are some good songs sung in falsetto?


The Bee Gees come to mind first in pop music - not in an ordered list….


  • Stayin' Alive

  • Tragedy

  • Night Fever

  • More Than a Woman

  • Love You Inside Out

  • You Should Be Dancing


Leo Sayer - You Make Me Feel Like Dancing

Tiny Tim - Tiptoe Through the Tulips (good is debatable here, but the thing is memorable)

Earth Wind & Fire - Reasons, September, Let's Groove Tonight

Melanie - Brand New Key (probably not, but she has a high voice)

The Stylistics - I'm Stone in Love With You, Ebony Eyes

Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons - Sherry, Walk Like a Man, Rag Doll

Elton John - Crocodile Rock (probably the part in the chorus)

The Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonight


Mahi Beamer - Pupu Hinu Hinu


Funny how I only remember old songs from the 1960s and 70s with falsetto parts in them. Can't recall songs from later years.


5. Of earth, wind, and fire, which is likeliest to have a positive influence on your weekend?


Most definitely wind since sound needs air to travel through… and that allows us to hear and listen to music. 😃


And of course a playlist of some of the songs listed above. Most are audio only. Listen at your own risk.




Friday, September 16, 2022

Friday 5 for September 16, 2022 - Heard It Through the Grapevine

 The following questions are from the Friday 5 blog.

GRAPES: I took this photo in 2017. I am sure the price has spiked up. Organic always cost more than a dollar than regular varieties.

On to the questions:

1. How do you feel about grapes?

They're good but EXPENSIVE!

2. How do you feel about wine?

I do not drink alcoholic beverages.

3. How much of a gossip are you?

Less than 10%. I don't keep up with this kind of crap, rarely socialize, so there is nothing much to gossip about.

4. How much purple is in your wardrobe?

Less than 5%.

5. How have you gotten better as you’ve grown older?

I remain committed to my conservative political beliefs.

6. Bonus Question: What’s the best food with raisins in it?

None.

_______________________________

And of course the famous Marvin Gaye song from 1968. Did you know that Gladys Knight & the Pips recorded the first hit version of this song a year prior to Marvin Gaye? Both artists were on the celebrated Motown label.

Friday, September 2, 2022

Friday 5 + 5 = Catching Up With the Last Two Weeks

The Friday 5 questions as originally posted to the Friday 5 blog with answers here. Ready, Set, Go!

Friday 5 for September 2: All in the family


1. What efforts do you make in resisting Father Time?

I listen to a lot of old music from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. I have old records and CDs. Plus mixed tapes. Old movies are good too. I have a pared down collection on DVD... I used to have more. I kept the ones I consider classics. I watch old TV shows and movies on streaming video. TUBI TV has some good old movies... Amazon Prime too. In the last 10 to 15 years I have not seen many contemporary movies. Theaters are too expensive, many movies don't go to Amazon Prime, so I just watch the oldies. No biggie.

I've tried turning the clock back a few minutes every day. I don't have a DeLorean with a nuclear thingy that can go 88.5 mph to break the time barrier... oh well.. and H.G. Wells' time traveler took his machine back to the Eloi Earth and there is not chance of him coming back.

So basically all efforts to resist Father Time will prove to be hopeless as the oblong box or the crematorium will be our final destination.

2. In what manner do you try to be a good steward of Mother Earth?

Don't get me started with this because I hate the whole green Earth Biden and AOC agenda that has been pushed not only by the federal government since January 2020, but also by the asinine State Government of Hawaii. Outlaw coal electricity production thereby raising our electric rates higher in the long run! Yep, thatʻs Hawaii. Politics and environmentalism have made our lives less convenient and more expensive!

Look at California and Washington State. They want to ban sales on gasoline powered cars. Screw that horrible agenda. I hate forced recycling. I hate less convenience and increased costs for this agenda. Plastics bans... and all of that government induced crap pandering to the Environmental Extermists! Ugh!!! CO$TLY to our pocketbooks. I am angry!

Since I will be dead in a couple of decades, why should I care? I don't have kids, I don't have much of a legacy to leave behind. Plus in about 5 billion years the sun will become a red giant and long before that happens, it will scorch this world Earth, Venus, Mercury and Mars into cinders. There is not much to hope for us in the long run except for death. It is a given.

That all said, I do send our trash down the building's trash chute. I don't use that much water in my home. I don't have a yard. My home is small/tiny so not much electricity is used. So you got those short term things. 

3. What has recently caused you to say Uncle?

With my advancing age, some young people call me "uncle". All of my real uncles from days gone by have passed away. So, I donʻt have any literal reason to say "uncle".

As a slang term for pain or stop or whatever, I have never used it.

4. Among actors in Ant-Man, who are you particularly fond of?

I have never seen Ant-Man or any new movie except for those that show up on Amazon Prime. I don't even know what Ant-Man is about. I guess that is either another Disney/Marvel franchise movie or one from Warner Brothers/DC Comics franchise... OK.. going to look that up... Thanks for the link.

OK... another Disney/Marvel franchise film... 2015... wow that was long ago already. See I donʻt go to the movies and I donʻt subscribe to Disney Plus. Also there are way too many Marvel movies out there. How can anyone keep up with this stuff? I think I only saw the original Thor and Captain America from the franchise movies.

Only two actors in that movie I know anything about. The first one is Michael Douglas who made a name of himself by being the son of legendary actor Kirk Douglas and getting his first big break in the TV series Streets of San Francisco. I know him best for the movies Romancing the Stone, The War of the Roses and Wall Street. I loved Kathleen Turner

The only other member of that cast that I know of somewhat is Evangeline Lily, mainly because she was part of the cast of that doomed flight in LOST (2004 - 2010) TV series... ABC/Disney. What a coincidence!

Everyone else, I have never heard of.

5. Which notable brothers would you most like to hang out with? Which notable sisters?

First of all my brother and sister are the two most notable ones I know. While we are estranged from my brother, I like hanging with my sister when I can.

There are no other brothers and sisters of note that I would like to hang with.

Friday 5 for August 26: Four months

Merry Christmas

With this late posting probably less that that... Oh wait here is a link to the Christmas Countdown Clock. That will prevent you from resisting Father Time. Ever noticed when we were kids, it seemed like an eternity before Christmas would finally roll around. Now that I am much older, I go... "Oh no! Christmas is just around the corner??? This quickly! Yikes!!!"

Christmas is one of those turning points that mark our age, every year all the time. It is the signal that only seven days remain before another new year will arrive as we march another step closer to our graves.

1. How good are you at wrapping gifts?

With patience I am fairly good. For a short period of time I did work at the Waikiki Christmas Store where we did a lot of "gift wrapping".

2. When are you likely to begin your Christmas shopping this year?

December 21, 22 or 23....I know there is a gift card rack at Longs, Walmart and Target. Plus I can send out virtual gift cards from Amazon. Gift cards are great things for the last minute shopper.

3. How do you feel about candy canes?

Cheap sticky, sugary crap that is passed out for free at all kinds of places and functions. I do however like the song "Candy Cane Lane" by Sia.

4. Have you been naughty or nice this year? 

Just hiding under the radar as I do most years. Naughty or nice is a subjective judgement.

5. In what way was today most December-like?

It was sunny and hot as I think it will be in December. Global warming is a good thing in December.... plus I live in Honolulu Hawaii close to Waikiki. Itʻs sunny and warm every Christmas which is what helps our economy as jet-loads of tourists come to visit Hawaii and flee the harsh cold for a few days or weeks. 

So E Como Mai. Hawaii is open for most businesses. Come visit us. Spend your money. Add to our tax collections. Help pay for Hawaiiʻs wasteful government spending. Oh what fun it is to ride and sing in a slaying song tonight!

Moohahahahahaha! Merry Christmas and Have Fun. Donʻt forget about that Red Giant which will come in 4 billion years. Whoopee!





Friday, August 12, 2022

Friday 5 for August 12: X³

 

The five questions this week come from its usual source, the Friday 5 Blog.

Here are the Qs and my As:

1. One lump or two?

Two if I am drinking hot chocolate or something like that. I donʻt do coffee.

2. What was in the last box you received in the mail?

Amazon Echo Dot 4 $19 on Cyber Monday Nov. 2021. See photo here. "Alexa, play Song Quiz..." "Alexa turn on the light." "Alexa play The Beatles"... "Alexa, what time is it?"

"Alexa, kill yourself"... (boink).... heheheh...

3. In those places where you prepare your own soft drink, how much ice do you put in the cup?


None. I only drink water.

4. How do you have your workspace decorated?

With clutter.

5. What’s your favorite dice-driven game?

None, though I recall Monopoly have dice. Been ages since I played that. Otherwise none. Not a roll the dice kind of guy.

Saturday, August 6, 2022

Friday 5's: Friday 5 + 1 + 5 = 11!

This post catches up on two week's worth of Friday 5s. The questions are sourced from the usual place... The Friday 5 blog.

August 5, 2022 - WHMS

WHMS - A radio or TV station or just a fancy way to say "whims".

1. What’s the farthest you’ve ever driven in one trip?

Um.. since I live in Hawaii there is not too many places you can go. They are mostly near, but go over an hour, then that's far. That said... on the Big Island of Hawaii.... Honokaa to Ka'u on the south-side of that island. Did that in 1984 when we took my grandmother on a drive back to the area she grew up during the early years of the last century. It was a fun, multi hour trip for the day that covered more than 200 miles I guess. We did that with my parents' Ford Granada.

I've been to the continent, but none of the trips I drove there were "far"... Las Vegas to the Hoover Dam and a little over the boarder into Arizona... Um.. ok...more sand and desert, we turned back avoiding an even longer, unplanned trip segment.

2. What are you very particular about when ordering in a restaurant?

Make sure they have free iced water. Some restaurants don't. I do not do alcoholic beverages or sugared soft drinks.

3. Which of your friendships goes back the furthest?

My sister! Knew her since 1965 (baby time). We keep in touch. Friendships with my cousins go back more than 50 years, though I am not very close to most of them. After that my ongoing friendships (mainly through Facebook and other social media platforms) with some grade/high school classmates (1970s). After that some of my college friends (late 1970s)... and then professional friends from the 1980s onward. Not mentioning any names, but if you follow me on Facebook, you may know who some of them are.

4. How do you feel about romantic comedy films, and what’s your favorite?

Um... I can live without them... That said, the ones I enjoyed the most:

  • Splash
  • Sixteen Candles
  • Pretty in Pink
  • Sleepless in Seattle
  • Romancing the Stone

5. How did you spend last new year’s eve, and how would you like to spend the next?

I stayed at home. I did the same the previous year and will probably do the same this coming new year. Ho hum. Not much to celebrate as I grow older.

6. Bonus question, since it’s the sort not everyone can answer: What’s your favorite song from Oklahoma!?

Checked some YouTube clips. Don't recall any of them, though I do remember Shirley Jones who went on the star in The Partridge Family from 1970 to 1974.

July 29: Scattergories Part 12

This is the random generator one. Let's see which letter option I'm gonna do:

[Spin]


Ding! I got C and we know "C is for Cookie!"

1. What geographical feature should be renamed in your honor?

Cape of Mad Mel - You know way down south near South Africa and Antarctica. A menace to navigation!

2. Who should play you in a movie about your life?

Clint Eastwood. Heh. One of my favorite actors currently alive, though his characterization of me would probably not match since I associate him with "tough guy" roles. More to my liking and still alive is Tom Hanks.

3. What are you chasing?

Elusive CASH.

4. What’s getting in your way?

Lack of CASH

5. What are you especially grateful for this week?

CASH! I found a dime on the ground the other day. Plus I can use cash to pay for COOKIES! I am always grateful for cookies that I can eat and not the evil ones I have to delete from my browsers.




Friday, July 22, 2022

Friday 5 for July 22: I ♡ the 80s

 The 1980s... college days and the start of real work. Questions taken from Scrivener's Friday 5 blog.

1. What was your greatest Triumph this week?

"Hold On" - Making it alive to today and hopefully again for many tomorrows.

2. When did you last interact with the Police?

"Murder by Numbers" - About two years ago when I had to report my stolen stuff. The items included an old G4 Power Mac, were never recovered.

3. What’s recently caused your Heart to leap?

"Who Will You Run To?" - Sometimes my friend Lisa, though it is mostly the other way around.

4. What are you in no Rush to deal with?

"New World Man" - Things I don't like doing I put off for as long as I can.

5. How liberally do you use Salt-n-Pepa?

"Push It" - Pepper is the new salt for me since consuming too much salt increases your blood pressure. A lot of packaged foods are high in salt content, which forces me to read the labels before purchasing. That said, never add salt to packaged foods. They are salty enough.

I push pepper as a good substitute. I use it on a lot of food that I used to salt.

Here is my video playlist "Top Hits of the 1980s". Enjoy!


Friday, July 15, 2022

Friday 5 for July 15: Scrivening

 The following questions are from Scrivener's Friday 5 blog.

1. What are your strengths as a writer?

I can write best from stuff I remember in my life, but then most people can. I don't consider myself a great writer or scribe of any sort. But over the many years I have done enough writing to be employed in some capacity where writing and editing was part of my job. I do mostly news writing kinds of things, which is writing that t me is mostly disposable unless you are a collector of historic or hysterical details of the times. I mean news writing skills are as good as the last press release some other editor at another publication tossed after scanning for less than a minute or miraculously used a piece of it in an ongoing news item. But mostly it is throw away writing. Newspapers of yore became fish-wrap or basket liners the same day as they were bought, online news is only good for the moment until the next click or swipe. It's all forgotten and disposable in short time.

2. What are your challenges as a writer?

If I did not write so hastily, I probably could do better. Often times, especially in an online forum or blog, I just bang out what I want or need to say, and worry about he details later, often after I hit the POST button or whatever.

I think this is a consequence of, hey... it's online, nobody takes it that seriously, and if I have a mistake it can be easily fixed (in most cases where you control the site) and reposted again, with very little or no cost.

On the other hand, if you make a mistake in a print media format, that mistake is there forever, and may cost thousands of dollars to fix, and possibly jeopardize your employment as a writer or editor. It is a good thing that most people read stuff online.

Grammar and organization is sometimes a challenge too. There is a lot I could improve, but sadly I don't. Perhaps I should write a book.

Um... maybe not. 

3. When did you last write creatively?

Probably a few times on my blogs. Can't remember exactly when without looking up the dates and entries. Overall though, I would think very few exercises of "creative writing" on my part. I am more "matter of fact", bang it out, move along.

4. Which writers did you especially enjoy when you were a student?

Dr. Seuss was fun.... Green Eggs & Ham, The Cat In The Hat book series.

L. Frank Baum - The Wizard of OZ. I wish I had the really nicely illustrated book that my parents bought us way back in the 1960s.

Virginia Lee Burton - The Little House... the house was saved from the nightmare of urban sprawl and rail. This book foreshadowed the rail issue that I have serious grief about today.

Lennon and McCartney wrote great songs. Lyricist Bernie Taupin for Elton John. Carole King & Gerry Goffin wrote some classic rock n roll songs. George Harrison wrote "Here Comes the Sun," "Taxman" and "Something" among his small collection of songs for The Beatles.

As a teen and college kid I read most of the Dune series of books by Frank Herbert.

Isaac Asimov, science fiction writer. Mostly short stories that I have forgotten now, except for Nightfall which was creepy for the people who never saw night.

H.G. Wells - The Time Machine; the traveler went further into the future beyond the Eloi and Morlok thing... got to see the sun as a red giant which is 5 billion years into our future... Heh... And of course The War of The Worlds which occurs in the Victorian era, and adapted over time to radio, TV shows and movies.

5. What is your handwriting like?

It is legible... Let's do some samples here (Pixel 4a):






Saturday, July 9, 2022

Friday 5 for July 8: Willing and Able

Questions are from Scrivener's site. I hate planned obsolescence.

1. What did you once dislike but now find pleasurable?

If I disliked it before, it is highly unlikely that I will find it now to be pleasurable. I dislike waiting in long lines, mingling in social crowds, high prices, filling out tax forms and many other things. Once it is unpleasant, it always is and will be unpleasant. The only good thing I can get out that is to avoid unpleasant situations as much as possible.

2. When did you last prove to be adaptable?

When I reluctantly went to a lunch recently in a restaurant after not eating out in a crowded joint since the implementation of COVID restrictions. I'm not a big fan of work lunches. I was happy after that lunch was way over.

3. Who’s especially adorable?

At this point in time, probably my grand niece who I have not seen in real life. She lives too far away (requires paying expensive airfare and wearing a mask for more than 6 hours).

4. Among your possessions, what’s especially durable?

I love things that last a long time. The following things that I own, still work.

  1. 1993 Toyota Corolla - Had it since 2000. It is 29 years old.
  2. Sears Kenmore Refrigerator - Since 1985.
  3. Radio Shack 4-channel analog mixer - Since 1988.
  4. Panasonic Technics turntable - Since the 1980s.
  5. Many older film cameras - Minolta, Yashica, Canon, Olympus - various years.
  6. Digital cameras 2011 and older (surprise) - They have easy to replace, removable batteries.
  7. Old Records - Plenty of those... LPs, 45s. Better to be satisfied with the old stuff than buying new vinyl which have exploded with price increases in recent weeks. I haven't bought a brand new record in decades. Used records are a better bargain if you want to get vinyl. You just have to be selective and careful.
  8. Compact Discs - Plenty in my collection that I've had since the late 1980s onward. Just need to take care of them, and they'll last forever. 
  9. Cassette Tapes - I have plenty of mixed tapes that I made in the 1980s and 1990s.
  10. Old T-shirts - Even if they have "puka" I keep them.
  11. Old Photos, Printed and Digital - They are priceless memories.

I have plenty of other things that are old and still last a long time.

The problem with many 21st century tech items is that none are built to last like the classics. You can start with built in batteries that seal the planned obsolescence of many devices, such as smartphones and smart TVs. Computerization of everything does not help either as your device, even if it works, is rendered obsolete once the company that sold it to you stops supporting it with updates. Also many of today's devices are hostile to being repairable by owners or third parties. Ugh!

5. Among stuff you ate this week, what was the most delectable?

Take out pizza on July 3 is probably the most qualified for the week.


Friday, July 1, 2022

Friday 5 for July 1: Solstice

Questions from Scrivener's Friday 5 page.

1. How do you cool down on warm summer evenings?

Stay home, eat, sleep, watch streaming videos or listen to good music. AC or good ventilation helps.

2. What are some good songs for keeping the summer vibe flowing?

Just threw this list together:

  • Good Day Sunshine - The Beatles
  • Theme From "Endless Summer" - Sandals
  • Surfin' U.S.A. - The Beach Boys
  • California Girls - The Beach Boys
  • In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry
  • Pipeline Sequence - Honk
  • Feeling Just The Way I Do (Over You) - Cecilio & Kapono
  • Island Woman - Pablo Cruise
  • Summer - War
  • Black Sand - Kalapana
  • Under the Boardwalk - Tom Tom Club
  • Kokomo - The Beach Boys
  • Wind Surfer - Roy Orbison
  • Insy'a - Henry Kapono
  • Deeper in Love - Hawaiian Style Band
  • Pi'i Mai Ka Nalu - Sistah Robi Kahakalau
  • Summer Kisses, Winter Tears - Julee Cruise
  • I Can See Clearly Now - Jimmy Cliff
  • Life's a Beach - Heymous Molly
  • Don't Worry Baby (symphonic version) - The Beach Boys
  • Misirlou - Dick Dale & The Deltones
Listen to these songs and maybe more on my Summer Time! Spotify playlist.

3. What’s a good summer movie or a good summer book?

  • Movie: Jaws - If you haven't seen this classic Steven Spielberg movie see it! You'll think twice before going into the water at the beach. A swimming pool will be safer!
  • Book: I can't think of any books that are specifically summer related. Except if you like plenty of sand, gigantic worms, a very dystopian society full of conflict in a world where the spice and water are super precious commodities, then I can recommend Frank Herbert's Dune, which is the first of several sprawling books in the series.

4. How is this summer better than last summer?

I don't know about that. Stuff costs more this summer than they did last summer. Have you seen the price of gas? That surely limits summer travel. Air fares are up too. But then I haven't flown since the start of COVID.

5. What special something are you doing this summer?

I'm thinking whether or not I should drive to the other side of the island to go see the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight show in August. I've seen them two times before and the USAF's Thunderbirds three times before. It may be more of the same, but it is always exciting. I just don't relish the though on driving in traffic to and from the event. 


Friday, June 24, 2022

Friday 5 for June 24: Consumer Reports




Friday 5 for June 24: Consumer reports

The questions as usual come from the Friday 5 website.

1. When did you last eat or drink something purchased from a truck or other wheeled vehicle?

I used to go to a variety of lunch trucks in the past. The last time I went to one was probably in 2019, months before the COVID-19 attack happened. Since then I have not returned. Also prices for plate lunches spiked A LOT higher since the start of that darn pandemic.

2. When did you last purchase something previously owned?

A couple of $1 record albums that I bought from the Thrift Shop. New vinyl records are now WAY TOO EXPENSIVE! Thanks millennials for spiking the prices higher. Ugh! You folks should have just stayed with digital.

3. When did a purchase most recently exceed your expectations?

For any purchase to exceed my expectations, it has to 1. last longer than 10 years and 2. be affordable. That said, many of the cameras I use are older than 10 years. Some of my audio gear is old and analog. Love em. We need more devices that do not connect to the internet.

My Toyota Corolla is way older than 10 years. I certainly got my money's worth on that car, which I bought used many, many years ago. Things that cost more than $100 should last a long time. I use a 10 year time frame to gauge the quality of expensive consumer items. Long ago when you spent serious money, you expected things to last a very long time.

4. When did you last overpay for something because you needed it right away?

Gasoline! Damn that Biden. The Keystone Pipeline should be re-opened and our national policy should go to making our nation oil independent free of expensive foreign crude from the Middle East, Indonesia and Russia! Trump had that right.

Like everyone else that drives, we are severely impacted by the price of gas at the pump. Per gallon, while we are not the highest in the nation, $5.50+ cents per gallon truly bites, even if I only drive a Corolla!

5. Among recent purchases, what was the best bargain?

I got two FREE (with coupon discounts, etc.) Paul McCartney CDs from Amazon this week.... Egypt Station from 2018 and McCartney III from 2020 (see photo at top). Happy belated birthday Paul... 80 years strong and thanks for the decades of great music! Yeah!

Overall, CDs are now a way better bargain than new vinyl LPs. They cost way less, and like it or not, are more durable than record albums (which I still love, thank God I already have a big collection of many classic titles) and sound great even when bought used. Can't say that about vinyl record albums, especially when you take a chance on used titles (though I have been lucky with most).

Record albums should be $8 to $9 for a standard black vinyl issue as new. Clearly less than $15. I was cringing when reissues of LPs that I bought brand new for $8 or even less back in the day, are now selling for over $20 a pop and more recently with an industry price hike, selling for more than $30. I mean is a $30 copy of The Beatles Abbey Road worth it when a perfectly fine CD can be had for half the price? Duh! Good thing I have both the CD and a vinyl record copy of this classic album in my collection.

As for new music released this century I am more than happy with a digital download or a regular CD. Musicians of the current generation are not worthy for issuance on vinyl and the high prices that go with that.


Friday, June 17, 2022

Friday 5 for June 17: Flaming O

 

Friday 5 for June 17: Flaming O

I don't get the connection to "flaming O", but here are the answers to these fowl oriented questions. As usual the questions come for the Friday 5 blog.

1. Among stuff people have told you recently, what’s been most difficult to swallow?

"You stink". Ugh.

2. What swan thing from last week you’ll spend time reflecting on this week?

Probably reviewing this video that I produced from last Saturday.

3. What are you waiting your tern for?

Money that is not coming, otherwise nothing in particular.

4. Who do you suspect is robin you blind?

Been to gas station lately? The price per gallon is climbing way over $5. And who is responsible for this? JOE BIDEN of course. The rickety old man cut the Keystone Pipeline on the first day of his presidency. It is time to let the oil flow on through our own continent and in our own country once again. Never mind the Middle East, Indonesian and Russian crude.

The U.S. should be and could be pursuing a goal of energy self sufficiency in all sectors, including coal, oil, and nuclear in addition to all the "touchy feely" green energy that tree huggers and progressives love. 

We suffer from high prices because of the progressive agenda. We could also lose more of our freedoms because of progressives who learn horribly socialist.

5. To what cause or effort are you planning to pigeon sometime soon?

Well I do ongoing charity work for Assistance League of Hawaii if that counts.

OK. Wishing anyone who got this far, a great Friday and weekend. 

Bird photos from Wikimedia Commons.


Sunday, June 5, 2022

Friday 5 for June 3: As happy as our cruel world allows

June 5, 2022: Questions from the Friday 5 blog.


1. Who has a great voice for acting in movies?

There are way too many actors to just narrow it down to one or even a few. Off the top of my head, I've enjoyed Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood, Charlton Heston and John Wayne through the years. Doesn't help much that two of them are dead. From women I can't remember too many from their voices... perhaps Kathleen Turner (whatever happened to her?).... I don't know who the young and trendy actors are today since I hardly ever watch new movies unless they stream somewhere. Plus my attention span for movies are not like they used to be in the past. I tend to like shorter films these days.

2. When have you recently resisted temptation?

High prices are easy to resist like last minute plane fares and big ticket items.

Just say "NO" to expensive stuff and walk away from it. It's easy!

3. When did you last cry in front of someone?

When my mother died.

4. When did you receive encouragement from an unexpected person?

I can't remember if that recently happened or if it ever did.

5. How old are some personal letters you’ve kept, and how easily do you throw personal letters away?

I have a few letters and cards from my Mom, and a few from old, long lost friends from back in the 1970s. Today hardly anyone gets personal letters. The kinds of letters I get in the mail, I usually hate, which are from businesses and government entities. Today we are more than likely to get "letters" (not saying much here) in the form of emails or even shorter by direct messaging texts, posts or tweets. Letter writing has fallen by the wayside in the digital age.

Plus to cost to send out anything in the mail is expensive when compared to email or texts. See #2 "expensive".

That said, here is a video....






Friday, May 27, 2022

Friday 5 + 5 : Two for May

Friday 5 for May 27: Double Stuff

As usual all of the questions are from Scrivener's Friday 5 blog.

1. What do you have two of because while you knew you had one, you couldn’t find it so you bought a new one?

Got plenty of these. They include combs, scissors, keychains, scotch tape, thumb drives, SD cards, batteries, and a number of other small items that I misplace and find it easier to buy a new one... most of the time.

2. What do you own none of because it’s convenient to borrow it from someone else?

Nothing at this time.



3. What do you own an old version of because it still works fine even though it’s very old?

My 1993 Toyota Corolla. Still works. Still goes. Why should I buy a new car with all that computer crap built in that is destined for obsolescence on the next software upgrade???? Look at those cars that have components that become or will become obsolete soon because they have 3G technology built in. 

Electric cars will become prohibitively expensive after their batteries die. So what do you do? Fork over $8000 to $10000 for new batteries or just scrap your old Tesla or whatever and get another new $50,000 one???? Yikes!!!! The whole EV thing is a huge conspiracy to put you on an endless upgrade trail just like computers and cell phones. Ugh!

I also have my old Power Mac G4 computer, Chromebook from 2013, 2013 iMac and a 2011 MacBook Pro...

And then there are cameras... digital: Canon 600D, Canon S5iS, Canon Powershot G5, Canon Powershot S9000, Fujifilm HX10, several others... Film cameras... Olympus, Minolta (many), Yashica GS. Old records. Old CDs. They all work just fine.

4. What do you own identical versions of because you like to have one in different places?

Two Amazon Echo Smart speakers that are not very smart. Ugh!

They were on sale this past Christmas and I got them for a good price... less than $24 each. They are a blessing and a curse. Good for listening to music you don't have... plus audio books, news, etc. Plus you can also stream other bluetooth devices to them such as a phone or computer... whatever. 

They do have some huge privacy issues, most of which I turned off. I also don't like the ads they throw at you to buy this and that from Amazon. I am not interested in buying ANYTHING through those speakers. I turned that function off and it still bombards me with ads.

5. What are you most likely to upgrade when an upgrade is available, even if you’re happy with the one you’ve got?

I probably am going to have to bite the bullet and get either a new Mac computer and/or a newer Chromebook. Still deciding. Ugh!



Friday 5 for May 20: Do-Re-Meme

1. When have you yelled at a cat?

I like cats. I don't yell at them. 

I don't like dogs. I usually try to avoid them. I've had to yell at one last month after he bit someone who was walking in front of me. The dumb owner could not control her stupid dog. Those kinds of dogs should not be allowed out in the public.

2. Would you please tell us you’re looking forward to the weekend without telling us you’re looking forward to the weekend?

Relaxation?

3. What first-world problems have you recently complained about?

  • Not in order but all first world problems.
  • Biden (he is also a 2nd and 3rd world problem too)
  • Inflation
  • Gas Prices
  • Shut off of Keystone Pipeline by Biden
  • Illegal immigration
  • Crime
  • Environmental extremism
  • Green agenda
  • AOC
  • Price spikes for groceries, consumer goods
  • High priced new vinyl records (I stopped buying years ago)
  • Smartphone Tracking
  • Intrusion on our Privacy
  • Built in batteries that are next to impossible to replace
  • Taxes
  • High cost of living in Hawaii
  • Constant Upgrades to Devices
  • Built in obsolescence
  • Amazon orders being messed up
  • Jumping through hoops on phone system calls
  • Call centers
  • Spam calls
  • Spam emails
  • Phishing Scams
  • RAIL (Honolulu, Oahu only)
  • Democrats
  • Progressives
  • The Left
  • Socialism
  • Y2K generation embracement of socialism
  • Assholes
  • There is plenty to complain about!!!!

4. You have one job this weekend: what is it, and how might you mess it up?

One of them is putting together the monthly newsletter for Assistance League of Hawaii. The occasional typo might slip through, even though we proof it a few time.

5. What did you learn when you were today years old?

I'm old. There is always something new to learn. Like this past week I learned how to whisk whipped cream. Never did that before! (See photo above - Orange Jello with Whipped Cream).