Friday 5 for November 22: And the world laughs with you

Friday 5 for November 22: And the world laughs with you

The following questions come from the weekly Friday 5 blog.

1. Among people who are professionally funny, who most reliably makes you laugh?

For my entire life since I was a kid, The Three Stooges have provided me years of laughs with their slapstick comedy shorts. I still laugh at them today.

2. Which films have made you laugh most?

One of them is Splash with Tom Hanks, Darryl Hannah, John Candy and Eugene Levy. To me Levy stole the show with his Dr. Walter Kornbluth character... "Behold the Mermaid!"

I get more laughs out of funny TV shows, especially older ones.

Various episodes of the TV series Seinfeld. "The Parking Space" episode is one of my favorites of all time, followed by the one with The Soup Nazi.

Other comedy TV shows that I like include:

- The Addams Family

- Gilligan's Island

- Green Acres

- The Beverly Hillbillies

- Beavis & Butthead

- The Simpsons

- South Park

3. Whose comedy leaves you flat?

Most modern comics who I can't recall their names, I find lame or offensive.

4. When did you most recently laugh aloud at something you read?

The breakdown of electoral college votes for the recently completed presidential election the day after... 270+ votes ending up with 312 for Trump. MAGA! 

It was funny to read about all the goofy crybaby reactions from the liberal left losers. The videos were even more funny.

5. What are some of your favorite novelty songs?

Not in any order:

- The Three Stooges - Swingin' the Alphabet

- Jump in the Saddle Band - The Curly Shuffle

- Ogden & Edsel - Dead Puppies

- Barnes & Barnes - Fishheads

- Chuck Berry - My Ding A Ling

- Ray Stevens - The Streak; Ahab The Arab

- Napoleon the XIV - They're Coming To Take Me Away

- Elmo & Patsy - Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer

- Fred Schneider & the Superions - Fruitcake

- J. Geils Band - No Anchovies Please

- Maestro Ziikos - APT Donald Trump (new)

There are plenty others.

Friday 5 January 12: Stolen 5

1.What do you drink in the morning?

Water is the only thing I drink 98% of the time during my day. Since I have to take my morning medications, I almost 100% take them with water.

2. What was the last song you heard?

This changes by the minute or at the most a few hours. Except when I am at work, I always have some music playing. Right now that song is "The River" by the fictional rock band Daisy Jones & The Six from the Amazon Prime TV series of the same name. This is what I was listening to when I was typing up the responses for this blog on Google Docs a few hours ago.

You can keep up to date on what I last listened to by checking out my Last FM profile:

https://www.last.fm/user/macpro

I love music, music genres, lists and tracking the songs I listen to through a process called "scrobbling" at the Last FM website. I also publish music charts on my blog and at the M4B Personal Charts site online where chart geeks hang out.

M4B Charts Website - my username there is macprohawaii.

https://freakyflybry.proboards.com/board/38/personal-charts

Mel's Current Top 20 chart page

http://macpro.freeshell.org/music/WTop20.html - This is an old school web page that I have continually published since 1999.

Mel's Music Blog - charts, music streams, opinions, videos… lots of pop rock and oldies stuff here.

https://macprohawaii-music.blogspot.com/

My current most favorite song since September 2023 is "Angry" by The Rolling Stones. It is quite surprising that these three remaining 80 year old guys can still rock it along with their much younger back-up musicians. So in the end of my most recent scrobbles, you'll find "Angry" as the song I last played.

3. What are your feelings about ghosts?

The day I see and photograph one I'll believe it. Currently: No.

4. How do you feel about camping?

Inconvenient but could be fun. The last time I camped out was on July 11, 1991. I slept in a car waiting for a total solar eclipse to occur early the next morning.

5. What are your thoughts on showers vs. baths?

Showers are quicker. Both can be fun if you can do something creative with them. But for the most part I'm in a hurry and have to move on.

These questions and more are posted on Scrivener's Blog.

Friday 5 for January 5: Touch that dial

The following questions come from the weekly Friday 5 blog. Scrivener says, "Please feel free to define TV anyway you wish." - For me TV is well, TV, computer, tablet and smart phone. Mostly I watch TV on my Mac.

BTW, when was the last time you saw a TV with a dial on it?

1. What’s the most boring thing on TV?

Too much to mention. There are so many boring things on TV, but I would guess a test pattern, snow (on old analog TV sets) and the blue screen of death are probably the most boring things on TV. I mean a test pattern. How long can you stand watching this:

2. What’s the most enlightening thing on TV?

Nothing is really enlightening on TV. Perhaps if you are of faith there may be some types of religious programs that you might find enlightening.

3. What’s the most comforting thing on TV?

Free streaming from YouTube, Pluto TV, TUBI TV and other streamers... plus TV stations that you can catch for FREE using an antenna. It is comforting to know that despite annoying ads, a lot of content is available and you don't have to spend a single penny to get it...re: no subscription fees. All the free streams are good for background noise while you do something else. My favorites are music mixes and Airline Videos.

4. What’s the tawdriest thing on TV?

Currently any press conference coming out of The White House.

5. What’s the most thrilling thing on TV?

That changes a lot from time to time. Thrilling can be anything from rocket launches, Dragon spaceflight, Starship, Falcon 9, Falcon Super Heavy, etc. (think Space X) to science fiction TV shows and movies that I watch over and over again: Babylon 5, Star Trek (various), Star Wars, The Expanse, The X Files, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits; anything in space and sci-fi oriented. I also like the Taylor Sheridan produced shows, many which I have yet to watch.... think Yellowstone and several spin-offs.

A lot of Space X content streams live on YouTube and NASA TV. All free of charge. Yay!

Friday 5 for January 20: Now I lay me down

Late start for 2023. My first Friday 5 Answers for the new year... The Year of the Rabbit today.

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there; then leave a comment below so we’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!

1. What keeps you up at night?

Apps on my smartphone... podcasts, music, audiobooks, video. Ugh... blue light disease.

2. How well do you operate on insufficient sleep?

I need to take a nap around 2:00 in the afternoon. Now I can't. So I have to try and get at least 5 hours of sleep the night before...

3. Under what conditions do you get your best sleep?

Probably when I have two bad days in a row of little or no sleep. At the end of that period I can zonk out fairly well... smartphone be damned.

4. What unusual places have you slept in?

A darkroom... long, long ago... you know a place where there is no light and you are supposed to develop film and process photos...  Homeless.... three weeks straight..... long ago. Other than that, one night in a 1985 Toyota Tercel.... 

5. What’s a good song about dreams or dreaming?

There are plenty of dreams or dreaming songs... Here are a few in no particular order....

• Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
• Dreaming - Cliff Richard
• Dream On - Aerosmith
• All I Have to Do is Dream - The Everly Brothers
• Dream Lover - Bobby Darrin
• Dream Baby - Roy Orbison
• Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
• Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley ... dreams come true in Blue Hawaii.
• Dreamlover - Mariah Carey
• Your Wildest Dreams - The Moody Blues
• #9 Dream - John Lennon
• Girl of my Dreams - Bram Tchaikovsky

I hope you enjoyed the music. Sweet dreams!

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 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).

Friday 5 for February 25: They

 

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

1. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. How have you proven them right or wrong? 

Kind of 50 / 50 for me. I am willing to learn new things some of the time, but not all of the time. Doing things in the old way is better than adapting to something new. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

2. They say you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him or her drink. How has this proven true or false in your life?

That's true. If you want something you have to pursue it. Only rarely has something dropped into my lap.

3. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. How have they been proven right or wrong in your life?

I don't have much feeling in this one either way.

4. They say looks can be deceiving. How have you proven them right or wrong?

You can't judge a book by its cover... the same can be applied to record albums, movie posters and trailers. Sometimes the cool looking ones are overhyped trash and the not so attractive ones can be a gem.

5. They say opposites attract. How have you proven them right or wrong?

I think that varies depending on the person or the situation. In politics, to me, opposites don't attract, especially if you are entrenched into your ideology and reject the beliefs of the other.... Capitalism vs. Communism, Right vs. Left, Christian vs. Muslim, etc., etc. Life is never going to be perfect. Look at what's happening between Russia and Ukraine. It's a mess there that could escalate into something even more horrible than what it currently is.

Friday 5 for February 18: You are known

 OH... Today's Friday 5 plus 2.

Here goes.... 

1. What is your least favorite smell?

Doo doo, poop, sewage and anything else associated with it.

2. Cats or dogs?

Most definitely CATS.  Photo above is Poof, my sister's cat who lived to be about 20 years old. We had her since kitten days.

Not a fan of dogs at all. Dogs should not be allowed in grocery stores and restaurants. Ugh! And we have a leash law on Oahu. Follow it.

3. You only get one song to listen to for the rest of your life. What is it?

Too impossible to answer as I like way too many songs to just settle for one.

4. What number is Stephen Colbert thinking of?

His ratings. I never watch that show.

5. Flat or sparkling?

I only drink regular water. Not sparkling and not anything else... no alcohol for me.

6. What is the most-used app on your phone?

Android OS is probably the most used. Next comes....

1. Chrome browser
2. YouTube
3. Google Voice
4. Gmail
5. DuckDuckGo browser

7. Describe the rest of your life in five words.

Can't avoid the death coming. 

Friday 5 for January 14: Feelingverse

 

These came from Scrivener's Friday 5 blog.

1. When did you take the road less traveled?

It wasn't less traveled the last time I took the Crater Rim Drive road around Kilauea caldera back in 2005. Today it is the road way less traveled since half the road collapsed into the crater at the time of the 2018 volcano eruption. So now it is the road less traveled, at least near the southern end of the caldera.

2. When have you told the truth but told it slant?

Now why would I want to admit to that in a public forum? Pass.

3. When did you most recently strike out?

Bought a SIM card for one of my phones and it did not work. The phone is unlocked. I lost the ICCID number which is not the same as the IMEI number. The ICCID number was printed on the packaging the card came with. I more than likely tossed the packaging into the trash or hopefully misplaced it.  The service provider need that ICCID number to match the card with the phone. Ugh!

4. In what way is today like a summer’s day?

Well this is Honolulu, Hawaii. In the middle of the winter today... the sunshine is out, I am sure the beach will be busy. There is a slight chill this morning at around 70 degrees... but it will heat up as the day progresses and the sunshine climbs higher in the sky without any threat rain, hail or snow today.

5.  Where do you go to find yourself?

Home.

November 2021 - Catching Up With A Couple of Friday 5s

Haven't done these in a few weeks, so here are answers to the last 10 questions of the Friday 5 series for the most recent two weeks.

Friday 5 for November 26: Everything but Yul Brynner

I don't know what the late Yul Brynner has to do with this... he was the bald actor who played heroic and tragic roles in film throughout the years. I remember him most for playing the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses in the movie The Ten Commandments which came out long ago in 1956.

That said, here goes with the first question and answer batch.

1. How have you recently kept yourself in check?

Stay home and not going out has been my mantra in nearly two years, all due to COVID-19. I avoid eating out at restaurants and generally don't socialize in large group situations so as not to get the virus and keep my household from becoming sick. Ugh! I hate masks and most of all those intrusive, privacy compromising "show us your papers" vaccine passport requirements. I also haven't flown on a plane since 2019 because of the close proximity to passengers who 99% of the time are total strangers and unpredictable. Plus you have to wear a mask while in flight and at the airport. Plus I hate the digital COVID-19 verification process mandated by the Socialist State of Hawaii. No state apps allowed on my device. Ugh! Life sucks. What happened to our freedoms? More will be taken away with the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 now running rampant.. ugh. More control of the people by totalitarian central governments.

2. What’s the closest thing to a castle you’ve been in?

Um... oh... yeah... there is one at Disneyland which as I recall was some kind of gift shop and restaurant... The last time I went to Disneyland in Anaheim CA was way back in 1980.

3. What were the circumstances the last time you were hoarse?

I haven't had this condition in decades which is a good thing.

4. What’s your favorite song by Queen?

Oh Freddy, this is a hard one... hmmm... OK I have a top 10 Queen list... let's see.

1. Another One Bites the Dust
2. Bohemian Rhapsody
3. You're My Best Friend
4. 39
5. Radio GaGa
6. Death on Two Legs
7. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
8. I'm in Love With My Car
9. We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions
10. I Want to Break Free

5. For what will you likely pay a king’s ransom in the near future?

Some debts. Ugh.

OK, that's it for the most current one. Since there were some music related questions to the moon topic here goes for that one...

November 19 - Friday 5 for November 19: La luna

1. What’s your favorite thing about Mondays?

5:00 p.m. and anytime after that which takes me to Tuesday. 

2. What song is most likely to make you shake your booty?

I am not a dancing type of person and I don't shake my booty in public or even at home However in my former life of being a disco DJ back for a few gigs in the 1970s, I played a lot of booty shaking music back then. Among those booty shaking songs of the disco era, there is the obvious "Shake Shake Shake Your Booty" by K.C. and the Sunshine Band. The Commodores "Brick House" and the Village People's "YMCA" also brought a lot of people out to the dance floor.

3. When did you feel eclipsed by someone else?

Many times by people I won't mention. But then it is my nature to be within the confines of the shadows... though I think astronomical eclipses are really cool... both lunar and solar.

4. When were you most recently over the moon?

Watching the movie Apollo 13 got me to go around the moon, and when I was a kid I watched the Apollo 8 moon orbit mission in 1968 and the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969 and most of the subsequent moon flights to 1972.... all from the safe confines of the TV set or twice at the movies for Apollo 13.

5. What are some great songs with moon in the title or lyrics? 

OK, this warrants another top 10 list... Top 10 Moon songs... just making this up as I go... I probably will forget a few that I may regret later....

1. Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival
2. Moonshadow - Cat Stevens
3. Man on the Moon - R.E.M.
4. Hollow Moon (Bad Wolf) - AWOLNATION
5. To The Moon and Back - Savage Garden
6. Harvest Moon - Neil Young
7. Moondance - Van Morrison
8. Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra
9. Sisters of the Moon - Fleetwood Mac
10. Moonlight Feels Right - Starbuck

Friday 5 for October 1: Accessory to cinema

"Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there; then leave a comment below so we’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!"

1. What’s your favorite weapon in a movie?

I have a top 5:

1. Death Star - Star Wars - annihilate entire planets. Yay!
2. Borg Cube - Star Trek TNG movies - similar as above
3. Photon Torpedoes - For smaller scale combat, Star Trek movies
4. Phasers - multiple settings - stun, kill, whatever - Star Trek movies
5. Guns of all types - generally deadly, in many movies

Under consideration - Bombs, nuclear warheads, etc. - fairly obsolete when you can blow an entire planet up with a Death Star. But the force and good luck can destroy a Death Star... so it is what it is.

2. What’s your favorite car in a movie?

Again another top 5.

1. Batmobile - varies as to which movie it's in. Some were cool, others were not.
2. 1982 DeLorean - The only car used in time travel "Back to the Future" movies
3. Aston Martin - old car in old James Bond movies from 1962 to 1964.
4. Herbie - VW Beetle in the "Love Bug" comedy movies
5. 1970 Dodge Challenger - in movie "Vanishing Point"... Boom!

3. What’s your favorite cat or dog in a movie?

I don't know... maybe Soylents red, blue, yellow, brown... but not green. In 2022 the earth was overpopulated, food was in short supply. The Soylent company sold all of these snack crackers of different colors. Quite likely pets were repackaged as crackers.... and of course you know what "Soylent Green" was!!!! Muhahahaha!

I like cats but they don't make many cat movies that I can remember. Dogs... ugh!

4. Who’s your favorite sidekick in a movie?

R2D2, the little droid that could... and even fly!!! Most of the Star Wars movies.

5. What’s your favorite painting or sculpture in a movie?

I can't think of any except for the Stay Puft Marshmellow Man in "Ghostbusters."

Friday 5 for September 24: Gripe session

Rainbows are way too overrated! 

The questions, as usual comes from Scrivener's Friday 5 Blog. Check it out.

OK... the negativity built up as I answered these questions. You have been warned. After all the topic is about "gripes". I'm full of 'em. Train!!!!!

1. What complaints do you have about this weekend?

Laundry and it's always too short.

2. What are your grievances with yourself?

Too many to list here. Plus you know, it is personal. Sometime don't you think these questions are mining our personal information? Hopefully none of you are into data harvesting. Be selective of which questions or even Friday 5's to post to. The host is probably not data harvesting but our answers are out there. There could be bots mining our information. 

Google, Facebook, Apple, Twitter, the government. We are products to be sold to the highest bidder... whatever. Makes you want to go back to the analog age. Paper, pencils, pens, typewriters and ugh.. underlining text!!!! Plus no internet. Heh.

3. What are your objections to rainbows, flowers, and puppies?

Too rosy, sappy, and disappointing; especially that legendary pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that have been elusive for all our lives! Today these objects are used for marketing kids stuff like My Little Pony. Oh.. and I am not a fan of dogs. Don't get me started on that.

4. What are your criticisms about your domicile?

Rules that I don't want to reiterate here. If you live in a building or community governed by Home Owners Association rules, be prepared for surprises. HOA boards are generally rigid and inflexible. 

5. What’s your beef with excessively negative people?

None because generally I am kind of negative myself. I am not one that is optimistic filled with visions of rainbows, flowers and most of all puppies. Yes I take photos of rainbows and flowers, and generally they make you feel good. Most of the time, flowers are pretty but when they dry up... well they are not photogenic at all. 

Puppies? They grow up to be dogs that require way too much attention, maintenance and cleaning up of their poo. Some of the aggressive dogs snarl, bark and may bite you. Plus I hate owners who feel they can just waltz into some retail establishment with their mutt, especially when you can clearly see that they are not a "service animal." 

Stores need to ENFORCE their no pets policy. 

Also did you know dogs and other pets are prohibited from Ala Moana Beach Park? You know dogs... they poo... and maybe in the sand??? Ugh. Why aren't the rules about animals not enforced???? 

All photos in this post Copyright 2021 Melvin Ah Ching Photos.

Catching Up With the Last Two Friday Fives

From Scrivener's weekly Friday 5 blog are these questions and these questions:

SEPTEMBER 3 FRIDAY 5 : THE WEEK THAT WAS

1. What did you do too much of this week?

Spent too much time watching YouTube (mostly music videos) and other streaming video sites. I stay at home, away from maddening, potentially COVID diseased crowds.

2. What did you not do enough of this week?

Clean my house. I need to get rid of excess stuff, clutter.

I hate these big ass cockroaches.

3. What surprised you this week?

An intrusive, invasive, B52 sized cockroach that trespassed into my living area the other night. Could not do anything else until that bastard was cornered and killed. I hate when they fly. Ugh! Disgusting creatures.

4. What elated you this week?

Nothing really. I don't get excited about much these days. 

5. What happened this week that’ll lead to something good next week?

Nothing significant that I can think of. I will eat, sleep, do stuff (hopefully) and repeat the cycle over again the following day. Being thankful that I did wake up to see another day, everyday is a good thing.

I have plenty of cameras in my collection.

AUGUST 27 FRIDAY 5 : ITEMIZED

1. What item do you own more than one of, while most people own exactly one?

I have plenty of cameras, flashes and other photography gear. Most people today who are not photographers, are satisfied using just their smartphone as a camera.

2. What item do you own none of, while most people own exactly one?

I haven't had a TV since my CRT one died in 2011. That is the same year I cut my cable cord. I now just stream everything that is TV or video related of my Mac and Chromebook computers, and occasionally a smartphone. 

I certainly don't have a CABLE TV subscription either. I subscribed to cable TV in 1984 and discontinued in 2011 when more streaming options became available. Plus the price of the standard TV package went up annually and frankly most of the channels offered in that bundle were ones I never watched like CNN, Lifetime, all sports, shopping, and music channels that morphed into stupid reality TV show channels. Why pay for crap you don't watch? 

So streaming via the internet became a good option even in 2011 when the only options were plain old YouTube (which was free) and for me Amazon Prime video which just came with Amazon Prime. So there.

Over the years many new, free streaming TV options have showed up and I use them all from time to time. When I am not paying for channels I don't watch I don't care.

PLUTO TV is the best FREE streaming option since they have close to 300 live channels on various subjects and genres. I like the news channels, some of the older show channels like all Star Trek The Next Generation. Other free streaming options I like include TUBI TV, Peacock (their free tier), the free YouTube service (grand-daddy of video streaming), and many others.

I'm still trying to figure out how to get free over the air TV signals on my computer without having to buy expensive gear. I guess I could buy a TV for that, but I don't want a smart TV with built in apps... just a dumb TV with a tuner that can get free over the air digital signals.

I also subscribe to two services: Amazon Prime (long time), Hulu ($2/mo. special to the end of November) and Apple TV (free one year promotion through T-Mobile). 

1. 3. Among stuff you own, what item is most likely to be borrowed by an acquaintance?

Bluetooth speaker.

4. What item are you most likely to borrow from an acquaintance?

Scissors.

5. What did you most recently purchase and not use?

At this point in time, everything I recently purchased has been put into use.

Friday 5 for August 13: Scattergories Part 11!

This year I am going to do the one different letter per question method as generated by that Random Letter Generator, which I am kind of surprised is still in business for more than ten years. Most certainly the guy hosting that is not making any money on it... oh well... let's roll with this Mr. Scrivener..... My letters are in the graphic above and text below.

C T W F U

1. What’s something that recently exceeded your expectations?

C - COVID-19... and how it has gone from bad to worst. Our dystopian world continues with new proposals on dividing and conquering the placid population here. This is all due because of the new Delta variant of the virus. I guess we are all doomed to either obey or die. Often I think it is cheaper to die.

2. What snack from your childhood would you love to have right now?

T - Starting with that letter it would be a THREE MUSKETEERS chocolate candy bar.

3. What ailment do you suffer from?

W - Worries about all kinds of stuff. Life is stressful.

4. Which musical artist would be fun to hang out with?

F - Fleetwood Mac. I have no idea what that would be like. They always have tension within that group. I did meet Mick Fleetwood and hung with him and Steven Tyler for a few minutes way back in 2013. 

5. What’s something you’re looking forward to this weekend?

U - Uninterrupted video streaming of a movie or TV show I want to watch or uninterrupted sleep are things to look forward to.

OK until Scattergories next year have a great C T W F U day!

Friday 5 for July 16: Everything in its place + chips

Back from a short hiatus, here is this week's Friday 5 from Scrivener.

1. What is the least organized area of your daily life?

Generally my house (again), all kinds of paper and some mail to sort... those are just the physical stuff. I still need to sort out my life which is always being sorted out.

2. What is the most organized area of your daily life?

1. Record collection (LPs / 45s are unsorted but I scaled down that collection)

2. CDs

3. Cassettes

4. DVDs & digital video collection

5. Books - regular books and audio books

6. Most of my photos are organized between multiple hard drives and Google photos. Just started to use Amazon photos as a new organizer for some photos since June 2021.

7. MP3 music files - sorted on hard drives into playlists as well as backed up (for free) to YouTube Music, which sadly succeeded Google Play Music which I used for many years. Google Play Music was better than YouTube Music.

3. How well do you handle disruptions of your routines?

Not very well. I like my set routine. It takes me awhile to adjust to change. What I hate the most is if I am watching a TV show or movie, and I get interrupted during that program, especially if it is something I am watching for the first time.

4. How do you respond to unexpected blocks of unstructured time?

I'm ok being unstructured. I just do whatever is.

5. How structured is your time this weekend? 

Nothing planned so I would say not very structured.

__________________

Taking on last week's Friday 5 on "Chip Chat"....

1. What’s got you feeling chipper these days?

Nothing. 

The world is still dystopian. I avoid most crowds and large social gatherings... but then I am not a crowd person to begin with unless I have to... like photograph some event or something.

2. About what did you decide to let the chips fall where they may?

Some personal decisions I made which shall not be disclosed here.

3. What are you chipping away at?

Very slowly writing the story of my life, which for several decades I would consider "dull", but it is still my life. I am doing something that perhaps could be considered a memoir. Currently I am uploading some of the completed stuff to a site called Family Search where you can write stuff about your relatives who have passed on. 

I decided to fill in the information on my own life before I die. I get a chance to control what I want said about my life before someone else messes it up. The nice thing about the Family Search site (which is a huge genealogy database), is that you I can upload and write stuff about myself, and it all remains private until after I die.

I'd like to also publish some kind of book about the back stories of some of the photos I've taken over the years.

4. What potato chips did you most recently consume?

I think about a month and a half ago I had a bag of Lays potato chips. I am not supposed to eat potato chips. Too much salt and oil.

5. When did you most recently toss your cookies?

PUKE is so pleasant. I can't remember the last time I PUKED. I think it was many years ago when I had a case of bad flu or something.

Otherwise I routinely clean out the cookies from the web browsers I use on my various devices. These cookies are more evil than vomit.

Friday 5 for July 2: Touched By Your Presents Dear

 Touched by Your Presence Dear - Blondie - OK so it is not presents.. heh.

This week's Friday 5 questions from Scrivener....

1. For what ability do you seem to have a natural gift?

I think I have a good sense of timing. I am keenly aware of deadlines and when I should be at a certain point at a certain time of the process, like making it to the airport in good time to beat the raging crowd at the TSA checkpoint and settle in the waiting area early before all the chaos that precedes the boarding of a typical flight begins. 

I hate being late for an appointment.

2. What’s pretty good about the present moment?

Peace, solace, quiet. I'm at home, on the computer.

3. What nearby, everyday object would be a good symbolic bequest to someone in your life?

Looking for someone to donate my entire record and CD collection to after my death. 

4. What recognitions, large or small, have been bestowed upon you?

I was honored about 2 years ago for being an "unsung hero" of the year for Assistance League of Hawaii. They make awards to volunteers who excel in doing work that is largely behind the scenes. In my case I completely revamped their website and moved the content from an old server to a new one using Wordpress.

5. What was your most recent charitable donation?

I am a regular member volunteer contributor to Assistance League of Hawaii, Since their thrift shop is within walking distance to my home, I was recruited about 7 years ago by a photographer friend to help him sort out donated cameras and prep them for resale at their thrift shop. After he moved out of state I took over the camera inspection and prep duties and still do that today.

Over the years I got more involved with them, to the point where today I am their newsletter editor, photographer and website administrator. I worked on a minor update to the website today. I also post to their Facebook and Twitter pages. I am part of the marketing team.

Assistance League of Hawaii is always looking for donors and volunteers. You can find out more on our website.

Friday 5 for June 25: ℞

Scrivener's Friday 5 questions of the week.... Rx..

1. What’s your prescription for a case of Weekend Uncertainties?

Deny it all, listen to music, read or watch videos all day.

2. What’s your prescription for a persistent case of Restless Munchies Syndrome?

Eat something or at least drink water.

3. What’s your prescription for Streamer’s Indecision?

Keep on adding more movies and TV shows to the watchlists I have on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and TUBI-TV. After that go to YouTube and watch short videos of just about anything, discover someone's new channel there and add that to my long list of subscriptions or add videos the hundreds of playlists I keep there. Many, many music videos, aviation videos, automotive videos, computers, Android, record collecting and other stuff. So much indecision.

And then I go watch something on some other free streaming service that I don't always view. Hello Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Crackle and Shout Factory. Heh.

There's audio, and while I pay for almost none of it, I do have massive playlists and stations on Spotify, YouTube Music, Accuradio, Tuned-In, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Stitcher and Audible. Time to listen to another good book or an episode of Classic American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. Yay!

4. What’s your prescription for a hypersensitive Get Off My Lawn reflex?

I live in a condo, so I have no lawn to shoosh people or stray animals from. Simple! Now I just hope my aging multi-story building does not decide to crash down on me in a big pile of concrete and steel. Ugh!

5. What’s your prescription for an inflamed FOMO?

I don't really have a fear of missing out on anything. I am not that much of an "experience" or "thrill-seeker" type of person. I am just happy to be an observer with my camera or at my computer doing stuff or watching a video.

Friday 5 for June 18: Heights

 

I thought this week's Friday 5 was going to be about aviation or flying... hmm... Heights... somewhat of a disconnect here.

1. What’s the best non-animated movie musical you’ve seen in the past several years? 

Non-animated movie musical? Haven't seen any in recent years but from my old age and long ago movie list I compiled this Top 5 + 5.... all of them OLD. Sorry.. nothing recent. I don't go to the movies or buy new DVDs anymore.

Just to keep the heights, here are my Top 5 + 5.

1. Grease (1978) - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

2. A Hard Day's Night (1964) - The Beatles!

3. That Thing You Do! (1996) - The Wonders!!!!

4. The Sound of Music (1965) - Julie Andrews

5. Blue Hawaii (1961) - Elvis!!!!

6. Help! (1965) - The Beatles!

7. Footloose (1984) - ok nobody sings but a lot of good music & dancing in it.

8. Dirty Dancing (1987) - same reason as #7

9. Mary Poppins (1964) - cheating here; there are a few spots of animation.

10. Singing in the Rain (1951) - Gene Kelly

2. How are you most likely to pass the time during a lengthy blackout?

A blackout would definitely be a low point with no electricity. Ugh!

Top 5 things I would do:

1. Sleep (mostly if it is night time already)

2. Look for all the batteries 

3. Listen to the radio - search for news why power is out

4. Call or text someone if cell towers are working. In this instance I would really miss the landline that I discontinued a couple of years ago.

5. Read (if it is daytime. Not good to read if lighting is bad and you want to save on batteries).

3. When were you last in a swimming pool?

Walked by one recently, did not go in. Underwater is pretty low.

4. What do you remember fondly about the neighborhood where you grew up?

OK... one thing... all of use kids used to ride our bikes around our yard and up and down the neighborhood road. When the paved the road, they first laid a foundation of crushed coral over the old road. They paved it over and later we learned that you could use coral rocks to draw lines and pictures on the road. Next thing we had hopscotch squares drawn on the road and also white lines to mark the lanes on where we would ride our bikes. I was between the ages of 7 and 12 at this time.

5. What language did you study in school, and what’s something you remember how to say?

One  year of Spanish because I think it was required... The only things I kind of remember are:

"Hola!"

"Como estas?"

"No comprende espaneol."

And that's the lowdown on "heights." Adios!

Friday 5 for May 28: Aha!

The following questions are taken from its usual source... The Friday 5 blog.

 1. When did you most recently find money?

Last week I found a penny on the ground. Picked it up and kept it. How many of you see pennies on the ground but don't bother to pick it up? 

2. When have you lost something and got it back because someone submitted it to a lost-and-found?

I thought I lost my wallet last month, but it turned out to be in my car after calling the "lost and found" department. Oh well. Better there than being permanently lost!

3. What did you discover about yourself at your favorite place of employment?

There is always someone that will take your place. You can be dropped just like that, on a whim because your supervisor may no longer likes you.

4. What was the last thing you peeled? Orange, last week.

5. What was the most recent gift you unwrapped? High end shampoo block.

Since this topic title came up, this band and their famous song has been on my mind....

Friday 5 for May 21: Watch your phraseology

I haven't done one of these in several weeks. So here is the one for May 21. Questions from Scrivener's Friday 5 blog.

1. With whom did you most recently exchange words?

Yesterday with my friend Lisa regarding rewinding an audio book back 30 seconds twice. Errr.

2. Which of your weekend activities will feel like your sentence for a crime?

Laundry... been putting that off for a few weeks now. Running out of you know... need renewal, a new wash and dry. Quarters... ugh.

3. What have you loved or hated upon reading its first paragraph?

Hate: Tax form instructions or instructions for other kinds of bureaucratic government forms. Working at the State Legislature also forced me to read a number of bills and resolutions. Most of them are simply awful.

Like: I will probably pour through the instructions of my new Google Pixel 4a phone that I am supposed to get this week (through Amazon). 

Liked but not read: Project Hail Mary - I just completed this Andy Weir audio book. The story revolves around a lone astronaut stuck light years away from home who has to make some tough decisions. If you liked The Martian, then you may like this one too. The premise is similar but the setting and story is very different.

4. In the story of your life, what will be the title of the chapter beginning tomorrow?

"The Dystopian Unknown Continues".

5. What are the best and worst books you were assigned to read in school?

Best - For some reason I still remember enjoy reading the book Siddhartha by Hermann Hessee. Can't remember all of the plot points but it was a study of the deep contrast of class structure that prevailed in India. Interesting.

While this was not assigned reading, I also read The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx in 9th grade or so. I was just curious as to what communism was all about. After reading that mess, I decided that is not for me. Nope. I think I did a book report on it.

Worst? I hate to say, William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. I found it to be mostly too long, and for me it was hard to get by the use of the language of Shakespeare's time. I knew it was supposed to be good, but I never got into it.  Watching a movie helped.

Romeo & Juliet had its moments of difficulty but I think watching the movie first and then reading the book helped a lot. Gotta love the 1968 Franco Zeffirelli version of the famed, tragic story. It is the defining R&J movie for me.

Elementary school books were more fun to read... My Little Red Story Book, The Little White House, On Cherry Street and We Are Neighbors are school readers that I still remember with some fondness. I shudder to think what school kids of today are using as school readers....

Here's a very dated, behind the scenes clip on the production of the 1968 Romeo & Juliet movie.