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!
OK what a strange word for the topic title. "Zihuatanejo" not found in the usual dictionary and Wikipedia points to a place in Mexico. Nope not going near Mexico anytime in my life. It's a dangerous country.
1. What could use a good shining?
Simple: My car!
2. When have you recently had to stand in a slow-moving line?
It's a good thing I rarely ever go to rock concerts or any kind of live show. Way, way back I remember standing in a long line just to buy tickets at the Blaisdell Center to go see The Rolling Stones at the now condemned Aloha Stadium back in 1998. I also remember standing in long lines to go see most of the Star Wars movies.
Today I won't go to any concerts because in addition to the regular state of Hawaii taxes, I certainly don't want to pay for the Ticketmaster taxes either. What do people get out of Ticketmaster? The whole damn thing is a scam.
A few years ago I had to wait in a line at Satellite City Hall to register the car. Missed the mail in deadline.
3. What was your favorite childhood counting-out game to determine who was it?
I vaguely recall a game called "Duck Duck Goose"... while it was not a counting game I think after you got called "goose" you had to chase the kid who did the "duck duck goose" countdown thing. I'm kind of blurred on this, since it has been decades since I was a kid.
4. Is anything feeling thinner these days?
My wallet
Not me
5. What do you know about Maine?
My friend Lisa is from Maine and she tells me it is one of those states that have an extremely high percentage of white people and not much ethnic diversity.
1. Which obscure song is better than well-known songs by the same artist?
There are plenty... but for now I will go with Paul McCartney. Here is a guy that goes all the way back to the 1960s and most well known for being one of the four Beatles. However his career continued moving forward from the 1970s til today. Over those decades he has churned out many memorable and popular tracks on his own, as well as with his next group, Wings. That said, here are my Top 5+5 "obscure" hits by Paul McCartney.
1. I'll Give You A Ring (1982)
2. Ou Est le Soleil (1989)
3. Temporary Secretary (1980)
4. Seize the Day (2020)
5. Country Dreamer (Paul McCartney & Wings - 1973)
I was going to use The Brady Bunch's "hit" single "Time to Change" for this Friday 5 Answer. However I am late in answering and saw that two other bloggers used the song in their responses. That said I offer this song of "Change" from 2013. It was my favorite song of that year... the band is Churchill, who disbanded shortly after this became a #1 alternative rock hit and a free iTunes giveaway.
1. If you could change one minor thing about your life right now, what would you choose?
What I do is usually safety check my car about 1 or 2 days after the expiration date. That way my next safety check deadline is pushed to the next month of the following year. Been doing this now for several years.
2. What’s your favorite bubblegum?
Bazooka Bubble Gum.. if you combined two or more together they could make the biggest bubble ever that broke on your face. Plus it had that funky Bazooka Joe comic strip folded within the gum wrapper. It was back in my day only a penny per gum. I haven't seen this bubble gum in ages. I looked it up, the company Bazooka is still in business making the gum, though the comic strip is no longer offered.
3. When did you most recently need an unexpected change of clothing?
While it was not expected, a few times I was caught in a rainy downpour... but then I was just wearing very casual clothes so I did not much care... plus I was close to home. We haven't had rain in a long time here.
4. Where do you keep your (currency) change?
Dollar bills assorted - Mostly in my wallet.
Loose Change / Coins - In plastic 35mm film containers and prescription pill bottles. Also some loosely in desk drawers, car console area.
5. When did you most recently need a change of scenery?
I haven't traveled out of the Honolulu urban core for more than three years now. I probably do need a change of scenery, even if only temporarily.
1. Which charitable organizations do you think do especially meaningful work?
There are many that do good work. But from my biased perspective, I will go with Assistance League (of Hawaii). I am their website administrator, photographer and newsletter editor. Our mission statement:
"Assistance League volunteers transforming the lives of children and adults through community programs."
In other words, we provide needy children and families with school clothes, supplies, baby items, emergency supplies, education services reading enrichment (through our OWL and literacy services programs) and much more.
2. When has someone recently appreciated your giving them your time?
The member volunteers from Assistance League of Hawaii like the work I do for their website and monthly member newsletter.
3. When have you asked someone to give you a little space?
I keep my distance and rarely have to ask anyone to give me more space.
4. What do you simply not give a darn* about, despite its mattering to your friends or relatives?
Dogs. High maintenance, costly waste of money, messy, noisy, smelly, jumpy and sometimes biting. Yuck! How can people put up with such creatures... especially indoors, on bedding, furniture and everywhere else these stinky things go. Ugh!
5. What are you close to giving up on?
Hulu, Paramount+ when the 1 year promotional trial rates expire.
1. What has been a nice surprise in this first half of the year?
Nothing surprisingly nice has happened to me so far. Most of the time everything stays the same.
2. What’s the best new (new-to-you or brand-new) music, TV, or reading you consumed this year?
MUSIC
If I had to rate my top 20 "new" songs so far this year, this is what it would be (based on chart performance of my weekly Current Top 20 Hits that I post here and here - click the links).
Rank
Title
Artist
Peak
WAP
Total Weeks
1
Ghost
Tom MacDonald
1
7
21
2
Anti-Hero
Taylor Swift
1
5
23
3
Love Again
The Kid LAROI
1
2
10
4
End of the World
Tom MacDonald featuring John Rich
1
2
10
5
Wish You The Best
Lewis Capaldi
1
2
11
6
Flowers
Miley Cyrus
1
2
13
7
I Feel Like Dancing
Jason Mraz
1
2
13
8
Pointless
Lewis Capaldi
1
2
16
9
Karma / Karma (featuring Ice Spice)
Taylor Swift
1
2
8
10
Lux Æterna
Metallica
1
2
9
11
Eyes Closed
Ed Sheeran
1
1
12
12
Lost
Linkin Park
1
1
14
13
Get Her Back
Michael Ray
1
1
9
14
Blind For Love
American Authors
2
3
14
15
I'll Be Seeing You
Iam Tongi
2
1
6
16
Evangeline
Stephen Sanchez
3
2
13
17
Lavendar Haze
Taylor Swift
3
1
11
18
I'm Feelin' Good (Steve Miller Band)
King Calaway
3
1
11
19
Trustfall
P!nk
3
1
11
20
Bejeweled
Taylor Swift
3
1
12
Key - Rank | Peak Position | Weeks at Peak (WAP) | Total Weeks on Top 20
Rapper Tom MacDonald has held the #1 position on my Current Top 20 song longer than any other this year with his song "Ghost". It's an indie record (like all of his others) that most radio stations refused to play, even though this is just a simple love song to his significant other Nova Rockerfeller, who is the producer of most of his videos. MacDonald has amassed a large YouTube following and has sold many records / songs / digital downloads.
TV (My Top 10 TV Shows this year; old and new; I watch a lot of YouTube)
1. 1883 (Paramount+) Yellowstone prequel series
2. 1923 (Paramount+) Yellowstone prequel series
3. Star Trek Strange New Worlds (Paramount+)
4. The Expanse (Seasons 1 - 3 so far; 4 -6 to be watched soon; Amazon Prime)
5. Babylon 5 (Tubi TV - Classic scifi from 1993-1998 - rewatch)
6. Sleeperdude / Sleeperdude 2 (YouTube - A family that fixes old cars)
"Questions inspired by a favorite show you don’t have to have seen. 🙂"
Yep, probably some TV show I never saw.
1. How do you feel about (or what do you think of) soccer, the sport known everywhere but in the U.S. as football?
Soccer makes big money for the TV networks all across the world, especially during the FIFA World Cup which they all vie for every four years. The fervor for Soccer in some countries is so great that it is also a security risk at some locations with fans creating riots and other mayhem.
I am happy that American football is a huge success in the USA and continues to be so. What I like best about American football is that it never uses the metric system and keeps our English based inches, feet and yards popularly intact. Damn the rest of the world and their metric system. I can't visualize it. Thanks to football, I can visualize a foot, yard or even a mile (more credit for that goes to speedometers). I can't visualize metrics.
I am not a sports fan, but will watch a game once in a while when there is some interest. Sports TV is very expensive. Cable TV companies so far have sports fans locked into their live sports feeds. Over time this will change as streaming services land more and more contracts from professional and collegiate sport programs. Many are going to streaming where there are better options in terms of consumer choice and cost over cable TV bundles.
Here's a fun music video that promoted the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Africa. The song is called "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)" by Colombian born singer Shakira.
2. What have you been forgiven for?
Can't remember anything recent or specific on this.
3. Who is the most joyful person you know?
Lisa when she is happy.
4. When were you most recently a fish out of water?
I try not to put myself in unfamiliar situations, which means I mostly play it safe. That said, I can't recall the last time I felt out of place... maybe very long ago when I first worked at the Hawaii State Legislature... way back in 1998... I guess everyone is a newbie at some job or another.
5. Under which circumstances are you the best version of yourself?
My best guess is when I am talking to people about old music, records and the top 40 charts of the 1960s to the 1980s. I was a big fan of the old Casey Kasem "American Top 40" radio show from back then.
1. When did you recently pass the baton to someone?
A few years ago when I gave up being marketing director for Assistance League of Hawaii. I will be passing the baton (hopefully) as their newsletter editor sometime this year.
2. What do you wish you never fiddled with?
Updating this answer: My website that I forgot what the complicated password is! Ugh tried one of three recovery methods so far, not working. It involves tweaking some lines of code on the backend. Ugh!
3. What do you plan to reed in the near future?
I don't have a saxophone or clarinet, so there is nothing to "reed" in the future. Alas if it is "read" then perhaps a good book or magazine or something more than likely online that requires reading.
4. How’s the weather in your neck of the woods?
RAINY this weekend in Hawaii.
5. What have you lately been nuts about?
Cashews. I also like Macademias, Walnuts and Pistachios.
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.
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.
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
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 Storewhere 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!
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).
"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:
Death Star - Star Wars - annihilate entire planets. Yay!
Borg Cube - Star Trek TNG movies - similar as above
Photon Torpedoes - For smaller scale combat, Star Trek movies
Phasers - multiple settings - stun, kill, whatever - Star Trek movies
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.
Batmobile - varies as to which movie it's in. Some were cool, others were not.
1982 DeLorean - The only car used in time travel "Back to the Future" movies
Aston Martin - old car in old James Bond movies from 1962 to 1964.
Herbie - VW Beetle in the "Love Bug" comedy movies
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."
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.
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:
1. What did you most recently leap over (or past)?
This week I have been driving around two big potholes along King Street in Honolulu between the new transit center and Straub hospital. They are on the right hand lane but not the one the bus uses all of the time. Be careful!
As for leaping, I haven't done that in ages. So I can't remember the last time that was done.
2. When were you most recently forced to crawl?
When I had to retrieve something between a nook at my place. Off the top of my head, trying to get to a power strip that is in an odd place to pull a plug.
3. What are you sprinting from?
I don't run. I don't sprint. I am old. I am slow. I try to slowly escape from danger as quickly as I can... but I don't run.
4. What has recently required you to step carefully?
Sometimes I have to step carefully when I am at work. Don't want to ruffle feathers with my opinions. Go along to get along.
5. Where is your next finish line?
Termination of my temporary employment status is coming up soon. I next have to either re-apply for unemployment, find another job or process my social security claim early but with an age penalty. Ugh.
When life comes close to becoming a dystopian, science fiction movie, it is either the aftermath of a nuclear blast or an ongoing plague or pandemic. Fortunately for us COVID-19 hasn't created flesh eating mutant sub-humans yet or even a virus that melts our skin off.
Still the COVID-19 pandemic was and still is a somewhat dystopian experience. The first few months of lockdown and not knowing what to expect next were seriously dystopian-like. Closed stores, closed beaches, closed parks, no work, unemployment, sick people, hospital wards filling up, uncertainty, fear, avoidance, annoyance, inconvenience, "now normal", masks, social distancing and more. Whew! I'm tired just thinking of this stuff.... again.
1. In what ways has pandemic life been positive for you?
I started listening to new music regularly again after losing interest for a few months. More so I re-started my Mel's Current Top 20 song chart which I had published off and on from 2009 to 2014 and then again in 2018 and finally again in May 2020. I listened to a lot of newer, mostly top 40 pop and rock music while avoiding most of the rap crap that still pollutes the airwaves today.
Early this year I updated my Spotify playlistsafter letting them sit idle for many years (the last time I actively used that service was around 2012). Today I am somewhat active but still refuse to pay them a plug nickel for a subscription. I am just happy that I can share my playlists with other people who access Spotify even though I don't keep track of followers or even know if anyone is listening. The commercials there are just too annoying.
2020 was also a good year to sit around, grow fat while watching way too many hours of YouTube videos, Amazon Prime, CBS All Access and Pluto TV. Half the fun of video streaming is finding some new, free streaming service and see what they offer... Oh there it is again... America's Funniest Home Videos, Fail Army, Car Crash Videos, and Airplane Disaster Investigations... plus dozens and dozens of independent video bloggers who cover everything from old 8 bit computers, Brownie film cameras to Flight Disaster re-creations, living in vans, walking around steaming fields of black volcano lava, raising families in Utah, record album reviews, Android news, and God knows what else.
Yep. Too much streaming video. Thank you Netflix and Disney Plus. Good thing I don't subscribe but then I have never made a baby. Ha!
2. Where (and how often) did you get your pandemic news this past year?
More often than not, local online news sources: Honolulu Civil Beat, Honolulu Star Advertiser, Hawaii Tribune Herald plus the websites of the State of Hawaii Board of Health and other government departments... Plus there was and still is social media..... Facebook, Twitter.... sometimes national and world news sources... Fox News, CBS News, NBC News, BBC World Service just to see what the rest of the world is doing regarding this.
I think local news is more important to the COVID-19 pandemic than the national or world stage. You need to know where you can get the vaccine and what level of opened places the government is allowing. There were too many closed places happening in the first several months of COVID-19. Honolulu was like a ghost town... especially Waikiki.
3. Where did you find unexpected comfort in these crazy twelve months?
Staying home was and still is my comfort zone. I don't really miss people all that much. Since COVID-19 began I avoid most congested and crowded places.. restaurants, crowded beaches, airplanes, busses, and wherever else people are allowed to tightly congregate.
I can't avoid supermarkets and some other retail stores such as Target, since I have to get stuff to support my semi-hermitic lifestyle. I mean food and toilet paper are quite essential.
But then I am always most comfortable at home, by myself mostly but also with Ms. Lisa.
4. What are some little things you miss most about what used to be normal life?
Hopping on a plane and flying to a neighbor island without any restrictions beyond standard security protocols. No mask, No Safe whatever tracking... our freedom of movement.
Massive used book and record sales. Hello Ideas Books & Music, Friends of the Library Record sale... miss those.
Being in public without a mask!
Not worrying about catching COVID-19
5. What do you think life will be like twelve months from now?
I can't predict the future. It will probably not be totally free as it was in 2019 and before. The leftist governments we've elected love to control the people. Don't go out without masks. Social distance. Whatever. Some of the crap I am complaining about today will probably still be around 12 months from now.
It's a new year (2021) and another round for the ever-going Friday 5.
First questions of the new year:
1. What’s better in its middle than in its edges, beginnings, or ends?
The center aisle seats half way up in a surround sound theater. I think you get the best view of the screen and the sound from all directions. But then it depends also on how large the auditorium is too. The bigger, the better I think.
Also I think the center of hamburgers are better than the outside edges. Ditto for sandwiches of all types.
2. Why is a sunrise better than a sunset?
It is not as crowded during sunrise as it is during sunset at the more popular places. I can't say if the photo opportunities are better during sunrise or sunset. Whatever light you are shooting in, it usually is coming into the golden hour or waning into the twilight hour. Sunrise or sunset. I am not partial to either. I've gotten decent photos at both sunrise and sunset settings.
3. What’s better in retrospect than when you experienced it?
At this point in time, security lines at the airport were better prior to 2019 but not as great as it was prior to 9-11-2001. Before then, security was adequate but over the years things have been tightened down way too much. Now to travel, it takes more effort and sacrifice of personal information, government tracking, additional wait times, health testing and social distancing. All of this has made travel so bad, that at this time I have no desire whatsoever as to go traveling by airplane or any mass transport mover. Easier, safer and cheaper to just stay home.
4. What songs have wonderful endings? Hmm... have to think about that one. OK...here are three in no particular order.
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin - love how it starts as a ballad, slowly builds up and then rocks out for several minutes before settling down and ending on a rather soft and somber note..."and she's buying the stairway to heaven"....
A Day in the Life - The Beatles - Gotta love that sustained full note at the end that holds longer than it should, and then after a few minutes of silence you get the "Sgt. Pepper Inner Groove" which is just a loop of some guys saying some kind of jibberish... Paul, John, George and Ringo I presume.
The Streak - Ray Stevens - Damn funny song about streaking.. you know "running naked as a jailbird" and how the husband is trying to protect his wife Ethel from seeing what's going on... "Don't look Ethel!" ... Too late, ran out of the cheap seats and made the free shot.... Minutes later.... "Here he comes again. Who's that with him? Ethel? Is that you, Ethel? What do you think you're doin'? You git your clothes on!"... oh yes they call him The Streak fastest thing on two feet.... heh. FYI- The song went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #3 on the Billboard Country chart, both in 1974.
5. What was the first thing you unwrapped in 2021?
The following questions come from Scrivener's weekly Friday 5blog.
1. What do you do when it’s bedtime and you’re not sleepy?
I think I do what millions of other people do... whip out their smartphone and browse the internet, watch videos or listen to music or an audio book. Lately I've been doing audio books, and some are real sleepers... they put me to sleep.
Music is also a good way to help me fall asleep. Some artists are better at putting me to sleep over others. Late night talk radio and some podcasts have the same effect.
Otherwise if I am really restless, then it is video time in bed... scrolling through many shows on Pluto TV or watching a wide variety of video content on regular YouTube... plane crashes, family blogs, car blogs, vinyl record blogs, tech blogs, news clips, music videos... yep... YouTube is still the best free video streaming platform to take to bed with you. Pluto TV is a good free streaming platform too since they have plenty of old TV shows, news and other stuff to watch. I love watching re-runs of Star Trek The Next Generation there. Hooray for free video streams on all platforms.
2. When were you most recently bashful?
Can't think of anything recent, and if I did, I'd be too bashful to let anyone know here.
3. Have you seen a doc in the past nine months?
Yes. Once for a stupid accident and then later for a routine check-up.
4. What’s got you feeling grumpy lately?
COVID-19, Rail, Taxes and some personal things. Need I say more?
5. What’s making you happy today?
I will be depositing my late arriving, hard copy of my 2020 Economic Impact Payment Check of $1200 today. I wish I could just keep it as is because President Donald Trump's name is on it. It could be a collectible... but alas, I need the money, so to the bank I will go later today.
