Friday 5 for May 31: Ding!

"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. When is *ding* a most welcome sound?

End of the cooking cycle from my microwave oven.

2. When is *ding* a most unwelcome sound?

I think if it dinged, it would be when my Mac did not successfully burn a CD or DVD.

3. If a *ding* could be heard only by you to warn you about something in social situations, what might that *ding* alert you to, and how many times do you think you’d have heard it this week?

If someone I did not like were close by so that I could avoid them.

4. A Ding Dong is a hockey-puck-shaped chocolate cake(like) dessert filled with cream and covered with chocolate. Its name is somewhat suggestive to some. What other food items have names that inspire you to think naughty thoughts?

Anything that tastes good that my doctor would not recommend.

5. What’s an item in your possession that recently received a ding, and whose fault was it?

Non-working audio cassette deck that I bought from Craigslist a few years ago. Self inflicted purchase.

Friday 5 for May 10 - A Bit of Knowledge

From Scrivener's Friday 5 website here are the questions I chose to answer this week.


1. What’s something you know about constellations?

Except for the Big and Little dippers I really can't readily recognize any.

2. What’s something you know about bugs?

They have exoskeletons which make them hard to kill. Especially the American Cockroach. Some bugs go through a complete metamorphosis while others look like their parents at birth.

3. What’s something you know about a car’s engine?

The internal combustion engine needs gasoline, oil and coolant among other things to keep them running.

4. What’s something you know about wine or beer?

Too much of it impairs judgement. Don't drink and drive.

5. What’s something you know about the Pacific Ocean?

It's the biggest ocean in the world and it surrounds the entire state I live in. You see the picture at the top of this post? That is the Pacific Ocean just off the deck of the ship. The island in the background is Oahu, the city is Honolulu. That is where I live.

In July 2010 I was lucky enough to be chosen to take a tour aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ronald Reagan. This is one of the many pictures that I shot there. The ocean is large. You don't want to be caught in it on a tiny boat, far away from shore!

Here is another picture. You can see them all by clicking this link.

Friday 5 for April 5: Yikes!

From Scrivener's Friday 5 blog come these topical questions.



1. How do thunder and lightning make you feel?

I'm missing an opportunity to get a good photo.

2. How do spiders make you feel?


I have no feelings toward spiders. If they get in the way, they get squashed... otherwise I leave them alone. I took a picture of this spider a few years back.

3. How do recent threats on America by North Korea make you feel?


I worry our U.S. President may not be able to take decisive and final action against the nut from North Korea. Otherwise we'll be putting our heads between our legs and kissing are asses goodbye.

4. How concerned are you about having your identity stolen?

I shred sensitive documents and don't do banking transactions on a wireless network.



5. How cautious are you about food spoilage in your refrigerator?

I don't eat old food, but sometimes my fridge turns into a biological hazard zone and museum of the macabre.

Friday 5 for February 22: Spinning

1. What’s had you spinning ’round in circles lately?

You see that video on the top. I hate when that actually shows up on my Mac. However it is better than the old system bomb from Mac OS9 and older.

2. When were you last on a bicycle?

Around 1982.

3. Who’s the best storyteller you know?

My friend and former mentor who now lives in Utah had some great stories.

4. How well do you handle carnival rides?

Haven't done those in ages. Too expensive.

5. What do you think of TV gameshow Wheel of Fortune?

It's a classic American TV success story. Huge money making syndication property. Keeps older folks glued to their TVs daily. It is my Mom's favorite show. I watch it with her when I visit. Vanna's cute. Please note that the video shown below is old, and may not be here as this blog ages.



And to go along with this theme of "spinning", a song....

Friday 5 for Feb. 8, 2013 - Cereal

1. What was your favorite breakfast cereal when you were a kid?

Captain Crunch, though if you left it in the milk for too long, it would still get soggy.



2. What’s your favorite breakfast cereal now?

If I think it is worth buying, then it probably is frosted Mini Spooners.

3. Where does cereal rank on your list of favorite breakfasts?

I'd rank it as "expensive".



4. What serial novels or films have you most recently enjoyed?

More so TV serials, specifically "space opera".... Babylon 5 and the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica. These two TV series as well as several others unfold like chapters in a book as their stories progressed over the seasons (years). Other TV series in the "serial" genre have included SciFi yarns such as The X Files (with several continuing story arcs), LOST and to a degree Star Trek: Deep Space 9. Other serial series that I have enjoyed over the years include Michael Mann's Crime Story and the British serial Doc Martin.



5. What recently surreal experience have you gone through?

Nothing.

Scrivener's Friday 5.

Friday 5 for January 4: I Do Believe the Worst is Behind Us

From Scivener's Friday 5: "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! This week’s questions are inspired by a certain movie I saw last week. I know I’ve asked #3 before, but it’s one of those questions I like asking every so often. I think the answers say a lot about us in very few words."

1. What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in the past six months?

My last big adventure was in 2010 when I took a trip to nowhere aboard an aircraft carrier. But that was more than 6 months ago. It's been pretty dull since.

2. What recently could qualify as a happy accident?

All accidents I've had are bad - spilling food, stubbing my toe, cutting myself, dropping or breaking something, whatever. Accidents have never brought me an ounce of happiness.

3. When did you last experience Buyer’s Remorse?

Lately I've been having long delayed buyer's remorse after several products with built in batteries have died and I cannot replace the batteries. Thanks Apple for iPods that batteries die and you can't use them again. I hate the concept of non-replaceable built in batteries: Apple is the worst offender. iPods, iPads, newer laptops. I was first victimized with this after my Palm IIIc died around 2008... I think I get my money's worth if a product lasts 10 years or longer. The Palm IIIc was bought in 2001. The iPods are newer.

4. In what way do people keep underestimating you?

Can't think of any.

5. What have you got in your pocket?

On a daily basis, wallet, some money, credit and debit card, driver license, comb, keys on keychain, and occasionally a tiny camera, small iPod player or flashlight.

From Scrivener:

"Thanks for participating, and have a wonderful weekend! Tomorrow’s my birthday, so if you are inclined to wish me a happy one, please include a song lyric from whatever’s your favorite recent song."

One of my current favorites (I list the top 20 every week) is a song called "Clouds" by Zach Sobiech, a teen who has terminal cancer. He wrote this song for his girlfriend and it was recently recorded and released to the usual places... YouTube, iTunes and Amazon. Enjoy "Clouds" and enjoy your lives.

Currently @ #12 on Mel's Weekly Top 20.





Well I fell down, down, down
Into this dark and lonely hole
There was no one there to care about me anymore
And I needed a way to climb and grab a hold of the edge
You were sitting there holding a rope

And we'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
We'll go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear
It won't be long now, it won't be long now

When I get back on land
Well I'll never get my chance
Be ready to live and it'll be ripped right out of my hands
Maybe someday we'll take a little ride
We'll go up, up, up and everything will be just fine

And we'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
We'll go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear

It won't be long now, it won't be long now
If only I had a little bit more time
If only I had a little bit more time with you

We could go up, up, up
And take that little ride
And sit there holding hands
And everything would be just right
And maybe someday I'll see you again
We'll float up in the clouds and we'll never see the end

And we'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
We'll go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear
It won't be long now, it won't be long now

Friday 5 for December 28: Sum

2012 Sucked. And it is getting worst for us and America.


From Scrivener's Friday5 site: 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. Who stands out among people you met in 2012?

No one in particular and even if there was I am not mentioning anyone by name.

2. What new interest did you discover in 2012?

While it has been around for a few years now, in 2012 I became a fan of Hulu.com's free streaming service. I am too cheap to go to Hulu Plus since that requires a monthly bill. It would defeat the purpose of cutting cable TV as I did back in 2011. So today I enjoy subscription free streaming network TV.... Hulu,com. Crackle, various network websites, and old standards, YouTube, Vimeo and UStream. There is enough video content to see online without having to subscribe to expensive cable TV channels that you don't even watch.

3. In what way was 2012 better than 2011?

Actually 2012 was a HUGE disappointment since the rail passed, Caldwell became mayor, the liberal agenda is choking America (Obama won, that is bad news)... so pretty much 2012 sucked. About the best thing that could have happened but didn't was that the world could have ended... but it didn't and I certainly don't expect 2013 to be any better. America is going to hell in a handbasket with liberals running this country crazy and empty. Sad, very sad.

4. What small, symbolic item might serve as a good souvenir for 2012?

The DVD release of Dinesh D'Souza's documentary movie "2016: Obama's America"... folks you gotta watch this because with Obama still in charge I can only see dark, gloomy, EXPENSIVE days ahead for our country. It's already happening... freedom is at risk, traditional values such as marriage are being eroded and the second amendment is in danger of being stripped or at least being trampled on by the Obama administration and liberals. Hold on the your wallets. 2012 sucked and moving forward towards 2013, 14, 15 and 16 won't be any better.

Am I disappointed with 2012? Yes.

Am I optimistic about our future? No... not with Obama and liberals running the nation and Hawaii.

5. Many years from now, what song, when you hear it on the radio, will remind you most of 2012?

About the only thing that cheered me up this year were some of the songs that was released in 2012 that became hits. I am ranking and blogging my 100 favorite songs of 2012 and you can see my commentary here and the list there (which will be published on January 1 or shortly thereafter).



This song was one of my favorites from 2012. Where will it end up on the year end chart? Check this link in a few days.