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.

Friday 5 for December 21 - It's Not the End of the World

Things I’ve been thinking about on the eve of the supposed end of history.

1. What’s something gross you’ve seen or tasted recently?

Seen - stuff in the toilet. Tasted - nothing recently.

2. What movie this holiday season are you most looking forward to?

"A Christmas Story" - the one about Ralphe the kid who wants the Red Ryder BB gun; his Dad's busted leg lamp and ruined turkey dinner... you know which one, the old classic from 1983. They do a marathon on TBS yearly. I'll probably watch it again.

3. What makes one photographer better or worse than any other?

Better - Attitude. Worst - Arrogance or Irresponsibility.

4. What specific, annual part of this season most makes you feel all the positive feelings again?

Some of the better holiday music.

5. What are your thoughts on eggnog?

Not a fan of eggnog.

So much for the end of the world.

Friday 5 for December 14: There's a Theme, Trust Me

A strange one this week from Scrivener's Friday 5 weblog that seems to be disjointed but allows for plenty of pictures. Here we go.



1. How self-conscious do you get when someone’s pointing a camera at you?

I hate having my photo taken, especially in this digital age when you don't have any control of your image and you don't know where that image may end up.

2. What was the last meal you took a photo of?

I take photos of food on a regular basis. The last food item I took a picture of were a box of Hostess Ding Dongs. The last "meal" I took a photo of is posted below. The entire photo stream of food appears in the slideshow below.







3. When were you last bitten or stung by something?

Possibly a few weeks ago by a mosquito.

4. What’s something people miss most when they move away from your area?



1. The beach. 2. The sand. 3. The surf. 4. Warm weather year round. 5. Pretty Girls. 6. sunsets



5. On long day-trips, do you prefer to be the driver or passenger? Why?

I would prefer to be the front seat passenger because I like to take pictures as we go along.

Friday 5 for December 7: Themeless

1. You know those delicatessens that name sandwiches after famous people? What would be the ingredients of the sandwich named after you?

The Mel Burger would have a garlic flavored sesame seed bun, 1/2 pound charcoal broiled all beef patty with lettuce, tomato, bell peppers, onion, olives, a light spread of mayonaise, a touch of ketchup, green relish and sprinkled with black pepper and other spices. The buns would also be toasted. The deluxe combo would come with a medium Strawberry Icee and an optional bag of tator tots, potato wedges or onion rings.

2. What’s your favorite part of staying in a hotel?

Having maid service clean up after you mess the place up the night before.

3. What was the last book you read, and how was it?

"How to Write and Self Publish eBooks for Free" by Jessica Cambrook... this is a short read on the basic nuts and bolts of how tow write, publish and market an eBook. I expected a little more on the technical end of what is the best software to use for creating an eBook. But then again this eBook was free from the Apple store so I can't complain too much.

4. What’s something super-unhealthy you’ve recently eaten?

Eating burgers and fries, chocolate candies and more on a regular basis tends to add up to "super-unhealthy".

5. What do you do with all those Christmas cards with photos of friends
and their kids?

Usually they get filed away, but I think this year I will scan them in and put 'em on Flickr and Facebook.

Questions posted from Scrivener's Friday 5 weblog.