The Other Side of the Hill

Snowbird Wannabee

2012-01-28T11:09:00.004-05:00

Someone sent me the link to a youtube video, that graphically sums-up the reasons to fly south in winter. http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=xkk7DX0l95A&Lid=12

Distracted Drivers, Pay Attention!

2012-01-27T13:52:00.001-05:00

Here in Massachusetts, the solons in the legislature are currently considering a bill to make it unlawful to use a hand-held mobile device while driving. photo: jdpower.com This is just common sense. These days, whenever you see someone driving badly, nine out of ten of them have some sort of phone pressed to their ear. The distraction of phone usage seems to interfere with a driver's sense

Zombies in your living room

2012-01-25T13:54:00.000-05:00

One of Steven King's lessor works was a 2006 novel called "Cell." The premise of the story is that a never-explained source of the worldwide cellphone network creates a mysterious pulse that is broadcast on all operating cell phones. Everyone who is on the phone turns into a zombie. Anyone who is on their phone is immediately turned into lurching living dead. The crazed "phoners" gather in

Solar Flares and Hemorrhoids

2012-01-24T14:03:00.001-05:00

If your favorite wireless gadget is acting-up today, it could be because of the solar storm that is pummeling the Earth's atmosphere with cosmic radiation. Scientists (who may actually understand this stuff) warn that some communications may be disturbed - GPS, and other satellite based transmissions will be most vulnerable. A lot of people are worried about global warming and believe

Metaphors

2012-01-20T10:38:00.000-05:00

photo: thestar.com/news The half-sunken cruise ship Costa Concordia still lies where she ran aground just a few hundred yards offshore of the island of Giglio in Giglio Porto, Italy. By now, anyone who reads, listens to, or watches the news is familiar with the almost unbelievable story. How could so many things go wrong? The most compelling questions are yet to be answered. My friend

No Blackout Here

2012-01-18T14:29:00.000-05:00

If you click on a Wikipedia link today you will get a split-second view of your desired search page and then a black out overlay with the query "Imagine a World Without Free Knowledge..." They are going dark for 24 hours to "raise awareness" that the U.S. Congress "is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet." Attention Getting Gimmick? As an unabashed

Pardon Me

2012-01-12T18:41:00.000-05:00

Pardon me, but I am more offended by the Mississippi governor Haley Barbour's pardoning hundreds of bad guys who were convicted in a court of justice than I am over the US Marines who pissed on the bodies of the enemy who were trying to kill them a few minutes earlier. What is wrong with me?

Malquoting the other guy

2012-01-11T11:56:00.000-05:00

Mitt Romney found himself being quoted out of context the other day. He was speaking about healthcare insurance and the benefits of having options. In a regrettable choice of words he said "I like being able to fire people." Clearly Meaning it is desireable to have the ability to switch companies that are deficient in providing the best level of service. The quote in context can be viewed

The Grass is Always Greener

2012-01-09T23:21:00.000-05:00

My wife thinks I am crazy because I keep looking at part time job postings on Craigslist. "Why do you want to go back to some hellhole?" she wonders. Good question. The simple answer is: I don't know. The more complicated and (potentially fictitious) reason is that I am looking to find my place in the cosmos. One thing seems clear. I am restless with my status as "Retiree". Being

Thoughts on Christmas Letters

2011-12-30T14:04:00.001-05:00

Consider your selves lucky. You didn't get a Christmas Letter from us this year, recalling the memorable moments experienced by our wonderful family during the last twelve months. You did not have to squint at blurry photos of us standing in front of monuments and churches on our enviable trips. You were spared the adorable pictures of our cuddly pets and cuter-than-average grandkids. If you

Ch-ch-changes

2011-12-27T14:33:00.000-05:00

Although I generally think of myself as retired, I have kept up an interest in keeping active and involved with the working world. In early December I answered a job ad on Craigslist for a Shipper at a small local nonprofit publishing company. The job description contained many of the elements that I want in a job: · local – this outfit was a 6 minute drive, ·

Holiday Events

2011-12-11T14:40:00.001-05:00

Here at the Wellesley mansion, we have been busy preparing for the holiday festivities. We have a wreath with a red bow hanging out front and we have a Christmas Tree. Yes, Virginia, we still call it a "Christmas Tree" and if our Muslim, Jewish, Gay, Transgender, Vegetarian, African-American, Handicapped, Atheist friends and neighbors are offended, they can go suck eggs. Last year, I

'Tis The Season for Feeling Charitable

2011-12-02T09:13:00.011-05:00

Like you, I hate to see pictures of starving children and homeless adults. I believe that in a prosperous country such as ours, a principal role of the government should be to assuage the hardships on the less fortunate among us. They say that among peoples of the world Americans are the most generous, both publicly and privately. Many wealthy Americans are generous in their charitable giving.

Truth Seeking in the Land of Ideology

2011-11-27T11:26:00.002-05:00

I have frequently (and rather pompously) declared myself to be a Seeker Of Truth. I emphasize that title with capital letters because I regard seeking the truth to be every bit as noble as other appellations such as, Chaplain, Professor, Doctor, Senator or even Dump Manager. (I claim solidarity with all workers in the profession of Waste Management, as we suffer similar scorn by society: our

Competing Agendas

2011-11-26T10:52:00.000-05:00

You have probably seen images of various cities where the Occupiers are brandishing signs "Sorry for the Inconvenience, We are trying to Change the World." This is a weak attempt to diminish the rage many of the other 99% are feeling when the protests cause traffic gridlock, making them late for work, or shut-down their workplace, or ruin their plans for a day in the city. Don't shoot the

Thanks for Nothing

2011-11-24T12:21:00.001-05:00

Well, here it is: the day for bloggers to publish smarmy, insincere lists counting their so-called blessings. It would be too boring to list the stuff I feel lucky about, so here is my Thanks for Nothing List: #1 Congressional Budget Super-committee. These hand-picked representatives couldn't agree on any worthwhile proposal that would help reduce the deficit, create jobs, or improve

The Court of Public Opinion

2011-11-10T13:44:00.001-05:00

The news headline today shouts that Joe Paterno, football coach at Penn State since the Civil War, and the University President - whose name no one knows - were fired for their sins of ommission. Even though the alleged perpetrator of the child abuse has not worked as Assistant Coach since 1999, these two have been found guilty because they did not call the police. Hmm. Makes you wonder what

State of the House

2011-10-22T12:08:00.001-04:00

Well, we have no heat, the freezer keeps defrosting and melts all the ice cubes overnight, and my computer has a virus that keeps grabbing RAM and stalls out to the point that I have to shut off the machine. There are solutions: Heat: We will survive the weekend with no heat even if the cats are not too happy, then we will call someone on monday. Freezer: we have a spare working fridge

RIP Steve Jobs

2011-10-17T13:02:00.000-04:00

Death Does not carry a Smartphone They called him “A genius;Cut-down before his time,”(As if one could remonstrate to Death’sbeckoning, “Not now, it isn’t my time!”) Perhaps it was karma: A final disconnection, Just retribution for the ruinationOf human conversation. But no one at the table Was listening, insteadSquinting into their iPhonesReading tiny text messages About nothing.

New Toy

2011-10-03T09:23:00.001-04:00

Lake Cochituate So the other day I took my newly acquired kayak for a paddle on Lake Cochituate. It's a few years old (2009), but new to me. I saw it listed on a Craigslist ad. It was the model and size I had decided on - an Old Town Dirigo Angler, 12 ft. And at $500 it was the cheapest of the used ones I had seen over a few weeks of research. A new one costs around $800 on sale. The

IIWII

2011-09-15T11:13:00.000-04:00

One of the koans that has entered American parlance recently is the phrase: "It is what it is." People generally say this when they have run out of ideas. They really mean, "I have no further information that would be helpful." They shrug and give you a look of grudging acceptance and utter the meaningless phrase, "It is what it is." I find it annoying. Lately, I have found it entertaining

End of Summer on the Cape

2011-09-09T11:00:00.000-04:00

The day after Irene, we drove to East Sandwich on Cape Cod. We were overnight guests at a beachfront cottage. A week earlier, the person who had rented the place and had prepaid the $2000 weekly rate, fell off a ladder, broke his leg and was unable to use it. He offered it to my daughter who in turn invited us to stay for a night. Hey, a free night at the Cape, why not. I was anticipating a

Weather Fearcasts

2011-08-26T13:07:00.008-04:00

Ok, Ok, I get it. There is a big storm coming our way. Hurricane Irene. Perhaps the mother of all storms, landing thud right on my vegetable garden just when I've managed to pick a few decent home grown tomatoes. What's that you say? It hasn't even hit the US mainland yet. It could fizzle. Nice try, Mr Calm. Take your skepticism down the hall. This time the sky IS falling!...this time

Verizon is Not Totally Dysfunctional

2011-08-19T09:42:00.003-04:00

I acknowledge that most most of my previous posts about Verizon have been to complain. In the interests of fairness I need to mention that there is one thing Verizon does that is pretty good. If you need to upgrade your FIOS set top box, they are amazing. A few months ago, we decided to upgrade our hi-def box to a DVR. I went online, and despite their clunky website, I was able to order a DVR