On the subject of Soup

"No Soup for You!"

This entry is a compendium of thoughts on a rainy day in Seattle. Call it Blog Soup.

Why is it that my super fast eight core Mac working more like a Commodore 64?

Was it as much fun to play Intellivision back then as it is to play Wii now?

Does everyone start their day optimistic they will get everything done only to discover it was a lot tougher than they thought it was going to be?

When is too much too much?

Go see Little Miss Notetaker's kitchen! It's awesome... and then go rate it on HGTV.com. 

The word is on your lips. Say the word! FASCINATION!

Do people just not call to tell you they are not coming anymore, or do they just assume you will work your schedule around theirs?

Does everyone have to be paid for everything, or do you ever do something because it is the right thing to do?

Improv Karaoke tonight. I have to get ready for it. I don't know why it's tougher than usual. Maybe the combination of the bad karaoke experience from last week, and the upper back injury from yesterday.

Just how awesome is Michael Phelps? Just how cute is Shawn Johnson? Just how amazing is Jonathan Horton (still no relation)?

Was the opening ceremony of the Olympics still the most incredible show ever put on now that it has been discovered that the director of the show basically abused the cast, and said the only place it could have been done better is North Korea?

What would I look like as a bobble head?

The render of the video is still not done.

When it is correct to be politically incorrect?

Who won the primary for Governor here in Washington and do I care? I care that the ads are over for at least a couple of weeks (phew!)

Is the world ready for Arnold-oke (singing an entire Karaoke song as Arnold). Believe me now!

The batteries on my desk are recharged now. Hopefully I will be soon.

Hey Dave, can I plug my show? It's Sunday night in Seattle at 7 PM at the Historic University Theater. No, I don't have a clip.

Is it Theater or Theatre. This coming from a guy who spells color colour.

Render is still not done. However, I am.

Good night, Grace Kelly... all your looks were too sad. So I'll try a little Freddie. I've gone identity MAD!

Yours truly,

Johnny Blogger

On the subject of the Fourth

Another Fourth of July has arrived and gone... well, actually the Fourth always goes into the Fifth... way into the Fifth... at least that is what I heard this morning.

In some ways I hate the Fourth of July. It brings back some very bad memories and makes new ones each year. Happily, this year was an exception, for the most part.

As someone who grew up just outside of Washington, DC, the holiday should be like New Year's to a person from NYC. It's just not.

I love our country, not as much as my Dad, but I sometimes can't stand the people. Now I might get some comments here, but hear me out first. What is it about the Fourth that makes people forget what the definition of "legal" is? 

Every Fourth is like a war zone in my neighborhood, and I think I live in a pretty nice place. The citizens of my neighborhood have fireworks stands available to them at nearly every corner. There are more fireworks stands than there are Starbucks... and this is Seattle! (Okay - a suburb - but you get the idea.)

It is illegal in our county to have any firework that propels itself into the air. Firecrackers. OK. Roman Candles. OK. Small gauge noise makers. OK. But every year, without fail, it seems like everyone has gone to a Reservation and bought fireworks that are illegal every where except the reservation. Thus, there are very loud booms and the remnants of the rockets red glare end up on my wooden shingle roof. When it does not rain, we have to water our roof to avoid a fire that will burn down our house... and we've seen it happen to others.

I am all for celebrating, but like many things in this country, there is a sense of entitlement. People think they can just take the rules and regulations and use them when they find it convenient. Want to fund a sports arena? Have cops stand busy intersections and ticket people who don't understand it's a right turn on red AFTER a stop. Want to cut the state deficit? Send some patrols around on the Fourth and hand out tickets for illegal fireworks violations. Want to lose a basketball team, live in Seattle and trust your elected officials and a robberbarren Okie. (I digress.)

Okay, call me a party pooper. (Thousands scream in unison... "Hey, Jon, you're a party pooper!") I just believe in what is just. 

Did I always follow the rules? Speed limits... probably not, but I don't weave. Drinking age? Admittedly no, but I was never so drunk that I could not take care of my friends. Otherwise, I try... I TRY to do what is right. Not perfect, never will be, but I will always try to be a good example for my children and my contemporaries.

I'll admit I am a prejudiced person. I hate stupid people. I mean people who have a choice to be stupid, and take it. It's like I say to my kids all the time... what part of NO don't you understand.

Alright, time to step off my soapbox... and return you to your country already in progress.

Good night, my fellow Americans.

Yours truly,

Johnny Blogger