Riding Public Transportation Never Looked So Good

In Sofia, Bulgaria that is. Bus passengers waiting at bus stops in Sofia in the afternoon and evening can now watch porn on big screens. Yep, it's true. During the morning and early afternoon the screens display bus schedules and the progress of busses. But, if you venture out a little later, well, it will warm up those cold Bulgarian nights. In fact, city authorities have said that running the porn on the screens helps customer amuse themselves during those long, cold waits for the bus to show up.

Still Fasting After a Week

Yep, I still haven't done my regular survey of news sites from around the world. Sticking with just one or two sites a day. Maybe that's like Moderation Management instead of Alcoholics Anonymous. Hey, it's the best I can do! I hope that by the time I come off of the news fast, the news will have improved. Yeah, right! I have a better chance of winning the lottery...without buying a ticket. Which brings up a good point. Did you know that your odds of winning the lottery are only slightly improved by buying a ticket?

Nice Weather Again...Finally!

Well, it has warmed back up today, and what a beautiful day it is! Imbolc plus 3, I suppose. This photo comes from down at the end of the street by Brushy Creek. That desert blue sky this time of year can't be beat.

Goodbye Belle

Our dog, Belle, died today. She had been sick for a couple of weeks, and today was her last. We had taken her to the vet four times in the past two weeks, and they just couldn't get to the cause of her problem. We took her to the vet this morning so they could treat her based on what the latest test showed. She died while they were administering fluids and oxygen.

We went to the vet to say goodbye, and broke our hearts. You know, I've always said that dogs are better people than people - and that's still true. I miss her a lot.

I promise to keep your gentle spirit
And that special look in your eyes
I hope to stay the kind of person
That your soft acceptance made me be

Oh Belle, I have lost a piece of my heart to you
And I have completely broken in two
But, I give you that piece of my heart
Without demand or expectation
Because, you so freely gave me all of your heart
And that will always stay with me

Punxatawny Phil Says We'll Have an Early Spring

Well, tentatively that's good. Why tentatively? When spring comes early here in Texas, it means summer comes early too. And we know what summer means! So, an early spring has its downside. But, this year we have had a kinda long winter. Long for us anyway...it has lasted more than two or three days in a row. I'd like to see a little warmer weather soon. So, right on P. Phil! At least for now.

Dogs

Well, the dogs, Sandy and Belle, aren't doing so well. Sandy is 16 years-old and Belle is 12. Sandy possibly has cancer, definitely has stones in her bladder, and has real trouble getting around. After her visit to the vet, she's taking some anti-inflammatories and is getting around better. But, her condition probably won't get any better.

Belle has some kind of liver trouble, immune system problems, and she still won't eat. In fact, she turns her nose up at most everything. I got enough down her tonight to give her the anti-biotic she's taking.

Neither dog is doing very well right now, but they're still hanging in there.

Going on a Fast



Yes, I'll be fasting starting today. Different kind of fast though. I'm going on a news fast. Yeah, I'm not going to check my regular 30 or so websites each day for news. I don't know if fast would be quite correct, I will still check about 2 websites, but not my regular. So, what am I going to do instead? Not sure, but it just seems like the thing to do right now. Don't know how long I'll stay on this fast either. Hmmm...let's say for seven days. Think I can do it?

Swedes Get Second Life Embassy

The Swedish government announced that they will establish an embassy in Second Life. They plan to buy an island in the virtual world, so that Swedish companies can purchase spots (lots?) to promote Sweden and Swedish products. Will Swedish Second Life also a social welfare structure, so that Swedes in Second Life can get health care and other subsidies? Wouldn't be Sweden without it.

Kosher Porn

An Israeli porn DVD, "Assraelis", has caught the eye of a rabbi in New Jersey. The rabbi has threatened a lawsuit against the producer, Oren Cohen and Tight Fit, because the DVD cover has the logo used on food products denoting it as kosher. Imagine that, kosher porn!

The State of the Union Pageant

Let's face it. The State of the Union speech really looks more like an annual pageant. The words and topics of the speech have only symbolic meaning, not real meaning. How many times has the State of the Union speech reflected what really happens later in the year. The ritual of the President's entrance, the obligatory standing ovation, the seating of the Cabinet, the nod from the First Lady, blah, blah, blah, just prove that what we see has little meaning beyond the symbolic. The pageant serves more as a secular rite than a real speech. Don't expect much of substance tonight.

Imagine a wedding. All the parties have a role and even a place to stand. The two families sit on different sides of the central aisle. The mothers of the two betrothed have special places to sit. The bride enters to an anthem, the father of the bride performs a short ritual speech, the couple recite fairly standard phrases, and holy man blesses the union, then the couple exits to an anthem. Sounds a lot like the State of the Union doesn't it? How do a wedding and the State of the Union differ? Well, for one thing, a wedding ritualizes the couple's love for one another. Whereas, the State of the Union just congratulates the powerful.

3 Year Haiku

I want to break toys
Frustate no more in pieces
Don't let me do it

It's All Right

Here comes the sun, I say, it's all right. The sun shines today for the first time in about 10 days. That may not seem like very long to some, but here in Texas 10 without sun takes a toll. It just makes you feel better to start with.

On another note, we have to take our dogs to the vet tomorrow. It doesn't look good for either one of them. The oldest one is fading fast, and the young one has stopped eating (or at least almost) which isn't at all like her. Hoping for the best.

Are You Just Making That Up?

Late at night in the shadows of hope and fear, the flounderer stumbles upon a beautiful myth. But, a myth to be believed, not laughed at.

Someone spoke about spooks that come late at night to stagger out from the dark corners of closets and stare. Yes, I agree they do, and I've seen them myself. Heart pounding and eyes wide open, raised on elbows I have started to flee, but never made it anywhere. Did he (it's always he) wear a black outfit or a white one? I always figured he'd choose black. So, why didn't he? Don't just stand there and scare me, go pester someone else. I have better dreams to dream than this shit! Back up and fall over the suitcase you son of a bitch. Fall all the way down to the scuffed brown shoes, and see what it feels like. Not very good, does it?

Stereotypical but True

Yeah, that's where I spend much of my time. Especially so the older I get. Those commercials of men coming out of the men's room wishing they could spend more time elswhere are pretty true to form. Not quite ready for Flowmax yet, but you notice that I remember the name of it.

All Dressed Up with Nothing to Do

Well, almost! We arrived at the office just a few minutes before noon. I guess that about 1/4 of us showed up today. No problem with getting a parking space today! So, we came to work, but there's nothing to do. (There probably is something to do, but who wants to?) It's surf the internet and blog from home, or surf the internet and blog from the office. Fine by me!

It's Back to Work

My agency has decided to open today at 12:00. We'll be leaving Round Rock in a few minutes to make an attempt to get there. No real reason to be optimistic, because the temp hasn't gotten above freezing in several days. On the one hand, I'm glad to be getting out of the house. On the other, almost everyone else (Attorney General's office, City of Austin, Travis County) has closed for the day, and I wonder if we'll even be able to get there.

Modesty Comes at a Price

An Australian company named Ahiida had developed sportswear for Muslim women. They market several lines of sporting wear, but the one that captured my attention is the burkini. Yes, a swimsuit burqa. They have two styles - slim-fit (photo) and modest-fit. I took a look at both and found it hard to tell the difference. One difference is the price: $170 AUD ($133 USD) for slim-fit, and $190AUD ($149 USD) for modest fit. Does that mean even Ahiida makes modesty the more expensive choice? Twenty bucks for a couple of inches more material. No one ever said righteousness would be cheap.

Amsterdam to Honor Prostitutes

Well, somebody had to! The city of Amsterdam will dedicate a new sculpture to the prostitutes of the world in March. The sculpture will have a woman standing in a doorway with a self confident look and her hand on her hip. Mariska Majoor, who is a former prostitute herself, has taken the iniative to honor all the world's prostitutes. The city government has donated some property in the red light district to help out. The unveiling of the statue will take place during the 2nd "open house" of the red light district. Best wishes!

Whining 'Bout the Weather

Okay, this has gotten old. I didn't like it much anyway, but now this has gone too far. First we had rain, then sleet, then snow. The problem isn't that it has happened, it's that it has happened now for so long! We don't usually have winter around here for more than about two days in a row. It's time for a break.

Texas Closed for Ice

I got a call this afternoon from my office telling me that they have already cancelled tomorrow. Well, not really cancelled it, because they can't keep it from happening, but they've already called off work tomorrow. I've worked there an awful (that's how we actually pronounce "awfully") long time, and that has never happened before. Whoa, tomorrow must be gonna turn out real bad (yeah, that's how we say that too)!