The clock is ticking...

On Dec 13 I will be having vocal chord surgery which will hopefully allow me to sing again. In the mean time I continue to sound all froggy.

Oh and one other thing, I will not be able to speak a word for 7 days afterwards followed by 7 more of minimal (5 min per hour) speaking.

Oh God give me strength!
I wonder if there is a patron saint of silence?

It's starting to get easier to believe.

26 - 7

The boys in blue are making this look too easy. Some said the Colts weren't physical enough to play with the bad ole Steelers. Well, those guys were bad, just not bad enough.

Next stop this Sunday with Tennessee.

An inside joke....

Ok try Number 2, I had this completed and ready for post then "poof" I went back to the Dashboard... hmmmmmm.

This is for those of us who remember when Andy Warhol said in the future we would all be famous for 15 min. The updated version is that one day everyone will have a weblog.

All I would add is that:

3. I will get dressed before noon. (add shower)

Via:

http://www.mostlycajun.com/wordpress/ who linked to:
http://minivanmom74.samsproductions.com/?p=638 who linked to:
http://pebblepie.blogspot.com/2005/11/i-so-dont-do-this-lol-im-still-gone.html who posted it in its entirety and who may be the author although she neither claims nor denys anything before posting...

Go there and have a chuckle.

Also filed under pet peeve number 432:
Why does the spell check in Blogger not recognize the words "Weblog" or "blog"?

RANDOMSPAMCRAP I

In keeping with my previous post about spam and the bizzare Haiku-like gibberish that seems to accompany some of the messages I get; attached is a random sampling of the
"RASPCAP" I got last week:

things went on just as dive usual. I wonder if I've been from changed in
iVb "Let me feel your pulse, my boy!" boat said head the anxious gate
father.
say other confusedly. The superstar captain garden continued:

cross me out po box above in site
You have knocked over a good many people with that tube during the past week.
I know, said Rob; but I couldn't help it.

It was the only way I had to protect myself. Hearing these words Jim resolved to conquer his alarm.

One Day after...

Today is "Black Friday" as they call it in the world of retail.
The loves of my life are out there doing their parts to make it a festive, Hap-Hap-HAPPY Frikkin Christmas (apologies to Clark Griswold) for all the retail workers by joining in the throngs of folks buying and selling while I'm here at home in peace and quiet listening to my download of one of the last of the late Chris Whitley concerts. I stumbled across the news that he had died from lung cancer this past week. He had a truly unique sound.
I truly dislike shopping for the sake of shopping, therefore today is one of my least favorite days. Actually what it is about today is the crowds. It’s the crowds that make me uncomfortable which is odd in that I like people and get along fine with strangers. MBH (below with a friend's kid) -

says that one of the things she admires about me is my way of being able to converse with complete strangers. It’s the mob atmosphere that has a tendency to ruin my ability to enjoy being out.

I often wonder what it is that compels the good writers to keep writing when the muse leaves. I understand the discipline of writing for writing's sake but what I don’t get is what they write about when they "go dry".

I started this blog in order to express myself. I read so many political blogs on a fairly regular basis that I doubt there is much I can add to the overall discussion that hasn’t already been said by those more studious than I.
I guess that being said, I will keep most of my political thoughts to themselves. Suffice it to say, I support the President and the troops. I voted for him twice and would gladly do so again if he could run. I would like to see them come home soon but not before they are finished and the war won.

I suppose I should include the obligatory salute to the holiday:
(Written the eve of Thanksgiving)

THANKSGIVING
What does it mean?
We’ve all heard the stories about the Pilgrims and the first thanksgiving but I’ve always found it interesting that this national holiday while not specifically Christian in celebration is one of the most Christian in spirit.
A holiday set aside specifically to give thanks for our harvest and bounty but yet, who are we thanking if not God? Why thank him unless you acknowledge his supreme mercy in caring for his children? Why be thankful unless deep within our hearts we know in a visceral way that God is the ultimate source of our life and breath.
This will be our first Thanksgiving in many years where we aren’t the ones hosting the dinner. We will be traveling to our daughter’s boyfriend’s family’s home to celebrate with them. I’m a bit apprehensive as to what to expect but maybe this is just my inherent desire to control my life manifesting itself.

As I sit here typing, the remains of two fingers of George Dickel whisky beside me, I am find my mind waxing eloquent.
What do I have to be thankful for?
• I am a child of the risen Lord Jesus. I know that it is not essential for me to be perfect only that I recognize that I am forgiven. As I grow as a Christian, I find myself more and more amazed at the miracle of our Lord’s plan that includes my salvation.
• I’m relatively healthy. At 44 years of age I have outlived a significant portion of humanity over the years. I would be an old man in many cultures only 100 years ago.
• I have a beautiful wife of 16 years with whom I am only growing more and more in love with. The night of our wedding as she turned to walk down the aisle and I went up to meet her and escort her to the altar I thought she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I still think so.
• I am good at what I do at my place of work. It is a job I am able to find some fulfillment at. I attempt to keep it in perspective; Architecture is something I DO not who I am. Years ago I decided that my job supports my life, not the other way around.
• My daughter is a wonderful, intelligent, witty, fascinating young woman. She is making her way in this life in a way that is hers alone.
• My parents seem to be in fairly good health for their age. I speak to them often but see them less than I would like. I do not remember ever being unable to speak or relate to them. One of my fondest experiences is that I have grown to know them as adults as I have grown.
• I live in a country which although not perfect is by far the most free, most advanced country in the history of mankind. It is possible to become almost anything one wishes here if only one puts their mind to it.
• I take for granted, technology that did not exist in my own childhood. When I started as an architect we drew with the same tools that the architects of the ancient Egyptians used with the only difference being ours were updated in technology. Thomas Jefferson would have recognized the tools and techniques used in my first office. Now we use computers which allow us to create virtual projects in virtual worlds in ways that were not even imagined 30 years ago.

Sometimes you want something simple

In lieu of posting something erudite or original, you can always add the results of an online survey (below):

The Knight You scored 36% Cardinal, 41% Monk, 32% Lady, and 62% Knight!

You are the hero. Brave and bold. You are strong and utterly selfless. You are also a pawn to your superiors and will be lucky if you live very long. If you survive the Holy wars you are thrust into you will be praised for your valor and opportunities both romantic and financial will become available to you.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 52% on Cardinal You scored higher than 46% on Monk You scored higher than 11% on Lady You scored higher than 79% on Knight

Link: The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test written by KnightlyKnave on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

The weirdness that is the internet

Every so often the internet reminds why it is so fascinating and weird at the same time. Attached is a "Junk or spam" message I received recently:

Subject line: "Present the supreme offering of all - A dashing modernistic watch!

Impress your coworkers at meetings with one of our industry standard reproduction watches. A large selection of replica watches numbering over 1500; surely one will match you. No need to drag yourself to a wristwatch shop! Our mailing is quick and reliable. Clients know that they triumph by obtaining one of our wrist watches.

Our site has the best purchaser service history. Reach us all day everyday. Look fabulous without breaching all your money and get one of our well-made watches."

chopstick soap plate The remark bird, sir?" suggested harmful Whitely. Stress estimable in the view comic of supplementary persons of steadier and more resolute character."


Now our office email has 2 spam filters; one is the Outlook "built-in" filter and one is a Barracuda machine filter so we get about .05% of the actual spam that is sent to our system.
Ever so often our system will mark something as "junk" but will also pass it through. When this happens it appears as if it is a genuine message when its not.
It was addressed to a "Boyd Milliand" (I seem to get a lot of his email which is odd in that I know no "Boyd Milliand") but what struck me was the Subject line: "Present the supreme offering of all - A dashing modernistic watch! " (notice that there was an exclamation point - its not just a watch but a "DASHING MODERNISTIC WATCH!")
When I have shopped for watches in the past and believe me I have purchased enough as I am pretty hard on them, I don’t think that I've ever gone looking for a "Dashing, modernistic watch". I doubt if I have ever even used the adjective "dashing" more than once or twice a year. (I wonder what a "Dashing modernistic watch" looks like?)

After reading that wonderful example of stellar English you come to the body text which becomes almost like a surreal experiment in language translation.

The first paragraph seems at first pass to be normal English.
"Impress your coworkers at meetings with one of our industry standard reproduction watches. A large selection of replica watches numbering over 1500; surely one will match you. No need to drag yourself to a wristwatch shop! Our mailing is quick and reliable. Clients know that they triumph by obtaining one of our wrist watches."
I've never been in a meeting where my coworkers would even notice my watch let alone attempt to impress them although I am guessing that it they were the sorts of people easily impressed by such things they would be able to tell a fake from a real ROLEX. (I once had a friend who bought a fake Rolex from a vendor in Hong Kong that looked pretty real until you put a battery in it and then you discovered it ran backwards! He only paid like $5 for it so it was more of a joke than anything else.) but anyway, read the last line; Clients know that they "triumph" by obtaining one of our wrist watches! I've always wanted to "triumph" in my business dealings! Amazing, to think that all this time I've been failing because I did not own a reproduction watch, Hmm... whod'a thunk?

Then we come to the second paragraph:
"Our site has the best purchaser service history. Reach us all day everyday. Look fabulous without breaching all your money and get one of our well-made watches."
This one is a doozy, "The best purchaser service history?!?" I'm certainly glad I can reach them all day and everyday, you never know when you will need to buy a fake Rolex at 3:30 in the morning on a Sunday but apparently you can with them.
Then we come to the real bizzaro translation, "Look fabulous without "BREACHING" all your money and get one of our well-made watches"????

If you look up "breaching" in the dictionary you get the following:

breach (n)

Aa. An opening, a tear, or a rupture.
b. A gap or rift, especially in or as if in a solid structure such as a dike or fortification.
A violation or infraction, as of a law, a legal obligation, or a promise.
A breaking up or disruption of friendly relations; an estrangement.
A leap of a whale from the water.
The breaking of waves or surf.

I guess I never really thought of it, but if something costs too much it is a "breach" of my bank account although thank God as far as I can tell, whales were never involved.
Lately my wallet hasn't been very dike-like, its been more of a screen door.

Finally we have:
"chopsticks soap plate The remark bird, sir?" suggested harmful Whitely. stress estimable in the view comic of supplementary persons of steadier and more resolute character.""

Huh, Pardon? WTF is that? Who is harmful Whitely? Why is he(her) "estimable in the view comic of supplementary persons of steadier and more resolute character"?

I read this one and had a really good laugh, I even printed it and shared it with a few friends who also got a chuckle from it but then it got me to thinking.
Why is there a money making venture that involves send random gibberish to total strangers? Who is the genius that thought up this idea? How could anyone be fooled by this crap? There isn't even a Nigerian Bank account or a missing Finance Minister's account mentioned!

Ok, call me strange, odd or just plain weird but I find this kind of spam immensely fascinating. Not all the spam that gets thru is like this. Most of it consists of ads for instant college degrees or "fantastic stock offerings!" (somehow I doubt Charles Schwab is behind these) but the one constant is that most of them are written in readable plain English. Its the one-in-ten that is written in almostcomprehensiblee gibberish that makes me laugh and gets my attention.
They appear as if they have been translated numerous times from one language to another and finally to English. 95% of all spam is immediately deleted and never even read but now I have a new hobby. When ever I get a random message I will scan it for the end of text message Spam Haiku (not to be confused with SPAMku - http://mit.edu/jync/www/spam/ the real SPAM Haiku page). What fun! Its like a random message from an alien race. You never know when you willreceivee a funky message of fun from the ether.

Day the second

Ok, I'm new to this but I'm attempting to stretch my ossified mind around it.
Like most in my profession, an abundance of humility is not a vice I claim.
There is an old joke about architects who's punchline is something like, "No. But if you give me 2 weeks I can learn it." Sometimes I think while we need a bit of arrogance to do our jobs we lay it on a bit thick.
However, I did learn how to add a link to the page.

Please visit Michael Yon's page. He writes eloquently about real heroes.
I cannot say anything that remotely approaches what we owe these guys.
Read their story, shed a tear, pass on a prayer for those who did not come home and their families, but please read their story.
With all that has been going on over the last few years, we should remember:
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
George Orwell

I guess blogger etiquette demands a few things like rules and intentions to be added somewhere about here:
(obviously I'll be editing this as I figure this out)
Intention:
As the Heading says, it is one man's view of the world as seen from a Midwestern American viewpoint. I intend it to be somewhat freewheeling. My mind has a tendency to bounce around when pondering issues so it may be possible to have a post about politics veer into a sports analogy and a family story with a spicing of Catholic theology before eventually winding back on-topic.

Like all Blogs,
ON THIS PAGE I AM A DICTATOR
My word is law so if you don't like what I say, you are welcome to comment and as long as they are cogent, respectful of other's opinions and on topic then I will allow pretty much anything to be said. If you become belligerent, offensive or obscene (Remember its my world here) I will ban you.
Remember, like Zeus, I can reach to the heavens and pull down thunderbolts to strike mortals, so be nice and maybe we can all get along.

Day one

This is a test, for the next few days (or until I get the muse) you will see this.
This is only a test.....

(add sound effect of an annoying tone here)