Today I opened my Ipod and tried to load Huckleberry Finn on it from Audiobooksforfree.com. It was $8 for the program but it ran to 43 files. It'll take some adjusting to.
Went to the gym and tried out their new equipment. When I re-instated my card, they told me that when I reached my next birthday, I was home free- no charge for people of my fast approaching age. Good news & bad.
I managed 30 min. on maximum position and the heavier machines are easier to exercize on than the light ones I have at home.
Afterwards we went home and further compromised our diet for what was left over in leftovers. I ran out with my camera and took pictures of the river fog and the rising of the water.
A doctor visit for the wife and me got us an additional adminition that her back will be better if she exercises and keeps to it. I've begun by getting myself an up to date card and bribing / guilting the kids to meet her there after school even if she just watches them exercize. We'll see how that all works out.

Lots of nature things. Photos of rising water. Photos of trees covered in water. Mist over the water. A bit of on the ground snow still.

I'm also thinking I need to get serious about negotiating with various people who I want to take photos of in the new year -- get down what they want and work out how to do it.

Exciting possiblities.

Click for larger size.

I love this shot. I love the shape of the model's face. I love the rain. Her expression is lovely.

Beware, Zombies: This 'Guide' Will Save Humankind : NPR

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I've always thought "I love Lucy," was brilliant but I cringe when I watch it -- I hate her decsion process, but she always ends up with a series of small decisions that end up with one giant bad decision.

M*A*S*H seems to hold up well. I watched most of it first run.

Television seems to be very attached to the moment it was made in a way that a lot of films seem to escape. Science fiction has at least a chance of escaping this, though a lot of it is just very clearly a child of the decade it was filmed.

Music holds up better -- I'm listeing to a 1967 live recording of Simon & Garfunkle from New York.

Editorial - Gun Owners, Unfiltered - NYTimes.com

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Or ... What happens when you poll NRA members without the NRA leadership filtering the answers?

Sedaris and Crumpet the Elf: A Holiday Tradition : NPR

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The life of David Sedaris took an unexpected, and not entirely unwelcome, turn when his "Santaland Diaries" were first broadcast on Morning Edition in 1992.

Sedaris recounted his experiences playing Crumpet the elf at Macy's in New York during the holidays. Almost overnight, he went from obscurity to sought-after talent.

Now, 13 years later, he is a best-selling author who still appears on public radio from time-to-time.

Story & Audio ...

It was on the solstice ten years ago today.  The last solstice before the turning of the millennium, appropriately enough.  With the return of the light came something utterly unexpected.  A light brighter than any other illumination--one that colors every part of my life.  A light that chased the dark self-doubt out of shadowed corners, a light that healed, a light that guides. 

I fell in love with my best friend.

And now I stand and look back over a decade of adventures and laughter, a decade of tears and stress, a decade of joy and pain and pleasure.  I am amazed at how far we've come, how much fun we've had, how much we've done together.  I am amazed that I have spent a third of my life loving just one person.  I am amazed that after all this, he's still the one person I'd rather spend time with than anyone else.  I am amazed that I am still in love.  

I can't wait to see what comes next.

I love you, Jay.  Happy Anniversary.

http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/021213.html

Protester outside UN: Down with the British!
British coworker: What's with this shit?
American coworker: Apparently Britain is controlling the American government!
British coworker: Why the fuck haven't I been told?

--47th & 2nd

Overheard by: David
( Read more... )

From ‘Vibrator’ to ‘Cougar Town,’ Sex Is Still a Man’s World - NYTimes.com

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Due to the weather the Crucible has cancelled the social tonight.

In addition, the Board has decided to cancel the Discussion Meeting tomorrow.

We apologize for those who were looking forward to attending either event, but feel that it is the right and safe decision to make due to the weather.

We look forward to seeing all of you in the New Year.


(and we apologize if this email doesn't get to you immediately, even email is a bit slowed down right now. :-)

The Avatar Backlash - Page 1 - The Daily Beast

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For those who are interested, clashes in Iran are still ongoing. They aren't daily, but at each big national holiday new protests crop up.

The Basij are a group that is the front line of the Revolutionary Guard, usually the shock troops of repression in the cities. They're religiously brain-washed and usually fanatical.

One of the commanders has apparently defected to the UK and has described what happened during and after the election. It makes for riveting, and sad, reading:

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/world/middle_east/iran+basij+member+describes+election+abuse/3466142