Blog Follow Up - Rat Bastards

Blog Follow Up - Rat Bastards

Current mood:satisfied

This is a follow up to my Dec 20, 2007 blog entry about our local mail thieves who were stealing our Christmas cards.

The postal service would have been more than happy to investigate our problem and prosecute those responsible, but, that would not have solved the inherent security problem of having mail delivered to a box on the curb. I managed to solve the problem by contacting all of my neighbors and having them agree to have their mailboxes replaced with a central station on the block. Now, all residents have secure drop off and pick up, as well as 2 big boxes for parcels!

This was done at no cost to the residents, just the cost of the stamps to mail them a request! About a month and a half after taking up the cause, we have our station, and no more worries. I have already pulled my mailboxes away from the road! To say the least, the neighbors are all pretty happy about this. Yay me. LOL.

I’m Burning I’m Burning I’m Burning For You

I’m Burning I’m Burning I’m Burning For You

Current mood:accomplished

So I am a pyromaniac, sue me, LOL! But seriously folks, when I bought my house, I was not aware that you could burn your waste rather than bundle it by the roadside. When I did some major clearing here after purchasing the property, and the garbage men would not take the waste because there was too much of it, my neighbor at the time suggested burning it. Alas, a new hobby was born.

I burn all of my yard waste with an occasional fire...usually me and Lori in the back yard...or me, the dogs and a 12 pack, LOL. When I was burning my stumps in the front yard, it got a little more social as neighbors and passersby would stop to enjoy the fire. I really liked that social aspect, and to some degree was a little sad when the front yard no longer demanded to be burned.

I have been collecting a little debris, so I decided to burn last week...BUT Lori had work obligations, so I thought I would invite a few people over. Well, I second thought that because of Loris schedule and decided to put it off a week, and invite more people...and ended up turning it into more of a party. I think this is just what the doctor ordered. So many people enjoy a nice fire, but cant have them where they live. You cannot burn in the city limits here, but you can in the county. I am fortunate that my house is the first house on the line...walk out my front door into the city, and to the stop sign in the city, but my house physically sits in the county, so I have all the benefits of city living with all the perks of country living.

We got a plethora of food and drink together...I supplied the beer, soft drinks and mixers, as well as eggplant parm, lasagna , raviolis and Italian sausage and peppers. The guest brought fantastic foods...meatballs, dips, chips, jalapeno poppers, slaw, PIZZELLES and much more, as well as plenty more to drink.

What was kind of neat about this soiree was that it was the first time my worlds had collided in one place...my Flagler people never really come to the house because it is so far away, my old friends dont know my Flagler people and my neighbors just know me, so this was great that my neighbors, old friends and Flagler friends were all in attendance. I dont think anyone got a picture of me without a smile on my face.

I started the fire at 5:00 with a handful of people there. The staging area was an old futon we had. This was the first piece of furniture that Lori bought brand new. Right after she bought it, it became damaged and the repair was difficult, so we kept putting it off. Finally, I decided that it had brought too much strife to life and it needed to be sacrificed. I find it very very cathartic to burn the things that give me grief, because then they cease to exist any longer.

After the futon ignited, I had construction debris, yard waste, felled tree limbs, sheets of 1/2 inch and 3/4 plywood and all manner of burnables. I was not sure if I had too much or not enough, but it was more important to me to have a BONFIRE not a CAMPFIRE, LOL.

We got a really nice OOH AAH factor from the queen palm fronds. I would fold them in quarters and throw them on the fire and the flames would go as high as my roof! That would make the surrounding areas as bright as day, LOL. Great time to take natural light pics. Kim and I both threw our old bills in the fire to be consumed and lost to existance. Good riddance.

(Surveying the flame height, LOL!)

I

I was really concerned with how the dogs were going to handle things as we have never entertained at the house before on this level. It was wonderful to see them stay right near the crowd and not run off or be a pain. Foster was happy to have people to fawn over him and play ball, and Tiny was inclined to come out and survey the crowd, then go lay on the couch, LOL!

Later in the evening, Randy suggested jumping over the fire..and did so several times, as well as walking over the fire. I ended up leaping the flames a few times, and at one point, Randy and I jumped over hand in hand. He asked me my plan, which was merely " I'll stay right, you stay left", LOL.

Jay and Gustavo were driving up from Miami so we talked them into swinging by...still plenty of food and fire, but the fire could have been waning, so I got the truck and made a 30 second wood run...at the end of my street I have a endless stack of seasoned cut oak. We ended up making 2 runs before the night was over.

They brought their dog, Bif, and it was fun watching Foster and Tiny assimilate to another male canine in the house...and Bif was asserting dominance. It was cool...they ultimately work it out and were all playing together nicely.

Here is Jay and Foster with Bif in the background having a snack.

We ended up staying in the yard enjoying the fire until about 3:45. Cleaned up and slept, then got up the next morning to clean up. Pleasantly, there was NO garbage or mess in the backyard at all...just one beer can and a fork...other than that, everyone either burned their mess or found the cans/bins.

Amazingly, after burning ALL of that debris and all that firewood, there was absolutely nothing left to show for it...not even that much ash. Fire is a simply amazing thing when you study it. Cathartic, entertaining, relaxing and thought provoking. Everyone seemed to have a good time, and even Lori suggested we should do this more often.

Looking forward to the next bonfire already! Thank you to all of you who were a part of the fun this time. More pics are available at my MySpace photo album.

I Had Forgotten How Fun This Is To Hear...

I Had Forgotten How Fun This Is To Hear...

Current mood:cooky/wacky

I think the Nixon administration made it publicly clear that the president's phone calls from the White House were all tape recorded for posterity, LOL. What is not often thought of are the HOURS of arcane conversations that must be on file.

Years ago, I got a sound file recorded in August 1964. This always makes me laugh out loud. A buddy of mine brought it up to me today and asked me if I still had it, so I found it online and thought I would write a blog to share with all of you who had never heard it before...

The link I will provide will take you to a file of Lyndon Johnson calling the Haggar pants company directly to order pants. When listening, keep in mind a couple of things...first, most of us go to the store and buy Haggar slacks without dealing with the company, let alone "Joe Haggar, Mr Haggar's boy" directly...and secondly, listening to President Johnsons needs in slacks...keep in mind he is the leader of the free world in 1964, LOL! It is truly bizarre, and gets more surreal when he discusses adding shirts to the order. Add this to his belching and crude language, and you get a portrait from a different time, LOL!

The link will play in Real Player...if you do not have it, I suggest googling "Lyndon Johnson Haggar" to read a transcript or find the file elsewhere...you have to hear it.

http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/prestapes/lbj_haggar.html

BE SURE to click the LISTEN tab under the title...reading it just wont be as funny an impact!

Get your laugh on!

Support Your Local Crack Dealer

Support Your Local Crack Dealer

Current mood:argumentative

Let me start off by reiterating, I am not a prude or an angel. I understand that many people have a "past". Some people can rise above things they have done in their past, and learn from the mistakes. It is another attitude altogether to celebrate your mistakes. This attitude is the genesis of this post.

I subscribe to many music related publications. This assists in my business by keeping me up to date on music trends and other info. One magazine I subscribe to is Blender, which I consider to be a mainstream musical media publication. It is not fringey like say a Rolling Stone or other heavily editorialized magazine.

Now what got my goat growling was an article about rapper and mogul Jay-Z. Jay Z is a former(?) crack dealer, like many current rap stars, who is unabashed in his admitting to his past. Jay-Z has parlayed his talents, his business acumen and music to create a 268 million dollar fortune and enterprise encompassing clothing, and many other various business ventures.

This all may sound like an American success story, and to some extent it probably is. One would think the responsible thing to do would be to talk down the aspect that this success was all funded by crack sales. One would think so, but alas, in article after article about rapper after rapper in mag after mag, the drug sales aspect is glorified proudly by author and subject. This recent Jay-Z article was no different.

Jay-Z recently saw an advance copy of American Gangster, and wrote an album inspired by the movie, because the subject of the movie, Frank Lucas, had such parallel experiences in his life. The new Jay-Z album, American Gangster, is a celebration and a waxing nostalgic of the crack slangin' days. I am not suggesting that rappers or celebrities should be held as role models for the public, and youth. What I am curious about is when it became socially acceptable to admit to being a crack dealer, or a thug or murderer, and be so widely accepted socially without any penalty. We are showing our youth that selling dope IS a socially accepted gateway to the business world. Why would a ghetto youth want to work a 9-5 when he can easily earn exponentially more in a criminal fashion...like his famous heroes have done?

The hip hop community is rife with celebrity who got their start in crime...not allegedly, but admittedly. Many dont leave the life and use their legit avenues of earning as a means to justify what they make in the criminal enterprise. My point is not to do something about THAT per se, I am just ponderous about when all this criminal activity became so socially acceptable that a mainstream publication such as Blender would choose to glorify the lifestyle with no fear of repercussion.

I watch Cribs, MTV, or BET now and again, and I listen to the themes of some of the music in my world, and I just wonder if, where and when it went wrong. Just pick up any publication with an in depth interview with a hip hop hero, and see how long it takes for the article to get to the criminal aspect...

Here is a link to the Blender article where Jay Z is interviewed for his crack selling prowess:

http://www.blender.com/DamnItFeelsGoodtobeaGangster/articles/9590.aspx

Weve Come A Long Way!

We’ve Come A Long Way!

Current mood:impressed

This week (specifically 12/27) marks the 120th anniversary of electricity coming to DeLand. DeLand was the first city in Florida to have electricity.

The benefactor supplying the street lights was John Stetson, of the Stetson Hat company, and namesake of Stetson University. He needed a bigger generator for his factory in Fairport, NY. He was one of the directors of the new power company, and used his old smaller generator here. The first generator donated by Stetson was the fourth generator made by Thomas Edison himself.

We have progressed a little since then. Look at the huge period of time that has passed in the spectrum of world history, and how much has been accomplished in the last 100 years, and even more so the last 20 years. Absolutely amazing, and stunning to think what the future may hold, even in our lifetime!

Christ HAS left the holiday...

Christ has left the holiday...

Current mood:discontent

At a DJ forum I haunt, someone started a thread about losing Christ in Christmas, from a Christian perspective. I posted a reply and liked the wording so I thought I would blog it publicly here. To see the entire thread, including my reply and responses, click here: http://www.ourdjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=10423

Why is Christmas becoming a Holiday? Where has Christ gone?

Christmas has become a big blur. Keep in mind, our societies values keep evolving...look at how life and culture was in the 50s compared to now...not only are family values and the importance of religion eroding, but the meaning of the holiday has become watered down into a commercial frenzy transcending all religious boundary.

Christmas is a holiday set aside to celebrate the birth of Christ. It has nothing to do with Santa, trees, decorations, gifting or marketing. Christmas is celebrated by Christians. Santa, trees and other things are NOT Christian symbols.

Much of what is used today to celebrate "Christmas" is actually derived from Pagan and Celtic Winter Solstice celebrations...but many moons ago, the practices became adopted by the Christians as well. So even todays symbols of Christmas have nothing to do with Christ by design. Christmas as we know it has only existed since the late 1800s.

Santa is not mentioned in the bible...he is a symbol of the man made version of Christmas. He is a fictional character of European descent whose legend has evolved. Even the image of Santa as we recognize him was created by Coca Cola many years ago in their marketing. Santa is a marketing icon.

But we overlook ALL these facts, and decide to lump the entire chalupa under the umbrella of Christmas...which apparantly, after all these decades, Christ has become less and less a part of. It is more about the commercial aspect, the party aspect, the gifting aspect and the Santa aspect than it has become about the Christ aspect.

So even non Christians participate in the other areas of the Holiday. Hence, the term Happy Holiday...since it encompasses all the aspects of the holiday without the focus on Christ.

You really think stringing lights all over your house makes you a better Christian? It does not show Christmas spirit, it shows Holiday spirit. Exalting Christ shows Christian Christmas spirit.

Society has been rewarded today for the evolution of the holiday by its members. We watered down the meaning and now are complaining that we cant find any Christ-meat in our Holiday stew?

So to those complaining about the erosion of Christ from Christmas...does having your tree up, lights up, sending your cards and buying and getting your gifts really celebrate Christmas, or is it more of a Holiday celebration. What did you do to celebrate Christ? Do you think your kids worshipped more to Christ or Santa?

Saying Happy Holiday or Merry Christmas is lip service. Only Christians celebrate Christmas, and I will go on a limb and say most of the Christians dont really know how to celebrate properly. THAT is why Christmas is becoming a Holiday.

Furthermore...in todays social climate, more people are willing to be open about stepping away from Christ. For many years it was so taboo to have an alternate belief, or a lack of belief, that the alternate believers remained underground. Further yet, many years we did not think as globally as we do now. There was not as much travel, communication, satellites or the internet, so belief remained regional. Today, beliefs or lack of, are more prevalent in smaller areas, so your community probably has larger pockets of groups who do not necessarily celebrate or worship Christ as the saviour, but do celebrate the holidays by participating in what has become the custom...trees, decorations and gifting.

This is where political correctness in borne from. Trying to please everyone...or rather not offend anyone. Tolerance goes a long way, but there appears to be a lack of it, and lets just say that it only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch. Everyone is afraid of being sued or boycotted for their professed belief, or now lack of. Everyone is now getting rabid when corporations choose the word Holiday over Christmas. This almost smacks of a reverse discrimination though, when you realize that Christmas being forced by Christians threatening boycotts is not very tolerant or Christlike either.

If you are a Christian, learn to properly celebrate your faith...if you celebrate Christmas the way 90% of America does, then Happy Holidays. If you are exalting Christ, then Merry Christmas.

It is your choice. It is my choice. But, THAT is where Christ has gone, and you put him there.

Rat Bastards

Rat Bastards

Current mood:angry

Came home today and saw Christmas cards in the street...checked and they belonged to my neighbors...apparently someone is going down the street and opening all the Christmas cards looking for loot. Some made it back to the mailbox, others were tossed to blow in the wind. Wonder how many wont get seen, or how much money got taken?

I am spearheading a campaign to remove all of our mailboxes and have the Post Office install a central mail station with lock boxes. If all the folks on my block agree, we can have it done free of charge! I am mailing out the requests tomorrow...we will see how it pans out.

This is why I personally have had a PO Box since 1983 or so! I GET my mail. It aint the 50s anymore.