Earth und alles

New gig

2011-01-05T08:17:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

I may be posting to the blog as much as a though I would be. I have new digs at the Channel 37 Blog. You can find it at http://ch37.wordpress.com/ I will be doing most of my posting there from now on, but may occasionally vent here.

Have fun!

1 800 - TIPS

2010-11-04T15:51:00.000-07:00

"Hello, 1 800 TIPS"

"Is this the number to report suspicious activity?"

"Yes, sir, do you see any suspicious activity?"

"Yes, I'm watching it happen right now."

"Could you described this activity?"

"I'm driving on the Beltway, following a BMW. The driver is maintaining the speed limit and using his turn signal for lane changes. He even let another driver in front."

"Sir, please remain calm. We are getting a GPS fix on your cell phone and are dispatching a SWAT team immediately."

New Year's Resolution

2010-11-02T18:08:00.000-07:00

In honor of making it to one more year, I decided to make a resolution. I will try to post at least twice a week about different aspects of writing.

These might include a little fiction, a little truth, but mostly just ramblings. One of my writing heroes, George Carlin, would call it "Brain Droppings."

I have come up with a few ideas that I will be sharing soon. Hopefully, they will entertain, beguile, amuse and cause a few people to send checks (I did say "fiction").

So, Here's to the New Year!

Bubble, Bubble, Oil and Trouble

2010-06-24T20:59:00.000-07:00

British Petroleum has a nice shiny building in Frederick Maryland. In this building they are exploring the use of solar power. The building was long owned by a company called Solartek. BP purchased the building and is in the midst of expanding said building. I was a great supporter of their efforts in this enterprise.

I hope that the troubles that BP has put the US and the world through would energize them to be more committed to the exploration of Solar power.

The Terrorists Have Won!

2010-02-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

Last night, I went to dinner with two friends. One was a writer friend, another a young woman who has helped me greatly over the last few years. The dinner was great, we talked about old times and great times to come. Then the discussion turned to world events.

The talked turned to the captured Taliban general. The general, apparently is being turned over to Pakistan. The young woman was happy, in that the Pakistanis would not hesitate to torture him, unlike our country.

I excused myself and went to the bathroom. I wanted to throw up. I wanted to cry. Here was a drop dead beautiful young woman in love. Her thoughts should be on the bridesmaids colors or finding a great caterer. Instead, she was delighted that someone would be tortured.

Sigh! The war might as well be over, for the terrorists have had their way with us.

Grief

2009-12-09T07:55:00.000-08:00

My Friends Sarah and Jonathan recently lost a baby. The very next day Sara blogged about it http://yellowitchgrl.livejournal.com/603654.html I think it’s awesome that she is able to deal with the pain of grief and journal it out and begin the healing process.
My own sadness at my father’s recent death has affected me different. At times I’m OK, knowing that is was a long battle and now he’s at peace. Other times I feel abandoned, after all now I’m an orphan. I’m not sure how to handle that new label.
As much as I like to write, it has suffered by my father’s death. I’ve ignored most of my self-imposed deadlines. I’ve put off revisions and starting new projects. I’m just not trying to think about life, etc.
Hopefully I will never know the loss of a child. I do not know how profoundly influence I am by Sarah’s words of hope. I know even as she began the healing process in her words, that process has affected me.

The Summer of our Recession

2009-07-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

We are quickly approach mid summer, and I have yet to do something exciting. I have had days off, but no extra money. Even though I moved to Baltimore County about five years ago, I have yet to get a library card. The extra $$ in my wallet being no longer there, I am considering the move.
I was greatly delighted to see one of my words appear in a national blog. One of my favorite bloggers, http://adcontrarian.blogspot.com/ had a poll yesterday. The poll concerned PETA's desire to rename fish "sea kittens." The blogger had a poll on what we thought fish should be called. He had a list of about seven and a category called "other." I always choose other. When the results were published, he gave percentages and included several of the other names. "Finburger" was mine.
Today, I left a comment at http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/ writing the first line in an Amish vampire book. Check it out!
Oh well, might as well have fun playing cut little games-it's for free!

Rain of Death

2009-05-04T13:09:00.000-07:00

It's been raining in Maryland for many days now, which means...
The ground is getting saturated, which means...
Earthworms are now surfacing, which means...
Birds have an ample food supply, which means...
There will less mortality among baby birds, which means...
The bird population will be larger, which means...
A flu like the avian strain will be easier to turn into a pandemic, which means...
We're all going to die!

In the State of Awaiting Order

2009-03-03T06:13:00.000-08:00

Last month I purchased a new digital caliper, for measuring gemstones (my day job). Last night just for fun, I read the instructions. I usually like to read the directions from things from China, this proved to be no exception.
The mode directions explained all the things this simple digital caliber can do. Before, however, you can use it, you must place the caliber, "In the state of awaiting order." There were no directions on how to do this, unfortunately.
Then it occurred to me. "The state of awaiting order," meant, in our archaic way of phrasing things, "On."
Wow!
I was somewhat disappointed. "The state of awaiting order," cries out for much more meaning than that. I mean, whole novels, self help books and CIA papers can bear that title.
Maybe I'll write a story with the title.

Big 3 bailout

2008-12-08T16:12:00.000-08:00

OK, for starters I'm not a fan of the government bailout of businesses. I'm certainly not a fan of businesses whining for help from the government. If you messed up you business too bad! Isn't that what a free-market capitalistic society is all about? I know, what about the unemployment? what about lost pensions? etc.

Here is the Gary Lester fantasy solution! (You may print this out and send it to your congress person:

The oil companies should save the car industry!

Why, you might ask?

Here are my reasons:

1) As fast as Detroit loses money, the oil companies rake it in. Windfall loses for cars-windfall profits for oil. Are they related?

2) In the last oil crunch, GM produced an electric car. It started out somewhat ok, but before a greater level of development was achieved, the product was yanked. Many think that it was the oil companies that either paid and/or convinced GM to give up this wild idea.

3) Had this been pursued, GM would be making their 4th generation electric car which certainly be super efficient in many ways.

Big slow businesses that cannot adapt are like big hulking dinosaurs. Change or die! (Interesting that oil basically is the decomposed liquid remnants of these creatures).

Obama und alles

2008-11-05T06:15:00.000-08:00

-OR- Why I voted for Obama

First, These aren't the reasons I voted for him: 1) He a Democrat and 2) He's an African American. These have nothing to do why I voted for him.
I felt that Mr. Obama is a very articulate person who inspires America as opposed to those that would use fear to rule over us. In his victory speech last night, Obama stressed that he expects Americans to work to make things right and it's not going to be easy.
Yesterday at the polls, I felt an excitement, an anticipation that I have never felt before. I reveled in the long line there. The line was full of diversity, Asians, Indians, African Americans, white Americans. There were Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Christians (just naming the obvious ones). Everyone there was very animated, excited. This election was not going through the motions.
This election was about hope and change. The voters I stood in line with felt it, I felt it. It was electric. I'm not sure this will ever happen again.
Reports from Europe shared this same excitement. Beth Arnold of The Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/beth-arnold/obamas-big-bang-in-france_b_141295.html) told a wonderful story how Paris embraced Obama. Kenya declared a national holiday. This excitement was not just felt in the voting booths across American, but stretched across the whole earth.
Whatever happens during the Presidency of Barak Obama, this election day, I felt Americans were excited and privileged to be Americans.

Thanks Kira!

2008-09-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

I met a young lady today. She bought a book from me and wanted me to sign it. I looked up and she waited patiently. I was due to read any minute at the Baltimore Book Fest and did not have a chance to talk to her, and I didn't get a real chance to thank her. So... Thanks Kira!!!

Paris Hilton - Exposed!

2008-08-07T18:44:00.000-07:00

The new Paris Hilton video this week exposed the real Paris. In one masterful stroke, not only did she make fun of her image, but also came out with a straightforward well thought-out energy policy that must have left both candidates gasping.
Paris proves that although "hot" she has brains also. Mr. McCain's use of her name was certainly in vain and long may he rue his mistake!

Paris Hilton for President!

Life has been weird

2008-07-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since I posted something new here. I wanted to write a blog after George Carlin died. He was one of my favorite comedians ever. I have read all his books and caught all but the latest HBO special. Life will be a little weird without hearing him rant. I remember seeing him life many years ago (when he had hair). Kenny Loggins opened for him that night. It was neat to hear that he played at George's memorial. Thanks George!

The Barry Manilow Rant

2008-06-12T20:35:00.000-07:00

Those who know me, know that I can rant for several hours on Barry Manilow. Not that I ever questioned his talent. I would rant for hours at his use of using the same melodies over and over, and when they became tired-Change the Key! I would like to hear one-just one-Barry Manilow song without a key change. But...
One June 11, 2008 at approximately 10:45 am, it hit me. Barry Manilow is a Fricking Genius! This idea pounded my skull like a sledgehammer. The store that I worked that day must have had every, I mean, EVERY Barry Manilow CD EVER. The songs meandered in their well-defined pattern with, of course, the requisite key change. What was different? Could I not find a bus to step in front of to end the torture?
Most bands, groups, singers, songwriters, etc. gear their music to 12 year-old girls. That is the biggest demographic in music. To get 12 year-old girls hooked on there music is the goal. The artist will have a fan for life.
Mr. Manilow, however, waits for these self-same fans to be disenchanted with the groups. He swoops down upon these unsuspecting fans much, much later in life. When they are in the 50's 60's and 70's (if not even 80's). These ladies fall for him hard, Annd...they have money! Lots of money. They will come to his concerts, they will buy his Cd's. They are comfortable with the same meandering melodies and the familiar key changes.
Genius! Sheer Genius!
Hats off to you Mr. Manilow!

The Storm

2008-06-04T17:17:00.000-07:00

Today we had numerous storms around the Baltimore area. The newscasters and radio announcers warned everyone to watch out for the storm's wrath and fury. I never knew storms were angry. I personally think storms are out to have a great time and party. Storms are like the creative process. Sometimes you can work on an idea for ever. Then when the idea reveals itself, it a mad dash to get it on paper before it's gone. Then there are storms that are deadly. It's like the Earth is trying to get rid of the biological infection that infests its surface. Hmm...

Welcome!

2008-05-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog! This is a new adventure for me and I hope that I get this this going OK. I hope to add something every couple of days. For those that don't know me, I am a fantasy writer. I tend to see things differently than others. The title of the blog "Earth und Alles" basically means Earth and everything. Anything that happens in, on or near planet Earth is fair game for this blog. I'll try not to get too political, but focus on micro issues. I'll try not to rant, though sometimes that's next to impossible. My record rant was for four hours on sesame seed bagels (Don't ask!) Well, we'll see how it goes!