Lots of people have been commenting on the similarity between 'first woman president when the old guy croaks' Sarah Palin and Tina Fey. But I think that she looks more like Tony Soprano's therapist.
Here are some other odd facts about the next president but one
She's a moose hunter
- No that's not a euphemism, thought it sounds like one I know.
She named all of her children after street slang for heroin
- Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper & Trig
She wasn't pretty enough to win Ms Alaska
- despite being one of only three women in Alaska
Actually that's not true - she wasn't clever enough to be Ms Alaska
- she failed on the US American's finding the US of America on a map thing
Her 17 year old daughter is pregnant
- by a 'man' named Levi
Is a little confused about whether or not to stone homos
Vetoed bill denying benefits to gays, as unconstitutional. (Aug 2008)
Marriage only be between and man and a woman. (Nov 2006)
Value our cultural diversity. (Nov 2006)
Ok to deny benefits to homosexual couples. (Aug 2006)
An dof course is more fertile than Idaho manure
Monday, September 01, 2008
White suits into storage
It's Labour Day. And it's 31c. Which meant two things.
First all of the students are back in town ahead of the start of semester tomorrow. And secondly the local pool decided to extend its hours in a bid to cash in on collision of both the influx of firm young flesh looking for a place to show out and weather that allows them to shed clothing.
The pool was packed. The boys were hot - toned, muscular and enjoying the attention as they threw around a ball in a dispay of 'look at us, no look at me' peacokery.
The girls were large. Big breasted and celluliute pitted thighs. Their long term shape moving up from their knees to claim them. They lay at angles that they imagined flattering as the fat girl inside of them screamed for the ice-cream that would bring them 200 KCals closer to taking over.
Weirdly as the people get older you tend to see a reverse. Hot middle aged women with their blue-white, chunky, chubby husbands. The wives staying in shape for the day when all of that belly fat wreaks revenge on their 'better half' and sees her shopping for black with the first of the insurance checks.
It's been an incredible late summer. The skies as blue as any I can remember and the temperatures consistently in the 30s. It's been like Singapore with the added bonus that nobody was taking perfection for granted - and few expats were on hand to complain whilst leaking miserably through inappropriate clothing.
Two weeks from now somebody will have turned summer off and the temperatures will start to fall. We're seeing forecasts with highs of 18C. At that point Operation Flight starts and Jude and I start to look for weekend destinations where tan topping and time outdoors are possible.
One more winter here and then onward and upward. Or sideways. who knows. What I do know is that following that winter - those cold, dark, dangerous days where the light limits activity will come another summer. Our last here. And what a summer I have planned
First all of the students are back in town ahead of the start of semester tomorrow. And secondly the local pool decided to extend its hours in a bid to cash in on collision of both the influx of firm young flesh looking for a place to show out and weather that allows them to shed clothing.
The pool was packed. The boys were hot - toned, muscular and enjoying the attention as they threw around a ball in a dispay of 'look at us, no look at me' peacokery.
The girls were large. Big breasted and celluliute pitted thighs. Their long term shape moving up from their knees to claim them. They lay at angles that they imagined flattering as the fat girl inside of them screamed for the ice-cream that would bring them 200 KCals closer to taking over.
Weirdly as the people get older you tend to see a reverse. Hot middle aged women with their blue-white, chunky, chubby husbands. The wives staying in shape for the day when all of that belly fat wreaks revenge on their 'better half' and sees her shopping for black with the first of the insurance checks.
It's been an incredible late summer. The skies as blue as any I can remember and the temperatures consistently in the 30s. It's been like Singapore with the added bonus that nobody was taking perfection for granted - and few expats were on hand to complain whilst leaking miserably through inappropriate clothing.
Two weeks from now somebody will have turned summer off and the temperatures will start to fall. We're seeing forecasts with highs of 18C. At that point Operation Flight starts and Jude and I start to look for weekend destinations where tan topping and time outdoors are possible.
One more winter here and then onward and upward. Or sideways. who knows. What I do know is that following that winter - those cold, dark, dangerous days where the light limits activity will come another summer. Our last here. And what a summer I have planned
Sunday, August 31, 2008
I am not responsible for the weather
The last month in Ann Arbor has been spectacular in terms of weather. The skies have been blue, the sun has been merciless and the temperatures have rarely dipped below 30c. It's been like Singapore. Only with lesbians. And Craft Markets. (I have a suspicion that the two are linked)
Yesterday the football season started and 10s of thousands of people swarmed into town, all wearing the Blue and Maize of Michigan and all in search of a seat outside in the street, a cold beer and a decent burger. We had one of those seats and all I could think about was "Why aren't my parents here this weekend?"
You see Michigan weather is changeable. It's 31c this week. That doesn't mean that once somebody hits the 'end of summer' button it won't be 15c next week. Summer ends like that. And when summer ends here, everything ends.
Example? Yesterday we went to one of the big outdoor pools here. We swam. We sunbathed. We read books. We watched a couple making out oblivious to the growing buzz of 'tiut-tutting'.
On Monday that pool, which had hosted around 500 sun worshippers, will close for the winter. And re-open in May. That's 9 months. Lomg winter, huh?
So I get home and I check the weather. 30c and brilliant sunshine through Tuesday (when they arrive) and then a 10c drop and 7 hrs of rain on Weds (the first day that they're 'in town')
Now we've had 55mm of rain in August. And we're going to get 100mm overnight on the first night that they're here. Bollocks. 'Cause everything that I have planned involves us being outside (at least to some degree)
But I am not The Emperor Ming. I have no control over the weather. And no responsibility for it. Nor is Flash Gordon my nemesis. True I had them delay their trip as we had a house full. But that was a 'first come, first served' deal.
So instead I will relax, take each (cold) day as it comes and breathe so deeply that even my Pilates teacher will be impressed
Yesterday the football season started and 10s of thousands of people swarmed into town, all wearing the Blue and Maize of Michigan and all in search of a seat outside in the street, a cold beer and a decent burger. We had one of those seats and all I could think about was "Why aren't my parents here this weekend?"
You see Michigan weather is changeable. It's 31c this week. That doesn't mean that once somebody hits the 'end of summer' button it won't be 15c next week. Summer ends like that. And when summer ends here, everything ends.
Example? Yesterday we went to one of the big outdoor pools here. We swam. We sunbathed. We read books. We watched a couple making out oblivious to the growing buzz of 'tiut-tutting'.
On Monday that pool, which had hosted around 500 sun worshippers, will close for the winter. And re-open in May. That's 9 months. Lomg winter, huh?
So I get home and I check the weather. 30c and brilliant sunshine through Tuesday (when they arrive) and then a 10c drop and 7 hrs of rain on Weds (the first day that they're 'in town')
Now we've had 55mm of rain in August. And we're going to get 100mm overnight on the first night that they're here. Bollocks. 'Cause everything that I have planned involves us being outside (at least to some degree)
But I am not The Emperor Ming. I have no control over the weather. And no responsibility for it. Nor is Flash Gordon my nemesis. True I had them delay their trip as we had a house full. But that was a 'first come, first served' deal.
So instead I will relax, take each (cold) day as it comes and breathe so deeply that even my Pilates teacher will be impressed
Saturday, August 30, 2008
One more thing
Thanks to Mike (thanks Mike) I got my piccies back...
This one should be called "Looking for Obama"
This one should be called "Looking for Obama"
New Glasses
Its been a stupidly busy morning. Took the dog to the groomers, walked to the gym, worked out, walked to Pilates, walked to the eye doctor, bought two pairs of glasses, walked to the massage place and got beaten up, walked back to the groomers collected the dog and walked back through the park, walked to lunch with Jude, then drove to the Swimming Pool before getting home, sitting down and opening the laptop.
Weirdest thing is that my eyes had improved. A lot. Age catching up on me. So as long sightedness clicks in the near sightedness lessens. Good news I thought.
"Expect headaches" said the eye doctor
"And blurred vision"
It seems that the muscles in the eye learn to compensate for being over prescribed... and that they're not going to take the fact that they have to relax easily. It can take a month. And the stuff involved can be kinda draining.
He even offered to 'bring you down in stages' but that meant 4 sets of lenses over the course of a year... so I'm gonna suck it up and see what happens.
Until they arrive though I'm making the most of being headache free.
Weirdest thing is that my eyes had improved. A lot. Age catching up on me. So as long sightedness clicks in the near sightedness lessens. Good news I thought.
"Expect headaches" said the eye doctor
"And blurred vision"
It seems that the muscles in the eye learn to compensate for being over prescribed... and that they're not going to take the fact that they have to relax easily. It can take a month. And the stuff involved can be kinda draining.
He even offered to 'bring you down in stages' but that meant 4 sets of lenses over the course of a year... so I'm gonna suck it up and see what happens.
Until they arrive though I'm making the most of being headache free.
Friday, August 29, 2008
McCain chooses a lady
So John McCain chooses a lady as his Veep...
That will bring in Hillary voters
Women voting with their vaginas and all
It's a cynical move
It might be a brilliant move
And given his age and health it might be one that sees us with the first female President.
Timing was brilliant too. Just after Obama speaks so eloquently on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech McCain steals some heat back.
Neither mentioned Michael Jackson's 50th though (boo!)
That will bring in Hillary voters
Women voting with their vaginas and all
It's a cynical move
It might be a brilliant move
And given his age and health it might be one that sees us with the first female President.
Timing was brilliant too. Just after Obama speaks so eloquently on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech McCain steals some heat back.
Neither mentioned Michael Jackson's 50th though (boo!)
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Perplexing
I woke up this morning not to brilliant blue skies and sunshine but a dark, stormy sky swathed in cloud that seemed to loom threatening above me.
And it was a very weird feeling.
We've had a month straight of brightness and blue skies... where the only clouds have been those high white specks that dot the big sky and give it a sense of scale.
is this the first signal that summer is at an end?
or just a cloudy day?
The forecast is all over the place
And I read it like runes
What is my weather obsession?
And where did it come from?
And it was a very weird feeling.
We've had a month straight of brightness and blue skies... where the only clouds have been those high white specks that dot the big sky and give it a sense of scale.
is this the first signal that summer is at an end?
or just a cloudy day?
The forecast is all over the place
And I read it like runes
What is my weather obsession?
And where did it come from?
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Sulking
Last night I worked my way through 180 pics from the State Fair.
I adjusted them
I cropped them
I played with hue
And with saturation.
I paused, I pawed, I sweated the details.
I used three different editing programs.
I ended up with 4 great pics
And 16 not bad at all - the boy may have something ones
Which I then deleted.
From the card.
From I-Photo.
From the computer,
A secure. Triple over-write delete.
That apparently you can activate with a random placement of keys on the keyboard.
And man am I pissed.
More pissed than Ozzy at an AA meeting.
Grrrr.
Nnnnrrrr
And
Gnarrrr
I adjusted them
I cropped them
I played with hue
And with saturation.
I paused, I pawed, I sweated the details.
I used three different editing programs.
I ended up with 4 great pics
And 16 not bad at all - the boy may have something ones
Which I then deleted.
From the card.
From I-Photo.
From the computer,
A secure. Triple over-write delete.
That apparently you can activate with a random placement of keys on the keyboard.
And man am I pissed.
More pissed than Ozzy at an AA meeting.
Grrrr.
Nnnnrrrr
And
Gnarrrr
Monday, August 25, 2008
Another day in Bryan
Spent today in Bryan Ohio
Not a bad place to spend a day
But a 4 hr round trip
Which seems a lot
Compared to where 4hrs from (say) Singapore gets you
Fingers crossed
Sunday, August 24, 2008
A quickie
We're off to the Rodeo tonight... at least I hope we are. You can't buy tickets in advance. So it's fingers crossed and haerts in mouths on the long journey up there.
I'd also just like to add that if anyone ever offers you tickets to see 'multi voiced comedian' Billy West ---> run East. And run fast. I've had funnier bouts of gout. I've had funnier tumors. I've had funnier --- well you get it.
That's a big piece of my life I'm not getting back. Wistful is one thing Mr West, repeatedly searching your notebook for gags without set-up or pay-off is another.
Never mind - here's a pic from Hollerfest; a better time.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Ribbit
For a while now I've been getting out of the gym (8 weeks now and still going strong - 3 inches off the waist and arms starting to look as though they belong to somebody who doesn't need a map to find the nearest 'nasium) and buying organic bits and bobs from the people at the farmer's market.
So it was weird last night to be switching Jude's car into AWD and bumping along the muddy lanes of Frog Holler Farm for Hollerfest - the smallest music festival I've ever seen.
Opening was Judith's program director Tom and his band "Rock, Paper, Scissors" - they specialize in "songs that make you wanna dance, songs that make you think and songs that make you wanna slit your wrists"
But as the night draw on, the sun went down, the bonfores were lit and the stage became a burning orange against the pitch darkness of the woods behind, as the HollerT flowed and the organic pizza was sliced - wrist slitting was the last thing on my mind.
It ain't New York - but you know what - it ain't worse
So it was weird last night to be switching Jude's car into AWD and bumping along the muddy lanes of Frog Holler Farm for Hollerfest - the smallest music festival I've ever seen.
Opening was Judith's program director Tom and his band "Rock, Paper, Scissors" - they specialize in "songs that make you wanna dance, songs that make you think and songs that make you wanna slit your wrists"
But as the night draw on, the sun went down, the bonfores were lit and the stage became a burning orange against the pitch darkness of the woods behind, as the HollerT flowed and the organic pizza was sliced - wrist slitting was the last thing on my mind.
It ain't New York - but you know what - it ain't worse
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wanna be in my gang?
When I was a kid I loved Gary Glitter. He was a big, shiny, real life cartoon who churned out monster glam anthems and always had a sense of spectacle.
When they found 'child porn' on his computer I took advantage of the sudden number of seats available for what turned out to be his last shows - thinking 'innocent until proven guilty'. He was later proven guilty. Ooops.
Since then Mr Glitter has lived in Spain and Cuba, in Cambodia and most recently a Vietnamese prison. The prison thing was for abusing two young girls.
Since his release there's been a media hoopla around where he was going to go next. Thailand refused to allow him in - even after he 'feigned' having a heart attack. Hong Kong turned him back at the border. Singapore want nothing to do with him. In fact 19 countries so far have said that they will refuse Mr Glitter entry.
Leaving him a hostile reception waiting back in the UK.
What surprises me here is the relentlessness with which the UK press has pursued this guy. They found him in Cambodia. They chased him through Thailand. And they're in every airport with him now. All this despite the fact that his career was short-lived and effectively over 30 years ago.
Now I'm not going to defend the guy. He's pretty indefensible. But where was the clamour for jail when UK author and scientist Arthur C Clarke said this from his long term home in Sri Lanka
"''Once they have reached the age of puberty, it is OK... It doesn't do any harm. I am trying to think of the youngest boy I have ever had because, of course, you can't tell it here. I think most of the damage comes from the fuss made by hysterical parents afterwards. If the kids don't mind, fair enough.''
Clarke didn't get jail - he got a knighthood.
Which may prove that a penchant for bacofoil is bad for your chances of staying out of jail. Or proof that the tabloids hold you accountable only to the level of your peak fame. Or perhaps, saddest of all, this has nothing to do with protecting kids from men like Clarke and Glitter and all about filling the front pages for a day or three during a slow summer.
Perhaps we could start a campaign to have Clarke's Knighthood posthumously stripped?
When they found 'child porn' on his computer I took advantage of the sudden number of seats available for what turned out to be his last shows - thinking 'innocent until proven guilty'. He was later proven guilty. Ooops.
Since then Mr Glitter has lived in Spain and Cuba, in Cambodia and most recently a Vietnamese prison. The prison thing was for abusing two young girls.
Since his release there's been a media hoopla around where he was going to go next. Thailand refused to allow him in - even after he 'feigned' having a heart attack. Hong Kong turned him back at the border. Singapore want nothing to do with him. In fact 19 countries so far have said that they will refuse Mr Glitter entry.
Leaving him a hostile reception waiting back in the UK.
What surprises me here is the relentlessness with which the UK press has pursued this guy. They found him in Cambodia. They chased him through Thailand. And they're in every airport with him now. All this despite the fact that his career was short-lived and effectively over 30 years ago.
Now I'm not going to defend the guy. He's pretty indefensible. But where was the clamour for jail when UK author and scientist Arthur C Clarke said this from his long term home in Sri Lanka
"''Once they have reached the age of puberty, it is OK... It doesn't do any harm. I am trying to think of the youngest boy I have ever had because, of course, you can't tell it here. I think most of the damage comes from the fuss made by hysterical parents afterwards. If the kids don't mind, fair enough.''
Clarke didn't get jail - he got a knighthood.
Which may prove that a penchant for bacofoil is bad for your chances of staying out of jail. Or proof that the tabloids hold you accountable only to the level of your peak fame. Or perhaps, saddest of all, this has nothing to do with protecting kids from men like Clarke and Glitter and all about filling the front pages for a day or three during a slow summer.
Perhaps we could start a campaign to have Clarke's Knighthood posthumously stripped?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Horribly, horribly tense
I will kill thee a hundred and fifty ways. Therefore tremble and depart.
Originally uploaded by mostlysunny1
I've tried running from the feeling on a treadmill. I've tried zen meditation (so zen was I yesterday that I ran a red light and avoided being hit my millimeters). I've tried being organized. I've tried being annoyed. I've tried nasty. I've tried rising above it - but still the knot of anger at the people responsible grows .
How come I can feel so passionately about something that ultimately doesn't matter - and be so unmoved by the great imjustices in the world.
Time I think for some perspective
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
A weekend to look forward to
Lots planned this weekend and I have to say that the plans are pulling me through the week.
On Friday I'm going to try to convince the girls to head down to the Roller Coast with me and get on some of the biggest coasters in the world. Then on Friday night it's off to Hollerfest - a laid back music festival where we have some friends playing.
Saturday is a trip to the lakes to try to get some time on the beach in. Should be good - especially as the coastline seems to stretch on forever and the sand dunes look impressively high.
Sunday is the State Fair - and a rodeo I believe. Should be very butch. At least I hope so - I have a very Wrangler ad inspired image of what a rodeo should be and there are no tongues in cheeks there.
Then it's back to work on Monday - refreshed, revitalized and maybe the proud owner of a prize bull (or something)
On Friday I'm going to try to convince the girls to head down to the Roller Coast with me and get on some of the biggest coasters in the world. Then on Friday night it's off to Hollerfest - a laid back music festival where we have some friends playing.
Saturday is a trip to the lakes to try to get some time on the beach in. Should be good - especially as the coastline seems to stretch on forever and the sand dunes look impressively high.
Sunday is the State Fair - and a rodeo I believe. Should be very butch. At least I hope so - I have a very Wrangler ad inspired image of what a rodeo should be and there are no tongues in cheeks there.
Then it's back to work on Monday - refreshed, revitalized and maybe the proud owner of a prize bull (or something)
Monday, August 18, 2008
Self knowledge
I've learned a lot about the way that I work over the last couple of years. Translating that knowlege into something that can work for me is still an issue.
I know for example that I am terrible at organizing things - but that I'm a dreadful micro-manager when it comes to other people organizing for me.
I also know that I cope badly when working with people who aren't 'buttoned up' ---> perceiving them as weak minded and spineless.
I know too that I tip into openly aggressive once my respect for somebody goes.
I know that given a camera I can forget everything - and end up experiencing events only through a viewfinder.
And I know that while I enjoy the viciousness of wit I can also be too eager to please at times.
This doesn't make me a monster. I get on with 99% of the people that I work with. Clients like my honesty. Colleagues like my energy. But that last 1% - well they think that I'm impossible. Still I reckon that's less than half a dozen people from the more than 600 I've worked with directly --- is that a bad strike rate?
I know for example that I am terrible at organizing things - but that I'm a dreadful micro-manager when it comes to other people organizing for me.
I also know that I cope badly when working with people who aren't 'buttoned up' ---> perceiving them as weak minded and spineless.
I know too that I tip into openly aggressive once my respect for somebody goes.
I know that given a camera I can forget everything - and end up experiencing events only through a viewfinder.
And I know that while I enjoy the viciousness of wit I can also be too eager to please at times.
This doesn't make me a monster. I get on with 99% of the people that I work with. Clients like my honesty. Colleagues like my energy. But that last 1% - well they think that I'm impossible. Still I reckon that's less than half a dozen people from the more than 600 I've worked with directly --- is that a bad strike rate?
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Another great day in Michigan
So today we headed into a hot and steamy Detroit for The World African Festival. Which was a bit crap. Unless you like Obama T-shirts and handbags. Neither of which struck me as being very African really. But maybe I'm wrong. Jude bought a hat (pink and floppy) and some CDs for the car (absolutely filthy soul music and quite hilarious)
From there we took the Detroit People Mover too many stops to Greektown - which was also really rather disappointing. So we walked back. But not before being told that the derelict hotel in which I once shot a bunch of fetish models (only photographically alas) isn't actually derelict - or a hotel. I'd been had. Two floors were derelict. The two that I saw. The rest is apartments. And rather nice ones I was told by a sweet but insistent old lady. Wonder what she makes of the 'goings on' below her?
Finally over to Ferndale and Mustang Alley. It's Dream Cruise day which means 40,000 old cars, a 20 mile loop and the car manufacturers in full on automotive pornography mode. Much fun. Saw some friends and clients. Saw lots and lots of Mustangs. Fell in love with the Ford GT all over again - despite what Clarkson and his aftermarket security system may say about it.
Lovely, lovely, lovely
From there we took the Detroit People Mover too many stops to Greektown - which was also really rather disappointing. So we walked back. But not before being told that the derelict hotel in which I once shot a bunch of fetish models (only photographically alas) isn't actually derelict - or a hotel. I'd been had. Two floors were derelict. The two that I saw. The rest is apartments. And rather nice ones I was told by a sweet but insistent old lady. Wonder what she makes of the 'goings on' below her?
Finally over to Ferndale and Mustang Alley. It's Dream Cruise day which means 40,000 old cars, a 20 mile loop and the car manufacturers in full on automotive pornography mode. Much fun. Saw some friends and clients. Saw lots and lots of Mustangs. Fell in love with the Ford GT all over again - despite what Clarkson and his aftermarket security system may say about it.
Lovely, lovely, lovely
Friday, August 15, 2008
Didn't we have a lovely time...
Jude's back from LA and while we're both knackered it's nice being able to hang out together again.
We have two friends with us at the moment - travelling the world through countries that don't threaten 'Intestinal Issues" at every turn --> and having rather a good time of it.
Today I got up - headed for the gym, 5 lbs lighter than I have been, ran some, lifted some thing that would happily have stayed static and then ran home in time to join 'the ladies' in a canoe.
8 miles along the Huron, one swim and lunch at a Dexter steakhouse later we're back. Jude's off to run for a while and then we're heading out to see Bill Maher... lefty comedian with a penchant for young ladies and a tendency to falter when not surrounded by cue cards and the pillow busom of his writers... or not. I like him a lot. Sure he looks a lot like an aged Thunderbird pilot but there's still enough tension in his bow to make the arrows that hit the big old target that is the Bush administration sting some.
Wow that was a dreadful old sentence.
We have two friends with us at the moment - travelling the world through countries that don't threaten 'Intestinal Issues" at every turn --> and having rather a good time of it.
Today I got up - headed for the gym, 5 lbs lighter than I have been, ran some, lifted some thing that would happily have stayed static and then ran home in time to join 'the ladies' in a canoe.
8 miles along the Huron, one swim and lunch at a Dexter steakhouse later we're back. Jude's off to run for a while and then we're heading out to see Bill Maher... lefty comedian with a penchant for young ladies and a tendency to falter when not surrounded by cue cards and the pillow busom of his writers... or not. I like him a lot. Sure he looks a lot like an aged Thunderbird pilot but there's still enough tension in his bow to make the arrows that hit the big old target that is the Bush administration sting some.
Wow that was a dreadful old sentence.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
So tired I might actually die
So after nights and nights of olympic excitement I finally thought that I'd get to bed. Except that Jude needed a ride from the airport. At 1.30am. Cue a 3am bedtime and a 7am wake-up call.
Now I'm knackered. I'm tetchy because I missed the gym (for the first time) and I have too much to do. Gonna skip out early - get to the gym, grab some sleep and take tomorrow off.
Now I'm knackered. I'm tetchy because I missed the gym (for the first time) and I have too much to do. Gonna skip out early - get to the gym, grab some sleep and take tomorrow off.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Evil
The people that I work with are evil. In the best possible way. There's a hard boiled meanness to Michigan, coated in a layer of sacchrine sweet bitterness that just really appeals to me.
Today I've watched as people have put slow punctures in somebody's 'birthday balloons' (it'll be a foreshadowing or what's about to happen to her tits went the explanation)
I've heard people sniggering over both the dare and entendre in the phrase "You eat her cake, I'll lick her frosting"
And I've managed to instigate a full on game of "Beat the name Misty Hymen"
Fun - in a juvenile and strangely English way.
Jude back tonight
Jude friends in earlier
Much joy - even though the airpotrt runs rule out a "Dolly Parton" gig (with $10 tickets)
Today I've watched as people have put slow punctures in somebody's 'birthday balloons' (it'll be a foreshadowing or what's about to happen to her tits went the explanation)
I've heard people sniggering over both the dare and entendre in the phrase "You eat her cake, I'll lick her frosting"
And I've managed to instigate a full on game of "Beat the name Misty Hymen"
Fun - in a juvenile and strangely English way.
Jude back tonight
Jude friends in earlier
Much joy - even though the airpotrt runs rule out a "Dolly Parton" gig (with $10 tickets)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
All very What Iffy
Leonardo Attempts to Duplicate One of His Famous Drawings on an Etch-A-Sketch, Producing Poor Results
Originally uploaded by ricko
Not only are they lovely people; they're smart and button down and know what it is that they want and that they have a lot to do to get there.
I have to say that I left the room inspired by a lot of what they'd shown us and daunted by the speed at which we have to turn those great prototypes into blockbuster hits.
And the potential is huge. If Crayola can go from being 'big boxes of expensive crayons' to 'experts in color' with a couple of dozen hit products ranging from paint to DIY T-shirt printing then the people who have specialized in magic screens for 50 years should be able to do something spectacular in this '2nd screen age'
Other than that. Ran with the dog, Worked hard at the gym. Talked to the lovely wife. Sat on the roof in the glorious sunshine and 80f temperatures.
Good day, good day
(the What Iffy bit was a room full of toys and color, an energizer and hand drawn charts)
Monday, August 11, 2008
Left a bit, right a bit
Yesterday, in a moment of weakness, I headed down to the cinema and bought myself a ticket for 'Swing Vote' - a Kevin Costner movie that asks what would happen if an entire US election came down to the vote of one beer swilling, unemployed Hick in the middle of nowheresville.
Now of course what could have been glorious satire turned a little syrupy and obvious but the thought that politicians would say ANYTHING to get elected was pretty well represented.
Politicians follow the numbers. They read the polls and then pander to the millions. When the electorate is reduced to one man and the politicians to chasing his vote then that pandering becomes more obvious.
What we're seeing in this election is an attempt to find an issue that fills two criteria. It needs to be one on which people feel strongly and it needs to be one that has a simple "I disagree with him" resolution that can be reduced to a soundbite.
Right now everyone is hedging a little but the first salvo has been over offshore drilling. Both candidates were against it. But as the price of a gallon increased and media hysteria reached a pre-olympics cresendo both switched.
Now McCain wants to drill offshore. And Obama would drill offshore if it was part of a package that also allowed for more 'alt. energy' investment. The fact that at best offshore oil would provide no more than 2% of America's oil needs (bringing the cost at the pump down by 8c a gallon at most) matters not.
What we have here is a Republican being definitive
And a Democrat being nuanced.
Sounds a lot like Bush / Kerry right?
The rest of the campaign is just petty niggling.
McCain is still calling Obama 'a celebrity' as though it's a dirty word.
And Obama is still (just) resisting calling McCain 'an elderly racist'
McCain says Obama stands for higher taxes, more govt spendng and "therefore fewer jobs" - depsite evidence to the contrary.
Obama says "The hands that buily cars can build windmills" and attempts to show a New America full of skilled blue worker jobs that don't induce emphesima.
Meanwhile African American men are dropping like flies (Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes) suggesting that perhaps, just perhaps, Karl Rove's secret syrum is close to being perfected.
Now of course what could have been glorious satire turned a little syrupy and obvious but the thought that politicians would say ANYTHING to get elected was pretty well represented.
Politicians follow the numbers. They read the polls and then pander to the millions. When the electorate is reduced to one man and the politicians to chasing his vote then that pandering becomes more obvious.
What we're seeing in this election is an attempt to find an issue that fills two criteria. It needs to be one on which people feel strongly and it needs to be one that has a simple "I disagree with him" resolution that can be reduced to a soundbite.
Right now everyone is hedging a little but the first salvo has been over offshore drilling. Both candidates were against it. But as the price of a gallon increased and media hysteria reached a pre-olympics cresendo both switched.
Now McCain wants to drill offshore. And Obama would drill offshore if it was part of a package that also allowed for more 'alt. energy' investment. The fact that at best offshore oil would provide no more than 2% of America's oil needs (bringing the cost at the pump down by 8c a gallon at most) matters not.
What we have here is a Republican being definitive
And a Democrat being nuanced.
Sounds a lot like Bush / Kerry right?
The rest of the campaign is just petty niggling.
McCain is still calling Obama 'a celebrity' as though it's a dirty word.
And Obama is still (just) resisting calling McCain 'an elderly racist'
McCain says Obama stands for higher taxes, more govt spendng and "therefore fewer jobs" - depsite evidence to the contrary.
Obama says "The hands that buily cars can build windmills" and attempts to show a New America full of skilled blue worker jobs that don't induce emphesima.
Meanwhile African American men are dropping like flies (Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes) suggesting that perhaps, just perhaps, Karl Rove's secret syrum is close to being perfected.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Failing the Tebbitt test
I just cheered as the US team passed the cocky French in the 100m Freestyle Relay with the very last stroke of the swim.
I believe I may even have stood and cheered.
And this with me alone here.
I think I may have just failed the Tebbitt Test and may now have to hand in my UK passport at the nearest embassy,
Fantastic swim though.
Now for 5 hrs of sleep and then to the gym where Mr P and co have been known to train
I believe I may even have stood and cheered.
And this with me alone here.
I think I may have just failed the Tebbitt Test and may now have to hand in my UK passport at the nearest embassy,
Fantastic swim though.
Now for 5 hrs of sleep and then to the gym where Mr P and co have been known to train
Water Cube - Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
So with Jude away and the Olympics in full swing my attention has been diverted to The Water Cube and the swimming within. I'm knackered. Lots of late nights and early mornings. But the swimming is as spectacular as the building.
Meanwhile the opening ceremony has produced awe and fear in America - with people saying "Shit, these guys are serious"
China is seems is high tech, populous and most frighteningly "highly disciplined" - people here are spooked.
And if I was the person responsible for the London Games Opening Ceremony I'd be feeling somewhat panicked now - as what we just saw is untoppable
Meanwhile the opening ceremony has produced awe and fear in America - with people saying "Shit, these guys are serious"
China is seems is high tech, populous and most frighteningly "highly disciplined" - people here are spooked.
And if I was the person responsible for the London Games Opening Ceremony I'd be feeling somewhat panicked now - as what we just saw is untoppable
Friday, August 08, 2008
Quite the day
So up early for the gym and pilates and pleased that since changing the diet I've managed to drop 5 lbs in 2 weeks while still gaining muscle (shirts now strain at the chest rather than the gut)
Then it's run Judith to the airport where she has to catch a plane to academy and to an extent our future (if only the immediate future)... the people that she meets there will be the people extending the invitations to fly in and interview for jobs that might see us settle somewhere for a good while (or not)
From there to work - a meeting over with clients, lunch with the big boss and then to a meeting with the big clientt - during which one of the people was taken violently ill and carted off in a fire truck to hospital (I know)
So shaken was I that I missed my next meeting and left someone hanging for 4 hrs without a call.
Then home - out with the dog and bump into the neighbors who ply me with good company, good wine, Indian food and a fabulous Olympic opening.
It's been a long day and I want another glass of wine,,, but the diet says no. Shame.
Oh and I had the cat projectile vomit over me. Then crap in the bath. He's not at all well, bless him.
Not sure that this blow by blow account is of interest to anyone... but it's what I did I guess and reportage is all that I have the energy for at the moment
Then it's run Judith to the airport where she has to catch a plane to academy and to an extent our future (if only the immediate future)... the people that she meets there will be the people extending the invitations to fly in and interview for jobs that might see us settle somewhere for a good while (or not)
From there to work - a meeting over with clients, lunch with the big boss and then to a meeting with the big clientt - during which one of the people was taken violently ill and carted off in a fire truck to hospital (I know)
So shaken was I that I missed my next meeting and left someone hanging for 4 hrs without a call.
Then home - out with the dog and bump into the neighbors who ply me with good company, good wine, Indian food and a fabulous Olympic opening.
It's been a long day and I want another glass of wine,,, but the diet says no. Shame.
Oh and I had the cat projectile vomit over me. Then crap in the bath. He's not at all well, bless him.
Not sure that this blow by blow account is of interest to anyone... but it's what I did I guess and reportage is all that I have the energy for at the moment
Thursday, August 07, 2008
I am so hungry
Metzis Tasty Takeaway Hamburger with the lot - Australian style!
Originally uploaded by Vanessa Pike-Russell
And this is horrible.
Am waiting on a lunch date with someone who I think is going to tell me that she's thinking of quitting.
In the past my response to that has always been a brief cheer followed by a "how can I help?"
But now I'm kinda in charge. And she's good. And I want her to stay. Which may be selfish. So I'll hear her out - be happy for her if she's found something that's a big step up and fight like hell if she hasn't.
Running from or towards is the question I guess.
And one I've never answered
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
What a blast
They say that it's all about the simple things in life.
And they don't get much simpler than a sunny day, an open stretch of road, an American muscle car and a summer anthem blasting out on the radio.
So far that 20 minute blast has been the absolute highlight of my day.
I'm going to go out at lunch and do it again.
And then do it again.
Simple pleasures you see
The key to life
And they don't get much simpler than a sunny day, an open stretch of road, an American muscle car and a summer anthem blasting out on the radio.
So far that 20 minute blast has been the absolute highlight of my day.
I'm going to go out at lunch and do it again.
And then do it again.
Simple pleasures you see
The key to life
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
A day for wind-ups
It seems that everyone today has the 'wind-up' notice except me. And it's really weird. I can't quite tell whether people are being serious in the things that they're asking me or whether it's all a part of some bigger scheme to see where my boundaries are and which buttons still work.
In response I'm treating every request as though it was deadly serious and answering with as much detail as I can. Partly because I fear that everyone is serious and partly because I think that straight is the best way to diffuse their fun. All exceptionally odd though.
I guess that this is what it feels like to be stupid - in that 'Beauty' way so fond of 'Beauty and the Geek' - you end up thinking 'Did he mean that?' and answering as though he did.
Wonder if I'm half a beat behind or whether today really is as confusing as I think it might be.
Monday, August 04, 2008
One birthday down....
So Saturday was Jude's birthday and whilst our plans weren't ambitious we still managed to fill in the day with gifts, gym, home cooked brunches, Scottish shindigs, massages and dinner in Dexter. I had fun - there's something about being low key that takes the pressure off the organizer. Plus the sun has been beating down with relentless monotony for a long while now... so any outdoor activity is pretty much a dead cert hit.
So with Jude getting ready for Academy and me at work wordsmithing a couple of documents (trying to convey a specific shade of enthusiasm without recourse to the thesaurus) we're pretty flat out at the moment. Then we have visits from Bonnie and Lorraine followed by my parents and the potential for Jude to be both writing papers and heading off around the world for interviews regarding where she'll be working this time next year. We're not going to catch a breath before Xmas - but that's okay. It's all miles in the bank and steps toward certainty.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Dear oh Lord
What a clever headline on this picture... the text that they'd inserted below it was
"I love Jesus, an amazing person with a very important message. It's too bad so many "Christians" ignore what he preaches.
You know, the stuff about turning the other cheek, loving one another, and camels going through the eyes of needles. "
And who knew that Jesus was American?
And blue eyed?
And kinda blonde?
That's the kind of retouching Cybil Shepherd prays for.
The kind of makeover the Oprah Audience would scarifice a larynx for
Taking a 2000 year old Jewish Arab and somehow turning him into a cross between Farrah Fawcett and the bass player of the Beach Boys circa 1965 seems to me to be just a little close to Blasphemy.
How did the blog get here? Because I'm wearing a "What Would Batman Do?" T-shirt to work today in a bid to cancel out one of the "What would Jesus Do?" bangles that proliferate - strained around the bloated wrists of women who seem to think that Jesus would try to pillage the buffet table, sipping on high fructose corn syrup filled buckets whilst bemoaning the cost of gas and mourning the fact that you have to move in order to find food.
Feisty day today - bring 'em on.
"I love Jesus, an amazing person with a very important message. It's too bad so many "Christians" ignore what he preaches.
You know, the stuff about turning the other cheek, loving one another, and camels going through the eyes of needles. "
And who knew that Jesus was American?
And blue eyed?
And kinda blonde?
That's the kind of retouching Cybil Shepherd prays for.
The kind of makeover the Oprah Audience would scarifice a larynx for
Taking a 2000 year old Jewish Arab and somehow turning him into a cross between Farrah Fawcett and the bass player of the Beach Boys circa 1965 seems to me to be just a little close to Blasphemy.
How did the blog get here? Because I'm wearing a "What Would Batman Do?" T-shirt to work today in a bid to cancel out one of the "What would Jesus Do?" bangles that proliferate - strained around the bloated wrists of women who seem to think that Jesus would try to pillage the buffet table, sipping on high fructose corn syrup filled buckets whilst bemoaning the cost of gas and mourning the fact that you have to move in order to find food.
Feisty day today - bring 'em on.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Walking the tightrope
So today I'm walking the tightrope between brilliantly simple and blatantly simple minded.
You see I'm all for purity of thought. But I am kinda opposed to the idea of nuance being something that should be avoided.
I've written before around the idea that while the French are taught in school to argue both sides of an argument and the British to make the case for one side over the other the Americans are taught that one of the four answers suggested is absolutely correct.
It's a very 'black or white' system that leads to election of people who are absolute in their beliefs ('you're either with us or against us' being a famous Bush version) and who see the world without shades of gray (Axis of Evil, Evildoers etc.) spring to mind. IT also leads to vilification of people who admit that the world is complicated, that their are shades of gray and that perhaps positions should change as circumstances change.
The idea of Antinomy really doesn't fly in American politics... even the word would have you branded an 'intellectual elitist'
And that's kind of what's killing me on a presentation today. I want to be single minded. I want to be straightforward and I want to know that what I'm saying is easily understood and executable... but not at the cost of nuance, depth and richness.
It's tough this 'writing your thoughts for the consumption of others' business, isn't it?
You see I'm all for purity of thought. But I am kinda opposed to the idea of nuance being something that should be avoided.
I've written before around the idea that while the French are taught in school to argue both sides of an argument and the British to make the case for one side over the other the Americans are taught that one of the four answers suggested is absolutely correct.
It's a very 'black or white' system that leads to election of people who are absolute in their beliefs ('you're either with us or against us' being a famous Bush version) and who see the world without shades of gray (Axis of Evil, Evildoers etc.) spring to mind. IT also leads to vilification of people who admit that the world is complicated, that their are shades of gray and that perhaps positions should change as circumstances change.
The idea of Antinomy really doesn't fly in American politics... even the word would have you branded an 'intellectual elitist'
And that's kind of what's killing me on a presentation today. I want to be single minded. I want to be straightforward and I want to know that what I'm saying is easily understood and executable... but not at the cost of nuance, depth and richness.
It's tough this 'writing your thoughts for the consumption of others' business, isn't it?
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Hmmmmm IceCream
I'm not sure why I find sticking to a diet as hard as I do. I think that it's an aversion to deprivation coupled with a natural gluttony overlaid with a mechanism that fills in moments between things happening with cookies.
For the last part I blame the UK. It's a place where people used to fill in the awkward social moments with tea. Which then became with Tea and KitKats. After all a KitKat says all that we're too repressed to say.
People arriving the the US are astounded by the size of the muffins, cookies and cakes here but whenever I'm in the London office the thing that astonishes me is the number of times the 'refreshment trolley' comes trundling into view buckling under the weight of something small but moresome. Our office there runs on KitKats, pots of tea and tiny sandwiches filled with minced wotnots scooped from a tin.
I am sticking to the diet though - and feeling good about doing it. Even though taking my rest day from the gym (and filling in the time with Pilates) does have me feeling a little guilty. One to watch I think.
For the last part I blame the UK. It's a place where people used to fill in the awkward social moments with tea. Which then became with Tea and KitKats. After all a KitKat says all that we're too repressed to say.
People arriving the the US are astounded by the size of the muffins, cookies and cakes here but whenever I'm in the London office the thing that astonishes me is the number of times the 'refreshment trolley' comes trundling into view buckling under the weight of something small but moresome. Our office there runs on KitKats, pots of tea and tiny sandwiches filled with minced wotnots scooped from a tin.
I am sticking to the diet though - and feeling good about doing it. Even though taking my rest day from the gym (and filling in the time with Pilates) does have me feeling a little guilty. One to watch I think.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Thinking Time
I'm always amazed by the way the brain works. Last night for instance I made myself a mental (and a physical) note to make a call by 10am this morning. As a result I woke up every 2 hours thinking about the fact that I had a call to make.
Then after looking at a brief for the 134th time today it suddenly became very clear what the underlying thought was. Just a single word actually that summed everything up. And it came while I was thinking about something else.
So maybe overtiredness and distraction really are the best way to work. I used to live on a diet of not enough sleep, too long a commute and constant new ideas. Sure it almost killed me (I wholeheartedly buy into the 'lack of sleep and gum disease' theories of cancer causes) but man was I lateral.
Anyway have to talk cars to a bunch of men over a pig's stomach burrito now... should be interesting
Monday, July 28, 2008
Don't let this happen to you
.... in a bid to save myself from the 'droopy camel toe of beelzebub' I've been keeping a food diary recently. And it showed what I knew to be true... my diet was fantastic up to around the time of the first glass of white wine after which I turned into Betty Bulima without the moderating gag reflex.
Luckily this morning I got the advice that I needed to stop the bingeing, Yup, cut back on the drink. Switch wine out for gin - or at least for red. Up the grain content. Increase the protein and eat as little processed food as possible.
Coupled with the diet this should see me raring to go for the Naked Uganda Project rather than looking for the shadows and begging for over exposure.
Exercise is going well - though the 5.30am starts soon become a drag... thinking of 7am starts this week; see what a difference that makes.
Okay - cats and dog working together to open pet food cupboard and bags contained therein - must dash.
Luckily this morning I got the advice that I needed to stop the bingeing, Yup, cut back on the drink. Switch wine out for gin - or at least for red. Up the grain content. Increase the protein and eat as little processed food as possible.
Coupled with the diet this should see me raring to go for the Naked Uganda Project rather than looking for the shadows and begging for over exposure.
Exercise is going well - though the 5.30am starts soon become a drag... thinking of 7am starts this week; see what a difference that makes.
Okay - cats and dog working together to open pet food cupboard and bags contained therein - must dash.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Greenfield Village
So today was spent at Greenfield Village.. .well at least the part of the day where we weren't stuck in terrible traffic was spent there. It's a testimony to the vast wealth accumulated by Henry Ford and to the awareness that he had.
See Henry realized that his Industrial World would wipe out the rural world and so set about buying as much of the past as he could - in order to preserve it. The result is an extraordinary village and a series of "how rich was he?" oddities that defy logic (the chair that Lincoln was shot in, the car that JFK was shot in, the car that Reagan was shot in, a piece of the Kitty Hawk, Edison's last breathe, Henry Ford's place of birth, slace houses, a Cotswold tearoom and a series of engineering marvels)
It's a good excuse to spend time outside in the sun - and as the horses and the model T Fords whiz by it's easy to forget that you're yards away from the factory that today churns out Trucks by the 100,000.
Worth a visit
See Henry realized that his Industrial World would wipe out the rural world and so set about buying as much of the past as he could - in order to preserve it. The result is an extraordinary village and a series of "how rich was he?" oddities that defy logic (the chair that Lincoln was shot in, the car that JFK was shot in, the car that Reagan was shot in, a piece of the Kitty Hawk, Edison's last breathe, Henry Ford's place of birth, slace houses, a Cotswold tearoom and a series of engineering marvels)
It's a good excuse to spend time outside in the sun - and as the horses and the model T Fords whiz by it's easy to forget that you're yards away from the factory that today churns out Trucks by the 100,000.
Worth a visit
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Freedom
There's something about summer that really opens you up to a sense of possibilities.
Right now we're facing down the barrel of uncertainty. Jude doesn't know where her career might take her, I don't know where mine will allow me to go but we're kind of certain that when you offer things up to the universe they have a way of settling that just works.
Were all of this "where are we heading next?' stuff going on during the winter I'm sure that we'd be feeling a little weighed down by it, a little daunted, a little tired of the thought of another book cull, another moving company rip-off, another new town to negotiate.
But it's summer. And that means that what this is now all about is possibility. We're thinking about which places have the longest summers, the closest proximity to beaches, which have the most fabulous houses, the most amazing people, the most opportunity for growth. And it's actually all pretty spirit raising.
Who knows. We may stay in the US, we may head back toward familiar Asia, we may move to strange new Asia but the great thing is that with the decision will come some certainty. It will have been six years of living out of a metaphorical suitcase. First "here until the PhD." is over. Then "here for the length of a post-doc" contract. But with the next move comes - "here for as long as we want to be" - which temporally may be no different, but emotionally makes all the difference in the world
Right now we're facing down the barrel of uncertainty. Jude doesn't know where her career might take her, I don't know where mine will allow me to go but we're kind of certain that when you offer things up to the universe they have a way of settling that just works.
Were all of this "where are we heading next?' stuff going on during the winter I'm sure that we'd be feeling a little weighed down by it, a little daunted, a little tired of the thought of another book cull, another moving company rip-off, another new town to negotiate.
But it's summer. And that means that what this is now all about is possibility. We're thinking about which places have the longest summers, the closest proximity to beaches, which have the most fabulous houses, the most amazing people, the most opportunity for growth. And it's actually all pretty spirit raising.
Who knows. We may stay in the US, we may head back toward familiar Asia, we may move to strange new Asia but the great thing is that with the decision will come some certainty. It will have been six years of living out of a metaphorical suitcase. First "here until the PhD." is over. Then "here for the length of a post-doc" contract. But with the next move comes - "here for as long as we want to be" - which temporally may be no different, but emotionally makes all the difference in the world
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh
Just got a call to ask whether I wanted to head out to Cedar Point and ride some of the biggest rollercoasters in the world. To which I said "Hell yeah"....
It's a two hour drive but it should be worth it - the thing looks completely insane. 17 Roller coasters is just the start. And they have names like Mantis, Raptor and Mean Streak. Yessss!
I've not been this excited since Britney first checked outta rehab
It's a two hour drive but it should be worth it - the thing looks completely insane. 17 Roller coasters is just the start. And they have names like Mantis, Raptor and Mean Streak. Yessss!
I've not been this excited since Britney first checked outta rehab
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
What were they thinking?
1982 Ford Promo - California Highway Patrol Special Service Mustang Ad
Originally uploaded by ssp.vortech
I did just that on Mustang this morning. Of course Mustang is odd in that its story runs much deeper than anything it's ever said... it's as much an icon of America as it is an American icon and that's as much down to Bullit, to racing, to father and son driveway moments and things like Farrah and Charlie's Angels as it is the advertising. And it's just as well. Because the ads spent decades talking about room for dogs, shagpile carpet and the fact that the dashboard is badded and the seats were vinyl.
But there were some threads in there. Basically Mustang ran the Smirnoff strategy for a long, long time, Mustang is transformational - it allows you to cast off your dowdy accountant self and embrace your uninhibited, sexy self.
Smirnoff does it by making you so drunk that you don't care (the world looks different through the bottom of a bottle) Mustang did it by making you feel so cool you took on a new persona.
The other story in there was that this release was the attainment of the dream. Mustang was about escape for a very long time. Whic h makes sense when you think that the original buyers were in a buttoned up world where self expression was frowned upon.
There was a lot about heritage too. About how each generation was related to the previous generation (and how it had improved). This communication split into two real camps. There was 'approval from a father figure' in which a new Mustang pulls up alongside an old Mustang and the older driver passes positive comment. And there was trans-generational transfer in which a father passes on the feeling of a Mustang to his son. I found the latter more powerful.
Best of all though was the MadMen style sexism of the times.
"Should a single gal buy a 1968 Mustang? Sure - it's a sports car she can afford even on her secretary's salary"
Or the woman who begins her test-drive with the words
"I really should be in the kitchen"
Hilarious but all a part of the legend. Mustang it seems has always been an invitation to show your sexier side --- what that means in a world full of college jazz mags, explicit blogs, high street sex shops, hardcore downloads and teen hypersexuality is the big challenge.
But it's great to be thinking about something that has real cultural currency than trying to work out something new to say about a new watermelon flavored yellow fat.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Weird but true
So yesterday at around 4pm I head down for a coffee and hear the sounds of a band who seem somehow familiar... walk around the corner to the meeting room best known as Boffo and who should be playing?.... Supergrass
Yup - the monkey resembling pop combo from the late 90s were all set up and rocking a select crowd of Detroit office drones on a Monday afternoon.
And that's why I love this business.
Yup - the monkey resembling pop combo from the late 90s were all set up and rocking a select crowd of Detroit office drones on a Monday afternoon.
And that's why I love this business.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Much happening
So the posts recently have been thinner than a Bullemic's tooth enamel (my fave phrase at the moment) - partly because I've been stupidly busy. Partly because I've been knackered from being so stupidly busy. Which isn't a bad thing.
The gym continues - and the weight keeps rising; which has to be a good thing.
The mosquitos keep biting and the lumps keep getting bigger and uglier (which can't be a good thing, can it?)
The dog keeps getting walked longer and seems to be coping (yesterday's doggy companion got stung by a bee, bitten by bugs, developed diahorrea and seemed quite burned, Velcro just smelled a little worse)
People are still filling our days and spare rooms - we have Zenu for another week, then Bonnie and Lorraine and then my parents.
Work continues to focus on the launch of new cars, the putting together of a plan for new product for a toy company and the task of persuading more people to eat more cheese (or similar numbers of people to eat a lot more cheese)
So nothing major but the minute hands are moving fast at the moment.
The gym continues - and the weight keeps rising; which has to be a good thing.
The mosquitos keep biting and the lumps keep getting bigger and uglier (which can't be a good thing, can it?)
The dog keeps getting walked longer and seems to be coping (yesterday's doggy companion got stung by a bee, bitten by bugs, developed diahorrea and seemed quite burned, Velcro just smelled a little worse)
People are still filling our days and spare rooms - we have Zenu for another week, then Bonnie and Lorraine and then my parents.
Work continues to focus on the launch of new cars, the putting together of a plan for new product for a toy company and the task of persuading more people to eat more cheese (or similar numbers of people to eat a lot more cheese)
So nothing major but the minute hands are moving fast at the moment.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Today's mission
I have today off... which in 90f (32c) is a good thing.
Gonna spend the day on a photo safari.
Start with the art fair as it opens
Move on to the weird and wonderful things around us (like the anti-gravity hill)
Before finding myself a beach spot somewhere near a lake where I can sweat off some poundage.
Then tonight - if we can get tickets - Batman!
Good day, Good day
Gonna spend the day on a photo safari.
Start with the art fair as it opens
Move on to the weird and wonderful things around us (like the anti-gravity hill)
Before finding myself a beach spot somewhere near a lake where I can sweat off some poundage.
Then tonight - if we can get tickets - Batman!
Good day, Good day
Thursday, July 17, 2008
A good drive - a good day
So today as the sun beat down and the temperature climbed into the mid 30s I headed for America's 30th best small town, Bryan, OH to talk to the very lovely people at Ohio Art. And they really are very lovely people.
Ohio Art are the people that brought the world Etch-A-Sketch and while the manufacture of the toy may have moved overseas they're doing all that they can to keep the brand, the company and the people who rely on it healthy.
Right now I have everything crossable crossed (I've tied knots in the rest) that we're going to be able to figure out a way to work with them. Partly because I love the toy. Partly because I'd really love to work with the people there. And partly because I love the idea of helping come up with the next generation of Etch A Sketch toys and games.
Plus the drive home - through cornfields on roads that narrow enough to make overtaking a rush - is enough to make you want to holler.
Ohio Art are the people that brought the world Etch-A-Sketch and while the manufacture of the toy may have moved overseas they're doing all that they can to keep the brand, the company and the people who rely on it healthy.
Right now I have everything crossable crossed (I've tied knots in the rest) that we're going to be able to figure out a way to work with them. Partly because I love the toy. Partly because I'd really love to work with the people there. And partly because I love the idea of helping come up with the next generation of Etch A Sketch toys and games.
Plus the drive home - through cornfields on roads that narrow enough to make overtaking a rush - is enough to make you want to holler.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
A 'merican Hybrid
This is the2008 GMC Yukon Hybrid AWD.
It does 20mpg in the city (that's 24 mpg to the UK gallon)
And a whopping 20mpg (24mpg UK) on the highway
Choose the 2WD and you can get 21mpg highway (25.2mpg UK)
I couldn't tell you what it's CO2 emissions are... mainly because nobody lists them here. Hybrid here is about MPG and nothing else. Mainly because the only disincentive to pollute is the price of fuel.
In the first three months of this year GM, the maker of the Yukon and the world's biggest car manufacturer (Toyota just overtook them) sold less than 850 hybrids in the US in total.
I guess you can see why.
It does 20mpg in the city (that's 24 mpg to the UK gallon)
And a whopping 20mpg (24mpg UK) on the highway
Choose the 2WD and you can get 21mpg highway (25.2mpg UK)
I couldn't tell you what it's CO2 emissions are... mainly because nobody lists them here. Hybrid here is about MPG and nothing else. Mainly because the only disincentive to pollute is the price of fuel.
In the first three months of this year GM, the maker of the Yukon and the world's biggest car manufacturer (Toyota just overtook them) sold less than 850 hybrids in the US in total.
I guess you can see why.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Body Dysmorphic?
I was watching a show on TV last night that dealt with Body Dysmophia and it started me wondering - what if you got past the fact that you didn't look the way that you thought you did in the mirror; but then realized that you were still hideous?
A childish thought I know - but while the show concentrated on beautiful people who could only see ugliness in their own reflection I couldn't help but feel for the dysmophic mingers out there - the ones who occasionally had their own self image re-inforced by the reactions of others.
Maybe dysmophia is my issue after all???
A childish thought I know - but while the show concentrated on beautiful people who could only see ugliness in their own reflection I couldn't help but feel for the dysmophic mingers out there - the ones who occasionally had their own self image re-inforced by the reactions of others.
Maybe dysmophia is my issue after all???
Monday, July 14, 2008
What a morning
So having gone to bed so early last night that I missed Ms USA falling during the 'walk and talk and chew' test on Miss Universe I then slept way too long - getting up for the gym an hour or so late and having to fly down there in the car (the rest of the week will see most of the roads closed as a million people flood in for the Art Festival so flying anywhere won't be possible)
At the gym a bunch of guys from the car industry were exhibiting admirable gallows humor against a background that might see this being the bloodiest of days. All of the big 3 US makers are looking to cut staff and many of those staff will find out this morning. Two of the guys even insisted on paying their membership fees today - so that the money was spent and they wouldn't have to cancel. It's that kind of a day. Still it was done with grim humor and good grace.
Work for me at the moment is still busy. Cars, toys, cheese, the future of transport and a host of other bits and pieces all seem to be occupying bits of my mind - and random pieces of solved puzzle keep emerging at unusual moments. Making me appear more 'rain man' than ever.
Phew... fun though
At the gym a bunch of guys from the car industry were exhibiting admirable gallows humor against a background that might see this being the bloodiest of days. All of the big 3 US makers are looking to cut staff and many of those staff will find out this morning. Two of the guys even insisted on paying their membership fees today - so that the money was spent and they wouldn't have to cancel. It's that kind of a day. Still it was done with grim humor and good grace.
Work for me at the moment is still busy. Cars, toys, cheese, the future of transport and a host of other bits and pieces all seem to be occupying bits of my mind - and random pieces of solved puzzle keep emerging at unusual moments. Making me appear more 'rain man' than ever.
Phew... fun though
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Another one bites down hard
One of the things with having been through cancer treatment and emerged flabbier but still intact is that you become a bit of a touchstone for other people. People that you don't really know. Friends of friends call a lot and say thing like "My neighbor's daughter has leukemia; would you talk to them?"
You know that they're looking for empathy, advice and most of all hope. You're the embodiment that all might be well after all. Like the 98 year old marathon running grandpa who smoked 60 a day.
I try to listen. And what I usually hear is simplicity. I want to live. I want to have more time with the people that I love. I want to enjoy more.
Of course it takes 6 weeks to turn back into the asshole you always were once cured but that doesn't matter.
I've watched people go through this. I've talked to them as they've had organ after organ hacked away - their bodies like Russia being burned ahead of the enemy. And while I want to be free of it I'm glad that I can help. I've said before that I'm not much of a candle carrier... but the responsibility for hope I can bear.
All of that said am allergy cough and swollen gland has me looking up chemo phone numbers today. The fear it seems takes a greater hold than a cancer ever could
You know that they're looking for empathy, advice and most of all hope. You're the embodiment that all might be well after all. Like the 98 year old marathon running grandpa who smoked 60 a day.
I try to listen. And what I usually hear is simplicity. I want to live. I want to have more time with the people that I love. I want to enjoy more.
Of course it takes 6 weeks to turn back into the asshole you always were once cured but that doesn't matter.
I've watched people go through this. I've talked to them as they've had organ after organ hacked away - their bodies like Russia being burned ahead of the enemy. And while I want to be free of it I'm glad that I can help. I've said before that I'm not much of a candle carrier... but the responsibility for hope I can bear.
All of that said am allergy cough and swollen gland has me looking up chemo phone numbers today. The fear it seems takes a greater hold than a cancer ever could
Friday, July 11, 2008
I love my job
Yesterday I was looking at the future of mobility (it's personalized mass transit btw) and at the way that 'Engines' are becoming 'Energy transfer systems'.
The next Prius for example will be a Tribrid - adding solar panels to run things like the a/c.Then there's an engine in a car that can create enough energy in its batteries during the day to power the lights in your house at night - a car you plug into.
So I was there sketching out a future where pods take you from mode of mass transport to connection point and train schedules are managed by the Blackberry in your pocket - so that you get delivered to the train about to leave. And it was all very Tom Cruise in a Spielberg movie and it was all very cool.
Then today I'm looking at cheese consumption. At why Americans are aftraid of real cheese and in love with creme cheese. And at snacking and the way that American sport is an excuse to eat uninterrupted for a couple of hours - from tailgate to hotdogs to drive-thru on the way home.
And the people are smart. And the data is good. And there's resource. And opinion. And suddenly I'm engaged. And smarter. And more engaging. And I love it. All over again.
The next Prius for example will be a Tribrid - adding solar panels to run things like the a/c.Then there's an engine in a car that can create enough energy in its batteries during the day to power the lights in your house at night - a car you plug into.
So I was there sketching out a future where pods take you from mode of mass transport to connection point and train schedules are managed by the Blackberry in your pocket - so that you get delivered to the train about to leave. And it was all very Tom Cruise in a Spielberg movie and it was all very cool.
Then today I'm looking at cheese consumption. At why Americans are aftraid of real cheese and in love with creme cheese. And at snacking and the way that American sport is an excuse to eat uninterrupted for a couple of hours - from tailgate to hotdogs to drive-thru on the way home.
And the people are smart. And the data is good. And there's resource. And opinion. And suddenly I'm engaged. And smarter. And more engaging. And I love it. All over again.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Crazy Busy today
I'm crazy busy today... so this is going to have to be shorter than Mariah Carey in flats. Even though see only ever takes her heels off to go to bed. If it's a water bed. Sometimes.
What am I up to?
Just been to a 7.30am meeting to talk Trucks
Then have to put together a proposal for building a toy shop.
After which I have a 'propulsion' strategy meeting
Then brief some people from digital on a new car
Before signing off on a brief for another car brief
A call in the afternoon on quant' researh
Then a 7pm meeting with the guy from 7.30am
Rush down to Ann Arbor, switch cars, get Jude's new plates, dinner with a friend, time with the dog.... and dog food, I need dogfood.
Damn
What am I up to?
Just been to a 7.30am meeting to talk Trucks
Then have to put together a proposal for building a toy shop.
After which I have a 'propulsion' strategy meeting
Then brief some people from digital on a new car
Before signing off on a brief for another car brief
A call in the afternoon on quant' researh
Then a 7pm meeting with the guy from 7.30am
Rush down to Ann Arbor, switch cars, get Jude's new plates, dinner with a friend, time with the dog.... and dog food, I need dogfood.
Damn
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Upside down
So with all the talk about how Gas Prices are turning America into a nation of truck hating agrophics forced to stay home eating economy tins of catfood (man that $4 gas... it's costing me an extra $15 a week over last year... best cancel the vacation) I thought that I'd take a look at what's happening with car sales.
Well of course they're down. But that has less to do with the cost of gas (people are still driving, they haven't abandoned cars - just the buying of new ones) and more to do with uncertainty in the economy. If it really is about to tank and with it take your job you don't buy a new car.
And if building stops then the construction industry starts to cut back and you see a slump in truck sales. So far so obvious. And looking at the top 20 sales chart born out by the data. Silverado down 25.6%, F series down 22.7%, Dodge Ram down 30.4%
So who else is losing? Well people are still trading in their minivans for something a little cooler... so the Dodge Caravan is down 26.8%. Probably not a fuel economy story per se, more a 'more modern ways to tote around the kids' story.
More interestingly are the small losses for Toyota Corolla and Camry and the big gains for Honda Civic and Accord. It seems that when faced with the stark option of a new, more efficient car people would rather go for the one with a hint of style and flair over the 'durable appliance' offering from Toyota. Honda have a lot right at the moment... though I'm no fan of the Accord which seems over big, over veloured and over rated.
Ford Focus and Chevy Cobalt also up. Cars in the smallest segment most people consider. The Focus is a 2.0L sedan or coupe here and that's about as small as the majority are willing to go. There's no room for Fit, Yaris or any 'B' cars in the top 20 yet.
This is dull for non-car people I know but the only companies that saw CAR sales increase in June 08 over June 07 were
Honda
Hyundai
Mazda
Kia
Mercedes
Audi
Mini
Maserati
Rolls Royce
Which leads me to believe that people are in the market for
- Luxury
- Fun
- Bargain Basement offers
If only British Leyland still existed... an Allegro Vanden Plas with lots of chrome, a mini chassis and kia price tag would go down a storm
Well of course they're down. But that has less to do with the cost of gas (people are still driving, they haven't abandoned cars - just the buying of new ones) and more to do with uncertainty in the economy. If it really is about to tank and with it take your job you don't buy a new car.
And if building stops then the construction industry starts to cut back and you see a slump in truck sales. So far so obvious. And looking at the top 20 sales chart born out by the data. Silverado down 25.6%, F series down 22.7%, Dodge Ram down 30.4%
So who else is losing? Well people are still trading in their minivans for something a little cooler... so the Dodge Caravan is down 26.8%. Probably not a fuel economy story per se, more a 'more modern ways to tote around the kids' story.
More interestingly are the small losses for Toyota Corolla and Camry and the big gains for Honda Civic and Accord. It seems that when faced with the stark option of a new, more efficient car people would rather go for the one with a hint of style and flair over the 'durable appliance' offering from Toyota. Honda have a lot right at the moment... though I'm no fan of the Accord which seems over big, over veloured and over rated.
Ford Focus and Chevy Cobalt also up. Cars in the smallest segment most people consider. The Focus is a 2.0L sedan or coupe here and that's about as small as the majority are willing to go. There's no room for Fit, Yaris or any 'B' cars in the top 20 yet.
This is dull for non-car people I know but the only companies that saw CAR sales increase in June 08 over June 07 were
Honda
Hyundai
Mazda
Kia
Mercedes
Audi
Mini
Maserati
Rolls Royce
Which leads me to believe that people are in the market for
- Luxury
- Fun
- Bargain Basement offers
If only British Leyland still existed... an Allegro Vanden Plas with lots of chrome, a mini chassis and kia price tag would go down a storm
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Mellow
Didn't get much sleep last night. With Jude away the time that I go to bed tends to drift - especially since Facebook added chat and friends in different time zones start to wander in and out. Didn't used to be a problem - but with the gym now a 6am fixture my nocturnal catching ups are robbing me of sleep.
Luckily the endorphins are fighting the 'lack of rest - tins' and I'm left feeling very mellow indeed. Despite the fact that the world is closing in around me, I seem to have hit a bit of a groove. Things are falling into place, I'm chugging along and Cruise Control is engaged.
Guess that a crash is inevitable... I'll try to stay awake at the wheel
Luckily the endorphins are fighting the 'lack of rest - tins' and I'm left feeling very mellow indeed. Despite the fact that the world is closing in around me, I seem to have hit a bit of a groove. Things are falling into place, I'm chugging along and Cruise Control is engaged.
Guess that a crash is inevitable... I'll try to stay awake at the wheel
Monday, July 07, 2008
Freedom
So last night with the sun shining and the town full of families in search of icecream I decided to head down to the final night of the Ann Arbor SummerFestival.
It was packed with people - and what was most apparent to me was the lack of self consciousness amongst them.
By the gate groups of teenage girls hung out, cell phones in hand, braces gleaming in the late afternoon sun, Hollister shorts just too short and tops revealing just too much muffin action. They threw their heads back and laughed with ease, while scanning the horizon for the football players with whom they had innocently fumbled.
Inside bikers mingled with professors (they had beards in common I guess) as dads hoisted screaming toddlers onto their shoulders and moms danced hand in hand with kids alive to the energy of the evening.
The first music and everyone was up. On their feet. Grandma was twirling, grandson was bouncing, too many people seemed to be on the verge of seizure but nobody - and I mean nobody was mortified.
Other than me. British-New Yorker that I feel I am. Who stood rooted, horrified and awed by the sheer mid-westerness of it all. The perfect town enjoying the perfect evening. Pretty cool
It was packed with people - and what was most apparent to me was the lack of self consciousness amongst them.
By the gate groups of teenage girls hung out, cell phones in hand, braces gleaming in the late afternoon sun, Hollister shorts just too short and tops revealing just too much muffin action. They threw their heads back and laughed with ease, while scanning the horizon for the football players with whom they had innocently fumbled.
Inside bikers mingled with professors (they had beards in common I guess) as dads hoisted screaming toddlers onto their shoulders and moms danced hand in hand with kids alive to the energy of the evening.
The first music and everyone was up. On their feet. Grandma was twirling, grandson was bouncing, too many people seemed to be on the verge of seizure but nobody - and I mean nobody was mortified.
Other than me. British-New Yorker that I feel I am. Who stood rooted, horrified and awed by the sheer mid-westerness of it all. The perfect town enjoying the perfect evening. Pretty cool
Sunday, July 06, 2008
What a furor
So our local theatre (theatre, thee-ade-orr) is currently running "The Little Dog Laughed" a not bad at all play about a young actor who might just make it big if only his agent can hide his 'slight case of recurring homosexuality'.
The image here was taken for the Portland version, but as it has now finished its run I'm not post the details here - just check out www.pcs.org should you be in the area - I'm sure they have some good stuff.
Now the issues with this play are twofold. When it showed in Chicago the director cut the nudity --- and the playwright was pissed.
Here the nudity stands (is that a mixed metaphor?) but the poster - showing two shirtless men holding in what appear to be the start of middle aged guts - has caused some local stores to refuse to display the ad in their window.
This is odd.
Ann Arbor, A2, is supposed to be a liberal town. It's supposed to be an opium scented oasis of liberal sensibility in a state full of 'hand me my gun Cleavis' redneckery.
The local rags are trying to make a story out of it. But I think that it's a matter of good taste rather than wounded morality. Those boys shouldn't be topless anywhere where they can be viewed. Honestly - are their no ripped regional actors?
The image here was taken for the Portland version, but as it has now finished its run I'm not post the details here - just check out www.pcs.org should you be in the area - I'm sure they have some good stuff.
Now the issues with this play are twofold. When it showed in Chicago the director cut the nudity --- and the playwright was pissed.
Here the nudity stands (is that a mixed metaphor?) but the poster - showing two shirtless men holding in what appear to be the start of middle aged guts - has caused some local stores to refuse to display the ad in their window.
This is odd.
Ann Arbor, A2, is supposed to be a liberal town. It's supposed to be an opium scented oasis of liberal sensibility in a state full of 'hand me my gun Cleavis' redneckery.
The local rags are trying to make a story out of it. But I think that it's a matter of good taste rather than wounded morality. Those boys shouldn't be topless anywhere where they can be viewed. Honestly - are their no ripped regional actors?
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