I think former President Trump is doing the thumbs up in this photo taken at his daughter’s wedding.
BoyGeeding can now easily solve a Rubik’s Cube. He can do it in under three-minutes, and continues to find ways to solve it faster. We played several games of chess against each other for several hours yesterday.
I’ve never used the term brook for anything other than referencing it in a story. I don’t even know the difference between a brook and a stream.
When I was a kid, beer cans had tabs which came all the way off.
There are three fairly new books I’d like to read for enjoyment right now: the Bono memoir, the Jeff Pearlman book on Bo Jackson, and the Jimmy Johnson autobiography. It’s hard for me to read for enjoyment. My brother once instilled in me that I should not read any fiction or anything for enjoyment, just stuff that “enriches the mind.” Also, many people in my Baptist days would “encourage” only to read Christian books because if we weren’t reading to become closer to God we were wasting our time.
Here’s Bono trying to non-conspicuously promote his book at a bookstore.
Tempting set of four photos, which I warn you, is very, very not safe work, should not be those who are sensitive, and deals with medical gore – A particularly unfortunate impalement (NSFW)
Yesterday, I received a phone call from the hospital I had my surgery at back in December of last year. They claim I owe them over $3,000 and wanted to know how I would pay. I started to question the charges and asked why are they contacting me 11 months after the surgery and not sooner. They claim to have sent bills, but I ain’t received a single one. So, I asked them to verify the address. The rep was hesitant and again asked how I wanted to pay. We had a back and forth of sorts, and she finally verified my address. Again, she explained multiple bills have been sent and it would have been detailed in my Explanation of Benefits from my insurance. I logged on to my insurance’s website and saw nothing there which reflects anything she said. I explained to the rep that it’s a bit strange to get a phone call out of the blue asking for me to pay something expensive and immediately, and abruptly hung up on her, which I felt bad for doing so. Because, when I looked up the hospital’s phone number and called their billing department, they were able to verify the balance, but said “something” doesn’t look right, so she was going to get “somebody to research it” and I’d get a phone call “later.” ¡Ay, caramba! I hate our healthcare system.
Last month I was doing a bit of cleaning and started to throw a bunch of “old” paperwork away. Some of what I threw away dealt with my surgery back in December of last year. I figured by now, everything should be taken care of, and there’s no need for me to hold on to it anymore. I was so proud of myself for not being a hoarder anymore. Now, I’ve got me some regrets.
One way to goat me into losing my temper is talk over me when I’m talking, or interrupt me when I’m talking. I take it as such a huge sign of disrespect. I also realize it’s a weakness and it’s something I’m working on.
As a liberal, when it comes to Texas politics, I can see why conservatives are willing to vote for Abbott and Patrick. But Paxton and the corruption boggles me. But then again, Hershel Walker and Trump boggles me. I guess people choose to what they want to believe and the truth no longer matters. The truth, no longer matters.
Stories like these reminds me of when I first became aware of John Ashcroft. He lost a U.S. Senate race to a dead man. Then, President-Elect George W. Bush, nominated him to be our country’s next U.S. Attorney General. Per Wikipedia (the last sentence is a kicker):
In the midst of a tight race, Carnahan died in an airplane crash three weeks prior to the election. Ashcroft suspended all campaigning after the plane crash. Because of Missouri state election laws and the short time to election, Carnahan’s name remained on the ballot. Lieutenant Governor Roger B. Wilson became governor upon Carnahan’s death. Wilson said that should Carnahan be elected, he would appoint his widow, Jean Carnahan, to serve in her husband’s place; Mrs. Carnahan stated that, in accordance with her late husband’s goal, she would serve in the Senate if voters elected his name. Following these developments, Ashcroft resumed campaigning. Carnahan won the election 51% to 49%. No one had ever posthumously won election to the Senate, though voters had on at least three occasions chosen deceased candidates for the House of Representatives. Ashcroft remains the only U.S. Senator defeated for re-election by a dead person.
Jennifer Aniston is on the cover of Allure looking very provocative, but it’s been so photoshopped or AI made her look like a cousin of Jennifer Aniston and Iggy Pop.
Posted inPersonal|Comments Off on Bag of Randomness for Thursday, November 10, 2022
I try not to dream about things. Doing so is an invitation to disappointment. I get this mindset from my mother. But I do try to learn a lesson from any misfortune and make everything a teachable moment.
Somewhat related to what I wrote above, I used to love watching DIY shows and videos and trying to do things myself. Walking into a Lowes or Home Depot made my heart flutter. But since I now live in a rent house and can’t do any remodeling or DIY stuff, I don’t bother watching that stuff anymore. Watching that stuff just reminds me of what I can no longer do. One day, I hope to be blessed to own my own home.
My favorite Phil Collins songs are Invisible Touch, Groovy Kind of Love, Take Me Home, Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now), You Can’t Hurry Love, and everything else in his catalog. I have a rule when radio surfing in the car. If I land on Phil Collins song, I stop, because the odds are I’m not going to find anything better. Hmmm, I need to revisit I Don’t Care Anymore.
I’ve been feeling a bit discouraged as of late. Thankfully, a friend texted me out of the blue. I really like this guy. I admire him, and wish I could spend more time with him. I guess we just never really commit to hanging out. He’s the kind of guy that will always put a smile on your face. We’re miles apart in some of our thinking, especially politics. Heck, that’s why he texted me, he wanted to tease me about Beto’s loss. This is when I have to remember something my father taught me – you only tease the ones you love. I have a lot of conservative friends. I do live in Texas, after all. I’m thankful they all see past politics and accept me as I am, warts and all. Going back to that friend. After the teasing, he offered up some words of affirmation and encouragement that warmed my soul.
It’s a bit frustrating (yet peaceful to accept) to know that this one friend has encouraged and affirmed me more over a handful of years than my ex ever did throughout our entire marriage. He has let me know that I deserved better for how I loved, provided for, and protected my family. He helped me understand that my ex was never really in love with me, that she was more wanting to add to her family instead of start one with me. Those are some strong currents to swim against.
Next week will mark the 15th anniversary of MomGeeding’s death. Some of you can recall me blogging about that event. So, for some of you, the answer is, yes, you have been reading this blog for quite a while now.
I enjoyed this section about him having lunch with Johnny Cash: As Bono sat at the kitchen table, he listened as Cash delivered “the most poetic grace I’ve ever heard.” Then Cash, “smiling under his breath, as if June couldn’t hear or see,” ended his grace with, “Sure miss the drugs, though.”
Even his faith connects religious elements that don’t normally intersect. In some book passages he sounds like an evangelical Christian, displaying a deep familiarity with scripture and a reverence for Christ. And yet he also says that he’s never found a church he could call home, and “that what the human spirit longs for may not be corralled by any sect or denomination.” “It’s not just that some of the finest people I’ve known don’t subscribe to any particular faith tradition; it’s more that people who openly profess faith can be — how shall I put this? — such a pain in the arse,” he writes.
U2 fans have long speculated about Bono’s spiritual beliefs. Near the end of his memoir, he defines himself as a flawed but genuine “follower of Christ who can’t keep up.”
No one, not even Adam West, Clark Gable, Chris-Chris, or Paul Newman, could make a Space Force uniform look cool.
optiCutter – This website allows you to input the dimensions of a sheet of material (e.g. 4×8 plywood) and the dimensions of cuts for panels you need to make. Then automatically calculates the best layout for minimal waist and fewest cuts.
A false memory is when a person remembers an event that never actually happened or that happened much differently than they recall. Such memories can be biased to support a person’s worldview. For example, evidence suggests that people are more likely to endorse false memories that support their political ideology.
Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.
Posted inPersonal|Comments Off on Bag of Randomness for Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Ever since Twitter has been sold, I get a notification, at least once a day, of a new spam bot following me. Either that, or there are some really lonely sexy women who are interested in me.
Tonight a lot of Democrats will lose an election race, but I wonder how many of them will question the integrity of the election.
Forty-seven days until Christmas.
Looking back at things, I was gas-lighted, not by a bit, but a lot. I can’t believe how gullible I was.
Okay, Verizon, I’ve had it with the Julian Edelman commercials. I mean, out of all people, why choose a retired slightly-above average receiver as a national spokesperson? The man didn’t even do any national commercials when he was active in the NFL.
It hurt to be half-loved more than not being loved.
Texas Republicans like to say, “Don’t California up my Texas.” Well, from a pure economic standpoint, and Republicans love to point out the economy, what’s wrong with being the WORLD’S forth-largest economy?
Descriptions of the 20 videos we identified are below. ProPublica and the Tribune had three experts review each of them. They agreed that the cases below violate the law. The experts were Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer, a tax and election law expert at the University of Notre Dame; Ellen Aprill, an emerita tax law professor at Loyola Marymount University’s law school; and Sam Brunson, a law professor at Loyola University Chicago.
The show will be a mystery-thriller set in the final days of the High Republic era (around 80 years before the events of original Star Wars movie A New Hope). It follows a former Padawan as she reunites with her Jedi Master — this pair will likely be played by Stenberg and Lee, based on the photo — to investigate some crimes, but they encounter more sinister forces than they expected (maybe the Sith?).
One of the best shows I’ve seen. It was not book tour as billed, but a full 2 hour theatrical performance. @U2#bono I’m truly lucky to have been one of the 3100 people to see it live in #Torontopic.twitter.com/gmNmfIzrXM
