Back in September.
Your friend,
"Allan Smithee"
Friday, July 3, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Open Letter To The Citizens of New York City
Dear Fellow Americans,
I regret to inform you that when Mayor Michael Bloomberg is forcibly removed from said office by the New York National Guard in the year 2010 and exiled to other parts because his re-election was illegal and an affront to all who believe in voter enacted city by-laws, I will not be offering the ex-mayor sanctuary in my Philadelphia, PA. apartment.
Please look elsewhere.
Sincerely,
"Allan Smithee"
postscript: Have a Happy Fourth of July!
I regret to inform you that when Mayor Michael Bloomberg is forcibly removed from said office by the New York National Guard in the year 2010 and exiled to other parts because his re-election was illegal and an affront to all who believe in voter enacted city by-laws, I will not be offering the ex-mayor sanctuary in my Philadelphia, PA. apartment.
Please look elsewhere.
Sincerely,
"Allan Smithee"
postscript: Have a Happy Fourth of July!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
सुम्मेर स्प्रिंग
One spring or summer years ago as a teenager, I wanted to experience vertigo and see what the fuss was about. Having read somewhere that divers must always follow their air bubbles to the surface when completely confused and in danger of drowning, I decided to experiment...Went to the backyard and jumped into the swimming pool. After spending a minute or two taking deep breaths and expanding my lungs went to the bottom of the deep end and exhaled some air and then followed the bubbles to the surface. Simple enough. Just follow the air bubbles to the surface.
Took some more deep breaths and went back under. Did about 5-10 quick front flips, released air, and followed bubbles to the surface. Too easy. Definitely not confused so did it again with the same disappointing results.
Then I tried it a final time. Did about 15-20 front flips. Released air except that the bubbles went the wrong way. What I thought was down was where the bubbles were traveling to. Regardless, FOLLOW THE BUBBLES. Feeling panic, didn't think I was gonna make it to the surface. I did. Strange and frightening sensation. Down was up and Up was down.
Just typing this is making my head hurt.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Cookie Fortune - Most Recent
Your self-confidence shines and makes a great impression on others.
Learn Chinese:
Doctor - Yi Sheng
Lucky Numbers:
43, 40, 41, 5, 44, 22
Learn Chinese:
Doctor - Yi Sheng
Lucky Numbers:
43, 40, 41, 5, 44, 22
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
On This Date in History
Wednesday, June 17th
The 168th day of 2009.
There are 197 days left in the year.
Today's Highlights in History
On June 17, 1928, Amelia Earhart embarked on the first trans-Atlantic flight by a woman. She flew from Newfoundland to Wales in about 21 hours.
On June 17, 1882, Igor Stravinsky, the Russian composer, was born.
On this date in:
1775 - The Battle of Bunker Hill took place near Boston during the Revolutionary War.
1789 - The Third Estate in France declared itself a national assembly and undertook to frame a constitution.
1856 - The Republican Party opened its first convention, in Philadelphia.
1885 - The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York City aboard the French ship Isere.
1940 - France asked Germany for terms of surrender in World War II.
1944 - The republic of Iceland was established.
1961 - Soviet ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev defected to the West while his troupe was in Paris.
1963 - The Supreme Court struck down rules requiring the recitation of the Lord's Prayer or the reading of Biblical verses in public schools.
1972 - President Richard Nixon's downfall began with the arrest of five burglars inside Democratic national headquarters in Washington's Watergate complex.
1994 - After leading police on a chase through Southern California, O.J. Simpson was arrested and charged with murder in the slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole, and Ronald Goldman.
2005 - Former Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski and a second executive, Mark H. Swartz, were convicted of looting their company of more than $600 million. (Each was later sentenced to 8-1/3 to 25 years in prison.)
2008 - Hundreds of same-sex couples got married across California on the first full day that gay marriage became legal by order of the state's highest court. (However, California voters passed Proposition 8 in November, once again banning gay marriage.)
The 168th day of 2009.
There are 197 days left in the year.
Today's Highlights in History
On June 17, 1928, Amelia Earhart embarked on the first trans-Atlantic flight by a woman. She flew from Newfoundland to Wales in about 21 hours.
On June 17, 1882, Igor Stravinsky, the Russian composer, was born.
On this date in:
1775 - The Battle of Bunker Hill took place near Boston during the Revolutionary War.
1789 - The Third Estate in France declared itself a national assembly and undertook to frame a constitution.
1856 - The Republican Party opened its first convention, in Philadelphia.
1885 - The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York City aboard the French ship Isere.
1940 - France asked Germany for terms of surrender in World War II.
1944 - The republic of Iceland was established.
1961 - Soviet ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev defected to the West while his troupe was in Paris.
1963 - The Supreme Court struck down rules requiring the recitation of the Lord's Prayer or the reading of Biblical verses in public schools.
1972 - President Richard Nixon's downfall began with the arrest of five burglars inside Democratic national headquarters in Washington's Watergate complex.
1994 - After leading police on a chase through Southern California, O.J. Simpson was arrested and charged with murder in the slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole, and Ronald Goldman.
2005 - Former Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski and a second executive, Mark H. Swartz, were convicted of looting their company of more than $600 million. (Each was later sentenced to 8-1/3 to 25 years in prison.)
2008 - Hundreds of same-sex couples got married across California on the first full day that gay marriage became legal by order of the state's highest court. (However, California voters passed Proposition 8 in November, once again banning gay marriage.)
Monday, June 15, 2009
Letters
Letters to the Editor
Yo, Philly, it's time to dress up
Walking down Chestnut Street recently, I was struck by how shabbily the pedestrians were dressed.
What an image we present to visitors and to each other. Apparently, we are nearly all slobs who care nothing about how we dress. From dirty T-shirts and wrinkled shorts, to teens with all manner of hardware stabbing their bodies, to ugly tattoos marring limbs and even necks - it was no wonder I began to feel ill.
When you come downtown, put on a clean, pressed shirt or blouse. Color coordinate what you are wearing. Wear pants that fit over your hips, with a belt, and hem or cuff the legs. You might try wearing a hat or shirt that doesn't say anything on it or advertise some so-called designer.
We may not be New York, but that's no reason to look as though we live in a dump. And while you're at it, stop cursing in public, yelling on your cell phone, and riding bicycles through pedestrians, and show some brotherly love.
Saul Davis
Philadelphia
Furthermore...
Start reporting and stop spreading rumors
I think that The Inquirer should be embarrassed for its role in the Raul Ibanez performance-enhancing-drug scandal ("A cheap shot at Ibanez," Tuesday).
I am confident that it is not news to report, without any apparent corroboration of the underlying facts, that some blogger reported that a Philadelphia athlete is taking PEDs. Yet it would appear that is exactly what The Inquirer did relative to this story.
If The Inquirer has any credible evidence that PEDs are involved in Ibanez's great start to this season, you should cite that evidence and report it on the front of the sports pages. On the other hand, as it appears that in this situation you have no evidence, it seems to me that you owe both Ibanez and your reading public an apology and a promise to not report such nonstories in the future.
Chuck DeLone
Downingtown
Amorous grandparents grumble: The kids barge in
Dear Abby: After my wife had our sixth child, our love life fizzled out. But at age 80, we have suddenly discovered that we aren’t THAT old!
How do we tactfully deflect kids and grandkids who enter without ringing the bell? I realize that lots of people would love to have this problem, but it’s a problem all the same. – Back in the Saddle Again
Dear Back in the Saddle Again: Your letter made me smile. I’m pleased to hear there’s still plenty of “hi-ho” in the old Silver.
If you haven’t told your children and grandchildren that you would prefer they not enter your home without ringing the bell, my first suggestion is to speak up now. If you have, and your request is being ignored, then I have two more suggestions.
The first is to put a chain or double lock on the doors to your house; the second is to hang a “Please Do Not Disturb, the Old Folks Are Napping” sign on your doors when you’re feeling amorous. I’ll bet you $20 that because of entrenched misconceptions about sexuality in the over-70 generation, none of your children or grandchildren will question it.
Footnotes:
Letters to the Editor published Saturday, June 13, 2009
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Letter to Dear Abby
published by The Philadelphia Daily News
Post entry is "verbatim" cut & paste.
Yo, Philly, it's time to dress up
Walking down Chestnut Street recently, I was struck by how shabbily the pedestrians were dressed.
What an image we present to visitors and to each other. Apparently, we are nearly all slobs who care nothing about how we dress. From dirty T-shirts and wrinkled shorts, to teens with all manner of hardware stabbing their bodies, to ugly tattoos marring limbs and even necks - it was no wonder I began to feel ill.
When you come downtown, put on a clean, pressed shirt or blouse. Color coordinate what you are wearing. Wear pants that fit over your hips, with a belt, and hem or cuff the legs. You might try wearing a hat or shirt that doesn't say anything on it or advertise some so-called designer.
We may not be New York, but that's no reason to look as though we live in a dump. And while you're at it, stop cursing in public, yelling on your cell phone, and riding bicycles through pedestrians, and show some brotherly love.
Saul Davis
Philadelphia
Furthermore...
Start reporting and stop spreading rumors
I think that The Inquirer should be embarrassed for its role in the Raul Ibanez performance-enhancing-drug scandal ("A cheap shot at Ibanez," Tuesday).
I am confident that it is not news to report, without any apparent corroboration of the underlying facts, that some blogger reported that a Philadelphia athlete is taking PEDs. Yet it would appear that is exactly what The Inquirer did relative to this story.
If The Inquirer has any credible evidence that PEDs are involved in Ibanez's great start to this season, you should cite that evidence and report it on the front of the sports pages. On the other hand, as it appears that in this situation you have no evidence, it seems to me that you owe both Ibanez and your reading public an apology and a promise to not report such nonstories in the future.
Chuck DeLone
Downingtown
Amorous grandparents grumble: The kids barge in
Dear Abby: After my wife had our sixth child, our love life fizzled out. But at age 80, we have suddenly discovered that we aren’t THAT old!
How do we tactfully deflect kids and grandkids who enter without ringing the bell? I realize that lots of people would love to have this problem, but it’s a problem all the same. – Back in the Saddle Again
Dear Back in the Saddle Again: Your letter made me smile. I’m pleased to hear there’s still plenty of “hi-ho” in the old Silver.
If you haven’t told your children and grandchildren that you would prefer they not enter your home without ringing the bell, my first suggestion is to speak up now. If you have, and your request is being ignored, then I have two more suggestions.
The first is to put a chain or double lock on the doors to your house; the second is to hang a “Please Do Not Disturb, the Old Folks Are Napping” sign on your doors when you’re feeling amorous. I’ll bet you $20 that because of entrenched misconceptions about sexuality in the over-70 generation, none of your children or grandchildren will question it.
Footnotes:
Letters to the Editor published Saturday, June 13, 2009
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Letter to Dear Abby
published by The Philadelphia Daily News
Post entry is "verbatim" cut & paste.
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