tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285692482024-03-10T14:53:51.020-04:00Keeping Your Head in (All) the Game(s)"Where shall we go next?" Metaphysics, <strike>Poker</strike> and Life.The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.comBlogger1431125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-10009497939513152442024-03-10T14:52:00.004-04:002024-03-10T14:52:53.369-04:00Must Read, Must Read, Must Read<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8pdE0IPn_mFK5UenJ53YMPxs5GAI6OSt5jzN4PtbggxLih6nwpniX-6KkqRrZEmWFU5q5DGE-Z3kiiZxM-0QFhuDKbKbv2R4ZFUSbB8OdLbW8LK44ia0vuGq85U7X4idizb4QlU0PBDWQe0AX3j3a1PRbiEBlulxB3fR29RlOc8LD7jyWjHG/s1280/the-atlantic-cover-january-february-2024-issue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8pdE0IPn_mFK5UenJ53YMPxs5GAI6OSt5jzN4PtbggxLih6nwpniX-6KkqRrZEmWFU5q5DGE-Z3kiiZxM-0QFhuDKbKbv2R4ZFUSbB8OdLbW8LK44ia0vuGq85U7X4idizb4QlU0PBDWQe0AX3j3a1PRbiEBlulxB3fR29RlOc8LD7jyWjHG/s320/the-atlantic-cover-january-february-2024-issue.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">If you fall into any (or all) of the following categories, I have stumbled upon something you must read. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Are you: A) a blue voter, B) a purple voter, C) a NeverTrumper, D) a sick to your heart over politics; E) a Please I Just Don't Want to Hear It!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You may be any and/or all of those depending on what you have hear, read or felt in the last twenty-seven and a half minutes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But you are here, on this little blog, so something tells me you are just the person to hear what I have to say this day. If you have been "shared" here by a friend, thank them because you will be both calmer and a bit more sane after reading what I am about to suggest. Trust me or trust the person who referred you here.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The January/February issue of The Atlantic has two dozen articles focused on one topic: IF TRUMP WINS.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Hold on, sit back down, take the shroud off your head. Have some tea or scotch or <a href="https://www.liquid-iv.com/">Liquid IV</a>. This actually will help.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have read all 24 pieces over the last several days and although I learned nearly nothing new about politics or politicians, I did gain some much-welcomed insight into what politics has been doing to me and most of my friends.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If facing two dozen articles seems like a bridge too far read first "The Psychic Toll," which will speak to your sanity and then "The Left Can't Afford to Go Mad' which illuminates the path we must not take.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, this double issue of <a href="http://theatlantic.com" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a> is off the newsstands but one of your friends has it (make them read it first) and your local library has a copy and a cozy couch to read on.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Trust me this will help, if not . . . send all vindictives to my new sweet home in Alabama.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0Alabama, USA32.3182314 -86.9022984.0079975638211565 -122.058548 60.628465236178847 -51.746048tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-20376314509952634862023-12-18T14:19:00.000-05:002023-12-18T14:19:09.474-05:00Not for Sissies<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkHzOoUUVwPp2Hg3hGslAAGsAkiHOUHC-D9UKSrXUFw2Mykb_bz13cqXxj7YuWMdRoU6rn2u1G0WyqA7xgi7iMVp7K_J2EkA18Y2H2aHqMsbB4aFpa-RtAHm0B9sWkIF08AgesC4_9uhxkmmBQLOM3e08WGXKMPY6YG3jao3GME7x6K3mY9CU/s392/obit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="392" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkHzOoUUVwPp2Hg3hGslAAGsAkiHOUHC-D9UKSrXUFw2Mykb_bz13cqXxj7YuWMdRoU6rn2u1G0WyqA7xgi7iMVp7K_J2EkA18Y2H2aHqMsbB4aFpa-RtAHm0B9sWkIF08AgesC4_9uhxkmmBQLOM3e08WGXKMPY6YG3jao3GME7x6K3mY9CU/w447-h252/obit.jpg" width="447" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A few months ago, I was getting one of the annual fall vaccinations at my favorite grocery store pharmacy. I had a short wait and during that time three older gentlemen in a row shuffled up to the window to pick up prescriptions. Prompted to give their name each stated their name and added without a prompt their birthdate. We all get used to the verbal routine.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I noted that each of the gentlemen were walking slowly, one with a walker, one a cane. The years and perhaps the reasons for the medication had clearly taken a toll.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I clearly remember this birth years: 1953, 1951 & 1949.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><u>They were all younger than me.</u></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Despite the various aches and pains, I am thankful and still above ground.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-62273799375799217232023-09-13T18:33:00.002-04:002023-09-13T18:33:54.143-04:00The Orange Mule<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe64N_Lmx-JzyL-n6scyExB7B_iKguCAu-1QXlkvT435FIQHOzkP3MC_kHnC0QGERBuhcUDCCqsT2G_Wb41Oli4rNiRuHH-1676Fa7QAGxrNB5WMvLoAccL8TL6XcRsqum1_5my7Xp6kX3gLD2xqvom50VFvlyGfS34IQny34plUj4cfH5pUK/s463/TrumpTheMule.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="463" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe64N_Lmx-JzyL-n6scyExB7B_iKguCAu-1QXlkvT435FIQHOzkP3MC_kHnC0QGERBuhcUDCCqsT2G_Wb41Oli4rNiRuHH-1676Fa7QAGxrNB5WMvLoAccL8TL6XcRsqum1_5my7Xp6kX3gLD2xqvom50VFvlyGfS34IQny34plUj4cfH5pUK/w441-h352/TrumpTheMule.png" width="441" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For those olde Sci-Fi readers from ages past. It struck me today that the Orange Menace is playing the role of The Mule from Asimov's Foundation Trilogy. A disrupter that no one anticipates, who brings with him destruction and decay. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Actually, there are scores of memes in social media warning about the dangers of someone like Trump. Here's a favorite from Alexander Hamilton:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px;">"When a man unprincipled in private life desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talents, despotic in his ordinary demeanour — known to have scoffed in private at the principles of liberty — when such a man is seen to mount the hobby horse of popularity — to join in the cry of danger to liberty — to take every opportunity of embarrassing the government & bringing it under suspicion — to flatter and fall in with all the nonsense of the zealots of the day — It may justly be suspected that his object is to throw things into confusion that he may ‘ride the storm and direct the whirlwind.'"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">And I'm not the first to draw the Mule to Trump connection, as far back to 2016 The Electablog saw it.</span></p><p><a href="https://www.eclectablog.com/2016/05/donald-trump-is-playing-the-role-of-the-mule-from-isaac-asimovs-foundation-trilogy.html">Donald Trump is playing the role of The Mule from Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy | Eclectablog</a></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But my favorite is comparison is this visual.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKWSZISV_P9GTC4TdQ8oaYRecsUZUHi-kq1DLLW3g8U73WI9wamqeEGayuWKgHotJGVN2bzCE91i9RqlKeVhzwvT294nAerWvmhObukXHfs2V-WS7dpLW5EZlGnbFWWIpC9_6xOy5foQoTlDRipIYBuxhdt3LgiBU5OcHQFIqJcPutovbzLfL/s641/OIP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="474" height="415" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKWSZISV_P9GTC4TdQ8oaYRecsUZUHi-kq1DLLW3g8U73WI9wamqeEGayuWKgHotJGVN2bzCE91i9RqlKeVhzwvT294nAerWvmhObukXHfs2V-WS7dpLW5EZlGnbFWWIpC9_6xOy5foQoTlDRipIYBuxhdt3LgiBU5OcHQFIqJcPutovbzLfL/w307-h415/OIP.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><a href="https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrFSYetMAJlbeIPhsdXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3BpdnM-?p=Foundation+trilogy+The+Mule&fr2=piv-web&type=hpsetv2Aug27&fr=yset_chr_syc_hp#id=22&iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eclectablog.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F05%2FTrumpTheMule.png&action=click"></a></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-81781480372717869192022-09-30T13:56:00.000-04:002022-09-30T13:56:54.364-04:00Outdated Cultural Depictions<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimYWAZhUrqM7duUp9f5Z3TqJu1uY5ab65KkOwIWhV0NfoKOvl_bOSQdLZcxpF5ylyC-1DtxCiTj37mTSYw-0r4ySMbMUa7vKMGFYtgDoNaxY5z_0U8J8XgcOD0CEHPat-PXfyGH3Wmv0d-U56Fh-LlsLFNciW3wO7pUb3_OLm7a3U0ELcPA/s1152/OCD3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimYWAZhUrqM7duUp9f5Z3TqJu1uY5ab65KkOwIWhV0NfoKOvl_bOSQdLZcxpF5ylyC-1DtxCiTj37mTSYw-0r4ySMbMUa7vKMGFYtgDoNaxY5z_0U8J8XgcOD0CEHPat-PXfyGH3Wmv0d-U56Fh-LlsLFNciW3wO7pUb3_OLm7a3U0ELcPA/s320/OCD3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I am personally not fond of the nanny state. This is not a rant but rather a reflection on how far we have not come.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was surfing the 'higher tv channels' the other night. You know up there where we never go. Where infomercials are actually more entertaining than most of the shows. Anyway, I paused on a screen that read:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM DEPICTS IMAGES OR CHARACTER PORTRAILS THAT REPRESENT<b> OUTDATE CULTURAL DEPICTIONS.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Well, you know, one just has to hang around to see what evil, not PC enough show was about to scandalize the nation.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Before you scroll down, here are a few hints. You get one guess per hint. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1) A network television series ran from 1959 to 1973.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2) Family drama. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">3) Set in the Western United States.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">4) Ponderosa</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, the warning for Outdate Cultural Depictions was for Bonanza.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Care to take a guess why?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Scroll down for the "correct" answer.</span></p><p>. </p><p><br /></p><p>.</p><p><br /></p><p>.</p><p><br /></p><p>.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was/is the character of Hop Sing, the Chinese cook on the ranch.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In addition, Disney has added the same sensitivity warning to films such as Lady and the Tramp, Dumbo and Peter Pan. Can you say Woke? I knew you couldn't.</span></p><p><br /></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-5472333797614092922022-08-25T14:01:00.002-04:002022-08-25T14:01:57.646-04:00Waxing & Waning Interests<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLYvQ9DTlumxDuHBuHwXEf8BaLN3uj8KqxBfNc3O73UoLhIdn-RFUXcv6dcN_G2_gk6gwE-aUoz2F1CTZJw5Jl9YG7mKy0u8aPElRwSv06159xmTKGF_FGhC_0S6539DEEYxK2eimBBsD1oBAoLWyMM1UAAFQgmuB7Yc_qRtJTbZoafSthg/s967/interestsornot.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="967" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLYvQ9DTlumxDuHBuHwXEf8BaLN3uj8KqxBfNc3O73UoLhIdn-RFUXcv6dcN_G2_gk6gwE-aUoz2F1CTZJw5Jl9YG7mKy0u8aPElRwSv06159xmTKGF_FGhC_0S6539DEEYxK2eimBBsD1oBAoLWyMM1UAAFQgmuB7Yc_qRtJTbZoafSthg/w408-h296/interestsornot.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"I may have not been sure about what really did interest me but I was absolutely sure about what didn't." </i></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">- </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Albert </span><span>Camus</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The topic of "interests" came up the other evening whilst we waited for darkness to fall and fireworks of commence. At first there some generalized debate about the concept of what exactly are interests. Hobbies, perhaps? Reading genres. Politics, sports, life, death, security, love, cats . . .</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Overnight I pondered what interests I have these days and more interesting to me, what interests have fallen away over the years.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sports</b> come to mind. Professional sports in particular. I might check an NBA score, if the Warriors are playing. During the season I note the standings ever week or so, but watching a game before the finals, never again. And this year I even surfed a bit during the games. I do like to catch Pardon the Interruption on ESPN, but that's for the commentary and critique of the games, which bolsters my waning interest. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Politics</b> remains a high priority for a couple of reasons. First, the psychology of the nation around who, what, when, where and WFT! Second, those fascist bastards are attacking fundamental rights. But that discussion, we all follow on a daily basis. Politics as an American hobby has become a blood sport for more than just the engaged participants.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Poker</b> Speaking of a hobby or three. I still play a far bit of poker online. Not so much live poker up here in Michigan. I do miss the live games at the rec. centers in The Villages down in Florida. The other parts of my poker obsession with the professional players and tournaments has been left behind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Las Vegas </b>-greed, greed, greed . . . never again.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reading</b> I still read some science-fiction but my leisure reading is a lot more diverse these days. Some best sellers and a fair number of classics I never got around to in my career filled younger days. For age related reasons, I read a fair amount of medical journal articles, both for my own maladies and those of friends and family.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Travel</b> is really off my radar in my dotage. I last time I was on a plane I returned from Australia in 2007. After that I did a lot of driving around the country: California, Oregon, Nevada, Texas, Michigan and Florida plus all the pass-thru states to reach those destinations. These days the road feels like a chore without a pot of gold at the end of the highway.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Education</b>al exploration remains a sustaining interest though now mediated via the internet. The last time I sat in the classroom was in the 20-teens when I took advantage of the elder programs at UCBerkeley. The policy then was free audits to seniors in any class that was not full.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, in conclusion, I wrote this blog over six weeks ago and never hit the 'publish' button. I guess blogging is also a fading interest.</span></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0ANN ARBOR, MI 48103, USA42.247586299999988 -83.826088413.937352463821142 -118.9823384 70.557820136178833 -48.6698384tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-74293228789833384562022-06-19T13:52:00.001-04:002022-06-19T13:52:35.063-04:00Is it me or . . .<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSFBG5II3pVV467uc4thmjIK6BWZb-NQO-I8-zEFH8q-m5fMfNo4GeRZRP0whNb3_2e8ly3yKfpUv0CjVS4jlgTM9TT_Be5v4BB1JxPVXOXP8Qj40vnO8-TZ62otYnIi7eOc9rmT9LRZsJAv5JpvZC3E-c4wWteZmynbEQDcxcWxC_HZK0Q/s594/SNL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="594" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSFBG5II3pVV467uc4thmjIK6BWZb-NQO-I8-zEFH8q-m5fMfNo4GeRZRP0whNb3_2e8ly3yKfpUv0CjVS4jlgTM9TT_Be5v4BB1JxPVXOXP8Qj40vnO8-TZ62otYnIi7eOc9rmT9LRZsJAv5JpvZC3E-c4wWteZmynbEQDcxcWxC_HZK0Q/w489-h324/SNL.jpg" width="489" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Imagine, if you will, it is 1975. You are 70-something years old and up way past your bedtime. This new late night show comes on after the news - something about New York and Saturday night. You check your wall calendar and indeed, it is Saturday night. It appears to be some sort of comedy show with some young people, names like: Aykroyd, Belushi, Curtin, Morris, Newman and Radner. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You are not amused by their jokes and skits. The show will never catch on. You go to bed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Last night, I caught the current rendition of SNL. Two skits and one guest singer in, I was not impressed by the comedy or the performer. But then, I realized I was now 70-something, perhaps I was no longer the audience for SNL and it was past my bedtime.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But just as I reached for the remote to end my evening viewing, Weekend Update came on. The standard SNL trope was still around and it was still really poignant and I laughed at nearly every bit of wit and satire.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So was it me or was it the current staff of SNL writers? Did I leave the audience or did they leave us?</span></p><p><br /></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-59286137268763396752022-05-31T13:33:00.015-04:002022-08-25T13:54:58.746-04:00Money Memory Mush<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wmqo7LaAEiuTTG8FjHwlo7GmeluLogSXl2wWWwNKqmU6ASvCgda-4-8urvsw3-MwDHwsYq48YXeCKhTWDvL083coAAc8KbVFjQ-HTh2hnhQDwSqw9Zaou70WLXbFZfj3knEuA05qI0QVK3SxNC7aHeZ89g6YZ0qOuCuriOJItBAwu-7AKA/s256/memory.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="256" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wmqo7LaAEiuTTG8FjHwlo7GmeluLogSXl2wWWwNKqmU6ASvCgda-4-8urvsw3-MwDHwsYq48YXeCKhTWDvL083coAAc8KbVFjQ-HTh2hnhQDwSqw9Zaou70WLXbFZfj3knEuA05qI0QVK3SxNC7aHeZ89g6YZ0qOuCuriOJItBAwu-7AKA/w401-h306/memory.jpg" width="401" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday, I pulled a bag of books out of that hidden space in the back of my mid-size SUV. I know the bag had not been inspected since I bought the car back in 2016. Inside were some half-read titles on writing, editing and a copy of my dissertation from 1999.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Why not, sit down and see if I had anything useful to say 22+ years ago. The title was and is: <i>Exploring the Nature of Qualitative Research: Assumptions, Attributes, Definitions and Antecedents</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Fear not, this post is not about my acute, penetrating and sagacious insights back then. Nor shall we spend even a moment on the dense academized verbiage I once wallowed in. Nope, this is about money.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Whilst reading my own words, around page 22, a dollar bill dropped out of the pages. I assumed I had at one time use the buck as a bookmark. Around page 50 there was a ten ($10) and a twenty ($20) dropped on page 78. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I unearthed a vague memory of storing cash in the book back in my Berkeley days (2010-2015). A nice little windfall, I thought and read on. Later, after lunch, I picked up the dissertation again and lo and behold a Benjamin ($100) fell out around page 99. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While I will reread the entire tome later, I had to fan forward to discover a total hidden bequest of $331. Who says a Ph.D. is worthless.</span></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-31985016991551034912022-04-23T12:24:00.004-04:002022-04-23T12:29:01.592-04:00April 23rd<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NEEi0eIFibLQVEUJm0IuBk9MjxL_yvn3N7MiwxdpVypTLFtbTewNOnSglImcnHfLpBloKgTRaoBiXbvrths_zSJahTmz8zsgL-3ZrTdVepk1BiWrYTJDv-01HMqUOp575DF-0LN1UWm0VC1TrGhcRGhZpJBrpe1Gd4uOn-nkca64NjsFhA/s632/23.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="632" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1NEEi0eIFibLQVEUJm0IuBk9MjxL_yvn3N7MiwxdpVypTLFtbTewNOnSglImcnHfLpBloKgTRaoBiXbvrths_zSJahTmz8zsgL-3ZrTdVepk1BiWrYTJDv-01HMqUOp575DF-0LN1UWm0VC1TrGhcRGhZpJBrpe1Gd4uOn-nkca64NjsFhA/w406-h339/23.png" width="406" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Apparently, there is a day for everything. With or without governmental approval, there really is a day for almost everything. Below is a partial list of "The Days" for April 23rd. See if you can locate which one prompted this post.</span></p><ul><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Canada Book Day </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">German Beer Day</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Impossible Astronaut Day </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">International Marconi Day</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Lover's Day</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">National Cherry Cheesecake Day </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">National Day of Puppetry</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">National English Muffin Day</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">National Picnic Day </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Pixel-Stained Techno-peasant Day </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Slay a Dragon Day </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Talk Like Shakespeare Day </span> </span> </li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Vagina Appreciation Day</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">World Book Day </span></li></ul>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-69056654712366278152022-03-14T17:27:00.003-04:002022-03-14T17:27:47.771-04:00William Hurt & Me<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRolDnf0ud0ah0beSC2qqrqzCSM22igQCBEbEh1wyiXOi9omD2ODZ_OvdOje7Vdg6i3V5iIbL_CUy4x6gEpqApxxWZSZq9p9hIk6n_9ewkwl42Q_nXxNuTIIKdIWIuI2dib6IBQpWvjyx30zw9p2-cREoLK_xSdTb1EGYGfqEiwHMM0VNv1g=s700" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="700" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRolDnf0ud0ah0beSC2qqrqzCSM22igQCBEbEh1wyiXOi9omD2ODZ_OvdOje7Vdg6i3V5iIbL_CUy4x6gEpqApxxWZSZq9p9hIk6n_9ewkwl42Q_nXxNuTIIKdIWIuI2dib6IBQpWvjyx30zw9p2-cREoLK_xSdTb1EGYGfqEiwHMM0VNv1g=w464-h306" width="464" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">William Hurt has always been one of my favorite actors. For most of the obvious reasons, I enjoyed and related to his film work. Kiss of the Spider Woman won him an Oscar. But my connection comes from one of my most treasured films - The Big Chill (1983). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Skip forward to 1988. I am at a "family party" in Redondo Beach, California. This family being my L.A. family from the 80s. On the far side of the room, a conversation turns to film roles that mirror someone in our gang. After glancing around the room, someone begins this conversation.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Oh, Tim is easy."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"What film?" someone asks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"The Big Chill."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Oh, of course, the William Hurt character."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"You're right, I never made that connection."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Wait, which role was that?"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"You know the rebel with the pills, the war injury, the camera."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Right, yep that's Tim."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Hold on," I jumped in, "this appears to be a conspiracy."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The conversation became very one-sided, basically me against anyone and everyone who had seen the film. I attempted to make some points by implying this was a Southern California assessment and those who knew me before would not see me in that role.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To prove my point I got on the phone and called one of my best friends from the early 70s in Michigan. Took a few minutes to locate this number, but he was home.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Lee, it's Tim."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"How are you, it's been a long time."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"I know, look I will call you tomorrow to catch up, but I need you to settle an argument we are having."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Let's hear it."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"I'm putting you on speaker.You've seen The Big Chill, right?"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">"Of course, the movie where William Hurt plays you."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">[inset long pause with background chorus of laughter]</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">R.I.P. William Hurt and many thanks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-19963706844890238682022-03-01T10:00:00.002-05:002022-03-11T13:04:12.426-05:00Ann Arbor @ Curbside (February 2022)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFlQBumVVwQKdshEHSsnzwWE887p-HDYIuLJ_qCQ-H-I26XFIpLCwzBcW5VIt7f_G1HnOjVmECx84qAqCYAC723b_vg1ddFkZx0vKKwVyB5oztjaf4ontCFV4HO5S435iLt_-R4y8voNCVAdS9ll4uD0ZaZ9J0TnnE0wdNI5WuoV9EVTtDMA=s200" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFlQBumVVwQKdshEHSsnzwWE887p-HDYIuLJ_qCQ-H-I26XFIpLCwzBcW5VIt7f_G1HnOjVmECx84qAqCYAC723b_vg1ddFkZx0vKKwVyB5oztjaf4ontCFV4HO5S435iLt_-R4y8voNCVAdS9ll4uD0ZaZ9J0TnnE0wdNI5WuoV9EVTtDMA=w307-h307" width="307" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><i>Restaurants</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Common Grill</b> (Chelsea) R.I.P. We note with sadness the announcement that Craig Common will be closing his great restaurant in Chelsea after 30 years. Final date is March 13th. We wish the Commons a peaceful retirement.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/03/the-common-grill-isnt-closing-after-all-new-owners-are-taking-over-the-popular-chelsea-eatery.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=aanews_sf&fbclid=IwAR39JaXbIBR10Db9N5v6syz15YjUQHNh7I4eaoJ0ASUikJYi4yjE2vnOtX0" target="_blank">UPDATE: The Common Grill will survive.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioyGQz5sbXzr_qOk8ZCiXynMwdFWNohuAxnwau7bxbQhIjdZVD8jLagQcJ9lws51vs7UOKyrdUUy9CYp-a9cui7_RdXfen8hz3t2YO6_QfwlA80igaaptgd88DTIdiJu9Ns0rdnDjHugsnJnL5ba8EnQIUQPFPV0t3dfw4UzFigI6HVX1CRg=s1500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioyGQz5sbXzr_qOk8ZCiXynMwdFWNohuAxnwau7bxbQhIjdZVD8jLagQcJ9lws51vs7UOKyrdUUy9CYp-a9cui7_RdXfen8hz3t2YO6_QfwlA80igaaptgd88DTIdiJu9Ns0rdnDjHugsnJnL5ba8EnQIUQPFPV0t3dfw4UzFigI6HVX1CRg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">February 20-25, 2022</span></b></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So many choices, so little time, six days to be exact. We managed three selections this year.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Mama Sotto</b> (715 N. University St., Ann Arbor) Restaurant Week special - four courses $25 per person. We have consensus that both the crab soup and the dumpling soup were excellent. Tempura doesn't travel well, it needs to be hot out of the fryer and reheating makes it soggy. The seaweed salad was tasty and both of salmon & crab main course sushi were well seasoned and fresh. Big complaint, our order was short several items, there was food enough for four but not the complete order we had paid for. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Blue Tractor</b> (207 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor) Another special, barbeque for four $55. For the barbeque lovers this was a find. The ribs were meaty and perfectly cooked. Pulled pork was a generous serving. Mac & cheese was done with fusilli, which we prefer to macaroni. Good cole slaw, corn bread and to top off the barbeque feast - a large squeeze bottle of sauce.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pacific Rim</b> (114 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor) Our clear Restaurant Week winner! We have avoided Pacific Rim for takeout because we just thought the excellent menu would not carry-out all that well. We were wrong, wrong, wrong. Here are our selections:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9; font-size: large;"><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #2b2b2b;">Saigon Spring Rolls </span><br style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: sans-serif;" /><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #2b2b2b;">Pacific Rim Crabcake </span><br style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: sans-serif;" /><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #2b2b2b;">Roasted Winter Squash Soup </span><br style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: sans-serif;" /><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #2b2b2b;">Winter Salad with Soy-Balsamic Vinaigrette </span><br style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: sans-serif;" /><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #2b2b2b;">Miso-Teriyaki Salmon </span><br style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: sans-serif;" /><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #2b2b2b;">Thai Bouillabaisse </span><br style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: sans-serif;" /><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #2b2b2b;">Chocolate-Passionfruit Mousse </span></span><p><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"> Each course was as good as the last and the first course was outstanding. The squash soup was just perfect, great sauce on the crab cake. A+ for Pacific Rim. The Restaurant Week special was three courses for $28.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: large;"><b><i>Boutique Foodie Destinations</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Grand Traverse Pie Company</b> (291 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor) 2 feta quiche slices ($5.49 each), one regulation regular crust apple pie ($18.99) first time we went with the standard fair instead of the crumble crust, one chocolate-cherry muffin ($2.49) for the drive home. The muffin was delicious. Quiche is always good at GTPC and comes with warm pumpkin bread. I must admit the apple pie is just too standard for me, also my fault for not ordering the crumble crust.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Argus Farm Stop</b> (see last month's review) Argus is now a regular, if not weekly, foodie destination for us. The bread selection is the best in town.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Yoon's Bakery </b>To experience the tastes of Yoon's one must leave our American taste buds at home. Both the sweet and the savory treats here are from the Asian palette. We had mixed reviews of four or five samples, only because we were not ready for the range of flavors. Definitely, worth a revisit and a wider selection of offerings.</span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><i>Home Meal Delivery Kit</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Green Chef.</b> I don't know, it was late, I was surfing and Green Chef popped up and there was an introductory discount and I mean what can I say for $41 we got 3 meals (2 servings each). As with most of these services the key is advertised as "No more meal planning, just cooking." All the ingredients are included except salt, pepper and oil. "Dinner in 30 minutes or less." Thirty minutes does not take into account the time to read the eight step directions, nor my less than professional knife skills. But I digress. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Green Chef is mostly vegetarian in five categories: Keto & Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Fast & Fit, and Mediterranean. We went with vegetarian:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1) Truffle Butter Risotto</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2) Hoisin Mushroom & Edamame Bowls</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">3) Mushroom Curry Udon Bowls</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My assessment is that each of the dishes was a bargain at the introductory price of just over $7, however, at the everyday tag of over $15 not so much. Flavor, taste and ingredients were all quality, we enjoyed each of the dishes and noted more than adequate spices and sauces. Also, several dishes took five, six, even seven pots and pans.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Not sure if we will be trying out any further meal delivery services, stay tuned. If anyone is interesting in trying Green Chef, let us know, we have some introductory referrals that can save you money on your first order.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you are considering any or all home meal services, there are lots of comparison reviews online, we suggest<a href="https://nypost.com/article/the-best-meal-delivery-kits/" target="_blank"> this one from The New York Post 2/1/2022.</a></span></p></div>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0Ann Arbor, MI, USA42.2808256 -83.743037813.970591763821155 -118.8992878 70.591059436178853 -48.586787799999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-79937902273320942662022-02-09T15:43:00.001-05:002022-02-09T15:51:36.764-05:00Lord of the Rings: A Re-Re-Reread<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUjFQrZxhRSpQj0nmRHLOpPc71Y4CZnGxC52TIgT68-TIKPrFAB5R9nZJURnnH2gjAy-XRNY0M08uWy5knXvqexbOr87s8vx1Jfk7OqK4LlPMUVpeAfgYa0x5ZMfHl0MOP5-Cvquo2ZZ009-XKHCSJTWohfYk1Y3_HL7kM16GP4D5To6rNtQ=s1180" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1180" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUjFQrZxhRSpQj0nmRHLOpPc71Y4CZnGxC52TIgT68-TIKPrFAB5R9nZJURnnH2gjAy-XRNY0M08uWy5knXvqexbOr87s8vx1Jfk7OqK4LlPMUVpeAfgYa0x5ZMfHl0MOP5-Cvquo2ZZ009-XKHCSJTWohfYk1Y3_HL7kM16GP4D5To6rNtQ=s320" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am reading The Lord of the Rings for a third time. I know that's not a significant feat for LOTR fans. According to a Facebook meme today, Christopher Lee read the books every year for forty years before he became Saruman. I first read the three-book series in the late sixties, more than a decade after first publication. The second read was in the early nineties during another interregnum in my life. Today's reflection on my current immersion in conversation with the many times viewed films.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">First, I would observe that most of the Peter Jackson tropes in the films were brilliant and effective summaries of long passages in the text. No real LOTR fan can forgive the omission of Tom Bobadil and Goldenberry but that is for another time. Just last night I finished book one finding a greater artistic respect of both J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am struck by how much of the writing is description of the land, the trees, the weather, the sky, all the environment of Middle Earth. A good 35%-40% of the entire story is rendered in such detailed, descriptive language. At times, I admit, I skim the approaching storm clouds or the darkening forest. But Peter Jackson was right in shooting the films in New Zealand. The Kiwi landscape mirrors the vivid and varied environs imagined by Tolkien.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jackson also pours more character into the nine members of The Fellowship of the Ring. Boromir, Gimli, Logolas, Aragorn, even the hobbits are pale in the books, at least through the first volume. Only Frodo and Gandalf are fully formed characters at the one-third mark where I am now. Aragorn is somewhat more vigorous than the others but Merry and Pippin are vague shadows to this point.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wonder going forward how the battles will be played out. The one major criticism of the films I have is the lengthy battle scenes. Good versus Evil in the story is a more nuanced confrontation than the sword and armor portrayal in the films.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have no plans to re-re-reread <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit" target="_blank">The Hobbit</a>, which is a prequel to The Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit was published in 1937, as a children's fantasy tale. Tolkien had no thoughts of LOTR back then but was encouraged by his publisher to write more on Middle Earth. The Fellowship of the Ring was published 1954. The Two Towers and The Return of the King followed in 1955.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Lord of the Rings under a toasty electric blanket in a Michigan winter. Yes, this works for me</span></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-21316259707445952352022-02-02T00:30:00.003-05:002022-02-02T09:39:16.312-05:00Ann Arbor @ Curbside (January 2022)<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzEDe5JmbAjhdNKF1JBdsBbEdxR1TdkQbKX-hrOrLEmATFyhhNwZ9kmZ04gWXFzNQqPg2riDnk0RcCyFRf3J0zABT8PVGr4DszulSHfhpJHWfhctcfCdSv5j55ze7cgxxR3fzY5qOqABbrYC8LJ6q23OimWCN5VrwJJQCj7YqyqBMASyrkLw=s960" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="960" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzEDe5JmbAjhdNKF1JBdsBbEdxR1TdkQbKX-hrOrLEmATFyhhNwZ9kmZ04gWXFzNQqPg2riDnk0RcCyFRf3J0zABT8PVGr4DszulSHfhpJHWfhctcfCdSv5j55ze7cgxxR3fzY5qOqABbrYC8LJ6q23OimWCN5VrwJJQCj7YqyqBMASyrkLw=w468-h312" width="468" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm back in Ann Arbor, so it's time to resurrect our curbside noshing reviews. Reader feedback has led us to incorporate several tweaks in the information we provide, chief among those additions will be price.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Seven (7) reviews this month:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We begin with a new section for non-restaurant establishments we are calling <span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Boutique Foodie Destinations</b></span> (BFD).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Zingerman's Deli</b> (422 Detroit St., Ann Arbor) Being that we live less than a mile from Zingerman's in Kerrytown, we often stop by for bits and bites of our favorites. This trip we picked up black olive bread ($10), balsamic vinegar ($14 on sale), Zing's own English muffins ($6) and two pot pies ($12 each, pictured above). We went with a Fungi pie and a Cheshire pork pie. High grades for the pork, perhaps a touch lower for the mushrooms, but both good with top notch crusts. The pies come frozen for an easy reheat at home.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Vestergaard Farms</b> (4408 Wagner Road, Saline) Good news, we picked up some Maddy J's bread ($8) and a couple of indulgent ice cream treats (2x$3). Bad news, our favorite reason to visit Vestergaards is to pick-up a supply of Bakewell frozen quiches. We did get the last two on the shelf but Bakewell has had staff and health issues causing a shutdown for the month of January. Plans are to restart in February but those same issues of staffing and health make all plans tentative.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Argus Farm Stop</b> (325 W. Liberty, also 1200 Packard, Ann Arbor) You do know about the marvelous bread at Argus, don't you? Go for the locally sourced weird mushrooms, lettuce and lots of other veggies, frozen items, plus coffee/pastries and stay for the bread! A variety of rotating loaves from a host of local, Detroit area and out of town bakeries. Avalon, Crust, etc. Our recent find and favorite is Hammonton bread from Crust in Fenton. Full of sesame seeds, moist and chewy. May only be available on Mondays. Check the bread delivery schedule at the checkout counter. Don't mis the day-old section of breads/pastries near the 2nd register to snag some carb-loaded bargains.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>And now to actual <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">restaurants</span></b> with curbside pickups</i>:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Zamaan Cafe</b> (3580 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor) This is a new find for us. Advertised as "Mediterranean Flavor" and Halal, we went with Baba Ghannuj and Tabbuleh for starters. Excellent both, though I always add crumbled Feta to Tabbuleh. We also had to pita wraps, an eggplant and rice with garlic sauce, which Diner #2 reports as excellent. I had the Chicken Tawook with some very good garlic sauce. $28 total. We tend to be generous Covid tippers, but are not including gratuities in our food cost reports.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Maddy J's</b> (972 E. Michigan Ave., Saline) Chipolte Turkey Avocado grilled sandwich for me ($11) and a Veggie Quiche ($5) for Diner #2. Both were big hits. We really like Maddy J's. Fortunately, their bread can be found at several outlets including Vestergaards above.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Spencers</b> (113 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor) And now for another take on dining in the time of Covid. Spencers does curbside two days a week (W. & Th.). In person dining, not our thing, Friday and Saturday. The curbside menu is set for two consecutive weeks, there are no substitutions. $65 for two, includes tax and gratuity. We had Willi Lehner's clothbound cheddar, piccalilli, winter salad, and a root vegetable pot pie (there was a chicken alternative). The pie was huge, even for two people. The sauce in the pie was outstanding, Overall, the main course was our highlight of the month. The cheese was excellent, but you had to provide your own crackers, Piccalilli was tasty and different, the salad greens was fresh and plentiful. The tiny homemade Milano cookies were a mini-dessert only for those on a diet.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bell's Diner</b> (2167 E. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor) We switched from our standard Bi Bim Bop to a couple of Bento Box choices. One spicy pork and one tofu. A lot of food, with untouched salad leftover for the next day's lunch. Because it was carry-out, no traditional segmented box presentation with dibs and dabs of interesting food in each compartment. I was most satisfied with the spicy pork, though it could have been spicier (they did ask for a spice level, next time . . . more). Bento boxes are $18.99 each, which seems a fair price.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">another addition to Ann Arbor @ Curbside</span>:</i> we are inviting Guest Reviews from our many local gustatorily inclined friends. Submissions to my email, you have it, right?</span></div>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0Ann Arbor, MI, USA42.2808256 -83.743037813.970591763821155 -118.8992878 70.591059436178853 -48.586787799999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-61903681577016999272022-01-06T14:27:00.012-05:002022-01-06T14:27:00.185-05:00Reverse Snowbird<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdZr10PoWPbktzKz8oS6u8e9RkUUqf3n-Uki5yZNp-cvJqJb5jgfla_IMdtdHcUQxzG_trZNtEvBrbgep8y9KFbyV-k3djRS4a9r4wOx0PH26fUAPGA4ApnDBcqO0pBaXAz_kxeWmRe5-K5GQBC7qL5q4SzX0GtZL4mmJOvACbNrdTgqGxbQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1703" data-original-width="2048" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdZr10PoWPbktzKz8oS6u8e9RkUUqf3n-Uki5yZNp-cvJqJb5jgfla_IMdtdHcUQxzG_trZNtEvBrbgep8y9KFbyV-k3djRS4a9r4wOx0PH26fUAPGA4ApnDBcqO0pBaXAz_kxeWmRe5-K5GQBC7qL5q4SzX0GtZL4mmJOvACbNrdTgqGxbQ=w475-h395" width="475" /></a></div><br /><p></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0Ann Arbor, MI 48103, USA42.247586299999988 -83.826088413.937352463821142 -118.9823384 70.557820136178833 -48.6698384tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-91152147446605291352021-12-24T18:50:00.002-05:002021-12-24T18:50:00.181-05:00A Time and a Place for Everything<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNzuYoCsEOrS8zo7S9kpxvM-Yfm09dKOxKVk2k_L8x_2_0ob_HFz7xOSd-b7Sfjy_zeumBYwthrUVsv-YVsg79ZTuhXWQcOlAv-KBn4KVMY5gpmHPv6-IWATz6vIySXqbpVpGXA1455zTAmKUi0aIEoozMXFg4_M4L0Jp9Gb4BoZo3CRu8lg=s701" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNzuYoCsEOrS8zo7S9kpxvM-Yfm09dKOxKVk2k_L8x_2_0ob_HFz7xOSd-b7Sfjy_zeumBYwthrUVsv-YVsg79ZTuhXWQcOlAv-KBn4KVMY5gpmHPv6-IWATz6vIySXqbpVpGXA1455zTAmKUi0aIEoozMXFg4_M4L0Jp9Gb4BoZo3CRu8lg=w329-h439" width="329" /></a></div><br /><p></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0The Villages, FL 32162, USA28.9121162 -81.9862060.60188236382115434 -117.142456 57.222350036178845 -46.829955999999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-66116842660531873382021-12-15T12:21:00.000-05:002021-12-15T12:21:00.158-05:00Images of Me (14)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegCsgj1ILJ1S5V8zJgZwtS9vZJ0p9z-EyMJLWTTy8f_kNpwAUbRe9EXi0fnoPidqRXtyH8oN1XyFcbynFeLGJGt_Dsuy03qy1JeOUy9R24WTXY4zhYbq87rfk5XZl4Y-FUVJ5/s400/TimBd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegCsgj1ILJ1S5V8zJgZwtS9vZJ0p9z-EyMJLWTTy8f_kNpwAUbRe9EXi0fnoPidqRXtyH8oN1XyFcbynFeLGJGt_Dsuy03qy1JeOUy9R24WTXY4zhYbq87rfk5XZl4Y-FUVJ5/s320/TimBd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back when the MGM Grand still had lions</div><br /><p></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV, USA36.1699412 -115.13982967.8597073638211512 -150.29607959999998 64.480175036178849 -79.9835796tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-68430075623356938132021-11-15T12:17:00.000-05:002021-11-15T12:17:00.155-05:00Images of Me (13)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4ESGMpD4fFzPE9YmjuAez3m9NKvA2mXmbBqwgHqbo3sY9C0QHJvA2APadFlA_rpuIM-dsmMjgN37yp22zhFQuIujY3YtWthGpLljDDYvDnMMyD_yslq_fUl5GE0KxH3WEslP/s640/IMG_0400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4ESGMpD4fFzPE9YmjuAez3m9NKvA2mXmbBqwgHqbo3sY9C0QHJvA2APadFlA_rpuIM-dsmMjgN37yp22zhFQuIujY3YtWthGpLljDDYvDnMMyD_yslq_fUl5GE0KxH3WEslP/s320/IMG_0400.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Detroit Zoo - 2015</div><br /><p></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0Royal Oak, MI 48067, USA42.4922946 -83.1327331999999914.182060763821156 -118.28898319999999 70.802528436178847 -47.97648319999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-24400398758299743222021-10-31T10:17:00.000-04:002021-10-31T10:17:10.797-04:00'Tis the Season<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gXdrARf1M7NFJLuzKvvo8mSHVnSJx7Rk-nWhQOsaqix4q63CSpKdbTDc83YbPGWfHlfPJhha8Q7-Jb6W64xsSnFKtxReKNpaQ_2U4oZkFhhvDwA4E5Hiqoyt2iS47TDEw2kR/s1280/halloweenie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gXdrARf1M7NFJLuzKvvo8mSHVnSJx7Rk-nWhQOsaqix4q63CSpKdbTDc83YbPGWfHlfPJhha8Q7-Jb6W64xsSnFKtxReKNpaQ_2U4oZkFhhvDwA4E5Hiqoyt2iS47TDEw2kR/w511-h287/halloweenie.jpg" width="511" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: #b3b3b3; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">“Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Voices whisper in the trees, Tonight is Halloween!” </span></i></div></h1><h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: #b3b3b3; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a class="authorOrTitle" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/625249.Dexter_Kozen" style="color: #333333; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Dexter Kozen</span></i></a></span></h1>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-3589014160787075632021-10-17T11:03:00.001-04:002021-10-17T11:03:50.720-04:00Another Southern Sojourn<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsIfjaDQD6fUGcXg8CmSh-g0zrJMElQrj8rv6dQIvrG_kc8QJo7gIh8UShbR8CsAHbBLVUwQ_TcZD_BXXppmdPfdYZDma1MXZHFs1cYcXw3spFWEhd_Lg0-vph0CmlQHM-2ls/s1600/backagain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsIfjaDQD6fUGcXg8CmSh-g0zrJMElQrj8rv6dQIvrG_kc8QJo7gIh8UShbR8CsAHbBLVUwQ_TcZD_BXXppmdPfdYZDma1MXZHFs1cYcXw3spFWEhd_Lg0-vph0CmlQHM-2ls/w474-h356/backagain.JPG" width="474" /></a></div><br /><p></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0The Villages, FL, USA28.927019 -82.00376080.61783406257291773 -117.15863750898437 57.236203937427085 -46.84888409101562tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-63737988632028763932021-10-15T12:10:00.004-04:002021-10-15T12:10:00.209-04:00Images of Me (12)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09Mq0AIchTW-g1p_fcUnYzjIKHzutdPQS5oPrVlCqlse9VEBG6nkvsyJ-5zlrPHq6Zv93eIHT9bULykXIWsqIQ0WEoS-upm1GJz88dGYdQEaO-y1Q5E5gVO8LtMrVANbUAktS/s720/Slide1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="477" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09Mq0AIchTW-g1p_fcUnYzjIKHzutdPQS5oPrVlCqlse9VEBG6nkvsyJ-5zlrPHq6Zv93eIHT9bULykXIWsqIQ0WEoS-upm1GJz88dGYdQEaO-y1Q5E5gVO8LtMrVANbUAktS/w636-h477/Slide1.jpg" width="636" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kalamazoo College yearbook photo - 1969</span></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0Kalamazoo, MI, USA42.2917069 -85.587228613.981473063821156 -120.7434786 70.601940736178847 -50.4309786tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-29583301886069409662021-09-15T11:45:00.009-04:002021-09-15T11:45:00.271-04:00Images of Me (11)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKu8__E-E5gJ7mxu4NmRcZHgIuil6ZnI6aaMLBBUj-BCyGNWujC-Hwu1crm2cBIiFiEWOJEzot7y2vwqaHDuE2Ux26QoIIJssHdJnIeUcXp4f7fEkwi5jkds_-v57npA9-tEb/s2048/TimCats2_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKu8__E-E5gJ7mxu4NmRcZHgIuil6ZnI6aaMLBBUj-BCyGNWujC-Hwu1crm2cBIiFiEWOJEzot7y2vwqaHDuE2Ux26QoIIJssHdJnIeUcXp4f7fEkwi5jkds_-v57npA9-tEb/w500-h375/TimCats2_1.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the cat shelter in Las Vegas. </span></div></div><br /><p></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NV, USA36.1699412 -115.13982967.8597073638211512 -150.29607959999998 64.480175036178849 -79.9835796tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-48920944276207577662021-08-15T11:50:00.004-04:002021-08-15T11:50:00.261-04:00Images of Me (10)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfnigc0Im5xGaq9SYVNhbG9hyphenhyphenMzkTLN8xwKMG80GRMwHZOulRycB1yv_aMI_oMcALioXHQ9mWcm9BEdIsk685kfyN9hPGFFZjHfhpaXQ2ZRf3JTBOS_zZaV4_aOEbzuT26bP1/s1280/thumbnail_IMG_20160506_0001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="1280" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfnigc0Im5xGaq9SYVNhbG9hyphenhyphenMzkTLN8xwKMG80GRMwHZOulRycB1yv_aMI_oMcALioXHQ9mWcm9BEdIsk685kfyN9hPGFFZjHfhpaXQ2ZRf3JTBOS_zZaV4_aOEbzuT26bP1/w460-h368/thumbnail_IMG_20160506_0001.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Antarctica 1980</span></div><br /><p></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-50344467759404520762021-08-06T15:22:00.005-04:002021-08-07T11:32:15.764-04:00Florida Governor Ron Desantis<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZcx09G5ywpJkWLBpN5EQ2YM5nm6Gu3CCAwcuU3KdXoDyY3kYMMSF__QzRNg0Qn1P3ZT9lZ15MO8X2Y2ubYte9ATiLTQCY92LLe4qTgEtRNsgFae1aQE9kimYLjqwika-pjf4/s1024/flickr.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZcx09G5ywpJkWLBpN5EQ2YM5nm6Gu3CCAwcuU3KdXoDyY3kYMMSF__QzRNg0Qn1P3ZT9lZ15MO8X2Y2ubYte9ATiLTQCY92LLe4qTgEtRNsgFae1aQE9kimYLjqwika-pjf4/w499-h280/flickr.jpg" width="499" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is no other way to say this. Florida Governor Desantis is running for President and his primary platform is being build with the bodies of Florida citizens who have and will die of Covid-19. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">When schools open in Florida later this month, the bodies that pile up will begin to include more and more children.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This political behavior is criminal. However, as we learned during the Trump administration, such actions are not going to lead to justice, responsibility or retribution.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But aren't voters who stick with these criminals guilty of "after the fact" crimes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have heard every excuse, every flag-waving stupidity. But MAGA idolatry continues to warp the minds and souls of brain-washed followers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not a single reputable medical expert on the planet . . . oh, nevermind, you've heard it all before. Unfortunately, you are among those who don't need to hear and heed the truth. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Remember, Jonestown.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgjDAvkSBeC0ZJovui-WwbDexAUEytXeZ08xgATYCwl1wwuKfBE_heJUEfxSvTM4lPhdXxPT72wZp4TomsAGaDsyqJlSqF04WoVqEkcUEny0ksVvdSa5qpL104GYGfpi_9s8n/s552/desantass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="552" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgjDAvkSBeC0ZJovui-WwbDexAUEytXeZ08xgATYCwl1wwuKfBE_heJUEfxSvTM4lPhdXxPT72wZp4TomsAGaDsyqJlSqF04WoVqEkcUEny0ksVvdSa5qpL104GYGfpi_9s8n/w398-h377/desantass.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-73905857684541594522021-07-28T13:40:00.000-04:002021-07-28T13:40:11.984-04:00Dystopia 2023<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-X4GnTYXayUj0ax_3DyTeZpEZp7uevSndllb4DCbFMervq_2xqTtf5kCW2HrmKyR2bL1yvBEd1vWcgYCCKLm6Y-mob-i744FMNdAOmBdMipjnhzYXuzxZ3SMOX_d9f7W2rrrN/s746/dys1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="596" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-X4GnTYXayUj0ax_3DyTeZpEZp7uevSndllb4DCbFMervq_2xqTtf5kCW2HrmKyR2bL1yvBEd1vWcgYCCKLm6Y-mob-i744FMNdAOmBdMipjnhzYXuzxZ3SMOX_d9f7W2rrrN/w360-h451/dys1.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Today there are warning signs that literally no one in a position of authority is paying any attention to. Let's review today's news.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">-The U.S. administration is prepared to require all federal workers to either be vaccinated or be subject to testing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">-The U.S. CDC has reversed policy on masking indoors and in schools.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">-The U.S. vaccination rate has hit a wall of vaccine resistant ideology. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">-The Delta variant is now transmitting at levels not seen since the beginning of the pandemic.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> ~</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">First, those 'facts' relate only to the richest country on the planet, a country with roughly a 50% vaccination coverage and an oversupply of available vaccine. But Covid is not a country by country disease. Medically, we are one planet.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Second, absolutely nothing that is being done today or has been done in the past is enough to prevent a worldwide disaster. The incremental policy reactions of individual national governments is an attempt to put out a raging fire with a dixie cup and a dripping faucet.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here are my 'facts' and my predictions of what will transpire over the next two years.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">First and foremost, Covid variants will accelerate because less than half of the world's population has received at least one dose of a vaccine. Each and every person who contracts Covid can be the host for a new variant. To this point the available vaccines have been mostly effective against variants. There is no reason to believe this will continue to be the case.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If we look continent by continent: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-vaccinations-tracker.html" target="_blank">Europe has administered 84 doses per 100 adults</a>. Since many vaccines require two doses, this translates to less than 50% fully protected. North America is only slightly behind at 82 shots per 100 eligible adults. Africa, on the other hand, has a current vacc-rate of 4.6 per 100.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A mass Covid outbreak anywhere on the planet creates a human petri dish for new, more virulent variants. Variants get on planes and spread throughout the world. Plus variants spawn other variants, which will eventually outstrip the protection of the vaccines.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Governments are not doing enough. They can't. There is simply too much resistance both culturally and politically Just this morning, Speaker Nancy Pelosi reinstated the mask requirement for the floor of the U.S. Congress. Her republican counter part Kevin McCarthy claimed this has an attempt by "liberal officials who want us to live in a perpetual pandemic state." The Speaker then call McCarthy a moron. These are the people we expect to act sensibly regarding a deadly worldwide pandemic?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, let's skip forward 24 months.</span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">July 28, 2023</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">The U.S. Government today announced the completion of phase three of Operation Protect America. All U.S. military personnel have been successfully recalled from foreign bases. Those military members still in 60 day quarantine will be eligible for limited zone travel after their release. As of today, no travel will be allowed in or out of United States airports or ports. All international borders remain closed as well as the exclusion zones in the Southern continental U.S. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">Military aid to the conflicts in South America and Africa will remain suspended. Humanitarian aid by airdrop will continue from U.S. Naval ships stationed off the continental coast of those countries. Any U.S. citizens still in foreign countries will not be allowed to reenter the country after midnight tonight. All U.S. passports are suspended.</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">All medical facilities remain under federal authority per the December 2022 Federal Pandemic Act. Vaccinations for the Signa and Nova variants remain available to essential workers and those in classes A1 through A9. Boosters for all other vaccination groups are recommended and available to all citizens with vaccination security cards.</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">Marshall Law and curfews remain in effect on a county by county basis as mandated in the Travel and Movement Acts of April 2022.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-61697014463260392822021-07-16T03:03:00.000-04:002021-07-16T13:08:30.056-04:00Rest In Peace Gator<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMrgGav3CSCa0S_Zaut3DkjfpQNZ4YCyjjlL9_i1VGe-MYRRpU9bhe9gCqxW3RiMm4UTdAX4QADj9joWR3yebLWSC5MwRKN_SCYj1xtNA08NBSx-cka2vmEaRsObgyxwYtmmMHQ/s1600/unbelievablepictures02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMrgGav3CSCa0S_Zaut3DkjfpQNZ4YCyjjlL9_i1VGe-MYRRpU9bhe9gCqxW3RiMm4UTdAX4QADj9joWR3yebLWSC5MwRKN_SCYj1xtNA08NBSx-cka2vmEaRsObgyxwYtmmMHQ/s400/unbelievablepictures02.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">REPOST: This is a repost from June 2011.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">July 16, 2021: A friend is attending a funeral today for her friend who "got a gun and took his life." I learned of this news while listening to an NPR interview from 2016 with Anthony Bourdain. Seems like a good time to repost this piece about our dear friend Randy.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> ~</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2011: A good friend died this week. He took his own life. We are all shocked and saddened by his passing and we are all asking ourselves - why? Which is to say, we are having the normal human reaction to such an unnecessary loss.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am not going to praise him here, most of you did not know him. For those who did, we will find the time and place to share our memories. Today I am going to do something in his honor.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is for our lost friend.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you read this blog and you have my phone number then I ask should you ever feel so lost, so alone that you consider leaving us, I beg you to use that number and call me. If you read this blog and you don't have my phone number then I ask that you call that person today, the one who you talk to when times are darkest. Call them today and agree that should you ever walk too close to the edge, you will reach out to them. You make that promise in the light of day; promise you will cry out past the darkness. Make the promise, make it today.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My friend called me at times when he brushed against his demons and we would look at the world in ways only two friends in conversation could, I believe it helped. This time he didn't call and all of us are left to ask - why.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rest in Peace Randy, we will miss you for a long, long time.</span></div>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28569248.post-17943319657387180652021-07-15T11:39:00.000-04:002021-07-15T11:39:00.253-04:00Images of Me (9)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2fJAwopeunNcf8AVYKNBOss0DV1JkfVjA47uyO9kf8y8JFLec4I9BPrAkSAsNDXR6EvmNpgdGBEXZyEeQqsWmZU5pr354NVkaxzO-wB2KKj3bjnyQu5kU1rajnUHRY0o305G/s640/DSC02812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2fJAwopeunNcf8AVYKNBOss0DV1JkfVjA47uyO9kf8y8JFLec4I9BPrAkSAsNDXR6EvmNpgdGBEXZyEeQqsWmZU5pr354NVkaxzO-wB2KKj3bjnyQu5kU1rajnUHRY0o305G/s320/DSC02812.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me & Midnight</div><br /> <p></p>The Shrinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09595809838842956232noreply@blogger.com0Weed, CA, USA41.422649799999988 -122.386126915.352857625261887 -157.5423769 67.492441974738085 -87.2298769