Never watched probably never will

I’ll gladly proclaim I’ve never watched Game of Thrones. I never plan on watching it either. While I enjoy some science fiction, I think (maybe I’m wrong) this popular cable series was more fantasy than science fiction.

I only mention that over-hyped series to compare it to the stuff I do watch. My wife and I mostly watch PBS shows. Some might say it’s an age related thing, but I would say if age has anything influence, it’s the added wisdom that comes with age.

Taken from article by National Post

I was working on a post about our digital life and the complications of storing the volumes of digital pictures streaming around our daily lives. That post turned into more of a rant. I like technology. The cutting edge tech of the 1980’s and 1990’s has gone dull now. It provided me a good career. Why should I rant about later advances that can be traced back to the stuff of my former career? Why rant about a first world problem?

Back to the shows I watch. I recently rewatched a NOVA program (Arctic Ghost Ship) about the Franklin arctic expedition of the mid 1800’s. A few years ago researchers found one the expeditions ships on the arctic sea floor.

While the NOVA program provides plenty of knowledge and topics to think about. I’ll focus on just one. One of the key pieces of information leading to finding the sunken ship came from Inuit oral history.

Storytelling is certainly a human tradition. Our western culture proceeded down the written path that can be connected over centuries to our digital world. I’m just amazed that the facts passed along over multiple generations of Inuits through storytelling could be a critical factor in finding a long lost ship. Maybe if I was an Inuit I would not be surprised at all.

What historical facts will future generations discover about our life today through the digital footprints we leave? Will the information be so accessible that people will not even find it interesting? Will the future culture be more interested in the next fantasy series on our ever changing cable services? 

Changes in our technology can create generational gaps. It seems the storytelling of oral histories binds the generations of those cultures together. The Intuit community now has the internet and many other modern technology. I hope it doesn't ruin their beneficial oral history tradition.

as the blog turns

It's been a few days since my last post. Oh summer time and outside things to do time.

cloud matching

Not sure the reason (maybe the season?) that this old TV soap opera title popped into my head. It could be the old pictures and things I've looked at recently. I do recall seeing that spinning earth come on the TV screen at my grandmother's house. I thought the shows were stupid and would have rather watched some cartoons. Well my blog doesn't offer any cleaning tips and you certainly don't need to give up the next 30 minutes of your time with my blog.  Unless you feel like browsing back through the many old posts.

Not that I see many but I suspect there are some blogs very much like soap opera shows.  Who is doing what to whomever and to whom it may concern.

There is enough of that stuff on FB so we don't need daily relationship drama on blogs.

Day turns to night.  Tadpole turns to frog.  I enjoy a nice relaxing turn.

no prince kiss needed for a frog

 

cream - whipped or sour

I guess you can it both ways at the same time. I think of whipped cream as the sweet topping for a sundae or piece of pumpkin pie. Is this making you hungry? Well, actually I want to reminisce about music from the sixties, and LPs. Also, I discovered an album from that era that I had never known.

Oh the days when I was into vinyl. I’m referring to vinyl LPs. Yes I know you can still find vinyl LPs being sold but they are the exception today. Most of music I listen to today has been digitized. Either copied from a CD or downloaded from the web. You can’t put a vinyl LP directly into your Ipod. Carrying a record player around is not really mobile. So there are advantages to our digital music.

One aspect of the old LP days you might have forgotten or a younger reader never had known, is the LP art. I believe some of the album's cover art work was better than the music on the album. Do you remember this sexy cover?

The title song, “Whipped Cream” was etched into our brains by the TV show, “The Dating Game”. What a mistake to think I could learn dating tips from the show. I guess it reinforced the idea that dating is a game.

I’m including a youtube clip of “Whipping Cream” below for those wanting to refresh their memories. Maybe you’ll want to play it in the background during your dating game home version.

While deep in research on this album (at least 30 minutes) I found a parody of the album. Hah a parody, how surprising (not!) Lisleman would be interested in a parody.

Funny title too - “Sour Cream and Other Delights” (I wonder if making the album cover gave them smoother softer skin?)

Those five ladies vs. the young one -  I'll l bet the ladies have more recipes for sour or sweet cream than that sweet young one does.  Also, I know that thought never crossed my teenage mind.


Here’s The Frivolous Five’s version (slightly off key I believe)

big bird might be the answer

(Warning: The post you are about to read contains Lisleman’s fact and speculation. It only takes a quick spin on my office chair start my inner ear spinning. The truth is out there, I just don’t know where.)

If you interpret this post as political then I failed to communicate my message. This is not to persuade you to a particular candidate. I don’t like extremes and believe compromise is the best path to solutions. The moderate view does not play well in the media so we don’t get to hear much of it. I wish we heard more about solutions that came from the different sides working together.

You may have heard or even participated in the big trending topic coming out of the first presidential debate - Sesame Street’s Big Bird

Myself I always liked Oscar the Grouch better than Big Bird. The charismatic one is Elmo.

Of the many issues mentioned in the debate are you surprised that Big Bird and PBS funding seemed to get the most attention? At first I was a little surprised but after I thought about it maybe it makes sense that the public focused on this big yellow bird.

Most everyone recognizes Big Bird. He looks funny. He’s a big simple target. People don’t seem to care for complex details. If people bothered to look into this they would find the federal funding is minor part of PBS operations and about one one-hundredth of one percent of the federal budget. Maybe it’s meant as a simple mostly symbolic target.

Honestly while I’ve supported PBS with donations and enjoy much of its programming maybe it could survive without government funding. This issue is not a deciding factor for me and probably not for many others.

I don’t know if government funding was a factor but maybe the Elmo and Katy Perry song might not have been dropped if PBS were more independent. Just crazy speculation on my part but the video really shows Elmo’s charisma. 




The bottom line is please vote and remember more local offices affect you more than the higher ones. This has been brought to you by the letter ‘V’ for vote. 


another circus 

Luna fragments

Would you be shocked if I told you that the Friday Fragments post is my favorite post to write? Would you be shocked if I stuck live electrodes in your ears? I’ve known people who are never shocked.

I don’t know what shocks Mrs. 4444 (probably her students) but she is still accepting FF posts over on her blog. Check them out, just don’t stick your finger in the socket.

Blue Moon - Friday will be a once in a blue moon day since it’s the second full moon this month. I hope the evening sky is clear to enjoy it. I believe Blue Moon beer should be free on blue moon days.

My brother called this week. As he often does, he started off with an out-of-the-blue statement.

“Now we’ll never know for sure.” 

What? 

“Neil Armstrong died so we won’t know if it was fake.” 

He did this to irk me. It relates back to the day when a relative (will remain nameless for now) stated that she was not sure if the moon landing actually happened. I thought she was joking but then I learned she had doubts after listening to some conspiracy people. Believing the Apollo 11 landing was faked is dumber than believing in unicorns.

We did it. So far the withdrawal symptoms have been nothing much. I did need to remind myself a few times not to try to flip on CNBC for the current stock market news. Oh what is it? We dropped all the TV channels from our cable service. Only my internet connection remains coming over the cable. I’ll probably be watching more youtube so take that as a warning.

Would I improve my blog appeal if I hyped up the common effects discovered by readers of a A Few Clowns Short? What are those you ask (hey play along here will you) Now let’s try that again - What are those you ask. Readers are discovering their inner goddess and occasionally a piece of trivia stuck under an old memory.

Just read this - 

Sugar Found In Space: A Sign of Life? 

I don’t know about life but I bet if they search carefully they will find a trail of ants.

Did you have enough smiles today? Can we ever have too many? Watch this youtube clip of two twin babies highchair dancing. I predict more dancing in their future.

a tramp, blue velvet and more

Just watched "Great Performances" on PBS.  We knew of Tony Bennett's recent album, "Duets II" so we had planned to watch.  It was really great that they played the whole songs since too often TV programs will cut the songs short.  I'm sure it will be re-broadcasted and maybe you can find it on-demand.

I was surprised that my wife and I agreed Lady Gaga did the best performance with Tony.  All the stars were good but Lady Gaga added fun energy to it.

There are clips on the internet too.  Here's three.

Watch Scenes from Tony Bennett: Duets II on PBS. See more from Great Performances.

funky sneak preview

Do you know there are youtube clips being shown on cable channels?  I've seen it.

Are they hard up for content?  Too deeply stuck in the reality crap, I think.

Well, if this youtube clip is ever shown on a cable show you can say you watched it here first at A Few Clowns Short.  (don't hold your breath unless you just ate garlic)

Enjoy and take me to funkytown

Oh by the odd chance you would like to watch other Lisleman creations click over to the "playing around" page.

Lisleman’s news that you don’t need

Would any of you like to sponsor this news? 

Yeah I didn’t think so. Great news - what we have all been waiting for - finally

McTV is here and in high definition 

“McTV” as in a private TV channel for McDonald restaurants.

found this on Jafabrit sometime ago

Oh no there are not putting the flat screens in the stalls.  McDonalds will be rolling out their own TV programming on the flat screens in the dinning area.  So get out of the drive-thru lane and get inside for exciting Mc-shows.

The nearby Mickey D's doesn't have the programming but they did put in a nice flat screen TV.  I've enjoyed CNN while munching on my fries.

And now this breaking news on dog poop -

AshPuppie Dog Poop Incinerator

I’ve done a couple of posts on inventions lately. I'm probably wrong but I think this high tech poop incinerator is an invention before it's time.


Well thanks everyone that's it for today.


Oh wait, this breaking news just in -

Woman charged after pelting husband with cupcakes

Lisleman is off to find any crumbs on this story.

fractal fragments nest

Nesting - I never heard that term used to describe pregnant women until recently. Our daughter is pregnant so maybe if she starts to do more cooking than normal I could take advantage of this nesting.

If you have fragments of thought and word which need a nest, then I know a place. I’m referring to the one and only Mrs. 4444’s (don’t tell google+ her name) blog. Check out her soulful fragments and fill your mind with goodness.

TV season - 

There was a time when I was eager to watch DH.  The first three or so seasons were a hit with me. I still remember the first episode’s gun shot.  They had a good mystery going for a few seasons.  Oh remember the tornado episode?  Today I didn't even know it will be their last season until I read this post on Eternal Lizdom.

Walk and chew gum - yes I can but not much more unlike this talented young lady:

Earlier this week Chicagoland had to breathe Minnesota's second hand smoke. It was hazy and it smelled bad. Next time share it with Canada. It’s mostly beavers and moose around that area anyway.

I mailed 3 birthday cards this past week. 

What have you done today to save the post office? 

Here’s an idea - The Post Office gets a groupon for Fedex services. 

Oh I almost forgot. fractals - I found this very interesting site by Paul Bourke. This Australian works in the computer graphics field and has many unusual photos such as this one:

pill to swallow

I like simple. Being blunt is good sometimes. I don’t like medicine. Too many of us are over-prescribed. Medicine should not be mass marketed.

According to this Wikipedia article only TWO countries - United States and New Zealand (New Zealand is mostly sheep so that’s ok if they watch) allow drugs to be advertised directly to consumers.

Now that I got that out of the way, let us move on.

I just sat through another dumb big bucks big pharma ad. I could help them shorten it and get the message across quicker.

I present to you my big pharma ad script:

[some soothing relaxed background like a blue sky with a couple of fluffy white clouds - drug name grows bigger on the screen - no music] 

vogenitavozy 

[some great sounding lady voice-over narrates - more people trust a woman’s voice for health advice]

Feeling beat to shit and wondering what truck hit you? 

[a version of the following picture on the screen] 

Vogenitavozy can help you. 

This shit can kill you and possibly make you want to die or become a blogger.

Please talk to your doctor and find out if we could sell you some.

In addition to possible death and increased pain, Vogenitavozy is known to empty the wallets of those that take it.

[return to title screen - end of ad] 

If more big bucks big pharma ads were like the following. It would be a better world.

another circus 

Performance tonight watch it

Watch the full episode. See more In Performance at The White House.

I wish I posted this a little earlier so you would be able to plan your evening for this. I did get the post up before the show anyway.

Motown performance at the White House

Being that the theme is Motown, I initially thought all the performers would be African-American.  Not so, and that says a good thing to me.  The main thing should be the talent and music coming from the artist.  The color of skin should play no role in it.

My regular readers might know that I'm a Sheryl Crow fan and she performs in this. She is amazing at doing Michael Jackson's earlier songs. I'm listening to her version of "I Want You Back" on my Itunes as I write this.  She does that song for her White House performance.

If you are reading this after the show and you watched it please let me know what you thought.

Fragments from an undisclosed location

After the Groundhog Day Blizzard, I dug out and headed to an undisclosed location. The trip was family related and had nothing to do with the blizzard. I decided to try some fun on FB by going celebrity. I updated my FB status with:

currently at an undisclosed location

CNN has not called yet.

While I was on this trip, Mrs. 4444 rewarded me with her FF award - Favorite Fragmenter.

Thanks so very much.

I watched Watson play Jeopardy and was very pleased when I knew one answer they didn’t. I knew that Slovenia is the only former Yugoslav republic in the European Union. No one got the right answer. I had visited Slovenia in 2004 so that helped.

Does this mean I’m smarter than a four-year-long IBM project?

(Honestly when was the last time you watched Jeopardy?  This computer challenge was my only reason)

Recent bit of conversation with my wife:

“Your mom (me - chuckling between words) called me and asked why I didn't have more pictures on facebook. I was thinking WHAT (maybe I said WTF) - she does even touch a computer but now she's asking me about facebook.”

That’s what a new great-grand-son will do to people.

Our nation's Borders - big trouble - chapter 11.   Oh wait, don't we want closed Borders?

One morning during my stay at my daughter’s place, I heard my granddaughter call out from her crib. I heard the noise but not the actually words. I poked my head in the room. I know she saw me.

As I walked across the room to the crib, I almost collapsed in laughter. She got real still and had started pretend snoring with her eyes shut tight except to peek out every so often. The pretend snoring sounded so fake.

I learned that she didn’t want me to take her out of the crib. She want her dad to fetch her. I’m still laughing at her tricky scheme.

The CNBC channel loves to report on reports or surveys. I suspect some of these reports are just done for cable shows. Most seem pretty dumb.

They reported on a survey of the opinions of men versus women regarding the current economy.  One of the results showed 51% of men answered not much had changed. Mark Haines laughed and said, "ask any question and 51% of men would say not much had changed."  I guess you could repaint a room and 51% of men would not notice unless they had to do the painting.

Do you think he’s right?

Who wants to be a millionaire?   I really got into that show years ago. I stumbled onto a funny short film clip that’s related to it.   Check it out on my video clip blog - Another Circus.

another circus    

As the blog turns

God I hated the soap operas my Grandma watched. But when reality TV showed up, well it made those soap operas look like Tennessee Williams.

Jon & Kate went over the hills - episode 1

Scene opens with camera panning over the cool trash scattered around the room.

 
Girl looking the day after the night before slides over the shiny leather couch (note - I should get a leather couch out of this deal) and starts to speak but turns as a redhead with tramp stamps dancing on her muffin top enters the room. 

 
(break for 20 minutes of commercials of whiter teeth and Captain Morgan)

By now you have channel surfed, updated your blog, FB wall, and texted 10 BFF’s.  

WTF was I watching.  OMG I need to get whiter teeth. Gawd what was the name of that whitener?

This post was brought to you by
Whiter Teeth by Locomotive Breath Industries. The  industrial strength cleanser for your mouth.  You don't watch Grandma's TV and your teeth shouldn't look like her's either.

what if

What if -

Lassie was remade today with a heavier kid and a cat.

(I found that short clip at Neatorama)

What if - you get caught relieving yourself on a traffic control signal box in Florida.

You might become the subject of "Name the crime" game.  What a happy mug shot!

Slightly related story - check out Technobabe's embarrassing story.

What if - I run out of writing ideas for the blog.

You get this post.

thanks

looking back thinking ahead

When TV wasn't flat.



1938 Fax machine ??

from Chicago Tribune caption:
Words and pictures could be transmitted instantly by radio into the home in 1938 via a facsimile receiver.

Next month the US will transition to digital TV (DTV) -- well maybe -- now there some that want to delay it. Story on request for delay.

Bad idea to delay. The spectrum that this DTV change makes available has mostly been auctioned off already (billions of dollars). The plans for wireless broadband depend on some of it.

I have posted about DTV in the past -- first post on it
second post on it

Those pictures are from the Chicago Tribune site that has this interesting slide show.

DTV coupons from FCC

Remember the FCC? Yeah the same agency that ran the auction which had the outcome of killing the Airfone air-to-ground internet project. Well they do much more than auctions. One program they have going is giving away coupons to US families.

Have you heard about DTV? Well I know you will know about it by this time next year because by then all the TV being sent over the airwaves will be digital (DTV).

Now some of us may have new DTV ready TV's but I don't. In fact this is somewhat confusing because a HDTV might NOT have a DTV tuner. If you bought the TV after May 25, 2007 then you should be good because the FCC required all TV sets after that date to be equipped with this type of tuner. Also, if you have satellite or cable service then you don't need to worry - but I recommend you get one anyway - see reasoning below.

The reason for the coupon is to help consumers make the transition to digital TV. Each household can get two coupons usable for the purchase of two converters (total value $80).

I just received my coupons this week and today I bought one converter. The coupons come in a "credit card" format (magnetic stripe, hologram logo, raised letters and even an expiration date).

So I went to a local Radio Shack and bought a Digital Stream unit (over $60 with tax but the coupon brings it down to a $20+ purchase). There are some units on the internet for under $50 but you need to consider shipping. Also, it wasn't clear that all the online shops handled the coupon. Had I gone the online route then this post would have needed to wait until the delivery. Maybe with the other coupon I'll try the online shops.

I hooked the unit up to a small set in the bedroom. The setup just uses plain rabbit ears (I guess there might be some younger readers who never heard of rabbit ears - go ask someone over 50).

The result - good - I probably need a newer rabbit. The setup was very easy. The unit has a good built-in menu. The features add new life to the old TV. The Chicago PBS station 11 gave me four channels, that all came in good. The unit's remote has a button that displays the signal strength. A signal even less than excellent shows a great picture.

Why you should get the coupon and a converter box:

1. The government is giving you $80 - come on help the economy already!
2. Are all your TV's DTV ready? Do you watch an older one in the garage or kitchen?
3. There are digital channels being broadcast now that not available on cable.
4. Keep the option of dropping cable someday open.
5. The DTV broadcast has an on-screen program guide built-in. Gives new life to an old TV set.
6. You probably can use rabbit ears - great exercise adjusting the ears.
7. You could use this one for recording shows even if you have cable.