2012 — 22 August: Wednesday
I've learned a few things1 over the last five years. In this case, the futility of trying to get back to sleep when the ghost in the machine is tired of its downtime. Still, if I weren't dressed, downstairs, and having already supped my cuppa I would have missed the Astor Piazolla flute sonata that ended "Through the Night". Let alone being told that his idols were "Stravinsky, Bach, and Stan Kenton".
Actually, as idols go, that's a lot healthier than the parade of woeful and misguided religious bigotry exposed in all its nasty and widespread 'glory' by Ophelia Benson's late-August catchup newsletter. It's enough to put an autumnal chill in the air. (Related link.)
Gore Vidal was no idol but he was witty and perceptive. Here's an interview that was suppressed by Variety at the time of that excellent film "Bob Roberts" — which was funded, I now learn, 50% by the UK. Speaking truth to power, and all that. [Pause] I wonder if the sun's up yet? Is it too early for breakfast? (It's never too early for breakfast.)
Did you hear about...
... the homeopath who died of a drug overdose? (It was too dilute.) The picture here, illustrating typical suggested dilutions, links to...
... an amusing2 debunking. Not that homeopaths will read it. The associated comments get a bit ranty. And for a neat reminder about moles :-)
An Apple a day?
Tee-hee:
[Note: Yes, I know I would have had a better retail experience at the Apple store. But I've owned several Apple computers over the years and every one was an overpriced crash-lemon. Apple can only fool me six or seven times in a row. Now I just buy their stock.]
It's 08:43, and I still await the cheery knock of a TV stand delivery chap. I guess I won't be going anywhere today "just in case".
Idiocy everywhere
During Christa's chemotherapy sessions in 2007, and before I started learning to drive, I generally took a taxi back from the hospital in Southampton. I had no idea our local taxis were in the habit of recording audio and video of every journey. Mind you, they've now been given until 1st November to stop doing this. (Link.)
Making a stand
It's arrived. Unbroken. And heavy. Very heavy. 30.4kg, in fact. Cool. [Pause] Just the right amount of heft has been adroitly employed, and now all I have to do is re-assemble the living room. After shopping for a spot of lunch, methinks. And clearing up the faecal deposits so kindly left for me by my neighbour's generous canine. Mammals — shoot them and eat them, if you ask my opinion.
I was pondering, while driving back from the care-home, the best next Life of my now-redundant wheeled trolley. As I drove onto my faecal-free drive, a mental light bulb lit up... I've just free-cycled it round to my new neighbours — "complete with free dust" — an excellent result.
And for Brian, who asked to see a picture...
The "gap" between the loudspeakers is 147cm, give or take.
Listening to the sudden rain, I'm reminded Len claimed today that keeping his car in his garage would mean it never got washed. It's a theory, I suppose.