A day like buttah

Loads and loads of real buttah! [private joke!]

It’s not often that you get a week-long stretch of just unbelievably gorgeous weather, but that’s what we’ve had this week. Cousin Shane has apparently developed psychic abilities and asked for this week off on vacation. I’m glad it’s been so perfect for him!

After a quick trip to the store this morning, I got in a super good workout. Beyond the 8 miles on the bike and doing weights, I did 35+ minutes and 1.8 miles on the elliptical! Woohoo! I’m going to go ahead and pat myself on the back for that one (pat pat), because when I first started on the elliptical, I could do about 3 minutes before I had to stop. So I’ve made some great progress, and I’m pretty damn proud of it! Since I started hitting it harder and eating smaller portions, I’ve lost 4 pounds, and I’m proud of that, too. Our upcoming vacation could be a problem, because I won’t be able to get those kinds of workouts done, but we’ll try to get in lots of walking, and the occasional workout at various hotels we’ll be staying at. I’ve already realized that I won’t be able to eat at every Route 66 restaurant, and definitely won’t be able to do breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I just can’t eat that much! We’ll do what we can, we’ll eat at some good ones, and stop for a drink at other good ones.

After my workout, I got the stuff together in the crockpot for Italian beef sandwiches tonight, then spent some time on the deck—a little sunning (it was hot!) and a lot of reading. I got to watch a lot of birds stop by for a bite and a drink, and Chip and Dale (our chipmunks) chowed down on the corn I put out for them and then chased each other around. It was cute. :)

I made plans with Shane for a late breakfast/early lunch on his day off this coming Tuesday. We read this morning that a locally owned restaurant, Cira’s, is closing soon. Shane has been there a while back, but I don’t think I’ve been there since I was a kid. Apparently the elderly owner has had a health setback, and although the employees and family have tried to keep it going in his absence, they feel that he won’t be coming back to work there and the time has come to close it. Shane and I have talked about how we wanted to go there, and when we saw that they’re closing soon, we said, “We have to get there!” Thank goodness that we can both do it on Tuesday, before Ken and I leave on vacation. I forget exactly when the article said it was closing—sometime within the next couple of weeks, when we’re on our trip.

Our grandparents lived right around the corner from the restaurant, and I remember walking around that neighborhood when our folks would visit Grandma and Grandpa. I’m sad that this South Bend fixture is closing soon, but I’m glad Shane and I get to go before it closes its doors. It’s also a good reminder to do these things before it’s too late! How many times do you say, “We need to stop there” or “We need to go there one of these days”? After Ken and I get back from our trip, we’ll find a time soon to go to Buffalo Rose in Lakeville, because I’m afraid it might not be around for long, especially once the new highway is open and bypasses the town.

I’m learning that sometimes you have to make time to do these things, rather than just passing by and saying, “I’ll stop next time I go by,” especially when it comes to these little locally owned places. Our choices are becoming increasingly generic, so seek the unique! Hey, I’d better trademark that. Seek the Unique!™

Tomorrow will be a quiet day at Nutwood, with outside time and a BBQ42 (barbecue for two). Ribs, probably some grilled potatoes with onions, and cucumbers and onions in that creamy sauce (some of you know what I’m talking about!). I’m also thinking about a pomegranate martooni. Sunday is an afternoon at our local zoo (the Potawatomi Zoo), a fine little zoo for a small city and one that I haven’t been to since I was in elementary school, with Ken’s Mom and her friend Yvonne, followed by dinner at the Oaken Bucket. Another locally owned place, and one that has what are widely considered to be the best burgers in town. Lots of warm weather all weekend, which is exactly what I like, and it might even be nice enough that we can sit outside on the patio by the St. Joseph River.

Oh, and Mick Jagger is hosting SNL this week, with musical guests including Arcade Fire, Jeff Beck, and...Foo Fighters! Angels are singing, people! ANGELS ARE SINGING! 

The new Star Trek’s here! The new Star Trek’s here!

I love pre-orders! On the day that the latest Star Trek movie went on sale, it arrived in the mail from the DVD club. Yippee! I think I held it in my hands and did a little chair dance as I waved it around. I've only seen it twice, so I think I'm due for another viewing. In fact, I'm overdue! Probably this weekend.

I still think they did a wonderful job with this one. J. J. Abrams did a fantastic job in walking the fine line between appeasing long-term fans (like yours truly) and taking the franchise in a bold new direction. I also loved the way they threw me off-kilter, as in "Well, I know that character can't die, because they survived to old age in the original." Ahhhh, but when one is dealing with time travel and the space-time continuum, all bets are off, a lesson I should have learned by now.

I've speculated before about the continuing appeal of the Star Trek phenomenon. (I know not everyone feels that way, of course.) I see it as a continued yearning for a future in which many nations (and planets) are united as a force for the common good. A peaceful force, one concerned with contacting and learning from other cultures, not beating them into submission in order to convert them to our way of life OR to any particular religion. The Prime Directive must always apply. (We seem to have gotten away from that a bit here. W obviously isn't a Trek fan.) The world of Star Trek is one in which various and diverse groups of people collaborate for the greater good. It's idyllic, obviously, but...isn't that the whole point? Isn't our goal a peaceful existence with all people working together to achieve a better world? Shouldn't it be?

For me, Star Trek shows us the possibilities of what can be if we all get off this muy macho shit and start working together.

It's also kinda cool to encounter freaky aliens like the Horta, and to try to connect. That's where a Vulcan Mind Meld comes in handy.

I love this clip from SNL. Note the "I'm looking at you" gesture using the Vulcan hand gesture. Still makes me laugh.

Jane, you ignorant slut

I'm pretty sure I don't have any readers named Jane. If so, this was not targeted towards you! Some of us of a certain age remember the early years of "Saturday Night Live," when Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd would engage in a debate on the Point-Counterpoint segment of "Weekend Update." Jane would always go first, and Dan's immediate retort when it was his turn was "Jane, you ignorant slut." It's one of those phrases that has entered into our pop culture, and it still makes me laugh!

The other day, I wrote about paranoia and the blogging hazard of people thinking that you're addressing them with what you write. I mentioned that I believe that writing is not always a good way of communicating (although it's the one I like the best) and got this comment from Rebecca:

I do think writing can be an in-depth form of communication when used specifically to inform someone of what exactly you are thinking. Sometimes, without the distraction of body movement, pauses, and vocal interruptions, a person can convey everything they need via the written medium.

However, for it to be truly effective, it does need a follow up 'talk' ~ Just my oh so very humble opinion. For example, I think this written entry is detailed, nicely conveyed and leaves little for the imagination to expand on. I had no doubts or confusion about your thoughts.

Rebecca and I exchanged a couple of emails about it, and I think we both see where the other is coming from. (Thanks for your kind words on my writing in that entry, too, Rebecca!) I do agree that writing is a great form of communication, and I do my best communicating in that forum. I don't feel that I'm a good speaker, and I don't enjoy talking on the phone. I try to write with clarity and specificity, and hope I succeed most of the time. However, I still feel that subtle nuances in speech patterns and body language can't be conveyed by the written word. As I wrote to Rebecca, one of the biggest stumbling blocks to this is the interpretation by the reader. If they are of a particular mindset, they could very well interpret your words in a completely different way in which they were intended.

I found an interesting couple of articles about communication. The Aristotelian process deals with what he called rhetoric, the study of communication. His process dealt with oratory, but I think it can be expanded somewhat to include written discussions. He divided rhetoric into three components: speaker (writer), subject, and listener (reader), and believed that the latter is what determines the speech's end and object, and holds the key to whether or not effective communication occurs.

I think that where any communication breaks down is when you are dealing with a hostile audience. Whether it's a room full of people who disagree with your message, or readers who have their own agenda and own mindset, no matter how clear your words or your writing, they will refuse to hear or understand your meaning. In other words, they already believe they know exactly what you are trying to convey, so don't feel the need to process an alternative view. They interpret things the way they want to, regardless of your intentions.

How do you communicate? Do you try to read, process, and understand a subject so that you can write or speak coherently and understandably on it? Anyone can throw a few quotes and definitions out there and try to make a case for whatever they're trying to prove, but unless you can gather the information and comprehend it to the best of your ability, your argument will remain incoherent and often nonsensical.

In Aristotle's process, shown in the above diagram, a project (whether a speech, an article, or a blog entry) begins with identifying what you are trying to convey and researching it. Read and learn what your arguments can and should be, based on facts, your own emotions and passion, and the ethical considerations of your subject. Next, consider the logical connections and flow of these things. How do your thoughts fit together? What point leads logically to the next? What flows well? Third, "pretty it up." Put your vocabulary and command of the language to work. Use compelling imagery with your words, but keep it understandable and clear. Finally, tie it all together and deliver your message with authority, knowledge, and persuasion. If you've done your homework, your argument will make good sense and your audience, listeners or readers, will at least listen and think about what you have to say. You might not convince them, but I'm willing to bet you'll get an "I can't say I agree, but she does make a compelling argument."

The best writers I encounter, in print or on the Web, and the best speeches I hear have this in common: they fully comprehend the issue at hand, they are able to weave facts and information into a coherent narrative, and they are able to deliver their argument with clarity and conviction. The worst come across as pretentious, spouting disjointed ramblings and random facts and figures, inject meaningless invective, and are unable to put it all together to make any sort of convincing argument, let alone something that might be enjoyable to read. (Aren't you proud of me for not mentioning Sarah Palin?) I think it really helps to try and figure out who you're trying to reach, and what you're trying to accomplish. Is your purpose to make people think about something, perhaps bring them over to your position? Or is it merely to further your own agenda and justify your own way of thinking? If you don't have the courage of your convictions, if you don't have facts to back up your stance on a subject, if you can’t be coherent, how can you hope to convince others of the rightness of your position?

Keeping the evil spirits away

Rabbit rabbit rabbit!

I forgot to do that yesterday. Gotta keep the evil spirits away from Nutwood at the start of each month! Someday, I'll see if I can find the origins of that. I learned it from the Bob & Tom Show, so that should tell you something! Although now that I think about it, it has been a few years since evil darkened our door! I guess it knows when it's not welcome.

Today is Sherry's birthday, so pop over and wish her a happy one. She's a sweetheart!

I don't know what it is this morning, but I feel wondrously refreshed...almost as if I had an extra hour of sleep! (wink)

Russ (Who was my 100th follower, by the way...wish I had a Kewpie doll for you, Russ!) left a comment about the movie "Hostel," in which he calls it "torture porn." I don't recall the first one being that extreme...I found it very creepy, at least situation-wise, and fairly scary. Last night, we started watching "Hostel II," although we didn't finish it before SNL came on. Oh my God, it's awful! There is one scene where I turned to Ken and said, "I wouldn't and couldn't recommend this to anyone." (Two words: Elizabeth Bathory.) We'll finish it tonight, but Tarentino jumped the shark on this one. It's not amusing, it's not suspenseful, it's really not all that scary...it's just sadistic. So I'm with you on this one, Russ.

Next up is "The Hills Have Eyes" (the remake), followed by "Hellraiser." We might have to watch a non-horror movie in there somewhere. I think it was Joann who asked if I'm brave enough to watch horror movies when Ken isn't here. Generally, no. Ha ha! It depends on the movie. If it's something campy (we recently watched "Fright Night"), or only mildly creepy (I picked up "Carrie" not too long ago), that's no problem, but some of these would definitely creep me out if I were by myself. Ken has a business trip coming up later this week, and I'm probably more likely to watch something like "Airplane!"

I remembered to soak the black beans last night in preparation for the black bean soup in the crock pot. I'll get that going later. I sure hope it turns out okay...this is an experiment!

Oh, SNL! Ben Affleck hosted, and the skit where he played Keith Olbermann was brilliant! We'll see if NBC lets me embed. Again, a little long, but I've been watching Olbermann lately, and Affleck gets his outrage down perfectly! I hope Miss Precious Perfect isn't too badly emotionally scarred.

No, it is not letting me embed, although it gives me an embed code. Darn you, NBC! (shaking fist) Okay, click here to see the clip.

My Karma ran over your Dogma

First of all...FREAKIN' CUBS. That's all I'm going to say about it.

Well, there are a few interesting news stories, but I found this one especially interesting.

O.J. Simpson was found guilty of kidnapping, armed robbery, and 10 other charges in Las Vegas. He and his co-defendant, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, could spend the rest of their lives in prison.

I always believed that there would be some sort of justice for him one day. It started right after his murder trial, when he became a virtual pariah. It seems that he's going to get his prison time, after all, even if it's 13 years late. I would hope that none of the jurors looked at it that way...that their verdict came only after studying THIS case and this testimony. I believe that the majority of the time, jurors take their duty very seriously and understand the importance and gravity of their service. I would like to believe that if it had been me sitting in the juror's box in that Las Vegas courtroom, I would have been able to set aside my feelings about the murder trial and focus on the charges in this one.

I was working the evening shift at a hospital in Indianapolis when that trial was going on. I had the day open to watch the trial proceedings. It was pretty fascinating, and the details about the DNA testing were particularly interesting to me. At that time in the lab, DNA testing was just becoming available, and that was one of my jobs at work: DNA probe testing for Chlamydia and gonorrhea. So when I started hearing the numbers, and the statistical probabilities of who the blood drops could belong to, I thought, "He's toast."

Of course, I was wrong. I'll never understand why he was able to beat that. I feel that it was a foul miscarriage of justice, and Simpson was free to spend his days hunting for the "real killer" on the golf course. His 13 years of undeserved freedom are coming to a close. Looks like his golfing days are over.

I also see that Sarah Palin is saying that Obama is "palling around with terrorists." (What...is he taking terrorists for a stroll in the park, followed by a cappuccino at Starbucks?) This is because he has met and dealt with William Ayers, a former member of the Weather Underground. I don't condone the WU's activities, but I also believe that the sixties were turbulent, troubled times, with many radical and opposing viewpoints. Your current next door, baby boomer neighbor could very well have been a radical, peace-loving, war-hating, acid-dropping *gasp* HIPPIE, who went to *gasp* Woodstock or something equally as nutty. We think it's crazy now, but it was even crazier then.

Get over it. It was 40 years ago, and in the 40 years since the Weather Underground was active, Ayers has spent his time as a philanthropist, raising money for and serving on the board of various community organizations and charities, as well as becoming a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Obama has condemned Ayers' past activities and radical views of the sixties. So Palin says Obama is "palling around with terrorists." Oh yeah? Well, Sarah, I think you're passing judgement on someone who has spent the last 40 years trying to find retribution for what he did in the past. Last I knew, it isn't your job to pass judgement on anyone.

And just in case you missed it, here's SNL's opening skit last night. Blowin' ya a big ol' kiss and givin' ya little ol' wink!