Here's an idea...

Actual representation of a lightbulb talking.  It's saying, "I have a bright idea."

Part of the cycle of poor neighborhoods is that there are often no grocery stores so residents without transportation can purchase healthy foods.  The neighborhoods have "corner stores where folks buy pricey cigarettes, liquor, and packaged food."  We should bring back the General Store idea from the old West days.  Large chains could create small satellite stores in areas that are not currently serviced.  I think that would encourage residents to be more involved in their community and it would help them eat better.  It might even revitalize neighborhoods.  Economy grows where resources are provided.  Food is a resource.  

Dorian and Viki on One Life to Live

I love these two characters; Dorian Lord and Victoria Lord Riley (those are the names I knew them as when I started watching OLTL).  Today there was a nice (too short) tribute to their complicated, tangled, long, loving relationship.  It made me cry.  Robin Strasser and Erika Slezak did a wonderful job being my touchstones in Landview.  Thank you ladies!

"It won't be the same."

A Prince of a guy...

His Royal Highness Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales

I like this photo of the prince.  He'll be in California in the next several months to complete helicopter training.

From Wikipedia:  The Prince's style and title in full is His Royal Highness Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales. As a British prince, Harry holds no surname; however, as with the other male-line grandchildren of Elizabeth II, he uses the name of the area over which his father holds title, i.e. Wales. Past precedent is that such surnames are dropped from usage in adulthood, after which either title alone, or Mountbatten-Windsor is used when necessary.^[58][1] Prince Harry, however, continues to use Wales as his surname for military purposes and is known as Captain Harry Wales in such contexts.^[59] If his father succeeds to the throne he will be known as His Royal Highness The Prince Henry. Traditionally, male-line members of British royalty receive a dukedom a few hours before their marriage, the most recent being Prince William of Wales, who became Duke of Cambridge.

Revolutionary.

Along with all the technological advances that made my life better growing up in the 60's and 70's (indoor plumbing, television, vaccines, for instance), and the technology that made my work career easier and more interesting in the 80's (desktop computers), I'd add these three technologies as revolutionary in my life since the 2000's...I feel lucky to be alive at a time when I can use them.

TIVO

No more 'appointment' television.  I'll watch when I want to watch.

iPod

ALL my music in one place

iPad

Kindle for iPad, games, notes, schedules, apps of all kinds in one beautiful tablet that I can easily take with me wherever I go.

Another Republican I won't vote for...

Mitt Romney says...

Corporations are people, my friend... of course they are. Everything corporations earn ultimately goes to the people. Where do you think it goes? Whose pockets? Whose pockets? People's pockets. Human beings my friend.

I understand what I think he's trying to say; while corporations pay less taxes, those benefits flow to the people who own the corporation - stockholders.  Stockholders can include pension programs and 401K programs for regular folk, like you and me.

Aargh.

1.  "My friend"...?  That sounds so folksy it's condescending.
2.  Corporations are NOT people.  That's a dangerous idea for our political system and led to the Supreme Court ruling that allows corporations to participate in elections as if they're a person.  The idea is that since corporations pay taxes, they should be represented - no taxation without representation, right?  Ugh - that's a twisted perversion of our democracy.

Which brings me to another comment I hear people making more often lately - whoever started it should be happy it's taking hold in the consciousness of people who understand quick sound bytes more easily than a complete argument.

IF OBAMA WERE IN CHARGE OF A COMPANY, HE'D BE FIRED FOR HOW HE'S DOING HIS JOB...or some such derivation.

AARGH!!!!!

The United States is NOT a profit making venture. 

To compare the United States to a corporation is to misunderstand completely the point of government.

Those rich people sure know how to manipulate ideas. 

Cowboys and Aliens

Recently, LJB said the movies he likes, particularly, are westerns and sci-fi.
Along came Cowboys and Aliens.
Perfect.

And yet...not so perfect.

I can get onboard for a movie about aliens coming to Earth in the late 1800's.  Of course. 
If I enjoy the Matrix, or StarGate, or any other sci-fi reality, then of course the aliens could have come to the Old West.
A premise that could have worked.

If only the story hadn't had all the typical characters and conflicts:
mysterious stranger with strange power,
beautiful damsel,
villainous cattle baron running the town and his spoiled dangerous son,
mostly peaceful sheriff taking care of his deceased daughter's brave but impressionable son,
tortured memories of the Civil War,
prejudice against Native Americans,
a band of robbers,
and big slimy monsters as aliens.

Blah.  I don't even need to tell you the story for you to guess what happened.

The only relationship I cared about was the one between the villainous cattle baron and a young Mexican man who worked for him, tirelessly and loyally.  The cattle baron treated him badly, but the Mexican man loved and respected him as a father.  Which, of course, was more than the cattle baron's real son.  And, it was the young man I was interested in - not the villainous cattle baron.

The aliens use their tiny ships (launched from their big ship) to hunt people.  They lasso the people from the air.  Those stunts were good; kinda cool.  Reminiscent of a cattle roundup.

That connection (cattle roundup vs aliens taking humans), and others (alien power and mysterious stranger, for instance) might have made a more complex and interesting story.
It makes me think the original story either had much more complexity, or wanted to, but didn't know how to make it happen.
And then a committee devoured the story.   

Bottom line:  The movie is empty and predictable.  I don't recommend it.

See also, Roger Ebert's review of Cowboys and Monsters

Did you know...?

Did you know that McGraw-Hill, the leading textbook provider for schools, also owns Standard and Poor's, the firm that made a 2 trillion dollar error on their analysis of the United States' credit-worthiness?

Pat Carroll

For someone who has watched television since the 60's, Pat Carroll is a familiar face.  She has guest-starred on numerous television comedies over the years.  I saw her on a repeat episode today and I'm reminded how comforted I am by her voice - she can sound both gruff and wise and loving.  If I listen to her voice alone, I hear sincerity and truth.  Here is my shout out to Pat Carroll:  I have appreciated your presence, thank you...:)

Debt deal passed.
I'm not happy about it.
I can't defend the President on this one.
No tax revenue, no balanced approach.
A super committee?  Yeah, right.
Stewart and Colbert got it right.

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