It's all in the numbers...

Today is Superbowl 48.  Since we've begun keeping track of this event, its been written in roman numerals.  Those numbers, should you not remember your schooling, are: I - for 1; V - for 5; X - for 10; L - for 50; C- for 100, etc.  And there is a method in which we configure the combinations in between.   Superbowl 195 should read CVC, but will we still have Superbowls that number in the hundreds?

Some Superbowl numbers were more interesting, such as number 30, or XXX.  Name your poison sort of thing.  (The teams playing that year were the Dallas Cowboys, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.   To jog your memories even further, the Cowboys won.)  The Superbowl today has an interesting mix of numbers...XLVIII.  The next two are not going to be as interesting.  Superbowl 49 should read IL, and 50 will just be L.

If you're printing t-shirts, or making other paraphernalia for the Superbowl, this might be a challenge to your creativity.  Hard to fill up a shirt, or cap with just an L, or even before that...an IL.   And the thought of an IL should bring all sorts of commentary as to the value of the game, depending upon which teams prevail.  Sure to be plenty of puns for that game!

Something to think about after today's brouhaha settles down, which should be in about a month, or just before the basketball madness starts!

Watching the game, and rooting for...I'll never tell...on Day 236!

What were they thinking...? Part 2, A and B

...and less than a day later there's another story that makes you shake your head, and say to yourself "What were they thinking?"

First, A... At a recent rape trial, the judge gave explicit orders for the jurors to not discuss the trial with others, including social media.  So what happened?  One of the jurors not only posted some comments on Facebook (although they were not about the trial itself), but also tweeted (supposedly while she was in deliberation with the other jurors) about the dull trial and something to the effect that she was tired, bored, and wanted some red wine.  Huh?

Poor baby, a two day trial, which you're being paid for, and you're SO tired, and SO bored.  So bored in fact, that you neglected to listen to the judge's instructions?  I understand that there may be charges against you, including 30 days in jail, for contempt of court, especially since it was declared a mistrial.  How nice for the rape victims, to have to undergo another trial ordeal.  NOW what are you thinking?

Then we have B...What were the lawyers thinking when they said this was an appropriate juror for this trial?  Was she young, cute, supposedly savvy enough to render a just verdict?  Now everyone has to go through the whole rigamarole again.  What fun is that?  Perhaps all cell phones should be confiscated before the deliberations begin?  Or worse yet, let's sequester all future jurors to be sure they have NO access to ANY social media outlets.  Or maybe the lawyers just wanted to pad their accounts, since it was only a 2-day trial?   Maybe they'll rethink all their needs and requirements of the next jury.

More shoes dropping than a millipede has legs...on Day 235!

What were they thinking...? Part 1

The latest, unbelievable (to me) incidence in the news was that a man was shot in a movie theater for texting.  I can understand the anger at someone texting during a movie, as usually there are sounds involved which are distracting to others, and sometime an annoying light coming from a source other than the movie screen.

The anger is to be expected...BUT the man was then shot, and killed, by a retired former police officer!  What was he thinking?  The news story said he feared for his life after the shooting victim threw popcorn on him and "lunged (?)" at him.  So he drew his gun!  He must have been thinking he was in imminent danger?  The trial will comb through the facts, and the judge (and/or jury) will have the final decision as to whether his actions were justified.  Let them try to figure out what he was thinking.

Waiting for the other shoe to drop...on Day 234!

 

My underwear is 20 years old!!!

Too much information, you say?  I agree, but it's a phenomenon I wanted to explore.

So here's the scenario.  My mother-in-law came for a visit about 20 years ago, and we went to the local outlet mall, and she decided that she wanted to buy my some bvds, female style.  They are/were made by Hanes.   She has visited since then, but no more underwear!

Anyway, fast forward to 2013, and I'm thinking about how well these have held up, and how really old they are! I don't have all of them any more as my husband has taken it upon himself to throw out the truly holy ones.  And I think I finally gave up another pair last week, as they were beyond hope.  But there are still two or three left, and I'm kinda babying them.

Oh I've got other underwear, lots of other underwear.  But its not the same.  I've tried buying the same brand, same style, and what I thought was the same size, but that's all changed.  the sizes are "smaller" even though they have the same number on the waistband.  Or lets say they have less material!  And they don't last nearly as long.  AND...of course you've figured this out...they're NOT made in the USA. 

If you're in business, and you want repeat business, you either have to change styles dramatically to make people want the newest, latest, fanciest, or it better wear out soon, so you're forced to buy something else.

Twenty year old underwear is a merchant's nightmare!

Don't need to buy me any underwear this year, especially after Day 232!

What's in a name?

Good golly, there's a group of folks who want to change the name of the Washington redskins football team, because, they think, the name reflects badly on Native Americans (in other words, Indians.)  The "mascot" is the head of an Indian with headdress.

So I have a solution.  Keep the name and can the mascot!  There are other things that have red skins.  Red skin potatoes.  Red skin frankfurters.  You could change the team's nickname to the "spuds" or the "hot doggers."  Oscar Mayer may even chip in a few freebies if they go that route!

The only thing I worry about with my favorite team is whether they'll ever have a winning season (Chicago Cubs) on Day 231!

A letter to the president...

...wow...

if you knew then what you know now, would you still run for the presidency?

I wonder...were you bombarded, right after being sworn in, with all the secrets that you could never, ever reveal?  Did you think you'd ever be in a position to have to decide about going to war, or at least think of invading another country, such as Syria, after you voted against the original Iraq war?  All the misdeeds that the government has been running, perhaps without proper justification (like the NSA controversy?)  So many unbelievable mass shootings? Did you ever think it would appear that the whole country seems to view you as a pariah?  Or as some of the media would have you believe?

Its definitely not a position I would want.  Even the money isn't that good.  Although the perks are outstanding.  Great place to live.  Good food.  Virtually unlimited, paid-for travel to all parts of the world.  Meet and greet very important people from all walks of life.  Your own rock concerts in your own home!

I am amazed that your every move seems to be scrutinized far more than your predecessors, although whomever takes over after you, might even get worse treatment.  I was amazed at a friend of mine who was ranting that you went on a trip and had 50 people in your entourage.  Or maybe it was 150?  But nonetheless, did you invite all your friends and relatives, or did the secret service just think that was the appropriate amount due to your high visibility?  But he blamed you!

If I were you, I'd be counting the days until it was all over!  Of course you can't express that out loud, and possibly someone reading this would take that line out of context, and use it to say you were thinking just that!  That's the way of the world these days.  On the bright side, you do want the best for your girls, and what a life's worth of experiences they have had already.  They may be getting more out of this than you!  All the fun, none of the worries. 

I only have 135 days to go, myself, as this is my Day 230!



 

Just what is a superstar nowadays, anyway?

While standing in line at the grocery store a magazine cover caught my eye.   The cover line was something to the effect of "Kim Kardashian Superstar."  In fact I think the entire magazine was devoted to her, although I did not pick it up, or read any of what was inside.

All I could think of was...what made her a superstar?

When I think of superstars, I think of people who have made tremendous achievements in their lives, in their particular area of endeavor.   Think any of the astronauts who first went up into space, although anyone going up in a rocket gets my vote.   Think the l972 (I believe) Miami Dolphins who had a perfect season in football.  Think any academy-award winning actor.

But Kim Kardashian?  What has been her overwhelming contribution?  Getting a "reality TV" show about a wealthy, but dysfunctional family who happen to have a name that more than a few people might still connect with the infamous OJ trial? Getting married and then divorced after a couple days or weeks?  Then getting pregnant out of wedlock, to her supposed next husband?  (At this writing they haven't headed to the alter yet.) 

Better go back under that rock where I've been lurking for the past 228 episodes of this blog.   At this rate my head just might explode before I make it to Day 229!