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Tuesday Too # 23
1.) Do you have a friend like Mr. Potatoehead? In other words do you have a friend that trouble seems to follow like a bad penny? Tell us about that friend or one of his/her bad pennies?

2.) Was there something you really meant to accomplish, or really wanted to do that you didn't do last week? How come you didn't do it?

3.) Pretend you're in the market for a therapist. What would be the therapist's most desirable quality? Why that one?

Post your URL in the comment.

"If you don't learn to laugh at troubles, you won't have anything to laugh at when you grow old."
--Edward W. Howe

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Train Derails Outside D.C.
The Capital Limited Amtrak train derailed in Kensington, approximately 10 miles from D.C.'s Union Station this afternoon at 2:15. At this time it's known that at least 6 cars and possibly 8 are derailed and lying on their sides; 194 people were traveling southbound on the train from Chicago to Washington D.C. At least 6 people are critically injured, and have been taken to area hospitals. Many others with injuries are being treated on site. Fire and police rescue teams are still helping passengers climb out of the cars.

If you're concerned about a friend or family member traveling on that train, here's the Amtrak for information number: 1-800-523-9101
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Potatoehead Pancake
I thought Mr. Potatoehead was a friend of yours; surely you're not going to eat him?
Of course not. I'm referring to the time I saw Mr. Potatoehead's face in a pancake; it was quite like the experience of the woman who saw Jesus in a taco shell. I'm just kidding; what I'm really referring to is the time Mr. Potatoehead, disguised as a pancake, entered the local Denny's restaurant.

Why was he disguised as a pancake?
The regulations on driver's licenses require Potatoes to be at least able to see over the dashboard; however, pancakes are eligible to drive when they are capable of stacking. Mr. Potatoehead at the age of twenty five, knew he was not going to reach the required height, and thus had come up with the ingenious idea of passing himself off as a pancake.

But why go to Denny's?
Since we did not thoroughly understand the nature of pancake stacking, we though it was a good place to start. Trouble began as soon as we entered the establishment. Pancake pandemonium broke out of the kitchen, screaming obscenities and hurling scrambled eggs at not only Mr. Potatoehead, but at the innocent clientele as well. The once docile patrons, now tipped over chairs and upset tables in their mad rush to escape the flying eggs. Knives and forks began to rattle like sabers, and Pancakes leapt off of plates and began jockeying for life saving positions. Mr. Potatoehead's plan; however, ingenious had unwittingly started the Pancake Revolution.

I never heard of the Pancake Revolution?
It's been kept under wraps for a very long time. As a matter of fact, the Pancake Revolution marks the beginning of the end of species specific regulations. Now that's a wrap fact in a manner of speaking, even though speaking of spoken is verboten.

"Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality."
--Jules de Gautier

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Blogathon 2002
Eve @ Creative Doubt has just posted the first of 48 posts in 24 hours. You go girl!"

What's going on with you?
Baltimore's Artscape 2002 is what I'm going to do. Last year it was great; so my expectations are high. The other things I'm going to do is start a new painting, and put the abstract for my thesis online.

Every exit is an entry somewhere."
--Tom Stoppard

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Groove
What groove?
Groove Workspace, which is highly encrypted (not easily hacked) desktop software for file sharing and collaboration. My brother is writing the security white paper for Groove. Files can be updated/changed/shared immediately by anyone within your selected group. The personal trial version allots you 3 share spaces, which means you can share whichever files you choose with three other computers/people. The purchase version allows you an infinite number of share spaces.

Why would I want it?
I don't know, but I can tell you why I want it. Art Attack Central is a partnership; I do the design work and my partner does writing/content development. First, rather than sending updates/changes via email, we can instantly share/work on the files when both of us are online. Secondly, if I make changes to a files we are sharing, my partner's files will be immediately updated when she gets online, and she will be alerted to changes made on those particular files.

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
--Arthur C. Clarke

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Another Elliott Tale
I was online this morning searching for safety netting.

Why?
The second Elliott incident, that occurred while I was away was not as minor as the first. Abbott was sound asleep in bed. The bed is right next to a tall oak dresser. On top of the dresser is an old brass lamp, which we turn on and off by turning the light bulb. Elliott, bored with all this sleeping non activity, decided to jump up on top of the dresser. The lamp fell off, landing on Abbott, and turned on. Abbott leapt out of bed, and Elliott careened out of the room. Abbott dashed out the door after Elliott, and saw him race to the third floor, where he made an attempt to land gracefully on the railing, which is round and not flat. His landing was not efficient; Elliott dangled precariously from the railing, and how he held on I don't know. Abbott bolted up the stairs, grabbed him up, and saved him from a three story fall.

Maybe he learned his lesson?
NOT! While I was cruising the net this morning, I heard him jump out in the hallway. There's nothing to jump to in the hallway except the railing. I almost turned my chair over in my panic to get out there. My heart pounding, I called his name softly as I watched him walk smartly down the rail, towards me and the newel post. When Elliott reached the relative safety of the post, I scooped him up. The only thing he's learned is how to land on the railing, and I'm not sure he'll make it every time. It occurred to me that perhaps I should put a trampoline at the bottom of the stairwell, but I'm afraid that would only encourage him. I'm thinking of getting a cat trick training book. Elliott and I will go on the road together, and make a fortune entertaining our way across the country. When we reach Hollywood, he'll decide to settle down, and become the kitty cat therapist he was meant to be, and I will become a stunt woman.

Rich has started the Monday Top Five.

"All that I desire to point out is the general principle that Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life."
--Oscar Wilde

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Tuesday Too # 22
1.) Do you think pornography is dangerous? Why, or why not?
I find this a tough question, because on the one hand, I'm against censoring, but on the other hand I find sites which promote rape as porn quite frightening. I can't open my internet mail without at least one porn solicitation waiting for me to click. They send mail to whoever; of course there's the, "Don't Enter the Site, if You're Under 18!". Excuse me, but the sites don't know how old I am if I click on enter. I thought about snuff films. Do they lead to more snuff films, and then I found this on the Skeptical Inquirer. Even though I respect their logic, I'm not sure about this one.

I find the world of instant information fantastic, but it's still the beginning of this new world, and we don't know the consequences down the road, or just around the corner. Hmmm... I guess it was such a tough question that I can't really answer it completely. I don't think that's because I'm a fence sitter; I think it's because all the evidence is not in. However, I will say that I think it's dangerous for children who don't understand what relationships are about.

2.) What do you think about people being held in jail without charges, without access to a lawyer, or a phone call for an indeterminate period of time?
See this!

3.) How do you feel about this US program?
Very scary. It makes me glad I don't look like I'm from the middle east, and I wonder who they'll want to know about next month/year/decade?.

Post your URL in the comment.

"When I retire I'm going to spend my evenings by the fireplace going through those boxes. There are things in there that ought to be burned."
--Richard Milhous Nixon
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Off line Tales
Of course, Elliott created havoc for Abbott. The first relatively minor incident (more trouble for Abbott than Elliott) occurred on the first night I was away. Elliott was nowhere to be found. Abbott searched the house many times without success. Elliott was softly singing high above the kitchen counter, peering out from an upper cabinet. In fact the cabinet is so high up, you need a ladder to reach it. Abbott is partially deaf, and thus was unaware of the kitty cat soprano singing up above his head, as he paced the kitchen wondering how he was going to explain the loss of Elliott. Finally in desperation he called his daughter, asking her to help him search the premises. And remember I said softly singing; Elliott has a very tiny voice. After completing another search of the house, the two stood in the kitchen considering what might have happened and what could be said? Apparently, at that very moment Elliott decided to give one more demonstration of his singing ability, and was thus rescued from his 6 hour perch.

What else happened?
I'll have to tell you later; gotta run. My off line life is way out of hand.
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Early Tuesday Too
1.) What is the most important thing going on in your life this week?

2.) Tell us about your quintessential faux pas.

3.) Why would you most likely be nominated to speak your mind, and what is it you're going to say?


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Boston
I met/saw Eve and Leah yesterday. Of course this meeting happened, after a missed exit, winding up in downtown Boston, and having to traverse the city to get back to Newton. Lucky for me they were still waiting for me even though I was a half hour late. It was great, I've got a picture, and will post it upon my return. You are on your own for the Tuesday Too this week, as this is most likely my last access to a computer until the 19th.

Change of Plans
Okay, on the computer again. I've made up some questions; I'll post them tomorrow morning before I leave for Cliff Island. So if you're hell-bent on doing the Tuesday Too, on whatever day, they'll be up in the AM.

"Society has always seemed to demand a little more from human beings than it will get in practice."
--George Orwell


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Fear the Great Motivator?
A discussion on Chad's site, post #127. Fear is a Great Motivator has "motivated" this post.

Are you doing this out of fear?
No, it's purely for pleasure. It's possible that pleasure is the opposite of fear, or at least forms the basis for a different kind of motivation.

Are you a hedonist?
I will say that I like pleasure; who doesn't? What does fear have to do with those things we enjoy that are "extras" such as floating for hours and snokeling, just because it's beautiful? You are captivated by another world. Laughter springs spontaneously from us; tears stream down the cheeks. You are laughing so hard, that you must hold your sides, and try to catch your breath.

But laughing isn't a necessity.
If life was only about survival, more people would check out sooner. I think it's hopefulness, hoping for something pleasurable, hoping for the chance to laugh once more, hoping to fall in love again. Hope drives us more than fear.

Are you saying life's a joke?
Where's the punch line? No, but it's probably more funny if you have a sense of humor. Sure people with money have it easier, but oddly enough laughter is one of those things you can't buy. Maybe that's not entirely true; you could buy a comedian to follow you around. It's a sense of humor you can't buy.

Will the Tuesday Too be here next week?
Maybe, but it depends on access to a computer. You might not hear from me again until next Friday.

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Tuesday Too # 20
1.) Yes conflicting theories abound, what do you think dreams (nightly adventures) mean, or do you subscribe to a particular theorist and why?
See prior post.

2.) When you are confronted by a homeless person asking for change, how do you respond? How does it make you feel? If you've never been in this situation, imagine it, and calculate your response.
I not sure what I base my decision on; sometimes I give them money, and sometimes I don't. When I give them money, I feel fortunate in my own circumstances and empathy for theirs. When I do not give them money, I feel feel that somehow I've failed to live up to my best self, and I pass quickly down the street. While I am not a religious person, I grew up going to a church every Sunday, and some of the stories are stuck in my head. This is not necessarily a bad thing. The story that comes to mind is the one about Jesus, disguised as a beggar, and being repeatedly turned away by "good god fearing folks" who don't recognize him. So I have these stories in my head that I hear, but at the same time I'm the one who invented a stigmata kit... so go figure?

3.) Do you feel you have been short changed in any way by destiny/fate/god? If so, how?
Not in any way do I feel short changed, but rather grateful to be here at all.

Post your URL in the comment.

"That's the nature of research--you don't know what in hell you're doing."
-- 'Doc' Edgerton

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Why Me?
Why not?
Because, it's just too much for one person to deal with.

What's too much to deal with?
The whole idea of doing all the things that I've got to do. Such as, pick up the Sunday news papers (the New York Times and the Washington Post), go get the car, which I left in Charles Village last night, take a shower, shave my legs, finish the painting, post the thesis abstract, paint a house, clean the litter box, buy more cat food, walk a dog, get rid of all the ivy destroying the bricks on the house, clean the gutters, fix the window, etc., etc., etc.

So, why are you whining?
Where's the sex? Where's the good stuff? I need to change the way I'm seeing things this morning. My perspective is skewed, and I feel fat. In order to lose weight I must stop drinking, and I don't want to. Thus I will continue to feel fat. Fat and happy would not be a bad compromise, considering the lengthy list above. I'm whining, because I feel like it.

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Short Post
Out of cigarettes and coffee creamer, and off to the Farmer's Market on 33rd Street.

When you get back, would you finally tell us something important? You know, like when was the last time you had great sex?
I've been holding my breath for awhile now; so you'd better not expect an answer on that one. At least not today anyway.
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Making Plans
I'm going to Boston, and I'll be meeting Leah and Eve in the flesh for the first time on Saturday the 13th. We're going to the Boston Bloggers picnic; how cool is that? Way cool!

How come you're asking your own questions?
Possibly I'm not thinking straight, or it could be that once again it's time for brain realignment. Sometimes the cells fire before the gap is open.

"We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities."
--Pogo
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Homicidal Coffee
The large cup of coffee was perched precariously on top of the bookshelf. Steam curled over his lip, as he spoke softly into his cell phone, repeating his password as if it were a mantra. The lovely young bedpost on the other end of the line sighed, and hoped he wouldn't slip up this time. Coffee was known around town for his slip ups, and most recently for spilling his guts to the detective in the 5th precinct. He'd been seen in Fells Point, not more than 10 minutes before old Cookie was knocked off. Cookie was a crumb; everybody knew that, and Coffee had threatened him more than once. Cookie's body was found in the nick of time; a moment longer and all trace of him would have gobbled up by the...

I now know, thanks to Chad and Rich that I share rising criteria with a Homicide guy. How appropriate that it was filmed in and chronicles the crimes of Charm City (Baltimore).

Friday Bogger problems = Error 104:java.lang.NullPointerException (server:leap)
Server leap? What the hell is that? Something like "one potato, two potato", or "red rover, red rover we dare whatshername over"? Can't publish my new post; so going back one to see if this will publish.
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Tuesday Too # 19
1.) What do you find most troubling about your way of life? If your life is carefree please give me a hint, which has nothing to do with winning the lottery.
My ability to Rube Goldberg/jerry-rig, or close my eyes to anything and everything that breaks is a constant contributor to a staggering house of cards.

2.) What is your prescription (non psychotropic), or outlet for dealing with stress and anxiety?
Vodka and meditation are my top contenders in the stress reduction department. One or the other depending on my state of mind, and sometimes depending on the time of day. I do not allow myself to drink vodka before the sun passes over the yardarm.

3.) What's the real reason you get up every morning?
On the silly side, because I love my first cup of coffee in the morning. On the serious side of the bed, it's because I'm excited about the possibilities that lay before me. I'm going to be doing this, or accomplishing that thing I've been wanting to do. On rare occasions the real reason I get up is because, I'm gripped by the miracle of being alive. Those are the best days. Those are the days worth hanging around for.

Post your Url in the comment.

"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."
--Ben Franklin

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Finding A Balance
A balance between too hot and too cold, too much or too little, between being all there and nowhere, between you and me, and me and them. Who to let in, and who to keep out, and how far to let someone in, or how far to go out?

What are you talking about?
I'm not sure really, and it's time to go for happy hour to hopefully think up tomorrow's questions, get a bite to eat and relax. For some reason I keep remembering a book I read along time ago "The Incredible Lightness of Being" which I think must be read again. The few books besides thesis related books that I've read in the last couple of years were mysteries, while I thoroughly enjoyed them my diet of late is lacking meat.

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