http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:SwitchPoint&section=today deviantART RSS for by:SwitchPoint en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:25:26 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/28127672/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/28127672/ Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:25:46 PST [link]

If you're a pet, here's why you should never try to lick someone else's balls: [link] The expression on the cat's face at the end is priceless...he's like WTF?!

This bunny has a great counterattack for fending off hostile cats. Poor kitty. [link]

Finally, SEPTA's workers hit the picket lines after working without a contract since March. In fact, it took intervention from the governor to keep them from striking while the World Series was being played here! Anyway, Philadelphia has no bus or subway service until further notice. So I'm either walking, using the train (under a different contract), or bumming rides from my coworkers. I'm just grateful I have a ride to my job. I'm sure others are out there aren't as lucky.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/28111660/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/28111660/ Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:31:53 PST

Now the Phillies know what the Rays, who they defeated in last years World Series, feel like. Some days you're the hammer and some days you're the nail. Nobody ever remembers the team that lost.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/28031420/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/28031420/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:29:17 PDT [link]

Here's another Nora clip: [link] Rolling one's head across the keys is an effective--and cute--technique.

Time for some different cats. Please watch this one very closely: A harmless smack on the butt or sexual harrassment? You be the judge! [link]

They say that this week's adopt a pet, Pinkey, is a very loving cat. [link] That's gotta hurt.

Finally, the Phillies have a legitimate opportunity to repeat as World Series champions. Except for the Yankees, historically, repeat champions don't happen that often in baseball. If they can win tonight, they'll have a 2 game to none lead on the Bronx Bombers so let's cheer them on!

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/27837578/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/27837578/ Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:36:17 PDT [link]

The Renaissance Center was built with hopes of turning around downtown Detroit. Unfortunately, this “city within a city” gave tenants and employees little reason to wander outside what was something like a gated community. In the end, all it did was mainly siphon existing businesses and workers from older buildings. The more recently built Comerica tower which is located in the established business district does much better.

See Detroit.com photos are predominantly of blighted sights, but vibrant structures like the new stadium are sometimes shown too. [link]

And what about Detroit ’s future? The good feelings brought about by the Red Wings' hockey dynasty are all fine and dandy. But the Red Wings can't bring about what the Detroit area really needs: Business and job creation. At the rate things are going, only one of the Big Three automakers is likely to survive. Therefore, Michigan will have to find new direction to take its economy or its precipitous decline will continue. Thoughts?

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/27491309/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/27491309/ Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:36:58 PDT
[link]

Yesterday a suspect was arrested, a 19 year-old man named James Davis. He no doubt has some serious mental issues having seen both his brother and his father killed in recent years. Apparently his goal was to stop this cat from wandering around his yard. Didn't he have the sense to know a cat tied up like that can't defend herself, get food or water, or go home? Or the sense to know that a cat this tame is obviously someone's pet?

Sticky is such a sweet, trusting cat. The man who did this took advantage of this. As he was wrapping her up, she probably thought he was simply petting her. The most amazing thing about the still photo of the cat all taped up is how calm she looks. Like she's just asking, "OK, can you untape me please?" Such a level head and a kind disposition. You can see how nice she is with the SPCA workers. They've gotten over 100 offers to adopt Sticky but I think they're still hoping her original owner will step forward.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/27099972/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/27099972/ Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:16:35 PDT [link]

If my name was Burger n Fries, I'd wanna scream too! [link]

Laughing at me and calling me kitty kitty kitty over and over again would probably work my nerves too: [link]

OK, now some nice cat videos!

This reminds me of my cousin's cat Tarzan who also plays fetch: [link]

Not all cats hate water:
[link]

I like how this cat tries to escape an overly friendly rat by hopping on top of a laundry basket, but to no avail! [link]

This cat must've adopted the hamster at birth: [link]

OK, now time to get onto something serious. Want to find something outrageous? Offensive? Graphic? You can see it all here on a website that knows no bounds of morals or decency. Why, they even show a video of a pig being beheaded ALIVE with a CHAINSAW!!! This site is none other than Enclopaedia Dramatica. Yes, more typical sick stuff like goat.se will be found there too. [link]

That's all for now, see ya!

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/26344337/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/26344337/ Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:54:59 PDT and I were admitted in the first place, as all advance ticket sales were sold out, and there were no day of the event tickets this year (or for the last few years I was told). But that's a topic for another journal entry.

I also went on this journey to have the experience of true cross-country train travel and to check out some of Los Angeles and San Diego. Until now, my longest train ride has been a single overnighter to either Chicago or Florida. To do this longer journey, I opted for a sleeper on the Southwest Chief which goes from Chicago to Los Angeles. In many ways, this was the finest train ride I've ever been on, and almost worth the small fortune Amtrak charges for one of their Roomettes.

It's a far cry from the Los Angeles Metro's Blue Line. It connects lively downtown Los Angeles with trendy Long Beach California. But in between are some of the most disadvantaged communities you'll find anywhere in America. I could try to write out the details myself, but this article in the LA Weekly online newspaper does a much better job than I ever could: [link] The author goes into much detail about what life is like in the 'hood. I can second much of what he says, because, sadly, it's a similar scene on much of SEPTA's Broad Street and Market Frankford Lines. Where I strongly disagree with him, however, is his criticism of the LA Metro. Yes, the line has had a disproportionate number of collisions with autos and pedestrians. That would not be the case if Watts and Compton had less crime and a higer regard for life in general. I also think the author does a disservice by overplaying the amount of dregs or bad behavior we see on the Blue Line. There is a good police presence on the trains for fare enforcement and safety.

More about Los Angeles, San Diego, and Comic Con soon...once I get around to writing about it, heh.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/25570051/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/25570051/ Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:16:13 PDT Ed McMahon and Farrah Fawcett succumbed to cancer. Their passing, though sad, was not unexpected. On the other hand, legendary music star Michael Jackson died very suddenly. Like so many others, I grew up watching Jackson. Of the pop singers and musicians I've seen in my lifetime, nobody has reached the pinnacle he has. A select few like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and the Beatles may have enjoyed the same elite status, but I was born too late to witness their success first hand.

It's been a full day since I first learned the sad news and it still hasn't sunk in yet. It was all over radio, TV, newspapers, and the internet. It was also the number one water cooler topic at work today. Oh, who am I kidding, it was the number one topic period. Michael was famous...and infamous. What are some of your thoughts and memories of the King of Pop?

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/25239243/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/25239243/ Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:01:24 PDT Moreover, Mike continued to see the mouse while I was away at work last week. I know he's not kidding because I would see them dart across the floor from time to time. But, strangely enough, since Mike left I haven't seen a mouse once. Even the bread I put on the glue traps to bait the mice appears to be untouched.

On a lighter note, I truly enjoyed my trip to Canada. Montreal and Toronto are both excellent, world class cities. The only thing I really wanted to do that I missed out on was a trip to the observatory in the CN Tower. Low cloud cover made seeing the city impossible from up there the entire time I was in Toronto.

One more thing. For the first two months I've had Verizon DSL, it seemed to work fine. Then a couple weeks ago I lost the ability to make and receive phone calls. My ability to go online has not been impacted. But when I pick up the phone I only hear either static or nothing at all. Sometimes the phone rings, but if I pick it up, the other person can't hear me at all. And yes, I'm using the filter for phones that came with the Verizon package. I don't want to call out a Verizon technician and be charged a hefty service fee except as a last resort. Any troubleshooting tips you can post here would be most welcome.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/24809953/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/24809953/ Sun, 17 May 2009 17:40:51 PDT

I've never been to Montreal before and I'm not exactly sure what to expect there. Much has been made about the Parti Quebecois, their desire to separate Quebec from Canada, and a prevailing anti-Anglophone attitude. Montreal's stature on the national and international stage has supposedly declined, as many English-speaking businesses and workers have moved to Ontario and other friendlier locations. From talking to others I should be fine in and around Montreal with a minimal knowledge of French. But there is less certainty on how well Anglophones manage elsewhere in the province. One friend of mine who visited Canada in the 70s and 80s said that French Canadians were much nicer to Americans than English speaking Canadians. I don't know if that is still the case.

Nonetheless, I'm sure I'll have a good time. Montreal and Toronto are both world class cities with lots for visitors to see and do. Too bad there's no Hockey left to watch (the Canadiens were eliminated by the Bruins in the first round of the playoffs and the Maple Leafs didn't qualify for the postseason). No baseball either. The Blue Jays will be on a road trip when I'm in Toronto and the Montreal Expos, of course, moved to Washington years ago. There are still things like the CN Tower and the 67 Expo site to see though. Both cities have plenty of museums, galleries, tourist traps and the like. And, for a rail enthusaist, the local transit lines are a tourist attraction in their own right.

One more thing. I haven't booked a room in Toronto yet. Are there any popular and/or cheap accomodations for an American on the go? TFCon has come and gone and I'm not flying, there's no point in staying at an airport hotel. I'd rather stay in downtown Toronto or in a place that at least has a TTC subway stop nearby. Any suggestions are welcome.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/24382209/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/24382209/ Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:46:28 PDT
I first stumbled across this looking up implosions of old baseball stadiums. Well, one entry promised footage of Yankees' Stadium's implosion. Small problem with that...that place is still standing and will be demolished conventionally because it's too close to other structures to be taken down with explosives. So I clicked on it to see what the gag was. Sure enough, it was Rick Astley and his corny '80s video. Since then, I've stumbled onto it a few more times. It might be intended to annoy people, but I've taken it in stride.

Your opinions?

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/24224500/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/24224500/ Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:51:10 PDT
[link]

To paraphrase his longtime late broadcasting buddy Richie Ashburn, "Hard to believe." Like so many other Philadelphians, I grew up listening to his voice and his was the one I most identified with Phillies baseball. Harry also lent his voice to NFL Films, college football, Chunky soup commercials, and Animal Planet's puppy bowl. He is known and loved all over the country and will be dearly missed. Without a doubt, this was the most tragic loss in the Philly sports broadcasting scene since Gene Hart from the Flyers organization died a decade ago.

BTW: I was hoping to visit Canada around the time of this month's TFCon in Toronto. But circumstances have forced me to postpone my trip by a few weeks. I still intend to ride Amtrak's Adirondack and Maple Leaf and spend some quality time in Montreal and Toronto. More later!

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/23989560/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/23989560/ Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:40:35 PDT Talk more later, I've got some overdue online chores to catch up on first...

And yes, I've heard about the April Fools computer virus too. Hopefully I'll be OK if I just stay off the web tomorrow. After going this long without a working computer, what's the harm in waiting another day?

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/21817796/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/21817796/ Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:22:19 PST While the weather service issued a lake effect snow warning, the weather was never severe enough to keep me inside. The downtown area is packed with an amazing amount of architectural treasures for a city of its size. Start with City Hall, a famous art deco masterpiece with an observation deck at the top. While the outdoor deck was closed due to the inclement weather, it was still possible to see through the windows and get a good view of the city. Nearby notable buildings include the Electric Tower, Rand building, HSBC Center, and the Ellicott Square Building. Don’t forget the Liberty Building, known for its two Statue of Liberty replicas on the roof—the torches serve as aviation beacons at night. Key Bank also occupies a pair of high rises on either side of Fountain Square. This time of year Fountain Square is turned into a skating rink with piped in seasonal music. And for train and trolley enthusiasts, the NFTA’s light rail line goes right through here on Main Street.

Although I’m far from a shopoholic, I do find downtown shopping malls fascinating places to visit. Main Place Mall, however, is the deadest downtown mall I have ever been to. Of over a hundred retail spaces, only 16 stores were currently open (not including the food court). They even tried to hide the embarrassing number of vacancies by walling off the north half of the mall’s upper floor. Online reviews of Main Place include claims that the landlord isn’t even trying to find retail tenants and is grossly overcharging for food court space. Perhaps the only downtown mall which would have looked worse is Rochester’s Midtown Plaza. Sadly, or perhaps mercifully, that place was closed earlier this year and I never had the chance to go inside. What is my favorite downtown mall? It would be a close call between Providence Place in Providence, RI and San Diego ’s Horton Plaza.

To its credit, Buffalo has some nightlife, art, and a hopping theater district. Nice things are shaping up on their waterfront. But the city is also plagued with thousands of vacant houses and has been unable to attract new jobs and businesses to reverse decades of population decline. Like Philadelphia , Buffalo ’s positive attributes are at risk of being negated by widespread crime and poverty. Here is a webpage about Buffalo and their comprehensive plan for the economy: [link]

The time had come for me to make the trek to ’s place. After picking up my suitcase from the hotel, I hauled ass for the Exchange St. train station. Eastbound Amtrak train 64 arrived on time and we were soon blowing through the snow at 79 mph. We made our first stop several miles later at Depew, NY where TSA officers decided to do an inspection of our train. Although we weren’t required to produce ID or proof of citizenship, they did take their sweet time checking everyone and everything out, including the restrooms. After their examination concluded, the train was allowed to proceed though we were now about 30 minutes late and stayed that way until our arrival at Rochester.

After disembarking I was busy looking up and down the platform for my buddy but she was nowhere to be seen. Disappointed but not discouraged, I dragged my suitcase to downtown Rochester ’s Bausch & Lomb Library where they offer out of state guests visitors’ passes for internet access. After sending a few quick notes to each other, I went back to the Liberty Pole to catch a 4:50 bus to Brockport. By 5:58 when the bus still didn’t show, I took another, closer look at RTS’s boarding locations. It turns out my bus now boards a block south on Broad Street. So I went there and caught the 5:15 which was a slower, local bus. About an hour later I finally made it to Blackhellcat’s door, waving so she would see me. To be continued...
<... ]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/21224869/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/21224869/ Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:35:33 PDT But the Phillies emerged victorious. Philly in general and the Phillies in particular have their critics, and I'm sure they'll find ways to diminish their win. But like it or not, the Phillies are your World Series champions!

Philadelphia finally got a HUGE monkey off its back. For 25 years the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers, and Sixers won no titles. As you might expect, the city erupted in celebration. It was telling to see so many young people...almost nobody under 30 has any conscious memories of of a title and a parade in this town. But most of all, it's a big boost for a city that's been struggling in so many ways in recent years.

Ironically, I wanted to move to Boston earlier this year. If I did that, I would have arrived too late to celebrate the Red Sox 2007 title and I would have missed out on the Phillies 2008 win. So I guess everything happens for a reason.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/21204614/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/21204614/ Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:52:55 PDT

Talk about wet and wild! The World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays was suspended in the middle of Game 5 due to a virtual Nor’easter which caught weather forecasters and baseball officials off guard. The Phillies are up 3 games to 1 and could have captured the championship with a win last night. Instead, action was stopped in the middle of the 5th inning.

More rain and possible snow showers were expected Tuesday, so commissioner Bud Selig said Game 5 was tentatively set to resume at 8:37 p.m. Wednesday night. If necessary, teams will immediately jet to St. Petersburg Florida for games 6 and 7 on Thursday and Friday—no off day for travel. BTW: Tampa Bay's home is a dome so weather wouldn't be a problem in there.

A more complete recap can be seen here:

[link]

It’s not as tragic as the Bay Area earthquake which interrupted the World Series between the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants in 1989. But it’s definitely an unusual event. And no matter who wins or loses now, some people are going to feel cheated. Looking ahead, the baseball season is just a bit too long now. With the expanded playoffs in recent years, the game is now played from the beginning of April until the beginning of November. There are going to be MORE instances where wintry weather impacts post season play.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/21129704/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/21129704/ Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:32:46 PDT The Tampa Bay Rays have been absolutely devastating all year, being tested so far only by the Red Sox whom they ousted in a memorable seven game series. The Phillies haven't been quite as dominant this season, but they convincingly defeated the Dodgers in the Playoffs to earn the National League Pennant. The experts expect Tampa Bay to win the series and the first championship of their short existence. But as Yogi Berra would say, "It ain't over until it's over."

Incidentally, does anybody here really care about baseball? If the Phillies--or the Red Sox for that matter--weren't in the World Series, I doubt I'd be watching it. And living in Philly there is no escaping it. Everywhere you turn you see Phillies stuff for sale or whatever. It's almost getting annoying.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/20674355/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/20674355/ Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:00:19 PDT Can it really save the economy? Why don't I trust the politicians on this? Will it really cost more in the long run if it's not done? And who's going to pay? Sure, the American taxpayer will be left holding the bag...but the focus should be to save the homes and jobs of everyday people. I'm far from being a socialist but the filthy rich who gambled on the stock market and the housing market should feel the pain rather than making us all suffer.

I wonder...if the value of the US Dollar keeps falling against the Euro, should I look into converting some of my savings to Euros?

On a more light hearted note (I hope), 68 year-old Taro Aso is now prime minister of Japan. He's Catholic, a minority religion in that country, and a big manga fan. He's also prone to making controversial statements. What do you think about that?

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/20540747/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/20540747/ Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:32:11 PDT Now Uncle Sam is spending $85 billion (with a B) to bail out AIG. That is a tremendous amount of taxpayer money from a federal government which is already over its eyeballs in red ink.

This is just the beginning folks, things will get worse. More "vitally important" firms will fail and more billions will be expended in an effort to save them too. Try as it may, the government can't bail us out of this mess...ultimately the government's debt is owned by other countries so it looks like we're screwed. The ongoing argument has been whether the markets are over or underregulated. Free market proponents say the markets do better without government interference. Those who want more regulation say greed has prevailed and created this crisis. I'm not an economist so I don't really know whose spin to believe. But the time for talk might already be too late. Can we weather this storm? How will people survive?

I’m unhappy living in Philadelphia. One of the things I hope to do in the near future is relocate to a true world class city such as Boston or Chicago. I have a federal government job and it’s possible for me to apply for positions elsewhere. But those positions are up for grabs and with thousands of people losing their jobs these days, it’s unlikely I’ll be picked through the internal application process. I can’t risk moving unless I have a job in my new city first. So I may be trapped in Philly for the time being. Oh well, things could be worse. I could be living in Buffalo.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/20380035/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/20380035/ Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:46:59 PDT Forbes magazine.

[link]

Yes, Buffalo has lost jobs and businesses. There is even a chance they could lose the Bills to Toronto. Buffalo's home county of Erie is losing population, just like Erie County, PA and Erie County, OH. And Buffalo has one of the heaviest annual snowfalls in this part of the country. But snow isn't killing the economy. Minnesota's big cities are some of the fastest growing in the country and they get a lot of snow too. Buffalo has a great lakefront setting, lots of transportation heritage (including the Erie Canal and New York Central), art and some amazing art deco buildings. And if for some reason you need to be within a couple hours drive of Toronto but are required to live in America, Buffalo could be the place for you. Finally, if you like chicken wings, where do you think Buffalo Wings came from?

The other cities listed can be defended too, but I'll leave that to others. However, I most strongly disagree with the assertion that Cleveland is a dying city. It has issues but is actually relatively stable in terms of population and jobs. Many important corporations are based in and around Cleveland. They have big plans for the Lake Erie waterfront, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a small but nifty rail transit system. Maybe the good folks at Forbes thought it was necessary to throw in one more major metro area besides Detroit? The people in the Buckeye state are not happy.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/20310870/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/20310870/ Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:10:16 PDT For Better or For Worse. Back when it was about John and Elly raising Michael and Liz. That was the nuclear family in this strip. Just when did FBOFW "jump the shark" anyway? Probably when April was born but I personally think it was when it became clear Elizabeth would marry Anthony, a divorced childhood friend who looks old enough to be her father. OK, I can see Lynn favors the romantic notion of childhood sweethearts reuniting and living happily ever after…even if said sweetheart had another wife and a daughter in the meantime. You’re better off settling down with someone who’s basically like dear old Dad (or Mom if you’re a boy) than marrying some fantasy. That’s why Anthony was the only boyfriend Elly and John really approved of. Yes, Lynn, I get it. We can also tell that Lynn is clearly a dog person who cares little for cats.

And here is a little pet peeve of mine. Deanna was NOT Michael’s first girlfriend. That was actually a kid named Martha who Mike met at summer camp in 1988. They were both lonely, started holding hands walking around the lake, and even kissed! So, sorry Deanna, you may have been Mike's first serious love, but someone else set his heart aflutter before you (even if it was only a 12 year-old's puppy-love).

Many newspapers will be dropping FBOFW. It has an assured place in the comic strip hall of fame, but only the most exceptional strips, like Peanuts, are worthy of reruns. The themes and humor in Peanuts is timeless while FBOFW is primarily focused on raising kids in the ‘80s and ‘90s. One blogster wrote:

“Lynn…also she realized that she has nothing in common with young parents these days as they are dealing with things she never dreamed of nowadays.”

In other words, this comic is no longer relevant to the audience. Lynn knows she is out of touch with today’s parents and can’t produce a comic that will relate to them the way it used to. So then what’s the point of attempting to rerun the entire series with occasional new “retcon” strips?

Another reader mentions a nifty edition I wish I caught:

“However I do like the reason why the Pattersons give for stopping the strip as they do. Michael broke the fourth wall in his letter of the month and explained that the Pattersons talked with Lynn and decided that the series should end because it was a story of one generation of a family and while the family continues to age and grow as characters the cycle is complete. Indecently, I liked how he explained that the strip started very similarly to how it ended. Michael and Deanna are the ages of Elly and John were and Merideth is the age Michael was and Robin is the age Elizabeth was when the strip began, so like he said, a full circle of life happened and now its time to move on.”

Does anybody here know what date this was? I’d like to look it up and read it for myself. And I’ll give Lynn some credit for seeing that the circuit was complete and it was time to wrap the series up.

Besides, a lot of not so pretty things will have to happen if the strip were to continue. Edgar, who still acts like a puppy at times, is 14, I think, and is due to die soon. And in the final Sunday comic, it says that Jim passes away at age 89. But he won’t make it to March of 2010 (his 89th birthday) in his present condition, I’m afraid. If he lives that long, he’ll probably take Iris with him. Honestly, I thought he was going to kick the bucket soon after he got to see Liz in his dead wife’s wedding dress. Don't get me wrong, Jim would be THRILLED to see that...but the poor guy doesn't have much of a life with much to look forward to now.

And that is my final sticking point with this comic: A bit too much wishful thinking and happy endings. http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/20172567/ Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:21:39 PDT

Well...before I turned the light off I saw something fluttering around the living room and it was too big to be a moth. It was a bat! I don't know how this pest got into my apartment. More important, how could I get him out...hopefully without either of us getting hurt?

I opened a window and tried to shoo him out but he didn't want to fly that low. So I flung a T-shirt at the bat to ground him. He tried to crawl into a corner. Using a broom I swept him back to the middle of the floor. Suddenly, he just clung on to the end of the broom for all he was worth. I'm not sure if he was attacking it or just trying to hold on for dear life. So I just told him "Good, just hang on a bit longer" while I gingerly carried the broom to the front door. I was just going to leave the broom and the bat on the porch outside until the morning and check on him then. But once he was in the outside air he opened his wings and flew to freedom.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/20082692/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/20082692/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:30:36 PDT Most of the Chinese "fans" in the stands are paid by the government to be there. And most egregious of all, the high likelihood that the female Chinese gymnasts are under 16, the minimum age for Olympic competition. I'm not very good at guessing a person's age. Not too many people are. But when it looks like their adult teeth are still emerging, that's a red flag right there. It seems the Japanese aren't the only Asian people obsessed with youth.

About the only thing that is real is the air pollution. There is still a thick smog hanging over Beijing despite draconian restrictions on driving and temporarily shuttering steel mills in the weeks leading up to the Olympics. That Michael Phelps was able to set so many records in at atmosphere like that is almost superhuman. Maybe he really is part fish.

Thoughts?

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/19636465/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/19636465/ Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:55:10 PDT I'm not too fond of V6 either. I have to go through more pages to get to what I want and I'm still on a slow ass dial up modem.

Aaaannnnnyyyyway, I got my check for $600.00 Saturday and I'll probably squander it on my next trip to New York or Boston or something. Hey, we're supposed to piss it away to help the economy, right? How many of you (who were eligible) got your check and what are you putting it towards? I understand a lot of folks are putting it in their gas tank...almost literally.

In other news, Jon Bon Jovi has won the AFL Arenabowl championship! How can that be? Simple. The rocker is co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul who captured the title yesterday. Apparently the curse against Philadelphia's teams only applies to the major leagues. They should hold a free concert to celebrate, heh. "When the world gets in my face, have a nice day!"

Today is also my birthday, woohoo!

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/19255528/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/19255528/ Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:42:09 PDT Then just last summer I introduced to him. Well, I tried to. He was preoccupied with entertaining some children in his courtyard so we just kinda waved and left.

It's hard to believe he's been doing the Ben Franklin thing for over 30 years now. He's basically a local celebrity and makes lots of appearances on TV and at various civic events. I guess in that line of work, one meets plenty of others in the colonial reenactment business. In this case, it was Linda Wilde who currently plays Betsy Ross. The couple decided to tie the knot in costume, not unlike SCA members at a Renaissance Faire. I was one of the spectators present for the event. Read the full story here: [link] Maybe I could have stayed longer for the Philly Pops concert, but I had an early start on Saturday. I wanted to get to the shore to celebrate the 4th of July with my parents.

At home I've been dragging lately. I need to part with more stuff, more quickly, if I am to move this year. In winter it's too cold to work hard and in summer it's too hot. And right now, I'm just playing on the computer instead of doing something useful to help improve my life in the long run. What could I do to get more motivated?

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/18754181/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/18754181/ Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:19:29 PDT This should be Beantown's second major championship of the year but somehow the Super Bowl didn't go the Patriots' way. Oh well. An NBA title now and another World Series by the Red Sox in October will help Boston sports fans ease their pain, heh.

In other news, it looked as if Big Brown just ran out of gas in the Belmont stakes. After a very leisurely marathon pace all the way around into the far turn, the jockey asked Big Brown to cut loose down the home stretch. He got no sudden acceleration, no response at all. Worried that something was badly wrong with Big Brown, the jockey pulled up. The funny thing was, most people didn't seem to mind that another Triple Crown bid fell short. It turned out there is nothing visibly wrong with the horse. He just wasn't up to running hard this day, which was the first 90 degree plus day of the year.

In anticipation of moving later this year, I participated in a flea market with my neighbors and sold some unwanted items: A Furby, a remote control toy car, and a Lionel train set. There were other things I was hoping to unload including a Monopoly game set but there were no takers. Turn out was light because of the searing heat we've been having lately. I'm not looking forward to my next electric bill.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/18201437/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/18201437/ Tue, 06 May 2008 18:14:55 PDT Special thanks goes out to . Her Mommimusmobile provided the crucial transportation link and I needed between Cleveland and Cincy. And a big thank you to also for allowing us to stay with him. Much more fun…and cheaper…than staying at a hotel, heh. And, as always, it was lots of fun meeting online friends at Botcon.

Speaking of Louisville, how many of you got to watch the Kentucky Derby? I was impressed by Big Brown’s stunning victory, but greatly saddened moments later to learn about Eight Belles severe injuries and subsequent euthanization. Grievous injuries and deaths, unfortunately, will always be a part of horse racing.

And before I sign off, let's take a moment to keep the people of Myanmar in our thoughts and prayers. Many have died but it's the survivors who will really struggle in the months and, perhaps, years to come. I'm definitely donating soon to help this important aid effort.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/17901974/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/17901974/ Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:09:11 PDT

I’m leaving shortly to do a little sightseeing in Western PA and Ohio before meeting up with friends to attend Botcon 2008 in Cincy. Pittsburgh is famous for being the Steel City, Steelers football, and a bunch of guys named Andrew: Andrew Carnegie, Andrew Mellon, and Andy Warhol. Set at the confluence of the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela Rivers, Pittsburgh is home to what is probably the steepest street in the world. And the Pirates will be in town, so I’ll be sure to catch a game at what many consider the best of the new retro-style ballparks.

Beyond Lake Erie, Drew Carey and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I don’t know an awful lot about what Cleveland has to offer. But I’m going to find out. Exploring big American cities is fun, heh. Then it’s on to Cincy and Botcon. The Reds’ new ballpark has an interesting name: The Great American Ballpark. Did the Reds organization eschew a naming rights sale and decide to honor Cincinnati’s storied history in America’s favorite pastime? Not quite. You see, Great American is the name of a Cincinnati insurance company, and they bought the naming rights, heh. It could’ve been a lot worse. If Proctor and Gamble purchased the naming rights instead, the Reds’ stadium would be unceremoniously referred to as the soapbox!

This will also be the third year in a row I’ve attended a Transformers convention of one kind or another. With the return of a fully restored Megatron, Transformers: Animated is starting to really grow on me. It's nice to see some more familiar characters like Ultra Magnus and Jazz in the mix too. I always thought of Sentinel Prime as a respected leader in Autobot lore. But this version is a total scumbag and his appearance reminds me of the Tick. The kind of guy you love to hate.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/17716699/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/17716699/ Sun, 06 Apr 2008 13:56:35 PDT has written numerous times on how society is sexualizing little girls and forcing them to grow up fast at increasingly younger ages. Here is a recent article in Philadelphia Magazine on the subject: [link]

It's a shame that doctors have to ask their young female patients about their lack of pubic hair. Um, isn't any spa worker who performs a bikini wax on a kid guilty of unlawful contact with a minor? I guess just having pretty hair and blemish free skin isn't good enough anymore. Baby Bratz and anime playmates aren't helping matters either.

Almost every cartoon I watched as a kid at one time or another had a message about "It's what's on the inside that counts." Beauty is only skin deep. That sort of thing. Ironically, the world I'm now an adult in seems more superficial and youth obsessed than when I was a child.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/17639523/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/17639523/ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:05:04 PDT Another got a coworker by making her phone ring. Little stuff like that. No one got me, but I don't think anybody really tried.

Of course, April Fools jokes can sometimes backfire. I'll never forget the time I actually walked into a cold, empty school. All because I thought the kids that told me along the way school was closed were just yanking my chain on account of April 1. If you have a story to share, let's hear it!

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/17545880/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/17545880/ Sat, 29 Mar 2008 06:04:02 PDT [link]

What some but not all news accounts of this senseless attack mention is the race of the perpetrators and the victim. The thugs who did this are African-American 10th graders from Simon Gratz high school, one of the most violent schools in the country. The victim was a 36 year old white man. They jumped him for one reason and one reason only: They saw a chance to beat the holy hell out of a solitary white man just for the sick fun of it.

First degree murder? They probably didn't intend for him to die. But a powerful blow to the sternum can lead to cardiac arrest, right? So they are responsible for his death, pure and simple. They need to be tried as adults and put away until they are too old and decrepit to raise their hands--or a gun for that matter--against another human being again.

How long before Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson get involved and demand that these killers be freed?

***UPDATE***

So far at least one of the suspects is in custody. He confessed that their victim was chosen at random and they beat him just for kicks. He claims they just got out of hand. What kind of a twisted world do we live in that apparently many people think it's OK to assault others for no good reason? In Philadelphia, and elsewhere, many people are jumped every day for pleasure. It's just something that aggressive people, generally male youths, do. I went to a Catholic high school and even there I knew boys who went around attacking other students. Thankfully I was able to avoid them for the most part. The main reason this case has drawn so much publicity is because this time a beating has resulted in death.

In other less grave but still bad news, Villanova's men's basketball team was thoroughly whooped by Kansas last night. Against the Wildcats, Kansas looked like an NBA team, jamming and nailing 3-pointers at will. This is the third time in four years Villanova has made it to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament. But coming up short of a championship once again has left an empty feeling. Villanova was also the last Philadelphia area college to win the NCAA crown which was way back in 1985.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/17431249/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/17431249/ Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:17:46 PDT I don't know who thought this one up, but I guess one e-mail too many drove him or her batty. Enjoy!

"I just want to thank all of you for your educational emails over the past year.

Thanks to you, I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a paper towel.

I can't use the remote in a hotel room because I don't know what the last person was doing while flipping through the adult movie channels.

I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pass-time while driving alone is picking your nose (Although cell phone usage may be taking the number one spot)

Eating a Little Debbie sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years.

I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom. Yuck!

I must send my special thanks to whoever sent me the one about poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.

Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill G ates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's novena has granted my every wish.

I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an email to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer can buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put 'Under God' on their cans.

I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.

And thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face...disfiguring me for life.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from UPS or FedEx since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.

I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army.

I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number f or which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica , Uganda & nbsp;, Singapore and Uzbekistan .

I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe.

Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt.

And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5.00 dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.

I can no longer drive my car because I can't buy gas from certain gas companies!

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM this afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician...

Have a wonderful day...

Oh, by the way.....

A German scientist from Argentina , after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mail with their hand on the mouse.

Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late." http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/17383937/ Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:31:00 PDT Thought you'd all like to know. I just couldn't find the drunk icon in the mood selection. That was the one I wanted to put up. I've never had green beer. It would look too weird to me. I'd rather have a real Irish drink like Guiness today anyway, heh. In fact, I would've bought some today. But due to strict liqour control laws, beer isn't the easiest thing to buy. You either have to buy a pack of 24 cans or bottles from a beer distributor, or go to a bar, and I wasn't in a position to do either today. Luckily I saved the aforementioned Heineken for the occasion.

Why do so many drinking holidays run close together in this part of the year: Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), St. Patrick's Day, and Cinco De Mayo? Furthermore, how does getting sloshed honor one's heritage?

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/17046499/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/17046499/ Sun, 24 Feb 2008 17:48:33 PST

Well, just tonight, my friends Mike and Joe dropped off a pickup truck full of goodies including:

Two file cabinets.
Two small tables, including one with wheels.
A small cabinet.
A six foot tall bookcase.
And two office chairs.

Also, for the time being, I have custody of a computer they decided to give to Mike for all the good work he has done keeping the schedule collection in order and up to date. I just wonder how long it will be until he's able to get it out to Long Island.

I was offered even more stuff including an exquisite wooden desk. No thanks...I'm happy with the one I already have. To tell the truth, I'm a bit concerned because I have tentative plans to move this year, and the last thing I need is to be bogged down with MORE junk. But most of this stuff should end up being useful junk. Even if I can't take it all with me, it should be very useful in helping me sort the stuff I already have. Now I have lots of places to keep things neat and organized, instead of the many loose piles of papers, magazines, and schedules I have now. And I really needed a new office chair for my computer...the one I already had was broken and now I can finally trash the junker, heh.

Finally, I'll have exciting news about an upcoming trip to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. Stay tuned!

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/16726942/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/16726942/ Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:48:58 PST It was a good, hard-fought defensive football game. I guess the pressure of maintaining a perfect record finally caught up to them. And Tom Brady's sore ankle didn't help matters either, though they'll probably deny that was a factor. Anyway, I fully expected the Patriots to emerge victorious, and I still have a hard time believing it didn't happen. Most of my friends were rooting for the Giants. And in light of spygate and the smug attitude the Patriots' coach and and many of the players exhibited, I can't really say I blame them.

Of those of you that watched it, what did you think? Of the game? Of the Tom Petty halftime show? Or all the new commercials? I was kinda partial to the "Rocky" Budweiser horse commercial myself. All the animals in the woods screaming when it looked like a squirrel was going to get run over was too cute too. Then there was the duded that could jumpstart a car by hooking his nipples up to the battery with jumper cables and downing some kind of an energy drink. Who didn't enjoy watching the Stewie and Underdog balloons joust for the right to hold the Coke balloon? Only to watch it end up with Charlie Brown? Heh, I wonder how much it cost Coke to buy the rights to use three different cartoons in one commercial? And there were other commercials I can't remember right now. The most popular ones can be seen here atl least for now: [link]

Let me know what you think!

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/16489309/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/16489309/ Sun, 20 Jan 2008 11:44:39 PST one third of what it was during the same period in '07. But violent crime is too irregular to judge just by comparing one short time period to another. Still, the frequency of killings seems to have peaked and is finally on the decline.

Still, there is too much mayhem in our city's streets. The first order of business of new mayor Michael Nutter was to declare a crime emergency. The police will do as much as they can to apprehend criminals and restore order. But the larger challenge is getting our citizens ready for careers in the 21st century. Far too many Philadelphians lack high school diplomas. The number of college graduates who live here is also lagging. Until our young men and their peers value academic achievement over guns and thuggery, there will be no long-lasting relief from violence.

On other matters, the last few Sundays I've been catching Transformers: Animated on Cartoon Network. Today's episode, "The Thrill of the Hunt", was surprising in that it didn't have any appearances by Sari or other human supporting characters. I actually like her...she's a lot better than the insipid human accompaniment in the recent Japanese TF dubs. But the "Thrill of the Hunt" proves, unlike the anime, that major human participation isn't a necessary ingredient for a good story. And it was great watching Ratchet kick Lockdown's ass too.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/16333919/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/16333919/ Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:47:23 PST I took advantage of the nice, unseasonably warm weather to walk around a bit after dark. It's a bit disappointing to see most of the Christmas lights have been either taken down or turned off to be taken down shortly. A number of houses have also put out their live Christmas trees for collection. At least one neighbor did something clever with their snowmen. They redecorated them with pink lights for Valentine's Day. That's a nice occasion too, don't get me wrong, but Valentine's just doesn't have the same appeal to the kid in me Christmas does. More than any other holiday, Christmas was almost made for the young, and the young-at-heart. So it's a little sad to see that this season is already over. Now it's just a long, boring, cold winter we're faced with.

Here's my pet peeve of the day: Those "Star Registries" that promise to have a star legally named after someone. They're scams because their claims carry no weight outside the registry you pay your hard earned money to. Do you really think any reputable astronomical organization is going to heed any of these names? "Ooh, there's Jessica Simpson! And tomorrow, if we get a clear night, you'll be able to see Jay Leno." I hear an ad for one on the radio all the time. It should be outlawed for deceptive advertising. In short, the "gift" of naming a star after someone is worth no more than the paper it's printed on. Better to get your sweetheart a new watch or diamond earrings, heh.

Finally, I have to contend with the rants and raves of a drunken sounding neighbor in the building right next to mine. Loud and unintelligilbe except for the f-word. I feel for the people who actually have to live in there and have to listen to it all the time.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/16244578/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/16244578/ Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:01:52 PST too hard to be polite and helpful. My stepmom is a big Civil War junkie and I had a good time talking with her about that kind of stuff. Yes, slavery was an issue and but hardly the only one. Dad was kind too and he didn't make any unnecessary sarcastic comments either. And Abby was happy to see me, as always. Few creatures can say "I love you" like a wriggling, face-licking, playful Cocker Spaniel! Finally, I was a bit nervous coming into Florida on the plane. There was a lot of turbulance through the entire descent. But once we were out of the clouds, we made the smoothest landing ever. We hardly felt the tires touch the runway. On the return trip to Philly, we touched down with the usual firm thud, heh. Anyway, here are a few more thoughts as we kick off 2008:

A big congratulations to the New England Patriots on their perfect 16-0 regular season!

Philadelphia's new mayor Michael Nutter takes office in a few days. The city needs jobs, hope, and an end to gun violence so Michael certainly has his work cut out for him.

I'm going to need a new cell phone soon. It can barely hold a charge for a whole day now.

It is bitterly cold in much of the Northeast and Philly was no exception with temperatures in the 20s today.

Hey, I never saw the "You sank my Battleship!" commercial last month. They used to play it every holiday shopping season along with ads for useless junk like the Clapper and Chia-Pet.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/16052857/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/16052857/ Sun, 23 Dec 2007 03:35:22 PST Remember it's better to give than to receive. And if you're actually offended when someone says "Merry Christmas", tough. I'm not Jewish but every now and then I get a Happy Hanukkah greeting. Instead of getting bent out of shape over it, I look at the spirit in which it is said. Basically you're just expressing your hope that the other person is going to have a good, happy time. And we can all use that attitude more often. No sense just restricting it to the "Holiday" season. And btw, there's no such thing as Santa Claus. Sorry, Virginia.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15893839/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15893839/ Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:45:28 PST I’m just going to be on my best behavior and bite my tongue. Hopefully she won’t think I need medication or take the smallest perceived slight and blow it out of proportion. If she doesn’t understand my sense of humor by this time, she never will. And she likes to joke around with others. I really don’t get her. Please pray that I get through this all right, including the plane trips. A recently issued report suggests there’s an increased risk of a deadly runway accident due to the overburdened air traffic control system. On the whole I enjoy flying and being airborne. I’m not afraid of air travel. I know it’s statistically safer than driving. Yet, I know the news of “elevated risks” will be in the back of my mind until the plane is safely at the gate.

Here’s a little football news. THE EAGLES SUCK. Everything about them sucks. The thing that bugs me the most about 2007? The high hopes that even the NATIONAL media had for this team at the start. We were given a bum steer, folks. But my other favorite team, the Patriots, are 13-0 so at least the glass is half full for me. And the most amazing thing? Two weeks from now the Patriots get to play the soon to be 0-14 Miami Dolphins. I may be wrong, but this has to be the first time an undefeated team has ever played a winless team so late in the season. And a bit of good news for Vikings fans. They may just squeak into the last NFC playoff spot thanks in part to Sunday’s big win.

And how about that Michael Vick? He was just sentenced to 23 months in the slammer for his dogfighting conviction. What a piece of work he turned out to be. The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback has disgraced himself and earned the scorn of the NFL and the nation as a whole. Philly is still a murderous city, but very slightly less so than last year. As of Sunday, there were 375 homicides in the city. As of the same date in 2006, the number was 380. I would pray that there were no more murders at all, but even if the 2007 total can be held under 400, I guess that would be progress.

A few more silly questions:

Why isn't there mouse flavored cat food?

How many licks DOES it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

Why do Vince Lombardi and Malcom X look so much alike?

Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15824797/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15824797/ Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:32:03 PST

Why do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering?

How come we have "walk-in" foot clinics and "drive-in" claim offices (for automobile accidents)?

Why can't women put on mascara with their mouth closed?

Why did Hugo Chavez attempt to do away with presidential term limits? That seems redundant considering he's already Venezuela's dictator for life.

How did "It is what it is" become a catchphrase?

Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"?

If cats love us, why don't they express it as eagerly as dogs do with sloppy face kisses and a wagging tail?

And here are a few more memorable slogans:

At Speedy you're a somebody!
Don't leave home without it.
Raise your hand, raise your hand if you're Sure!
What's in your wallet?
No rules. Just right.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15769436/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15769436/ Sun, 02 Dec 2007 18:17:05 PST Ring around the collar!
Calgon take me away!
Just do it!
You deserve a break today.
Good to the Last Drop.
Oh Yeah!
We're gonna tempt your tummy, with the taste of nuts and honey!
You're the Pepsi Generation!
Yo quiero Taco Bell!

[link] This page includes some of the most successful advertising jingles and catchphrases of all time. How many do you know?

Youtube is a surprisingly good repository for old TV commercials. I wonder how they were able to retreive the ads which played before the widespread availability of VCRs?

[link] Ancient Chinese Secret, huh?

[link] A Ms. Pac-Man commercial from early 1983.

[link] Gatorade is thirst aid, for that deep down body thirst!

[link] Where’s the beef?

Thus far, I haven’t been able to find that old “LifeAlert” commercial which spawned the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” catchphrase. Any help with that would be appreciated.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15683327/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15683327/ Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:35:18 PST And it ended with exactly the kind of outcome I was hoping for: New England won to keep their opportunity for a perfect season on track. But the Eagles also put forth their best game of the season and they can hold their heads up high. Heh, surely Pats fans didn’t think every game was going to be won by a 20 point margin, right? Nor should anybody have expected teams to continue rolling over for Tom Brady and the boys. The Eagles had other ideas, summed up in the dumb sounding catchphrase “We came to play football.” Indeed they did. Most observers were expecting the 10-0 Patriots to blow away the 5-5 Eagles just like they have most other opponents this season. And I must admit that by the second or third quarter, I expected the Patriots would’ve gained a convincing lead. Instead, the Birds remained within striking distance until the clock ran out with a final score of 31-28. That kept me up until midnight, but it was worth it.

Ironically, this was exactly the kind of exciting game CBS was hoping for when it was scheduled before the season began. The Eagles were expected to do well this year and be a good challenge for the Patriots by this point in time. Actually, the Birds are very mediocre this year, but they made their November 25 contest against the Pats a very entertaining and well watched one anyway. Go figure. By the way, Spitfire, the Vikings SLAYED the Giants 41-17!

Uh, maybe y’all aren’t sports fans. That’s OK, most of the time I find football boring too, even if one of my two favorite teams are playing. But you have to admit, there is a compelling theme at work here. It’s David vs. Goliath, Rocky, the Karate Kid, the Bad News Bears, Charlie Brown, and so on. It’s not the big, lopsided victories that demonstrate greatness. It’s the ability to win the closely contested ones. Under the most adverse conditions, who has the ability to gut it out? That is how champions are determined. Anyway, the Patriots’ coach is well-known for serving his players “humble pie” even after easy wins. I can only imagine what he’s cooking up after they almost lost to the biggest underdog (it was a 24 point spread, btw) in NFL history.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15646456/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15646456/ Sat, 24 Nov 2007 08:11:54 PST My plan was to meet up with my aunt and uncle on Thursday morning and drive to a cousin's house for dinner. But I overslept and generally felt ill, so I ended up having a lonely Thanksgiving by myself. I did manage to pick up some turkey meat to go with the rice I already had at home, and I finished off an old carton of ice cream for dessert. Friday was a much more fulfilling day for me. I got out early to ride one of the annual "Santa Express" trains chartered by the Gallery, Philadelphia's downtown shopping mall. Once I got there I met up with one of my coworkers who brought two of her grandkids to see Santa Claus. Ralph Archibald, a very good and well-known Benjamin Franklin reenactor, was also on hand. Several bands and Santa Helpers rounded out the entourage.

Want to know what struck me while I was riding around? The unusual amount of foliage still clinging to the trees. The fall colors were just past their peak, with a lot of red and yellow leaves still up. Normally our trees are bare by this time of year. We have the extended Indian summer to thank for trees that didn't change colors until late this year. In fact, a lot of trees were still green during Halloween.

And here are a couple questions I wanna ask while I have your attention. Is anybody going to beat the Patriots this year, or is 19-0 inevitable for the likely Super Bowl champions? They get to squash the Eagles tomorrow, heh. And what is the deal with the "subtracts.userplane.com" that keeps popping up while I'm trying to concentrate on writing my journal? Anyway, a slightly belated happy Thanksgiving to all! Unless you live in Canada. You get a VERY belated happy Thanksgiving. Eh!

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15424416/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15424416/ Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:52:18 PST

"Police allege it was 21-year-old John Lewis who was holding up a West Oak Lane Dunkin' Donuts and shot on-duty Officer Chuck Cassidy, 54, in the head last Wednesday as he walked into the robbery.

Cassidy, a 25-year-old police veteran, husband and father of three, died at Albert Einstein Medical Center a day later.

Police, including Philadelphia detectives, had been interrogating Lewis for eight hours Tuesday in Miami after his morning capture there. Officials were looking to get a confession. "

See the full story here while it's available: [link]

It's a pretty pathetic story. Lewis is a drug addicted high school drop out, so he used what appeared to be his mom's gun to hold up a donut shop. Lewis' mom is a prison guard. When Cassidy walked through the door, Lewis allegedly* shot him and stole his glock, leaving behind the money he was trying to take in the first place. A cousin, who will now be charged with aiding and abetting a fugitive, drove Lewis to Wilmington, DE where he caught a bus to Florida.

When the homicide investigation received a tip he fled to the Sunshine State, his picture and information was distributed there. That enabled a Miami homeless shelter worker to identify Lewis and she called the police. Ironically, Miami's current police chief is John Timoney, a man who was once Philly's commisioner. Anyway, Lewis was apprehended without a struggle and was clutching a bible in one hand after coming out of the chapel. Some people look at that and say that's disgusting. Well, I for one hope Lewis finds Jesus. He's going to have a long to look for him while he's in jail.

*I once studied journalism and "All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in the court of law." But in this case, how can there be any doubt?

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15379066/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15379066/ Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:30:59 PST Boston is VERY lucky to have an emerging dynasty (Red Sox) overlap another which is likely to burn out a few seasons from now (Patriots). They're more fortunate than other cities which have had only one sports dynasty at a time (Chicago-Bulls, Dallas-Cowboys, etc.). Not to mention cities that have never had a dynasty at all...and never will...like Philly.

Some people are calling this years Patriots the best team of all time after their win over the Colts yesterday. The Patriots could conceivably go for 16-0 this year, but in football a Super Bowl title is always chosen over an undefeated season. They'll have home field advantage and a first round bye all wrapped up by their 14th victory or so. Wouldn't be hugely ironic if an 0-14 Dolphins beats a 14-0 Patriots in a few weeks if New England benches all their starting players to rest and heal for the post season? Anyway, several key New England players are under a one year contract so they're going to make it count.

Halloween was also a fun night but also a scary one because a policeman was shot when he unwittingly walked into a Dunkin Donuts hold up that morning. He died the next day. While my neighborhood wasn't affected, I did notice that the further south I went, and closer to the scene of the shooting (though still miles away), the quieter the streets got. I think many families decided to cancel trick or treating this year. But there were some kids and even pets out that night. The most popular costumes for the boys were Spider-Man and Batman. No particular character or theme stood out among the girls. However, I got a very warm greeting from a pair of dress wearing, face-licking Pomeranians.

Good news: The gunman who murdered that officer has been positively identified and should be apprehended shortly. Someone is probably hiding him. If they don't turn him in they'll get charged for harboring a fugitive.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15192091/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/15192091/ Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:52:09 PDT They go on to face the Colorado Rockies in the World Series. We'll see if the Rockies are still hot or if they've cooled off after their long layoff. Too bad Sam, the fictional pitcher-turned-bartender from the television series Cheers isn't with the Red Sox any more. Nowadays it seems like everyone is a member of Red Sox nation. Even presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani. But his support comes across as phony. He is a known Yankees fan who naturally wouldn't root for a rival team. Instead, he's probably just trying to win votes in the New Hampshire primary next year.

Speaking of hot stuff, I don't envy people in California right now. Not with those raging wildfires fueled by the Santa Ana winds. In fact, for the time being, the San Diego Chargers have to play their home game away because evacuees are being housed in Qualcomm Stadium. Let's hope and pray the flames die down soon because us silly human beings are still pretty much powerless against the forces of nature.

Another sports venue that has caught my eye lately is the new Prudential Center in downtown Newark, NJ. It's a short walk from the station for Amtrak and NJ Transit trains and will be the new home of the New Jersey Devils. Newark is showing signs of promise for the future but is plagued with many of the same woes hampering Philadelphia including crime, high taxes, and low educational achievement among its residents. Still, if the Passaic River waterfront and close proximity to New York City can be utilized, Newark is a city with great potential.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/14860310/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/14860310/ Sun, 30 Sep 2007 17:41:36 PDT But it took until the very last day of the season for them to back up that claim, beating out the New York Mets for a division title. Not bad for a team that was barely at the .500 mark mid-season and became the first franchise in major professional sports to lose 10,000 games. But now they're in the playoffs. If I knew the season's outcome was going to be this rosy, I could have taken my best friend to a Phillies game during her stay this summer. But I was rather disgusted with the team at the time.

While seeing the baseball team advance to the postseason for the first time since 1993 has brought a lot of smiles to people's faces and honking horns out on Cottman Avenue, at the end of the day, it's only a game. This city has some major problems including a high murder count which recently passed the 300 mark.

I haven't been online much the last couple of weeks because I was either feeling sick or otherwise preoccupied. Maybe now I can catch up with the hundreds of Deviations and other messages posted recently. I probably can't get to each one, so I'll just try my best, heh.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/14690292/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/14690292/ Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:23:00 PDT I thought it was just the onset of fall allergies. But even with a Benadryl and rest I couldn't kick these symptoms. In fact, I stayed home from work today as I was barely able to get out of bed. I also feel light headed and achy at times. I'm doing a little better now as I can type at the computer which I wasn't able to do earlier today. But I hope it clears up overnight. If not, I'm seeing a doctor tomorrow.

I did have an awesome trip to Danbury, CT on Saturday to the Danbury Railway Museum with some railbuffs. The trains we took to get up there were all on time and the place was very nifty with a nice assortment of rolling stock. They were even having a child's birthday party there when we arrived. Nice to see the young ones being raised to think rail is cool. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I need to lie down.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/14593234/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/14593234/ Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:18:02 PDT This is also the first September 11 to fall on a Tuesday since the original tragedy. The memories of that day were so riveting and vivid, it seems like it took place only weeks, not years, ago. I recall the weather, that it was warm and sunny but not unseasonably hot for early September. There was a tremendous sense of dread and apprehension. After the four hijacked planes hit, we continued to worry that there were others around until the FAA was able to ground all flights. My usually fearless and outspoken supervisor was very frightened and left to go home, even though transit would’ve taken her under Philadelphia’s tallest buildings and we couldn’t yet rule out further plane crashes. A little past noon, the rest of us were dismissed early.

All of us who were old enough to talk and to reason were deeply impacted by these events. No one I knew personally was hurt that day. Yet I went through a mild state of depression in the weeks and months afterward. I was not alone. Like the assassination of President Kennedy or the Challenger explosion in 1986, we all remember where we were and what we were doing at that moment. Yet we responded in many different ways. Some volunteered more or gave to charities. Others discovered religion. There was even a noticeable lull in criminal activity immediately following 9/11. But since then, it’s pretty much business as usual. We’re not much safer now than we were then either. But we'll never forget the lives lost on that day, or in it's aftermath.

In other “news” I recently caught an episode of the Price Is Right with Bob Barker. They’re in reruns right now as the final episode already aired a few months ago. Anyway, when I was a child my mom watched this game show religiously. It’s hard to believe most of the games played then are still played today. It was weird hearing a different announcer do the product descriptions. I’m still used to the old guy that did it in the ‘70s and ‘80s. And I used to guess the correct prices of all that stuff better as a kid too!

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/14496979/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/14496979/ Wed, 05 Sep 2007 02:44:15 PDT Roughly 50,000 fans came out on a warm, sunny day to see the Bronx Bombers take on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The crowd was really whooping it up, except when Tampa got on the scoreboard first with a home run. That was the quietest the place got, btw. A few more exciting plays kept viewers into it, but Tampa Bay ultimately went on to win the contest. I didn't stay put in my assigned seat very long, as there was no shade on our side and I was near the center of a fully occupied row. No way could I attempt to come and go on a whim. For most of the game I wondered the corridors and ramps of the stadium which were also crowded.

Truth be told, I was more interested in the building than the game. This is where the Yanks won most of their 26 World Championships. First built in 1923, Yankees Stadium lost many of its original touches during renovations that took place in 1974-'75. Today, the 1970s "modernization" is very evident inside and out. Except for the vintage steel work, the construction looks like that of a 1970s stadium. That's not a good thing, especially well into this era of "retro" ballparks sparked by Baltimore's Orioles Park at Camden Yards in 1992.

Instead of attempting to restore the ballpark to its original luster, owner George Steinbrenner has opted to build a new arena. All of the important facets are to be preserved and transported to the new site which saw its groundbreaking in August of 2006. Today most of the structural steel is in place and the "bowl" which will hold the playing field and lower level box seats is fully fleshed out. We're told that this will recapture the old glory of Yankees Stadium and preserve the franchise's incomparable tradition. But no matter what they say or do, the new stadium won't be the "House that Ruth built". It will be facsimile. Public tours of the stadium are offered when the Yankees are away and I hope to go on one later this year.

As far as the local team goes, the Phillies recently raised high hopes by sweeping the division leading New York Mets. Since then, they have lost three straight and are almost out of division and wild card contention as we head into September. The Phillies have not made a postseason appearance since 1993.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/14048390/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/14048390/ Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:24:42 PDT to the train station. Wow, what a fun-filled five and a half weeks we just enjoyed together. Even if we did get on each other's nerves a few times, heh. It's almost weird to have the whole place to myself again, but I can't dwell on it now. The process of cleaning my apartment and separating the stuff I'm keeping from what I'm discarding is already well underway and is a necessary precursor for relocating soon.

Still I wondered how Becca did with the train today. I got a note a little while ago telling me she made it to Rochester OK and was ready to board the bus home. I'm still a little tuckered out after the busy weekend we had seeing Philadelphia's Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Museum of Art on Saturday and the Philadelphia Zoo on Sunday. Even though I'm a native I haven't been to any of those sites in many years. An interesting perspective, being a tourist in your own town. And the weekend before she helped my celebrate my birthday in grand style, heh. I almost didn't notice that I haven't heard from my parents since my falling out with them in the middle of July.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/13784117/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/13784117/ Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:08:55 PDT Sunday afternoon and Monday morning we took the time to check out the lovely town of Cape May, NJ and the nearby county zoo.

But, instead of a pleasant journal entry, I'm forced to post a very angry one. I'm no longer on speaking terms with my parents. After a very long, tiresome journey home from the New Jersey shore, I had two surprise messages on my answering machine. My stepmom left the first one, informing me that she was FURIOUS with my "disrespectful" behavior. The second one was from my dad, and he was telling me "Boy, you're in BIG TROUBLE!" The worst part about that was the hint of laughter in his voice...he was secretly thrilled to see me being lambasted! Most often he is the one getting put in the doghouse.

To tell the truth, I was not on my best behavior on Monday. I suffered pain caused by the sofa-bed I was sleeping in and made a joking remark about "suing" for the injury. I also made a couple other curt remarks while failing to say "please" and "thank you." Very well, but by not addressing grievances the moment they are made, I'm lulled into a false sense that everything is hunky dory. To be suddenly ambushed hours or days after the time of the alleged offenses is deceitful, despicable, and cruel. And because she refuses to modify this behavior, I have to stay at a hotel when I'm in Cape May or Florida from now on. We get along much better in a long-distance setting than we do in person. Finally, you don't try to force people to apologize by attacking them. Even though I was wrong on a few counts, I am too strong-willed to cower and beg for mercy during an unrelenting verbal assault. Instead I'll fight back.

Some people may say, "Oh, she's just upset because she had to put her dog to sleep." If this were an isolated incident, I'd probably agree with that. But she has shown this pattern of attacking long after the fact many times in the past. Adverse conditions also have a way of stripping the inhibitions people normally cling. What I think I've got is a true glimpse at what my stepmom REALLY thinks about me. All the house cleaning, nice meals, hospitality, and her smiling face all seem to mask her true feelings. She may be the worst liar I have ever known personally.

I'll be spending Christmas with someone else this year. This September, however, I may be faced with a difficult dilemma. Both my stepmom and my favorite aunt, whom I'm still on good terms with, will be celebrating birthdays and they often have a joint party. If that is the case this year, I really want to go because my aunt will be turning 85. But how should I approach it? Can I bring a card and a gift for my aunt only? Am I still required to give my stepmom something? I wonder what Dear Abby would say about this one. Perhaps I am better off not going at all.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/13699125/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/13699125/ Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:21:40 PDT . Botcon was awesome and helped me whet my appetite for what appears to be the summer's big blockbuster hit, Transformers. A lot of promising news was also revealed about the upcoming Transformers: Animated cartoon which will debut on Cartoon Network in 2008. Target took up a big part of the dealer room floor to showcase the wares they have on sale, including a Bumblebee "Slumberbee" transforming plushie which Spitfire wants in the worst way. I also met various members of the Padded Cell and fellow DeviantArt members at Botcon. You guys know who you are.

After Botcon, Spitfire and I made our way to Boston where the niftiest thing appeared to be the "Ride the Ducks" tour which uses former WWII military amphibious vehicles to travel on land and water. A very lively and entertaining driver gave us a 90 minute tour of the best of Boston, old and new. We also visited the New England Aquarium, Fanuiel Hall, and the observation deck of the Prudential tower for a stunning overview of an amazing city.

The following day we traveled back to Philadelphia so we could celebrate July 4 in America's birthplace. Our first stop was perhaps the most well known community parade in Philadephia which takes place in the Lawncrest section. In addition to bands, antique cars, decorated bikes, sports teams, and others, many civic dignataries including mayors also take part. Ed Rendell has marched as both mayor and as governor. This year the two candidates for Philadelphia's next mayor participated.

Later in the day we paid a visit to Independence Hall but only got to go inside Congress Hall which is right next door. Our gameplan was to be in town for the fireworks, but with rain and thunderstorms looming, we decided discretion was the better part of valor. At the end of the Hall and Oates concert, the weather was so bad they city told all spectators there would be no fireworks and to go home for their own safety. The impression was that either it was cancelled entirely or postponed until Saturday. Instead, they launched the pyrotechnics for the TV viewing audience, but most people at home, including me, had already given up and went to bed for the night. We felt ripped off!

Spitfire and I also got to see three great action movies almost back to back: Spider-Man 3, Transformers, and Pirates of the Carribean. They're all full of fast paced action that's impossible to take in in a single viewing! All in all, though, I had a great time and even though I've gone back to work, I get to come home and hang out with my best friend at the end of the day. We have lots of fun and she's a pretty good cook too. Finally, I want to thank her for encouraging me to join DA even though my portfolio isn't very large. Yesterday marked the second anniversary of my membership here and I have plans to put up more photographs and PPG fan art in the future.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/13488636/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/13488636/ Mon, 25 Jun 2007 17:45:39 PDT
We checked into our hotel for a good night's sleep. The next day, instead of immediately going to our graduates house, we drove east to Mystic, CT. There we got to see the historic harbor town, checked out some shops, watched a drawbridge go up, and I took a hike to look out at the Amtrak station. I hussled back to the restaurant where we were being seated for lunch and I had some fries with broiled cod. It was so fresh it tasted like it just swam up onto my plate! Afterwards we stopped at an ice cream shop for dessert. We then returned to our hotel to get ready for the graduation.

By the time we reached Woodland Regional High, the commencement was already well in progress. The affair was being held outdoors in a large courtyard. Almost every folding chair on the lawn was occupied and there were dozens more onlookers standing around. After the speeches, diplomas were distributed. I tried to get a photo of Sean as he got his but we were so far away we'd never be able to identify him in the photograph. We finally met his parents. They were upset because they didn't see us and thought we missed the proceedings but we told them we were just hanging out in the rear. After slowly shuffling out with the traffic in our cars, we reconvened at their home for the graduation party!

There we met all kinds of people, most of whom I don't know very well. Then there were the pets: A miniature collie, a 6 month old golden retriever, a black domestic shorthair, and a fluffy, cuddly Persian. They were all surprisingly social despite the activity going on around them, at least with me. Animals seem to like me for some strange reason and people even take note. So there were kids running around, adults drinking and chatting it up, people congratulating Sean on his graduation and plans to enter the Air Force soon. Dinner was buffet style with lunchmeat and other eats served on big trays. A very lively, fun night indeed. Oh, and I also found out that my favorite 8 year-old stepniece has a very fresh mouth. She asked me to "Say my favorite word. It starts with F- and ends with -UCK." I smiled broadly, having seen the joke elsewhere before, and proclaimed, "Firetruck!" And she was like, "AW, you GOT it!" The kids were allowed to stay up late, and they were all running around like they were full of sugar. By the time my parents and I returned to the hotel, it was almost midnight.

Saturday we checked out of the hotel and briefly visited Sean's house again. And I'm glad we did because we got the cake that they somehow forgot to serve last night. After our goodbyes it was on our way back to the Philly area via the Merrit Parkway, Tappan Zee Bridge, and New Jersey Turnpike. On the way back we watched the "Everyone's Hero" DVD which was a better animated feature than I thought it would be. Set in 1932, the cartoon contained a number of anachronisms such as intermodal freight containers and bobblehead dolls. What made them interesting, however, is that they were all possible to have with 1930s technology...had somebody thought of them sooner.

Now, I'm busy cleaning my apartment and getting ready for to arrive this Wednesday. Two days later we'll be on our way to Providence for Botcon! S... ]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/13306032/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/13306032/ Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:47:45 PDT I attended a relative's wedding on Saturday, they had the ceremony and the reception at a catering hall in a nice Philadelphia suburb. It was good to see my parents again as they just came up for the summer. They had a long drive back to the shore so we cut out early and I even missed out on cake. They dropped me off at another relatives house and we hung out for a little while. In addition to spending a little more time with Charlotte's daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren, I also got to play with a friendly chocolate lab named Moose and a very frisky Calico kitten named Tarzan. She's already scratching up the furniture and she'll get you too if you're not careful! I also learned that this will be the last time dad and Charlotte will be north for the entire summer. The politics and problems are so bad at their Jersey vacation trailer that they have decided to sell it this year. I should visit more often and make their remaining time here count.

Recently they held a health fair at work and a couple of my coworkers were given evaluations. They're about 5'4 each and weigh 175 and 180 lbs. respectively. The heavier one was informed she was 30 pounds overweight and thus obese. While they're obviously not fashion model thin, I don't think of them as "fat" either. They're both middle age with decent shapes and one of them is a former police officer. She says proudly that she was the strongest woman in her class during training, so perhaps a good amount of that flesh is actually muscle? One of the most memorable things to me about "The Biggest Loser" is the amazing muscles some of those men and women had hidden beneath the fat. During the finale, one of the men, who sports a bodybuilder's physique, looked at his flexed bicep and muttered "I never knew that was in there!" Some people think I have it easy because I can eat what I want and not have to worry about gaining much fat. Unfortunately, it's also difficult for my body to gain muscle as well. So I see my thinness as more of a tradeoff than a benefit. And I'm not THAT thin. I'm 170. I just look like a beanpole because I'm 6'1.

Incidentally, the new song "Boston" was just playing on the radio. The refrain says "Where no one knows my name." That's actually an inside reference to the classic sitcom Cheers which was set in Boston. The theme song for that program said "Where eveybody knows your name." Click for details: [link] I want to relocate soon and the Boston area would be my number one choice!

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/13241735/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/13241735/ Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:21:06 PDT I reminded my landlord that the same key unlocks both the doorknob and the deadbolt and that a little key undoes the French door between the enclosed porch and the living room. A few minutes later he says thanks and that he has all the keys he needs for me.

The next day, I met one of the fellow tenants out front and they informed me that my landlord had a realtor over to see the property. They wanted to sell the property soon. I had no clue. At this point, I felt violated because I thought it meant that he had a perfect stranger in my apartment without telling me! I was furious, but I decided not to jump to conclusions. I finally got him on the phone today to set the record straight. He said that he only had the realtor through the empty unit on the second floor. He also said that the property still needs to be appraised and he wants to make sure that the purchaser agrees to keep us as tenants. There's no need to panic and he would let us know before showing occupied rooms to anyone. I didn't quite believe him, but didn't have any evidence to show otherwise so I didn't mention my lack of trust. Finally, when and if the house is sold he'll let us all know. At the very least, we can expect our rents to go up. I don't know what the other occupants pay but I KNOW I'm paying less than the market rate for my apartment and I can afford a reasonable increase. Still, it's only natural to be anxious about the whole thing. I've long wanted to relocate to Boston or Chicago. Maybe it's time to take action.

And the discomfort part? Tuesday I had a literal pain in my neck. It's not as bad now but it hasn't totally gone away either. Now it only hurts when I try to turn my head to the right or get up from lying down. Could be the wierd weather we've been having lately, hot one day and cold the next. My parents also came up to their place in New Jersey and we'll be attending a relative's wedding this Saturday. Heh, at least I don't have to squeeze into a sweaty, hot dress and foot killing high heels.

I also have a few silly questions before I go. Why do the KFC commercials play "Sweet Home Alabama" as like it's their theme song? The K in their name stands for KENTUCKY! Why is Lindsay Lohan the latest adorable child star to become a total mess as an adult? And just reminded me of another question I had: When and why did they remove the "Pizza Time Theater" from the name of Chuck E. Cheese's?

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/12890823/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/12890823/ Tue, 08 May 2007 17:35:19 PDT
I made my way outside the station to find my step brother and his older daughter waiting in their car. It's a good thing my train was only a couple minutes late because there is no well marked area for people to be picked up by others here. A quick ride up Connecticut's Route 8 brought us to their Beacon Falls home where I was greeted by an amazing menagerie. A black older cat named Velvet, a very cuddly Persian named Sapphire, Levi, a skittish miniature collie and Belle, a very enthusiastic 6-month old golden retriever. Mom and the other kids were happy to see me as well but, thankfully, they didn't try to lick my face also. She said the collie would probably avoid me the all night and not to waste my time trying to pet him. Instead, I amazed her by getting Levi to let me rub his belly five minutes later. My step mom and other relatives were staying at a nearby hotel so I was later taken there to spend the night.

The following day we attended my step niece's first communion. She is my step mom's youngest granddaughter and it's hard to believe she's 8 already. It was a fun but spiritual event. It was in an amazing looking new church. We joined a lively luncheon in the hall next to the church after it was over. Our catered lunch consisted mainly of salad, ziti, and meatballs, with cake for dessert. And the kids were free to be kids with lots of running around and chatter. I'm told that someday that kind of behavior is going to get on my nerves, but that day hasn't come yet. I wanted to run around too, but it probably would have caused a scene. A little later we had more cake at the family house. I think I exceeded my daily recommended caloric intake that day.

Afterwards, I was offered a ride back to Philly and, as much as I like trains, how could I turn that down? After a few hours on the Merritt Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike, we pulled into a diner down the street from my house. They were pleasantly surprised by how good the food was and with that they were on their way back to Delaware county. Oh, and I also had jury duty on Monday. They kept me all day but they STILL rejected me, as usual.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/12620727/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/12620727/ Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:20:34 PDT I'm deeply troubled, saddened, and, yes, angered by today's incident. There has been yet another attack with firearms in an academic setting. Of course, there's really no such thing as a "good" place for murder. 32 people were slaughtered today. And for what!? I suppose answers will be forthcoming in the days to follow. Just not from the perpetrator though, who apparently shot himself at the conclusion of this rampage. Say hi to Hitler while you're down there.

]]> ~SwitchPoint http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/12605358/ http://SwitchPoint.deviantart.com/journal/12605358/ Sun, 15 Apr 2007 12:23:51 PDT [link] I also haven't been to the Zoo since 1997, so this seemed like a perfect place to take my date this Saturday. The temperatures were in the 50s and light jackets were more than enough to keep us comfortable.

We checked out and photographed the elephants, tigers, gorillas, and other interesting creatures. The Big Cat Falls replaced the old Carnivore house I remember from the last time and the primates were treated to new digs as well. Some of the lionesses were laying right next to the glass partition where dozens of visitors gathered for a closer look. They were within petting distance, heh. There was also this tiger who paced back and forth and he got several children to amusingly chase after him too. "Let's see what I can get these stupid humans to do!" The most active animals we saw though were these river otters who had such a ball playing and chasing each other in the water. They had a few penguins on hand too but not the big land/water display I was hoping for after seeing Happy Feet recently.

I also looked for signs of the monorail which encircled the zoo until the early 1990s. All traces of it appear to have been completely removed. The replacement attraction, a teathered balloon which rises to a height of 400 feet, was grounded today because of the impending bad weather. My date also laughed at me each time I stopped to watch a train rolling by. The tracks of Amtrak's busy Northeast Corridor wrap around the west side of the zoo. We also visited the Children's Zoo to see the goats, one of my favorite animals. Afterwards she drove me back to my apartment, stopping for coffee along the way. I think our first time out together was lots of fun. But I won't know if she really feels the same way unless she agrees to go out with me again.

Today (Sunday) has been a totally different story. I haven't even attempted to leave the house today because of the hard, steady rain that has dogged us since midnight. This nor'easter could have been a nasty one and thankfully I'm not in a flood prone area, even though we do sometimes get one or two inches of water on the basement floor. I still have a couple of unwanted guests: A mouse and my part friend/part freeloader Mike. He was supposed to go home on Friday but now he allowed the bad weather to strand him here for the time being. He thinks he reciprocates for all the free storage space and computer usage he gets here. But I and others don't quite see it that way. For one thing, I'm going to show him the $5.00 in long-distance phone calls that he owes me for. Finally, I have a feeling that once this unseasonably cold, wet weather breaks, it's going to jump right into summer. Sigh, I'm really beginning to miss spring.

]]> ~SwitchPoint