Apropos of Nothing -3-

Palomar · 2004-12-15 20:10:54

*Did anyone else catch the Star Trek skit on MAD TV tonight (Comedy Central)?

It was entirely in Spanish with regular cast members portraying Latino actors -- though the ST characters names *haven't* changed (Jorge Gonzales as Capt. James T. Kirk).
The episode was "Tribbles Vieja" (Old Tribbles).

Mr. Scott was on the bridge -- speaking Spanish of course and with the Scottish brogue. :up: That's a truly unique combination.

The only English words are Dr. McCoy's "Dammit, Jim!" :laugh:

At the end of the show a multicolor pinata is lowered in the middle of the Bridge and music starts playing -- even Mr. Spock begins dancing [¡ilógico!]

One of the best ST satires I've seen.

--Cindy

Palomar · 2004-12-18 21:21:32

*Move over, Frostie! <bump!>

Tonight while driving around looking at holiday lights, we saw a genuine Old Wild West version of a snowman sitting on a private lawn: A Tumbleweedman. He had 3 tumbleweeds for a body (graded small at the top to largest at the bottom...like with a regular snowman), sported a little tan cowboy hat, big bronze buttons for his "torso," assorted items to create a simple face, and instead of the traditional broom by his side there's a yucca stick (long piece of dried cactus). :laugh:

This, on a shadowy street and no light fixed on him at all -- yet what an eyecatcher. So unique, I've never seen anything like it. :up:

--Cindy

Palomar · 2004-12-20 21:35:17

*Well it was going to be a nice holiday at my home...and still might be, if a couple -- who are friends of my husband's -- don't show up on Christmas Day. How very nice of the husband to try and invite themselves over! Here's what they do when they get together:

1. Reminisce (consistently negatively) about the past.
2. Complain about family members. On and on.

For hours.

Oh YIPPEE! I can't wait!!! Not.

There are two other issues as well, which I have with those two...but we won't go there.

For his 50th birthday his wife cornered me in their kitchen and began lamblasting an aunt of hers (whom I've never met), going on for 20 minutes straight about how much she hates her aunt -- hates her, hates her. :-\ I'm like, "...and I should care WHY?"

**Weirdo** :down:

And that's on top of getting notice from an in-law that they might be dropping by too. Geez, I'm beginning to really regret turning down that Christmas dinner invitation we had with some pleasant, affable folks. ::sigh::

--Cindy

Cobra Commander · 2004-12-21 07:10:29

Ah yes, the painful ritual of Christmas dinner. All the misery of Thanksgiving, but with bribes.

Drive through snow and idiot filled streets, then turkey, ham, a round of complaints about the state of things in general, trash family members who couldn't get Christmas leave (It's my fault they signed up, they say ), followed by a "Bush's fault" tirade and dessert.

Always the same, I could pretape commentary if I wanted to.

Maybe I'll just stay home, grill some burgers and watch the complete Lord of the Rings.

Palomar · 2004-12-21 07:25:27

*Hey Cobra, what's your current avatar? I presume it has something to do with your current signature line.

If you don't mind my asking. :;):

(As for my hubby's friends...they won't be having dinner with us).

--Cindy

Cobra Commander · 2004-12-21 07:46:26

*Hey Cobra, what's your current avatar? I presume it has something to do with your current signature line.

Someone sent me that the other day, don't know where they found it. It's a Nazgul (those black-robed bad guys from the Lord of the Rings) doing his best Santa Claus impression.

Palomar · 2004-12-22 13:07:56

*I just got word from my husband that he and his buddy were involved in a minor traffic collision. They were proceeding through a green light when some moron ran the red. Fortunately everyone was going slow enough that my husband and his pal weren't hurt; the offending motorist ran off (hit and run coward). Fortunately another person was nearby and witnessed the event. Now they're off to pick up the police report, etc.

Am super-glad my husband is okay (understatement). He sounded a bit upset when he called; I had all kinds of images going through my head. :-\

Thankfully the truck also wasn't damaged much -- barely a scrape or dent apparently.

Yep, holiday season is off to a fine start. :-\ But I'll count my blessings; could have been much more serious of course!

--Cindy

Cobra Commander · 2004-12-22 13:47:48

Good to hear no one was hurt.

GraemeSkinner · 2004-12-23 04:37:31

*I just got word from my husband that he and his buddy were involved in a minor traffic collision.

Hope your hubby is okay today.

I was in a traffic jam yesterday that managed to make the national news, I used to really like driving, but now its often a pain.

Graeme

Palomar · 2004-12-23 08:02:24

Ah yes, the painful ritual of Christmas dinner. All the misery of Thanksgiving, but with bribes.

:laugh:

Cobra, that was awful. But can't help laughing...because it may just be true to an extent.

As for your current avatar (The Grinch), remember how the show ended? His heart grew 3 times larger; he, the dog and the sled whisk pell-mell down the mountainside to redistribute the gifts and goodies; and the last we see, he's merrily carving up the roast beast and passing plates to his new-found friends. And who's sitting beside him? Cindy Lou Who, that's who. :laugh:

Even Scrooge changed in the end. Is there a message here? :;):

--Cindy

P.S.: Husband is fine; thanks guys for asking.

Palomar · 2004-12-24 09:59:34

http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/ … ml]Cricket Sex aka "Cassanova Crickets"

*Curious. :hm:

--Cindy

Palomar · 2005-01-04 07:17:05

*That cat of ours.

We're in our winter monsoon season, so of course it's been raining off and on for many days. Our average rainfall amount is less than 3 inches of the stuff. So, of course, our cat isn't used to it -- like us, he's spoiled by the mild, dry nights, etc.

Last evening he wanted out. My husband opened the door. Radar sees that it's raining out...nope, he doesn't want to go out. I turn in for the night, husband is watching the news. Put Radar in another room, with his food, water and litter box. He begins meowing loudly -- he wants to go outside.

My husband tries again to get him to go out. Nope, the cat doesn't do rain. Turns around, runs between my husband's ankles and back into the house.

Five minutes later he's meowing his head off again. He doesn't want to deal with the rain but he doesn't want to stay in the house either. :-\

Okay, dad's not firm enough with him so mom deals with it. I gently but firmly nudged him out of the house with my foot against his rump. Wait a second and see his reaction. He hunkers down initially (as if the rain will melt him), then skitters off for the neighbor's yard, zig-zagging the entire way as if dodging raindrops. :laugh:

Funny, exasperating, furry little nonhuman person.

--Cindy

Cobra Commander · 2005-01-04 07:54:31

Last evening he wanted out. My husband opened the door. Radar sees that it's raining out...nope, he doesn't want to go out.

Just the other day our cats did the same thing, only it was snowing. Phobos follows me around, I finally look him in the eyes (knowing full well the other one is waiting to take advantage of anything he gets) and he slowly walks toward the front door, turning to make sure I'm following him every few steps. I let him out, he takes a few steps onto the snow, then glances back at me with a "what the hell is this" look until I pick him up and take him back in.

Now he looks out the window before "asking" to go outside.

Palomar · 2005-01-04 08:34:04

Last evening he wanted out. My husband opened the door. Radar sees that it's raining out...nope, he doesn't want to go out.
Just the other day our cats did the same thing, only it was snowing. Phobos follows me around, I finally look him in the eyes (knowing full well the other one is waiting to take advantage of anything he gets) and he slowly walks toward the front door, turning to make sure I'm following him every few steps. I let him out, he takes a few steps onto the snow, then glances back at me with a "what the hell is this" look until I pick him up and take him back in.
Now he looks out the window before "asking" to go outside.

*Well your Phobos must be smarter than our Radar, because he seemed genuinely perplexed each time he saw the rain from the door, as if he didn't remember or it was the first time he's encountered rain; each attempt to let him out was spaced maybe a mere 5 minutes apart.

It is funny, though, watching in-house pets react to the weather, like your cat with snow. I remember a puppy from childhood and her first attempt to "do her duty" in the snow. Poor little thing, shivering like mad, trying to keep her balance while "going," only to fall over onto her nose repeatedly. Her look of bewilderment, etc.

--Cindy

Cobra Commander · 2005-01-04 08:48:07

Well your Phobos must be smarter than our Radar...

Phobos is definately the smarter of our two, but Fate is certainly more affectionate.

I sometimes wonder if there's a correlation. :hm:

Phobos is the only cat I've run across that seems to understand the concept of pointing, for example.

They'd both make good Bond villain cats.

Palomar · 2005-01-04 09:44:52

Well your Phobos must be smarter than our Radar...
Phobos is definately the smarter of our two, but Fate is certainly more affectionate.
I sometimes wonder if there's a correlation. :hm:

*What, that affectionate beings tend to be less intelligent than non-affectionate beings?

If so...I'm smarter than my sister -and- more affectionate than her.

?

--Cindy

Cobra Commander · 2005-01-04 10:01:30

*What, that affectionate beings tend to be less intelligent than non-affectionate beings?

No, just thinking maybe Phobos is less affectionate toward me because he's smarter. He only warms up to me when my wife isn't home, probably because he knows she's more likely to drop what she's doing and give him whatever he's after.

He's almost the perfect little socialist subject, always manuevering for maximum gain from those providing for his welfare while at the same time endearing himself to them.

Palomar · 2005-01-05 12:43:17

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u … ]Wisconsin gets hoppy

*Some folks actually reluctant to call local police or sheriff for fear of ridicule. But enough folks did call in and the dispatcher couldn't discount all the reports. Poor little fellow, thank goodness they caught him in time. Brrrrr...too cold, especially for someone of his native habitat. And the risk of being stranded in a blizzard. Thankfully they managed to shelter him in a barn until additional help came. That's a first for that farmer, LOL.

Can imagine dogs on farm places nearby going absolutely crazy and barking themselves into near exhaustion on seeing that hopping alongside the road. :laugh:

--Cindy

Palomar · 2005-01-06 09:31:24

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s … po_dc]Mzee & Owen

NAIROBI (Reuters) - A 120-year-old giant tortoise living in a Kenyan sanctuary has become inseparable from a baby hippo rescued by game wardens, officials said on Thursday.

*But Owen is soon to meet Cleo. :;): Hopefully Mzee won't be too traumatized by the loss of a friend.

--Cindy

GraemeSkinner · 2005-01-06 10:28:20

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s … po_dc]Mzee & Owen

The photo got the "AWWWWWW Thats Cute" from my wife.

Graeme

clark · 2005-01-10 11:38:31

The Tortoise and the Hippo. That would be an interesting race...

Palomar · 2005-01-10 13:51:01

*Well, the new restaurant in town ("Texas Roadhouse") got a surprise on opening night: Only 2 vehicles in the parking lot. They'd flown the U.S. and Texas flags together, on the roof. A lot of people in town complained in the "Sound Off!" section of the local newspaper, etc., about the Texas flag being flown in NM -and- our State flag nowhere in sight. I thought, "Yeah sure, yadda yadda, and they'll all be stampeding for the doors on opening night -- packed to the gills." (Folks around here flock to the opening of an envelope. ). Anywho, my husband and I happened to drive past the restaurant Saturday evening around 7:00 p.m.; not on purpose, it's just 2 blocks away and we needed to use the main road running directly past it.

Two cars in the parking lot. :-\ Just two.

Wow, talk about a snub. I'm still surprised.

And guess what? The Texas flag is g-o-n-e and the New Mexico flag is in its place. :laugh:

--Cindy

Cobra Commander · 2005-01-10 14:00:55

They'd flown the U.S. and Texas flags together, on the roof. A lot of people in town complained in the "Sound Off!" section of the local newspaper, etc., about the Texas flag being flown in NM -and- our State flag nowhere in sight.

I'm mildly surprised. We have those Texas roadhous-type places all over, all flying the Texas flag and no one cares. Of course anything to distract from living in Detroit is welcome.

Ooh, car fire. :;):

Then I suppose an Ohio flag would be a different story, but who ever heard of Ohioan food?

Palomar · 2005-01-10 14:15:26

Then I suppose an Ohio flag would be a different story, but who ever heard of Ohioan food?

*It's cultural and food-related rivalry. Texas tries to take more than its fair share of credit for Mexican-style cuisine, by trying to label nearly everything with a "south of the border" flavor as Tex-Mex. Some of it does have a distinctive native Texan origin...but a lot of it does not. Some "Mexican" food prepared (from scratch) here and in El Paso has distinct origins in *Mexico* ... and yet some is New Mexican in origin. Gets a bit complicated, but there -are- differences.

There is always a huge competition in this area as to whose chile peppers are better at each harvest: Mesilla Valley (NM) or that grown around the El Paso area.

There's also the ongoing issue/perception/feeling that El Paso is shunned and disowned by the rest of Texas anyway, so native New Mexicans (I'm not from this area originally) scoff at the concept that El Pasoans are "better" than their neighbors to the north (us)...because culturally, food-wise, geographically and etc. they are much more identifiable with us than folks in Austin, Dallas, even San Antonio.

New Mexicans are just as proud of their dishes/cuisine as Texans are. That's the issue in a nutshell.

Just reporting the facts; I don't get involved with the disputes. I'm from the Midwest originally...

--Cindy

Palomar · 2005-01-12 06:57:23

http://www.spaceweather.com/swpod2005/1 … kle2.jpg]I sure do miss ice storms...NOT

*Upside-down icicles. Of course, the wire twisted.

"After a major ice storm on January 8th, these icicles got tired of hanging down," explains photographer Julie McNickle of Carbondale, Kansas. "The weight on the top of the wire became heavier than the icicled bottom, and so the wire 'twisted,' sending the icicles pointing up. It was a definite eye catcher."

This is being hosted at spaceweather.com. There's a better photo at the site itself; I clicked on it, to post it here, but the link sent me to a different photo -- the one above. :hm:

--Cindy

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