By now everyone has heard about Roger Ebert’s passing. I have no need to supply links to any news articles. Here, though, is a link to where is column resides. I have been on the edge of sadness since hearing about his death. Finally, this morning I have found myself crying. I can not say why his death is so meaningful. Perhaps it is due to his having made me look at  movies so much more then simple jokes, frights, fights, or sex sense.

His reviews with Gene Siskel on “At The Movies” were at times monumental clashes of opinion with the ultimate conclusion for them to agree to disagree. I remember when they first came on the air, before “At The Movies,” there was the appearance they did not like each other. Yet, over the years, you could see a deep friendship develop. In some ways, I wonder if that was more of a draw to watch the show than the movies they reviewed.

I see Roger Ebert’s passing as an end of an era. May he find the movies of the afterlife to be as dramatic, funny, and moving as the best he watched here on Earth.

I have a cold which is causing a pinch in my neck. This always happens. I am going to take a couple of ibuprofen and hope it mellows out. After all these years I have learned that the pain never really goes away.

Via cookie jill over at skippy, my favorite marsupial:

‘nough said.

Not to be confused with boiling frogs, yet the concept is similar!

As you have no doubt been taught (or not) always start with cold water. I usually allow 20 minutes from the time I turn on the stove until they have boiled enough. Next – and this is the important part – I place the pan with the still hot water under the tap in the sink and allow a very small stream of cold water to displace the hot water. Once the water is of a temperature my hands can tolerate comfortably I remove the eggs.

The mistake most people make is they dump out the hot water and add cold water, causing an immediate contraction of the shell, and the irritating membrane that is between the shell and the inner content. Hence the difficulties in peeling said eggs.

When John Cole is on, he is fucking on!

That’s what white (and heterosexual) privilege feel like. It’s that fucking good. You get to feel good about yourself when you have a couple drinks and watch a movie about your country making baby steps towards treating everyone like human beings.

You have to go read the entire post that is before this final paragraph to really get what John is saying. There are people in AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) 20 years who wish they had this kind of personal insight.

Yeah, about that. Woke up this morning when the alarm sounded at 5:00 AM. Even though I set up the grounds, I did not hit the auto button on my coffee machine. So, on my way to the bathroom I groggily hit the on button to get my coffee brewed. Interestingly enough, when I came out of the bathroom, I noticed the carafe sitting in the dry rack. Then I notice the coffee, and grounds, all over the table and floor.

Needless to say my usual routine of writing in my journal was put aside for the obvious task of cleaning up my mess. Now, 35 minutes later I am sitting here, typing away, with a fresh brewed cup of hot, black coffee. Hell no! there is no cream or sugar. My stupidity goes only so far.

Oh, okay, that was harsh. It has been a bad morning.

Arrggggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My coffee grinder became clogged. In an attempt to unclog it I did this:

So here it is Sunday morning, and I have already managed to get one load of laundry into the dryer with a second load just finishing up on its rinse. I have a few more loads of laundry to complete as well some shopping to get out of the way. Also, I plan on dropping off some dice for The Fuskers™. He has decided to start learning how to play Dungeons & Dragons. So in honor of his new endeavor I picked up a complete set of gaming dice that are copper and green. And since I am heading down that way I can also swing by my bank and deposit a check I have had in my wallet for a few weeks. More to follow later.

When the drum beat for invading Iraq grew, I remember having doubts. I read about the reports that were ignored by the legacy media at the time. I also had some semblance of logic that rumbled around my brain; I was able to put some salient points together. Still, I was also willing to give the President of the United States the benefit of the doubt.

Ultimately, I was wrong. I was willfully ignorant. I made no effort prior to 2003 to really read up on what was happening politically. I even proudly stated that in 2000 we proved ourselves to be a civilized, peaceful nation when the election was in doubt; no guns were fired, no civil war erupted as would have been the case in many other countries.

Now, of course, I see that position as completely idiotic. Stealing an election, whether by fraud or by bullet is still stealing. And there are consequences for that type of dishonesty. But I engaged in denial. I ignored the voice of wisdom that my Higher Power gave me. As a result I failed to speak up and evil was allowed to gestate and a war was birthed.

Granted, alone I am not much of a power to turn the tide of evil. Yet I did not need to be alone. I was one of many who willfully allowed politics to ferment without any awareness or input. Blind faith in our Constitution, and in our political process is not what the founding fathers had in mind. Just the opposite; they expected an active roll of the population.

Since the government of the United States of America is of the people, by the people, for the people, it is of utmost importance that the people be educated and involved. I can not speak for others, as much as I would like to, but I can speak for myself; I failed to live up to the ideals of the founding fathers.

Not anymore.

I will not support a war with Iran.

I have a Black & Decker Coffee pot with an auto start feature. So, every morning I wake up to the wonderful smell of fresh brewed coffee. This morning when the alarm went off something was missing. I did not notice it consciously at first; it nagged at the back of my awareness. I actually fed the cats and hit the bathroom before I discovered the coffee pot was sitting empty.

And no, the coffee machine is not malfunctioning – I am. I failed to set the auto feature last night when I went to bed. Not something I am wont to do on a regular basis. However, I came to the realization that with my coffee pot I am spoiled. Right now I miss having my cup of coffee sitting to the left of me as I either write in my journal or type away at a blog post or make a comment at another blog.

Also: no I am not sitting naked in my mother’s basement eating Cheetos as I type this. First, I live alone in a house I rent. That is right boys and girls! I actually pay rent. I even have a job! Is that not just amazing. Okay, you in the back row, stop snickering before I find something to throw. Second, my parents do not have a basement. Third, I prefer Earl’s Cheese Puffs over Cheetos any day of the week – and twice on Sunday.

Alright you in the back row! Shut it! I have raw eggs in my refrigerator and I am not afraid to use them!

Update: Yeah! My coffee is ready. Thank God! The world is safe now.