Do you mute TV commercials? I do. Almost always, because they're loud and they bug me.
But it's harder to mute radio commercials. I forget to turn the radio back on. (I'm usually in the car at the time.)
Two radio commercials have me furrowing my brow lately, thinking, "Is this for real??"
The First One
It's for a diamond jewellery seller. The entire commercial is one lame cliche after another. It's so campy, you think that at the end, they're going to laugh and go, "Ok, seriously, love isn't like that, but you should still buy a diamond." But they don't! The worst phrase - "Fall in love, and the WHOLE WORLD IS LITERALLY HAPPY FOR YOU."
Really? The whole world? Literally? I sincerely doubt that.
(Note: feeds into my pet peeve about using "literally" as a meaningless emphasis - like underlining something - instead of using it with its actual meaning, which is basically - "this is a scientifically verifiable factual statement".)
The Second One
I heard it this morning. It's about carpet. They have a new carpet which is environmentally friendly. I thought this might mean it doesn't leach nasty stuff into the air I breathe, or into the skin of my tender toes. Or maybe it's made from non-synthetic things. Nope.
"It is nylon that can be recycled over and over again!!!!"
Um...it's carpet. First of all ... a carpet is going to last about 10 years, right? (And then it will have another 10 years of "Ugh, we really have to replace this ugly carpet.") So it's twenty years. And then it's recycled. And then another twenty years, presumably.
I think the phrase "over and over again" is really being stretched here.
Plus...when you tear out your 20-year-old carpet, will it occur to you that it can be recycled? Doesn't occur to me, and I do think about these things. What are the odds that the one who installed it will be the one who tears it out? Not that good. How will the one who tears it out KNOW that it's a special recyclable carpet?
And even if they do know, will the recycling truck take it off your curb?
Doubtful.
---
One more thing, unrelated to radio commercials, but I just have to let this rant out.
Drove through a Horton's today. Again.
Got handed a coffee. Again.
It dripped all over my pants. Again.
Now I have to apply stain remover to my pants. Again.
It's very annoying.
It is possible that I am in a self-destructive, cyclical, co-dependent relationship with Tim Horton's.
But I'm not ready to end it quite yet.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Adrian Plass
I laughed.
I cried. (No I didn't, I laughed again.)
I got warm fuzzies.
I laughed more.
Really a lot.
All by myself.
And now I have finished my two Sacred Diaries of Adrian Plass.
Anyone want to borrow them?
Warning: Borrowers must leave a sample of their DNA, just in case you forget to return the books, and I have to track you down.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
provincial debate
I have no political expertise ... various opinions ... I'm no expert.
So - did you watch tonight's provincial leadership debate?
Here's my take on it, for what it's worth (which is probably very little)!
Education & Faith-Based Funding
LIB - no faith-based funding; look how far we've come; no strikes under us!
CON - faith-based funding; let's include EVERYONE; buildings and infrastructure are crumbling
NDP - no faith-based funding; fix the buildings; stop the cutbacks, especially for special needs kids
Public Transit
LIB - we have a plan for 2025.
CON - use the gas tax now and fix what's there (isn't the gas tax what Hamilton was hoping for municipal funding for?); why did the Liberals wait until the last minute to have a plan?
NDP - more light rail
Municipal Funding
LIB - we aren't downloading - we're uploading costs. We've done more than the previous Conservative govt.
CON - you're downloading; smaller municipalities need help too; why did the Liberals wait until the last minute to have a plan? (I see a pattern emerging)
NDP - cities are in trouble; they need money
Breaking Promises - Recall Legislation
I don't know what this is. McGuinty's against it, anyway. McGuinty's dad also raised him to keep his word, and he wanted to, but he needed money for health care, so he had to break a promise.
Tory's grandfather used to shake hands with people; his word was his bond. Tory is also against recall legislation, I think. Actually, I'm not sure.
Hampton - wants to talk about low-income families that lost money in a clawback. Nothing about recall legislation. Which is fine with me, since I still don't know what that is.
Tory is really frustrated.
McG's getting beat up, but not flustered, and is attacking both Tory & Hampton. I think he sees Hampton as a threat!
Moderator wants an actual answer to the question - turns out everyone is against recall legislation, whatever that is.
Employment
NDP - we've lost many jobs. It's the Liberals' fault. It's the fault of increasing hydro costs. We need an industrial hydro rate that is consistent. Wants an independent jobs commissioner. Wants a skills economy.
CON - Ontario is "dead last" in job creation this year. Liberals brought in huge tax increase, which makes it worse. Lots of rhetoric. No mention of a plan.
LIB - Everything in Ontario is great, don't know what anyone else's problem is. We have the lowest unemployment rate in 17 years.
Poverty
CON - Visits vulnerable neighbourhoods. Almost said he had lived in them, but not quite. Will revitalize low-income neighbourhoods. Introduce and increase mentorship programs. Will open schools with proper recreational facilities.
LIB - We are one large extended family. (I'm a little nauseous) We have increased disability, social assistance, child benefits, brought back student grants. Now we're going to give free dental to poorest families.
NDP - Raise minimum wage to $10/hour now. McG raised his own pay, but not the minimum wage. Liberals keep clawing back. We need provincial dental program, and roll back tuition fees and apprenticeship fees.
Crime
LIB - We've funded new officers, new crown attorneys; we have "guns and gangs" strategy (catchy, isn't it?) Going to offer positive alternatives to young people. Wants to ban handguns.
NDP - population grew faster than police force. Punish wrongdoers, devote resources to prevention, for at-risk youth.
CON - Brokenhearted at going to funerals for victims of crime. People being accused of murder are people with criminal records already. Handguns are already banned. Liberals have "catch-and-release" justice system. Will fix justice system (wow - that would be impressive) and be transparent. (Also would be impressive)
Moderator is wondering why he agreed to do this. "Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Gentlemen - forgive me!" (For what? For moving the debate along.)
Tuition
NDP - one of their pet issues. Roll back or freeze university and apprenticeship fees. Thrilled to answer the question.
CON - regulate tuition fees. Take a 2nd look at the system that assumes parents are paying for kids. Also look at ancillory fees. (What is this? I don't even know how to spell it.)
LIB - We're smaller in population than China and India. (don't know why this is relevant) We're going to give $300 textbook grant to all students.
Entirely Random Fun "Facts" or Frustrating Statements in No Particular Order
McG - "The fact is, your party (Conservative) left us with a multi-billion dollar deficit, and it takes awhile to recover from that"
Tory - "Why did the Liberals do nothing for 4 years, and wait until the last minute to have a plan?"
Hampton - "Mr. McGuinty, you must have been the only person in Ontario that didn't know the Conservatives left a $5 billion deficit."
Hampton - "The reason the unemployment rate has gone down is because people are leaving."
Tory - "The jobs you are creating are third-world jobs, at half the pay people had before. You're a high-taxing, low-paying, uncertain, unstable kind of government"
McG - "Bombardier is pleased with us"
McG (answering question about poverty) - "Babies are now tested for 7 genetic diseases, not just 2"
McG (repeatedly) - "I just can't be as negative as Mr. Tory and Mr. Hampton"
Everyone Throughout, with Great Sincerity & Shocked Righteous Indignation: "That's not true." "No, the fact is exactly the opposite." "That is a lie." "The fact is..."
And now we're an hour into this debate, and they're repeating themselves, so I think I'm done.
Still undecided. Except I am certain that the moderator should have the on/off switch for everyone's microphone.
You?
So - did you watch tonight's provincial leadership debate?
Here's my take on it, for what it's worth (which is probably very little)!
Education & Faith-Based Funding
LIB - no faith-based funding; look how far we've come; no strikes under us!
CON - faith-based funding; let's include EVERYONE; buildings and infrastructure are crumbling
NDP - no faith-based funding; fix the buildings; stop the cutbacks, especially for special needs kids
Public Transit
LIB - we have a plan for 2025.
CON - use the gas tax now and fix what's there (isn't the gas tax what Hamilton was hoping for municipal funding for?); why did the Liberals wait until the last minute to have a plan?
NDP - more light rail
Municipal Funding
LIB - we aren't downloading - we're uploading costs. We've done more than the previous Conservative govt.
CON - you're downloading; smaller municipalities need help too; why did the Liberals wait until the last minute to have a plan? (I see a pattern emerging)
NDP - cities are in trouble; they need money
Breaking Promises - Recall Legislation
I don't know what this is. McGuinty's against it, anyway. McGuinty's dad also raised him to keep his word, and he wanted to, but he needed money for health care, so he had to break a promise.
Tory's grandfather used to shake hands with people; his word was his bond. Tory is also against recall legislation, I think. Actually, I'm not sure.
Hampton - wants to talk about low-income families that lost money in a clawback. Nothing about recall legislation. Which is fine with me, since I still don't know what that is.
Tory is really frustrated.
McG's getting beat up, but not flustered, and is attacking both Tory & Hampton. I think he sees Hampton as a threat!
Moderator wants an actual answer to the question - turns out everyone is against recall legislation, whatever that is.
Employment
NDP - we've lost many jobs. It's the Liberals' fault. It's the fault of increasing hydro costs. We need an industrial hydro rate that is consistent. Wants an independent jobs commissioner. Wants a skills economy.
CON - Ontario is "dead last" in job creation this year. Liberals brought in huge tax increase, which makes it worse. Lots of rhetoric. No mention of a plan.
LIB - Everything in Ontario is great, don't know what anyone else's problem is. We have the lowest unemployment rate in 17 years.
Poverty
CON - Visits vulnerable neighbourhoods. Almost said he had lived in them, but not quite. Will revitalize low-income neighbourhoods. Introduce and increase mentorship programs. Will open schools with proper recreational facilities.
LIB - We are one large extended family. (I'm a little nauseous) We have increased disability, social assistance, child benefits, brought back student grants. Now we're going to give free dental to poorest families.
NDP - Raise minimum wage to $10/hour now. McG raised his own pay, but not the minimum wage. Liberals keep clawing back. We need provincial dental program, and roll back tuition fees and apprenticeship fees.
Crime
LIB - We've funded new officers, new crown attorneys; we have "guns and gangs" strategy (catchy, isn't it?) Going to offer positive alternatives to young people. Wants to ban handguns.
NDP - population grew faster than police force. Punish wrongdoers, devote resources to prevention, for at-risk youth.
CON - Brokenhearted at going to funerals for victims of crime. People being accused of murder are people with criminal records already. Handguns are already banned. Liberals have "catch-and-release" justice system. Will fix justice system (wow - that would be impressive) and be transparent. (Also would be impressive)
Moderator is wondering why he agreed to do this. "Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Gentlemen - forgive me!" (For what? For moving the debate along.)
Tuition
NDP - one of their pet issues. Roll back or freeze university and apprenticeship fees. Thrilled to answer the question.
CON - regulate tuition fees. Take a 2nd look at the system that assumes parents are paying for kids. Also look at ancillory fees. (What is this? I don't even know how to spell it.)
LIB - We're smaller in population than China and India. (don't know why this is relevant) We're going to give $300 textbook grant to all students.
Entirely Random Fun "Facts" or Frustrating Statements in No Particular Order
McG - "The fact is, your party (Conservative) left us with a multi-billion dollar deficit, and it takes awhile to recover from that"
Tory - "Why did the Liberals do nothing for 4 years, and wait until the last minute to have a plan?"
Hampton - "Mr. McGuinty, you must have been the only person in Ontario that didn't know the Conservatives left a $5 billion deficit."
Hampton - "The reason the unemployment rate has gone down is because people are leaving."
Tory - "The jobs you are creating are third-world jobs, at half the pay people had before. You're a high-taxing, low-paying, uncertain, unstable kind of government"
McG - "Bombardier is pleased with us"
McG (answering question about poverty) - "Babies are now tested for 7 genetic diseases, not just 2"
McG (repeatedly) - "I just can't be as negative as Mr. Tory and Mr. Hampton"
Everyone Throughout, with Great Sincerity & Shocked Righteous Indignation: "That's not true." "No, the fact is exactly the opposite." "That is a lie." "The fact is..."
And now we're an hour into this debate, and they're repeating themselves, so I think I'm done.
Still undecided. Except I am certain that the moderator should have the on/off switch for everyone's microphone.
You?
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
where's jeremy?
http://www.jeremycurry.com/
Check it out over the next few months, to follow Jeremy's adventures in England!
For those of you who don't know, Jeremy has commented in this space a few times, and he's a part of Crossfire - he's a thinking type, with a dry sense of humour that cracks me up! He's in England for a 6-month Bible course that attracts international students from all over.
...Should make for some great stories...
I'll post his link to the left - check it out from time to time!
Check it out over the next few months, to follow Jeremy's adventures in England!
For those of you who don't know, Jeremy has commented in this space a few times, and he's a part of Crossfire - he's a thinking type, with a dry sense of humour that cracks me up! He's in England for a 6-month Bible course that attracts international students from all over.
...Should make for some great stories...
I'll post his link to the left - check it out from time to time!
Monday, September 17, 2007
painting
Today, I am going to my brother-in-law's house to paint.
Which is also my sister's house, but when it's about painting, I say it's my b-i-l's house.
Because I have had several disasters there, which is actually unlike me when it comes to painting, but he has unsuspectingly returned home to each of the disasters, and has never banned me from the property. Which is awfully nice, I think.
Two of the disasters involved spray paint. And let me just tell you right now, no matter what the books say (I always read instructions before experimenting), spray paint indoors DOES NOT WORK. Not for stencilling or anything else. Despite your VERY BEST EFFORT, it will lightly and unobtrusively drift across the floor, and you won't even notice until your b-i-l comes home, walks across the floor, and says, "Why are my socks turning blue?"
(That's when I left.)
OR, despite your very best Martha-Stewart-style paper shield around the sprayer, the dark blue paint (aimed at the stencil at the top of the wall) will splatter all over the freshly painted, crisp white ceiling.
(Again, I left.)
OR, the very worst time, was when he and I (and my sister) were all working frantically to finish my nephews' room while they were away. Again, I had read the instructions. And I had learned from the past, so I confirmed the instructions with a salesperson who knew what they were doing. I was ready to go. Had a little tool and special paint to magically create a wood-grain fence on the wall.
Didn't work. Just didn't show up at all.
I couldn't leave. I wanted to. My b-i-l was so kindly pretending that he couldn't hear me whispering to my sister, "I don't really know what to do...."
In the end - I grabbed a completely wrong tool, and did it the wrong way, and it worked great.
And since then, no more disasters.
Hopefully there will be no disasters today.
Which is also my sister's house, but when it's about painting, I say it's my b-i-l's house.
Because I have had several disasters there, which is actually unlike me when it comes to painting, but he has unsuspectingly returned home to each of the disasters, and has never banned me from the property. Which is awfully nice, I think.
Two of the disasters involved spray paint. And let me just tell you right now, no matter what the books say (I always read instructions before experimenting), spray paint indoors DOES NOT WORK. Not for stencilling or anything else. Despite your VERY BEST EFFORT, it will lightly and unobtrusively drift across the floor, and you won't even notice until your b-i-l comes home, walks across the floor, and says, "Why are my socks turning blue?"
(That's when I left.)
OR, despite your very best Martha-Stewart-style paper shield around the sprayer, the dark blue paint (aimed at the stencil at the top of the wall) will splatter all over the freshly painted, crisp white ceiling.
(Again, I left.)
OR, the very worst time, was when he and I (and my sister) were all working frantically to finish my nephews' room while they were away. Again, I had read the instructions. And I had learned from the past, so I confirmed the instructions with a salesperson who knew what they were doing. I was ready to go. Had a little tool and special paint to magically create a wood-grain fence on the wall.
Didn't work. Just didn't show up at all.
I couldn't leave. I wanted to. My b-i-l was so kindly pretending that he couldn't hear me whispering to my sister, "I don't really know what to do...."
In the end - I grabbed a completely wrong tool, and did it the wrong way, and it worked great.
And since then, no more disasters.
Hopefully there will be no disasters today.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
worth a thousand words!
This picture courtesy of and with the permission of the wig-wearer.
Verrrry nice.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
hair regrets
OK, if you were at CF on Sunday night, you heard the story.
The story of a long-ago wig. The teller of the story says himself that he looked like a french poodle.
It was a very spiritual moment at our church; great laughter fell upon us all.
So...to the one who wore the wig...just wondering...which of these pictures is most accurate?
And for everyone else...got any hair-regrets that you'd like to share with us?
Thursday, September 06, 2007
mean people
Ugh. There seems to be an excess of mean people crossing my days this week.
Not mean TO me; I'm just hearing about, reading about, seeing MEAN PEOPLE all around me!!
It's the arguing that drives me crazy. Especially online, anonymous arguing, done by Christians, you know, the ones who feel it's their sole purpose in life to tell everyone else where they are ETERNALLY WRONG. They bash the living daylights out of someone who is so obviously baiting them, all in the name of "truth".
In my slogging through things this week, I have had to work through a few websites that are ENTIRELY DEVOTED to making lists of people and organizations that are wrong. With back-up articles to explain WHY they are wrong. Nowhere is there a single statement of, "Wow, here's something good that's happening."
And then there are the unreasonable people that you can't get away from, but you can't resolve anything with, because ... as I said ... they are not reasonable.
Ugh.
Again - none of it is AT me. But it's GETTING to me this week.
Help! Tell me some good stories! Remind me of what's good in the world!
Not mean TO me; I'm just hearing about, reading about, seeing MEAN PEOPLE all around me!!
What is that about??????!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why is everyone so crusty???!!!!!!!!!!!
It's the arguing that drives me crazy. Especially online, anonymous arguing, done by Christians, you know, the ones who feel it's their sole purpose in life to tell everyone else where they are ETERNALLY WRONG. They bash the living daylights out of someone who is so obviously baiting them, all in the name of "truth".
In my slogging through things this week, I have had to work through a few websites that are ENTIRELY DEVOTED to making lists of people and organizations that are wrong. With back-up articles to explain WHY they are wrong. Nowhere is there a single statement of, "Wow, here's something good that's happening."
And then there are the unreasonable people that you can't get away from, but you can't resolve anything with, because ... as I said ... they are not reasonable.
Ugh.
Again - none of it is AT me. But it's GETTING to me this week.
Help! Tell me some good stories! Remind me of what's good in the world!
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
running
I was out running this morning!
Good for me!
(I haven't been running for awhile, and let's leave "awhile" undefined, OK?)
But there's a race coming up that I might participate in ... so I put on the shoes today and got back at it.
I'm all proud.
Also...sheepdog gave me a blogging award!!! How nice is that??!!!
Sad note - my coffee grinder died today.
It will be replaced tonight.
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