I not only have conservative friends, I kind of sort of used to be one. In college. Undergrad.
I can respect and dialogue with conservatives.
But those currently running for the GOP nomination are NOT conservatives They are rabid extreme rightists who want to return this country to the 1920s or earlier. Abolish Social Security. Abolish minimum wage. Allow workplace safety rules. Abolish food and drug regulations. Abolish the income tax. Abolish direct election of U.S. senators. Some even advocate taking away women's right to vote. Others are for limiting the right to vote to only property owners.
They are not conservatives.
They are destroyers.
They hide behind twisted interpretations of the Bible and the Constitution.
They hate America as it is.
They want to destroy this country.
We cannot let that happen.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
So connected, I almost feel cut off . . .
A week ago tonight I was still on the train, returning from New Orleans, alone in my sleeping car roomette.
A week later and I've (a) got the new iPhone 4S (64 gig, enough for everything), and now I'm even on Twitter.
Yet tonight still feels little different from being in that room on the train a week ago.
Perhaps we're all so cyber-connected we are keeping really connected.
Maybe?
A week later and I've (a) got the new iPhone 4S (64 gig, enough for everything), and now I'm even on Twitter.
Yet tonight still feels little different from being in that room on the train a week ago.
Perhaps we're all so cyber-connected we are keeping really connected.
Maybe?
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Just three days back and ready for a break
I never realized that, once I had retired, I'd be thinking about things such as Fall Break.
But, since I'm teaching more courses now than I did when I was a full-time faculty member, I'm getting that "It's almost Fall break" fever.
What's worse is that it's only Tuesday and I've only been back from New Orleans just over two days. (Well, two and a half. )
Next week was to be my trip to Hot Springs, AR for the 20th anniversary celebration of the Documentary Film Festival. I've been every year since 1996, and taken a van load of Lambuth students every year since 1998.
But Lambuth is gone and, apparently, so is my energy for driving six hours each way to see films and meet some people I see once per year.
But, since I'm teaching more courses now than I did when I was a full-time faculty member, I'm getting that "It's almost Fall break" fever.
What's worse is that it's only Tuesday and I've only been back from New Orleans just over two days. (Well, two and a half. )
Next week was to be my trip to Hot Springs, AR for the 20th anniversary celebration of the Documentary Film Festival. I've been every year since 1996, and taken a van load of Lambuth students every year since 1998.
But Lambuth is gone and, apparently, so is my energy for driving six hours each way to see films and meet some people I see once per year.
Friday, October 7, 2011
My life as New Orleans tour guide
"No, I'm not a resident. I just visit here. A lot."
So I replied to the couple from Paris, France, to whom I'd just given directions to a restaurant in the Garden District. Earlier I helped a young couple from California find their way to a vegetarian place on St. Peter. And then there was the couple on the Riverfront streetcar needing to know which stop was closest to Café du Monde. I correctly told them Dumaine St.
Oh, and I did I mention the cab driver from Union Station appreciated my suggestion on the best way to cut through rush hour to Chartres St.? (He also appreciated the tip, I'm sure.)
I'd move here in a minute.
If it wouldn't be such a long commute to my classes at Jackson State.
So I replied to the couple from Paris, France, to whom I'd just given directions to a restaurant in the Garden District. Earlier I helped a young couple from California find their way to a vegetarian place on St. Peter. And then there was the couple on the Riverfront streetcar needing to know which stop was closest to Café du Monde. I correctly told them Dumaine St.
Oh, and I did I mention the cab driver from Union Station appreciated my suggestion on the best way to cut through rush hour to Chartres St.? (He also appreciated the tip, I'm sure.)
I'd move here in a minute.
If it wouldn't be such a long commute to my classes at Jackson State.
Day 2 begins in The Big Easy
Beautiful warm, sunny morning in NOLA. Although I'm going to check in on the goings-on at the conference (for which I'm not actually registered), I've decided this is a day for photography. I bought the adapter for importing photos from my Kodak camera into my iPad, so I can post some while here.
So I'll take my leave of Café Rose Nicaud on Frenchmen Street and head across the Vieux Carré for Canal Street.
So I'll take my leave of Café Rose Nicaud on Frenchmen Street and head across the Vieux Carré for Canal Street.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
"Riding on the City of New Orleans . . "
Eventually I'm going to have to sleep.
I haven't in a while.
If I'd made my Amtrak reservations earlier I could have gotten an affordable roomette (two person private room) on the trip from Newbern to New Orleans. The train comes through Newbern around 4 a.m. and, if I have a bed to get into, I fall asleep right away and arrive in NOLA rested.
Coach, however, is a different story.
Oh, it's much more roomy and comfortable than coach on an airplane. But it's just not conducive to a good night's sleep.
No matter. I'm here in the Crescent City and once I finish my decaf café Americano here at The Orange Couch, my bed is awaiting me a block and a half away at the Lions Inn.
I arrived at the B&B around 4:15, stayed around for the five p.m. ritual of wine and cheese by the pool, then headed into the Vieux Carré (the French name for the French Quarter) to pick up some things.
Like a short sleeve shirt since it's warmer here this weekend than anticipated.
Like ankle socks since I forgot to pack any.
Tomorrow morning I'm heading fo the J.W. Marriott (different from the regular Marriott) to attend some of the annual meeting of the Popular Culture Association-South. I'm not registered, but I'd like to meet some folks in the group.
That will be much easier because two women who boarded at Newbern with me are on the faculty at UT-Martin and are presenting at the conference.
So I have friends already in a group I haven't even joined.
But, for now, The Orange Couch is about to close and I'm headed to sleep.
I haven't in a while.
If I'd made my Amtrak reservations earlier I could have gotten an affordable roomette (two person private room) on the trip from Newbern to New Orleans. The train comes through Newbern around 4 a.m. and, if I have a bed to get into, I fall asleep right away and arrive in NOLA rested.
Coach, however, is a different story.
Oh, it's much more roomy and comfortable than coach on an airplane. But it's just not conducive to a good night's sleep.
No matter. I'm here in the Crescent City and once I finish my decaf café Americano here at The Orange Couch, my bed is awaiting me a block and a half away at the Lions Inn.
I arrived at the B&B around 4:15, stayed around for the five p.m. ritual of wine and cheese by the pool, then headed into the Vieux Carré (the French name for the French Quarter) to pick up some things.
Like a short sleeve shirt since it's warmer here this weekend than anticipated.
Like ankle socks since I forgot to pack any.
Tomorrow morning I'm heading fo the J.W. Marriott (different from the regular Marriott) to attend some of the annual meeting of the Popular Culture Association-South. I'm not registered, but I'd like to meet some folks in the group.
That will be much easier because two women who boarded at Newbern with me are on the faculty at UT-Martin and are presenting at the conference.
So I have friends already in a group I haven't even joined.
But, for now, The Orange Couch is about to close and I'm headed to sleep.
Monday, October 3, 2011
A bit too high tech?
Having a car with "all the latest" technology can be a blessing. Or a pain.
My 2009 Honda Fit was the first one on the dealer's lot that August day in 2008. It was the top of the line model, with built in navigation/sound system, front and rear stabilizer bars and a variety of safety features not yet mandated by the government for another year or so.
One of those features, one that has been on some cars for years, was a tire pressure sensor.
When tire pressure is low in one or more tires, the light comes on. The problem is, it doesn't tell you which tire. But the few times it has happened before, that wasn't hard to tell.
This morning, as I backed out of the carport to head to JSCC for class, the light came on and stayed on. A quick outside inspection indicated all tires were inflated the same.
So instead of driving directly to JSCC and being early for my class, I drove directly to Victory Honda.
There I learned that I was the fifth customer that morning (and it was only 8:15) reporting the problem.
The problem: Temperatures overnight had fallen sharply and lower temps mean lower air pressure. The sensor is apparently quite sensitive about such changes and, thus, the light came on for me. And several other Honda owners.
Actually, I was relieved to find the cause since the tires were just over three weeks old and I dreaded having to get one or more of them repaired.
But I wonder if some of the "high tech" features of my Honda are perhaps a bit too sensitive.
My 2009 Honda Fit was the first one on the dealer's lot that August day in 2008. It was the top of the line model, with built in navigation/sound system, front and rear stabilizer bars and a variety of safety features not yet mandated by the government for another year or so.
One of those features, one that has been on some cars for years, was a tire pressure sensor.
When tire pressure is low in one or more tires, the light comes on. The problem is, it doesn't tell you which tire. But the few times it has happened before, that wasn't hard to tell.
This morning, as I backed out of the carport to head to JSCC for class, the light came on and stayed on. A quick outside inspection indicated all tires were inflated the same.
So instead of driving directly to JSCC and being early for my class, I drove directly to Victory Honda.
There I learned that I was the fifth customer that morning (and it was only 8:15) reporting the problem.
The problem: Temperatures overnight had fallen sharply and lower temps mean lower air pressure. The sensor is apparently quite sensitive about such changes and, thus, the light came on for me. And several other Honda owners.
Actually, I was relieved to find the cause since the tires were just over three weeks old and I dreaded having to get one or more of them repaired.
But I wonder if some of the "high tech" features of my Honda are perhaps a bit too sensitive.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Yankee Kudzu?
Funny title for a blog, right?
Actually, it's not original.
One June night in Atlanta, around 3 a.m., after a night of clubbing (going to clubs, not using clubs), my friend Anthony convinced me to join Live Journal.
Remember Live Journal?
I needed two things: an invite and a blog name.
Anthony, already on Live Journal, offered me the invite.
By 4 a.m. I had come up with a name.
Yankeekudzu.
Yankee, because I am one. Born and raised along the shores of Lake Ontario.
Kudzu, because it spreads everywhere with no particular direction.
Thus this blog is called Yankee Kudzu.
Actually, it's not original.
One June night in Atlanta, around 3 a.m., after a night of clubbing (going to clubs, not using clubs), my friend Anthony convinced me to join Live Journal.
Remember Live Journal?
I needed two things: an invite and a blog name.
Anthony, already on Live Journal, offered me the invite.
By 4 a.m. I had come up with a name.
Yankeekudzu.
Yankee, because I am one. Born and raised along the shores of Lake Ontario.
Kudzu, because it spreads everywhere with no particular direction.
Thus this blog is called Yankee Kudzu.
Here we go again . . .
Isn't blogging supposed to be dead? Or dying? What do I know?
Didn't I try this back in, oh, around 2003? Yes, I did. So did most everyone I know.
We wrote. Few read what we wrote.
But then many still had dialup. And almost no one had a smartphone.
But now I've got Facebook friends.
And I've got people in my Google circles.
And we don't have dialup. And most of us have smartphones.
And we do read what each other writes.
Sometimes.
So here we go again . . .
Didn't I try this back in, oh, around 2003? Yes, I did. So did most everyone I know.
We wrote. Few read what we wrote.
But then many still had dialup. And almost no one had a smartphone.
But now I've got Facebook friends.
And I've got people in my Google circles.
And we don't have dialup. And most of us have smartphones.
And we do read what each other writes.
Sometimes.
So here we go again . . .
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