Jim Rittenhouse's semidaily journal of news, commentary and reports
For all of the folks in Facebook who invite me to participate in a game: Sorry, don’t have the time to play them, and I distrust a lot of the join-this stuff in Facebook anyway. For all the folks anywhere who invite me to events out of town (Chicago): Sorry, too laid up after the [...]
..very quick one. In a fair amount of pain from the operation (and doped up with T3), which went well – lost a pint of blood, and assorted parts of my left foot. Can’t use it at all – very strict doctors orders. And for all those asking, no, I won’t be going to the [...]
I’ve been asked to speak at a Wright State University forum; their Honors Institute is having a symposium on Chinese-American relations called “Connecting With China”, and I’m to talk on “Exploring Issues in Cross-Cultural Adoptions” from 2-4 pm, February 17th. The event is free to the public, but you have to register in advance to [...]
I’m really amazed at the rapid speed I’m making through the VHS tapes. Part of that is that there’s a lot of the BBC stuff that is now available; I was absolutely shocked to find that the Tim Curry ‘Life of Shakespeare’ was available on DVD (I sweat blood finding the VHS). (Yes, I’m very [...]
This part of a piece that Garrison Keillor wrote about his brother’s death really caught me: He always knew what you were doing and he kept his critical opinions to himself. He called me once to ask how I was doing and I knew without his saying so that he knew about some nonsense I [...]
Meredith has the idea that I was always a straight-A student in school; it’s not true. My worst grades in grade school: Handwriting and an English Class in 8th grade when the teacher wanted to teach one book (Treasure Island) for the whole damn year. I blew up in class at her, and she gave [...]
I don’t know what’s worse – the idea of stupid trolling tricks or people bragging about them (whether or not they actually pulled that off). When I was in Wilbur Wright High School, in 1974, the VP of the Junior Class (this is when I was a Senior) streaked a school band concert with only [...]
After seeing CORALINE in the old Tivoli Theater in Downers Grove, Mere is stuck on the Grand Old Theater experience. She noted that it was cheaper, the goodies are nicer, and she truly digs the BIG old thing. Can’t wait for the next movie. Twist my arm, kid.
A poster on Facebook was mentioning about missing their mom; I think I miss her (mine) the most at about 10:30 Central Time at night on my birthday, when I would get a call from her wishing me a happy birthday at the time I was born…(about 11:30 Eastern Time, back in Ohio). I really [...]
On a personal basis, over the last few years due to the Magic Of The Internet, I’ve become re-knowledgeable about the activities of people I hadn’t heard from in a LONG time. This has very much been a good thing from several standpoints: one gets to hear The Rest Of the Story, so to speak, [...]
I, as some of you have probably figured out, am a total news junkie. Yes, it’s true. However, we don’t subscribe to any newspapers. 99.99% of my news stuff is online. *If* I end up with a Kindle for Christmas, I’m thinking about subscribing to the NYT, and maybe the WaPost or the Tribune. But [...]
Probably of utterly no interest to most of you, but there’s been a recent series in Daytonology on the development of the east side of Dayton, which is my home town. I spent – well, from 3rd grade till I graduated from college on that side of town, and it’s the Olde Home for me, [...]
A slight correction – Susan is making Pumpkin Pie, the Squash Casserole mentioned in an earlier post, and the Paula Deen version of Oyster Dressing. Meredith and Connie are helping, and I’m in the basement, making CDs for Marlyce and Connie of some Christmas music Oprah Winfrey had on her show. As to Pumpkin Pie, [...]
Going back to my response posts, I want to stress that I never assume that anyone voting against Obama is a racist, or that Republicans are racists, or that either on the Republican ticket is a racist. I know better. I’ve lived with serious racists, had racism and sexism used against me and mine (you [...]
TV Land on cable is doing a set of great catchphrases on TV over the years (special on this is in December). Here’s part of the list, with the ones I know well bolded (mostly showing how old I am):