Blog of Doom

Now that school has started, I’m on the lookout for new phrases by Morgan. I can usually get a little insight into what’s going on at school by listening to what he’s saying. A little before he started school his new phrases were “What’s going on?” and “What’s your problem?” He says them all the time now.

Some of his old school phrases from Kindergarden:

“Stay out of the teacher’s room.”

“No hitting teacher.”

“Good job! Nice asking!”

“I need help please!”

“Don’t touch the window!”

What will it be this year? I shudder to think about it.

Here’s one of Morgan saying daddy’s current favorite phrase.

Update
Just FYI, I recorded this on my iBook’s internal mike in Garage Band, exported to iTunes, then converted it to mp3 in iTunes, attached in ecto and published. Sweet! I love my Mac!!!

Well, Morgan’s Inflatable Insanity visit was Saturday instead of Sunday this week. He’s missed a few because he was very naughty and naughty boys don’t get to go to Inflatable Insanity. This week he was extra good.

We got there a little late, and this time Ash came with us. We were going to do the weekly grocery shopping this week, so that’s why she came along. Usually, its just Morgan and me. I watched Morgan while Ash got to speak to other adults. It’s a rare treat for her, so I didn’t mind keeping an eye on Morgan. I think she had a good time. She got some email addresses and new correspondents. She told me later that someone mentioned that she should be a political activist. She has some strong opinions about circumcision and the causes of autism.

Morgan, of course, went straight for the matchbox cars. I just shake my head at this. He has almost a hundred of them at home, and he loves going on the slide, jump room and obstacle course, so I wonder what makes him go for the cars. Probably because they are familiar and he knows how to play with them. I’m not a psychologist, so I don’t know for sure.

Eventually, Morgan started going around playing on the inflatable slide and such. This was a good session, because there were no bad influences around. Some of the other kids can get Morgan into trouble. He loves to play with other kids, and likes to follow them around copying them. Unfortunately, these other kids are sometimes not very well behaved. Nothing drastic, but still borderline bad.

He was really tired out by the time we were all done. We went to Wal-Mart for our grocery shopping and he was in a pissy mood because he was pretty tired. He sat in the shopping cart and basically fell asleep. He lays his head down on my arm and just zones out. Of course, we had to visit the fan section of the store first. That is a given. Once that was done, we got the groceries and he zoned out for the most part.

I bet Ash $10 that he would get his second wind by the time we got home and wouldn’t feel like sleeping at all. It was around 9:30 p.m. when we arrived at home, and of course he was full of energy. I guess he rested up in the store.

When he finally went to bed he crashed hard, going to sleep very quickly. We usually simulate a marching band going through the house when we know he’s asleep, with the base drums and cymbols and all. We’re bad that way. It’s just a cause for celebration when he finally goes to sleep. If you have a child you know what I mean, if you have a child with autism, you understand.

Yes, I was making up for not posting anything this week.

I have a Moleskin full of other ideas for posts. Coming soon.

Lies, Damn Lies, and Limbaugh’s Press Release About Progressive Radio:

Yesterday, Rush Limbaugh, through his radio syndicator Premiere Radio Networks, sent out a press release titled “Limbaugh Leads the Race Against Liberal Talkers,” purportedly comparing his ratings to those of progressive talk stations.

<snip>

The reality is that in several major markets, ratings for progressive talk are booming. In Denver, Air America’s ratings are up 500% from one year ago. Seattle’s newly talk-formatted KPTK, doubled in the winter [ratings] book, Portland’s KPOJ-AM grew 1000% in audience share. In conservative San Diego, KLSD-AM went up 73%. Other markets with similar success include: Boston, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Sacramento and Columbus. Rush is even on the verge of being overtaken in his own home state.

An even more interesting comparison is found when looking at stations with integrated lineups that carry both Rush and a progressive host. In that apples-to-apples comparison, we see that Rush Limbaugh and Ed Schultz are actually very competitive.

(Via Think Progress.)

Blah, blah, blah. I disagree with just about everything Rush Limbaugh says, but come on! Can anyone name these “progressive” broadcasters who are beating him? Want to know who is winning the ratings war? The guy whose name everyone knows. I’ve heard of Rush Limbaugh, I haven’t heard of your guys. Ed who?

Bush signs the $286 billion highway bill:

Because you can never have too much pork:

President Bush signed a $286.5 billion highway bill on Wednesday that he said would create new jobs but which critics contend is stuffed with billions of dollars worth of lawmakers’ pet projects.

<snip>

And don’t get me wrong: if the money appropriated by this bill does some good, that’s wonderful. But the special interests involved is just more of what we have come to expect out of Bush-approved legislation.

(Via Daily Kos.)

Sorry guys, but the Republicans learned about pork from you Democrats. The student has now become the master. Plus, you can’t even see that the pork and extra programs are wrong whether or not they are useful or do some good. If you have a good idea for a spending program, introduce your own damned bill.

Of course this doesn’t even address the fact that the highway bill is immoral anyway. Let’s take 286 billion dollars from everyone in the country for something they don’t necessarily agree with. If someone wants a highway so badly, let the people who want it pay for it.

In Romance with USA, Americans Play Hard to Get:

<snip>

In fact, it’s difficult to know just what Americans do approve of. Only 39% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the Supreme Court, which means that the public disapproves of all three branches of government.

And the media? It turns out that Americans like (and trust) those folks less and less. A Pew Study found that in 1985 84% of Americans could “believe most of what they read in their daily newspaper.” By 2004 that figure had fallen to just 54%

And yet, in a bizarre instance of cognitive dissonance, Americans are still some of the most patriotic people on the planet: a recent Roper poll found that 8 in 10 people think patriotism is “in,” and consider themselves very patriotic.

Is this evidence that Americans like America, and simply hate everything in it?

(Via Think Progress.)

No, it’s evidence that Americans love their country but hate their government. Clinton didn’t understand either.

And if you want to hear something creepy from outer space, c…:

And if you want to hear something creepy from outer space, check out this eerie recording of Saturn’s radio emissions. Couldn’t be any better if it was in a scene from 2001 or Twilight Zone. (Seriously, click through to listen, I promise it will be worth it

(Via Critical Section.)

Is Saturn really hell, home to damned souls? You be the judge! When I played it, Morgan ran to the back door to see what cool thing was making that noise. When he realized it was coming from my computer, he asked me to play it again.

Last week I learned something new about Ash. She’s would make a good piggybank robber.

The other day, I saw a commercial from Wells Fargo about a woman to who put IOUs in her daughter’s piggy bank. I’ve seen it before, but this time, I thought of something.

I said “How does she get the money out without smashing the pig?”

Ash immediately replied, “A butter knife stuck down the slot.”

No hesitation whatsoever.

Hmmmm.

Ash got me a pair of Moleskine notebooks for my birthday. She got them after my birthday, but still they were my present. For those of you who know me well, you will know that I love stationery. I love paper in most of its forms. I collect business and calling cards, for example. I love little notebooks of all types, and I’ve been searching for the perfect notebook most of my life. I like using computers to write with these days, but there is still something about paper and pen that I keep coming back to. I recently found my favorite pen, so I’m on my way to a Zen state of perfection.

These are pretty nice books with a long history. The Moleskine notebooks are very nice, but they could be about 50% bigger and about 50% cheaper. They are incredibly expensive, but now I know what I’m looking for in a notebook. I like the really small ones for writing notes when I’m listening to podcasts or for recording my thoughts on a blog post (like this one!)

I haven’t used the big one yet. I’m saving it for something, but I don’t know what, yet.

Things I like:

• Hardbound. Easy to write on.
• Built in ribbon bookmark, like you find in good books.
• Acid free paper, so I can show them to my grandchildren.
• Threadbound binding so they stay flat when you open them.

Things I don’t like:

• They are hideously expensive.

It looks like the softcover ones aren’t that expensive, but I can find those anywhere. I’m going to look for replacements in local stationery stores or office supply stores. I think I’ll have some luck at a good bookstore where they keep the journals, too. Decisions, decisions. Of course, if you buy them in bulk, they are cheaper.

Let me just say that I really really like these notebooks. They are very good, and are probably worth every penny. I just can’t justify buying them for myself until I hit the lottery or Ash’s web design business takes off and I can start sponging off her.

[composed and posted with ecto]

UPDATE
Hank thoughtfully provided a link to less expensive Moleskine notebooks.

UPDATE
Aunty Spam graciously points out that I forgot to mention the secret pocket in the back of the Moleskine. I can’t believe I forgot that!