Saturday, December 31, 2005

Ring Out the Old

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

and days of auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, our friends,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet

for auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

and days of auld lang syne.

And here's a hand, our trusty friends

and give us hands o' thine,

We'll take a cup of kindness yet

fooooooor auuuuuuuulllllld laaaaaaaaaaaaang syne.

For everyone who journals, we wish for you peace and contentment, wherever you may go and whatever you may do. May the New year bring you fulfillment.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

            2006

 

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

New Life

I wanted to make of this a poem, but poetry comes not easily to me, so prose it shall have to be.

A small, pointed snout and a pair of liquid ebon eyes projects from the darkened enclosure. Sinuously, the mother emerges and advances a short way, peering about, alert for threatening movements. Seeing no danger, she rotates halfway toward her starting point and pauses, watchful and waiting. Two tiny noses then manifest, one above the other and very close together, identical sets of whiskers twiddling madly away. Two little heads emerge, eyes throwing out minuscule points of bright light like an onyx pierced by a moonbeam. Reluctant, anxious, they peer at their mother, hoping for her quick return. Return she does, but only for a moment, retreating and staring back toward them, silently urging them forward, her pelt of ash, earth and foam rippling with the muscles beneath.

Tumbling over each other, the pair advance partway through the small arch, outsize ears wheeling about like wee satellite dishes, before rapidly snaking back through the opening and disappearing anew into the impenetrable interior of the enclosure. The proud but exasperated mother peers briefly at the humans watching the tableau before trailing after the kits.

Long moments pass, as we wait and wonder what will happen next.

Mother reappears, halting just outside the opening, glancing back and seeming to make a come-hither motion with her head. She shifts forward and back, forward and back, and one tiny head comes into view, senses sampling the surroundings. Quickly the mother moves to the diminutive charcoal-colored kit and leans against the young one’s haunch before it can vanish once more. Pressing against it, pushing it from the doorway, urging it forward, she directs it toward the food and water that has been temporarily situated to provide a private place for the young ones to eat and drink.

After the first kit had been encouraged to stay at the small food bowl and eat, mother returned to her abode and brought forth the sibling, prodding it forward as she had the other. The first greeted the second, and they set about examining the dishes and the small shreds of soft cheese to which their sensitive noses quickly led them.

Their mother’s milk had dried up a week ago, and she had been bringing seeds and small chunks of nuts to them to accustom them to their new diet, but now it is time for them to learn new ways and establish their own homes. They will find empty enclosures and abundant nest material with which to furnish them, and set up housekeeping (with some help) for themselves. They were reluctant to be parted from their mother and ousted from their home, but all young ones must eventually make their own way in the world ... it is the way of maturity and life.

Peace.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Post-Christmas Props

It's time to break out the eggnog again, more visitors have been by.

Hello once more to Bedazzzled1. Stop by her journal Bedazzled and say hi. Also say hi to Don. His journal The High Watch may be intriguing to you.

(Honey, the mice have been into the eggnog again. How do they do that?)

Peace.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Christmas

As nearly as historians have been able to determine, roughly 2005 years ago, a Child was born. Whether you believe that He was a true son of God, or whether you believe that He was an ordinary human teacher, preacher and prophet, it is undeniable that He existed, and that He is the most famous person ever to have lived, not only in terms of recognition but also in sheer span of time. No other person has had such enormous impact on so many people over such a voluminous stretch of years.

It is for this reason that we celebrate the moment of His birth. His nativity led to the birth of a religion that has undergone many changes and fostered many variations, but Christians remain united in their belief that Jesus is the Savior. Whether He truly is or no, His life commands a certain respect.

No matter how you regard the Bible, whether as literal truth or a beautiful exposition of the human condition, the words of Jesus Christ reveal a Being who had great love and respect for His fellows, and through those words He attempted to teach people how they might reach Heaven. If you live your life according to His precepts, you cannot help but become a caring, sharing, loving person.

So in this season of Jesus’s birth, take some time to read the New Testament and meditate upon the words that He spoke, the concepts that He espoused, and remember the love that He held for us.

Peace.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Bon & Mal's Weekly Sunday Puzzle Page

You all know by now what's coming - but first, #4's theme journaler was Albert, in case you're following along. This is puzzle #9 (can't believe we've actually managed to create that many.)

The anagram/fill-in portion features the first name and the screen name of this week's theme journaler.

This puzzle is sponsored by Bayer Corporation, producers of the fine OTC tablets Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine (sparkling ORIGINAL flavor). When your head is throbbing in sync with your pulse, and no air can pass through your nasal passages, there is no better product for obtaining temporary relief.

Next Sunday there will be no puzzle, in honor of Christmas Sunday. All of you will be celebrating in your own special ways, and so will we, in our quiet fashion.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

HAPPY CHANNUKAH

JOYFUL KWANZAA

AND

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

And, as ever,

peace on earth, good will to all Creator's creatures.

Bonnie & Malcolm Mott

 

Saturday, December 17, 2005

More Props

Hello and welcome, Tammy. It's nice to meet you. Hey, friends and neighbors, check out her journal The Daily Warrior and say hi.
Peace.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Props Are Eternal

We'd like to welcome a new visitor to our small property. Her name is Maryanne and she owns 3 journals: My Feelings Are Real, Inside the Gilded Cage and Dark Side of the Moon. Please go visit and say hi to her.

We'd also like to acknowledge and greet another freshly minted visitor: (until we learn his name) he shall be referred to as RedsneakzHis journal is called Separation Anxiety. Go discover why he thinks his blog is worthless.

Good props come in threes, so we urge you to visit Carlos at his journal (damn, Carlos, you have to teach me how to upend the ?; I've no idea) where you'll find some intriguing musings.

Peace.

Points of Light

We're going to echo Lori over at Purple Snapdragons. There used to be, back in the late '50s and '60s, a Bishop from Rochester named Fulton J. Sheen who broadcast  a religious program from a local studio. He signed off every show with "If everyone lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be."

Light your own candle today.

Peace to all.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Why You Should Speak Clearly and Listen Closely

As published first in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle:

As next published in our local ad rag, two days later:

 

As much as we like to have fun with Village Fair, it is well known for the quality of the meat that is sold there, and it truly is freshly cut, and is priced reasonably for a place that is not much bigger than a hole-in-the-wall. People come from a wide surrounding area, even the people with real money who live in the Town of Pittsford, to avail themselves of the three butchers who barely have room to sqeeze past each other. If you ever pass through the small town of East Rochester, drive down the main drag  and look to the north to spot it. Then stop in and get yourself some mighty good meat. Tell 'em Malcolm sent ya.

YES, aol, THIS IS A BONA FIDE ADVERTISEMENT, NOT SOME OBNOXIOUS PROMOTION THAT CLUTTERS UP OUR JOURNAL AND OFFENDS THE EYE.

Now for something completely different, yet eerily reminiscent. We received in the mail a notice from Time Warner Cable (companion corporate scum of aol) that a settlement in a lawsuit is pending (it's been going on since 1998 and NO ONE EVER TOLD US SUBSCRIBERS UNTIL NOW) in regard to the fact that Time Warner was selling subscriber information without our knowledge or consent.

Now that a settlement is near, we are finally informed that we can either -

Submit  a Claim Form

Exclude Ourselves

Object

Go to a Hearing (Yeah. Right.)

or

Do Nothing (Oh yeah. This is an option.)

And of course there is a deadline.

We could object by writing to the Court (actually, the Court plus a Class Counsel plus a Defense Counsel.) Do you suppose this would get us anywhere at all?

We could exclude ourselves from the settlement, hire a lawyer, and rapidly expend our small competence, thereby putting ourselves in peril of penury. This option is made more difficult in that we must actively "opt out" by letter, by a deadline. 

What do we, the aggrieved consumers receive in return for the sale of our private information?

One free month of any Time Warner Cable service that we don't already have, or two free Movies on Demand.

Either option forces us to upgrade to their set-top rental box and pay extra for the privilege. We begin to see a similarity between the business attitudes and practices of the sister companies - in short, screw the consumer.

Meanwhile, what do the lawyers, guardians of our precious rights receive? O lucky lawyers! Attorneys' fees and expenses in the amount of $5,000,000, plus $2500 each for two Class Representatives, AND the costs of administering the settlement. After 7 years spent in litigation, the very idea reeks of rank bribery.

We have finally discovered a position on which we and George W. Bush can totally agree. Pursue tort reform rapidly and vigorously. (Whatever happened to tort reform, anyway?)

Ah well. Peace.

 

Monday, December 12, 2005

Bon & Mal's (Slightly Late) Weekly Sunday Puzzle Page

We've just finished the daily round of emails and journal readings, and now it's time to unveil the latest puzzle. It has been brought to our attention that perhaps our instructions are not thorough enough, so we've made an attempt to offer some actual clues (this is specific to last week's puzzle, not this week's.)

Every row across and every column down can contain only one each of the 9 listed letters. In addition, each block of 9 boxes can contain only one of the listed letters. By a process of elimination, you'll discover that a particular space can only contain one letter.   If you really want to try it, here are some tips for last week's puzzle - the grid can be coded like this -   

     A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

In box #8, in column A, there is an O. No more Os can be placed in column A or in the bottom left-hand block of 9 boxes. In box #6, in column C, there is another O. No more Os can be placed in column C or in the center left-hand block. There is only one box left in which the third O can be placed - box #1 in column B. The same applies to the F in box E6 and the F in box F7. Eventually, you'll find more boxes where only one letter is the proper one.  

 This week's anagram/fill-in features the first name of a journaler and the initials of the condition with which she lives.

    

I have been assured by Bonnie (chief tester and troubleshooter) that this is easy - she rated it at most **. (Why isn't there a star symbol on this keyboard?)  

We hope you enjoy our efforts.  

 Peace.    

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Twice-Tagged

We have been tagged by two wonderful people, Christina and Louie, so we’d better do this or we’ll be the recipients of bad karma forever and ever, amen.

We are requested to list ten things that make us deliriously happy, and then we must force five others to do the same. A second request is that we do this individually. (Sorry, Christina, but we’ve been together so long, we tend to be pleased by the same things.)

1. The love that we hold for each other

2. Mal's 'burgers / Bonnie's pot roast

3. The incomparable splendor of a starry night in June

4. Gamboling mice

5. A comfortable retirement

6. Dividends

7. The soft sound of rain on the roof, knowing we are safe inside / The lonely sound of a faraway train

8. Puzzles

9. Life

10. The knowledge that, through journaling, we have discovered some wonderful, sharing people

Now don’t pass around a meme asking us to list 10 things for which we’re thankful, because we’ll just reprint this list.

Now - Lori, Marti, Vicki, Deanna and Celeste - you’re it.

Yes, you’ve been tagged.

Peace.

Thursday, December 8, 2005

Pages From an Unkept Journal

WALKS IN THE WOODS PART FIVE

 

We have occasionally tangentially referred to the fact that back in the ‘80s, our yard was literally crawling with wildlife. We have no backyard - there is perhaps a 5-foot strip of earth that separates the back of our home from a series of wooded ravines that are home to an amazing quantity and variety of animals. When abundant food is made available, they will flock to it, and we have virtual albums filled with memories of that time.

It began in the early ‘80s - at the time I was temporarily unemployed, and had decided to mow the lawn on this particular day. Our utility shed is located on the side of the ravine, and it was necessary for me to go 12' down the hill to retrieve or stow the ‘mower. As I returned up the hill from putting the ‘mower away, my foot caught in a small depression and I fell, twisting my left ankle as I toppled forward. I may have lost consciousness for a few moments, but when I surfaced through a haze of pain, I witnessed, as if by a miracle, a large flock of perhaps 40 sparrows foraging in the middle of the lawn, paying me no attention whatsoever. It was a vision that took my breath away, simply because I had never before experienced such an occurrence so close at hand. The plain little birds completely ignored me and I was privileged to witness them as they conducted the important business of winnowing the mown grass for tidbits and occasionally squabbling with one another, hopping up and down and chirping excitedly.

I lay where I was, stretched flat upon the ground, ankle throbbing, waiting for the pain to recede, watching, until a passing car startled the flock. A chorus of cheeping ensued as the sparrows fled to a neighboring roof, paused, then once again took flight, disappearing for good. Still slightly mazed from having watched the prolonged and marvelous tableau, I managed to stand and hobble into the house. I lay down and thought, "Wouldn’t it be wonderful if that were a common occurrence?"

Many peanuts and 25-lb. bags of sunflower seeds later, dream became reality. We began to keep a life list and recorded 56 varieties of feathered visitors, and every species of small (and sometimes large) animal that inhabits a woodland eventually made its way into our welcoming yard.

One of the most memorable scenes that we were privileged to have witnessed is a little tale we like to refer to as

THE CAT WHO WOULD STALK A DEER

Among the many visitors to our little (and we do mean little, the lot is about 30' across and 90' deep) yard were a doe and her two fawns. They came, we supposed, for the millet and sunflower seeds, although we had always thought of deer as eaters of vegetation and bark. They would frequently come in the early dusk, when the neighborhood had quieted from the bustle of the day. We stepped out the door one late summer evening to enjoy the cooling air and saw the trio, noses buried in the pile of seed. We stood motionless as they glanced in our direction, their legs flexing in preparation for flight. Deciding that we were no threat, they returned to the seed as we eased very slowly down onto our steps. We sat watching as the deer devoured the seed.

From the corners of our eyes, we witnessed one of the numerous neighborhood cats, Blackie, little more than a kitten, creeping into the yard, eyes glued to the deer. It stalked forward, low to the ground, carefully and slowly stretching out each front leg and easing its body along behind. We watched, amazed that this small feline apparently believed itself to be capable of taking down one of the large creatures.

The doe finally took notice of this and she and the fawns raised their black muzzles, comically coated with pale millet seeds. They watched Blackie as he began to flank them, hoping, perhaps, to leap upon one of them from behind. Slowly their heads rotated as the cat maneuvered into position and then crept gingerly forward.

The doe waited, watchful, until the cat was perhaps two feet from her. Then, almost carelessly, she stretched out her hind leg and flicked her hoof in the direction of the cat, not quite connecting with its nose. The cat looked shocked, taken aback at the irreverence with which it had been treated, and, as the doe watched it, slunk slowly away, glancing back over its shoulder to make sure the deer weren’t about to follow it. The deer placidly returned to their meal and the cat presumably went in search of something smaller and easier to stalk. The cervines eventually devoured whatever seed there was, raised their heads and considered us for some moments, then ghosted into the woods, quickly disappearing down the hill and into the heavier growth. It was a most satisfactory experience.

Peace.

 

Tuesday, December 6, 2005

A Candle in the Darkness

The mournful howl of a hound could not have sounded quite as bleak as the lonely wail of the ship’s horn as it disturbed the silence of the moonless night. The coast, the pilot knew, was not far off - the ominous cliffs, the chunks of stone lying partly submerged in the ocean below, torn from the bedrock of the planet by ages of slashing wind and sundering waves - mortal danger lying in wait to waylay the unwary and unsuspecting. The pilot could hear the ragged battering of the water against the rocks, but his gaze could not penetrate the darkness, and the dim lamp reflected bleakly back from the dense wall of mist that parted only reluctantly to allow the small ship passage. The pilot sounded the horn anew, a desperate plea for help muted and swallowed by the clouded air and the frothing seas.For a timeless moment, nothing - nothing whatever. Then -

 

 

 

  < Design borrowed from Nightmare Mom

 

A brilliant blade of white sliced through the gloom, momentarily disappearing before returning to slash another swath through the fog. A deep, vibrant blast reverberated through the mist, the voice of Leviathan answering the call of the dolphin. A warmth suffused the pilot’s heart, and he sounded his horn once more in thanks before steering away from the treacherous rocks, sailing out into safer and friendlier waters.

Those who suffer afflictions of the mind, body or spirit are akin to that little ship - sometimes sailing through a perilous environment with nothing to light the way. If they are lucky, they find the lighthouse that they need to escort them to safety. There are a number of harbors into which Bonnie and I have sailed, safe havens inhabited by friendly souls who welcome newcomers into their midst with gladness and respect. We would like, in a belated fashion, to give thanks to and for you friendly souls - the rockers on the porch, the conservative couple, the investor with the marvelous sense of humor, the food and ferret lovers, the tellers of porch tales and guitar players, the revvers, the sufferer of idiot coworkers and flamingo lover, the peach tree poetess, the conqueror of polio, the blonde who would live at the beach, the mother in Michigan, the mom and lover of HP, the Opera Queen, and others whom we may have forgotten. You have been, and are, there for us, and we for you.

Thank you.

Peace.

Sunday, December 4, 2005

Bon & Mal's (Slightly Late) Weekly Sunday Puzzle Page

Well, at least in three time zones it isn't midnight yet, so we're getting this in under the wire. (Sigh) We're finding that puzzles and journaling are in an ongoing battle to see which can be more time-consuming. There must be more hours in the day hidden away somewhere. Maybe if we teleported to a planet with a longer rotational period ...

Well, anyway, here is the 7th edition of the puzzle for all those who wait with bated breath to discover which journaler will be revealed this time around. The journaler revealed in the third puzzle was LeAnn - now you know.

Here it is -

This week's anagram/fill-in contains not only her first name and screen name, but, as a bonus, the full name of her (and our) favorite pet. (Honey, are our mice squinting at me?)

We have promised a couple of people that we will produce our small tale of 'the cat who would stalk a deer', and we will get around to it, we promise. (No! We will! Really!)

Well, that's it for now, friends. The afternoon sleep period got taken up by other things, so we're off. Good night and pleasant dreams.

(Dammit, I forgot again.) These puzzles are absolutely not sponsored by any advertiser except any we might choose. Ignore any unsightly ad that you may see at the top of the journal and instead buy Maxwell House Coffee. It's nourishing, it's non-narcotic, it's delicious and it's highly recommended by 9 out of 10 puzzle constructors.

Peace.

Fun and Games with You- Know-Who

Hey, friends and neighbors. Check this out:

 

Lawsuit Accuses AOL of Illegal Billing

 Email this Story

Dec 2, 5:05 PM (ET)

By JIM SUHR

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) - A lawsuit seeking to potentially cover hundreds of thousands of America Online Inc. subscribers accuses the Time Warner Inc. (TWX) unit of illegally billing customers by creating secondary accounts for them without their consent.

The lawsuit, filed last month in St. Clair County Circuit Court on behalf of 10 AOL customers in six states, claims the company confused and deceived customers about the charges, stalled them from canceling unauthorized accounts and refused to return questioned fees.

"AOL exploits its subscribers' confidential billing information to unlawfully generate additional revenue by charging subscribers for additional membership accounts that they neither order nor request," the lawsuit alleges, calling the scheme "common, uniform and continuing."

The lawsuit, seeking class-action status, mirrors more than a dozen other actions that have been pending in state and federal courts throughout the country, said Stuart Talley, a Sacramento, Calif., attorney representing the plaintiffs in the Illinois lawsuit. All of the federal cases were consolidated in California two years ago, Talley said.

Nicholas Graham, an AOL spokesman, said the Dulles, Va.-based company considers the Illinois lawsuit "a legal rehash that has as much legal value as refiling your personal income taxes from four years ago."

"The important thing is that we deny the allegations now as we've done several times, and we will defend this case as we have other cases accordingly," he said, noting that AOL "takes extraordinary efforts to resolve any issues the members raise." 

"We have safeguards in place now that prevent unauthorized charges, and we have credit and refund policies that do justice to the consumer," he said.

The lawsuit also names ICT Group Inc. (ICTG), a Newtown, Pa.-based outsourcing company AOL retained to respond to customer complaints and billing matters. Messages with ICT seeking comment were not immediately returned Friday.

Plaintiffs include an Illinoisan, two Californians, three Tennesseans, a West Virginian, two Alabamans and a New Yorker.

No hearing date has been set on the Illinois case, which accuses AOL of violating Illinois' Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

The latest lawsuit alleges that AOL misrepresented that subscribers may add up to seven different screen names to a membership account for free. But AOL "in many instances" spun off those screen names into additional membership accounts without the subscribers' knowledge, then charged and collected a separate monthly fee for each account.

The company requires members to pay charges and fees by credit card, electronic withdrawals from their bank accounts or by adding to their telephone bills, giving subscribers no opportunity to review a bill before making a payment, the lawsuit claims.

To maintain its customer base, according to the lawsuit, AOL has instructed customer-service contractors such as ICT to prevent AOL subscribers from canceling their accounts "at all costs" and to resist giving refunds. Customers who complain are offered at least one month of free AOL Internet service instead of refunds or credits, while "unsatisfied customers who insist on canceling or terminating their AOL memberships are obstructed and delayed from doing so," the lawsuit claims.

New York-based Time Warner - the world's largest media company - has been holding exploratory talks with companies including Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) about a potential investment in or sale of AOL, which has become a hot property because of its booming advertising sales and ability to draw in large audiences online.

AOL long was seen as a drag on Time Warner due to the steady decline of the dial-up Internet access business. But in recent months AOL successfully has been revamping its business model, moving away from the subscription business and selling more online advertising.

Peace.

aol Diaspora ... and more props

Gabreael of the journal Gabreael's Body, Mind, & Spirit has stopped by to kindly offer a complete (for the moment) list of journalers who have fully or (like us) partially moved away from aol  and on to other hosters. We will post it both here and in The aol Diaspora so that as many as possible can see it and judge for themselves what the numbers who have left amount to. aol  has informed journalers that this travesty has always been in their business plan and we should simmer down and get used to it. They don't understand their subscribers well, is what we derive from their comments. Oh well.

J-BLOGGERS 1rst ed. December 4, 2005

<li><a href="http://skocl2.blogspot.com/">Alex</a></li>

<li><a href="http://albertsworldofartsyfun.blogspot.com/">AlbGlinka</a></li>

<li><a href="http://sidenotescribbles.blogspot.com/">Alh</a></li>

<li><a href="http://avisionarydiva.blogspot.com/">Amy (Diva)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://riverratcentral.blogspot.com/">Amy (Central)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://stillunhinged.blogspot.com/">Andrea</a></li>

<li><a href="http://pixiedustnme.blogspot.com/">Angel (Pixie Dust)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://simplepleasuresoflife.blogspot.com/">Angel (Pleasures)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://angelia_rian.bravejournal.com/">Angelia (Secrets)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://darkmoondesigns.blogspot.com/">Angelia (Dark Moons)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.annalisa135.blogspot.com/">Anna</a></li>

<li><a href="http://reflectionsofari.blogspot.com/">Ari</a></li>

<li><a href="http://jottingsfromjersey.blogspot.com/">Antonette</a></li>

<li><a href="http://armandt.blogspot.com/">Armandt</a></li>

<li><a href="http://adventuresofaneclecticmind.blogspot.com/">Astaryth</a></li>

<li><a href="http://aynetal3.blogspot.com/">Ayn</a></li>

<li><a href="http://caneyhead.blogspot.com/">Barbara</a></li>

<li><a href="http://ryanagi.blogspot.com/">Becky</a></li>

<li><a href="http://bedazzzled1.blogspot.com/">Bedazzzled</a></li>

<li><a href="http://bethsfrontporch.blogspot.com/">Beth</a></li>

<li><a href="http://boiseladie.blogspot.com/">Boiseladie</a></li>

<li><a href="http://ofmiceandpuzzles.blogspot.com/">Bon and Mal</a></li>

<li><a href="http://mysouthernhome.blogspot.com/">Bookncoffee</a></li>

<li><a href="http://bosoxblue.iblogs.com/">Bosox</a></li>

<li><a href="http://scotsmansnascar.blogspot.com/">Bram</a></li>

<li><a href="http://myworldmyrantbrandyp.blogspot.com/">Brandy</a></li>

<li><a href="http://historicallyfictitious.blogspot.com/">Brenden</a></li>

<li><a href="http://searchingforcandace.blogspot.com/">Candace (Searching)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://kickingthedog.blogspot.com/">Candace (Kicking)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://ellipsissuddenlycarly.blogspot.com/">Carly</a></li>

<li><a href="http://crapjustletmein.blogspot.com/">Cat</a></li>

<li><a href="http://oceansimplicity.blogspot.com/">Chance</a></li>

<li><a href="http://amithinkingthat.blogspot.com/">Charles</a></li>

<li><a href="http://deabvt.blogspot.com/">Cheryl</a></li>

<li><a href="http://inanethoughtsandinsaneramblings.blogspot.com/">Chris</a></li>

<li><a href="http://myjourneywithms.blogspot.com/">Christina</a></li>

<li><a href="http://redsneakz.blogspot.com/">Chuck</a></li>

<li><a href="http://daily-ponderings.blogspot.com/">Colleen</a></li>

<li><a href="http://courtenaymphelan.blogspot.com/">Courtenay</a></li>

<li><a href="http://itsallaboutmeithink.blogspot.com/">Chris</a></li>

<li><a href="http://shesquietplace.blogspot.com/">Cole</a></li>

<li><a href="http://myworldmyrantbrandyp.blogspot.com/">Coy</a></li>

<li><a href="http://acrazyquiltlife.blogspot.com/">Cynthia</a></li>

<li><a href="http://waywardwaif.typepad.com/">Dalene</a></li>

<li><a href="http://simplydarla.blogspot.com/">Darla</a></li>

<li><a href="http://adventuresofaneclecticmind.blogspot.com/">Dawn Allynn</a></li>

<li><a href="http://makingofahome.blogspot.com/">Deb</a></li>

<li><a href="http://derasta.bravejournal.com/profile.php">Debbie</a></li>

<li><a href="http://herethereandeverywhere2ndedition.blogspot.com/">Deslily</a></li>

<li><a href="http://magrove.blogspot.com/">Diva</a></li>

<li><a href="http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariebm56/PhotographsMemoriesToo/">Donna</a></li>

<li><a href="http://saveasecretaryfrominsanity.blogspot.com/">Emily</a></li>

<li><a href="http://dragonrose3911.blogspot.com/">Felicia</a></li>

<li><a href="http://thelifeandtimesofflava.blogspot.com/">Flava</a></li>

<li><a href="http://floraliliahere.blogspot.com/">Floralilia Freely</a></li>

<li><a href="http://theblogburbiatavern.blogspot.com/">Floralilia Wisdom</a></li>

<li><a href="http://gabreaelsbodymindandspirit.blogspot.com/">Gabreael</a></li>

<li><a href="http://classyof68.blogspot.com/">Gail</a></li>

<li><a href="http://searchthesea.blogspot.com/">Gannet Girl</a></li>

<li><a href="http://gatorspictures.blogspot.com/">Gator</a></li>

<li><a href="http://libragem007.blogspot.com/">Gem</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.lotusmartinis.blogspot.com/">Gigi</a></li>

<li><a href="http://singingwithmyheart.blogspot.com/">Heather</a></li>

<li><a href="http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=33749907&Mytoken=645c52c9-f128-4c1c-b897-1742212f43cdML">Holly</a></li>

<li><a href="http://notweirdeccentric.blogspot.com/">Jacki</a></li>

<li><a href="http://chasenkidslife.blogspot.com/">Jaime</a></li>

<li><a href="http://jamilynm.blogspot.com/">Jamilyn</a></li>

<li><a href="http://journals.aol.co.uk/jeffcomedy/WhattheHell/">Jeff</a></li>

<li><a href="http://getithereat.blogspot.com/">Jean Marie</a></li>

<li><a href="http://republicanjen.myblogsky.com/">Jen</a></li>

<li><a href="http://takeastandagainstliberals.blogspot.com/">Jenn</a></li>

<li><a href="http://jenniferandwalter.blogspot.com/">Jennifer</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.bloglines.com/blog/LilJessie">Jessie</a></li>

<li><a href="http://journals.aol.co.uk/ber144/Skelligrants/">Jim</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.stupidsheet.com/">Jimmy</a></li>

<li><a href="http://embark.to/jlandvoices">Jlandvoices</a></li>

<li><a href="http://beyondthecrackedwindow.blogspot.com/">Jody</a></li>

<li><a href="http://emmapeeldallas.blogspot.com/">Judi</a></li>

<li><a href="http://judithheartsong.blogspot.com/">Judith</a></li>

<li><a href="http://outmavarin.blogspot.com/">Karen</a></li>

<li><a href="http://msyahtzee.blogspot.com/">Kari</a></li>

<li><a href="http://sunflowerkat.blogspot.com/">Kat</a></li>

<li><a href="http://katsuergiu.blogspot.com/">Katherine</a></li>

<li><a href="http://chasingmoksha.blogspot.com/">Kathleen</a></li>

<li><a href="http://allthelittlethings2.blogspot.com/">Kell</a></li>

<li><a href="http://pixiedustnme.blogspot.com/">Kelly</a></li>

<li><a href="http://bluwave9.blogspot.com/">Kris</a></li>

<li><a href="http://apoeticdreamerssoul.blogspot.com/">Kristal</a></li>

<li><a href="http://adventuresinjuggling.blogspot.com/">Laura</a></li>

<li><a href="http://strumminalongtothetuneoflife.blogspot.com/">Levi</a></li>

<li><a href="http://libragem007.blogspot.com/">Lily</a></li>

<li><a href="http://wearinmyheart.blogspot.com/">Lisa (Heart)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://thenakedtruthadietersnightmare.blogspot.com/">Lisa (Truth)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://purplesnapdragons.blogspot.com/">Lori</a></li>

<li><a href="http://lupusleftovers.blogspot.com/">Loretta</a></li>

<li><a href="http://befuddledlouie.blogspot.com/">Louie</a></li>

<li><a href="http://lyndaslullaby2.blogspot.com/">Lynda</a></li>

<li><a href="http://citymuse.blogspot.com/">Mara</a></li>

<li><a href="http://journals.aol.co.uk/bizarremar529/InvisibleInk/">Marissa</a></li>

<li><a href="http://magogosmusing.blogspot.com/">Margo</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.contrarywoman.blogspot.com/">Mary (Contrary)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://blog.myspace.com/hunybea4him">Mary (Hunybea)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://midnightdiaries1.blogspot.com/">Mary (Midnight)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://inthewood.blogspot.com/">Mary (Woods)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://insidethegildedcage.blogspot.com/">Maryanne</a></li>

<li><a href="http://allthingsjustkeepgettingstranger.blogspot.com/">Michael (All Things)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://mendingthedream.blogspot.com/">Michael (Dream)</a></li>

<li><a href="http://mortimerscafe.blogspot.com/">Mortimer</a></li>

<li><a href="http://libragem007.blogspot.com/">Mrs. L.</a></li>

<li><a href="http://copiouschatter.blogspot.com/">Nelle</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/catfever7/">Nikki</a></li>

<li><a href="http://detachedandindifferent.blogspot.com/">Omz</a></li>

<li><a href="http://journals.aol.co.uk/his1desire/JustOneGirlsHeadNoiseUK/">Pam</a></li>

<li><a href="http://patricks-place.blogspot.com/">Patrick</a></li>

<li><a href="http://singlemanwriting.blogspot.com/">Paul</a></li>

<li><a href="http://thepeachpages2.blogspot.com/">Peachy</a></li>

<li><a href="http://pokeypinpals.blogspot.com/">Penny</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/poptartcoco/</Poptartcoco</a></li>

<li><a href="http://promisestiger.blogspot.com/">Promise</a></li>

<li><a href="http://intheshadowoftheiris.blogspot.com/">Rebecca Anne</a></li>

<li><a href="http://doinitmyownway46collage.blogspot.com/">Red</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.xanga.com/screaminremo303/">Remo</a></li>

<li><a href="http://bitoblarney.blogspot.com/">Rob</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.robbiesruminations.blogspot.com/">Robbie</a></li>

<li><a href="http://searchthesea.blogspot.com/">Robin</a></li>

<li><a href="http://livefromtheu.blogspot.com/">Sarah</a></li>

<li><a href="http://journals.aol.co.uk/shaz19743/THEMEANINGOFLIFEBUTICOULDBEWRONG/">Shaz</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.spankgraphics.com/blog.html">Shelli</a></li>

<li><a href="http://shellysphotos.blogspot.com/">Shelly</a></li>

<li><a href="http://persnicketypfft.blogspot.com/">Sie</a></li>

<li><a href="http://silkendrum.blogspot.com/">Silk</a></li>

<li><a href="http://stephweiss.blogspot.com/">Smukke</a></li>

<li><a href="http://whatidecide.blogspot.com/">Swt Dlphn</a></li>

<li><a href="http://accusedsuburbanmisfit.blogspot.com/">Sylvia</a></li>

<li><a href="http://djzgirl.blogspot.com/">Stacy-Lynn</a></li>

<li><a href="http://sepintx.blogspot.com/">Steven</a></li>

<li><a href="http://lights4me.bravejournal.com/">Suellen</a></li>

<li><a href="http://adventuresatstarbelle.blogspot.com/">Suzy</a></li>

<li><a href="http://tawnyasjournal.blogspot.com/">Tawnya</a></li>

<li><a href="http://thebludragoness.blogspot.com/">Thebludragoness</a></li>

<li><a href="http://theresawilliams-author.blogspot.com/">Theresa</a></li>

<li><a href="http://tianka.blogspot.com/">Tianka</a></li>

<li><a href="http://paisleyskys.blogspot.com/ TJ http://journals.aol.co.uk/iscribble4u/TheSunriseandtheSunset/">Tom</a></li>

<li><a href="http://trishmonaco.blogspot.com/">Trish</a></li>

<li><a href="http://mymaracas.blogspot.com/">Vicki</a></li>

<li><a href="http://deabvt.blogspot.com/">Vince</a></li>

<li><a href="http://animalnaturespirits.blogspot.com/">Virginia</a></li>

<li><a href="http://thebspotfornwanyioma.blogspot.com/">Vivian</a></li>

<li><a href="http://dailysnooze.blogspot.com/">Wil</a></li>

</h2> <ul>

<li><a href="http://members.aol.com/Aynetal3/JBloggersPleaseCopyFreely.rtf">JBloggersPleaseCopyFreely</a></li>

</h2> <ul>

An impressive list, no? And growing longer each day. aol, observe what you have wrought, and ponder.

If you wish this list for your own purposes, either go to Gabreael's and take it, or you may cut & paste from here.

The Web, after all, is not aol, it is the world, and we are all part of it.

This is not going to go away, aol. It is going to continue until we paid subscribers obtain satisfaction, or until we become free AIM members and no longer are forced to pay for objectionable, obnoxious advertising atop our journals.

Peace.

Roch Props

We have another visitor to greet - a fellow Rochestarian. His name is Charles and his journal is called Am I Thinking That? Go say hi and, if you can stand it, read his recent post on violence on the downtown streets.
Peace.

Saturday, December 3, 2005

A Winter Morning, 4:00 AM

It is curious - the nature of living things seems to be such that the majority prefer patterns to order their existence, pertaining as much to animals as to us humans, as pet owners can attest. There are always exceptions, of course, but in the main, we enjoy and appreciate our rituals and routines. When they are disordered or disturbed, most of us tend to get a touch upset.

 No more perfect example can be found than the uproar over the debacle of aol and the resultant, ongoing furor. Many of us are learning new routines and patterns in a new milieu - some of us may be inspired enough to create our own templates and web pages, just like geeks do. (Oh, come on, Spell Check, geeks is so a word.)(Oh, no, I’m talking to Spell Check - is that a bad sign?)

Routines. Yes. Well, here is our routine. Somewhere between noon and 2:00 pm, we just lower or mute the sound on CNBC and drift off to the realm of Morpheus, waking sporadically and rapidly returning to sleep. Around about 11:00 pm or so, we awaken and begin our ‘morning’ routine, one probably familiar to everyone, save for the fact that I don’t shave. Bonnie watches the news, while I fire up the laptop and crawl onto the Web. We watch a couple of tv shows, and afterwards cook and devour our ‘breakfast’. Then, it’s time to clear out the e-mailbox. This can take a couple of hours, depending on the amount of mail, including adding comments to other journals. By then, the newsletter from the Washington Post has generally been received, or, if not, there’s the My Way news site, catching up on what I missed during ‘breakfast’. Then it’s time to copy sudoku puzzles for Bonnie (from the Chicago Sun Times, the Miami Herald, USA Today, and the Washington Post, for any who can’t get enough of these fiendish things. I’ve drawn a grid and saved it to our files for periodic reprinting; if anyone would like to have a copy, please let us know.)

By this time there are things to watch on tv again, so it’s back and forth between tv and the computer, time spent mainly doing puzzles and jigsaws. We enjoy watching the ‘expert’ guests on CNBC breathlessly hyping this or that stock, particularly CEOs who relish the exposure, but frantically try to avoid imparting to the audience any tidbit that might actually prove useful. Watching Alan Greenspan speak always cracks us up, especially when what he has had to say moves the market appreciably.

Sometimes during the morning (afternoon or early evening to us) we’ll have a smaller meal, leftovers, soup, or a sandwich, and we perform the small domestic duties required to keep our space livable, and of course we keep our mice well supplied with the needs of their existence, and often one or the other of us can be found sitting on the couch stroking one or more of them.

Finally, as I mentioned, somewhere in early afternoon, it’s off to sleep. Such is our routine, and it goes ever on.

Peace and good will.