Carter's Blog

Economic Stimulus Plan.

2009-02-17T00:48:20Z

As a lifelong Democrat, I've never been entirely opposed to big spending by the federal government. I admit, however, that the close-to-a-trillion-dollar stimulus plan due to be signed into law tomorrow gives me pause.

Why?

Because I'm not sure that it's stimulative. I'd rather it just be called the "big government spending bill." That way, it's honest and I can get behind it. I do, after all, agree with much of it - even if it doesn't stimulate.

As it stands, I can only pretend that it will stimulate the economy while knowing that much of it won't, and I feel like I'm telling a half-truth when I talk about a stimulus plan.

Oh - did I mention that I like Arlen Specter?

Losing my edge.

2009-01-31T19:09:28Z

I've felt hopelessly mundane over the past year or so, disinterested in doing anything but sitting around and paying the bills. Granted, I have a very busy life that doesn't keep me at home much, so perhaps when I am home I have the right to just sit around and pay the bills.

I fear irrelevancy, and it seems that the fastest way to that is sitting around and doing a whole lot of nothing. But I just can't seem to muster the energy to do much else. Blah.

Product Review: Beaumont canned Decaf

2009-01-18T03:39:25Z

Beaumont Naturally Decaffeinated Coffee (canned)
13 oz

I love two things for the purposes of this article - coffee, and my local Aldi store.

For those of you unfamiliar, Aldi is a German grocery company that, in the US, sells common and basic grocery items under house brands for about 40% less than the local grocery store.

One won't find Folgers decaf, but one does find "Beaumont" coffees of every stripe.

Aldi has impressed me over the past few years in some of the house-branded items they've offered, and coffee under the Beaumont label is no exception. In addition to the canned stuff, one will also find bags of 100% arabica coffees that compete quite strongly with other premium blends. One of my favorite recent offerings has been their Donut Store Blend with pink packaging suggestive of... well, you know.

To cut right to the chase, I picked up a can of Beaumont Naturally Decaffeinated coffee yesterday for under four bucks. The verdict? Love you Aldi, but Beaumont Naturally Decaffeinated is undrinkable. When it hit my lips, I thought that I might have accidentally filled the coffee filter with cat litter.

I'm no coffee expert, but I do wonder if Beaumont decaf has a high robusta bean content. That might explain the bitter, dirty taste and the punishing, rotten finish.

I was most surprised by the fact that I find Beaumont's instant decaf - probably a lower grade than this, even - much more palatable and even, sometimes, enjoyable.

I'm sure that Beaumont decaf's failings have little to do with Aldi in general, and it is probably a fitting substitute for people used to Maxwell House or Chock Full-O-Nuts canned decaf. For people who like to buy their coffee in bags, however, stay away. You'll only find yourself pouring your coffee from the carafe into the drain, bypassing the mug altogether.

Battlestar Galactica

2009-01-15T02:40:25Z

On the advice of my cousin, I rented Season One of Battlestar Galactica some time ago. Season one was decent, and it kept my interest long enough to get into season two... but now... damn! I just watched three episodes tonight alone. What a superb show!

To what I have been up.

2009-01-12T21:36:30Z

It has been some time since I've updated this journal - it's been a very busy life. I'll spare you, kind audience, the details except to say that I'm well and very happy that Bing Crosby is no longer playing in every store I visit.

I love Christmas, but my decorations were down well before Epiphany. I launch into the New year four pounds heavier, and wondering if 2009 will be the year that my metabolism finally slows to the point that I can't keep the weight off.

Philadelphia continues its budget crisis with the closure of swimming pools and attempted closure of libraries (a court order has kept them open in the short term) - but now that city contract negotiations are in full swing, Mayor Nutter faces his most difficult challenge. I hope he wins.

I feel great sympathy for the mayor. While I'm opposed to his library closure decision, if the money's not there, it's not there. Nobody wants to sacrifice. Everybody likes to get mad. Still, for the most part, I trust and believe in him. It's such a shame that a visionary mayor is in office at a time when the economy renders him impotent to push forward an agenda.

Only other thing going on right now: If the Eagles make it to the Super Bowl, yours truly will be in Florida for a week-plus. Not bad, but I hate to cancel my plans!

Route 66 Video, At last!

2008-11-14T02:20:51Z

For anybody interested in seeing my award-winning Route 66 film, at last I bring it to the internet! Enjoy it in all of its five-minuteness.

Final thoughts on a long campaign

2008-11-06T03:31:12Z

It's funny to me that the most moving moment of election night 2008 was not Barack Obama's acceptance speech, but John McCain's concession speech. How ironic it is that I was blown away by McCain's beautifully crafted words, for once.

I've had no problem supporting Obama since Hillary threw in the towel, but I've also had a long-standing respect for John McCain. Somewhere, in this election, that respect dimmed as his campaign managers and advisors twisted his persona into something that the conservative base would find more palatable. Throughout this election season, I wondered what happened to the moderate John McCain of 2000. I often wondered if even John McCain believed what he was saying.

Then, last night, the old McCain re-appeared to concede the race to my candidate with a speech that reminded me, all over again, why John McCain deserves my respect.

Visit IB and Rebecca's Blog!

2008-10-26T12:38:55Z

LJ Friends - Two of my friends, IB and Rebecca, are setting sail this month for God-knows-where. You can follow their adventures at sailpassport.livejournal.com, or add sailpassport to your LJ friends. Exciting!

Washington Post!

2008-10-26T00:54:48Z

Hey everybody... for those of you who have missed me here on Livejournal, you can catch me this week in the Washington Post. I wrote a blurb for their travel section, and they decided to publish. Here's the link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/24/AR2008102402962.html

Bill Sauer Field

2008-10-14T01:55:42Z

Bob Greene's piece on Bill Sauer Field on the CNN Political ticker is one of the best articles to come out of this campaign season. Not beautifully written, but certainly beautifully realized.

Woot!

2008-10-09T02:23:21Z

I've not posted in quite some time now, as life's been tremendously busy. Here's an update:

1. First Person Impressions film contest through First Person Arts. Won second place for a five-minute film on Route 66. Much happiness. Finally, I feel back on track with this whole filmmaking thing.

2. Travel writing. Taking a class at Temple University CC to learn how to write better, how to get stuff published, and how to get comped for being on assignment. Great stuff.

3. Aikido. Third kyu (second degree blue belt) test went well. Still hanging in there, but not going as often as I should.

4. The economy. Wrecking my portfolio. Sheee-it.

Overall, things are great! Check back again soon and I promise to be pithy.

Richard Wright

2008-09-15T19:57:33Z

Richard Wright, one of the four members of my favorite band, Pink Floyd, died today at age 65 of Cancer.

Fucking cancer.

Dortheanne.

2008-09-11T19:45:53Z

I don't remember when exactly I first met Dortheanne, but I do remember a few details...

Her name was spelled "dor" "the" "anne", a fact that I still use to spell her name today.
We got the giggles in class about the thought of one of our professors pole dancing at a strip club on 611 called "Double Visions."
We got the giggles in class about just about everything after that.

Best of all, neither of us were geniuses, we both got the shit kicked out of us in class and on the boards, and neither of us seemed to give a rip. Dortheanne had a family and another child on the way, and didn't have time to be bothered with "academic stress." I simply didn't care.

Oh, and both of us ended up being pretty great doctors, in spite of it all, as I thought we might (if we could just get our diplomas). And we still get the giggles.

A toast to Dor-the-anne!

ctliotta @ 2008-09-04T08:28:00

2008-09-04T12:29:33Z

Sarah Palin is horrifying. Absolutely horrifying. Shrill, mean, and terrible.

Complex Shit.

2008-08-13T15:32:39Z

Dortheanne writes me with this news bit:

GENEVA (AFP) - A giant inflatable dog turd by American artist Paul McCarthy blew away from an exhibition in the garden of a Swiss museum, bringing down a power line and breaking a greenhouse window before it landed again, the museum said Monday.

The art work, titled "Complex S(expletive..)", is the size of a house. The wind carried it 200 metres (yards) from the Paul Klee Centre in Berne before it fell back to Earth in the grounds of a children's home, said museum director Juri Steiner.

The inflatable turd broke the window at the children's home when it blew away on the night of July 31, Steiner said. The art work has a safety system which normally makes it deflate when there is a storm, but this did not work when it blew away.
Steiner said McCarthy had not yet been contacted and the museum was not sure if the piece would be put back on display.

I'd love to say something funny about this, but it speaks for itself.

Airport Security.

2008-08-12T21:18:02Z

After a fantastic weekend in Charlotte, my aunt and uncle dropped me off at Douglas International Airport to catch my flight home via Atlanta.

Before I continue, let me just say that I'm pleased that airport names have not yet been touched by the greedy hands of corporate America. If I had to fly into Coca-Cola Hartsfield Atlanta International, or Bank of America Douglas Airport, all sense of nostalgia would be forever removed - not that having to pay $10 for a blanket doesn't do that already.

It's been almost seven years now since September 11th occurred, and since then I believe that the public has been educated regarding items that can and cannot be taken aboard an airplane. I was surprised, therefore, to find myself behind a young, attitudinal Latino woman who attempted to bring a two-liter bottle of Lipton green tea through security.

Though I may never understand why I can only bring 3-ounce bottles in ziploc baggies aboard an airplane, given the state of the airline industry and the threats of the world, I don't pitch a fit if security wants to throw out my enormous bottle of soda. "Go ahead!" I'd say, "Take it! Have my watch, too! Security wand? Go ahead! Pap smear? Sure! Just get me to the plane, and give back my shoes before I get warts!"

The woman, however, was of a different stripe and began to argue that the bottle wasn't opened, and was therefore fair game for carry-on. She was so certain, in fact, that she began to lecture the security agent who was having none of the woman's roleplaying and offered to throw it away if she didn't check it with her baggage.

Some screaming and a rather embarrassing argument ensued. I was hoping to see agents bring the woman to the ground, but in a final, defiant gesture the woman took her bottle of soda, opened it, and swore that she would drink the whole thing right then and there. In a seat. Next to the metal detector. She began to chug.

I guess she showed them.

I was motioned to keep moving, but I wanted to watch the woman chug two liters of green tea. My eye stayed on her as I moved through security. the bottle was 25% gone by the time she was out of sight. I'm hoping that she threw up shortly thereafter.

From Craigslist. Awesome.

2008-08-03T20:40:51Z

Diarrhea - m4m - 32 (Delaware County)

Reply to: pers-779183426@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-08-01, 6:01PM EDT

We were standing in line to use the only bathroom at the bar last night. We started chatting it up and things were going great until I farted and diarrhea ran down my leg. You were sweet about it and let me go ahead of you, but you were gone when I returned. Can you find it in your heart to give me a second chance? Or will love leave me with the runs again? I'll be back every night until I see you again. Please look for me!

Location: Delaware County
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 779183426

Dear Livejournal...

2008-07-23T15:31:10Z

I haven't been giving you much action lately. I'm thinking of moving my journal to Wordpress instead. I let my paid membership expire. What should I do? Are you worth maintaining?

-C

Route 66

2008-07-16T17:19:41Z

Let me just say that Route 66 is the coolest thing EVER. I want to drive it again. Especially the Oatman Highway.

My blog of my trip is now complete.

Get your kicks...

2008-07-07T23:43:11Z

Dear blogosphere: Beginning tomorrow (Tuesday) I will be traveling Route 66 from St. Louis to Los Angeles. You can follow my exploits on my travel blog: http://carter66.wordpress.com

It will be fun!

Serving Suggestion

2008-07-06T13:16:39Z

I was examining my box of cereal this morning, and like so many food products, in fine print beneath the picture were the ubiquitous words "Serving Suggestion."

"Serving Suggestion," I always thought, was a way to introduce ideas about vegetables and fruits and potatoes that might blend well with the product, so that total assholes might know what to do with their food once it's removed from the packaging.

I also expected that it was a line of defense when people called Kellogg, irate because their morning cereal didn't include toast, juice, slivered fruit and a morning newspaper.

My "Serving Suggestion" for shredded wheat featured a picture of the cereal being lifted from the bowl with a spoon. I assume, then, that the product manufacturer suggests that I eat my damp cereal with something other than my index finger and thumb.

Other serving suggestions found in my house:

-Trader Joe's suggests that I place my Joe's O's in a bowl and place a strawberry on top of the cereal.

-Coffee Mate would have me drink my coffee from a cup, and place a sugar wafer to the side.

-Jiffy has me adding a pat of butter to the stem of my corn muffin.

-Shop Rite wants me to eat their Onion Soup from a bowl.

Fantastic suggestions, all! I'll take them under advisement.

Teen pregnancy pact!

2008-06-24T12:20:42Z

So - let me get this straight.

A bunch of girls got pregnant at a high school in Gloucester. A nurse reported that many of them hi-fived each other on the news of pregnancy, and were in time and time again for pregnancy tests if they weren't. One girl - as young as fifteen - fucked a homeless man!

The verdict: A pact! A secret pregnancy pact where young teenage girls competed with one another to get pregnant!

Fox News exploded with joy!

By Saturday, the news was taking a more bizarre tone: "A pact so secretive that Fox News cannot find a member who will talk..." A random stepfather was interviewed instead, insisting that his stepdaughter "was under peer pressure to get pregnant."

On Sunday, another twist: Nobody could substantiate any type of secret pact. In fact, there was no evidence to suggest that a surge in teen pregnancy was the result of anything more than random chance. The mayor held a press conference saying as much.

Fox News packed up their van in a hurry.

My favorite part of this: The homeless man. It conjures images of an innocent young co-ed, braces on her teeth, her teenage hormones out of control, being penetrated by a vile, filthy, alcoholic with lunch crumbs in his beard. The very image both upsets and makes men horny. I'm surprised that they didn't proclaim that he was a black man.

He was probably a Dave Matthews Band roadie who didn't have a job and was out of money so he crashed with a friend in Gloucester.

*Sigh

A.K.A....

2008-06-17T12:29:08Z

First the good news - the two month old baby that went missing on Saturday has been found. Turns out, the woman named "Crystal" or perhaps "Claire" was really (I'm really having fun with this) Clarissa Hanton, also known as Tasha Smith!

The baby['s] mother, TIesha Pitts, is undergoing mental health evaluation. Crystal-Claire-Clarissa-Tasha Hanton-Smith is under arrest, and according to neighbors just wanted a baby really badly. Perhaps without the inconvenience of actually having one.

Perhaps, too, DHS will move this baby girl from her bad situation into another bad situation, albeit a slightly better one.

Perhaps I'm going to take a Tylenol. My head hurts.

Missing Baby!

2008-06-16T19:08:49Z

Dateline: Philadelphia. A two month old baby is missing after mom gave her to a neighborhood acquaintance named "Crystal". "Crystal" wanted to take the baby shopping while on a walk. Naturally, 26-year-old Tiesha Pitts had no problem passing her baby off like a Barbie doll. Now, the barbie doll is lost and "Crystal" is nowhere to be found. That nobody knows "Crystal"'s last name further muddies the waters. Other sources say that the woman's name might be Claire instead of "Crystal". So I guess we don't know her first name, either. Ms. Pitts contacted authorities after the baby was not returned after 24 hours.

Of note: When my pizza doesn't arrive after 45 minutes, I call somebody.

Way to go, Tiesha!

Tuesday wheel of fortune!

2008-06-11T17:04:08Z

I have decided on a new Journal feature: Tuesday wheel of fortune! See if you can solve the puzzle...