Leon Panetta

Now he tells us:

CIA Director Leon Panetta told lawmakers in a recent briefing that the intelligence agency he heads misled Congress on "significant actions" for a "number of years," a group of Democrats revealed on Wednesday.

We will be expecting the apologies to Nancy Pelosi to commence right about now... [crickets].

Why anyone would expect a covert agency to always tell the truth, I don't know. Lies, tricks, and deception are their business. But it would be nice, let's say preferable, if they at least told the truth to the people in charge of their business.

I couldn't understand how Panetta could come in there and be so certain that they hadn't misled Congress over the years. How would he know? Do they have a big basket that says "Things We Misled Congress On" and it was empty?

He just came into office this year. Is that the way it works at most businesses, that a guy comes into the office and immediately knows everything that happened for the last 10 years?

Waiting For The Record Fairy

I'm waiting for the record fairy to show up, to lead me to lots of great records in great shape at a cheap price.

I don't know why I want them precisely, just more baggage to carry around, but I'm enthused by the idea of great records in great shape at a cheap price. I know you can find lots of great records in great shape at collectors' prices easily enough. But I'm also a cheapskate. I like boxes of them at a dime apiece or, you know, 50 cents. Like that.

It's happened before ... and I have faith ... I feel like I've been given the assurances from on high that someday ... eventually ... it's going to happen again!

She'll be winging her way over my neighborhood thrift stores. Some old guy from town or out in the country will drop dead (it sometimes happens this way) and his kids, grief stricken and just wanting to get rid of stuff, will listen to the subtle whispers of the record fairy, then take the records to a place, one of the thrift stores, where I will be the first customer through the door.

Destiny is a fun thing. I don't always have faith. But I see it work out in many ways. Whether it's the record fairy, or just all the other fairies in charge of things that I want, eventually they all come through for me. It's just a matter of faith, persistence, and making sure I'm the first customer through the door when the new stock comes out.

Also if I could get the power to put a hex on everyone else who might be interested, to keep them far away.

Al Franken Sworn In

This is a happy day. We congratulate Senator Al Franken!

First Watermelon

I just had my first piece of watermelon for the season. I wanted a piece yesterday, then I suggested it, and we ended up with cantaloupe.

Today I was at the store and decided, I'll splurge and get a watermelon. Not that it's very big. A little bigger and just slightly more elongated than a bowling ball. The first piece was pretty good even though it was not cold. I've got the rest in the fridge and maybe tomorrow it'll be better.

I didn't notice any seeds, so I must have gotten one of the modern melons somehow. That's OK!

It's one of the foods of summer. Along with a banana, that's a good thing.

Lunch With Micky Dolenz

Win a lunch with Micky Dolenz. I happened to stumble upon a page at eBay, where Micky sells lunch dates with himself for $1,750.

Good grief. That sounds weird. Pay someone to go out to lunch with them. What a meaningful experience!

But look at all you get:

Offered here is an opportunity for you + 1 friend to have lunch with me at a prestigious Los Angeles area restaurant. Over lunch, I'll be happy to discuss a variety of topics regarding my career with the Monkees and beyond. During your visit you will receive a special autographed 8x10 photo, autographed drum sticks and my "LIVE" CD, also signed, to commemorate the occasion.

To me this is pure yuck. And I'm actually a fan.

In related news, a guy won a lunch with Warren Buffett, for $21 million. Maybe this is why Micky's selling all the lunches, trying to save up to go out with Warren. But maybe Warren's a big Monkees fan and would just give him $1,750.

That is one sick sounding blurb: "I'll be happy to discuss a variety of topics..." Then there's the autographed drum sticks, which of course melt if you keep them out of the freezer too long.

July 4 Parade

I went to the July 4 parade, like usual, on the sidelines. It turned out I wasn't Grand Marshall again this year, keeping my streak alive and healthy of never being the Grand Marshall.

But being Grand Marshall comes with its down side. So I was happy to sit on the curb and watch. Once again, I've failed to invest in a nice fold up chair that goes in a cloth bag. So I end up with no chair. Next year ... maybe things will be different. (Probably not.)

I had my usual bemusement at all the standing for the American flag, which is cool enough. Except there are lots of American flags going by, smaller ones, ones people are holding, some strapped to the side of a vehicle, etc., that we're not standing for. It's only the ones that jut out or obviously provoke standing. Such as if a veteran is within 40 yards of it. It's funny, the double standard when it comes to the flags we stand for and vice versa!

They had some flags at the beginning, then a bunch of police and sheriff cars. I was questioning why it was people were still standing after the flags had well passed. Now we're standing up for law enforcement cars? I didn't because I've never heard of that. And I'm old enough to know.

We saw all the usual things, plus kids grabbing for candy at the curb. Some of them were getting their fill and filling a sack or basket.

Jewel Food Stores Record - 1952

I'm not going to get into the habit of posting records, 1) because it's a lot of work; 2) the ones I have of any interest are limited. But here's an interesting one and I don't see any other mention of it on the internet.

If It Sparkles, Its A Jewel - Modernaires

I had no idea what "Jewel" was until I listened to the record a couple times. At first I thought it was a restaurant. But then that didn't make any sense, with 80,000 housewives, etc. So it turned out to be a grocery store. And it was called "Jewel Food Stores."

From Wikipedia:

In 1932, Jewel acquired the Chicago unit of Loblaw Groceterias, Inc., then a chain of 72 self-service stores, as well as four Chicago grocery stores operated by the Middle West Stores Company, and began operating them under the name Jewel Food Stores, Inc.

There's someone with a blog on old retail stores. And so check out this link for some photos of Jewel Food Stores in the '50s.

The record is by the Modernaires, called on the record the Modernaires 4 Rhythm. It was put out on a Chicago label, from the Master Record Company, and given the number Jewel No. 1. "If It Sparkles, It's A Jewel."

The year is 1952. It seems to be honoring Jewel's 20th year and they were thankful for their customers supporting them.

This is a one-sided disc. And sorry if the quality isn't as good as perhaps it could be. I have an old crummy record player for 78s.

1954 Capitol Records Contest Winners

Here's one of my favorite oddball records, meaning a record that was custom made, homemade, or a very limited production. (I'm speaking like one of the guys on this record, Raymond, most indubitably!)

Capitol Contest Winners - Roma, Raymond, Jim, Bozo

It's 1954, and at Younker's department store in Des Moines there's been some kind of contest in conjunction with Capitol Records, win a trip to New York.

Roma and Raymond (Roma Kelley and Raymond's last name sounds like Dickers or Deckers) are interviewed by Jim at Capitol Records.

They tell about their experiences, the churches they've visited, the cinema, going to the opera, wanting to go to the World Series, etc.

Raymond has a most impressive vocabulary, and sounds like a very learned gentleman.

Toward the end there's a surprise visit from Capitol recording artist Bozo the Clown! That's cool, huh?

I'm thinking if they had this contest in Des Moines, they probably also had it in other cities across the country. Meaning there would likely be variations of this record with other winners. But looking around the internet, I don't see any reference to such.

The record is one-sided, 33 rpm, and I took out or reduced the pops and clicks. There's some scratches you can feel.

A Bug In My Coffee

Today when I got up, I needed to empty my coffee carafe from yesterday. And I got a weird surprise when I unscrewed it and emptied it and a bug fell in the sink. Oh no! A little bug maybe a half inch long with pincers on one end. I've seen a few of these around recently.

He must have crawled in the hole, which is sealed, so he must not actually have been inside where the coffee was. But it was gross. When it came time to wash the carafe I washed it extra well!

As for the bug, I looked down in the sink, and somehow he survived. So I picked him up with a paper towel, then he was walking around the paper towel, and I got him outside and let him go.

I do not like to see insects in my coffee, my food, anything really.

Al Franken Wins

[BARF ALERT] The activist "judges" of Minnesota have appointed Al Franken to the U.S. Senate!

Just kidding, I'm very giddy with happiness at this thing being finally over, and for it having a happy ending. It's nice once in a while for the good guy to finish first.

Now Minnesota can have some representation AND we can have another Democratic senator. We believe Al will be a great one.

It's hard to believe, though, that we had to wait for Norm Coleman to concede. Good grief. When the numbers are against you, you've lost. Whether you concede or not, get out of the way.

The Ed Show

Ed is great. I'm glad for his show. But why burden us with Tom Tancredo all the time? Good grief, that jerk doesn't add anything.

I'm not even going to watch him anymore. Tom Tancredo comes on again today and I just turn it off.

Get rid of Tom Tancredo. He's not a good guest. He has nothing of any value to say. Nothing whatsoever.

Billy Mays

I saw someone on Facebook earlier today say "RIP Billy Mays," and I thought maybe he was referring to someone like a local sports announcer (or someone), someone I wouldn't know. I thought right away that I could respond, You mean the salesman on TV? But just as a joke. So I didn't give it any more thought, if it's a local sports announcer ... who cares?

Then hours later I checked out a news site and there was Billy Mays ... dead. Oh my gosh, not that guy! I couldn't believe it. He died in his sleep. He got hit on the head by some falling stuff in a plane. He was only 50.

I always hated to see him on TV, but it was a job for him, and apparently he was pretty good at it, since they're not going to have him for the salesman constantly if stuff isn't selling. If I had a remote I would get it muted right away, but I know there were other times when it wasn't possible (or feasible) to go for a mute button, like when I was in another room, and I'd hear that grating delivery. (This isn't an insult to the dearly departed, just the way it is. I wouldn't buy an album of his greatest commercials, even though obviously he was good at it.)

Anyway, it's something to feel grief about, after a busy week of deaths. Think of that, 50. He could've had 20 more productive years, maybe, selling stuff on TV. That's a lot of lost income to his family, which has to be sad. If he was ultimately killed by stuff falling on him, someone should pay.

He looked so vibrant, vital, and strong, with a beard I always figured had to be blacked in. It's too bad that something like this had to happen.

How To Tell Scary Stories

This is an interesting article, at wikihow, on How To Tell Scary Stories.

Not that I will put it into practice that much, since I'm not in circumstances very often that lend themselves to scary stories. But it definitely has some pointers in it that I will remember if it ever comes up.

It looks like having credibility is the key thing. So the storyteller needs to be preparing the way as the opportunity rises, then have local details, then be reluctant to talk, then not smile, then not lunge at the listeners (although this could be done too, except it takes away credibility.)

I like the whole idea of researching a few stories. You could get some off that ghost hunters show on Sci Fi.

$400 Million In Debt

It's being reported as an estimate that Michael Jackson was some $400 million in debt. To which I say, maybe I'm not doing that badly after all.

Thank you, God, for keeping me away from wealth and fame! With wealth like that, I guess I prefer my normal life.