Dear Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA):
There's a state law forbidding passengers to play or use audio devices onboard city buses except with headphones or earphones.

Yet lately every time I ride your buses I find myself constantly bombarded by full-volume loudspeaker ads and public-service messages.
Everything from "radio commercials" advertising various online colleges, or online websites that specialize in "booking your next hotel room when on your next vacation", or for ordering specialty t-shirts online, or job offers from DHL shipping services
...to the usual public-service fare ("see something, say something").

In short, I'm of the notion that, since you demand that us passengers use headphones when playing our audio devices, it's only fair that your public transit system does the same as well.
It's not fair when I'm riding one of your transit vehicles and it's one of those occasions where I'm lucky enough to not have any loud cell phone yakkers shouting away into their phones and am able to have my own thoughts in peace and quiet for a change, only to have your idiotic ads and messages blare out and interrupt my train of thought in progress.

                  Hey COTA:  Headphones required when using audio devices!

                                                    Adage For Today
                    A topical song is simply a poetic newspaper column set to melody, chords and rhythm

Song Analysis: The Thing

Most people may consider this 1950 novelty hit by Phil Harris as little more than simply "just another nonsense song", easily dismissed as only being "only for laughs".

And, while it may seem absurd to wax poetic a rather giddy "goofball" type number like this, there is a kind of underlying truth to the lyrics, even as cornball as they are.

Namely, the notion that we've all, at some point in time, made a bad decision or followed through on some act or spoken some words that ended up provoking such a strong reaction from others around us we found ourselves being held accountable for it to the point of never being allowed or able to live it down.

Or, maybe, just got a sudden impulse to do something, or made an on-the-spot decision that we realized, too late, would end up being detrimental to us---either financially, or would damage or destroy our reputation, or cause unrest and discord between family members, acquaintances, or close friends.

So, on a deeper level, even a giddy goofy song like this could wind up revealing subconscious truths hidden in the psych of the songwriters themselves.

                  Just for the record: This song was written by Charles Randolph Grean

                     How many understand the concept of creativity?
In a recent special on the career of The Beatles, when they got to the stage in the group's career when they released their Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band album, the statement was made that "many suspect that a lot of the strange lyrics found on that album had a direct link to all the experimentation with drugs the group's members were engaging in at the time".

Of course it could also mean that The Beatles were finally feeling more and more comfortable with their status and the increase in poetic license that came with it.  And were simply taking advantage of an opportunity to exhibit original ideas and concepts they may have otherwise suppressed earlier or with still having an "ordinary" type status.



                                      Another site to check out: www.goingwitheddie.com
                                                                                 ...and another one: www.dullestblog.com

                                 The Bets Are On
                    The betting pool is now open
...those of you who can come closest to determining which city in which state (province/territory) in which country the next "active shooter incident" or next "terrorist attack" will occur in wins the Grand Jackpot, which now stands at a total of .....

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.
                                                     H  L  Mencken
"...the F.B.I. is in complete turmoil.  You know it, I know it, EVERYBODY knows it ..."

How telepathic of you, Mr. President!
As a matter of fact that's always the first thing on my mind when I get up---even ahead of my "morning piss" and first cup of coffee.

All day long I'm constantly contemplating on "how screwed up our F.B.I. is".
It's not like I could ever have anything else to dwell on .....
...like, say ....personal interests ....hobbies ....tending to personal needs ....dealing with my own personal issues ....

Song Analysis: Dang Me

This flippantly self-deprecating little ditty by singer/songwriter Roger Miller became an all-around top-40 single hit for him in the summer of 1964.

Literally an anthem of a chronic lack of personal responsibility and obsessive hedonism coupled with a guilty conscience that plagues the main character of the song afterwards---along with his unwillingness to change his ways in spite of his guilty conscience. 

                         Children EVERYWHERE!!!!
Why are there so many people running around with kids and babies?
They're ALL OVER THE PLACE!  Everywhere I go it seems.

Why are all these people so eagerly procreating?
Every place I go there are fuckin' kids all over the place!

Nothing against children personally.  It's just that any time there are children present one always has to be on their p's and q's---"watch your language", never discuss subject matters that are either too intense and involved or too intimate and personal.

And to find an "adult refuge" is such a herculean task anymore as just about any place one goes is "open space"---that is, not discriminating against persons based on race, gender, and AGE.
Even landlords stand to get sued for "discrimination" for offering "adults only" residential units for rent (of course we're talking about the same society where a gay couple can sue a bakery owner for refusing to bake a wedding cake for them because it violates that baker's "Christian beliefs".  Instead of, perhaps, that gay couple simply finding another baker of comparable aptitude with a more liberal attitude to do business with).

Another problem with a "Families rule!" type society is that, with no availability of an environment wherein one can engage in any kind of intelligent adult conversation, everyone winds up adopting a certain degree of "baby talk" into their everyday conversations.
Don't believe me?  Check out Twitter and Facebook.   See what I mean?

                                               Normalcy 101
If you're a sane, average plebeian type you're probably (and rightly so) concerned about how well you fit in with your society and community.
You want assurance that you're not some kind of "weirdo", "freak" or "pervert".
You want to be sure you're among the "eternally alright" and "acceptable".

Well, here are some of the essential traits one must have to be among the normal:

Unbridled overconfidence

Shameless smug self-assurance, self-righteousness, and dominating demeanor

Showing no compunction when it comes to being officiously intruding and invasive when "fixing" situations and "correcting" wayward individuals

Relying on authorities and the police to be your "universal hatchet men" when dealing with anyone who has the audacity to offend or defy you in any way

Assuming your rights, liberties, and entitlements at the expense of others around you

Understanding that you "own" anything you see around you---even when out in public everything still "belongs to you"

Being shamelessly condescending and insulting to those who are obviously "inferior"

Coercing unconditional respect and reverence from others under threat of retaliation

Mindless embracing of popular opinion, dogma, assumptions and prejudices

Forsaking any semblance of individuality to align oneself with a partisan group, movement, cause, faction, or belief system

Worship and obsess over the latest trends and trendy products and latest fashions.  And purchasing and owning the most popular items on the market.

Filling your vocabulary with the current slang and vernacular and then using them religiously in your everyday conversations

Celebrity worship and idolatry is a must, as being normal means having no life, no character, or a mind of your own.  So living vicariously through someone famous is a way of "establishing roots" for you

Every normal man must, at times, be tempted to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats
                                                            H  L  Mencken
Okay, folks, it's time for "Common Sense 101" and "Occam's Razor 101" ...

When operating a commercial lawn care service one expects professional procedures to be followed and professional methods to be used.
Especially if one provides such services to various businesses, residential properties, or public institutions.

However ...
I routinely see riding mowers being operated without bags on the side of their frames to catch the grass that flies off to the edge when cut.
Instead, the cut grass shoots out onto the sidewalks and into the faces of anyone who happens to be walking or bicycling by.

I swear ...
this world has some of the most clueless creatures in existence.

                                               Adage For Today
                    Manufacturers, bureaucratic government employees, lawmakers ...
                         ...between the three groups I still can't figure out who's the dumbest

                                         In Just 4 Weeks ...
...the 50th anniversary of the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band .

It's important for a certain James Paul McCartney and Richard Starkey to still be around for the grand celebration.

And then, in mid-June and early July, both have another birthdate to celebrate as well.

Afterwards they can then become another "casualty of 2017" if fate so warrants it.
But not before.

                            The iPhone and on-line coup d 'etat continues
We're in the midst of an ongoing "on-line shopping" era.

It's already no trade secret that iPhones are ultra-omnipresent and worshipped by most as being "the ultimate panacea" in performing all life functions (minus eating, drinking, sleeping, shitting and pissing.  Although I'm sure the "tech wiz" crowd are working on bridging that gap as well).

It's invaded the realm of shopping and consumerism.  Folks are now even purchasing groceries, clothing, and ordering from restaurants on-line (does UPS or FedEx deliver Big Macs now?)

Personally I've never relished the idea of ordering things by mail, phone, or on-line.  When I make a purchase I want the item in my hand when I pay for it so I can take it home and have done with the acquisition of said item and move on with other things.
Ordering my purchases exteriorly involves waiting for the item to arrive afterwards, depending on the competence of the delivery service, and having to be present when the delivery is made.

The fact that companies and businesses these days are so ambiguous about their time frames only adds to my anxiety when doing business with them in this manner (my experiences with AT&T and the cable companies cemented that).
I picture someone calling their boss and explaining "I can't come in to work for the next week or two.  You see, I just bought a pair of shoes and now I'm waiting on them.  And I need to be home when FedEx delivers them to me".  And the boss says "Okay, but I'll need to see the receipt when you do come back--so I'll know you're not just 'making excuses' to 'take time off'".

And, like most other trends, society's intent on forcing this one on the rest of us as well---whether we want it or not.

CeleDeaths 2017

Jerome ("J.") Geils, guitarist and leader of "self-titled" band

Cuba Gooding, who joined The Main Ingredient in late 1971 to replace original lead singer Donald McPherson (who died earlier that year)

CeleBirthdates

Willie Nelson
Turned 84 yesterday
Born on April 30 1933 in Ft. Worth

Judy Collins
Turns 78 today 
Born May 1 1939 in Seattle

Bob Seger
Turns 72 on Saturday
Born May 6 1945 in Dearborn Michigan

Frankie Valli
Turns 83 on Wednesday
Born Francesco Stephen Castelluccio on May 3 1934 in Newark New Jersey

Billy Joel
Turns 68 a week from tomorrow
Born William Martin Joel in The Bronx, New York City on May 9 1949






                                              Another site to check out: www.the-mound-of-sound.blogspot.com