Mad Macedonian

Playing With My Ding A Ling in Support of CMN Hospitals

  Good morning, Houston!

Are we happy this fine September morning?

In the mood to support a worthy cause?

No, I'm not talking about your favorite local college football team.

Don't let the UH victory over Oklahoma over the Labor Day weekend go to your head...Lamar could kick the Cougars over-confident asses next week and then what do you think will happen to that  high spot in the new polls?

Hee, hee!

 

No, I'm talking about the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

I'm writing, this morning, because I want to encourage you to help me play with....

 

My Ding a Ling (With humble apologies to the great Chuck Berry!)

When I went to work at Wal-Mart one late Summer day
My CSM brought me something with which to play
Black, with a white handle, it was a cute little thing
I call it my ding a ling a ling

Parents came shopping for school
Buying supplies to help Junior learn and not grow into a fool
When they paid and donated a dollar, making my register ring,
I'd grab and wiggle my ding a ling

Then a love struck boy came looking for the perfect jewel
But he was undecided so bought a garden tool
When he paid and donated five dollars my register would ring
And I began swinging my ding a ling

Once things were slow as I waited for y'all
Climbing a ladder, stocking a shelf, I slipped and had a terrible fall
I fell against the counter and my head did ring
but at least I didn't damage my ding a ling

I remember a woman who came to my store
Bought lots of things to clean the kitchen floor
She donated ten dollars and I thought it was such a wonderful thing
That I happily wagged my ding a ling

A man came to get a license to fish in the Bayou
Catching his own dinner was what he wanted to do
Buying a rod & reel he donated fifty dollars when he paid for these things
So, with both hands, I enthusiastically waved my ding a ling

A young girl with long flowing hair
Strutting her stuff so big and bold
Wanted some beer, but I told her "you're not that old"
Such vile words you wouldn't believe can come from such a sweet young thing
Since she didn't donate I sadly couldn't shake my ding a ling

This here song I hope it makes you glad
Supporting a cause that I think is rad
Shopping at Wal-Mart please consider donating when you buy something
So you can tell your friends you saw me ringing my ding a ling

My ding a ling
My ding a ling
You saw me ringing my ding a ling

Oh my ding a ling!

My ding a ling!

I love ringing my ding a ling...!!!

 

 

 

 

I May Not Be Shakespeare, But I Ain't Chopped Liver!

"People portrayed as stronger storytellers are considered as higher status than those that aren’t – and this status can make them more romantically attractive, at least in the eyes of women."

"Women were more interested in talented male story-tellers as long-term partners."

"Females, with a biologically high investment into producing young, have evolved to seek mates with resources, and storytelling aptitude reflects advantages that prehistorically meant the difference between life and death."

Study shared in  a March 2016 edition of Personal Relationships Journal

Men who can tell a good story are seen as more attractive and higher status

Hmmm...

Texas One of the Best States for Writers in Survey

So, you are a writer, with hopes and dreams to do more than you have up to now...you decide the city and state you have lived in all your life has nothing more to offer you and pull up stakes for new surroundings.

I chose TX and Houston, in 2012 and now an interesting survey has come out that appears to show I wasn’t an idiot for doing so, despite all the challenges, medically, job wise, and especially financially I’ve faced and continue to face (as of right now I will be more than a bit short on my July rent) since doing so.

In April, Christian Neeser, for MyLife.com, wrote a piece titled “The 10 Best Cities to be a Writer”. Taking a list of the 100 most populous cities in the U.S., and using various criteria,  they are ranked in 4 categories and given an overall final score.

I found it interesting that only 2 states had 8 or more cities on the list (CA – 17, TX – 13), and 4 TX cities made top 10 in cost of living, with 2 more in the top 20 and 12 of the 13 in the top 50 (the 13th came in at #55).

I decided to sort out where each TX city ranked in the categories and overall, figuring creative types who live here, or are considering moving here, would find those lists of interest.

Strickly Rational, "Typical Balkan Bastard", Thinks Mad Macedonian Funny!

 

One of the joys of over a decade of blogging is that, though I have few readers and few comments, I will sometimes find my work mentioned on a blog or internet forum.

The latest occurred yesterday.

Someone, using Google Greece for an unknown search, spent some time exploring 2 years of blog posts on this blog.

This person left a comment to the post my coffin photo was in (More on that, below).

Petros Houhoulis lives in Serres, Greece and is a member of an online community called The Apricity, a place that bills itself as "a European Cultural Community."

Apparently he used my old photo to make a pointed observation about Macedonians elsewhere on the community forums.

Someone responded to the above with...

"Fuck man what is this? Did maks started turning to zombies? I am going to get my shotgun ready."

Petros responded with...

"Nah, that guy is simply funny. The ones in our forum are the ridiculous ones... Because they are rooting for a dead cause, and they can't figure it out yet, or even understand how they got in this position..."

See thread called "Musings..."

Sharing the Versatile Blogger Award

Marian Allen is an award-winning author, blogger, and encourager of others who, in May, took time out to award The Versatile Blogger Award to several blogs she felt worthy...my cat blog, the Opinionated Pussycat, included.

As the human behind the blog I sincerely thank her and am at last able to find time to pass the award on.

Rules:

1. Thank and link to the person who gave you the award.

2. Tell seven facts about yourself.

3. Pass it on to seven other bloggers.

4. Notify your nominees by e-mail and even with a comment on a post of theirs you like, if you choose (This may lead to a Pingback).

7 facts about myself.

1. My first appearance as a writer, online, was in 1998, when I joined a web community that came to an end in 2001.

2. I became a blogger in 2002.

3. In February 2004 the Orange County Weekly said I was "screwed".

4. In August, 2005, I was interviewed by the Daily Pilot newspaper of Costa Mesa, Ca.

 5. Two days before my birthday, in 2007, I got an early birthday present when I appeared on KNBC-TV in Los Angeles.

6. My TV debut actually occurred, in 1960, 4 months after I was born, at the famous All-States Picnic and Independence Day Parade, on Euclid Ave., in old town Ontario, Ca.

Back then it was always televised and, unknown to my Mom, she was captured from the back, with me on her shoulder, looking at the camera. Family and friends alerted her when she got home so she could see the replay on the news.

Making a Hash of Things on Twitter

Well, now I've gone and done it!

Or as another friend of mine, Lou Costello, was fond of saying..."I'm a baaad boy!"

 

Over on Twitter hash tags are used "to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet. It was created organically by Twitter users as a way to categorize messages."

One of the more popular hash tags is #FF, for "Follow Friday", used as a way to spread the love around, and let ones followers know about interesting Tweeps to check out.

When one clicks on a hash tag you are taken to a web page that tracks the history of its usage on twitter.

Well, for most of my years as a twitter user I never spent enough time every day on the site to get into the habit of using hash tags much, much less the #FF one. As I am beginning to get more active on twitter, on a lark, this morning, I decided to plug some quality blogger friends of mine. However I had one problem....today wasn't Friday.

What to do? What TO do?

Then it dawned on me...Elmer Fudd, and his unique speaking voice in the old cartoons. Him and his issue with the letter R.

As a humorist, and lifelong fan of the classic cartoons of the 30's thru the 50's the solution to my conundrum was obvious.

And, so #WeccommendWedn was born.

Oh, and yes, I know recommend is spelled with one C and two M’s.

Let's see how many twitter users do. Or even are old enough to know who the hell Ol' Elmer was. Hee, hee!

Besides, who's gonna argue with Elmer Fudd?

Articles referenced for this story:

1. What Are Hashtags - Twitter Help Center

https://support.twitter.com/articles/49309-what-are-hashtags-symbols

2. What Are #Hashtags – A Quick Guide To Using Them On Twitter, Instagram & More.

http://www.sleeplessmedia.com/blog/2012/12/what-are-hashtags-a-quick-guide-to-using-them-on-twitter-instagram-more/

 

Your Rights as a Cat Blogger, Your Human's Right as a PJ Pundit, at Risk!

via www.opinionatedpussycat.com 

(Click on the Link to go to the story by my Cats, Nikita, and Elvira Mistress of Felinity! )

New Blog for 50-Somethings, in Developement, Calls Me Courageous, & Wise

Wassup With THAT? ;-D

 
I was checking my blog stats, this afternoon, when I noticed I had 2 visitors to a very personal November post of mine, a post that was the first of several self-analytical posts in recent months (All linked together).

So I went for a look see at the website these visitors were coming from. ;-D

 

 

"A gem of a personal account."

"Intimate, detailed, candid, and full of quiet courage and wisdom."

"A moving confession."

"We feel fortunate to have found, and recommend everyone read, his story."

Recommended: Age 50, Unemployed And Now What?

Sitting at my desk, and reading those words, I felt tears come to my eyes...

Me? Courageous, and Wise?

The way things have been going since I wrote that essay, and may go in the future...I sure don't feel that way sometimes. ;-D

First let me tell you about this website that has been quiet since a flurry of December posts, but seems to have some plans for its own future it will reveal at some point:

FiftySkills bills itself as "a destination for those 50 and older (and other interested parties) who are faced with the challenge of reinventing their careers, and in many cases, their lives. Here, you’ll find resources, community, and jobs. It’s a place to come every day for news, reassurance, skills, as well as to hang, share, learn, and succeed."

So far, there is very little "There" there, just 6 articles (The intro, & link, to mine, and intros to pieces by the AARP (55 & Up.. "The New Unemployables"), USA Today, NY Times, NY Post, and LA Times, that they encourge you to go read, and a short original piece by one of their contributors, whoever they are.), and encouragements to any passing reader to stop long enough to toss in their 2 cents, and keep them in mind as a place to look up "Soon".

For example, they ask, about my piece: "What do you think of this story?  Do you have a similar story to share?  If so, what’s your status?  Have you found work?  If so, do you have tips to share?"

For a site with the lofty goal of helping others "Re-invent the Second Half of Your Working Life", they reveal next to nothing about who they are. ;-D

Hell, they never even sent me a heads-up about their praise all those months ago. ;-D

This is all very interesting reading, and I thank them, from the bottom of my unemployed little heart, for the complements, and wish them the best of luck as they move forward. ;-D

I promise to do my best to live up to your kind words, and recommendation.

Anyway, where was I ?

Oh, yeah! My confidence...

I truly believe that my decision to avoid the risk of more troubles with the seemingly incompetent local Job Centers, for a while, and take some computer classes to try to increase my "Marketable Skills", and to read some self-help books, and dive in to LinkedIN, was the right decision to take at the time, but, now, with my second 20, or so, weeks of unemployment beginning, the possibility of not being able to afford Medical Insurance that I'd need to register for before the month is out, and questions about where to apply for Career Retraining, what for, and the cost to me (Hell, even Community Colleges, in Ca., are having problems scheduling classes!), and whether I could afford it, my confidence is a little shaken.

I'd love to find a cheaper apartment, but being unemployed, with 2 Cats, I think I might have a problem, so am reluctantly staying put.

In a few weeks I'm attending a "Fix, Build, & Drive" networking event put together by  Tim Tyrell-Smith of Tim's Strategy.

A couple months ago I bought a ticket to attend the Blog Paws Convention in late August, however I have not bought my hotel, or plane reservations, yet, because I do not know what my situation will be at that time, especially since my current unemployment runs out that month.

As dearly as I so want to attend this event, as a way to network, and increase awareness of Meowsings of an Opinionated Pussycat, I am afraid of committing more of my resources unless I'm absolutely sure of attending.

Such is the current status of an unemployed 51 year old in Orange County, Ca. ;-D

***UPDATE 9PM***

Decided to take their advice and read that essay by that Mad Macedonian Dude!

And the ones that follow via the links...

Cheered me up considerably. ;-D 

***END UPDATE***

 

 

 

Ron Rosenbaum VS. A Nony Mous the Commenter

In 2 recent postings, to his Pajamas Media Blog, Ron Rosenbaum tosses in his 2 cents on Anonymous Commenters:

I just can’t believe that the average human being is as creepily vicious as the average commenter...

Anonymity allows the the inner thug and thick-head to emerge with no fear of being shamed or embarrassed by their ugly deficiencies. They can be low brow creeps and not get caught. It’s why bank robbers wear masks. Of course not all the most moronic are anonymous; some are too stupid to know how stupid they appear and so proudly affix their real names to their lame remarks. But in general I think if you administered an IQ test the anonymous would score significantly lower. They’re the special ed class of blogging. Like monkeys in a cage they seem to be unaware that there are other ways of expressing their views than throwing feces.

He gets cranky at both Liberal and Conservative miscreants. ;-D

One thing must be said: Not all Anonymous Commenters are bad, and the identity of many can be easily found by following links to their Blogs, or even Blog Profiles, under certain commenting systems.

Read the rest, and the comments: Come Out Anonymous Cowards! This is Your Chance

Well, his rant, and his challenge, went over well. ;-D

4 days later he writes again:

Thank you, cowardly anonymous commenters for so perfectly proving my point about your thuggish and abusive and yet oh-so-timid nature. More than anything it’s clear you can dish it out, but you can’t take it. So many of you act like little playground crybabies when you’re the target of criticism, SO upset that your self-evident cowardice is being exposed. It made me laugh over and over again.

By the way some of you seem to have reading comprehension difficulties as well and missed the point that it is the hostile abusive commenters whose anonymity I was calling cowardly -  not the ordinary commenter who disagrees. Talk back all you want but don’t be so infantile and timid that you won’t use your own name when you’re sounding so bold and brave and bullying.

Read the rest, and the comments: Thank You, Thank You!

 

Having the Temerity to be Conservative and Proud of it

I don't do politics, and the War on Terror, around here, leaving it to others with far greater audiences than I to cover, but on Tax Day I covered a local Tea Party (Tea Party, Santa Ana Ca.: Speaking Up For America, the Free, the Republic) and, 5 days later, the response of a local Liberal Weekly to the event (Does Gazing at Your Navel for too Long Lead to Blindness?: A Tea Party Follow-Up), as part of my coverage of life in Orange County.

Most folks, when they think of Conservative Bloggers, and Conservative Opinion , think of a large , and well known, selection of Bloggers, and print, radio, and TV authors, and pundits, and various active, and retired politicians, but there are thousands of ordinary people out there expressing themselves on blogs, on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Stumble Upon, and many other similar websites, and networks.

The Tea Party Movement has shown that ordinary citizens are actively finding new ways to express their opinion of the direction of their nation.

One such extended network is the Grizzly Groundswell Blog Network (Blogs and Online Radio), begun in 2007 with the purpose of "Uniting Conservatives through thought, voice and image! "

Covering every aspect of our society, there are many categories of conversation, and of blogs, in the mix.

The newest entry is something unique in my experience, a blog that serves also as the home of a new online, scrollable, magazine.

A grassroots effort providing ordinary folks a place to express their opinion on the issues of the day in lengthy, well written, articles, fine photography, and artwork.

A place to "Get Grizzly" and "that always means get ready to have some fun working hard and laughing at the antics of those silly socialist squirrels as they run into each other and drop their nuts when they hear us coming!" ;-D 

The last week of every month will see the latest issue of the magazine posted to the blog, for all to read at their leisure.

The 1st issue of Temerity Magazine was posted on April 30th, and is 30 pages of thought-provoking material.

Temerity is a word with a long hitory, going back to the American Revelotion, and its meaning applies not oly to the Great-Grandfather of Editor Chad "Teddy Bear" Everson, but to those on the Right in our nation who are speaking out on the direction this nation is heading. (Read Chad's Editorial in the magaizne for more on these themes.)

I have added a link to my Food For Thought Blogroll, and there are several articles in this inaugural issue that inspired me to do so:

1. Hillary's Mexican Blame Game.

2. Why Americans Have Guns.

3. Potemkin Village.

4. Identity Politcs.

5. The Republican Cat (Nikita, My Best Bud, and Co-Blogger, positively purred non-stop over this one. ;-D)

6. The Bow Seen Around the World.

7. Tea Party Photos.

Check out the Grizzly Network, and Temerity Magazine.