A happy birthday (Dec 6th) to Steven Wright, who is turning 70 this year.
A classic but little-known Wright quote:
“First you don’t exist. At all. Then you’re born, and you live your whole life. Then you die. Then you go back to not existing again, forever. So… first you don’t exist. Then you exist. Then you don’t exist, So this whole thing is just an interruption from not existing.”
Jayne Mansfield was a ’50s bombshell whom, unfortunately, never really did a picture bigger or better than WILL SUCCESS SPOIL ROCK HUNTER?, but man, was she beautiful, and man, did she have some…vast tracts of land, shall we say. Bosom for the ages.
Here’s a couple of links to photos of her nude from the 50s and 60s, a few from Playboy, and a few stills from scenes (also, I think, the scenes themselves — short clips — or you can Google ’em from the movie title).
Jayne Mansfield nudes link #1 (70 images)
Jayne Mansfield nudes link #2
That’s right, according to NASA and NOAA, the hole in the ozone layer is the fifth smallest since 1992 and is estimated to be fully repaired by midcentury. Apparently the difference can even be easily seen from space.
Well, we got something right.
Here, from atop my snowy perch, I link you the good news:
https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-nasa-2025-ozone-hole-is-5th-smallest-since-1992
A while ago, I posted a fix – and it does still work – for the Puffco Peak Pro flashing red and white. I’ll get to refining that in a second, because I got a better look at the insides of one after mine fully died.
What I got was a severely dreaded three-white-flash error, which means the chamber is simply not connecting with the base, not that there’s an error. Usually means your atomizer is dead, and mine was, I think, though I tried desperately to adjust the pins and so on. It had just been cleaned (if yours isn’t, clean it), and so on, and dried, and should have worked.
After searching a while I read online that the two end pins – these are the gold pins on the bottom of the chamber, or atomizer, that connect to the base – actually have wires in them and that the solution was to remove the rubber band and all three pins and straighten the wires. DO NOT DO THIS. I CANNOT EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH. Unless you know of some way of threading a tiny wire back into a tiny hole in a tiny pin through a rubber grommet…no, don’t do it. Maybe if you’re a professional jeweler with a loupe and serious equipment, but otherwise – you will never get the pins back in. That’s why I emphasized only moving the middle pin in my article about the fix, because that, I believe, just provides supplemental power to one of the two wired pins. Anyway, you pull those two end pins, you’re screwed. You pull the middle pin, you can put it back in. The end pins? I don’t know, if the grommet is still in, try getting them back in there, I guess, but you’ve pretty much destroyed your chamber. Mine was already gone, as far as I knew, so…I mean, sometimes they just go, as I said to one commenter on here.
Mine lasted about seventh months. It was flashing red and white almost immediately, but the pin trick seemed to fix that until it died this morning after a cleaning (by the way, by far the best way to clean is to just use the dab tool and iso, honestly, just don’t crack the bowl). Anyway, I did want to point out, the fellow who posted about the wires is right and I might have been able to fix the atomizer (chamber) if I had been able to get the wires back straight. I believe they fall out of contact with the end pins. So here’s the thing I would suggest – don’t really ever pull the two ends pins out at all when attempting a fix of the thing flashing. Just jiggle them a little (this may bring them into contact with the wires underneath/inside). If anything, try pushing them in a little, very gently, if you are getting red and white or white-white-white errors. You can pull the middle pin out a little. It’s just that the two end pins do have the wires connected to them, and they’re very small – and I believe that is what powers the coil. The middle, as I said, I think just feeds more power to one of the wired ends.
So, there you go, one dead chamber/atomizer, a Puffco 3DXL, I knew it would happen; live and learn. I replaced it with a regular 3D – and, note on this, and an important one, the 3D chamber did not have the joystick top. It had no top. Joystick top sold separately. Make sure you have a 3D or 3DXL joystick top before you buy the replacement chamber/atomizer. I have to say, the thing hits almost as well as the 3DXL. The XL is just a big bowl, basically, for super sessions with multiple people.
Hey, folks — tradition. I always used to watch “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” on Thanksgiving (and it contains a good brief history of the holiday for kids — or anybody). It’s not anywhere on public television anymore, but…for Thanksgiving…here you go. Apple owns the rights, so you can watch it on Apple; I don’t, so Apple can sue me if they want and…get…what? You’re Apple. I have nothing. Good luck. Plus, it’s “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”, for the love of God. 🙂
Enjoy. Happy Thanksgiving.
Alright. If you’re a student or you can’t afford it, here’s all you need to do to active Windows or Office. Yep, it does work on trial editions, I’m pretty sure.
Open up PowerShell in Windows and type:
irm https://get.activated.win | iex
And that’s it.
Note: While I don’t think Microsoft cares about single license to students, artists starting out, or people on a low budget, if you run an office or something, or can easily afford the license — render unto Caesar.
Occasionally, I think to myself that some trivia I know is well known, and then realize it isn’t. This is one of those cases. The story behind the song “Mrs. Robinson” and THE GRADUATE is not known by all, and it’s kind of interesting. It also changes the entire meaning of the song, so…
Here’s the thing. The song is actually about Eleanor Roosevelt. It was originally titled, “Mrs. Roosevelt”. Mike Nichols was in post-production of THE GRADUATE and, I believe, already using “Sounds of Silence” in the movie, and told Simon and Garfunkel he needed a song about one of the main characters, Mrs. Robinson, and asked if they had anything. The duo replied, “No, but…we have a song about Eleanor Roosevelt we could adapt…”
So, there you go. You can Google me if you think I’m wrong and so on. Now (if you enjoy the song) if you didn’t know this, go and listen to the song again, and think, “Mrs. Roosevelt” every time you hear it and yeah, it makes sense. It’s about Eleanor Roosevelt. “Going to the candidates’ debate…” and so on.
Additionally, and this is quite funny, there is a lyric in the song — “Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?” whom at the time was still quite alive and quite visible, I believe, as a sportscaster. If I’m not mistaken DiMaggio even went on air at one point, because the song got so popular, and said, “I’m right HERE! I’m NOT DEAD!” (the lyric is more of, you know, a cultural sort of thing — I don’t think he was playing at the time, and so on — nostalgic a bit, but with artistic license).
Again, courtesy of https://snltranscripts.jt.org/. And, again, I cannot find the skit online, but it’s hilarious.
What’s the Best Way
Stanley Sperrow…..Kevin Nealon
Tony Vallencourt…..Adam Sandler
Katie McGregor…..Glenn Close
Wayne Dunbar…..Phil Hartman
Kalahari Bushman…..Tim Meadows
Announcer: From Boston Mass, right off the Mass Turnpike, it’s What’s The Best Way – All right, here’s your host, Stanley Sperrow –
Stanley Sperrow: Hello, welcome to What’s the Best Way, the only game show by New Englanders, for New Englanders. Ok folks, ready to play?
Contestants: Aya, aya.
Stanley Sperrow: Some weather we’re having.
Contestants: Oh yeah, oh yeah, Nor’easter.
Stanley Sperrow: Ok, 1st question. How do you get from Providence Rhode Island, to Worcester Mass?
(Tony buzzes in)
Tony Vallencourt: Ok, whatcha gotta do is get on 95 north, follow that to 495, then ya take that for about an hour. Then your gonna see signs for the Mass Pike. Ok get into the far (fah) left lane, then take the Mass Pike west and you’ll see this WICKED huge Radio Shack. That’s where ya get off, and you’re in Worcester, you’re right there pal.
Stanley Sperrow: That’s correct, yep, ok, here we go. Ok, who’s got directions from Quincy Mass, to to Jordan Marsh (Jahdan Mahsh) department store in Bedford, New Hampshire?
(Katie buzzes in)
Stanley Sperrow: Katie.
Katie McGregor: Ok, now you wanna take 93 north to Route 3, now the Jordan Marsh is off exit 6, and it’s one, uh two, um 3 traffic lights. But ifyou’re heading up there, you really ought to eat breakfast at Shirley’s Pancake House, now it’s close-by, and they have wonderful peach cobbler – but don’t go ona Sunday, cause the after-church crowd is bound to –
Stanley Sperrow: (interrupts) Oh, sorry, that’s more than we need.
(Wayne buzzes in)
Stanley Sperrow: Wayne.
Wayne Dunbar: (slowly) Ok – from Quincy to the Jordan Marsh in Bedford, alright, well there are several ways to get there, lets see, well the old route 14 used to go straight there – you just follow the Merrimack River – but that was before the war – so – now you’d have to –
Stanley Sperrow: (interrupts) Sorry, we have a time limit.
Wayne Dunbar: Alright, good luck.
(Tony buzzes in)
Tony Vallencourt: Ok, its 93 north to 3, but its four traffic lights, you hit a Chevron station, and a little past that there’s gonna be a retarded (retahded) kid selling fireworks. Hang a left by him you’re at the Jordan Marsh pal.
(Wrong answer)
Stanley Sperrow: Oh, sorry. The correct answer is 93 north to 3 north, exit 6, but you hang a right at the retarded kid, and if you cut through the Bedford Mall parking lot you save yourself 5 minutes.
Tony Vallencourt: Is that right pal?
Stanley Sperrow: Oh yeah. Ok, lets meet our contestants. First, Tony Vallencourt. You’re an electrical contractor, you enjoy that?
Tony Vallencourt: Oh yeah, pissah.
Stanley Sperrow: And what do you do in your free time?
Tony Vallencourt: I snow plow the K-Mart plaza parking lot and, uh,candlepin bowling.
Stanley Sperrow: Alright, Katie McGregor. You work at a wicker shop?
Katie McGregor: Aya, I’m part (paht) owner.
Stanley Sperrow: And what do you do in your free time?
Katie McGregor: I like to make pottery, and I like to candlepin bowl.
Stanley Sperrow: Ah – and Wayne Dunbar, you’re retired?
Wayne Dunbar: Aya.
Stanley Sperrow: And in your free time?
Wayne Dunbar: (slowly) Oh, you know, go out on the porch – look out at the stars – and candlepin bowling.
Stanley Sperrow: Ok folks, back to our game. From Hartford to Sturbridge –
(Katie buzzes in)
Katie McGregor: Ok, now that’s straight on route 84, but you’re gonna want to avoid the tourist traps up there, now, if you go up Manhill Road,you’ll see a pretty Bed and Breakfast in Bradford – but that’s a little out of your way, but it’s very reasonable. And there’s a farm (fahm) down the hill where you can get fresh Maine blueberries, of course, but that’s only in the summer –
(Wrong answer)
Stanley Sperrow: Sorry Katie, I didn’t finish the question. From Hartford to Sturbridge, how many Dunkin Donuts along the way?
(Tony buzzes in)
Stanley Sperrow: Tony.
Tony Vallencourt: Fourteen.
Stanley Sperrow: Correct! Bonus point for each drive-thru.
Tony Vallencourt: – Four
Stanley Sperrow: That’s right!
Tony Vallencourt: Yeah, and the one in Caucus got this WICKED fat kid workin’ there.
Stanley Sperrow: Ok, from Boston (Bahston) Mass to Nashua New Hampshire.
(Wayne buzzes in)
Wayne Dunbar: Can’t get there from here.
(Wrong answer)
Stanley Sperrow: Sorry, you can.
(Tony buzzes in)
Stanley Sperrow: Tony.
Tony Vallencourt: Boston to Nashua? You goin’ up there to buy liquor pally?
Stanley Sperrow: Aya, no sales tax.
Tony Vallencourt: Alright, you just gotta shoot up 95, but watch your ass crossin’ over the border. Those state troopers are outa control.
Stanley Sperrow: That’s correct Tony!
Tony Vallencourt: Hey, I don’t care if you’re 1 mile over the speed limit, they’re haulin’ your ass into MuniCourt.
Stanley Sperrow: Ok, Tony.
Tony Vallencourt: I’m tellin’ ya pal, these guys got a quota and a WICKED radar (radah) gun.
Stanley Sperrow: Ok, Tony, the game’s still going here. Newport, Rhode Island to Roxbury Mass.
(Katie buzzes in)
Katie McGregor: What do ya wanna go there for?
Stanley Sperrow: That’s right, there’s no reason to go to Roxbury!
Tony Vallencourt: Hey you can go to Roxbury if you bring your nunchucks pal, I’ll tell you that much.
Stanley Sperrow: A whole lotta crack up there. Ok, homestretch.
Tony Vallencourt: Those maniacs’ll slice ya and dice ya pally.
Stanley Sperrow: Ok Tony. Ok – how do you get from Dorchester Mass, to Mike Bigelow’s house?
(Wayne buzzes in)
Wayne Dunbar: (slowly) Ok, from Dorchester, oh dear, that’s uh,alright, well Dorchester’s south of Shrewsbury, so –
Stanley Sperrow: (interrupts) Oh sorry, we could see what was coming.
Wayne Dunbar: Alright, good luck.
(sirens)
Stanley Sperrow: Ok, that means we’re out of time, so Tony, you’re the winner pal. (Music plays, curtain opens) That means you’ll be joining our bonus round over here, and you’ll be joining our Kalahari Bushman,and his innate sense of direction. Welcome back Zelma.
Kalahari Bushman: (makes tongue noise) Good to be back.
Stanley Sperrow: Alright, how do you get from New Milford Connecticut, to the biggest Waterslide in Boothbay Harbor Maine?
(Tony and Bushman give directions, Bushman finishes first)
Stanley Sperrow: The Bushman’s got it! The Bushman’s got it! – Well don’t feel bad Tony; you still win a quart of Block Island Honey.
Tony Vallencourt: That’s wicked good!
Stanley Sperrow: And Zelma, as always you win a pound and a quart of fresh Maine lobster.
Kalahari Bushman: (makes tongue noise) Pissah.
Stanley Sperrow: Alright, see you next time on “How do You Get There?”.
Katie McGregor: You mean, “What’s The Best Way?”.
Stanley Sperrow: There ya go.
(fade)
Hate to admit it, but I had strong doubts about this season for the Patriots, and still had strong doubts after the first game, which was laden with mistakes, but…now they’re sitting atop the AFC East and tied for top spot in the AFC overall with the Broncos and Colts.
I was pretty much looking to the Tampa game to tell me if the team was for real, because anyone really following the Pats knows they had a soft spot in their schedule in there for a bit, with the Titans and so on. Various teams with losing records who just weren’t good. But Tampa Bay went into that last game with the Patriots at 6-2, so I have to say – New England is indeed sort of back.
The thing for a lot of us New England fans is adjusting to the new team. Defense? Still actually pretty damned good, especially under Vrabel. Though they have given up a few big plays and both offense and defense are flagged way too much. But offense? It’s hard to adjust from drop-back passers to Maye’s “waggle” sort of scrambling where he scampers on a bootleg off the edge and gains about four yards.
Of course, used to the old ways, I continually scream at the television set, “Would you get rid of the ball!I” because while our line is decent, it’s not great (some might argue that point), and Maye is constantly on the move outside the pocket, often even before it collapses. Sorry, but I still favor a pure pocket passer who just gets rid of the ball. Yeah, I know it’s a different NFL, but get rid of the ball.
Well, to sum up, I now think the Patriots can be taken “for real” this season and as a post-season threat. Vrabel’s done a good job.
Though we could get rid of the ball faster. And I don’t particularly like this nonsense about the deep ball. I was a Raiders fan for years – you live by the deep ball, you die by the deep ball. And believe me, you usually die by the deep ball.