Friday Open Thoughts: Philip IV, Live And In Person!

The sprinkler system in our building is down, due to some sort of blockage in the main that provides the water for the sprinkler system in our building, although the buildings nearby are OK in that respect.  The fire department has been around, working in shifts,   sticking around to monitor what's happening, and to help out in any way necessary.  Hopefully, the cause of the blockage will be determined and the blockage eliminated today.  The sprinkler system's not a good system to have break down!

My brother and his young son seemed allergic to Aziza's powder, for some reason.  I'm seriously looking into a better, bigger, stronger and more powerful one.  I need to figure out a way to either trade in or return my present one, but, in the event that I do, I won't do so until I get a new air purifier.  The one I'm looking at costs even less than my present one, is lower maintenance, covers about 1500 square feet, and not only removes bird dust and dander, but a whole host of other impurities from the air as well.  The only con I see is that this one lacks an air quality  monitor, but if it works out, it'll be a trade-off.

As I told everybody earlier, I passed from white belt to yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do.  I'm happy about that.  I  felt a strange happiness and calmness steal over me after the test.  I was tired, somewhat achy, but it was well worth it.

I went over to see my family last night, and had a bite to eat with them.  Had fun talking and conversing with my family,  as usual.  

I think I will get that other air purifier, because I don't want to run the risk of becoming allergic to my pet and having to give her away, because I love Aziza and (as narrow-minded as this may sound), I'd be devastated beyond belief, and  become quite nasty,  which I don't want, and nobody would hear the end of it.  Lack of self-control?  Maybe.  Expressing how I feel?  definitely.  Single-minded?  A good possibility.  Never one to take disappointments, set-backs and adversity with the greatest of grace (which is partially due to my hard-wiring), I'd rather find a solution to the possible problems in the future than the simplistic one of re-homing Aziza.  

Some people will claim that I'll be no use to anyone but myself on the long run, due to my not getting more heavily involved with various movements towards justice, both here and abroad, and they may or may not be right in that respect,  but, that's been the sort of thing that I've never, ever been able or willing to do.  As I pointed out in an earlier essay of mine here, it's been that way all along, and that attitude has just stuck with me.  I'd never go out and act as a human shield, or go on one of those flotillas of people who're trying to get humanitarian aid, food, etc., to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, for example, nor  will I donate the present POTUS any of my time or money, let alone my vote in 2012, either.   I will either vote for a viable third party, if one exists, or do a write-in like I did at the polls during the last POTUS election, because voting for the GOP, especially the way the are right now, is another thing that I cannot and will not do.

On a more positive note; tomorrow night,  I'll be going to see a screening of the early-1970's movie, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, which I've never seen, and is also supposed to be a very good film about Boston  I'm still keeping my ears and eyes pealed for another screening of West Side Story, however.  I hope they'll play WSS this year, especially since it's the 50th anniversary of this great classic film's release into the theatres.  I'd even drive to a neighboring state to see it!  I have to admit that I don't care for the sound of the new Broadway revival of West Side Story that much, so I'll just stick with the film, which is more than OK by me.  

pardon my rambling, folks.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Thanks, Scott!

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White  

My thoughts are with the Japanese people this morning.

There are, in every age, new errors to be rectified, and new prejudices to be opposed. ~Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

Thanks, S.  Most interesting.


For who could have foretold
That the heart grows old.
W.B. Yeats