August 23, 2015 - Msg 102401: Asa just be sure ya don't pick your peaches before they get fuzzed up good as Andy would say.... Oh by the way, I said I made a apple cobbler, it was made from Gingercrisp apples and not Honey Crisp anyhow it was good, even Mrs. G-F liked it!...it is better warm with a dollop of vanilla ice cream....G-F
August 23, 2015 - Msg 102402: Shazam! I swept and hosed down the porch too this morning while I had the hose out watering my plants!
August 23, 2015 - Msg 102403: And a fine job you did, G-F. The porch looks clean as a whistle! About that cobbler - Gingercrisp apples? I haven't seen those, but I am definitely a fan of the Honey Crisp kind. I remember my very first bite of one of those. I was in Fredericksburg, and stopped off at the Wal-Mart there. They had those apples, and I had never seen them before, so bought a few and took them to my daughter's house. She has one of those handy-dandy apple slicer thingies, that you just mash down on the apple and it cuts out the core and gives you eight neat, equal slices. Love that thing! I got myself one, too. Anyway, I tried one of the slices, and oh my goodness!! What a good apple! Now I guess I'll have to try the Gingercrisp kind. Sounds intriguing. I tasted a new grape at Kroger the other day - called Cotton Candy grapes. They were very expensive, so didn't buy any, but I did eat one, just to see what they're like. Guess what? They do sort of taste like cotton candy. Very sweet, and a strong hint of cotton candy flavor. Pretty good. I'll wait for them to go on sale.

I have just been useless all day, napping in my chair, watching TV off and on. When I got home after church, I just sort of turned into a pumpkin, I guess. Oh well, it is the day of rest, after all.

Guess I'll rustle up something to eat. I saved a chicken leg and wing last night from the broiled chicken that no one seemed to want, and sent the rest home with David and Brittney. They're not picky, and I'll guarantee you, that chicken disappeared at their house today. Now I'll eat my little drumstick and wing, and all the chicken will be gone. I think if Hudson requests fried chicken for his birthday dinner next year, I'll just pinch his little head off. --Romeena
August 24, 2015 - Msg 102404: Ginger Crisp apples? I never heard of those either, Ro. And I love Honey Crisp apples as well. Don't know how I would like Ginger Crisps. I am not too fond of Ginger. I like Mary Ann anyway.
No, seriously, I am not too fond of that "ginger" taste. Every once in a while I will get it in my head that I want a ginger ale. So I get one, but I never finish it.
But I guess it won't hurt to try the apple version.

I did buy some of those Cotton Candy grapes at our local store, and yes, they were very expensive. They didn't really taste all that "cotton-candy-ish" to me. In fact, they didn't seem that different from other green grapes once I ate a bunch of them. I never bought them again. Couldn't justify the price for some grapes with just a hint of cotton-candy.
I don't know. Maybe Kroger has a better quality one with a stronger flavor, but these didn't.
But if you are looking for the price to go down, Romeena, don't hold your breath. Our store ran out of them and the price never went down the whole time they had them.

Took the kids to Medieval Times in Illinois yesterday. We thought Noah might like it for his birthday coming up and for Kai because she starts school in a week.
I hated the drive. In fact, I was so tired the wife drove down and most of the way back. But I love going there. It is such a nice escape with all the pageantry, battles, horse riding, and everyone there talks to you in character.
For the "feast", the chicken, which they call "baby dragon"(the last time we went they just called it "dead bird") was delicious and done to perfection. The only thing about the meal I didn't like is that to drink they only have Pepsi or water. And I don't drink Pepsi. I also could have ordered an "ale", but those are notoriously expensive there and I haven't have one of those since as long as I can remember.
If Noah wouldn't have been tired as well, he probably would have enjoyed it more. He did like the falcon as it flew around the room over everybody's heads. But about two-thirds of the way through the show after he had eaten, he somehow managed to fall asleep, even with all the yelling and action on the main floor.
If they had a Medieval Times closer to where we live, and it were less expensive, I might go more often. I just love that time in history with all the knights in armor, jousting, sword fighting, and castles.

-Sterling Holobyte
August 24, 2015 - Msg 102405: Sterling, we have a Medieval Times just about three miles up the road from where I live, but I've never been. I've always wanted to go, but can't get anyone to go with me. Eloise's daughter got very sick within a couple of days after eating there one night, it advanced into a Guillain-Barre type of illness, though the doctor never actually confirmed it as being exactly that. She was hospitalized for weeks, paralyzed from the chest down, but gradually recovered, and is perfectly fine now. Anyway, her history didn't offer any hints as to why she got sick, and when a family member mentioned Medieval Times and all the dust flying during the meal, with horses and all being involved, the notion developed that she ate or inhaled some pathogen there that caused it all. Frankly, I don't buy it, but the family does, and no one will go with me. Oh, I could find someone to go, but Eloise would be horrified and scared to death if I went, so I just don't bring it up. Sure would love to see the horsemanship, though. Some of my best days were spent on horseback, when I was young. Maybe one of these days...

About the cotton-candy grapes, the one I sampled was more yellow in color than the others in the bunch, so may have been a bit farther down the ripening cycle and therefore sweeter. I didn't try one of the greener ones. Anyway, at the price, it wasn't worth it. It was good, but not knock-your-socks-off good. Now, when it comes to those wonderful Rainier cherries, the golden ones that are as big as small apricots, you eat them in two bites, and sooo delicious, I just pay the price and enjoy them.

Blessings... --Romeena
August 24, 2015 - Msg 102406: Oh wow, Romeena. I can definitely see why they might not have pleasant memories about MT after that happening such a short time later. Though I'm not sure about catching something like that at MT. It's very clean, even where we sat in the second row, and I don't remember them kicking up much of the dirt they fight on(they may have, but I was too interested in the battles, I guess). Anyway, you'd think the place would be more dusty if that happened every performance.
The only things that seem to get into the audience is the bird flying overhead, the fog from the fog machine(but usually that doesn't even go further than some parts of the arena, and the flowers that the knights throw to selected girls in the audience.
I'm not saying that she couldn't have picked up something there, but I'd think that that could happen anywhere. Still, I do understand their trepidation about it. That must have been very scary, and I am glad she recovered.

Boy, I wish I could come down there to Texas. I would go with you. Don't know if you'd have much fun with me, though, if you're a yeller. I'm not a yeller, and they encourage you to yell for "your" knight. I did wave the little banner at times that they give you, though. ;-)

-Sterling Holobyte
August 24, 2015 - Msg 102407: Wow Sterling & Romeena those Medieval Times sound interesting, they have one every year not to far from me. But I never realized they had Pepsi back in those days, I knew it was a old drink but never realized it was that old..haha
I suppose in Romeena's neck of the woods you cheer them on by saying.... Yeee Haaaaw!...

G-F.....
August 24, 2015 - Msg 102408: Good morning, porch! G-F, I think we may have misled you about Medieval Times. It's actually a theme-type restaurant, open year-round. It sounds like you're thinking of a renaissance-fair sort of thing, that operates once a year. MT is a huge venue, with an arena in the middle, where men on horseback, wearing armor and all that stuff, have jousting matches, and display feats of horsemanship. As I said, I've never actually been, but have seen the ads, and heard descriptions from folks who have seen it.

Sterling, I'm not a big "yeller" either, at least not usually. If something winds me up sufficiently, I might. Usually it's more of a "whoo-hooo" than anything else, with one exception. Racing down the Frio River in an innertube, with the river at flood stage, produced quite a few "yee-haawwwws", because nothing else seemed to fit! That day, we were on a stretch of river that usually took an hour and a half to ride through, and we covered it in just under twenty minutes! That will pull a "yee-haw" out of just about anybody! You might have heard a "yikes!" as well, when the wooden crate went racing past, with a madly-buzzing rattlesnake coiled up on top of it! Boy, was he ticked!

As I said, I don't buy the theory that MT is where Eloise's daughter picked up whatever made her sick. MT is too popular, too well-attended, and after all these years, if people were being sickened like that, I think we'd know it. I don't know what made her sick, but it didn't fit the pattern of Guillain-Barre, even though the symptoms and progression of the disease were so similar. GB usually follows another viral illness, coming along a few weeks later. It's actually an auto-immune disease, where the body attacks its own nervous system. It progresses to a certain point, then begins to retreat, following the reverse order of the original progression. Most people recover completely.So, the timeline with Eloise's daughter didn't indicate (at least, to me) that she acquired it at MT, but the doctors were stumped, and when someone mentioned MT, and the family seemed to accept that, the doctors didn't object too much. I still don't buy it, but had it been my daughter, I might feel differently.

Well, guess I'd better get busy around here. How on earth one old woman and one tiny dog can create this much dust and clutter, I'll never know. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
August 24, 2015 - Msg 102409: I think you're right Romeena, the kind I'm talking about is what you described as a Renaissance Fair. It goes on a couple of week-ends about this time of the year. That is one nice thing about the fall is all the fairs, harvest festivals ect. They have ones called "Yankee Peddler" and "Shaker Woods Festival" few miles from me, they have crafters from all over peddling their wares. All kinds of articians, music, food ect....

G-F....
August 24, 2015 - Msg 102410: Here's I video of the Shaker Woods Festival....The kettle corn is THE BEST!...

http://youtu.be/4HxjPgBztyY

G-F again
August 24, 2015 - Msg 102411: I would LOVE to visit that festival! My kind of place! My Dale and I started going to Silver Dollar City when we moved to Springfield back in 1971, and it was waaaay more simple and country then than it is now. The Shaker Woods Festival looks like the way I would imagine Silver Dollar City was maybe ten or fifteen years before we first visited there. Much more to see than to do. It's the other way around at Silver Dollar now, more of a theme park, with all the rides and such. I liked it the way it was in 1971. There were a few simple rides, nothing elaborate, but there was so much to see. We even watched them make buckshot! I had never thought about how it was done, but found it fascinating, not what I would have imagined at all. We watched them make candy, candles, blown glass, wood carvings, and even bought a bag of cornmeal that we actually watched them grind! I made some darned good cornbread with it, too! Long live those small country fairs and festivals - they keep us reminded of our roots. --Romeena
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102412: ROMeena-watch those cotton candy grapes...your blood sugar will spike!! haha
EVERYONE--We don't go to a lot of movies, as I think
most of you know; and I have only been to only 2 "R" rated movies in my life, (just a personal decision that I made as a Christian) but we decided to go see "Spy" this past weekend, and I have never been so disappointed in my life! I saw that it was rated R, but since it was billed as a comedy, I thought maybe there would just be a few crude jokes. But wow, we both decided to leave about half-way thru it, and they did give us our money back, but my goodness, literally every other word was the "F" word! Seriously! It could have been a cute, funny, spy movie where an office worker ends up as a spy in the field, and all the escapades that go with that, but it was ruined with that stupid word over and over and over again! Maybe that is what is attracting audiences these days, but it was not for us.
Just warning ya all, if any decide to go or to rent it.
Well, the market is still falling like a led balloon, just a correction they say :(.
On EMERGENCY today Big Maude, aka Ralph Henderson, aka Elenore Poltice, showed up as a Mrs Pierce bearing cookies for John Gage! Who woulda thunk it!
Prayers my friends,
MDC
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102413: Going to hit the ironing board. mdc
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102414: Morning all. I hope and pray you are all fine and dandy.

GF, That was an awesome link. Looks like a ton of fun for sure.

MDC, I am with you. I don't know the last time I went to a movie. Just a waste of time and money for me. I really dislike hollyweird and all it stands for, so I try not support them. Too bad because they could be such a good source for goodness instead of darkness.

Hey Ro, here is a link to a local event we have in our neck of the woods every Labor Day weekend. I bet you would love going to this.
http://soldierhollowclassic.com/

Well off to work.

Asa
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102415: Asa, that event looks interesting, ya know they could still have that event even during a lightning storm, but if they was hearding giraffes that would be a different story! I don't think Barneys dog Blue would do very good there... Sheep, Blue! Sheep!... Round them up Blue... Blue, Blue? I don't think that dog could find his own food dish...lol

G-F......
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102416: Hey Gang wow low humidity and 85..and I get off work at 2 ! Gona meet with an Edward Jones Rep this afternoon to get this retirememt thing going !..hope end of next year..that will be 35 years at the Power Company (EMC) and 57yrs old for me(end of next yr)..hope I can do it ! took a BIG 401k hit yesterday...prayed about it...Lunch?..SPOT
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102417: Retirement....Jump on in SPOT the waters Fine!...
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102418: Good morning, porch! Asa, I would love that event. Watching the sheepdogs do their thing would be worth the trip. They're amazing. They're like poetry in motion. One of these days, I'll tell you about my daughter's little mixed breed, no border collie in her at all, who suddenly displayed an amazing talent, at about thirteen years of age.

MDC and Asa, I'm with the two of you. The last movie I saw was when Eloise and I took our grandsons to see "Paddington Bear", which I would highly recommend to anyone, young or old. It's delightful. A beautiful story, very well and skillfully done. Good triumphs!

For the life of me, I don't understand why anyone would spend that much money (or even two cents) to go and have their ears and sensibilities assaulted by a bunch of profanity and vulgarity. I would get up and walk away from anyone who was talking like that around me, why would I go and pay to listen to it? Trust me, I've about heard it all, and my ears are not innocent - 35 years as a nurse will do that to you. However, on more than one occasion I've politely asked a patient, and once, a visitor, to clean it up when I was in the room. They all apologized and cleaned it up, with one exception. One particularly foul-mouthed man challenged me. He said, "Hey, I'm a patient and you're the nurse. Your job is to put up with me." To which I answered, "No, sir. You are presumably a gentleman, and I'm a lady. My father didn't talk to me like that, my husband doesn't, and my contract with this hospital doesn't require me to accept verbal abuse from you. So clean it up, or we'll talk with your doctor about it." He looked at me like a duck looking at thunder, but he cleaned it up. In fact, he got quite nice before it was all over, and eventually apologized.

If more people would do what you did, MDC, which was the equivalent of what I did with that patient, maybe Hollywood would begin to catch on. As long as people sit there like dumb sheep, let the foul language pour over them and try to sort out a grain of value in the movie from all the filth, they'll keep doing it. There are always those coarse, juvenile minds who are entertained by such garbage. Why, I can't imagine.

Well, gotta run. Toye Starr just reminded me she hasn't had breakfast. Around here, that's a major catastrophe. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102419: No problem with me running into that movie, MDC, since I've pretty much given up on Hollywood and very, very rarely darken the door of a movie theater.
One movie I saw on dvd a looonnnggg while back which was like the one you described, was Midnight Run with Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. I had been a fan of Grodin's dry humor and put upon characters in other shows, and it had a big name Hollywood actor like De Niro in it, so I thought it should be pretty good, right?
Nope. Seemed every other word was that "f" word. It was as if they just kept saying it to get the R rating and most of the times it didn't even seem like it "fit" the scene. Not like it ever should "fit".
But yeah, I stopped watching about half-way through, and that is the only thing I remember about that stupid movie.

Now, recently my wife and kids managed to drag me to the theater to watch the Disney/Pixar film, "Inside Out".
Being that it was (modern day)Disney, I was fully expecting to be blasted with a bunch of politically correct and social engineering nonsense to get into the kiddies minds, especially when I saw that the main(human) characters were moving to San Francisco, and I was pleasantly surprised when none of that happened. In fact, I was surprised that it dealt with the premise that the promos promised, and nothing else.
I did find my mind wandering a little bit about 2/3rds of the way through the movie when the novelty of little people in your head controlling your emotions wore off, but perked up when the action picked up again.
All in all, I think kids would like it, and it is ONE movie I can definitely recommend, for the whole family.

-Sterling Holobyte
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102420:
Wow SPOT, coming up on 35 years of employment? That should result in a nice comfortable pension with retirement benefits. Had I not moved to Canada, I could be retiring after 37 years with a better pension income. At least the health insur@nce us legal residents of Canada are entitled to came in handy because my employer's health insur@nce coverage ended with my early retirement. I missed out being grandfathered for retiree health insur@nce by one lousy year.
You also mentioned that you will be contacting an Edward Jones representative about your retirement. I also once considered consulting with Edward Jones. All I will say about this is that I recommend you search the internet using "Edward Jones review" as your keywords to learn what I discovered.

Regarding watching movies in theaters, in the last twenty years, as a customer, I have seen only "Haunted Mansion" and "The Three Stooges".
I don't like movie theaters for the following reasons:
- seating where I can't stretch my legs,
- chair arm rests that are shared with the person next to you,
- sound levels too high, especially the special effects,
- high prices for refreshments,
- vulgar language is way too common.
I know that much of the income that movie theater owners get to keep is generated from the high priced refreshments. That is because the movie producers charge the theater owners a very high price just to show the movie. And these movie producers need to generate a large profit to not only guarantee the large salaries for the big name actors, but also make the movie investors happy with a better return on their investment. I learned this when I used to work movie theaters as a mystery shopper. You might be surprised to know that as a mystery shopper, although I was allowed to watch the movies for free, after I performed the people and money count for my report, I never stayed to watch the movie.

from Poor Horatio
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102421: I'm with you guys on the movie thing, I rarely go too, but I have a good collection of movies on VHS & DVD's that I paid very little for. They are movies I find fitting and appropriate, and I can sit back in my "Wheeler" in comfort and peace!!
The snacks are much better and cheaper too...lol

I have mentioned this before, you got to see "The Straight Story" with Dick Farnsworth. It's about the guy who rides his mower to see his sick brother from Iowa to Wisconsin. It may be on YouTube...

G-F
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102422: I agree with all of your reasons for not going to a theater, Poor Horatio. Mind if I add one of mine?
One of my pet peeves in theaters is having to listen to people crunch popcorn. I can't stand it! I realize that having popcorn at the movies is an old time tradition for some people, but hearing that constant "crunch, crunch, crunch" sound, along with the preceding squeaky sound as they are putting a handful of it in their mouths, just bugs the popcorn out of me.

Ok, that's my popcorn rant for the day.

-Sterling Holobyte
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102423: Hey Y'all- I see some discussions have been going on regarding food,so with that in mind I want to give y'all a heads up on something- a local restaurant manager that I know well just told me that turkeys are getting really hard to come by,due to the bird flu out in the Midwest This restaurant I frequent actually had to take turkey off of their menu due to the shortage. Anyway,the manager said they have the inside scoop that turkey prices are going to skyrocket before long-people could pay as much as $60 for a turkey at Thanksgiving,according to predictions. So,get your turkeys now,stick 'em in the freezer and that way you'll have one for your Thanksgiving meal.
Now,I don't wanna hear no turkey jokes,Asa & G-F! I know how y'all are-LOL

Well,I've got the sinus misery,so gonna go rest my little possum self. Just wanted to skim the goings on here on the Porch & when I saw y'all talking apples,grapes,chicken & popcorn,I thought I'd throw a little turkey in the mix!

Y'all take care!

************
possum u.a.r.
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102424: Good afternoon, porch. Guys, I agree with you on all counts, but there is a ray of hope. Our local theater in our little mall (AMC 14) has taken steps to improve the experience dramatically. There are several theaters in the group, all relatively small. I've only been in one, so don't know if they're all the same, but friends say they are. It only seats about 40 people, and the seats are - get this - big old comfy recliners, armrests are yours alone, drink holder in one and bigger container that popcorn bag will fit in in the other. Very sharp slope to the seating array, so the row in front of you is about four feet away, and two feet lower than you are. No kids kicking the back of your seat, and I couldn't hear anyone's popcorn crunching but my own! I was more comfortable than in my own chair at home. I don't know if all the AMC theaters have upgraded, but ours certainly has. The last time I was in it, about three years ago, I swore I'd never go back. Packed seat rows, dirty floors, sticky armrests, generally yucky. Eloise had to convince me that it had been improved, and she was right. The food prices, of course, are ridiculous, but you'd be surprised how much stuff from home can be carried in a big handbag. All we bought were drinks and one big thing of popcorn. The movie, "Paddington Bear", was wonderful, of course. Highly recommend it!

Just got word from my daughter that the big, ugly tumor removed last week from her golden retriever's neck apparently was benign! Good news. Even the vet didn't expect that. God is good. --Romeena
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102425: Awwww! Little Possums ought not to have sinus miseries. Take your meds, get some rest, and use warm moist packs, sweetie. --Romeena
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102426:
possum u.a.r., thanks for that turkey warning. As a result, unless I apply for a second mortgage, we will be eating an alternative meat for the two Thanksgivings we will be celebrating (October in Canada and November in the USA). I just realized that I don't remember any grocery stores selling whole turkeys year round, only near Thanksgiving. I wonder if they are only raised so that they mature by the fall season, just in time for the Thanksgiving season.

Romeena, some Canadian theaters offer a more comfortable movie experience called UltraAVX for an additional fee. You can read more about it at http://montreal.about.com/od/montrealevents/ss/ultraavx-review-vs-imax.htm

from Poor Horatio
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102427: Now who would joke about turkey? That's real serious eatin' and we all know eatin' speaks louder than words....
And that's all I'll say about that! Ok, Possum......lol...G-F
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102428: Hmmm. The turkey thing presents a dilemma. I don't generally buy frozen turkeys, I buy a fresh one, not frozen. I guess I'm going to have to think about this.

PH, the seats in that picture are not the same as the seats in our AMC. They are literally individual recliners, much like one would have at home. They're arranged in groups of two, three or four in the theater, in little individual areas, with low walls in between. There is literally no one within four feet of you, unless they're in a chair in your group, and even then, the chairs are almost a foot apart. Very, very comfortable.

Well, I've got some leftover chili. Maybe I'll add a little chopped onion, diced tomato, shredded cheese and a handful of Fritos, and call it dinner. Sounds pretty good to me. --Romeena
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102429: Me again. I found this website: https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/dallas-ft-worth/amc-irving-mall-14

Scroll down to the box marked "Features" and there you'll find a picture of the recliners. Pretty comfortable! --Romeena
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102430: That "Features" box may display as a right-hand sidebar, rather than toward the bottom. It comes up differently at times. --Romeena
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102431: That theater must be called "Wheelerama" .....lol.....G-F
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102432: Maybe after SPOT retires, We all could invest in a franchise? But they would have to be rocker recliners, right?...hummmm sounds like a better investment than the stock market right now... G-F over and out...
August 25, 2015 - Msg 102433: Well, I guess you all heard that the market closed at 15,666 today! Yup, really. I'm not saying that it's a sign, I'm just saying that that is pretty interesting!
Regarding the movies, yes, we have those recliners here too in some theaters, like when I told you we saw the remastered 50th annv edition of the Sound of Music, but many are still the old style seats. One thing about the recliners, ya can't put your arm around yer gal! :(
One other very disappointing thing that we observed the other night were the number of KIDS that parents were bringing in with them! We saw at least 20 kids 10 and under file past our seats in the back. And none of those parents pulled their kids out during the time we were there! Of course, now they will grow up to be potty-mouthed and end up in a Parkland hospital ward cussing out the nurses.(At least Romeena won't have to listen to them anymore.) We got some much-needed rain here a little bit ago and it is headed north ASA!
ASA- btw, our trip is off for a while. Our 15 year old cat got some real kidney issues recently, and we have to get several meds in her daily, so we cant really ask a neighbor to do that. I'll let you know if and when it is back on.
ALL- how about those three American young men in France! Very proud of them and their quick action!
Prayers,
MDC
August 26, 2015 - Msg 102434:
G-F, it is improper to end your posting with "over and out". You can use one or the other, but not at the same time. When you end a transmission with "over", that means you expect a reply. When you end a transmission with "out", that means a reply is not expected.

from Poor Horatio
(a former Army communication officer)
August 26, 2015 - Msg 102435: "roger dodger, er over and under, er 10-4" (:
August 26, 2015 - Msg 102436: Good Morning gang ! back here at work..Had a good meeting with my retirememt advisor yesterday...We are gona try to get the ball rolling for 01/01/2017. Hope it works out ! well hey Romeena,MDC,GF,PH,possum,Boo and all...Breakfast will be at I-Hop !..prayers to all in need !..SPOT
August 26, 2015 - Msg 102437: PH, I never knew that... Sorta like saying Hi & Bye? Let's just say: "Done & Done"... As Briscoe would say...

G-F...Signing off Yes...
August 26, 2015 - Msg 102438: _.. _ _ _ _. . / ._ _ . _.. / _.. _ _ _ _. . Did I Do it correctly? Man PH! That must have been a challenge to do this, was it difficult to learn? It really takes concentration to keep track of the dots and dashes, especially during a stressful situation. Good on Ya!...

G-F
August 26, 2015 - Msg 102439:
G-F, nice try with that morse code you posted in Msg 102438. But I am having trouble deciphering some of the letters because you use the same amount of spacing for separating the dashes and for separating the letters. So try it again by using the following rules:
- for dashes, instead of using an underline (_), try using a hyphen (-) instead. For underlines side by side, you have to insert a space in between them. However, for hyphens side by side, the spacing is automatic. So 'O' becomes '---' instead of '_space_space_'
- use a single forward slash to separate characters such as --/.-/-.--/-..././.-./.-./-.--
- use a double forward slash to separate words such as -.../.-/.-./-././-.--//..-./../..-./.

from Poor Horatio
August 26, 2015 - Msg 102440:
G-F, learning morse code can be difficult. However, if you use it regularly along with learning it, that helps a great deal. When I first learned it in Boy Scouts, since I had no practical use for it at that time, I got very rusty. But when I was an active amateur radio operator (aka HAM), whenever I communicated on the long range frequencies below 50MHz, I used morse code exclusively. That practical experience helped me retain much of it to this day.
Now for a better explanation about the problem I am having trying to decipher what you posted. This is what you attempted:
_.. _ _ _ _. . / ._ _ . _.. / _.. _ _ _ _. .

Not knowing which spaces separate characters and which separate dashes, if I assume that all spacing separates all characters, I decipher this as:
_.. = D
_ = T
_ = T
_ = T
_. = N
. = E
/ = word separation
._ = A
_ = T
. = E
_.. = D
/ = word separation
_.. = D
_ = T
_ = T
_ = T
_. = N
. = E
so that translates to
DTTTNE/ATED/DTTTNE

from Poor Horatio
August 26, 2015 - Msg 102441: Haha PH, it was too crazy to do the first time on this iPad. So I'll just say it said: done and done... I now have greater respect for everyone who had to communicate this way. I could not imagine what it was like to have to do this during battles and such. Today's military has so much technology at their finger tips now. Back in the day they only had drums, bugles, flags and such to communicate battle the strategy. Today it is at their fingertips.

I'm sure you had to decipher codes at the same time too...

I always found it intriguing the story of the Indian code talkers in WW 2....Interesting topic!...

Thanks to O'l Sam Morse the dots and dashes, and beeps, ....they changed history....

Post Completed.....Stop..... G-F...haha
August 26, 2015 - Msg 102442: Now come on, guys. I'm still working on my Spanish! Don't go throwing another language at us! You could laugh at us, and make fun of the way we're dressed, and everything! Why, you could even make fun of our little fat mayor!

MDC, about those kids in the theater, I would bet you that those kids have heard all that language, and worse, at home, and possibly have had it directed at them. That is so sad. So many children never know an "age of innocence" because from birth they're exposed to unimaginable things. Years ago, I worked for a few months in a short-lived program at our hospital - a teen drug rehab unit. One of my patients was a twelve-year-old boy who was addicted to cocaine. From the age of about two or three, he and his little sister had been given drugs by his hooker mom, and made to hunker down and "sleep" in the front seat of the car, while she "entertained" a client in the back! That kid was a mess that no one but God could have helped, but we were not allowed to mention "religion" at all. This was 25 years ago. Imagine what it's like now.

The talking heads say we're on the road for a "market correction", and what we're seeing now is the beginning of it, with the stock market dropping and all. They say it's the market "correcting itself." Well, maybe so. I know so little about that, so I won't argue. However, I can't help but wonder if we're about to see a "spiritual correction" as well. Perhaps 9/11 was a sign, a forerunner. It worked, just a little, for a little while. Our church attendance was up considerably, for a few weeks, but the panic subsided and people settled back into their "mow the yard on Sunday morning" routine. What's next? I guess we'll find out.

For me, for now, I'm watching a little ruby-throat hummer feeding outside my window, the crape myrtles are blooming, and a few petunias, but not much else. It's those "dog days" when everything just tries to survive. Thanks to the rain, and the relaxed watering restrictions, it's all green and healthy, but not much blooming. Still, it's pretty. The berries on the American Beautyberry are plumping up and turning purple. It will be gorgeous for a little while, until the robins decide the berries are ready. Then they'll descend in a big platoon, and strip that bush in one afternoon! It's a sight to behold. The squirrels do the same thing to my pear tree, the little rascals.

So far, no more rat in the garage. The one the trap got was a male, so maybe there were no babies, I hope. I've left three dog treats out there on the floor. If they disappear, I'll know it's time to set the traps again, but so far, they're untouched. I think I may be home free.

Well, gotta go feed my little room mate. She's standing here on her little four-inch legs, looking at me with impatience written all over her! Who says dogs can't talk? She speaks Canine Sign Language very well! Blessings, friends. --Romeena
August 26, 2015 - Msg 102443:

G-F, now that I know you wanted to post "done and done" in morse code, I'll do it for you:
-../---/-././/.-/-./-..//-../---/-./.
See how simple that was? Just like disarming a sensitive thermo-nuclear bomb during an earthquake while you are soaking wet and shaking from the frigid weather on the Arctic continent.

from Poor Horatio
August 26, 2015 - Msg 102444: An el trucko jack-knifed and lost its load of 32 porta potties over on Turner's Grade. It was enroute to the Chili Cook-Off Classic in Greendale when the accident occured.
August 26, 2015 - Msg 102445: That makes me dizzy just looking at it PH, so I'll just say: "bye" when I'm done Ok?......bye...G-F..lol
August 27, 2015 - Msg 102446: 102444--Barney didnt give em the extra 5 mph!
Hope all are well tonight. I am just settin a spell after a busy day of trying to get things done around the house.
Prayers go out to the families of the reporter and cameraman. Lord be with us.
GF--when you think about it, morse code is just a type of binary code that all modern computers use to communicate. Di and dashes are now "ones and zeros" that have been electronified. :)
nite,
MDC
August 27, 2015 - Msg 102447:
Hey Folks...good morning to all.

auh20
August 27, 2015 - Msg 102448: Morning all. Good to see you auh20, but you're kind of dominating the conversation here. Can I get a word in edgewise? lol (you know I'm kidding buddy)

Sorry to hear about your pets illness MDC. We got a few of them drizzles you sent. Hardly enough to wet the street, but it did bring the temps down a bit.

All this dotting and dashing that PH and GF are doing reminds me of my boy scout days. Seems like 3 lifetimes ago. And the scouting program sure ain't what it used to be.

Romeena, this market thing sure has been a wild ride. I am in a 457K program through my work. A few years ago when the market had a particular good day, I called our administrator and had them roll everything over into an interest only bearing account. It only gives 3% interest, but it gets bit out on the volatile stock market ups and downs, and puts my mind at ease. All new contributions I continue into the stock market and that has added up to a nice little amount. Enough so that I am going to roll it over into the other account pretty soon. At my age, I am more concerned about protection than accumulation. "Folks in my age bracket have to do that you know" (to quote Mrs. Mendlebright) :)

Sounds like it's time for another check point chickee out on Turners Grade.

I watched the episode last night when Barney thinks he's got Thel in his hip pocket. Well old Thel sure showed him what's what, didn't she? Fellers, don't take your woman for granted. 10-4!

Asa
August 27, 2015 - Msg 102449: Lunch Time ! SPOT
August 27, 2015 - Msg 102450: HI ALL, so i am watching Perry Mason today and it is a who's who of other shows... There was Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) on it, and Mr Jackson the mean publisher, and Micah Torrance! Neat to see them in other roles. The lady defendant was also very familiar, but I couldnt quite place her.
We got a good, quick gully washer here this afternoon. Really came down hard. Got one inch in one hour. That's good for us! I posted some
pics on FB. But sorry ASA, not going north, in fact was FROM the north. Also... so glad that i am now out of the market!
AUH20--You're using up WAY too much bandwidth here. haha
SPOT--thanks for lunch...BTW, Applebee's has a great new burger that's topped with a fried egg and hashbrowns! Mmm
PH or anyone--On Emergency, why do they end their radio transmissions with KMA" ?
Well, have a good evening all.
MDC

August 28, 2015 - Msg 102451: Lordy MDC, do they really do that on Emergency(haven't watched for a while)?
I am probably wrong, and hope I am, but the words that came to my head from those abbreviations would not be a nice thing to say. Lol.

-Sterling Holobyte
August 28, 2015 - Msg 102452: LOL @ Sterling. Good one. Ii will never see Emergency od Dragnet the same way now. MDC, I believe the KMA was part of their "call" letters. BTW MDC, Have you noticed on some of the Adam 12 episodes that the background noise or street noise is so loud that it almost drowns out the dialogue? Very irritating.

Last night I watched the episode where Opie falls for Helen Crump and buys her some nylons for a present. Old Barney, reading that love poem to Opie, who was relaying it to Helen. Funny stuff, especially when Barney finds out it was Helen that Opie was talking too.
And here is a trivia question for you from this episode. How much money was a soda pop empty bottle worth?

MDC, I keep seeing Joanne Moore (Peggy) showing up on The Fugitive. Gosh, she was a pretty lady. She was in color last night and looked fine, just fine! :)

Where you at GF? I could use your help getting my boilers ready for winter. Plenty of Taco pumps that need some TLC.

Speaking of such, better get after it.

Asa
August 28, 2015 - Msg 102453:
MDC, Asa is correct by stating KMA is part of a call sign. Any person or agency that wants to transmit on public radio frequencies must first seek approval from the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). When their application is approved, each applicant is issued a unique call sign that must be included in their transmissions. Back then, public agency call signs were composed of three letters followed by three numbers. If there is any problem with a transmission, the call sign identifies the source of that transmission to the FCC. During each Emergency episode, you will hear the call sign given at the end of every radio transmission to indicate that the transmission is over and the frequency is clear for other transmissions.

from Poor Horatio
August 28, 2015 - Msg 102454:
Asa, after a quick internet search, I learned that in 1971, Coke bottles could be returned for a five cent refund.

from Poor Horatio