This is a simple and short post about a usage trend that I have been noticing lately. It is becoming quite common, at least in sports reporting.
It is the use of the present tense when talking or writing about something that may occur in the future.
Yesterday, I came across this headline; I think it was for a video clip, but it might have been for a short article.
"Is [Insert Name] the coach next year?"
Not will he be the coach next year or will he still be the coach next year but Is He the coach next year.
Trends like this are easy to pick up, but I fervently hope that I can resist adopting this one.
Please put me out of my misery if I succumb.
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
The Bringing of Gifts
Omiyage is a way of life in Hawaii. It's a tradition brought over from Japan. Whenever a group gets together, almost everyone will bring a little gift happily wrapped. (from Kay's blog)
This got me thinking that our Western custom, although not quite as well refined in this regard, is pretty similar, particularly amongst women. I don't think Sue has ever visited anyone without bearing a gift, except probably if it is an habitual and recurring date such as her almost weekly visit to a nearby friend.
I remember back in the day when we used to watch Dr Phil (don't worry, we got over it long ago), he mentioned that men could even drop in on other men without bringing a gift. This may only be partially true, for I did bring donut holes when I dropped over to see Nick not long ago.
I was thinking that this was a recent phenomenon, but then a childhood memory soon disabused me of that.
When I was 5 or 6, we visited one of Mom's cousins whom I called Aunt. She took along with her a box a Laura Secord suckers aka lollipops. I looked forward to them greatly as treats were not all that plentiful at our house.
After some time, when the treat was not forthcoming, I wandered into the kitchen and began to open the box. Mother was aghast at my lack of couth, but I was too young to know better.
So, the custom isn't new although I do believe that it has risen to new heights.
This got me thinking that our Western custom, although not quite as well refined in this regard, is pretty similar, particularly amongst women. I don't think Sue has ever visited anyone without bearing a gift, except probably if it is an habitual and recurring date such as her almost weekly visit to a nearby friend.
I remember back in the day when we used to watch Dr Phil (don't worry, we got over it long ago), he mentioned that men could even drop in on other men without bringing a gift. This may only be partially true, for I did bring donut holes when I dropped over to see Nick not long ago.
I was thinking that this was a recent phenomenon, but then a childhood memory soon disabused me of that.
When I was 5 or 6, we visited one of Mom's cousins whom I called Aunt. She took along with her a box a Laura Secord suckers aka lollipops. I looked forward to them greatly as treats were not all that plentiful at our house.
After some time, when the treat was not forthcoming, I wandered into the kitchen and began to open the box. Mother was aghast at my lack of couth, but I was too young to know better.
So, the custom isn't new although I do believe that it has risen to new heights.
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Sledding Vids
When I finally got around to looking at the week-old sledding videos yesterday, lo and behold, there was the one of Sue's last run, or what will probably have been her last run. As I mentioned when I posted my last run, we had the notion to take one more slide in our seventies. For the past two years, the stars hadn't aligned, but, now, we've done it. (23 seconds)
That Sue clip was easy to do, since it was all on one take, but I had a number or takes of the kids that really needed to be edited into one montage. I think this is why I demurred over processing this footage because I don't really love working with videos. Nevertheless, here is Danica: with a lot of fun falling. (39 seconds)
And JJ. (31 seconds)
I am glad I made the efforts, both to slide and to process. Neither effort was all that onerous. Alas, I get lazy.
Now, as I set into the dead of winter, as it were, what will I post about in the near future? I just don't know.
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Two Realizations
Two realizations this morning.
- I had no blog post and no new material.
- I hadn't yet done anything much from the week's sledding. That was on Tuesday, and it is Sunday already.
So I did a quickie thing — a pretty silly quickie thing. I composited 5 pics of my one sledding run, and I think my final run ever, into one strip..
The white balance changes throughout as does the background, but this is just for fun, so it doesn't matter.
Maybe I will go through some of the footage of the kids today. It is snowing, and we aren't going anywhere, so . . .
I can't say that I am enthused about it, however.
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Caturday 15: Lacey Slakes Her Thirst
A few years ago, Asha, the kid's since departed cat had a thing about licking pop cans. Recently, Lacey has become a licker but of windows.
When it is cold enough outside, the warmer household air tends to condense at the bottom of the window pane.
It does have to be fairly cold, though. I just checked the window, but it is only -5C/23F outside, and that does not appear to be a significant enough temperature difference because there is no condensation this morning.
So, Lacey will not be able to slake her thirst by licking the window this morning: at least not yet. It's early (5:30), and the house temperature is still low for sleeping. Maybe there will be window water for her when the house heats up more. We shall see.
When it is cold enough outside, the warmer household air tends to condense at the bottom of the window pane.
It does have to be fairly cold, though. I just checked the window, but it is only -5C/23F outside, and that does not appear to be a significant enough temperature difference because there is no condensation this morning.
So, Lacey will not be able to slake her thirst by licking the window this morning: at least not yet. It's early (5:30), and the house temperature is still low for sleeping. Maybe there will be window water for her when the house heats up more. We shall see.
Friday, January 24, 2020
Hospital Reports
I came across these supposedly genuine entries in hospital reports. I've highlighted the ones that I thought a little funnier than the rest. Perhaps #29 is my top choice. Although these things tend to make the rounds, I've never seen these before.
1. The patient has no previous history of suicides.
2. Patient has left her white blood cells at another hospital.
3. Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days.
4. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.
5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.
6. On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it disappeared.
7. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.
8. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.
9. Discharge status:- Alive, but without my permission.
10. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert, but forgetful.
11. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.
12. She is numb from her toes down.
13. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.
14. The skin was moist and dry.
15. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.
16. Patient was alert and unresponsive.
17. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.
18. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life until she got a divorce.
19. I saw your patient today, who is still under our care for physical therapy.
20. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.
21 Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.
22. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.
23. Skin: somewhat pale, but present.
24. The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor.
25. Large brown stool ambulating in the hall.
26. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities
27. When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room.
28. The patient was in his usual state of good health until his airplane ran out of fuel and crashed.
29. Between you and me, we ought to be able to get this lady pregnant.
30. She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December.
31. Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. Smith, who felt we should sit on the abdomen and I agree.
32. The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took a job as a stock broker instead.
33. By the time he was admitted, his rapid heart had stopped, and he was feeling better.
1. The patient has no previous history of suicides.
2. Patient has left her white blood cells at another hospital.
3. Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days.
4. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.
5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.
6. On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it disappeared.
7. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.
8. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.
9. Discharge status:- Alive, but without my permission.
10. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert, but forgetful.
11. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.
12. She is numb from her toes down.
13. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.
14. The skin was moist and dry.
15. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.
16. Patient was alert and unresponsive.
17. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.
18. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life until she got a divorce.
19. I saw your patient today, who is still under our care for physical therapy.
20. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.
21 Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.
22. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.
23. Skin: somewhat pale, but present.
24. The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor.
25. Large brown stool ambulating in the hall.
26. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities
27. When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room.
28. The patient was in his usual state of good health until his airplane ran out of fuel and crashed.
29. Between you and me, we ought to be able to get this lady pregnant.
30. She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December.
31. Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. Smith, who felt we should sit on the abdomen and I agree.
32. The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took a job as a stock broker instead.
33. By the time he was admitted, his rapid heart had stopped, and he was feeling better.
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Jam and Sled
I have not been too keen to really get into the sledding photos and videos that I shot the other day. Perhaps if I hadn't been otherwise engaged yesterday, which was the day after, I would have done better by now. But, I had a medical appointment in the morning and a musical jam to attend in the afternoon.
The jam was mostly for the benefit of my guitar-playing friend, Bob, for I knew some of the people there, but he didn't, so I helped with introductions. It would have bee difficult for Bob just to show up on his own at a stranger's door. There were about 5 guitar players, a fiddler, and one fellow doing something with a strange percussion instrument that I have never seen before. I think there were 5 of us without instruments, who came to sing a few pieces.
Bob didn't take his guitar this time, wanting just to get a feeling for the session. He has decided that he will return with his instrument next time. It made me wish that I could still play the fiddle, but I gave that up years ago. I do wonder about the mandolin which would be easier on the body but has the same strings as the violin. However, whatever music was printed was just lyrics with chord notes for guitars and not real music notation.
Anyway, I may return once more to take photos. Maybe.
Back to the sledding: I have only dealt with a few of the more up close up, portrait style photos. I do hesitate to call them portraits as that word connotes careful planning. So let us say that they are mainly candid portraits where you get the subject to pause briefly: 2 of JJ, and 1 each of Sue and Danica.
I have some more less portraity candids. This one of Danica taking a spill is, perhaps, my fave of the outing.
JJ not falling on the saucer.
Danica using my camera to take the footage of me that you saw yesterday.
Danica, JJ, and friend trying to build a little jump.
I'm glad we made the effort.
The jam was mostly for the benefit of my guitar-playing friend, Bob, for I knew some of the people there, but he didn't, so I helped with introductions. It would have bee difficult for Bob just to show up on his own at a stranger's door. There were about 5 guitar players, a fiddler, and one fellow doing something with a strange percussion instrument that I have never seen before. I think there were 5 of us without instruments, who came to sing a few pieces.
Bob didn't take his guitar this time, wanting just to get a feeling for the session. He has decided that he will return with his instrument next time. It made me wish that I could still play the fiddle, but I gave that up years ago. I do wonder about the mandolin which would be easier on the body but has the same strings as the violin. However, whatever music was printed was just lyrics with chord notes for guitars and not real music notation.
Anyway, I may return once more to take photos. Maybe.
Back to the sledding: I have only dealt with a few of the more up close up, portrait style photos. I do hesitate to call them portraits as that word connotes careful planning. So let us say that they are mainly candid portraits where you get the subject to pause briefly: 2 of JJ, and 1 each of Sue and Danica.
I have some more less portraity candids. This one of Danica taking a spill is, perhaps, my fave of the outing.
JJ not falling on the saucer.
Danica using my camera to take the footage of me that you saw yesterday.
Danica, JJ, and friend trying to build a little jump.
I'm glad we made the effort.
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