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8 Minutes On High

The new Hawaii Five-0

September 6th, 2010 by Max


I just saw a commercial for the new Hawaii Five-0. The background music was filled with brass and drums instead of that reedy thin electronic synthesized guitar that they demonstrated on Youtube.

Yay!


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Ethel and Albert

July 23rd, 2010 by Max


There’s two Osprey in particular that I find, every time I go to Montezuma. A nested pair that I call Albert and Ethel. Ethel lost a couple feathers.

Here are some more looks at them.

Check out the Great Blue Heron in the first one. Twice in two weeks the Herons and the Ospreys had a war of words. As he flies away – to me – the heron looks like a Pterodactyl.


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You must try some of my purple berries

July 17th, 2010 by Max


I’ve been eating them for six or seven weeks now. Probably keep us both alive.


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Canon Digital Rebel XT young Eagle

June 13th, 2010 by Max


These weren’t overstopped. More like ss500 and as usual f5.6, ISO 400.


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General Clinton Canoe Regata

May 25th, 2010 by Max


The Clinton Sullivan Campaign was designed to get rid of Indians.

So we need to change the name of the canoe race that honors General Clinton.

Is this really the best we can do?


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Update

April 21st, 2010 by Max


For those of you whom have been following this blog recently, there was a large spike on the 18th in page views. So I tested to see if it was because of the mention of one pompous paragon of political insincerity.

The post about him didn’t generate half as much reaction as the prior post … which also referred to Facebook.

So maybe Facebook is why so many people ready my April 18th post. We’ll see…


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Things don’t always go the way you want them

February 25th, 2010 by Max


So, lately, as I sleep in my little Dr Seuss bed, my arms hang out and my hands fall asleep [Can your hands fall asleep while you're sleeping? Well that's what happens to me.]

This year I’ve already filed my taxes and received my refund.

I bought a bed. More correctly I bought a new mattress and box spring. I have a larger (full) bed frame but no mattress. Today it was supposed to be delivered.

Its snowing. A lot!

Surprisingly the delivery happens anyway. A little early but hey. The problem is my new box spring won’t fit up my little staircase in my tiny little “Arts and Crafts” house. I can take off the banister or have them take back my new bed. I kept the mattress.

I still plan on being as nice to my “little Arts and Crafts” house as possible. I’ve solicited some help with the banister. I don’t want to wreck the house.

The other day I carried a computer. Not a heavy computer. Not really far, but too far. All this week my back has ached. Boy was I looking forward to the new bed.

What little snow shoveling I did, just made things worse for my back.

And now its really snowing. Supposed to snow until March. Maybe I’ll get a good nights rest then. Right now its frustrating to see those bed pieces filling my small living room, wrapped in plastic, driving the cats nuts – all while I have a back ache.


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The Orangutan and the Dog

February 16th, 2010 by Max



National Geographic Channel videos

My friend sent this to me. Thanks Gesele!


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Ed Schultz says its judicial activism.

January 25th, 2010 by Max


All you need to imagine is unlimited corporate political advocacy.

They can’t have it both ways. The “so called” conservatives. These “so called” strict constructionists, they like it fine when it benefits the political interests of big corporations. Imagine Bank of America now sending out commercials to your TV all day long saying that President Obama’s tax on banks is bad for America. Nothing to stop them now.


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Chantix

January 16th, 2010 by Max


“Important Safety Information

Some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions while using CHANTIX to help them quit smoking. Some people had these symptoms when they began taking CHANTIX, and others developed them after several weeks of treatment or after stopping CHANTIX. If you, your family, or caregiver notice agitation, hostility, depression, or changes in behavior, thinking, or mood that are not typical for you, or you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, anxiety, panic, aggression, anger, mania, abnormal sensations, hallucinations, paranoia, or confusion, stop taking CHANTIX and call your doctor right away. Also tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems before taking CHANTIX, as these symptoms may worsen while taking CHANTIX.

Some people can have serious skin reactions while taking CHANTIX, some of which can become life-threatening. These can include rash, swelling, redness, and peeling of the skin. Some people can have allergic reactions to CHANTIX, some of which can be life-threatening and include: swelling of the face, mouth, and throat that can cause trouble breathing. If you have these symptoms or have a rash with peeling skin or blisters in your mouth, stop taking CHANTIX and get medical attention right away.

The most common side effects include nausea (30%), sleep problems, constipation, gas, and/or vomiting. If you have side effects that bother you or don’t go away, tell your doctor.

You may have trouble sleeping, vivid, unusual, or strange dreams while taking CHANTIX. Use caution driving or operating machinery until you know how CHANTIX may affect you.

CHANTIX should not be taken with other quit-smoking products. You may need a lower dose of CHANTIX if you have kidney problems or get dialysis.

Before starting CHANTIX, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or if you take insulin, asthma medicines, or blood thinners. Medicines like these may work differently when you quit smoking. ”

All that is from the web page and (I think the commercial). Many tv commercials end like this. They sell 10 times the drugs that they did before they were allowed to flog them on tv.

Here’s another quote, which I suspect is true. Its from:
http://www.naturalnews.com/010315_advertising_drugs_doctors.html
“While $3 billion in advertising may seem like an awful lot, rest assured that the drug companies aren’t worried. Why? Americans are expected to spend over $500 billion on drugs this year—not including the extra $100 billion estimated for the Medicare drug benefit program. Spending on prescription drugs is now the fastest growing portion of healthcare spending in the United States.
Ephedra Fact And Fiction by Mike Fillon, page 176 ”


Posted in Blogroll, Politics, Science | 1 Comment »

Hubble peers back 13.2 billion years, finds ‘primordial’ galaxies

January 7th, 2010 by Max


I love Hubble

We go back a long way

The camera, American Astronomical Society spokesman Ray Villard told CNNVillard said, is far superior to the previous camera, which could only see galaxies about 900 million years after the Big Bang — the cosmic explosion that is theorized to mark the origin of the universe.

But it is reaching its limits, he said. A more powerful instrument, the James Webb Space Telescope, is planned for launch in 2014. It will allow astronomers to study the detailed nature of early galaxies and discover many more even farther away.


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Sorry -technical difficulties

October 7th, 2009 by Max


8 Minutes On High has been away for a bit. Nothing big. Just a little technical problem. But we’re back now!


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Alone II

August 29th, 2009 by Max


I sit alone, more or less wrung out. I took a pill at like 5:30. Barb called late this morning. Woke me up. That was good. When you’re feeling alone have a friend call. Thanks Barb.

I’m broke. Wrung out. But maybe, more or less, ok. And for the first time in maybe a week, I’m hungry.


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Well

August 28th, 2009 by Max


I work for an amazing boss and a pretty damn good company. I guess I knew it.

They treated my rather unusual behavior with concern and compassion. She said “We don’t fire people for being sick!” If I needed time off they’d try to find … but really I need to be at work. My mind distracted. Sitting around isn’t my idea of fun. It wasn’t on Tuesday when I sat here alone, wondering if I should go in.

I had to leave, in my desperation, on Tuesday morning in a panic. I was half panicked what the result of that act would mean when I got to work today. I’m still employed. More than that everyone was kind.


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Today

August 27th, 2009 by Max


I slept. Gone to bed with the expectation of going to PA. I slept. So that was a surprise.

So I left for PA. And stopped in Owego to get breakfast. Called Dave and told him I was going to try to get to PA. I got as far away as Williamsport. Felt strangely dehydrated. A little nervous. I turned around.

Not many tears this time. Just exhausted.

Tomorrow we find how much damage I’ve done to my career.

My back still hurts.


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Alone

August 26th, 2009 by Max


Today I woke up. Doc had given me a beta blocker. Said I should go back. Liz talked about breathing. Said I should go back. I called the boss, she is home for three days for a funeral. I told her the whole truth. I told her I was home. Back ache. Panic. She was sympathetic. I said I probably wouldn’t be in today. I’d talk to her Friday. She comes back on Friday.

I tried to call Linda, she wasn’t home. There was a time she would have been the first person I called. I just wanted someone on my side – which I realize is ironic since no one is against me. There was nothing wrong in Altoona. It was just me.

I almost lost it talking to Doc. I almost lost it talking to Liz. But I held it together. I’m in trouble and I know it.

The people in PA don’t know what’s up. I called them and told them I didn’t feel well. I told them I went home. There’s still all that work to do there. No one knows what I’m going to do.

I don’t know what I’m going to do.

Last night I took a pill and went to bed.

I woke up. Early. On my own. I don’t know 6:30. I always wake up early when I’m worried.

Should I go into work? What will I tell them? Why aren’t I in PA. I couldn’t stand to stay here and listen to the news all day and not work. At least work would distract my mind. But if I go back to work, then why aren’t I in PA. I can’t go back. I might have another panic attack.

And there’s my back. It really does hurt. I don’t have to go in. I’m going in to work.

I still have the keys. I could go back to PA. I can’t go back to PA. “Why aren’t you in Pennsylvania?” “My back hurts.” And its true. God I don’t want to be alone, without direction, all day in this miserable condition. I have to go back in to work.

I stayed home.

Around 11 or maybe it was 1 Mike called. We had a brief conversation. Its funny now because I don’t remember it. Mike asked what was going to happen in PA. And then he asked if I was ok. Then I lost it. Mike graciously bowed out of the conversation. I couldn’t speak and hung up.

And then I cried like I haven’t cried since I first talked to Liz. I just sat there alone, and sobbed.

I called Mike back to apologize and to find out what was going on at work. I thought I’d gotten it all out. I felt ok. But I lost it again on the phone. So I called Liz back.

When Liz called me I lost it again. I’m a mess.


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Panic

August 25th, 2009 by Max


The best way I’ve thought of so far to describe it, is to imagine yourself as that bridge we’ve all seen on tv. A black and white movie of an actual suspension bridge in wave oscillation. Each oscillation getting bigger and the bridge bound to shake itself apart.

I felt like that bridge. Each succeeding wave of panic greater than the last. I felt as if my ribs wouldn’t hold it. I felt as if I would break apart. Rip apart by my own tension.

It was 4:30 in the morning in Altoona. The wake up call was for six and I was increasingly further away from sleep. How could I get through the day?

I was slated for 4 more days of being there. If I couldn’t get through the day, how could I get through the week? It just kept getting worse every way I thought about it.

I had enough drugs to put me unconscious, but how could I work?

I couldn’t work, I couldn’t stay, but I knew the panic would ease if I were home. But I had work to do, but I was getting worse, I had to stay, I couldn’t leave … but I could barely breath. Home I could breath. Just get me on the road home and I could breath again.

I went home. As soon as I hit the road I started feeling better. When I found I’d gotten lost, the tightness came back. I asked the woman at the gas station 3 times to tell me the exit on the road back to where I got lost. She said “I’ll write it down for you.” She could tell I was in trouble. But back on the way home I felt better. When I got stuck behind the windmill blade truck at the construction, it got worse. Back in New York, roads clear it got better.

But I’d pulled a muscle in my back lifting my backpack. That got worse. I could barely get out of the car to get gas, but at least I was home.

I felt like I needed someone to talk to.

Ate two McGridles on the way, but I stopped for a Spiedie in Vestal. At least I was home. I sat there in the parking lot no eating my Spiedie, but at least it felt like home.


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My (next) day in court

July 17th, 2009 by Max


So there I was Thursday July 2, in court again. Its true I was supposed to be in court the previous Thursday – and I’d just spaced on it. This was for the traffic ticket for avoiding the deer and hitting the guard rail. Illegal lane change.

Kelvin graciously agreed to accompany me. Kept me distracted while I waited. And I knew I would be the last one called. I’ve been to traffic court a few times now. I’m always the last one called.

This was an ADA day. There were guys in chains. Wait a minute I thought this was traffic court!? At one point one of the accused felon’s bail was set. The judge handed a paper to the cop who was walking the perp. The cop leaned up accept the paper over the substantial bench behind which the judge, alone, handled all documents including making such copies as were necessary.

Now the thing about this cop leaning forward, was his gun was on his left hip, in a holster, which had no strap and no snap. I’m no gun guy, but it looked like a 45 to me. The perp, hands cuffed in front of him and standing to the left of the cop … reached out and grabbed the cops gun, pointed it at him, demanded and was granted that his handcuffs be released – and had himself an escape.

Ok. That part wasn’t true, but it could have been because the cop swung the gun right in front of the perp’s hands. Made me a little nervous.

At the end of the day, the judge said that since I was there and the cop who had written the ticket wasn’t there, if it was alright with me he’d dismiss the charges. I agreed.

Kelvin and I went back to town and celebrated with ice cream.


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I love to watch the Google adds …

July 14th, 2009 by Max


Let’s see what this develops!

Porcupine! Sex on the beach. Quadrotriticale. “Oh the lips, these lips have kissed”. Baseball All-Star game. 47 miles of barbed wire. Dick Cheney. Investigate. War Crimes. Secret secrecy. Made up his own classification of secrecy “treat as if secret”. Doesn’t agree with his own argument that he is part of the Congress!

Did you ever imagine a horizontal line across Cheney’s eyes and another one across his mouth and how they would intersect just beyond his left ear? I mean lets face it the man’s politics aren’t the only thing that’s crooked about him.

Ooops. I got way off track.

So here’s the game. Soupbowl. Boomarang. Marinara. Slider. Tiger Woods.

What will the adds be around this post?


Posted in Blogroll, Fun | 2 Comments »

Get ready

June 29th, 2009 by Max


I’ve got a ton more pictures and opinions … just trying to collect time to blog…


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