PS3---you sure got a strange way of signalling a firmware update..

Ya know!
Some of the most infuriating things that occur on a regular basis to me these days is when a piece of technology, or a machine that I've grown to depend on, stop functioning for no apparent rhyme or reason. And, so it was with the Sony PS3 player. It's not that I have time to play games. We got the game console because it was the most affordable way to get a BlueRay disc player.

So, we're minding our own business, trying to watch a movie, and because we bought a high def monitor (before the law required they had to be tv recievers--it doesn't have an hdmi in...just a pc in, which we use a hdmi converter plug, so we can get the video from the PS3 to the high def Samsung monitor---a monster of a screen, as big as a typcial kitchen table.) In order to get audio, in full surround sound glory, we plugged an optical audio chord from the PS3 into our Sony receiver. And, it was working great! Then.....it stopped working great.

After fooling around with setting, and swapping chords, and searching-via Google of course- for any messages online from other PS3 users, I suggested to my husband that he once again check for a firmware update. See, he had already downloaded an update.
Well, wouldn't you know it? It needed another one.
And, the audio, magically came back.

Why oh why did Sony set up the PS3 to have technical difficulties when a firmware update is needed? Why aren't we "sent" the message some other way? And, if they were going to make the audio pooping out or the video going crappy the default signal that a firmware improvement needed to be downloaded, why wasn't this made abundantly clear to the PS3/blueray disc viewer in the first place!

False eyelashes...

I've got to be brave....yes..I've got to be brave.
Well, not too brave. After all, a few posts ago I wrote about how vanity will probably be saving my life. I told you all about how I started exercising regularly to look better, and as a wonderful side effect, it's controlling hypertension (don't tell my health insurance company--they'll find a way to raise my rates. Pre-existing conditions are very damnable, indeed.)

Well, now I'm considering throwing out the brown/black mascara that I've been using since I was 12 and buying my first pair of "falsies."
There..that's my brave confession.

No. Not those.

Look at the photo-wise ass. I don't need THOSE falsies. Heavens no.

False eyelashes. How lady-like of me.

I'm just finding that many women are wearing these things. And, they don't smudge!

And, I just did a google news search on False Eyelashes....girls are now getting their lashes permed! Do you get triple the wish power when you blow one of these suckers off your finger tip when they fall off after you wash your face?

Now, I realize I'm way behind in my beauty news. But this is Rita's Musings. You're more than welcome to talk to me about this post,my twitters and other social networking messages you've found that I've put out there in the vast digital traffic jam.

Hello Hollywood? Can you try to trump reality? Holy Cow!

http://ehrenreich.blogs.com/barbaras_blog/

I just read this post and the comments about this post.
My friend, Marty Davis, of Chickaboomer blog fame pointed me in this direction.

What is the old saying about reality being stranger than fiction?

Seems that she who would be president is part of a Christian Fellowship "hell bent" on taking over the world! No, I'm actually exagerating for effect.
Seriously, folks. There is an elistist group of public officials, who are members of an organization called The Fellowship, who regularly pray together both on Capitol Hill, and in nearby northern Virginia. And, Hillary Clinton is a member. From what I read, the services include a rather dramatic interpretation of a piece of classical music, written by Waggner, having to do with the Holy Grail.

Well, Holy Cow! I'm not kidding, Hollywood. Can you trump this? You've tried.
But, truly...reality kicks it all up a notch doesn't it?

Paterson--Oops.

Well, I liked the guy. I just didn't know that he "liked" me. In case you missed it: Paterson AND his wife both admitted to having had extra-marital affairs. The latest twist is that Paterson is paying back his campaign war-chest some $250 dollars he used to pay a hotel bill for one of his assignations. Just google the story for yourself. I'm having trouble inserting hyperlinks to one I found at www.newsday.com









Now I'm reading about Detroit's Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. He was on TV with his wife, apologizing for the pain he caused her by shtooping a senior aide.

I don't know what to say about these men of power and influence that hasn't been said before. It doesn't take a brilliant commentator to ponder the influence of a nation's or world press/media that enjoys talking about the personal problems of public figures--as well they should. I'm all for exposing hypocrisy. I'm all for the reporting of public funds being used to pay for hotels, motels and other things a person needs in order to have a tryst or screw around on ones spouse. These guys/gals call for everybody else to be "transparent" and "accountable." But, then they are surprised when reporters remind them that they to have to follow the same rules.

Arrogance can be the downfall of civiliazations and empires and as these public officials are learning, careers

Spitzer--Prostitutes and DC--and David Paterson

How ironic....I just picked up a book that a friend of my husband's bought for him, years ago. A book from the 1950's called Washington Confidential written by old newspapermen named Lee Mortimer and Jack Lait. Once I got through the shock of reading words such as, "the Negro problem." (Does my computer not know how to even spell the word "Negro? Is it even in spell check?) the authors stunned my naive 21st Century sensitivities by writing about how lonely and desperate are Washington professional women that one wonders why men would buy sex from whores! But, they did write that, and then went on to talk about the white ones and as they put it, "their black sisters." So, big woop! Madams and their prostitutes inhabit the Capitol.

So, today's shocking news (reporters were gasping, we're told) that Eliot Spitzer cavorted with a New York prostitute, whom he imported down to DC to have a dalliance at the stodgy Mayflower Hotel doesn't surprise me. Why, if you believe the two Washington Confidential newspapermen that's been going on ever since the first hay sucking legislator rode the first carriage in from the foothills, and into the District of Columbia. It's just too bad that a former Attorney General, the self-proclaimed Sheriff of Wall Street, thought with the little brain in his pants, instead of the one encased in his skull.

I don't know much about Eliot Spitzer, other than what I've read in the papers and from what I've heard from some knowledgeable Dems inside the Beltway. I hope he didn't use government funds for his dalliances. If he didn't, it's between his wife, and three daughters and him. If he did, New Yorkers will have to face the fact that once again, a politician they voted for, fooled them and isn't worthy of their votes.

I met the lieutenant gov of New York, David Paterson, at a progressive Democrat function two years ago, and found him to be very open to speaking to former New Yorkers, such as myself, and anybody else, who would strike up a conversation with him. He's visually disabled and sometimes the disabled don't have many people who are willing to talk to them. But, I'm a former New Yorker. And, he was open to hearing my ideas and thoughts about things, and was interested in learning where I was born, where I grew up and what I'm currently doing. Want to make friends with me? Ask me to talk about myself! He didn't act as if he expected me to know all about him, or his history, like some important people do. I didn't feel like he felt I was out of place by asking him lots of questions about himself like where in Brooklyn he was born, went to school, and what his Dad did for a living. He very openly explained without any of that big shot-attitude that I've come to expect from some public officials, about how he was currently serving in the same State Senate seat that his Dad served in, and how his father, when he was a kid temporarily, if I remember the story correctly, moved the family to Queens, when David as a kid so that David could get a good education--one that would work with him and take into account his disability. I remember that Paterson told me that his Dad made it clear that when the time was right the family would be moving back to Harlem because that was their community.

Well, that's as close as I'm going to come to the Spitzer scandal.
I wish Spitzer, Paterson and all the personal relations these two men have, luck with it all. I guess the ultimate lesson that should be learned is that the more power you assume in public life, the more exposed to scrutiny you are. You better live a cloistered perfect life because mistakes are too easy to make any other way.

I hope that Spitzer doesn't have to step down. But, if he does, I can say that I met Governor Paterson before he was even Lt. Gov and I liked him. New York will be in very good hands.

It's been nearly two years....

....since I posted "One More Voice in Heaven"
and today I got an e-mail informing me of a comment left by Kurt's daughter.

Back then I was working for just a year on my own as an independent contractor, "gun for hire," in PR. I had recently had my gall bladder removed. I was dealing with a pet who had a chromic illness that later killed him. Our country was dealing with just over 2,000 dead in Iraq and I think we started to forget about our, and our allied countries', fatalities in Afghanistan.

Since then there have been many personal and some professional experiences in my life; some that I've dared to write about in this space, most that I've kept inside.

I suppose I suffer from being "inside the beltway" syndrome. One dare not share too much with the universe, at least not without the non de plume of "anonymous," lest it get dredged up from the muck of forgotten history and used against you in a dreadful way.

But, it's not just politicians who shoot back to you things you wish you hadn't written, be they e-mails, letters, blog posts, newspaper articles. It's business associates, and friends, who when they think they're being exploited or hurt wish to remind you of your words, search their archives and then with italices rub your nose in your own prose.

Now, don't get me wrong. I've had to search my e-mail to remind a former employer of his remarks that "we are true to our word," in regards to him rolling over 401K plan money that I didn't even realize that I was entitled to. Six months later I still haven't seen that money in my self-employed retirement account. I'm ok with using his own words to remind him of his commitments to me. However, he still hasn't acknowledged my voice mail and the e-mail that I sent him about this matter of a few hundred dollars. I suppose he's been very, very busy .

But, when you get your words back from people whom you think you've had cordial relations with, who you think trust you and even like you enough to ask you to work on a project it's a little bit disturbing. Oh, all is forgiven on my end. I understand that business is stressful and that managers have to hold their charges feet to the fire. Still, a burning toe hurts!

Well, let me send out another message to the world---Hey! I know you're out there reading this. By now you might have gotten that I'm a gentle soul, hard working, in need of more work that actually pays me money. I'm pleasant enough that everybody wants me to volunteer my time for their special cause. But, unfortunately my bank, credit cards, mortgage and grocer won't let me volunteer instead of paying them with legal and tender currency. We all need to earn a buck or a few thousand of them a month.

Hey world? Care to send some work in the direction of this gentle muser? And, perhaps you can actually pay me within 30 days of getting my bill?

And, oh, world? With the state of the U.S. dollar these days, think that my friends overseas will want to hire me?

Well, as Kurt Henschen might share with me, this downturn, too, shall pass.

Meantime, I'll use my extra time to take care to see a dentist, enjoy the gentler days of the waning winter in my part of the world, and to finally post another blog.

RR

Politics...

I've been avoiding writing about politics. It's hard to say something original without giving away my personal beliefs and party affiliation. Those who know me know that my affiliation is very transparent. I am what I am with no apologies.

I must confess to liking the spectator sport of politics. But, it often makes me wonder about the dexterity of our brains. Why do we forget so fast what we've heard in the past and have unwavering feelings that:
a) people can change their minds?
b) people can change what's in their guts - their convictions?
c) people can learn on the job - and we'd elect them "president?" Remember in olden days they used to call them apprentices or interns.

Well, America, we're in the thick of it. Don't lose your heads over the celebrity personas that these men and woman have.

Benazir Bhutto assassination-famiiar feelings

In a previous career, I met friends of Bhutto, who have written their own blogs about her death, her career, her devotion to Pakistan and the politics that she inherited from her father. When you get close to people who are great in their own right, and who are friends with other great, historic, or soon-to-be historic figures in world history, well, that's pretty heady stuff. I was fortunate to have worked in the news and talk radio industry and when you work in an industry that provides a conduit for media exposure you meet some very important people, and people who would be important. As a result, when a great person is murdered, I feel for the people I know who knew that person. I had those types of feelings during 9/11, except I actually knew some of the people who died both on a professional and personal level. Today I have the same sense of sorrow for those who shared conversation and friendship with Bhutto as I did for my classmates, and colleagues who lost loved ones in New York and at the Pentagon.

Additionally, I recognize some of the names and voices of those who are asked to comment on her death as I either booked them to appear on talk shows that I produced or represented them as a publicist. Indeed it's something else to feel some link, even if it isn't that direct, to world figures and news events.

I guess it makes me think about the small world we all live in, and how there really aren't that many degrees of separation between all of us, and the powerful few, or elite, who claim control over all of our destinies.

It's the Day after Christmas Day...New Year's Resolutions, anyone?

I really don't like resolutions. They seem to set you up to not do them. But, I suppose it's good to have reasonable goals. Here's one: I'll get back to going to my Curve's club 3 times a week, even if it means that I have to work out with the sourpusses who work out when the club first opens, 7:30. They don't like the music loud or driving, and they intimidate the club staff into silence. They just want to go through the motions in obstinate silence and if you don't like it you can show up later--like some of us have all the time in the world to break from whatever we're doing to show up later. I might just have to finally set up a two year-ago model of an I-Pod that my husband got me, and program my own workout music. Any Curve's goers know this can interfere with my ability to hear the command, "Change stations now." But, a gal has got to do what she's go to do. I'm just sick of being sick.

Next: make an appointment with my dentist and get my old dentist, one that's not in my current health insurance plan, to pack up my records and send it to the one who is in the plan.

Happy Holidays

http://www.sallylogue.co.uk/

Chanukah came and went with me being worried about some health issues. After some outpatient surgery, in which the anasthesia knocked the heck out of me, I'm feeling better, although I'm still dealing with backpain, most likely, the result of socoliosis, specificially, the curviture of my lower, sacral discs ofmy spine.

My husbands been dealing with a very harsh cough and possibly bronchitis. It's finally starting to show signs of letting up. We're babysitting for a visitor, a beautiful black lab named Morphias-aka-Mo'Mo'. He's a 3 year old-a puppy. Full of energy, always wanting to play, who has a bit of a Mommy fixation.

Thanks to Sally Logue, an artist in England for posting the portrait you see in this post. You can find her here: http://www.sallylogue.co.uk/


May you live life with great pets, and animals whose only goal is to better understand you better

I'm a part time staffer for a radio reading service for the blind, visually impaired and physically people who cannot effectively read print. And, I often fill in over the holidays. I have some time to sit here and think about the whirlwind of the past few weeks and to add to this blog.

I've been shying away from politics, policy and other controversial issues lately. Frankly, I've been too busy working and trying to wrap my mind around organizing my life and household better. Finally, I'm feeling a little more relaxed. I suppose that comes from being confident in the jopb that I'm now doing, while writing this blog. Also, my husband's friend is a very good doctor, and he put my mind at ease about what some previous lab results have shown.

So, back to me talking to you: I hope that you enjoy these holidays, despite the problems, and challenges, that may be weighing heavily on your mind as they weigh on my mind.

Blog Topics--

I was pondering why I find it safest to blog about entertainment, sports (or "sport" for my friends across the Atlantic) and books.

I work in an industry that often uses blogs in order to keep clients interested in them, their thoughts, their credentials. So many blogs, in order to be safe from copy-infringement accusations, post links back to websites, and other blogs, where they've found the stuff that they write about. This can be a dangerous thing. For instance, you want to "wow" a client with your brilliant thoughts, and you write a blog about a project, and how similar projects fared, complete with links to words about this similar projects---and those links take you back to your competitors. Well, how do you keep your clients from getting competing proposals, that can threaten your livelihood?

I suppose you've got do a "Smith Barney"--that is, "we make our money the old fashioned way. We earn it." Your competition might cut its rates to get your client, but if you know your client, understand their "institutional history" and make an effort to have face-to-face relationships with them I believe you will keep your clients. They'll see you as part of their team. And, that takes work, and most clients want to see you working for them. Well, that is, well, unless your clients keep pushing you back and then you have to face the facts---you don't have them as clients any longer.

Tofurkey--and it was good

It's so easy to make I don't want to talk about it, lest it diminish my efforts to put together THE Thanksgiving meal.

I can get it only at Whole Foods, in my neck of the woods. I'd love to get it at other stores because I'm sure the price would go down for this meal. I often feel gouged, well, a wee bit, whenever I go into a Whole Foods.

What's with the New England Patriots?

Just check out the standings here and you'll see why I'm asking http://www.nfl.com/standings
The team seems like its on steroids.

They're not my team. I grew up rooting for the Jets, and Giants, and went to college in Buffalo, so the Bills always get my attention. Last week's trouncing of the team in Orchard Park hurt.

Why, it seems like the Patriots are the Hypnotoad of the NFL. What ever they do to other teams seems very odd to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_BD_WBg9aA

SUV Guilt, and Other Observations About Being Comforted By Stuff

I own a 2002 Ford Taurus Wagon...but, I rented a Ford Escape recently while out of town and really liked it. It drove quietly and unlike the feeling of the boxy sports utility vehicles that I rode in 20 years ago, I didn't feel like I would tip over while rounding curves---especially those clove like on and off ramps.

I must admit to feeling sorta guilty about how impressed I was with this SUV. It wasn't the thriftiest of cars that I could have rented. I did put about 100 to 150 miles on it in the four days that I had it and it did cost me about $25.00 to fill it up before turning it in at the airport. But, I guess you can say that this was a luxury car for me as it was brand new and still had that new car smell to it. It probably got the same mileage as my 5 year old station wagon. I didn't do formal calculations. This is more of a guess on my part. So, I suppose American automakers are making their SUVs a little less thirsty than they used to be.

I did have one problem with the key chain remote control for this vehicle--I'd often hit the button that popped open the rear window of the hatch when all I really wanted to do was double check that I locked the vehicle.

If it weren't for the fact that I'm married to a wheelchair user, who, from time to time, has to transfer into my car to get around, I'd consider getting this car for next vehicle. He'd have to find a way to climb up and into the seat, as opposed to just sliding from his chair onto the passenger seat of my current car.

Fortunately, I won't have to cough up the dollars for a new vehicle anytime soon. I work out of a home office, and I am very content to just put 20 or so miles on my current car in a week. With the price of gasoline these days, I'm fortunate to NOT have to fill up the car more than twice a month.

Still, it was a real treat to drive around in a new car while I was away from home. There's nothing like having your own set of wheels while your away -- its your own little big of space and sanctuary. It's a place where you can close the doors and windows and mute the sounds of the outside world. It's the freedom of being able to go to a Target, or grocery store, to stock up on diet sodas and snacks, without having to deal with room service, or getting gouged by the mini-bar in your room.

I suppose that do me the Ford Escape was appropriately named. It gave me the ability to roam around a city that I like, revisit neighborhoods that once upon a time, during the days of my youth when time wasn't such a tight thing to have, I used to visit on foot. It gave me the chance to visit with friends on their turf in the nearby suburbs. And, I delightfully did this in a city where government officials can boast that the average commuter needs only 18 minutes to get to and from work!
Where I live now the average commute is over an hour.

Escape indeed.

Aches and pains

For over a year I've been working out at a Curves club near my neighborhood. But, for the past couple of weeks I've skipped the workouts. I've been experiencing a host of aches and pains that I've finally got an idea as to their origin. To put it politely, in an old fashioned way, "it's female problems." Nothing that threatens my life, fortunately. I know what I need to do to fix my problems. I need to see an OB-GYN and my internist -- so she can write a referral to that doctor to appease my health insurance company.

Women, I think, tough it out more than men, when it comes to pain. We find excuses for it. We consult each other to explain it away. While it's comforting, it can also help a person, like me, put off finding out what's really going on inside.

I'm in a fortunate situation these days: I work out of a home office, don't have to tough it out through a commute to an office. Don't have to sit there trying to be busy when things truly slow down (and in my line of business, there's a lot of time spent in "holding patterns" while you wait for a decision, or partial payment from a client, before you start work on a new project. So, I've got the luxury of time to go to doctors, medical labs, and sit around waiting for these places to see me. And, I've got time to be distracted by feeling plain old lousy and in pain.

I guess you can say that I'm just fed up with being in pain. I'm fed up with explaining away my discomforts. I need to physically get stuff out of my body and then I'll begin to heal and hopefully, the pain will go away.

And, that's what I feel like writing about today.

So many toys for blogs on the internet

A friend of mine, and fellow blogger, posted song lyrics on her blog and I just had to give them a try.

And, the YouTube box is so cool too.

What do you think of these little snippets of java code that you can add to the html code of your blogger template?

Like them or no?

Rita

YouTube is everywhere....

Even on the template of my blog. Seems everybody is using YouTube as a way of guaging public opinions, and public appetites for news. Citizen journalism is what it's called. Now I've made a living working with audio. But, I can't fight it=video is running the world, and influencing decision makers. So, enjoy some video! Rita

Ever Go to a Reunion?

Last week I went to a reunion of old friends and acquaintences at the college where I got my BA. I had a great time. I cleared away my work schedule so I could spend time roaming around campus and the city where I lived for about 3 years, and had plenty of time to meet up with friends for meals. Well, it's a week later and I miss the town and my friends.

The gathering reminded me of all the energy I had and of the relatively carefree times I had in college. Plus, I was reminded so much why I enjoyed being in that city. The pace of life is much slower there and the attitude of strangers toward one another is considerably warmer there than where I currently live just outside of Washington, DC.

Simpsonize me.....

Thanks for your previous comments. OK...tell me what my character is doing, and in what part of Springfield.

Which Simpson's Show character would have a crush on me?

So, I went on the Simpsonizeme.com website.

This is how I'd look in the world of The Simpson's.

So, c'mon Simpsons fans! Which character would develop a crush on me?

Be creative!

By the way, Mr. Rita's Musings --aka--the guy I've been married to for over 16 years thinks the Simpsonized Rita is sexy. Must be the capris pants and the Angelina Jolie lips! :)

Have fun!
Leave your comments.