Cinema Talkers

R.a.n.t. of week 08/22/04

Let me preface this with a 100% assurance that I don't really hate you. That said, STOP IT! I really hate you. Well, more to the point, when you talk to me and I'm trying to listen to something. The caption above says cinema talkers, but it can also apply to talking whenever you are trying to hear something. I know this is probably one of the most petty things to rant about, but it's still something that annoys me so I'm going to rant away.

What's even more irritating than the cinema talkers, is trying to think of a valid reason to tell someone, "Hush, you are not as important as what I'm watching on TV", because it's NOT TRUE. So what's the point? If I'm paying 12 quid to see a feature film, you can bet I'm going to give it my full attention. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to talk. But I love to talk in the morning over a cup of java, or in the evening with a pint of beer.

Seriously, I have a hard enough time paying attention when I'm talking to someone without distractions, add in one or two and you may as well be talking to me while I'm sleeping, I may retain just as much information. So if we are watching TV, pause it if you have something profound to say. At the theatre; can it wait till after the show? Don't worry, you can still ask me to pass the popcorn.
Reprinted 11/23/12




*PLEASE NOTE - I recently found old R.a.n.t. articles posted to a website I once owned. I've decided to reprint them in my current run. However, ironically enough, I'm not to fond of the writing so I've decided to edit the articles and repost them. For comparisons sake, I've decided to run the edited version as well as the original. In a way, it's kind of fun to see how my writing has changed in eight years.

Original R.a.n.t.
Movie Talkers
I’m not really sure why, but something that really irritates me is when I’m trying to watch something and the person you are with just wants to talk to you. It doesn’t have to be a movie either; it could be something on TV or in the theatre. I’m trying to pay attention to what is going on and sure enough the person that wants to talk to you does so as something important is being said. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I don’t like the people that do that; it just irritates me when they do that. And how do you kindly tell someone, ‘hush I’m watching something that is more important than you.’ You can’t, because what you are watching is NOT more important, it’s just that you’d like to listen to what is being said. I’m a person that loves to talk, and talk I do once I get going. But when I do talk, I like to do so over coffee, with the TV off, not in the theatre. Otherwise I have a hard time catching what is going on, and if you know me even a little, you know I have a hard enough time paying attention when someone is talking to me without distractions. My opinion? Talk on the way home after the movie or during commercials. If watching a DVD pause it if you need to discuss what is going on, or if the last scene reminded you of your Aunt Gertrude and the time she tripped on a child toy lying on the floor. Trust me, your friends watching with you will appreciate it.

Being Swindled

$10.00 TO EVERYONE WHO READS THIS POST!
* Details at the bottom of this rewritten article.
R.a.n.t. of week 08/15/04

One thing that gets my goat more than anything is getting swindled, or feeling swindled. I've brought along a few examples today. The first case deals with a website hosting an online journal. My friend Ray turned me onto this because he knows how much I enjoy writing, and journalling. I started my first journal at age 14 and was dedicated to it for almost 10 years. Once the internet became more viable, I slowly switched to blogging. The web site I mentioned before was sort of a hybrid, part blog, part journal. I liked the site so much, that when it was being converted to a 'free with commercial' site, I was given the option of paying a small sum to have the ads removed. The price was five dollars, something which didn't break my bank, so I happily forked over the dough. Two weeks later the site disappeared, along with my money. It seemed to me there was no intention of keeping the site up and operational. Could it be someone just wanted to pocket a bit of cash before they hit the road? Maybe I'm just naive.

This reminds me how naive I was in grade school. I had this good friend who loved to make 'deals' with me. I recall one deal vividly. He wanted to trade a Star Wars figure I told him I owned for.... well I don't recall what he had in trade but it must have been something awesome. I rarely got Star Wars toys as a kid and treated them like gold. The next day, he would forget to bring his item, but he would persuade me to still trade with him. For a one day delay, he would bring me something better. All I had to do to prove my trust was buy him a candy bar at lunch time, which I happily agreed to. I don't recall he EVER remembered to bring the item I traded for. WAIT, could this be why he said I was his BEST friend? I'm starting to doubt that old friendship.

So gradually, I've learned from these two examples. They have taught me how to recognize a swindle. That's why I will no longer be sending money to Nigeria via Western Union to help Barrister Mustapha Braithwait. I really don't care how many of your goats have leprosy. And you don't need my help to transfer money to America. And I won't be paying to process my lottery winnings. I didn't enter! Please stop sending me these emails.
*To collect your money for reading this, please send a self addressed stamped envelope, along with a $100.00 processing fee to my attention.
Also, I'm collecting donations to help my dead dog who's dying of scurvy.
Reprinted 11/15/12





*PLEASE NOTE - I recently found old R.a.n.t. articles posted to a website I once owned. I've decided to reprint them in my current run. However, ironically enough, I'm not to fond of the writing so I've decided to edit the articles and repost them. For comparisons sake, I've decided to run the edited version as well as the original. In a way, it's kind of fun to see how my writing has changed in eight years.

Original R.a.n.t.
Something happened just recently that really gets my goat. As most of those very close to me know, I love to keep a journal. My friend Ray introduced me to a site that hosts a journal online so of course I went there. It was free of charge and they did a great job hosting entries I’d put there. Then about a month ago a notice was issued they were going to start putting commercials on the site. The way around that was to pay for a year fee, the going price was five dollars. Not really a heck of a lot, and I loved the site so I forked over the cash. Then suddenly the site stopped showing up. It’s been almost a month now and it’s still not up. So the indication is that someone took the money and ran. But to be honest, I’m not so sure that is the case. For all I knew it got to much for them to handle and they couldn’t do it even with the new-found money. But there have been other times I’ve been taken for a ride. Back in school there was a kid that I use to do ‘deals’ with. I’d trade him a Star Wars figure I had at home for something better he had at home. I’d bring my item in and he would ‘forget’ to bring in his. To make it up he’d bring me something better than what he was going to bring if I gave him a candy bar I had, or something like that. It went on for a few months. Yes, I was stupid back then, but I was also naive and very trusting. Needless to say, that simple training in being swindled has taught me much and I know how to recognize a swindle now. So no Mr. Kieve Mackalackadingdong I’m not going to help you transfer money to America by paying your processing fee. No Ian Jinglejangle, top clearing house representative for London Bank, I’m not paying the processing fee to receive the money I won in your lottery I didn’t enter. Do you got that? So stop sending me the emails!!!!

Running Out Of Time

R.a.n.t. of week 08/08/04

Confession time! I've been putting this entry off for awhile. Not because I'm getting tired of writing, but because I keep running out of time. No, not that I NEVER have time. There have been instances when I have a few free moments but squander them on TV or some other worthless past-time. Then when it's too late, I suddenly remember. The most annoying thing in the world is running around like a chicken with its head cut off, doing chores. Then you suddenly have a quiet moment and forget (at least I do) the project you've been wanting to work on. The past few weeks I was working on a special project of helping design a web page for a friend. This past weekend was supposed to be the time I set aside to finally dig in and get started on it. Of course things came up, I got busy, the chicken crossed the road, and I forgot about the project. Looks like I've got my plans set for this weekend. Seriously, one of these days, I need to get a personal organizer. Oh wait! That's right, I do have one. Now if I can only find the time to read the instructions and figure out how to operate it. I think I'll set aside this weekend for that.
Reprinted 11/14/12





*PLEASE NOTE - I recently found old R.a.n.t. articles posted to a website I once owned. I've decided to reprint them in my current run. However, ironically enough, I'm not to fond of the writing so I've decided to edit the articles and repost them. For comparisons sake, I've decided to run the edited version as well as the original. In a way, it's kind of fun to see how my writing has changed in eight years.

Original R.a.n.t.

I know I"m late in getting this rant out, part of the reason is I just ran out of time and the other reason is I forgot when I had the time. Don't you hate when there is something important to do but you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off, and then when you get a moment to sit and relax you totally forget about the important thing you are supposed to be doing. I'm also supposed to be updating a website for someone at work and because of the busy weekend I have not found time to do that either. I really need to get an organizer. Oh wait, I have one, I just need to find the time to use it. Maybe when I get a free moment next.

I Dropped the Ball Again.

R.a.n.t. of week 08/01/04

The past few weeks I’ve reverted back to my youth. No, not because I once again have more energy, vitality or a positive outlook on life. I'm talking about that awkward time of youth when you are constantly tripping over your own feet. Additionally, I can't seem to hold onto anything. The other day I reached over to pick up something from the floor, dropped it, tried to re-grab it, only to miss-grab it and watch it spin wildly back to the floor. I then felt like a goof and moron for a few minutes. But the feeling didn't go away, it's just intensified because for the rest of the day I continued to have the ‘dropsies’. Sure, it provided entertainment for everyone else, but feeling klutzy is never hilarious for the klutz. I'm sure sooner or later I could win a million dollars from one of those TV shows if someone were to follow me all day with a video camera. Could this be the reason everyone generally laughs at me and not with me?

Laugh all you want, and while you can. I’ve found a way to cure this condition 100%. I'm willing to share it with everyone if you agree to stop laughing at me, and start laughing with me. All one needs to do is l;daasdjf;adsal;sd……………… Dang it! I just spilled coffee on my keyboard. I need to clean this up. I’ll get back to you.
Reprinted 11/02/12






*PLEASE NOTE - I recently found old R.a.n.t. articles posted to a website I once owned. I've decided to reprint them in my current run. However, ironically enough, I'm not to fond of the writing so I've decided to edit the articles and repost them. For comparisons sake, I've decided to run the edited version as well as the original. In a way, it's kind of fun to see how my writing has changed in eight years.

Original R.a.n.t.
 For some odd reason, the past few weeks I’ve gone back to a state of clumsiness. There is no feeling in the world quite like it. You reach over to pick something up, drop it, try to regrab it, and it just misses your touch spinning out of control as it hits the floor. You feel like a total goof and moron for a few minutes afterwards though. However, that feeling can only be intensified when you have the ‘dropsies’ all day long. Sure, you provide entertainment for everyone else around you, but the simple fact is, feeling klutzy is not funny for the klutz. As I mentioned I seem to have picked this up lately, and I always go through the routine of trying to catch something once I drop it. If others watched me with a video camera in slow motion they’d probably laugh their head off, (perhaps I would too). But I’ve found a way that cures this condition and take it away, 100 percent curable. See all you have to do is……………… Dang it! I just spilled coffee on my keyboard. I’ll get back to you.