Boston Dudes and 'Tudes

So I hear tell that Tom Scholtz of Boston (the band) is a bit upset with Mike Huckabee for his appropriation of Boston's song "More Than a Feeling"(visually performed by someone else here) for his campaign rallies. This is some of the gossip from this week's The Week Magazine

" The founder of the 1970s band Boston has asked Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee to stop using his song “More Than a Feeling” at campaign rallies. 'By using my song, and my band’s name, Boston, you have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed,'said Tom Scholz, who said he was supporting Democrat Barack Obama. 'In other words, I think I’ve been ripped off, dude!' Huckabee’s campaign said the candidate only played the song when he was joined onstage by former band member Barry Goudreau, who is a supporter."

I suppose that I'd be upset too if I heard someone bark like me. As it is, when the doorbell rings on the TV, I run to the front door and bark. Per his comments from The Week Magazine, he doesn't want to be associated with a candidate unless it's the candidate of his choice. Makes sense to me. Then again if someone puts a song on the radio, and you find yourself humming it later in the day, is that the same thing? (BTW, no one has ever caught me humming) If someone does something wonderful, and you copy it for yourself, they're due some sort of royalty or acknowledgment - this is true. This impacted my TV viewing just recently with the "writer's strike" and the royalties not being paid for internet downloads and DVDs of their work. Here's a YouTube video of Tim Kazurinsky telling us about that. Whew! Thanks to the creator that that's over! Now my Mom can go back to watching one of her favorite shows, Saving Grace. The pertinent question though is ... to what degree the acknowledgment? There's permission, footnotes, links, and for the Hollywood writers, royalties to be paid, etc.... But which method is acceptable to whom? We all want to be acknowledged in ways that we can accept. Me? I like to have my belly rubbed and my under-legs scratched. There. I've told you. Now the whole internet world knows.

sds

Laughter *is* THE BEST medicine

Thank you Al Gore (for passing legislation that helped the development of the internet), accomplished intelligentsia, SNL writers and Tina Fey for making my Mom laugh out loud!

Republicans in Cat's Clothing

Not that I have anything against "cats" per se (some I even like - like Stash, my cat) but this guy Ralph Nader usually seems to hurt rather than help the Democrats (see Mike Huckebee's comments in the Guardian) . He's now thrown himself into the Presidential race as an Independent. I think that he ought to throw his energy into something else for right now if he's looking for things to do. Might I suggest blowing up Peeps in the microwave?

This is also my Mom's opinion; just thought I'd share it.


sds

Peeps

(Photo credit: GOOGLE search of the internet)

What else is there to do on a Sunday morning for two growing and curious boys besides watching cartoons and playing Ninento DS? Why microwaving Peeps of course. There was much excitement in our house this morning as the anticipated day had arrived. My Mom had purchased some pre-Easter (Valentine's Day) Peeps and had advised the generic kids (who are 111 and 5 respectively) that something happens to Peeps when you put them in the microwave for 30 seconds. They, of course, couldn't fathom anything more exciting than a new DS game, but were curious nonetheless. So the rule today was that breakfast had to be finished first and then we would start our experiments. After seeing the Spiderwick Chronicles last night, they were primed for some good experiments (there is even a book on this), so my Mom took out a plate and we (she) put one Peep on it. It was then placed in the microwave for 30 seconds and WALLA! The Peep grew, and grew larger still and then popped. Everyone seemed to enjoy eating the Peeps and so I decided that I wanted one too. They look sort of like eggs. Normally, I really *do* like marshmallows, but these were deceptive. I thought that they would taste like an egg, but they didn't so I think I'll skip the Peeps next year at this time. Here is a YouTube video of what they did (made by someone else). I ate my breakfast though ... almost all of it. I almost felt like a real boy today too ...with my very own Peep and everything. I pushed it around on the floor some, but then Mom had to throw it out. Have a delicious and fun day...

sds

Thursday Afternoons

photo credit http://www.pegasys.com/about-pegasys/default.aspx

Thursdays are now jab days. What? What you ask, does this mean to you, dear reader? It means that Thursday afternoons are when my Mom does the jab thing with the Pegasys interferon injection and I have to stay, stay, STAY. Stay anywhere, but next to the kitchen table where the light is better and everything is laid out nicely for me to sniff. NO SNIFFING! Gosh, when will she ever learn to calm down. I was only checking out the goods. So this is Thursday afternoon and then tomorrow, Friday, well on Fridays she (that's my Mom) is just a bit slower than usual. Did I tell you how slow she is now? She and I used to play chase around any table in the house. She doesn't play chase now, but maybe when this is all done she'll accept my challenge. She promised me that. I believe her. What I really want to do is to go outside and play basketball with the boys across the street. They're much taller than me, and I don't do anything for very long on two legs. (Did I tell you that I can dance?) I guess basketball would get tiring after while. Chase though ... I could play chase ALL day :)

Nyeh nyeh ...
sds

My BFF or Brother from Another Mother

(photo credit: Moms of Macy (KZ/JC)

Hi Kids :)

It's been almost one whole day since I've written (doesn't that sound like some sort of confession?), but to be honest, today is my Mom's revised 1st birthday (the anniversary of when she got her new aortic valve) so I'm a little distracted.

Being that this is my Mom's new 1st birthday, I started reminiscing about my stay with my Mom's friends (Karen and Joanna) and their new puppy, a Welsh Corgi. I stayed with them while she-who-must-be-obeyed was in the hospital and while she was recovering. At first, my Mom's sister put me in a kennel. Nice place, but 3 weeks is, well, waaaaaaay too long. Anyway, back to the good life.... Macy and I became fast friends and he followed me everywhere (and *I* mean EVERYWHERE) doing what I did, trying to be just like me. This didn't bode well for the poor little fella when he tried to jump on the couch. His legs are just too short. He tried though. Gotta tell you folks ... he is my bestest friend in the whole world and even comes to visit me sometimes now that I'm back home. I really liked staying with my aunts (Karen and Joanna) too. They're loving, warm and they took care of me the same way that my Mom does. Sometimes though it wasn't all fun and games. I had a reminder of that this past weekend when I threw up all over the kitchen floor (included were the remains of some of the bathroom garbage.) I did this at Karen and Joanna's too, until they learned to shut the bathroom door. My Mom thought she could get away with keeping it open and tested the waters with this type of garbage can. Didn't work. Now we know. I can't tell you what the draw is, but I know that it's like Heroin or Oxycodone for guys like me. They don't have rehab programs for dogs on bathroom garbage though ... or do they?

Speaking of friends ... My Mom has some really good ones too. One of them accompanied her today to a doctor's office to pick up records for something legal that needs to be done. These records were requested well over 70 days ago, but weren't forthcoming. That old the-check-is-in- the-mail-dog (ahem)-ate my-homework set of excuses grew old pretty fast. So my Mom asked her friend (who has a way of intimidating manly men just by her presence) to accompany her. Boy. They coughed up the records in a hurry this morning. I guess that the intimidation factor helped ;)

Anyway ... back to my bff Macy. He's the coolest Corgi on the block. He goes boating and for long drives and even has his own lifejacket. I'm glad that he's my friend.

sds

Two in One Day

I just had to share this with everyone. My Mom's gal pal Joan sent it to her. How timely given that Caroline Kennedy is now the poster child for AARP :)

You humans! You slay me!



sds