T-Shirt Collection: The Unbelievables

One of the ultra-rare collector's shirts of that crime-fighting trio. 

What? You don't know of The Unbelievables? Well ...

One day, three altruistic rogues (Jeff Hickmott, Clark Brooks and myself) were lounging around the racquetball club when we decided to use our unique skills and senses of style to form a non-government affiliated, multi-jurisdictional, not-for-profit crime & injustice fighting organization.

On that day The Unbelievables were born. Originally, their adventures were chronicled in the top-secret files of The Kitsch Bitsch but now, we explode in your face (metaphorically speaking of course) on our own website thrice weekly and on other media outlets everywhere.

Interested in sexy, action-packed adventures of double-knit clad men? Polyester fashions accented with un-ironic mustaches? Does macrame underwear do it for you? Crime-stopping? Helping your fellow man? If so, you'll love The Unbelievables!

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

A Bunch Of Different Passings ...

What an interesting day it's been so far.

And it's not over yet.

I retired last night knowing a good friend of mine - one who I've never met in person - was in a critical state and hospitalized.

This morning, I got the news she passed.

It brought me incredible sorrow and I mourn the loss with the deepest condolences to her family and with a sadness I haven't felt in a very long time.

Debra enjoying her granddaughter ...

I "met" Debra Cox in one of her personifications on the American Idol website along with a gaggle of other acquaintances during the 5th season of the show. That was some 10 years ago. Since that time, Debra has followed and "talked" with me through many a blog and website and social media incarnation. I could always count on her commenting or contributing something to my writings, be it a piece of wisdom, some humorous anecdote or a left of center side note. She was a Godly woman who made me laugh, shared some of her deepest concerns with (from what I gather) a very few close friends (of which I was one of them to a degree) and she gave me what-for a handful of times with regard to my thoughts. All of it was welcome.

There will be a hole in my heart at having lost such a genuinely caring and thoughtful soul. I will dearly miss her.

Direct ... from Sweden ... !!! 

On the flip side, I received an interesting package in the mail today, posters from Sweden of a musician who does his take on artist Bob Dorough, one of my favorite artists. Yes ... from Sweden. The gentleman who sent them to me was gracious enough dig them up and shoot them my way out of the goodness of his heart. I owe him a favor ... and soon.

The photographer obviously lives in a black and white world.

But Clark looks great in it.

Additionally, my friend Clark Brooks seems to have had a swinging and successful outing at Side Splitters on the left coast of the continent. If only I was closer to be able to support him and his efforts ... which are pretty damned good.

I built a table of discarded wood today, got another job offer (which ended up conflicting with the job I'm currently at now) and I'm entertaining a hundred thousand thoughts and concerns inside my head ... because I'm obviously bored and don't have anything to do. (Those who know me well know that's a bald-faced lie.)

And I haven't even taken off for work yet and I'm exhausted.

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP ) 

P.S. One of my favorite albums - XTC's Drums And Wires which launched my love affair with the band - was released 36 years ago this very day, too.

P.P.S. Hope you don't mind the borrow, Mr. Fenton
 

The "A" Word

Maybe it's nothing more than my grouchiness getting an early start on the year, but I seem to recall reading or hearing about the mitigation of certain materials and usages and phenomena going into 2014.

One such thing - something that's been on the books for a number of years actually - is the use of the word "awesome." It was defined by Barb Sawyers in this article perfectly, as being (and I paraphrase) "monotonously ubiquitous." 

In my opinion, it's one of those words which has not only been used to death, but used as a convenience such that it's lost its true meaning by those who use it to excess.

And it has lost its meaning by those who syllablize it without thought. Sort of, like, those people who, like, can't, like, put together a coherent thought and, like, use the word "like" diarrhea-like.  

Iit's just more evidence of The Further Decline Of Western Civilization, one of my favorite topics. Or, mayhap Devo's concept of "de-evolution?" The idea that - 'instead of continuing to evolve - mankind has actually begun to regress as evidenced by the dysfunction and herd mentality of American society' ... ???

Additionally, my buddy Clark Brooks has summed it up quite nicely: 

"I've placed a personal moratorium on the use of 'awesome' and 'amazing'. Lots of things are pretty good or even great. Very, very few actually inspire awe or amazement. Erupting volcanoes are awesome; the cupcakes someone brought into the company break room are not."

Bully ...

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP ubiquity, practice synonymity ) 

 

Shirked Unbelieva-Duties

It's come to our attention there might be folks out there not familiar with The Unbelievables. 

I know ... difficult to comprehend. But sometimes the truth is just that: The Truth.

After minimal infighting (hokay ... there was a lot of infighting, actually) Jeff, Clark and I drew straws and Clark came up with the short one ...

... which, in retrospect, wasn't necessarily a bad thing because he did an excellent job coming up with a pretty succinct history of The Unbelievables.


So go access that link and get schooled. 

Because being bad (and uninformed) is just no good.

....... Ruprecht ( STOP )

Pick A Winner

Autumn. It's been with us a few weeks now.

The changing of the seasons. The demarcation of summer into fall. When the leaves begin turning colorful hues. When the arrival of the evening comes noticeably earlier. When temperatures start dipping and we begin to feel cooler breezes waft through the air.

Some call it the "autumnal equinox." Others "fall." But autumn doesn't just guide the above into our notice. It isn't merely the harbinger of end-of-year holidays and festivities.

Apparently, it also ushers in the "fall" of common sense, too ...

Over the weekend, I found myself craving Chipotle, a favorite fast food joint, one of the very few I really like. I'm a big fan of their barbacoa burrito with all the hot, spicy fixings. With an early dinner savored and completed, I started leaving the establishment only to be virtually steamrolled by a couple of incoming patrons.

Now, generally, it's a common courtesy to hold the door open for folks, whether you're coming or going. At least it is in my sphere of influence. The courtesy is extended at different times and in varying situations depending on many variables - who gets to the door first, whether folks are handicapped or disabled, older folks, kids, large parties of people, all sorts of things. But, in this particular instance, I was subject to a couple who were not open to giving any quarter to anyone nor who couldn't give a rat's ass.

I was at the door and had begun opening it to leave when up the curb they leapt, seemingly to bulldog toward the opened door. I barely had time to get out of their way as the swooshed right on through. Never did their heads lift to see who was holding the door, never did their eyes make contact with mine. As a matter of fact, the girl of the pair seemed to make a concerted effort to weave around so as not to bump into me.

They wound their way into the restaurant without a word of acknowledgment, without a nod of appreciation, without a wave, without even a muffled, under-the-breath "thank you."

And you know what? That's all right. They might have been deep in conversation right up to the point they zoomed into the place. They could have been miffed at each other for all I know, not willing to break their heated concentration between themselves. If that was the case, I could understand that.
 
But I don't believe that for a moment. They were simply rude. How do I know? Because I barked out a gruff "You're welcome!" as the door shut behind them. And I made certain they heard me. They never bothered to turn their heads.

Nothing. No turn. No wave. No tip of the head. Nothing. They were just didn't give a rat's ass.

But ... there are even ruder folks out there, folks. It so happens I was in yet another place a few days later. As I made my way through throngs of teenagers just let out from school, I managed to make my way to one of the few tables available. As the place was packed, there weren't too many spots open. The one I was fortunate enough to sit at, however, afforded me a terrific view of a woman ... flossing and picking at her teeth.

And let me tell you something: She was going to town. Those picks were working overtime on her teeth. Then she pulled out floss to clean between her teeth. And then more floss. And then more floss. She was going through it so quickly I thought I saw smoke coming from her mouth. I'm not kidding.

This little show went on for a long time. 8+ minutes to be precise.

Which leads me to ask the question: Who does this? Who is rude enough to sit in plain sight of strangers who are eating and literally pick your teeth smack dab in the middle of them all?

I was tempted to recruit a couple teenagers at a nearby table and get them to move to seats near her, put our chins in our hands and just stare at her. And then I had a better idea: How about sitting directly across from her and watch her intently? I figured if I did that she wouldn't pick at her teeth in public ever again. (Who was I fooling? Of course she would ... but it would give her second thoughts before she did so.)

But my actions would have been just as rude as her personal little dental hygiene show. It's not like me to sit idly by and letting something like that take place without capitalizing on it in some way. But I knew that would have been just as rude as her actions. Still ...
 
I mean ... it's not just me that stumbles on this stuff and these people. My buddy Clark Brooks on the other coast has run into folks whose common sense has left them as well.


So I ask: Where did common sense go? It must be gone with the summer wind?

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

Careful. The man below could sit at your table for no reason other than to embarrass you in public.

Acronyms

I'm not afraid to admit: I don't get the "acts*."  

I've harped on this before along with my refusal to use them ... or at least minimize their use in my everyday language. 

It's a matter of conformity: Someone "says" something, acronymically speaking, where I'm forced (if I want to understand) to look up the abbreviation. (And I'll admit: This little rant was brought on by my buddy Ivey who used "TIL" this morning ... which I immediately had to go look up, not having any point of reference.)

So I'm going to start my own AM&CS** which everyone - EVERYONE - is going to have to follow ... adapt to ... deal with. After all, if I have to play the game, then they're going to have to roll with the punches as well. There are two sides of the fence with theirs being TDDoA***, TFDoWC**** ... and their side is not the only one that's going to get the spotlight. Not on my watch.

I'm going to shorten words and phrases that make sense to me. Anyone who reads what I have to say is just going to have to be all the wiser.

I feel empowered! Strong! As if I'm on a 10' tall soapbox, prosyletizing to the masses!

But ... you know what? Thinking about it, implementing something like that is just going to be too much work. So, instead, I'll simply keep doing what I'm doing: When someone spews some compressed, abridged something-or-other I don't understand, I'll just say "I don't understand. What do you mean?" BeyeNo***** that pushes buttons. 

.s++****** Rupe******* ( SS******** )

* short for "acronyms"** short for "Acronym Marching & Chowder Society"
** The Acronym Marching & Chowder Society
*** short for "the dumbing down of America"
**** short for "The Further Decline of Western Civilization"
***** short for "because I know"
****** short for ".........." (as in "lots of dots or periods")
******* abbreviation for "Ruprecht"
******** short for "STOP" ("ss" as in "stop sign")

If Peter Piper Were To Pick A Peck Of Pickled Peppers, They'd Probably Be From Jimbo's

It's pretty cut and dried:

All my friend Clark is saying is that he likes the pickles. 


That's all.

................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

Better Than Four and Twenty Blackbirds Baked In A Pie

Why, It's Clark! On cats and hyperbole.

Who could ask for anything more? This is just one more reason I like this guy ...

.......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )
Photo pilfered from Clark's site. Deal with it.

The Best Bad Show Not On TV

Clark Brooks is always up to something.

And sometimes that "something" is blowing his (and others') cover.

But that's okay.

After all: Who said crime fighting needn't be fashionable?

.......................... Ruprecht ( STOP )