I (might) Play A Small Part

... and then, a bit later in the morning, this happened several hours after Rupe submitted his posting.

Which only goes to show Rupe may be "part of the problem" ...

And then maybe not ...

Ronald, being nothing more than a mascot at the corporation can field calls ...
... but there's nothing he can really do about the website ...

.......... Ruprecht ( Did Rupe help McSTOP the site? )

I Can't Think For Myself Any Longer ... And Neither Can You

2013.  Two thousand thirteen.

Pivotal year.

It's the year we became dumb.  Really dumb.

And dumb with regard to some of the most personal aspects of what we do. 
 
You see ... in 2013 we suddenly became dumb about our lifestyles.

Ronald wonders: "Why are you so dumb?"

How do I know this?  Because a fast food corporation is telling us how to live instead of our own selves telling us how to live, that corporation being McDonald's.  Here are some examples:

• McDonald's is advising us against eating hamburgers, fries and sodas because they "are typically high in calories, fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt and may put people at risk for becoming overweight."
• McDonald's further states "in general, people with high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease must be very careful about choosing fast food because of its high fat, salt and sugar levels."

Yeah.  I know.  Do you get the picture in reading those points it's obvious we became incapable of any rational thought?  Because that's being screamed at me loudly and clearly.

Ronald asks: "What's the point of rushing into 2014?"

I figure I might as well toss out any hopes and dreams about 2014 right now, having them join a place right next to the discard McBurger wrapper and the drained McCoke container in the waste bin.  You, reading this, might want to do same.

I mean ... what's the point of continuing on if we're incapable of exercising rational McThought?  You're already in the throes of a food coma anyway with the holidays still going strong ... right?

Ronald says: "You're in a food coma already, anyway ..."

Oh. And ... Happy New Year ...

.......... Ruprecht ( we must figure out how to McSTOP our incapabilities )

Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus

"I guess I really don't know what Christmas is all about. Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about ... ?!??"

"Sure Charlie Brown.  I can tell you what Christmas is all about ...

"And there were, in the same country, shepherds ... abiding in the field, keeping watch over the flock by night. And lo ... the Angel of the Lord came upon them.  And the Glory of the Lord drew 'round about them.  And they were sore afraid.  

"And the angel said unto them: 'Fear not!  For behold, I bring you tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior. 'Tis Christ The Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.'

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men ...'"

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown ..."

Hark the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP and behold )

Five Years Hence

Five years hence, I still wonder about The Raskins.

I never did hear from them when I reciprocated greetings in 2008. I'm not even certain they received the greeting I sent.

But no matter - I wonder about them ...

I'm sure they're a perfectly normal family with all the perfectly normal interests and oddities and familial traditions.

And they bring a smile to my face ... even now as they originally did then.

Merry Christmas once more, Raskins.

..................... Ruprecht ( hasn't STOPped wondering about The Raskins )

Genre Shift

Earlier in the week, I was privy to a most interesting segue on the radio.

Here it is in all its interestingness ...

You're welcome.

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

Paper Clips

Nothing says Christmas ...

... like a doctor's office tree complete with ornaments mounted by paper clips ...

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP paper clip abuse )

Hand Picked

Oooooooooooooooooooooooo ... 

....... Ruprecht ( STOP )

A Hall Where The Contributions Should Count

Two of my "wishlist" performers - Cat Stevens and Peter Gabriel - were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame today.

But I'm not finding much joy in that fact.

As much fun as it is (and has been) to be happy and confounded at the Hall's inductions and to catch the (sometimes) circus-like antics of the ceremonies, you have to step back, take your blinders off and seriously scrutinize the artists being let into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Look at any of this year's inductees and you'll see each one has merit for inclusion into the Hall. But - as with previous years (many, many previous years) - look at those being considered, their histories and contributions and you'll find inconsistencies, glad-handing and plain old stupification at work in moving an artist or group from outside the Hall to within.

This particular year, I'm aiming my sights at Hall & Oates over Link Wray. While H&O do have a super (and popular) body of career work, their "soul progenitors" status pales in comparison to what Link Wray has done for rock history, the influences he's passed down to others and his immense contributions at large.

And that makes their inclusion a joke.

Am I bitter? Yeah ... I'll admit: I am.

Because 30 years is too, too long not to recognize someone of the stature of Wray ...

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

Where Did I Go Wrong?

"That's the shit ..."

"Riley? Stop cussing. Try being different than everyone else and don't cuss ..."

"It's not a bad word ... you do it every day ..."

*sigh*

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

Meanwhile ...

... at yet another gang initiation ...

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP gang initiations )

Pop Cap For Greeting

I don't know this guy ... I've never met this guy before ... you've got to admit this is a strange greeting ... and I really don't know what prompted it:


Hokay ... I "know" this guy. He's Rick Arthur, teacher, life student, comic aficionado and (I have it on authority) all-around good guy. It so happens he's the brother of one Douglas Arthur of Assault Of The Two-Headed Space Mules and Dougside comics and singular member of Flaming Schwarzkopf Experience.

I've been champing at the bit to post this since Rick created it in January of this year. By then, it was too late to put it out for general public consumption, but here it is now ... in all its glory.

When I first viewed it, I was doubled over in fits of laughter with tears running down my eyes. I thought it hilarious. And I still do.

So ... please, enjoy.

....... Ruprecht ( STOP )