Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Where has Save Our City's website gone?

Save Our City website is missing.It had been a long time since I checked out what the folks at Save Our City were up to.

I had placed a link to their site on this very blog in the section devoted to Pensacola's Blogosphere. But after what I discovered today I had to remove the link. This was after I tried to go to the SOC website and got the ominous message you see above.

Apparently the SOC site is, or was, using a web host (out of Newark, Delaware) that doesn't have a current Server Certificate. Bad news. Scary bad news if you ask me.

Like you perhaps, I have no idea what this means to my or my computer's personal safety but it sounds serious. And not good. And why did they ask me to check my computer's clock? Does the SOC's penchant for wanting to live in the past means they are out to meddle with everybody's computer clocks?

Or is this all just a springtime trick by those pranksters over at the Independent News?

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

I'm Asking for Your Help Here

Clinton White House Formal Dinner SettingDear Visitor,
As you may have noticed, a month ago I started keeping a log of our evening meals. We have never gotten really good at long-range meal planning but it is nice to shop for several days ahead. And not need to run out to the grocery store every day at 3:30 for dinner items. The log is supposed to help us answer the "What do you want for dinner tonight?" question.

We don't eat out very often. This is strange because we live in a small city that has an incredible selection of very good restaurants with a wide variety of styles. With probably more nice restaurants per capita than any other city of its size I know of.

Generally there's just the two of us and often I cook things from scratch. Of course we have lots of favorite prepared foods as well. Sometimes these are served as is or sometimes they get customized with fresh ingredients.

Please leave a comment or drop me an email with some menu suggestions -- maybe just tell us what you had last night and are having tonight. This will help us a lot.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

A Hint of Spring At Last

Jasmine in bloom.After weeks of unusually cool weather for Northwest Florida, and last week with a hard frost every night, yesterday was finally warm again.

It was time to do some springtime backyard chores. Time to clear the patio of things that got stored there for the winter, scrub the lawn furniture and just sit on the deck and listen to the birds. And watch the cats watching the squirrels.

The jasmine is in bloom (I took the photo this morning). The azaleas should start flowering in a couple of weeks.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Predicting the Candidates for 2008

Democratic Republican Campaign Poster, 1816Who do you think will be running for President and Vice President from the Republican Party and the Democratic Party?

If you want your prediction listed just leave a comment or email me. You can always revise your predictions as the tides change and people drop out. And I will post all your changes.

Please base your predictions completely on who you feel are the strongest or most likely candidates right now. Not who you would like to see run and/or get elected.

To participate send me an email or leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

The predictions below are listed in the order received.


red rule
Here are my initial predictions...

On February 13, 2007, Kenyo predicts that the Democratic Party candidates will be:
John Edwards for President, Barack Obama for Vice President

On February 13, 2007 Kenyo predicts that the Republican Party candidates will be:
Mitt Romney for President, Newt Gingrich for Vice President


On February 13, 2007, RogerJ predicts that the Democratic Party candidates will be:
John Edwards for President, Bill Richardson for Vice President

On February 13, 2007, RogerJ predicts that the Republican Party candidates will be
John McCain for President, Chuck Hagel for Vice President


On February 13, 2007, Barbelli predicts that the Democratic Party candidates will be:
John Edwards for President, Barack Obama for Vice President


On March 19, 2007, Barbelli predicts that the Democratic Party candidates will be:
Al Gore for President, Barack Obama for Vice President

On February 13, 2007, Barbelli predicts that the Republican Party candidates will be
John McCain for President, Rudy Giuliani for Vice President


On February 16, 2007, bhd predicts that the Democratic Party candidates will be:
Hillary Clinton for President, Barack Obama for Vice President

On February 16, 2007, bhd predicts that the Republican Party candidates will be
John McCain for President, Newt Gingrich for Vice President


On February 16, 2007, Jack predicts that the Democratic Party candidates will be:
John Edwards for President, Barack Obama for Vice President

On February 16, 2007, Jack predicts that the Republican Party candidates will be
John McCain for President, Mitt Romney for Vice President


On February 16, 2007, Jezziebones predicts that the Democratic Party candidates will be:
Hillary Clinton for President, Bill Richardson for Vice President

On February 16, 2007, Jezziebones predicts that the Republican Party candidates will be
John McCain for President, Bill Frist for Vice President


On February 21, 2007, DT predicts that the Democratic Party candidates will be:
Hillary Clinton for President, Barack Obama for Vice President


On February 27, 2007, DT predicts that the Democratic Party candidates will be:
John Edwards for President, Barack Obama for Vice President

On February 21, 2007, DT predicts that the Republican Party candidates will be
John McCain for President, Mitt Romney for Vice President


Email me here or leave a comment below.

To see how these predictions all add up click here.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Candidate Prediction Tallies

The totals so far for the Democratic Party candidates:
for President
John Edwards (4)
Hillary Clinton (2)
Al Gore (1)

for Vice President
Barack Obama (5)
Bill Richardson (2)


The totals so far for the Republican Party candidates:
for President
John McCain (6)
Mitt Romney (1)

for Vice President
Bill Frist (1)
Newt Gingrich (2)
Rudy Giuliani (1)
Chuck Hagel (1)
Mitt Romney (2)



Click here to go to the main Candidate Predictions page.

Who Knew THIS Was Illegal?

"Possession of imitation controlled substances?"

Well apparently it is illegal, at least in Escambia County, Florida. Here's the report from the Pensacola News Journal, February 13, 2007: FELONY ARRESTS ESCAMBIA COUNTY
The following suspects were charged with felonies Sunday at Escambia County Jail.

[Name deleted], 18, 100 block of Emerald Drive, reckless driving, possession of imitation controlled substances.
[Name deleted], 18, 100 block of Aquamarine Avenue, possession of imitation controlled substances.

I deleted the names as I am sure none of you knows these folks.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

The Strange Maine Blog

Welcome to Maine highway signThe blog called Strange Maine Blog promises "Freaks. Weirdos. Unmapped roads. Lost in the woods. Whispering rocks. Deadening fog. Ghost pirates. Lonely islands. THINGS in the WOODS. Maine -- the way life should be!"

It includes lots of links to other strange folks and happenings Down East. And, of course, naked bowling.


Strange Maine Blog contents copyright © 2006 their respective authors and/or Michelle Souliere.
Photo credit: www.curiouslittlemonkey.com.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

What do you want to eat tonite?

Thanksgiving dinner menu -- 1945
What to eat? All too often the reply is, "What haven't we had lately?" Here's the answer to that question, a log of evening meals.

Saturday, January 27, 2007 -- BBQ baby back ribs and Nassau Grits
Sunday, January 28 -- dinner out, at Los Rancheros Mexican Restaurant
Monday, January 29 -- Salisbury Steak with leftover Nassau Grits
Tuesday, January 30 -- dinner at Maria & Bill's for Maria's 50th birthday, chicken & bowtie Pasta Alfredo, Caesar Salad & rolls (all from Macaroni Grill, yum)
Wednesday, January 31 -- Chinese Pie
Thursday, February 1, 2007 -- crab & shrimp au gratin with succotash
Friday, February 2 -- Kung Pao Chicken with green beans

Saturday, February 3 -- NY strip steak with baked potato
Sunday, February 4 -- leftover Kung Pao Chicken with crab toast
Monday, February 5 -- leftover steak in wine sauce over noodles M.W.
Tuesday, February 6 -- hot dogs and coleslaw
Wednesday, February 7 -- buffet lunch at Barnhill's, snacks for supper
Thursday, February 8 -- Noodles Alfredo and KFC
Friday, February 9 -- pepperoni pizza

Saturday, February 10 -- burgers and fries
Sunday, February 11 -- Chicken Satay, spicy peanut sauce & Thai green curry
Monday, Februart 12 -- chicken-fried steak & mashed potatoes
Tuesday, February 13 -- Beef Stroganoff, noodles & green peas
Wednesday, February 14 -- Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Soup & Buttermilk Biscuits
Thursday, February 15 -- Chinese take-out
Friday, February 16 -- Chinese take-out leftovers

Saturday, February 17 -- Steak and vegetable soup
Sunday, February 18 -- Burgers, coleslaw and apple crisp
Monday, February 19 -- Kung Pao Chicken, Sichuan Shrimp, green beans
Tuesday, February 20 -- spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread
Wednesday, February 21 -- leftover Kung Pao Chicken, potstickers
Thursday, February 22 -- grilled cheese sandwiches and black bean soup
Friday, February 23 -- ribs with collard greens, cow peas, corn bread

Saturday, February 24 -- chicken salad sandwiches, Waldorf Salad
Sunday, February 25 -- New York strip steak with twice-baked potato
Monday, February 26 -- chicken pot pies, double-chocolate pudding
Tuesday, February 27 -- shrimp & chicken gumbo
Wednesday, February 28 -- Take-out from Chili's, beef fajitas & chicken fajitas
Thursday, March 1, 2007 -- spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread
Friday, March 2 -- pepperoni pizza, homemade vegetable soup

Saturday, March 3 -- chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes, corn pones
Sunday, March 4 -- Cajun sauteed chicken, Noodles Alfredo, green peas
Monday, March 5, -- lunch at Jesse's Restaurant in Magnolia Springs, Alabama, snacks for supper
Tuesday, March 6 -- grilled beef and vegetable kebabs
Wednesday, March7 -- hot dogs and coleslaw
Thursday, March 8 -- French Dipped Sandwiches, potato salad
Friday, March 9 -- chicken salad with fruit garnish

Saturday, March 10 -- BBQ at Kim's new home, hamburgers & hot dogs
Sunday, March 11 -- Road food, Pensacola to Gainesville, including at least one stop down or back for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel Store
Monday, March 12 -- Roast beef dinner at Sue & Rudi's in Venice
Tuesday, March 13 -- Road food, Venice to Midway
Wednesday, March 14 -- chicken & dumplings, speckled butter beans
Thursday, March 15 -- lasagna and green salad
Friday, March 16 -- chicken curry

Saturday, March 17 -- Southern-style veggies lunch at Joan & Billy's, snacks for supper
Sunday, March 18 -- Oven-roasted filet steak, crusted with Panko over Dijon mustard, served with a port & shallot reduction, baked potato
Monday, March 19 --pepperoni pizza and soup
Tuesday, March 20 -- baked pork chops, rice, corn
Wednesday, March 21 -- lunch at La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant, snacks for supper
Thursday, March 22 -- Noodles Alfredo, fried chicken
Friday, March 23 -- Kung Pao Chicken, green beans

Saturday, March 24 --leftover Kung Pao Chicken
Sunday, March 25 -- Crab Newburg, Redbird Corn Pudding
Monday, March 26 -- N.Y. Strip Steak, Escalloped Potatoes
Tuesday, March 27 -- lunch at Piccadilly, snacks for supper
Wednesday, March 28 -- spaghetti and meatballs
Thursday, March 29 -- bacon, lettuce and tomato hamburgers
Friday, March 30 -- beef fajitas

Saturday, March 31 -- chicken salad, chilled asparagus soup
Sunday, April 1, 2007 -- hot dogs, chili
Monday, April 2 -- Quiche Lorraine, salad
Tuesday, April 3 -- Salisbury Steak, mashed potatoes, skillet corn
Wednesday, April 4 -- BLT sandwiches with Zapps potato chips
Thursday, April 5 -- French Dipped Sandwiches
Friday, April 6 -- Road food, Pensacola to Ocala, Florida, including at least one stop down or back at the Cracker Barrel Store

Saturday, April 7 -- Road food, Ocala to Plantation/Fort Lauderdale
Sunday, April 8 to Wednesday, April 18, on board the Coral Princess: breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner and 24-hour buffet

Wednesday, April 18 -- Road food, Fort Lauderdale to Madison, Florida
Thursday, April 19 -- chicken salad sandwiches, coleslaw
Friday, April 20 -- pasta shells with ham and Alfredo sauce, stuffed celery

Saturday, April 21 -- Billy's Gumbo and fried fish at the White Trash Yacht Club Spring Meeting Potluck
Sunday, April 22 -- burgers and fries
Monday, April 23 -- charcoal grilled N.Y. strip steaks, baked potato
Tuesday, April 24 -- KFC and biscuits
Wednesday, April 25 -- lunch at Barnhill's, snacks for supper
Thursday, April 26 -- Kung Pao chicken, green beans
Friday, April 27 -- leftover Kung Pao chicken, green beans

Saturday, April 28 -- Company dinner: grilled shrimp & chicken over pasta shells with Alfredo sauce, Redbird Corn Pudding, salad
Sunday, April 29 -- BBQ baby back ribs, mustard slaw
Monday, April 30 -- burgers and fries
Tuesday, May 1, 2007 -- Beefy Baked Beans, biscuits
Wednesday, May 2 -- pizza with salad
Thursday, May 3 -- chicken & dumplings, carrots
Friday, May 4 -- charcoal grilled N.Y. strip steaks, baked potato

Saturday, May 5 -- pasta marinara, fried chicken
Sunday, May 6 -- Ross' birthday dinner at Bill & Maria's, Greek Pastitsio, salad, cheesecake
Monday, May 7 -- steak & BBQ at Memphis Q, Beau Rivage Casino, Biloxi
Tuesday, May 8 -- tacos, pico de gallo, chili con queso
Wednesday, May 9 -- Chinese take out
Thursday, May 10 -- leftover Chinese take out
Friday, May 11 -- beef and vegetable kababs, rice pilaf

Saturday, May 12 -- spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread
Sunday, May 13 -- baby back ribs, baked beans, biscuits
Monday, May 14 -- burgers and potato salad
Tuesday, May 15 -- Chicken Alfredo on pasta shells, green beans
Wednesday, May 16 -- Chinese Pie
Thursday, May 17 through Tuesday May 22 -- Ken in Maine, Jack dining on his own

Wednesday, May 23 -- steaks at The Angus Restaurant
Thursday, May 24 -- Chicken Satay with spicy peanut sauce, black beans and rice
Friday, May 25 -- charcoal-grilled burgers, skillet corn, pico de gallo

Saturday, May 26 -- Beefy Baked Beans, biscuits
Sunday, May 27 -- sauteed chicken & farfalle pasta with two pestos
Monday, May 28 -- BBQ steak, baked potato
Tuesday, May 29 -- gazpacho and pizza
Wednesday, May 30 -- spaghetti with meat sauce
Thursday, May 31 -- BLT sandwiches, corn on the cob
Friday, June 1, 2007 -- Kung Pao chicken, green beans

Saturday, June 2 -- Graduation party at Bill & Maria's, Chicken & Shrimp Gumbo
Sunday, June 3 -- leftover Kung Pao chicken, green beans
Monday, June 4 -- hot dogs, potato salad, white chocolate coconut cream pie
Tuesday, June 5 -- Lunch at Piccadilly, snacks for supper
Wednesday, June 6 -- chicken fried steak, white gravy, chive mashed potatoes, carrots
Thursday, June 7 -- baby back ribs, biscuits
Friday, June 8 -- chicken salad and garden greens salad

Saturday, June 9 -- crab cakes, pasta shells with Alfredo Sauce
Sunday, June 10 -- taco salad
Monday, June 11 -- beef kababs, steamed rice
Tuesday, June 12 -- lunch at Jesse's Restaurant in Magnolia Springs, Alabama, snacks for supper
Wednesday, June 13 -- Teriyaki beef salad
Thursday, June 14 -- French Dipped Sandwiches, coleslaw
Friday, June 15 -- meat and sausage lasagne with pesto sauce

Saturday, June 16 -- BBQ Pool Party/Picnic here, for 10
Sunday, June 17 -- hamburger & corn casserole with crispy potato crust
Monday, June 18 -- Quiche Lorraine
Tuesday, June 19 -- Country-style dinner at PoFolks, Hearty, Homestyle Cooking
Wednesday, June 20 -- crab au gratin, toast points
Thursday, June 21 -- BBQ steaks, roasted potatoes with bacon and garlic
Friday, June 22 -- gazpacho, chili, smoked sausages in buns

Saturday, June 23 -- Kung Pao chicken, green beans
Sunday, June 24 -- leftover Kung Pao chicken, green beans
Monday, June 25 -- For lunch, giant burgers at Flounder's Chowder House, Pensacola Beach; for supper, fresh corn from Bailey's Farmer's Market, Pensacola
Tuesday, June 26 -- Southern-style Veggies at Joan & Billy's for Jack's Birthday
Wednesday, June 27 -- spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread
Thursday, June 28 -- lunch at Felix's Fish Camp, Spanish Fort/Mobile, Alabama. Then later on, midnight snacks at our hotel, the Isle of Capri, Biloxi.
Friday, June 29 -- breakfast at Harrah's Grand Biloxi Casino & Hotel, dinner at home: taco salad with fresh pico de gallo
Saturday, June 30 -- BBQ burgers, potato salad


PLEASE NOTE
This list is getting too long. So I've broken it into six-month segments. Click here for meals July through December, 2007. For the menus since January, 2008 click here.

Friday, February 09, 2007

I need some comments from my readers.


For a relatively new blog I am getting plenty of hits. but nobody will leave a comment. If you are interested enough to stop by for a moment or two, why not leave a comment? Tell me where you are from and what's on your mind.

Not sure how to do it? Here's some step-by-step help from the folks at Blogger.

Please leave a comment. It's easy.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Live Free or Love It Here

New Hampshire state slogansIn case you think I pick on the State of Maine too much here's a link to an excellent blog about another northern New England state that's full of unique individuals -- New Hampshire.

The blog is Cow Hampshire. It's all "...about New Hampshire History, Genealogy, Photography and Humor."

And signage, and dueling slogans.

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Man with a Sore Toe

Painting: Man with a Sore Toe, Barbara StreetOn Friday I had to laugh when I saw this picture because up until the day before I was the man with the sore toe.

I have been working with my podiatrist since last April to fix my sore feet and toenails. Recently it has been getting better and we were down to just one last ingrown toenail. We had a breakthrough on Thursday (ouch!) so by Friday I could smile when I saw this picture. A few weeks ago it wouldn't have made me smile at all.

The image is by Barbara Street and I found it on the Guildford (UK) Arts Council's homepage.

Friday, February 02, 2007

Type and Typography

Banner: Visual Communication LinksI love graphic design arcana and typefaces old and new. And the history of type and how fonts are created. This is a list of links to a variety of type and typography sites. Many of the sites in the fonts section have inexpensive or, better yet, free downloads with hundreds of unusual faces.

I will keep adding links to this list, so check back now and then. (The date of this post will stay the same, but you can always get here easily from the list of categories in the sidebar to the right, just go there and click on fonts, lists or typography.)

If you have some favorite links that I have missed please let me know and I will include them.

Banner: Fonts1001 FreeFonts.com
Acid Fonts
Astigmatic One Eye Typographic Institute
Blambot Comic Fonts & Lettering
[DIVIDE BY ZERO] Fonts
Emigre
Fonts.com
Fontscape Typeface Directory
The FontSite
Funky Fonts
Hard To Read Fonts
Holland Fonts
Iconian Fonts
Jetset Design
Mom's Fonts
MyFonts.com
Nick's Fonts
Simply the Best Fonts

Banner: TypographyThe Elements of Typographic Style, by Robert Bringhurst

The Elements of Typographic Style Applied to the Web
Ed Fella's Site
Frisco Remix Poster (pdf)
SoTA -- The Society of Typographic Aficionados
TypeCom 2007, Seattle
Type for You Blog
Typeradio
Typographica
Typographer.org
Typophile
U&lc Online

UNICODE SITES
Unicode Consortium
DecodeUnicode.org
Alan Wood’s Unicode Resources

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Molly Ivins, 1944 - 2007

Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She?Sad news from Texas.

"AUSTIN – Columnist, best-selling author and partisan wit Molly Ivins died Wednesday after a long and recurring battle with breast cancer. " From the The Dallas Morning News, February 1, 2007. You can read the entire story by Christy Hoppe, as long as it's up.

The Morning News has also posted this video from Austin's KVUE TV, ABC Channel 24.

And be sure to read the tributes to Molly at The Texas Observer.