Guilt

I become a bit more disillusioned with what passes for Summer in Castle Rock every year. Not that I don’t like it here—I do, but…..
It’s July the 7th, and I started to cut the grass (some people might say they mowed the lawn, but for that you need an actual LAWN), only to have it start raining.
Raining on July 7th.
When we moved here, the standing joke was that we have two seasons—Winter and August. At least I thought it was a joke when I was a newcomer. Then, I figured that we were just having an odd Summer season. Or two.
I only need to know if global warming (OOPS—I mean climate change) might include an actual Summer up here in the greater Pacific Northwest. If so, I’m all for it. Go ahead and change, O Climate Gods.
It’s funny to watch lifetime residents change to flip-flops, shorts, and tank tops whenever the temperature reaches 65. Or watch local news and have a special on drought, sunscreen, and hydration whenever it fails to rain for more than two consecutive day…

“The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we all believe that we are above-average drivers.” 
― Dave Barry, Dave Barry Turns Fifty
“It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity.” 
― Dave Barry Lots more (an endless supply) at: https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/6245.Dave_Barry

I propose changing the descriptive name of internet sites like Facebook. It's not social, it's anti-social, and when I think of the term “media”, what comes to mind is blank cassette tapes, floppy disks, zip drives and USB drives. It's decidedly not “social media”. It's a nasty outgrowth of what started out as friendly AOL chat rooms, usenet, BBSystems and IRC.
It's Anti Social Internet Chat, or, ASIC. I like that. ASIC.
Use it, pass it around.
As Always, You're Welcome-

...What became of all the television ads for the Hoveround? Did they go out of business? Everybody on Medicare have one now?
...Now that marijuana is either legalized or ignored pretty much all over these United States, why do we no longer hear about the “medical” benefits of that weed?
...Who decided that television ads for prescription medicines was a good idea?
...Long as I'm on the subject, why don't TV ads for lawyers, plastic surgeons, prescription drugs, dental implants, and medical devices include the price?
...How is it that anyone can have a drone and fly it around willy-nilly, but I can't have lawn darts?
*The picture isn't' really a Hoveround, it's an "All Weather Electric Mobility Scooter" according to Amazon.  I wonder if you'd need a driver's license to operate that beast.

Sure, I get rewards and points and those sorts of incentives when I make purchases using my credit cards, but……….I miss Blue Chip Stamps. There was a redemption center on Cleveland Avenue in Santa Rosa,  California, and it was always an adventure going there to get something for your completed books of stamps. Maybe a shiny new toaster.
I worked at the Windsor Shell Station (owned by Joe Woodard) just off U.S. 101 at the Windsor off ramp while I was in high school in the mid 60's, and we gave out Blue Chip Stamps with purchases. We had stamp dispensers at the pump islands and, since the stamps were “lick-and-stick” like postage stamps were in those days, when it rained, the dispensers got gummed up and refused to function.
I read on Wikipedia that Blue Chip Stamp was a viable company until 2011 (who knew?) and was then absorbed by their parent company. During their heyday in the 60's and 70's, even some brothels and mortuaries gave Blue Chip stamps with purchases. Ho…

To my dismay, I see that my beloved San Francisco Giants (and, presumably, all the rest of MLB), has “partnered” with an outfit called Global Poker. For the uninitiated, Global Poker is an on-line casino playing for real money. Just like Las Vegas. In other words, a dandy place to go and lose you family's rent money from the convenience of your lap-top computer in your bedroom while your wife is asleep.
This “partnership” consists of yet another special night at the ball park. Global Poker Night!! Come early for a FREE ticket to the baseball game.
We no longer allow the evil of tobacco in our wholesome ballpark, but will allow this? Bizarro world, I tell you. I'm speechless.
Global Poker is based in the Principality of Malta. MALTA for Christ sake.
It simply wasn't bad enough that MLB sacrificed some televised games for Facebook…..Now this.
Yuck.