When the moon hits your eye...

Quite simply, there's no great pizza near where I live; there's not even any really good pizza - there's... pizza. I am spoiled because in my formative years I was brought up with places like Tony's Italian Villa, Pino's, Dino's, and the best of 'em all (the creme da la creme), Pizzeria Regina. They all set a standard for me that is hard to come close to in my area of central New Hampshire. In a say twelve mile radius, there is no shortage of shops; it's just that to me they're all pretty similar with a thicker, usually pre-made crust.

Frozen pizza is, well, frozen pizza. If you buy Red Baron, Tony's or Freschetta's, you're buying pizza made by Schwan's. If you buy DiGiorno, Tombstone, California Pizza Kitchen, or Jack’s, you're buying a Kraft foods pizza. I don't know who makes Wal-Mart pizzas, but to my taste, they're no worse (or better) than any of the aforementioned brands (but they are less expensive).

Today, everything changed. I visited a accountant (CPA) for the first (and I hope last) time - she was a former student of mine. When we were done, on the way home, I stopped off at Elvio's Pizzeria and Restaurant up in Lincoln. It was the best I have had in a long time! The taste and texture of the pizza today almost brought a tear to my eye (don't tell anyone, but I had four slices thinking I could store up the experience [I think I will be storing it around my waist area]). I guess there is hope. I still have plans to try a place called Sal's, which I am told is also good. I rarely travel for food, but maybe Lincoln really isn't that far.

Drama!

:-) :-(

The images above are supposed to represent theatre masks (comedy and drama).

Last weekend, my wife and I volunteered to help out with Plymouth Regional High School's hosting of the state Drama Festival. Unfortunately, I only got to see half of the twelve offerings, but what a wonderful half they were. Only two will go on to the New England competition (two more were selected as alternates). The two days were long, but they were fun!

The big question I have is why 'theater' is written 'theatre.' I went to a site called theaterhelper.com and found the following, which clears everything up nicely for me (and you, if you are still reading): "The word theater can refer to a theater building, the art of theater, or even a home theater system.

"The word theatre should always refer to the art form and only the art form. (I had wanted the domain for this site to be theatrehelper, but it was already owned, so I took the next best option.) A 'home theatre system' is a travesty to the art of theatre. Unfortunately, evolution caused largely by capitalism is slowly causing the word theatre to be drained of all its meaning. Once completely drained of its meaning, why have the word theatre at all? This evolution could cause the death of the word theatre altogether."

Ya gotta love the Internet - it has the answers to pretty much everything, everything... even a picture of Coke in a Pepsi machine (http://citynoise.org/article/5338)

You know, I found out I have been so wrong about my vehement opposition to the bailout! I have been rabidly against it from the start and absolutely outraged at the concept of 'bonuses' as a reward for failure (when I left teaching, I got a kind of bonus for years served [sounds like prison but that's another story] and unused sick days. My 'bonus' was enough to carry me for several months and maybe then some.

I found a story online today that explained to me why these poor folks desperately need those bonuses, and that's what changed my mind. Apparently a 36-year-old Swedish countess from Connecticut is getting a divorce from her husband and signed a post-nuptial agreement specifying what would happen in the case of their parting ways. She allegedly agreed to a settlement of $43 million dollars, but she has discovered she can't live on that amount. Instead, she's now asking for around $100 million in cash and stocks, $53,800 a week for expenses, and alimony of $130,000 a month. The poor woman said, "I'm just very sad that we are where we are. I hope we resolve this soon so everybody can move on with their lives." The woman has filed court papers showing she has more than $53,800 in weekly expenses, including for maintaining a Park Avenue apartment and three residences in Sweden. Her weekly expenses also include $700 for limousine service, $4,500 for clothes, $1,000 for hair and skin treatments, $1,500 for restaurants and entertainment, and $8,000 for travel.

Now, think about it for a moment. Could you get by on such a pittance? These people need that money from the bailout and bonuses, and who am I to get in the way? I am so sorry I even said anything against the bailout. I may not even run for office in the future. Who needs people like me when you can have people like them?

(By the way, can anyone say, "Entitlement mentality"? Yeah, I knew you could [and should - over and over again]!)

No News is... Par for the Course

While I do love living in New Hampshire, one of the things I miss desperately is decent news coverage. I mean, other states are so into their news that they even carry live police chases right on TV.

We do have a major TV station, which covers news in the morning, at noon, and in the evening at 6 PM and 11 PM (but we are usually asleep for that last one). It's okay, though, because most often the 11 PM newscast is pretty much a repeat of the 6PM show, which is pretty much a repeat of the noon broadcast, which is pretty much a repeat of the morning offerings, which are, of course, pretty much is what was carried the night before. One has to watch the news regularly and not so carefully to appreciate what I am saying. And if there is a major event like a snowstorm or flooding or someone loudly belching, the station devotes pretty much the entire half hour to that event (it's like on that evening there is no other news). Understand this is in a state where for perhaps two years people have been told about the conversion to digital TV, recently with more frequency that political ads a week before the election, but then the conversion date was delayed for several more months because people might not be ready. These are probably the same people who don't know what happens pretty much every April 15th! [Run clip of near-midnight shot of Post Office and the line of people outside waiting to file their tax returns...]).

I do have access to a LOCAL, weekly paper in which one would expect to find local election results; I emphasize the word 'local' because that's the word the paper used when it dropped my weekly column (now found at www.bermansbits.com - I was local but the content wasn't, but that's another story). Usually all I look at in the paper are the obituaries to make sure I am still alive and the not-every-week-but-should-be police and court reports to keep up with what my former students are up to. Beyond that, there's really not much. Interestingly, several years ago, the paper shifted from a Wednesday publication date to Thursday so it could more easily get election results in. That was underscored by this week's paper, which carried the announcement: "Attention readers! Due to deadlines, not all voting results were available at press time. Please check back next week...." The results I wanted to see I can't! I will have to wait an extra week.

On the Internet, I do have perhaps ten or twelve sites I swing through at least two or three times a day to see what's happening on the world's stage. With a click, I can see that, for example, the president of Madagasar has stepped down and handed power to the country's most senior military officer, but I can't find out who won the local school board race.

Sometimes Just Showing Up is Enough!

(Update Below)
The last time I ran for office (2008), I ran for the United States Senate; I sent out four weekly press releases to about eight state newspapers, none of which ran any of them (would you?). In all honesty, all I wanted to do was see if I could even make a blip on the media radar and let the "mainstream" candidates know I would be watching from the wings and make a serious effort next time if they didn't get their act together. I called my campaign "One Man, One Month, No Money." I suspect I did receive a few votes as a few people said they would vote for me, but I didn't see any blip.

The time before that was for town Library Trustee as no other candidates had come forward, and I don't feel any position should go uncontested or unpopulated. Turns out another woman felt the same way, and there were two candidates. I lost by maybe 150 votes, but several people told me they were proud of the showing I did make.

Yesterday (3/10) was the most recent town election. As only sickness or other major problem would get me to miss an election, I went and voted as I do believe it's most important (how else can I complain in good conscience)! One office on the ballot had no candidates listed, so, yes, I wrote my name in! Today when I got home after work, there was a message from the town clerk that I had received a write-in vote and was I interested... I will call her tomorrow for details and make a decision from there. On the plus side, that would give me political experience in an elected office for my future resume. Until I hear details, I don't know what the negative side might be. I think I might just do it. I'll let you know.

In all honesty, I do have to tell you, it's an office people are dying for - Cemetery Trustee! I will keep you posted.

Later.

UPDATE: seems there were a few people who received write-in votes. After hearing what the position was all about, I told the town clerk to offer it to the others; I said if she got stuck, she should contact me.

Fiber or Fibber?

Okay, let's get one thing straight - I don't need lots of fiber in my diet because I really do give a.... Well, anyhow, on with the story. Not long ago, my wife suggested I try a Fiber One bar because, quite simply, it had chocolate in it and tasted good. I tried one, and it was good - good enough for me to buy more. When I browsed the store's offerings, I found another flavor called "oats & strawberries with almonds." As I like strawberries, I bought a box, and the bars were pretty good. As I was eating the new bar, I did what I love to do - I read the label and was just a bit surprised.

As I am sure you all know, ingredients on a label are listed in order of the amount used in the product from the most to least. The first thing on the "oats and strawberries with almonds" bar was something called "Chicory Root Extract." A trip to Wikipedia revealed that chicory roots are roots that are baked, ground, and used as a coffee substitute and additive. Okay; I guess calling the bar "oats & strawberries" sounds better than "chicory root and strawberries." Rolled oats was the next thing listed, so we're close there.

BUT, here's the problem. The next ingredient is (bear with me here) : "Natural strawberry flavored (my emphasis) fruit pieces (sugar, cranberries, citric acid, natural flavor, elderberry juice concentrate, sunflower oil)." In short, there are NO STRAWBERRIES in the bar! There are cranberries, but no strawberries. Besides what I just listed and a lot of other stuff that follows, there are no strawberries in spite of the bar's name! I am not amused! I feel cheated!

I just looked up contact information and sent an email to General Mills (personally, I think he should be reduced in rank to, say, Private Mills). I will let you know what the response is.

Later.

A Few Random Thoughts

www.random.org

(That site's about as random as one can get.)

First, I am back at work; I am in the middle of a 14-day stint as a long-term sub at Waterville Valley Academy in NH, an educational training school for skiers and snowboarders. I am filling in for a history teacher who had long-standing plans to go to Mexico (Ooooooh, Mexico). While I really enjoy the students (most actually want to learn and do their work - a novel concept), I am not enamored with the idea of getting up at 5 AM (I know I shouldn't complain as the Ever-lovely Miss Kim is up at 4:30 to do the horses). The "workday" is actually fun even if it's long. And did I say it's only for 14 days?

Next, I have been stopping by regularly on Facebook, where manifold names and faces from my past are appearing. A few had changed their names (either married or are in the witness relocation program), so it took a bit of time and careful deduction to realize who they are.

Finally, as I now actually have a couple of followers, I resolve to do better posting here! If I can get a total of fifteen or more, I will try for virtually every day (pass the word).

Any more will have to wait as morning meeting is about to begin.

Later.