A Collection of Daily Wisdom by Dennis Sylvester Hurd since September 2003.

This old Kodak instant picture was very scratched. My mother's handwriting indicated it was the Christmas of 1978. I honestly doubt that the knit hat returned to college with me.

Labels: Christmas, New Hampshire

I know that Johnny Mathis is a real gentleman onstage and that Akon is a convicted criminal. Consequently, yesterday's entry set me on a search for some lyrics by those two artists.

It's the holiday season now and let's say it is time to take a little reprieve from the Christmas classics. There could be lots of family members around the house. Maybe grandma is there or your little cousin. Or maybe your son and daughter are listening. Which song would you prefer to have those people sing along to?

Johnny Mathis - Misty

Look at me,
I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree
And I feel like I'm clinging to a cloud
I can't understand,
I get misty just holding your hand.

Walk my way,
And a thousand violins begin to play
Or it might be the sound of your hello
That music I hear,
I get misty the moment you're near

You can say that you're leading me on
But it's just what I want you to do
Don't you notice how
hopelessly I'm lost
That's why I'm following you.

On my own,
Would I wander through this wonderland alone
Never knowing my right foot from my left,
My hat from my glove,
I'm too misty, and too much in love.

Akon (w/ Eminem) - Smack That

Shady, Konvict, Upfront, Akon, Slim Shady
I see the one, because she be that lady! Hey!

(Chorus) I feel you creepin', I can see you from my shadow.
Wanna jump up in my Lamborghini Gallardo.
Maybe go to my place and just kick it, like Taebo.
And possibly bend you over.
Look back and watch me
smack that, all on the floor,
smack that, give me some more,
smack that, 'till you get sore
smack that, oooh.
smack that, all on the floor,
smack that, give me some more,
smack that, 'till you get sore,
smack that, oooh.

Up front style. Ready to attack now.
Pull in the parking lot slowwith the lack down.
Convicts got the whole thing packed down.
Step in the club. The wardrobe intact now.
I feel it. Go on and crack now.
Ooh, I see it. Don't let back now.
Im'a call her. Then I put the mack down.
Money? No problem. Pocket full of that now.

(Chorus)

Ooh! Looks like another club banger.
They better hang on.
When I throw this thang on.
Get a little drink on. They goin' flip.
For this Akon shit. You can bank on it.
Pedicure, manicure, kitty cat claws.
The way she climbs up and down them poles.
Lookin' like one of them Pretty Cat Dolls.
Tryna hold my woody back through my drawers.
Steps off stage, didn't think I saw her.
Creeps up behind me and she's like, you're -
I'm like, yeah I know, let's cut to the chase.
No time to waste. Back to my place.
Plus from the club to the crib's like a mile away.
Or more like a palace, shall I say.
And plus I got a pal. Every gal is game.
In fact he's the one singing
the song that's playing!

(Chorus)

Eminem's rollin', D an' them rollin'.
Boo an' Oh Marvelous an' them rollin'.
Women just hoin'.
Big booty rollin'.
Soon I be all in them an' throwin D.
Hittin' no less than 3.
Block will style like wee, wee.
Girl, I can tell you want me, 'cause lately.

(Chorus)

Labels: music

Getting mature has taken me quite a while. In fact, I never cease to amaze myself in this regard. I know all the words to Johnny's songs: Misty, Chances Are, It's Not for Me to Say, and The Twelfth of Never. On the other hand, I don't know the lyrics of a single piece of supposed music by Akon.



I thoroughly enjoyed a concert by Johnny Mathis that was broadcast on HDNet. It was recorded in Las Vegas and celebrated the 50th year of his recording career.

Labels: music

Part of my justification for spending a lot of money on the ExpressVu 9100 was that we hadn't planned any vacation over the holidays. Furthermore, staying home has allowed me an abundance of rainy days in which to pig out on TV viewing.

I was remarking on Sunday about Gilligan's Island. In many ways I believe television programming nowadays is better than it's ever been. Production values on many prime time programs rival those in feature films. The screenplays of some programs are thoughtful and intelligent. There are some things that don't change much though. I still watch a lot of programs about cops. Rather that Adam-12, I now follow the various incarnations of CSI.

Moreover, game shows have always been a staple of television due to their cost effectiveness and audience reaction. This week there's a new game show entitled, Identity. In this program there are twelve people with varying characteristics who stand on podiums on an extremely flashy stage. A contestant is given twelve identities such as: nuclear physicist, heart transplant recipient, or belly dancer. The person must match the labels to the correct character based purely on their looks. Of course there are special rules and twists in the game. As correct matches are made, the values proceed to increase from $1000 up to $500,000. It's just What's My Line? updated for the new millenium. Of course it doesn't for allow any thoughtful questioning but proceeds purely on outward looks. How very 2006! I have watched two days of this and it'll be able to keep my attention for the rest of the week.

It seems every so often a game show makes inroads into prime time. Which was first?

Who Wants to be a Millionaire (with ancient Regis)

The Weakest Link (with that evil British broad)

Labels: television

I really don't think my generation does Christmas cards with such dedication as folks my parents' age. I have never maintained a large list for a yearly mailing. Even during pre-Internet holiday seasons, I never bought large quantities of cards, stamps, and envelopes. I suppose this behaviour could've simply been my own.

After all, I was overseas for many years right after college. I recall festive cards being banned in Saudi because of their significance in a Christian holiday. People of faiths other than Islam cannot practice their religions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Given the regime's lack of respect for human rights, I will leave it to your imagination to decide why many Western governments count that dictatorship as a friend in the Middle East.

This year I didn't even send a typical mixed CD to the few friends. This was a small habit for a few years. I guess I'll offer a tiny e-version of greetings to everyone who stumbles across these words. The photo was taken during an unusally early snow. It's the Holy Trinity Church right next door. Simply click the thumbnail in this entry and make sure your computer speakers are on.

Labels: Christmas, opinions, Saudi Arabia

As of right now, people have viewed my Flickr photos over thirty thousand times. I have to consider that a milestone of sorts.

I joined the photo-sharing site at the end of June in 2005. I was trying to find a way to share digital photos of a trip with friends. A year and a half later, Flickr plays a much larger role in my daily affairs for, as well as trips, I upload something each day to my Daily Picture Parade.

This helps lead to the concept of my documented life. As well as the daily addition of photos, I have scanned some old personal photos too. This blog benefits from access to my Flickr collection. I can pull up an image from nearly any year in my life to embellish a blog entry. Many Flickr participants provide only their best or most artistic shots whereas I just want to have access to any aspect of my existence.


Here's an example photo taken in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was the
featured daily photo from September 11, 2006. The photo is ranked as my
sixth most popular having been viewed 266 times by other Flickr visitors.

Labels: Flickr, Sri Lanka 2006

Because of last week's purchase, I still have a bit of leeway in being able to discuss television. For already, over the past few days, I've grown a bit more accustomed to high-definition TV. Access to HD is not quite as jaw-dropping stunning after the initial dozen or so hours. Now the problem is standard broadcasts no longer cut the mustard.

I'm right at the age where I can remember the last major transition in television. In the mid-1960's, when I was in elementary school the world moved from black and white to colour. There were fewer choices in those days, so I can count on peers having also watched shows such as Gilligan's Island or syndicated reruns of Leave It to Beaver. Even though I can swear I remember the aqua hue of the castaway's lagoon, all three seasons were in b&w. I can recall at a certain point my parents commenting that even the news was, at the time, being broadcast in colour.

I am already at the next jump and after four decades, it's about time! Most US prime time shows are already being broadcast in high-definition. It is really annoying that many commercial advertisements are not. Most live TV is not. The big-network market news from Seattle is in HD but the evening news on our subsidized, national Canadian broadcaster still is not.

Labels: television