The great stone heads of Easter Island. To my mind, one of the most iconic physical legacies of ancient times. Up there with the pyramids of Egypt and Mexico, the Parthenon, the Coliseum of Rome, and others. So why am I sad when I see the heads anymore? After some soul-searching, I have decided that the preservation of them, and especially the restoration of them to their original state, is behind my malaise.
The condition in which they were discovered in modern times was lonely, askew, and half-buried on hillsides. Hollow eyes gazing up to the sky. Restored, they are uncovered from the hillsides to reveal silly E.T. bodies with vestigal limbs. Even more ridiculous are the hats, painted bright red, which are then plopped down on them. Then the coup de grace--big googly eyes smacked back onto the (formerly) inscrutable faces.
So to me, all of the restoration of the statues, the replacing of them on rebuilt platforms, the explaining as to how they were created and transferred, is all to the detriment of the experience. The cachet of mystery is stripped from them, and they are revealed to have been something less than we imagined.
Hopefully this trend doesn't extend to the other antiquites previously mentioned, because I don't really want to see piles of dismembered bodies at the base of the Chitzen Itza temple, with realistic blood splashed down the steps. What if it is determioned that the pyramids in Egypt were originally painted in circus-colored polka dots?
Oy...
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Abra? Cadabra!
Abra is trying to upscale auto repair service to justify higher prices, and if you want the funeral home experience with solemn tones, lots of details and long waits for an appointment, then this is for you. If you want a fast estimate and value pricing, forget Abra.
The front door says "No appointment necessary", but just try to get seen in less than an hour or two, even for the simplest question. While the waiting area seems very quiet, with no customers, I was told no one could see me about the 3" scratch on my fender for 2 hours. This was the same for every visit I have made. The service writers seem to be doing very little at their desks, but have no time to stand up to actually talk to a walk-in customer.
In September I waited for quite a while to talk to a service writer about refinishing my alloy wheels. I was eventually seen and told "we don't do that service". While waiting more recently for another estimate, I noticed in the Abra pamphlet from the front counter that there was a "money saving offer" for--you guessed it-- Alloy Wheel Repair! Another 2 hours wasted at Abra!
I have had cars repaired and estimated at Abra 4+ times over the past 5 years, and their prices have always been the highest of any shop I've compared. Their work is acceptable, but not perfect, and I have had to return for follow-up work on every repair. Why did I use them then? They are close and the insurance company pays for the high price. Hopefully, I would get better service, but I don't feel this is the case.
The front door says "No appointment necessary", but just try to get seen in less than an hour or two, even for the simplest question. While the waiting area seems very quiet, with no customers, I was told no one could see me about the 3" scratch on my fender for 2 hours. This was the same for every visit I have made. The service writers seem to be doing very little at their desks, but have no time to stand up to actually talk to a walk-in customer.
In September I waited for quite a while to talk to a service writer about refinishing my alloy wheels. I was eventually seen and told "we don't do that service". While waiting more recently for another estimate, I noticed in the Abra pamphlet from the front counter that there was a "money saving offer" for--you guessed it-- Alloy Wheel Repair! Another 2 hours wasted at Abra!
I have had cars repaired and estimated at Abra 4+ times over the past 5 years, and their prices have always been the highest of any shop I've compared. Their work is acceptable, but not perfect, and I have had to return for follow-up work on every repair. Why did I use them then? They are close and the insurance company pays for the high price. Hopefully, I would get better service, but I don't feel this is the case.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Immigration reform
The report of Americans favoring Arizona’s new immigration law in polls by McClatchy-Ipsos and the Pew Research Center is a breath of fresh air. We constantly hear and see immigration-rights activists railing against the racist unfairness of virtually any type of control being exercised by the United States over our borders. Enforcing immigration law is seen as draconian and inhumane by these activists. Thankfully we can see that the vast majority of Americans support some action at long last on an issue that has commanded bipartisan neglect for decades from our elected leaders. Democrats looking for new constituents and Republicans looking for cheap labor have left us completely adrift in addressing this issue.
So many analogies seem to make this problem clear, that it is one of legal administrative control of our country and not some pogrom against Hispanics. People are not offended by seeing so many immigrant faces, they are offended by knowing there are 12 million illegal immigrants in this county; driving without licenses or insurance, using services that should go to citizens first, using other people’s social security numbers and identities to obtain work—ruining the credit histories of untold Americans. Some of these aliens are involved in other illegal activities no doubt, and their unknown presence here and lack of identification makes them very hard to apprehend or prosecute.
Do the activists know what the penalties would be for an American being in Mexico illegally? They are harsher than ours! Mexico deports more illegal immigrants than we do, and their immigration law could very well be a model to use for our own country. See www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=14632 for illustrations.
With good conscience, can immigration-rights activists think that Mexico would stand by if millions of illegal American immigrants were to clamor for rights, services and government accommodations? How would the Mexican populace react to Americans taking to the streets of Mexico City on the Fourth of July, waving American flags, shouting pro-American slogans, and generally making a nuisance of themselves? They would have every reason to be appalled and outraged.
Lets look at other scenarios that deflate the racist aspect of this issue: Take 12 million illegal French Quebec immigrants swarming across the Great Lakes states and New England, demanding school programs about French history, bilingual services, and respect for their culture. How about 12 million illegal Russian immigrants flooding into Alaska, demanding school books about the “re-conquest” of that part of the United States. Demanding government programs for Russian-speaking people, and the waiving of any penalties for their illegal entry into this county. I can tell you it would not matter one bit that these were people of Anglo-European origin; Americans would want our laws obeyed and our borders secured.
This neglect of our immigration problems has led this county to the brink of yet another catastrophe, following the Federal Government’s myopic response to disasters in the housing market, the Banking industry, Wall Street, energy policies, etc. I ask that immigration-rights activists really think about the analogous situations I have described and ask themselves to be honest as to what is their real and true aim in legalizing 12 million illegal immigrants?
So many analogies seem to make this problem clear, that it is one of legal administrative control of our country and not some pogrom against Hispanics. People are not offended by seeing so many immigrant faces, they are offended by knowing there are 12 million illegal immigrants in this county; driving without licenses or insurance, using services that should go to citizens first, using other people’s social security numbers and identities to obtain work—ruining the credit histories of untold Americans. Some of these aliens are involved in other illegal activities no doubt, and their unknown presence here and lack of identification makes them very hard to apprehend or prosecute.
Do the activists know what the penalties would be for an American being in Mexico illegally? They are harsher than ours! Mexico deports more illegal immigrants than we do, and their immigration law could very well be a model to use for our own country. See www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=14632 for illustrations.
With good conscience, can immigration-rights activists think that Mexico would stand by if millions of illegal American immigrants were to clamor for rights, services and government accommodations? How would the Mexican populace react to Americans taking to the streets of Mexico City on the Fourth of July, waving American flags, shouting pro-American slogans, and generally making a nuisance of themselves? They would have every reason to be appalled and outraged.
Lets look at other scenarios that deflate the racist aspect of this issue: Take 12 million illegal French Quebec immigrants swarming across the Great Lakes states and New England, demanding school programs about French history, bilingual services, and respect for their culture. How about 12 million illegal Russian immigrants flooding into Alaska, demanding school books about the “re-conquest” of that part of the United States. Demanding government programs for Russian-speaking people, and the waiving of any penalties for their illegal entry into this county. I can tell you it would not matter one bit that these were people of Anglo-European origin; Americans would want our laws obeyed and our borders secured.
This neglect of our immigration problems has led this county to the brink of yet another catastrophe, following the Federal Government’s myopic response to disasters in the housing market, the Banking industry, Wall Street, energy policies, etc. I ask that immigration-rights activists really think about the analogous situations I have described and ask themselves to be honest as to what is their real and true aim in legalizing 12 million illegal immigrants?
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wallmarkz
Whew; you would think with the slow economy it would be an employer's market and the pool of potential employees would be above average. Apparently Walmart manages to screen out those better qualified types, and really seeks out folks who will blend in with the status quo.
I'm in there today buying a bunch of stuff including a heavy-duty weed eater blade attachment and a pack of replacement blades. Well, the attachment rings up fine but the extra blades, a total no-go. The cashier tells me she can't do a thing, and she'll need to wait for someone to come help. Of course the massive queue behind me (in the fast lane) is lookin' pretty surly, so I say "Why don't I just take the item over to customer service and they can deal with it?" So off I go...
The customer service lady is not the dullest spoon in the drawer, (I'll meet that person next), but she is close to it. "I can't ring this up, it's not in our system" she tells me, "and I certainly can't sell it to you" (!) (me; stunned incredulity) "Really", I say, so what can be done?", "There's nothing I can do", states the 'customer-service' lady, who has to ask several times to be sure if I am purchasing or returning the item. Purchasing, I tell her, blah, blah, etc.
O.K., seriously, I have just bought this weed eater attachment, and I really need the replacement blades for it--otherwise it is not of much use to me. Then we go through the accusations: "Where did you get it? (back in Lawn & Garden). "Were there others like it"? and so on. "Could a manager be able to ring this up?", I ask.
Well the supervisor who comes over is an absolute hoot (unintentionally of course). "What store did this come from?" "Huh?" from me. "Where did this come from" she demands to know. More dumb-fish looks from me since I realize I must speak a different dialect than her or something. From in this store I tell her. It becomes obvious that she thinks I have brought this item in from somewhere else to purchase here, at her store, of all the nerve!!
"You mean, did I find it laying in the parking lot outside or something?", I ask. Well, now I have her really confused as she thinks maybe there is merchandise being sold in the parking lot. "Was it on a shelf?" Well yeah, I tell her. This goes on for a while and I ask her, "Do you have a lot of problems with people bringing items in from other stores and trying to buy them here?" More dialect issues ensue.
Several phone-pages later (to God knows who), still nothing is cooking. I walk out onto the floor and find someone who is doing nothing (but in a more egregious fashion than most), whom I thus assume is a management person. "Could you please come over to the Lawn & Garden" department to help me buy this item?" I ask her. Of course, a repeat of all the previous question and answers ensues, but I am finally able to prove that the the big honkin display of this brand of yard crap does exist, and right there is my item with a bar code and price on it and everything!
I am happy to say that after 30 minutes, I was the proud purchaser of replacement weed-cutter blades. Once I got home and opened the package with the main attachment unit, I see that extra blades are included! I wonder if it will be as fun returning the replacement blades as it was to buy them...
I'm in there today buying a bunch of stuff including a heavy-duty weed eater blade attachment and a pack of replacement blades. Well, the attachment rings up fine but the extra blades, a total no-go. The cashier tells me she can't do a thing, and she'll need to wait for someone to come help. Of course the massive queue behind me (in the fast lane) is lookin' pretty surly, so I say "Why don't I just take the item over to customer service and they can deal with it?" So off I go...
The customer service lady is not the dullest spoon in the drawer, (I'll meet that person next), but she is close to it. "I can't ring this up, it's not in our system" she tells me, "and I certainly can't sell it to you" (!) (me; stunned incredulity) "Really", I say, so what can be done?", "There's nothing I can do", states the 'customer-service' lady, who has to ask several times to be sure if I am purchasing or returning the item. Purchasing, I tell her, blah, blah, etc.
O.K., seriously, I have just bought this weed eater attachment, and I really need the replacement blades for it--otherwise it is not of much use to me. Then we go through the accusations: "Where did you get it? (back in Lawn & Garden). "Were there others like it"? and so on. "Could a manager be able to ring this up?", I ask.
Well the supervisor who comes over is an absolute hoot (unintentionally of course). "What store did this come from?" "Huh?" from me. "Where did this come from" she demands to know. More dumb-fish looks from me since I realize I must speak a different dialect than her or something. From in this store I tell her. It becomes obvious that she thinks I have brought this item in from somewhere else to purchase here, at her store, of all the nerve!!
"You mean, did I find it laying in the parking lot outside or something?", I ask. Well, now I have her really confused as she thinks maybe there is merchandise being sold in the parking lot. "Was it on a shelf?" Well yeah, I tell her. This goes on for a while and I ask her, "Do you have a lot of problems with people bringing items in from other stores and trying to buy them here?" More dialect issues ensue.
Several phone-pages later (to God knows who), still nothing is cooking. I walk out onto the floor and find someone who is doing nothing (but in a more egregious fashion than most), whom I thus assume is a management person. "Could you please come over to the Lawn & Garden" department to help me buy this item?" I ask her. Of course, a repeat of all the previous question and answers ensues, but I am finally able to prove that the the big honkin display of this brand of yard crap does exist, and right there is my item with a bar code and price on it and everything!
I am happy to say that after 30 minutes, I was the proud purchaser of replacement weed-cutter blades. Once I got home and opened the package with the main attachment unit, I see that extra blades are included! I wonder if it will be as fun returning the replacement blades as it was to buy them...
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Big Jon
Here's the link to the Jon Stewart 'dancing machine' number(the last minute or so of the video) The first part is good background on the issue, and the fun they poke at all religions a hoot too! http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-april-22-2010/south-park-death-threats
Thursday, April 22, 2010
valcover
Wow!! The "Go F**K Yourself" number on the Daily show tonight was off the hizizzle! ...and for those who didn't see it--it was a double header--Stewart was commenting on the South Park (!) episode where Mohammed was (not even) seen! and New York extemists have threatened to kill everyone!!(pretty much) so anyway, these exremeists received the soul-choir led dancing "go f**k yourself" salute!! It was hysterical--and well choreographed!
Monday, April 5, 2010
John Dillinger's old fellow
When I was on a Fairfax Public Schools field trip to Washington DC in the late 1960's, THE place to visit (for the boys at least) was the Army Pathological Museum which was on or near the National Mall. My personal recollections are of the giant elephantiasis leg in a jar of formaldehyde, deformed skeletons, and a half-cast (maybe plaster), of a penis with a syphilitic canker on it--which was the purpose of that display.
For whatever reason, I thought this penis belonged to John Dillinger, but my memory may have been shaped by other people saying that it was his. Whether this was actually the case, after more than 40 years, the issue will be hard to lay to rest, but it is certainly peculiar that so many people have a recollection of some version of the Dillinger display.
For whatever reason, I thought this penis belonged to John Dillinger, but my memory may have been shaped by other people saying that it was his. Whether this was actually the case, after more than 40 years, the issue will be hard to lay to rest, but it is certainly peculiar that so many people have a recollection of some version of the Dillinger display.
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