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Ray Charles did more than OK despite his blindness and people taking advantage of him, especially early in his career: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhJwXwXDijQ
TNP saw Jamie Foxx play Ray Charles in the biopic Ray, and thought he did more than OK too.
Yeah, I thought he did OK. I'm glad if people who saw the movie were maybe introduced to the musician who wasn't just "that guy on the speakers in the bus station." Maybe not a great movie, but Foxx did great, and he had the advantage of picking a little piano himself, and no biopic movie is going to satisfy people who know every note the guy ever recorded, at least that was famous.
TNP is kind of disappointed the "ragtime revival" of the 1970s is over, since he or she would like to see a biopic of Ferd "Jelly Roll" without all that Cotton Club veneer put on it. Bonus TNP if he or she can figure out who would be a good Jelly Roll Morton as a younger man and also into the Library of Congress recordings days.
Yes, Jelly Roll Morton certainly deserves his own biopic. I love his music, even though he did exaggerate his role in the early development of jazz.
TNP thinks a little bit of "The Crave" would be fitting now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkGjDbKauVo
Yeah, I remember that tune. I'd say every time is time for a bit of "The Crave."
TNP is now using or has ever used white bedsheets, but finds them unsatisfactory except for specialized purposes.
I don't pay much attention to them, but yes, we have some white bedsheets, and they have been satisfactory.
TNP likes sleeping on flannel sheets when it gets chilly out.
Yeah: they're good.
TNP has noticed that gas stations delay processing credit/debit card receipts until sometime the next day or so. Bars as well, IME, tend to process them all at closing time. And can explain why. In graphic detail. Hardcore, deviant detail.
No, I hadn't even noticed that! Interesting.
TNP has heard about the shortage of coins for many American businesses since the pandemic hit.
Of course.
TNP is not at all moved by bartenders' claims that "cash is king," when it comes to tips. Cry me a river.
Not moved, no, but I do tend to tip in cash anyway.
TNP has heard Michael Bublé sing "Cry Me A River" before with full 007-style orchestration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab6eXLDUq1w
No. That's the guy with the fancy hair, right? No. Never heard it.
TNP has observed that 1970s TV dramas "evolved" very early indeed, almost ab principio, at about 1970-1971 into a pattern of "a very special episode." Vide, The High Chaparral, Then Came Bronson, and so many more, even including "comedies" like Alias Smith and Jones. And doesn't like the formula.
Yeah, more or less. It seems to have fallen out of fashion now, except for parodies of the concept.
TNP won't be seeing a movie in an actual movie theater until there's a proven, effective COVID-19 vaccine that most people have taken.
Probably. Went to a private booking with only friends with masks a few weeks ago, and it wasn’t much fun.
TNP watches movies on Tubi.
No, never have.
TNP has been to Texas at least three separate times.
No, but I make at least one Texas in the toilet everyday.
TNP thinks he or she knows where that idiom came from, at least in print.
No, never heard it before!
TNP will be watching the U.S. presidential debate tonight.
No. There's no information to be gained, nor any entertainment value for me. It's not live, so there's nothing to be surprised by, or that cannot be edited within the span of a brief delay.
TNP can explain the appeal of this lurid spectacle over, say any other garish spectator sport, including watching training films and posting on the web.
I thought it was live. And yeah, some people are just political junkies, and some are fans of one candidate or the other and want to see him win big, and some are genuinely undecided (although I can hardly imagine why) and want more information in order to decide how to vote.
TNP has yawned more than twice today.
No. Not once. I did have a nap for hours, though.
[Wasn't meaning to criticize viewers of the "debate," and the reasons you state are indeed sensible. I'm sure there's at least a broadcast delay, in case Biden flipped his wig and started cursing like a stevedore or made the jerking-off motion in response to nearly everything that other "person" "said."]
TNP has seen lots of helium-filled balloons lately, for some unknown reason, and thinks they're pretty annoying and desires to pop them with either a sewing needle or a lit cigarette.
No, I don't think I've seen one in a year or more. I do like popping 'em, though.
TNP prefers inhaling the helium from balloons in order to talk in a high-pitched voice.
Sure. Haven't done that since I was a kid. Nitrous oxide edges out helium in the "Inhaled from a balloon" category, though. By a fair amount, really.
TNP is almost experiencing a bit of physical discomfort as the upcoming US elections approach nearer. Maybe not as bad as nausea, fatigue, dyspepsia, incontinence, but almost.
Yeah, and I am not even American.
TNP likes sausage better than bacon.
Maybe by an eensy-teensy-tiny margin, yes, but I like 'em both just fine. Too much is never enough of either, especially with homemade pancakes and real maple syrup.
TNP is now in the mood for pancakes.
No. I'm in the mood for bacon. Tomorrow morning will be the third day in a row it formed most of my caloric intake. But, yes, sausage is the correct answer. But I still like bacon more nowadays. More texturally interesting.
TNP has seen a skunk recently. IRL, duh.
No, it's been a few months now. But we do have quite a few deer, rabbits and skunks around here.
TNP had a pet rabbit as a child.
Yeah "I" had two. Really, cast-offs from a business partner of my pops. They sure do live a long time.
TNP has had or is now having Evan Williams 'basic' bourbon and doesn't think it's worth the few dollars extra Old Crow. Or similar.
I don't think I've ever had either. But I have no objection to a good bourbon, nosiree, none at all.
TNP will be outside for at least two hours today.
Not really. I don't count driving a car as "outside." Pretty nice weather, but there's too many asshole cornshucking motherfuckers on the road to risk walking even on a sidewalk.
TNP has noticed that today All Saints' Day happens to be on a Sunday, and will say if he or she has any special plans for this strange coincidence.
No, I didn't, and no, I don't expect to be doing anything in particular to mark the day.
TNP has admired some beautiful fall leaves today.
Some. Not a lot. Red Alder's leaves haven't changed. Quite a few Bigleaf Maple but their leaves are mostly now mottled red and littering the streets.
TNP thinks it would be a good idea to duck tape a piece of paper with a Sharpie-scrawled note saying "DO NOT KNOCK OR RING BELL EVER!!!" to one's front door.
That might create issues with knowing when my gin has arrived, so no.
TNP lives in a jurisdiction where it has gotten considerably easier to get alcohol delivered since March.
Yes. It was no problem in NY State to get deliveries, and I was shocked moving back out here that the state "commission" or whatever control group didn't do that kind of thing. Now, appararently, one can have demon rum and cactus whiskey delivered.
TNP has had in the past day or so a fantasy of ordering a few (gin, natch) gimlets on the rocks instead of the usual beer at his or her friendly watering hole.
No, but I certainly look forward to the day when I can have a beer or three with chums again in public.
TNP needs some Louis Armstrong in his or her life right now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBOoQcoPL1I
Yeah, I do. I did have a good forty or so minutes playing the CD/album Louis Plays Fats yesterday, though,and while it was just what I wanted to hear, I'm not wanting right now to play another Louis LP. Louis is the king of jazz: rhythm, melody. He was the whole deal.
TNP needs a lot more James Brown in his or her sonic diet right now. If not, thou will explain thyself! ETA Cold Sweat Pts. 1 and 2. I'm scared shitless about the election in the US next week, and while Mr. Brown may not have been a reliably constant political figure, nor a particularly great example of treating people well, I want to see some of that fire.
Never been a big James Brown fan, so, no. But I am certainly worried about the election.
Yeah. It's getting to be I'm starting to plan ahead to take Wednesday off work...either way it's going to be a big deal, and I don't particularly want to hear the "news on the march" on the shop floor.
TNP has ever had an "adult beverage" so tasty that one actually enjoys drinking it. Turkinpippuri in vodka for example.
Oh, sure, many times. And just today I was thinking I really should try a Brandy Alexander sometime.
TNP has actually had a Brandy Alexander, and liked it.
False. I think I know how to make one, vaguely, while having to look it up: it's a cream drink, IIRC. But I've never had one. Nor even heard of somebody IRL ordering one.
TNP can name one cream drink he or she or someone he or she knows orders or likes. You know, like a Grasshopper. White Russians don't count, though.
Well, I make a pretty good Alexander myself, so that.
TNP can make a decent number of cocktails, and has the proper tools for the job.
In theory, true for the first part, except for some lapses in memory. However, I don't have the right supplies or equipment (the correct glassware, the right additional ingredients [garnishes, various bitters, vermouths, the liqueurs, mixes, simple syrup, soda gun, etc.]) at my place. Technique is pretty solid, though, I would say.
TNP prefers to reward, not discipline, a bartender who pours a draft beer with the absolute minimum of head/foam.
Reward, I suppose, but it's not that big an issue for me, unless I'm being ripped off.
TNP knew that Mississippi voters on Election Day approved a change to the state flag: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Mississippi
I did not. Good for them, I suppose. Change is good.
TNP knew that there exists a town in Ireland (not Northern Ireland, but close) called Muff, in English. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muff,_County_Donegal
I did not!
TNP wishes that there were a very deep swimming pool in that town, so that he or she could go Muff diving.
Stop it. I'm supposed to be doing stuff. In other words, yes.
TNP would describe the bulk of his or her daily working life as tedious and repetitive, from which he or she draws buoyancy only by the occasional light-hearted interpersonal amusement.
Yeah, pretty much.
TNP is looking forward to retirement, possibly a little too much.
Not at all. I enjoy my work, and retirement, if I ever do it, will get here soon enough.
TNP has read about U.S. Grant lately.
Yeah, but kind of indirectly. I think the reconstruction/Gilded Age period is pretty interesting in US history, and it has the advantage of a few events or periods in Europe/S.A/East Asia/well...the whole world, pretty much.
TNP's first instinct upon having terms of a contract thrown against him or herself like "offensive behavior" is to start, very calmly, looking for a lawyer whose specialty is civil litigation with homeowners associations and so forth.
First I'd read the contract. If it wasn't clear, then I might start looking for a lawyer.
TNP is on a first-name basis with at least three lawyers.
Yeah. IRL, a few people I grew up with. Not really good friends or anything any longer, but there is mutual knowledge. In total, also IRL, there are certainly over three I know, or have known as acquaintances, family, etc., in social settings, flung pretty far and wide throughout the country.
TNP's sense of outrage and confusion is at the max when considering that random individuals can simply, without substantiation, use a corporation like an HOA to unilaterally levy fines. Particularly when the credibility of the likely accuser or accusers is low, considering they are not in compliance with the bylaws themselves. TNP would go so far as to call that a form of harrassment and TNP thinks is a matter that should be pursued in civil litigation by both parties.
Yes, that would certainly irk me. Hope it works out for the best for you!
TNP has seen Gladiator in the past year.
No, I've never seen Gladiator ever. I think the only Russell Crowe movies I've seen have been Master and Commander the recent Unhinged. Maybe some others I can't remember now. But it would be appealing, just so I can truthfully say, "I like gladiator movies, Johnny, how about you?"
Thanks for the vote of confidence re the HOA: I think the tides are tending right now to have all these spurious complaints dismissed on appeal. It's a ludicrous system, devoid of any obligation of the complainant(s) to produce evidence beyond vague suggestions, which is empowered to levy extrajudicial punishments at will. Absurd. But now my new hobby will be to produce complaints at every violation I see perpetrated by my neighbors. Great volumes of substantiated complaints. Bunch of Karens or otherwise demented sacks of tainted amoebas.
TNP is about full up of extra BS to deal with in private life, what with the COVID, politics, and any number of things that must be observed or dealt with.
It's manageable, I guess, all in all, but I'm certainly more than ready for this $%^&*! pandemic to end.
And you've gotta see Gladiator sometime soon! Great historical adventure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owK1qxDselE
TNP has big plans for the weekend.
Hmmm...does working and maybe watching old movies count? I’m guessing no.
TNP remains astounded by the aftermath of the US presidential election, despite the predictions.
Yeah. Actually, it's not quite as bad as I'd have guessed, but it's astonishing nonetheless.
TNP lives to pursue and punish those who have failed to perform correctly, either legally, socially, or within any other realm of behavior.
No, but it can be a bit of fun along the way.
TNP could really do with a beer right now.
Yeah, a beer sounds great right now. Just a regular draft beer.
TNP is pretty sometimes just a good old fashioned regular draft beer is just the thing. Doesn't matter what else Turkkinpippuri you got, or even water. Nice cold beer.
Ayep.
TNP has been to Maine in the past year.
No, never made it up there. I think it would be fun to spend time in one of the francophone enclaves, if they still exist, and maybe pick up some more hillbilly franco-canadian slang.
If TNP were to relocate, he or she would consider a small fishing-based village a good place to end up.
That might be nice (and Ogunquit, Maine, which I've visited, would fit the bill), but I think a nice little college town might be more to my liking.
TNP needs to buy a space heater for the winter.
Nope. I literally live by my space heater about nine months out of the year (the rainy months in the great state of whatever). It will cause a disturbing rash, which it would not surprise me is potentially melanomic, for good or bad varieties of irritation.
TNP has had some ribs lately, and approves.
No, and I love ribs! All the places I would ordinarily get ribs are closed, or I don't want to run the risk of infection.
TNP saw someone in a red hat today.
None. Alive.
TNP knew that a "dance belt" is not really a belt but kind of a jock strap.
No, had no idea.
TNP has a preference between Netflix, Prime and Tubi.
False. I've used the first two and have no preference; I don't even know what the third is.
TNP has listened to a march tune today.
Yeah, actually. I don't know what you'd call it except for a march, from my haphazardly put together "Hammond organ" USB for in the car, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again." I can't remember if it was Jimmy Smith's or Don Patterson's version. If that's not a march, then I don't know what it is. It's played in 4 for the solos, but it has more of a duple/march time during the theme, and Jimmy's arrangement features a drone in fifths from the bass end of the organ and some flute-like ditherings drawing from the diminished/octatonic scale.
TNP is not doing much for Thanksgiving this year, and thinks it's probably day to use one of his or her weekly alcohol consumption days and fantasize about murdering his or her downstairs neighbor.
Not doing much for Thanksgiving, check. Probably drinking alcohol, check. Fantasizing about murder... uh, not so much.
TNP has been following all the post-Election-Day lawsuits with less than rapt attention.
Yeah. I mean, really? A coworker today tried to get my opinion about the "whole thing" and it was very difficult for me to conceal just how dismissive of the "whole thing" could possibly be. Yes, This Current Poster follows the various frivolous lawsuits, but not very closely.
TNP remembered Rudy when he was a pretty good mayor (well, opinions vary, but I never heard much dissent besides "He's turning midtown Manhattan into Disneyland!" in that way only New Yorkers could complain about piddly shit). And bonus TNP: TNP has a theory about why Rudy broke bad? Because I don't know. Dementia? No idea. Therefore, it's all in the hands of TNP.
Yes, I remember Rudy from when he was a pretty good mayor of NYC (arguably the best of my lifetime). What happened? Well... I think he just got old, his lawyer skills rusted, and he decided it was more important to be in Trump's orbit than to have a soul or any kind of admirable public standing anymore. But that's just me.
TNP has had pie in the past 24 hours.
No. I did have a very good cider, though. Dry, and yet complicated. It was a very good cider, for my tastes.
TNP thinks it's possible to be a bit too attentive to or interested in women. Not in a harmful fashion, but in a way that one can become distracted very easily.
Oh, yes, definitely. And there are so many wonderful ones to be attentive to or interested in!
TNP has recently seen a stunningly beautiful woman in a public place, but all too briefly.
Would have had to be in a public place for that, and we’re back in lockdown.
TNP has certain weekend routines, and dislikes having them disturbed.
Not really. Weekday/workday routines, though, most definitely. There's a pretty precise schedule I follow in the mornings.
TNP has been putting off making an appointment with a dentist and dental hygienist for a long time.
No, I had my annual dental checkup and teeth-cleaning just a few weeks back.
TNP is more than ready for a cheap, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine to get approved already, dammit.
Yeah, ideally several, provided they are tested and the application of each can be triaged for specific population groups. The latter's a bit of a stretch, but that would be ideal.
TNP expects to receive a vaccination (or perhaps several in prescribed series of boluses) by probably this time next year. No sooner.
Sounds about right.
TNP reads several comic strips every morning.
No, I've fallen out of that habit.
TNP always checks the obituaries when he or she sees a newspaper.
No. I just have a very rich imaginative inner life. I can sense when my wishes have been fulfilled! In truth, no, I've never read the obits, although that would be a fun task as a copy editor to decide upon the page layout and so forth.
TNP has very nearly lost his or her shit when he or she heard fucking Xmas music in some public place recently.
Yes, a few weeks ago, in my car, which I suppose is a public place. Too damn early for Christmas music!
TNP grudgingly heard some Christmas music just today.
No. It was a very rare occasion.
TNP did hear some other loathsome, dogshit music though. And bonus TNP: who in the hell plays dance music for just listening to? No, I'm not talking about a Gigue from one of Bach's dance suites, but full on music you'd hear in a fucking nightclub! WTH is wrong with people?
No, I haven't heard any music I really hated in quite awhile, fortunately.
TNP will be going for a long walk tonight.
Nope. Just activated broadband cable internet.
TNP thinks there are some problems with having thousands of pounds of books in flimsy bookcases against walls that include receptacles for things like coaxial cable terminals, AC receptacles, and the like.
Yes, in my lay opinion there could very well be, although I'm no structural engineer.
TNP actually knows a structural engineer.
Not exactly by that title, but two civil engineers, at least one of whom is relatively famous locallly. The other is just starting out after her undergraduate work in civil engineering. And, my brother in law, although he's a "quality engineer" (PE) probably wouldn't hesitate to claim dibs on the title as well. I'm not actually sure what separate discipline "structural engineering" would fall under.
TNP probably would not be the type to, mid-career as an engineer, pick up an MBA and move into the management side of things (not that there's anything wrong with that).
No, I'm actually right where I want to be in my career right now.
TNP has eggnog in the fridge.
Nah. Don't like it. Half-gallon of whole milk. Goes good with Jameson.
TNP knew that 'Whitey' Bulger volunteered to be part of an MK-ULTRA experiment while in prison early in his career, and supposedly was fed over fifty doses of LSD in exchange for earlier release. (According to wikipedia, he did not relish the substance).
I did not! But I once met his brother Billy, the Boston politico, when he came to speak about politics and public service at my college: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bulger
TNP knew that Stephen King's novel Firestarter was loosely inspired by the MK-ULTRA experiments.
No. Fuck no. I think that's amazing, and I bet you anything if I ever go see my pops that's going to be near the top of the list. "See if you has a paperback of *Firestarter*, then give it over" is how it would go.
TNP would head to Australia first, if he or she should ever feel the need to flee his or her country.
Hmmm...as long as I am not fleeing over anything extraditable, yeah. Very appealing place for a Canadian.
TNP is taking time off from work over the holidays.
No. Tis the season to be working the trailers at the unloading docks. And so forth.
TNP has met a woman, let's say, ever, with the first name of his or her mother, and is not quite sure how to proceed. Assuming, as one always does, that she is DTF and at least friendly.
Just had to look up "DTF," but no, I have never dated anyone with the same first name as my mother.
I'd love to go to Australia myself someday, as it happens.
TNP knew what "DTF" meant without looking it up.
Yeah, I’ve seen it come up before on the Net.
TNP finds themselves using Internet initialisms in ordinary speech.
WTF? FDS.
TNP has heard a Christmas carol today.
Not intentionally. One could have been in the background of an A-Team episode, I suppose. Not sure.
FDS! That's a new one, but I'm sure they stole the expanded version from me. Sounds pretty familiar.
TNP thinks Cheech and Chong are actually pretty amusing.
Nah, never been my thing.
TNP has cold feet right now. Literally.
No. Nor hot lead.
TNP has ever heard anyone use the term "jabroni" (as a mild insult) IRL, and if so, will explain WTH it means.
No, that's a new one on me: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Jabroni
TNP clicked on that link.
No, but I did look at the exact page out of curiosity. Apparently it's not much of an insult. Maybe on the level of "chowderhead" or "dillweed."
TNP has a preference among the following insults: "dicknuts," "fuckwad," or "chunksmell."
I've used the second on rare occasions, but never the first or the third. I think I just might have to use that one sometime soon....
TNP has someone he or she wants to insult this weekend.
No. Not even after going grocery shopping and driving through the suburbs to fuel up. (I don't think "chunksmell" is a real word, but it could be!)
TNP can name four or more Irish whiskeys off the top of his or her head.
No - just wracked my brain and couldn't.
TNP will now do so.
Of course. Kilbeggan, Jameson, Powers Gold, Tullemore D.E.W. I guess you can add Bushmills to that, too, but I've never had that except maybe a few times way back.
TNP has a habit of not throwing away imported liquor bottles. Or at least saving one exemplar of various bottles should one have a bit of a habit.
TNP thinks it's a bit of a useful investment to drink good whiskey, provided yadda yadda.
An investment towards personal happiness, sure.
TNP will be going on a long trip in the next week.
Maybe a mental trip to the eye of the maelstrom.
TNP can think of an explanation why various companies or agencies (utility companies, government offices, etc.) seem unable or unwilling to communicate via e-mail, and insist on telephonic communication for certain things. And "for security" doesn't count as an answer: that can be fixed. It's medieval!
Hmm. That's odd. Less of an electronic record to be looked up later if something goes wrong? Quicker for their staff to talk than to be typing?
TNP is a fast, accurate typist.
Yes. 70-90 wpm, approaching 100% accuracy. Maybe not super-steno-pool speed, but pretty fast. Unless writing in casual e-mails or in forums, then I make no guarantees about accuracy. Also, the more years I've spent reading, the worse my spelling has become.
TNP thinks "touch-typing" is a gimmick, which is unnecessary for those with a knowledge of the keyboard and sufficient practice, and who have no need for greater technical speed. Sort of like the Dvorak keyboard.
Yeah, I guess. Haven't given it too much thought, though.
TNP took a brisk walk today.
Sure, yesterday I walked a bunch. Will do the same today. Yeah, brisk is the word, but it feels less invigorating with even a surgical mask impeding one's airflow.
TNP knows his or her "ranking" in terms of groups to receive at least the first bolus of The Vaccine.
No, that's kind of up in the air right now, as a matter of fact. But I should find out soon.
TNP will be celebrating Christmas today, and if so, will say how.
Yes. I'm meeting my mother and I assume probably my father at an outdoor park Christmas morning for a kind of "brunch" with social distancing. Perhaps the nephews might come along too. My contribution are some airline-size bottles of Jameson whiskey I had the foresight to buy today before work, given the abridged hours of the liquor store. I offered to bring Cheetos, but was told she/(perhaps they) have the food covered. True story.
I intend to bring some Church to the (one hopes brief) encounter by bringing along the Order of the Mass in the universal language. Yes, my Christmas "gift" will be Irish whiskey and unrelenting abuse of the Latin tongue.
TNP wore something relatively festive today, on Christmas Eve Day. For example, a red shirt, in my case, but the possibilities are endless, as one observes.
Yes, I had a green sweater and wore red socks with little Christmas tree on them.
TNP has a particularly ugly Christmas item of clothing like a sweater.
No. I don't have any xmas clothes at all, I don't think. Some red, some green articles of clothing, though. I don't think I have any genuinely ugly clothes at all, unless the myth that "cargo shorts are unfashionable" is true. Which it is not.
TNP considers it Christmas until at the very minimum Epiphany, and perhaps a bit longer (Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Jan. 10th this coming year). And is perturbed that people put away their reindeer ear headbands and probably would respond to "Merry Christmas" with "up yours!" Inconceivable heresy.
Yes, I always think Christmas starts 'way too early (all-Christmas-music radio stations before Thanksgiving? Nooo!) but then it ends far too soon.
TNP still has a present to unwrap.
Just unwrapped one of the last gifts to myself from myself: a bottle of Kilbeggan Small Batch Rye. First thing after work. And by "unwrapped" I mean cut the foil seal and removed the cork and poured a few fingers in a clean glass. Not tasted yet.
TNP plans to buy himself or herself at least one more small gift during the Christmas season, and thinks TNP should probably say what that might be.
Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I may get some glassware online soon.
TNP has listened to Handel lately.
Not recently, no.
TNP has a definite preference about the best breakfast meat.
Yes, but I'm not going to tell. That would be cheating.
TNP will adjudicate on this matter of global importance: whiskies, Irish, or Scotch? Lives depend on this question!
Irish, if push comes to shove.
TNP will adjudicate on bourbon vs. rye.
Oh, I'd go from recent 30% plus rye mash bills for the ryes, which is pretty high for the Irish, but low for the KY/TN rye whiskies. Even the malignable Ezra Brooks from Kentucky, which is rough, but drinkable. I like the bourbons as well, but it can be difficult to find one that isn't too sweet for my tastes. One of these days I'll finish off the middle-of-the-shelf Irish whiskies. Although, TBH, I'd rather just drink Powers Gold, but my local shop doesn't carry Powers.
TNP has occasionally just picked a bottle off the shelf based on looks or sounds, and has not been disappointed gravely. Nothing ventured, nothing gained! I shouldn't say this, but a whiskey is like a woman: better some than not at all, and one never knows without trying, but often the appearance indicates the quality.
Yes, not being especially well-informed on such things (especially wine), I will confess that a nice label sometimes is juuuuust enough for me to reach for my wallet.
TNP has been to Chicago in the past three years.
No. Although it's an appealing city, in some ways, I'd like to spend more time in.
TNP thinks it's rude and unprofessional to record one's (private) incoming voicemail greeting as "Hi, you've reached xxxxxxxxxx. Due to an unprecedented number of calls, we ask that you reach us by text or e-mail." (After deliberately filling up one's voicemail "box"). On the premiss that there's no possible reason for anyone except an unsuccessful troglodyte, a fool, a troll, or maybe a cop to leave a voicemail.
Well, ideally, everyone should be reachable at work by phone, email or text, but I know that's not how the world works, especially during this #$%^&! pandemic.
TNP has followed the news from the U.S. Capitol very closely in recent days.
For a Canadian, pretty damn closely. Never really believed I would see this.
TNP is hoping for a President who gives his Twitter account to a 22 year old intern who does nothing with it but send birthday wishes.
Yes, and even that at the very most. I think it's absurd to use a child's software platform like Twitter in any professional capacity. Unless one is, maybe an entertainer of some sort.
TNP can remember the last time he or she had an injection in the ass. You know, one of the buttocks, not literally the asshole (I don't think the latter exists as a practice, but I could be wrong). No need to give details, but whatever.
I know I did when I was a kid, but it's been a loooong time, and I don't remember when, exactly, or what it was for.
TNP has spoken to a doctor in the past week.
No, just an FNP, whatever that is. And some very nice nurselets.
TNP thinks those bastards who raised tobacco taxes in several states recently can suck it. Apologies to any bastards out there.
No, they can jack 'em up as high as they like. Raises revenue and discourages tobacco use, which is OK with me.
TNP would say 2021 is more good than bad so far.
Couldn’t go that far. Back in province wide lockdown, find the situation in the States disturbing.
TNP is thinking about 2022 vacations,on the assumption that 2021 is likely to be another gong show.
No. Call me a fool, but I'm pretty optimistic about 2021, and in particular about provisional vaccinations.. It seems to me the time where rubber meets the road, especially since it can hardly be any worse than 2020. Well, you know, maybe Hegel's dialectical wheel is applicable. Obviously, I don't know, but I have a good feeling about the immediate future. Really, one must, lest one go mad in some way.
TNP has yet again been disappointed by the overly-peated nose and finish of some bog-standard Scotch whiskies. Bollocks, one could say.
Not I, but then, I haven't drunk too many of them.
TNP has green placemats on his or her dinner table at the moment.
Dinner table? What is this strange thing! OK, yes, I have a table that was probably built for dining upon, but holds microphones, an audio mixer, a power amp....and a bunch of papers....so...that's negative. It is possible I might have some placemats around somewhere, but I'm pretty sure they're not green. So, no, false. Final answer.
TNP thinks today was an especially good day to ironically wear a T-shirt advertising Miller High Life, and a khaki fishing/tactical vest to work. You know, so if a cop pulls you over, they can tell you're on the insurrection side. The "good" side. :)
Well, sure. At least, that's what Walter Sobchak tells me....
TNP has seen The Big Lebowski in the past month.
No. Was talking about the movie with some guy at work the other day, though. That's when I unfurled my intention to parodize Walter Sobchak, on the day before 20-jan-2021. A promise that was fulfilled on the inauguration day of this week.
TNP has had long and difficult thoughts about why people seem to often misspell, to one's surprise, the village in Switzerland "Montreux" as "Montreaux."
No, actually, I haven't. I don't think I've ever actually had to write that word in my life, but if I did, I'd probably just cut and paste it from Wikipedia or something to make sure I got it right.
TNP knows that the title of the guy who swore in President Biden is "Chief Justice of the United States" - no more, no less (a pet peeve of mine is that people often add "Supreme Court" to the title in one way or another).
No, I did not. I don't often refer to Mr Roberts IRL, but if I did, I would surely have made a mistake. I'd just call him "Chief Justice Roberts," but that's because (i) am lazy (ii) the ranking of federal judges is too complicated for me to remember who or what.
TNP thinks a good policy is to call cops "sir" or "ma'am" and any judge whatsoever "your honor." TNP can think of a good exception which would amuse me.
Yes, usually a good policy. If you wanted to be arrested or held in contempt, and didn't particularly care if you were, I suppose you could come up with a really good insult (I had a friend who once was muttering about some judge he didn't like, and said I'd give him him $20 if he called the jurist "Judgey Wudgey" to his face; he didn't take me up on my offer).
TNP knows a judge personally.
Sure, my wife for one.
TNP has been watching way more movies lately.
No, about the same as usual. We have been watching more much-praised miniseries, though (right now, The Queen's Gambit).
TNP loves chess.
Yes. Well, I would rather say I like the game a lot, although I'm only able to hold my own against fellow unaccomplished enthusiasts, and I don't play hardly ever, and wouldn't consider playing online, even against some former friends. I mean, I would, but that's a lot of effort, whereas IRL, all it takes is a little board and some men and pieces. Or in fact none at all, if you're drinking beer at a bar and call out moves to a fellow player. Involves a lot of unflattering facial expressions while thinking of a move, though, IME.
It is more a "love" of chess in the sense that I think it's able to be a source of analogies in other areas of broader ideas of strategy, tactics, intuition, and triumph. An excellent game.
TNP loves kung fu.
Never done it myself, but I have no objection to movies about dudes fighting with it.
TNP is a Bruce Lee fan.
Yes. Although it's not easy to tell the man from the legends, for me it's easy to find inspiration from his notion that, at least his own particular "brand" of fighting, was meant to be eminently practical, rather than dogmatic or overly theoretical.
I don't think I've seen all of his few movies (at least two I haven't seen, I'm sure)........it's hard to think of the titles because of the way they got confused in distribution in the US.
TNP has been surprised in the extreme to what extent one can buy very drinkable, interesting whiskies at the price range of, say 20-30 USD (per 750 ml bottle aka the infamous "fifth").
Not in Ontario, and God knows when I will be in an American liquor store again.
TNP is looking forward to baseball season.
True. In principle. But last year it was kind of a bummer, what with the whole thing and all that.
TNP either knows who Paavo Nurmi was or that Finnish public statues often feature their subjects nude, as in the image in the link (which is a pretty badass statue, really!).
I had heard of the name but couldn't have told you who he was.
TNP knows personally a person from Finland.
Somewhat. A pretty close acquaintance in frequent correspondence. Oh, in the flesh, yeah, I knew at least one Finnish guy from grad school. He was kind of a dick. But I like my familiar Finnish friend now much better.
TNP is surprised to know that one of the major "news" stories in the Finnish press about Biden's inauguration is about how an extract from Sibelius's Finlandia was played, and authorial credit was given to a guy from one of the US branches with the rank of major. I can't tell if they're half-joking or serious, but it's a real thing! The latest is that this terrible deed was inspired by John Glenn's admiration of the Sibelius piece, so they're sort of OK with it now. And yet the investigation continues!
I hadn't heard that before, but yes, I am surprised. John Glenn was a hero of mine but obviously no composer. Glad this little controversy hasn't yet brought Finland and the U.S. to the brink of war.
TNP has a favorite pre-1980 astronaut or cosmonaut.
Virgil Ivan "Gus" Grissom. No real reason, just something of a dramatic life and career, up to and including his gruesome demise, along with his crew.
TNP has heard the aphorism or proverb "Well begun is half done." (I think it's from pre-Attic Greek. I'll include the Finnish formulation for no reason at all: "Hyvin suunniteltu on puoliksi tehty.")
Yes, I have heard that, but not in awhile.
TNP has heard the maxim "A change is as good as a rest."
Never have. I like: not even being sarcastic, that's pretty good.
TNP know anything about one of the signatories of the US Declaration of Independence, named John "Morton." For example, his ethnicity. And, yes, I'm sure you can guess where I'm going with this.
No, not familiar with him. Not even sure I'd read his name before: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_M...an_politician)
TNP has been to Chester, Pa.
Don’t think so, at least don’t remember seeing it from a train.
TNP has travelled across the USA by train.
Yeah, a few times. West Coast to NYC, same to Buffalo. At least twice. Not for the scenery (there's not much to see during in the dark of night making a stop at Minot, ND), just had the time and thought it was more fun than dealing with the airports and all that. One segment (Amtrak) has (or had) a nice layover for a few hours in Chicago, for changing trains: enough time to stash one's stuff in a locker and have a few beers, walk around, all that.
TNP is not too jaded or cynical to relish good examples to observe people at some length.
No, not at all. People-watching can be fun, in train stations, airport departure lounges, malls and elsewhere.
TNP has a favorite U.S. President. Or even a Top Five.
So many. Harding, Fillmore, Buchanan, Wilson, Hoover.....I feel like someone's missing from that group....but, no, just can't think of anyone worse. Quincy Adams? He wasn't that great, but he did have an influential father, president or not. Nope, no one worse is coming to mind. I'll just stick with those for now.
TNP has an actual answer to the same question!
Naturally! Washington, of course, then Lincoln behind him just by a (beard) hair, then TR, Truman and JFK. FDR, Obama, Cleveland, Wilson, Jackson and Clinton would be in my next tier. I'm not saying they're all the best Presidents, but they're my favorites.
TNP likes at least four of those.
Yeah. I'll take Ironside, Truman, Obama, JFK for the win. And add Ike in for the bonus. Wilson? Really? The French loved him, but I question that teetotalling sonofabitch.
TNP knew that yesterday was Mardi Gras....and today.....begins.....the penance!!!!!!
I knew about Mardi Gras but am not really into penance.
Woodrow Wilson's racism was and is unforgivable, and he was too slow in coming around to support women's suffrage, but he was a smart, honest, capable progressive and many of his policies (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ne...n_and_programs) laid the groundwork for the New Deal. He also was an effective CINC during WWI and was correct about the need for the League of Nations, or something like it, even though he failed in that effort.
TNP likes Wilson a teensy bit more now.
Nope. Warmongering, abstinence-loving motherfucker. He was smart and capable, but another way to say that would be (i) shrewd and (ii) satanic. OK, fine, Germany was a problem, like it is today and always, and maybe Wilson didn't personally like those priggish teetotallers nor their crude methods. And, I like the letter "W": it's one of the fancier letters in several European and Brittanic alphabets.
TNP thinks it would be difficult for the average citizen to poison medium-sized non-human mammals while evading detection.
Oh, that was a bit dark. Just a ..... hobby .... interest. Not very relatable.
The real TNP: TNP brushes his or her teeth by subdividing the mouth into quadrants and brushing according to that scheme.
Used to. Since the pandemic, can’t even focus that much.
TNP has had the futility of their work brought home twice in the same day. Like, say, yesterday.
Yes. Twice in one day I observed two of my teammates at work brought low(er) by petty retributive managerial acts. It was "like" yesterday, in that it was two weeks ago, but in a single day.
TNP likes wearing finger-tight gloves while outside, but rarely takes the effort to put them on.
No, I like gloves which fit well but are not finger-tight.
Wilson was many things, but he was not "warmongering." He was very reluctant to bring the US into WWI, and TR, among others, thought he was a wussy because of it. There were many American politicos of the period who were far more keen on the war than he was.
TNP owns at least four pairs of leather gloves.
No, I own none. They are nice, remembering back when I was a teenager, but I'm into "tactical" black made of synthetic materials. Fit the hand well, not many gaps between the tips of the fingers and the fabric.
No, I'd suggest not interpreting that too closely.
TNP has a favorite letter, between "v" and "w" in several alphabets.
I like both, but if I had to choose I'd go for V.
TNP thinks Tengwar letters are cool: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tengwar
Not really. I'm sure that's a defect on my own part, but I don't find something of interest to me there. (Perhaps I'm just a "wussy!" :))
TNP will name one natural language that he or she abandoned learning, and, for bonus points, can say why.
I took four years of high school Spanish and always struggled with it. I don't speak it often these days, but I've retained a bit; if you parachuted me into the outskirts of Madrid, I could probably make my way to the US Embassy.
TNP has been inside an embassy.
Consulates, yes. Embassies, no, I don't recall.
TNP is somewhat troubled that it seems chocolate flavored Ex-Lax is unavailable for purchase (or at least not easy to find). Because of reasons.
As someone who read and loved Pat Conroy's novel The Lords of Discipline, in which chocolate-flavored Ex-Lax plays an absolutely crucial role, hell, yes, I'm troubled!
TNP is also a fan of the book (but, like me, not so much of the movie).
Never heard of either.
TNP doesn't have to answer for reasons of privacy, but TNP thinks Ex-Lax is a pretty good product. Right up there with Mucinex.
Never used either, so I guess not.
For more on the Conroy book - highly recommended: https://www.amazon.com/Lords-Discipl...4911191&sr=1-1
TNP has been to Charleston, S.C.
Nope. Not even close, really. I bet it's full of interesting historical artifacts, but there's no reason for me to go there.
TNP has said in the past week (IRL or even online) some things he or she regrets.
Yeah, but nothing earth-shattering, and nothing anyone shot at me for.
TNP enjoys archery.
It's OK. Great for fine control of fingers and torso, but so is piano! I'd rather go shooting with firearms, though: archery seems too dangerous. (No, I'm serious: they just seem inherently unstable and hazardous).
TNP is never again going to, or has never once, "fix" something with epoxy putty or liquid epoxies, unless absolutely necessary in a crisis.
TNP would consider owning a crossbow to be pretty awesome.
Nah, my brother’s owned one for decades, and it’s just another weapon.
TNP has fired a fully automatic weapon.
No. I've fired black-powder weapons and semiautomatic weapons, but never fully automatic. I bet it'd be fun, though!
TNP has been to a shooting range in the past month.
No. And probably not in the month that follows.
TNP had the great idea to temper a daylight saving time, observed in many Western municipalities, by advancing his or her analog clocks ahead before scheduled.
TNP has been able to watch the movie Zardoz, directed by John Boorman, and will say if the viewing was accomplished without the use of chemical aids, and if so, how.
I know about it, but have never seen it. It's spoofed in an early episode of Rick and Morty, BTW.
TNP has heard churchbells ring today.
No. Not for a long time.
TNP thinks it would be just as acceptable to take a despised supervisory person and flush her head in a toilet bowl a few times as to gangland-style execute her, except for having to disguise one's identity in the former case.
Uh... no. Definitely not (no matter how much you might think the DSP deserves it).
TNP has acronyms for most of the key people in his or her life, including a SO.
No, none. But I like the DSP....it's now no longer just a "delivery service provider"!
TNP thinks it's more than OK to use inscrutable terms to refer to a person IRL "Hey, no Little Miss Thang here today?" And, should give example if affirmative.
If it's non-insulting and sufficiently clear to all, yes. Around the courthouse, for example, you'll sometimes hear reference to the APJ, the administrative and presiding judge.
TNP needs to change a printer's ink cartridge soon.
Nah. I hope not for a long while: the toner I bought last was one of those "large capacity" models. Brought to you by this evening's sponsor, HP: they don't build excitement!
TNP can think of a good handful of reasons to dislike Amazon.
Well, one, in particular - it has hurt small businesses in some fields.
TNP has ordered something from Amazon in the past month.
Yeah....hangs head shamefully....in fact, a bit too much. Fact is (IMHO) that AMZN fulfillment/delivery is much, much better than FedEx/UPS/USPS. And I don't say that because I work in logistics and deal with the delivery service partners five days a week: perhaps it's that the other delivery options are much worse. They're under a very tight leash, the DSPs under AMZN, and, to a lesser extent the Flex drivers....so, I wouldn't want to be a driver, but they really don't take any guff or too many mistakes from drivers, who have absolutely no protection from the lash.
TNP is angered that he or she is starting to develop a suntan about the face. Despite taking precautions!
That would involve going outside, which I am still not doing much until the vaccine kicks in next week.
TNP bounces between optimism and pessimism about the virus.
Yeah, it's a mix. While I'm receiving the first bolus of one of the vaccines next week, I'm less than sanguine about the practical effects on transmission etc., not to mention the handful of alleged mutations.
TNP relishes toying in a firm-handed, but polite (barely) manner with HR when they make one of their regular mistakes.
I was known to do so, now and then, in my previous job, yes. I'm not proud of it, but then, sometimes they were frustratingly slow and/or unresponsive.
TNP had something happen - more quickly and satisfyingly than expected - this week.
No. Interminable HR cases opened haggling over 20 minutes of pay and such.
TNP should probably go to Harbor Freight and buy the biggest machete they sell. Just because.
Nope, don't need a machete, and don't expect to buy one.
TNP could do with some Horowitz right about now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwBQCU_Fgro
Sure. I didn't actually make it into the first Chopin Ballade, just because of hearing it so many times, but there's never a bad time to observe concert footage. (Edit: actually, that's an interesting read of the ballade, which I don't think I've heard on record before. So, yes, it's a very fine time for Horowitz! Not only was he a sick mofo at the mechanics, but he had some abilities as a musician/interpreter as well).
TNP changes his or her mind pretty often about what lessons there are to be learned from Chopin's compositions.
No. I'm not that musically sophisticated; I just listen and enjoy.
TNP will share an important lesson he or she has learned from Chopin's compositions.
Sure. The most interesting bits come from history of music: that Chopin had important precursors in, for example, the composer Hummel's virtuosic works, among others. That is, he didn't purely arrive naked and fully formed, like a Terminator from the future, with his outrageous novelties. Other points of interest largely have to do with technique at the keyboard, and are probably not as interesting to most people.
TNP is ready for the week to be over, with the exception of Apr 1 (Thursday).
Nah, it just started!
TNP has big plans for April Fool's Day.
Eh.....I might request two days in advance an absence at the middle of the busiest part of the day, because I have an "appointment" that lasts, like 28 minutes, at some nonsensical time interval, that requires my absence, for me to sit in the car and smoke or whatever. Or, officially, "Take an important telephone call." But, everyday is Fool's Day like that.
TNP has no tolerance for surprises, for they mostly suck.
I suppose it depends on the surprise. Some suck, true, but I wouldn't say "mostly."
TNP usually plans his or her day very carefully.
Down to the minute, except at work, where everything is complete chaos.
TNP still thinks it's odd most people no longer wear wristwatches.
No, I think it was probably inevitable once cellphones became so ubiquitous. I used to wear a watch all the time and now I never do; I think a lot of other people have had a similar change of habit.
TNP watched all six seasons of the American remake of the British dark political satire House of Cards.
No, I saw the first few, three seasons or so. Just lost interest, I guess. They killed Kate Mara! Fucking bastards!
TNP can name another popular show he or she just stopped watching after some amount of emotional or intellectual investment.
Yeah, I gave up on Lost after just a few episodes; I'd really wanted to like it but it just didn't grab me. Judging by the criticism of its finale, it might have been for the best.
TNP was a big fan of Lost.
I guess you could say that. I watched it to the end (no comment) and was mostly amused (except for the times I was not, like the last bits of bullshit toward the end of the show).
TNP is a little bit paranoid about doing things to possibly foul up The Vaccine, like taking a lot of ibuprofen and perhaps other things that might reduce some of the effectiveness. Although, for those who haven't had any of the doses yet: you can be assured it actually kind of hurts like a bitch (meaning, somewhat) in your arm.
Nah, I haven’t even heard any of that. I got AstraZeneca and barely felt the shot, with zero side effects.
TNP is kind of intrigued by the great vaccine competition.
Yes, I am. Desperate times call for desperate measures. The speed with which the vaccine was tested and approved is simply remarkable, given past practices (and will not, I hope, be proven foolish or even dangerous in years to come).
TNP has seen a doctor in the past week.