May 25th, 2023
“ Dobroho ranku”, or “Good Morning!” in Ukrainian, an Eastern Slavic language spoken mainly in Ukraine. I have decided that the UJT will remain focused on Ukraine until we can all rejoice in the end of hostilities. It has been 448 days since Russia invaded Ukraine.
I got scammed. According to Amazon mine is the first case of this kind. They disrupted my Prime Video services such that I had to follow the reactivation instructions on my Tv screen. This led to an online chat and subsequent phone call that explained my Prime Video membership had expired and that I had to pay $199 to get it reinstated. I made the PayPal payment and they restored my service. Something nagged me about this so I contacted Amazon and ended up reporting the new scam. I have filed a dispute with Paypal asking for my money back but I am not hopeful. I have to say I am impressed! Hacking into the Amazon Prime Video system and hijacking the reactivation process is impressive. Behind the scenes they were feeding me bogus information on the tv and my phone when I paid the money they just entered the correct reinstatement code and my service returned. It sucks but these folks are no dummies! And so it goes…
This week I learned some stuff:
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- I have had these two old-timey-looking Tiffany Stained Glass on our bedroom end tables for a decade at least. Yesterday, I found out that they had a switch on the cord so you don’t have to tug on the little chain! Wonder what else I might have missed?
- I love TED Talks!! I really enjoy the speakers, ideas, and the learning I get each time I listen. It gives me hope to listen. America is no longer THE country that cherishes and aggressively defends our freedom of speech. Political and religious influences have constricted our right to be informed, educated, and different if those things conflict with their agenda. It’s just sad. TED talks feel like a last bastion of sharing ideas. I hope that Desantos and the rest of his ilk never find out about TED. One idea I heard from a TED talk is about a woman who changed a high school shop class from making cutting boards or birdhouses to community service helping people. She also set up a non-profit that focused on teaching girls of color building skills called “Girls Garage” – how to use power tools, welding, etc. I just think that is so cool…my daughter was not offered those kinds of classes when she was 11 years old! This
- May 25th is the 145th day of 2023. Just 220 days till Christmas. On this day in 1895, playwright, poet, and novelist Oscar Wilde is convicted of “committing acts of gross indecency with other male persons” and sentenced to serve two years in prison; Today in 1925, John T. Scopes is indicted for teaching human evolution in Tennessee; Today in 1933, the Walt Disney Company cartoon Three Little Pigs premieres at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the hit song “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?; Jesse Owens of Ohio State University breaks three world records and ties a fourth at the Big Ten Conference Track and Field Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan today in 1935; Today in 1961,U.S. President John F. Kennedy announces, before a special joint session of the U.S. Congress, his goal to initiate a project to put a “man on the Moon” before the end of the decade; Star Wars (retroactively titled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope) is released in theaters today in 1977; Today in 1803, Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet and philosopher was born; Robert Ludlum, American soldier and author was born today in 1927; Today was Frank Oz, English-born American puppeteer, filmmaker, and actor’s birthday in 1944; Today in 1963, Mike Myers, Canadian-American actor, singer, producer, and screenwriter was born; Charles Nelson Reilly, American actor, comedian, and director passed away; Finally, we lost George Floyd, African American man murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin died in 2020.
This week’s Website Update: R 0073 5960 0924 4
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- Last week for our Vocabulary Quiz
- A New Musical Trivia Quiz !!!!
- This week I didn’t add any new recipes.
- The Home Page quote for this week is from, Jimmy Buffet, “ I just want to live happily ever after, every now and then. ”
Writing, Ceramics, Bonsai Trees, Stained Glass, and Painting Update:
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- I painted two more watercolor cards this week. Not particularly happy with either of them but at least I am wetting a brush after a long dry spell.
- Did some bonsai maintenance this week. I still cannot see to get the one Chinese Elm to Air Layer!! I have been trying for months. The tree seems to be thriving but not putting out any roots even with rooting hormone!
- I have been doing a lot of YouTubing the method I am using for my big stained glass project. I have learned a lot. I have fight my way through all the crap in our garage to inventory my glass, lead came, and Zinc channels I have in stock and order the rest.
- I am continuing my streak of slacking off on the paper edits of Grandpa Stories. I just haven’t carved out any time for more chapters. This might be becoming a habit!
Weird-Stuff-O-Meter:
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- We all have traits or habits that annoy others. Some may annoy everyone and others just individuals. I believe my worse trait and habit are my listening skills or lack thereof. I have struggled with this flaw my entire life. (If I have other worse traits please don’t spoil my illusion and tell me!) See! There I did it again! That is exactly what talking to me is like. When something pops into my head in the middle of someone else’s comment, more often or not I will just blurt it out over whatever they were saying. It is RUDE and apparently almost impossible to control. I do it with everyone! The context doesn’t matter much. In addition to being rude, it is also expensive in terms of understanding. You see, while “listening” to others I am attempting to build my response while they are making their statement or point. So I don’t actually hear what they have said very well and interrupt what they might have said to make me understand. In my arrogance, I guess I don’t think I need to. Well. I suppose it is possible that every opinion or statement I come up with is the best and only worthy one but I suspect that might not true. I am not sure when this horrible trait started but I am afraid that it will end only when I do. And for that, I apologize to the universe while I continue to work on stopping myself. Ironically, listening skills are the trait that I admire most. I would give anything if I could engage in conversations that make the other person feel heard, understood, and important. If you have ever had the pleasure of conversing with a good listener it can be breathtaking. The subject doesn’t matter they automatically put 100% of their attention on you and what you are saying. Oh My!
Music Update:
Another week of joy and music to share. It started it out with just one guitar instrumental and just persisted. Enjoy.
This week’s UJT Radio Program:
- Loggins & Messina — House at Pooh Corner — As you know, I love harmonies and these guys do it real good! This song goes out to a UJT Radio listener on her Birthday. Happy Birthday, Ginny! This is a great song from their 1971 release, “Sittin In”.
- Pink Floyd — Wish You We Here —Their album, “Dark Side of the Moon” was a hard act to follow but I think this album does pretty good. This is the title song from their eighth album released in 1975.
- Elton John – Love Song — From the vinyl!!! This one is from his album, “Tumbleweed Connection ” released in 1970. Pretty song.. brings back memories
- Bob Seger and The Silverbullet Band — Down on Main Street — This always brings a warm feeling whenever I hear it. It’s another great one from his 1977 release, “Night Moves” .
- Beck — Go it Alone (album Version — This was recommendation from my brother Mikes. Kind of reminds of Lumineers. Check it outThis is from their release, “Guero”.
- Jethro Tull — Locomotive Breath — This is one of my favorite JT songs. I think “Aqualung” was released this month in 1971. Just blew me away. It really should be played loud without apology.