Hatches battened...

Actually, I don't have any hatches, but I did spend an hour picking up potential airborne missiles from my back yard and tying down the patio set. Hubby not all that helpful at the moment.

Yorkie Max (left) is feeling something. He barked all night (pre-storm) and won't go outside with me. I had to drag him out, and all he did was hide under the deck.

Wait Wait Don't Tell Me is a "best of" today. NOW what do I have to look forward to? Certainly not a week's worth of Stewart & Colbert, 'cause they are repeats, too!

Irene = peace

It's a beautiful if humid day in New England and, like an unwanted house guest, Hurricane Irene is on her way.

Just thought I'd let you know, in case you've been living in a cave or something.

And yes, Irene is Greek for "peace." I think they call that "irony."

Bad mommy!

While good parents across our great land prepare to send their children to college, I am off with my 18-year-old to see a live taping of The Maury Show.

You're jealous, you just won't admit it. ;)

Koppel compares Colbert to Clemens

Photo by Chion Wolf

Ted Koppel came to Hartford's Mark Twain House for the 2011 Clemens Lecture, moderated by WNPR's John Dankosky. Despite the annoyingly hissy audio quality,  it made for great radio and TV. Radio version: "Where We Live."  TV version:  CT-N website. Here are my favorite quotes: 


Koppel on Twain: "Through his writing we're able to see this sort of irascible charm that these days, I guess, is best exemplified by Stephen Colbert. He's the closest thing we have to Mark Twain these days."


Dankosky: "Does television news really need to exist moving forward?"
Koppel: "Um, no...it doesn't need to, but then I don't need to be sitting here answering your stupid questions." 

In New England, if you don't like the weather...

...wait a minute.

EARTHQUAKES: Until yesterday, a rarity on the East Coast. Probably still are. Meanwhile, California is laughing at us. They use 5.8's to stir their coffee.

TORNADOES: Trailer parks in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and other parts of the southwest/midwest have lost their exclusivity with twisters.  Just ask the residents of Monson and Springfield, MA. Check out what's left of the home of one of my students (left).

HURRICANES: Duck! No, really, they're for ducks. Latest reports indicate Hurricane Irene has New England in her sights. Media build-up for Irene is larger than for both Hurricane Bob (1991) and Hurricane Gloria (1985), as they were pre-Internet. As storms go, both were surprisingly disappointing. There I go, tempting fate again.

BLIZZARDS: Winter 2010/2011. 'nuff said.

I love New England.

Steve Jobs

Jim Wilson/The New York Times

Steven P. Jobs in San Francisco in June.

Though I don't own either an iPhone or iPad, I love Apple products. So my first reaction to the Steve Jobs resignation? He's dying - and soon. Second reaction? Watch the stock. It's sure to drop. Like a rock.

What earthquake?

Leave it to me to be seated at a virtual reality slot machine that shakes, rattles and rolls at the very moment the East Coast had a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. First in 67 years and I missed it. <sigh>