Friday, June 01, 2007

Randomness Friday Returns

Because my mind is all over the map today, randomness Friday is returning.

Demons
Have you ever had a horrible experience, and years later, it flows back into your consciousness. You know, you have thought you had forgotten it, either through spirituality, through pharmaceutical means or through dementia. But then those horrible images, experiences come back.

The experiences are immaterial, really. Well, personally, they mean a lot, but one would think that once one lived past the experience, they would tuck the experience away in a quiet area of the brain. Naw, not really. Darned demons keep coming back. And life is a bitch.

Playing in the Rain
Young woman playing in the rain, completely soaked.I love playing in the rain, but I don't do it as often as I would like. Soft summer rains are so nice, better to play in than thunderstorms. I think it may rain this weekend, and if it does, perhaps I will splish-spalsh in the rain.

Keeping up with the Jones'
The other day, I wanted to know where we got, "keeping up with the Jones'."

Here is what I found, from "The Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997):

"According to his own account, cartoonist Arthur R. ("Pop") Momand lived in a community where many people tried to keep up with the Joneses. Momand and his wife resided in Cedarhurst, New York, one of Long Island's Five Towns, where the average income is still among America's highest. Living 'far beyond our means in our endeavor to keep up with the well-to-do class,' the Momands were wise enough to quit the scene and move to Manhattan, where they rented a cheap apartment and 'Pop'
Momand used his Cedarhurst experience to create his once immensely popular 'Keeping Up with the Joneses' comic strip, launched in 1913. Momand first thought of calling the strip 'Keeping Up with the Smiths,' but 'finally decided on 'Keeping Up with the Joneses' as being more euphonious.' His creation ran in American newspapers for over 28 years and appeared in book, movie, and musical-comedy form, giving the expression 'keeping up with the Joneses' the wide currency that made it a part of everyday language."

Eminent Domain or Stealing Land
Remember last year (or was it the year before) when the Supreme Court basically backed a lower court's stance that they could use eminent domain to take land from one landowner to basically give it to another landowner who would better serve the local area (I think the term "public benefit" was used, code words for something about when the government could collect more taxes).

I know governments can still use eminent domain on properties that are not declared blighted when the purpose is for "public use" such as a road, or fire station, or what have you. But under any eminent domain action, the government must pay fair market value for seized property. I have actually read stories where certain government entities would buy a bunch of land for stuff like public roads, more than they need, and sell off the excess as a profit to finance the venture. That smells bad.

Anyway, I wanted to write something on this, a full blog entry, but I just lost focus. I am guessing that until we really care about the issue, certain landowners will get screwed out of land.

Community Channel
Ane I will end this one with some YouTube randomness. One of the best vloggers on YouTube is Community Channel. I think she is great. If I was a lesbian living in Austrailia, I would be totally stalking her. How is that for a qualifying statement, huh? Bet you never would have read that in someone else's blog. Sort of like Maxwell Smart saying, "Missed me by that much," and he holding his index finger and his thumb, signifying how close this almost came to be. Actually, my girl crush will always be ~Deb. Really strange since I was brought up to think bad things of New Yorkers.

11 comments:

Deb said...

Okay, first of all, I was getting jealous over this new crush of yours, until you saved it at the end. Thanks! You almost ruined my weekend. *shweew*! We do have similar taste in women I see! ;)

Recently, in Harlem, they're dealing with eminent domain, and moving the people outward to replace it with big businesses. What the community decided to do, was to boycott all the big stores, like Old Navy and strip malls to try to make a huge financial impact. I think it's really sad when people who have lived in the same place for years, have to get bumped out of their very home. It's inhumane to me.

Money talks.

Deb said...

P.S. I'm still "bad". So you can still think bad things of New Yorkers. :D I won't be offended.


Enjoy your weekend!!!

Southern (in)Sanity said...

I don't believe were ever supposed to be able to lock the demons away in some little dusty closet in the back of our minds. Then they wouldn't serve their purpose. Some of mine stick their ugly heads out every couple of years and say, "Hey! Don't forget about us!" But then, life goes on.

We have issues with eminent domain here, primarily with a university that also happens to be the area's largest employer. I haven't heard of them re-selling land for profit or screwing any landowners out of fair market value, though.

LarryLilly said...

In Texas, they got the new Dallas Cowboy stadium pushed through before the State legislature sealed off governments use of emminent domain when used for a private venture. When Dubya was managing partner of the Texas Rangers, he had the then mayor of Arlingto do the same for their new stadium. It was also used to build the American Airline center, the home of the NBA Mavericks and NHL Stars.

I see eminent domain as totally contrary to a mans home is his castle. It might be run down, it might be stately, but its his, and why should someone get to take it over to provide a greater good or more revenue.

Churches could be next, Disneyland could be swept aside, hell, why do national parks get to keep their protected status then? Sell it all, sell the Washington moment to a developer wanting to build a strip mall for the rich and famous. It would bring in tax revenue instead of costing the American taxpayers money to maintain. That logic of the greater good is bull chit.

Leesa said...

~deb: I always save it at the end.

rwa: once we learn from our demons, I just wish they would go away. And eminent domain can be a demon of its own.

larry: yeah, I can understand the government being able to move a few people for a road, but to move people to built a stadium? I just don't get it.

Tim said...

Jeez Leesa, I was all set to talk about eminent domain and one good use in our city, but my mind keeps wandering back to "young woman playing in the rain, completely soaked" LOL! and if I were a lesbian in Australia... Oh wait, that's your line!
Have a great weekend

Jenny said...

Yes.

Dwardisimo Rex said...

I would love to comment on the whole eminent domain issue -- the modern day version of manifest destiny. But I can't get past wondering if that's a picture of you.

kathi said...

Love the picture of you in the rain, I LOVE going out in the rain too.

Stop it, don't lie to me and say that's not you. In my mind, that's you, so don't go poppin' my balloons. :)

kathi said...

Oh, and the youtube girl, she's a doll. Love her accent and the remark about the pillow mark on her face...funny, I just went through that yesterday morning.

Leesa said...

t: thanks, sweetie!

boxer: yes?

d rex: that is not me.

kathi: that is not me. She is wearing high heels in the rain. She is about 4 inches taller and 10 pounds thinner. And the YouTube girl is a doll.