Tuesday, October 30, 2012

I Hate the Internet

Well, what on earth could I write about today other than the mighty Sandy? In the past I would watch the news of events like this and feel sorry for the people I saw in an arm's-length, rather cold kind of way. I hate the Internet because thanks to it and this blog and other people's blogs, now I feel like I "know" people in some of the worst hit areas and I worry about them. I watch for posts or tweets telling me they're OK despite the fact that if they have their heads screwed on straight they won't be bothering with those things right now but rather be helping their families and neighbours get through it all alright.
 
I know I shouldn't worry. I'm sure my Internet acquaintances are all quite resourceful and intelligent and will be just fine. I can't help worrying anyway though, especially about the New York City dwellers, some of whom were likely a little complacent after Irene didn't do too much harm (at least in NYC) last year. The big city is a tough place to go into survival mode, I bet.
 
All I can do, I guess, is send out my best hopes and prayers for everyone who was in the path of this storm. Be safe and stay well, everyone.
 
Yer Pal,
R A N T W I C K

PS - On a slightly lighter note:



Thanks to cyclelicious for that one. I love the Internet.

Monday, October 29, 2012

The Squeaky Rantwick Gets the Trees!

What can I say? I whined and complained and a whole bunch of TARATS entries came in over the weekend and this morning!
 
I was gonna post about them one at a time, but that seems a little too work-like. So, visit the entries page available on the sidebar >>> to see the 8 new arrivals in the contest!
 
Here is some of the stuff that was in the accompanying emails:
 
Eat your heart out Mr. Rantwick. Here are my FIVE, count'em, FIVE entries. If you can't handle FIVE knock-down gorgeous photos of spectacular Vermont trees, then you get to decide which ones to enter in your silly contest. May the best VERMONT TREE win!



 
anniebikes
 
Oh, I can handle it, anniebikes, no worries. You just keep talking that Vermont smack.
 
This contest does not discriminate based on colour, creed or even species... here's email from Leroy's Dog:
 
Trees. Prospect Park. Brooklyn. Before the hurricane.
It's not easy taking pictures when you don't have an opposable thumb.
 
I was not surprised that a dog used fairly few words, but I was surprised he knew the word "opposable". Impressive.
 
Last but not least Recumbent Conspiracy Theorist is staying in the hunt (and seasonally apt) for sure with his Cemetery Tree.
 
Hey hey rantwick!

Here's another for the slide show. Not sure of the species of this one. Some kind of nut tree think.
 
Here's a hint for leaf snoopers as to where to look for nice single trees; your local cemetery. I rode my bicycle to a cemetery here in town and saw this nice one. Didn't see any spooky ghosts though.

Cheers,
-RCT

One of anniebikes' trees was from a cemetery too... I wonder if those trees are, ahem, better fertilized? Was that too much? If so, sorry. For myself, I'm thinking I could (and well may) do a lot worse than feeding a tree after I kick off...

 
Better Go,
R A N T W I C K