John Fogerty's Birthday Today

And I didn't even know it until Bob Stroud devoted his Ten at Ten on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, The Drive to John Fogerty music, both with that band (my favorite all-time band) and solo.

Born May 28, 1945, making him four days and six years older than me.

These are the songs Stroud played:

TEN AT TEN

Proud May

Bad Moon Rising  (For many years the ringtone on my phone.)

Down on the Corner

Old Man Down the Road

Who'll Stop the Rain  (I remember waking up on race day at the Indy 500 at the opening at 6 am and they started with this song when rain was expected.)

Centerfield

Fortunate Son

Rock and Roll Girls

Have You Ever Seen the Rain

Change in the Weather

Love That Creedence Clearwater Revival.  --Roaderty

The Day of the 'Smart RoadDog' Arrives... with a Whimper

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5

Met the Magee teachers at the Bristol 45 Diner in Bristol, Wisconsin.  I had found a list of Magee principals and administration from 1983 to 2001 and we had a quiz, Name That Administrator.  This could be a new show on the Game Network.  We sure had a lot of them.  Maxine was principal's secretary for most of that time.

Sorry to say that Big Oil's gas gouge is back.  Gas in Illinois is up to $3.10 to $3.40 since a week ago.  Gas in Wisconsin also went up and was $3.06 to $3.10.  By the way, when I say $3.10, that is actually $3.99.9.

Did some shopping at Wal-Mart and Menard's in Antioch.  Met Kevin and Kelly at Half-Times in Johnsburg, Illinois, for the half price pizza and those $1 pints of Lite.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6

The big question this morning was, "Is this to be the day of the Smart RoadDog?"  Would I get the phone working, or, actually, would Kelly get the smart phone working.  This was way beyond my meager technological ability.  And, it challenged Kelly because switching from a flip phone to a smart one involved difficult steps and especially when the old flip AT&T account was in Liz's name and she had a secret password, which of course I didn't know.

I eventually had to drive over to the AT&T place in McHenry with her death certificate and they gave me a temporary code so I could switch over to Consumer Cellular.    After that, switching over was easy at Kelly's house and now "I are Smart."  Well, let's say I am in, but have no idea what to do.  This will take a lot of time.

Smart Ol' Me.  --RoadDog

The Old Dummy Goes Smart...Well, Maybe

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4

Bob Stroud has been counting through the 1970s in his daily Ten at Ten on Chicago's WDRV, the Drive.  Yesterday, he did 1970 with songs like "Teacher" by Jethro Tull and "The Rapper" by the Jaggerz.  Today, he did 1971 with songs like "Going Mobile" by the Who and "Everythings Coming Our Way" by Santana.  Those were two great college years for me at NIU.  He will continue this the rest of the month going to 1980.  It streams at 10 am and 10 pm.

Drove to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, to the Target store and bought a Consumer Cellular Smart Phone.  My friend Kelly is going to help me shed my old dumb ways.  It's going to be a long haul as when it comes to technology, I am severely challenged.

Met Kevin, Kelly, Pam and Laura at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and we had a good time with trivia.

We had no luck with our attempts to set up the phone.

It's Going to be a Long Road to Hoe with That "Smart" Phone.  --RoadDumb

JSS: Senior Moments-- Cataract Surgery

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  SENIOR MOMENTS--  Well, I had two senior moments the other day.  Before I left to go shopping, I couldn't find my flip phone, or as Brother Bob calls it, my idiot phone.  Had to call it to find it.

Then, when I got home and then ready to go somewhere else, I couldn't find my keys.  Looked everywhere.  Took a different vehicle and when I got back home, Liz had found the keys.  They were in the ignition.

2.  CATARACT SURGERY--  This past Thursday I had outpatient cataract surgery on my right eye.  It went well and now the cloud on the right eye has been lifted.  But, those eye drops sure burn and I have to take three kinds four times a day.

--RoadDog

Living In Today's World: About Those "Idge" Phones

From the Nov. 16, 2016, Speed Bump comic strip.

A man and a woman are looking at a man jiggling five "Idge" phones and the woman says to the man:  "The amazing thing is, he's still texting on all of them."

From the September 24, 2016, Dogs of C-Kennel comic strip.

The pitbull and Kenny the husky are looking over a brick fence as several adult humans walk by engrossed with their "Idge" phones.  The pitbull says to Kenny:  "Call me nostalgic, but I would actually love to be whacked by a newspaper."

"Idge" Me baby, Eight to the Bar.  --RoadDog

A Case of the "Idge" Phones in Rhymes With Orange

From the July 16, 2016, Rhymes With Orange comic strip.

The New Era.

An older couple are walking down the street, holding hands and see two young girls facing each other and holding up their "Idge" (smart) phones.  They are staring at each others' "Idge" phones.

The man remarks to his wife, "Is this what socializing looks like now?"

Does to Me.  --RoadDog

Blondie and the "Idge" Phones

From the July 26, 2016, Blondie comic strip.

Blondie, Dagwood and their son and daughter are sitting in the living room.  The son and daughter, of course are holding their cell phones in their hands.  You rarely see a teenager or sub-teenager these days when they aren't holding a cell phone.

Frame 1:  Son says. "So, if your buddy was at the mall, how did you communicate without a cell phone?"
Blondie,  "We had to use our home phones."
Dagwood,  "And in the mall you had to use the payphone.
Daughter, "A Payphone?"

Frame 2:  Son and daughter are leaving the house and text each other.
Brother texts to his sister, "I have renewed respect for Mom and Dad!"
Sister texts back, "Really?!"
Blondie and Dagwood are looking out their window at their children.
Blondie, "I didn't mean to shock them, but it's time they knew."
Dagwood, "Hey, these kids today need to know how tough we had it."

Seems That the Comic Strip Writers Have Figured Out the Problem With "Idge" Phones.  --RoadDog

The "Idge Phones

From Speed Bump comic strip for June 12, 201,

Some people call them smart phones.  I have my doubts about that.  I think perhaps the term idiot phones "idge" my be more appropriate.

The Devil is standing with a newly arrived person in you-know-where.  He had his arm around the new soul.  Meanwhile, there are seven other people in you-know-where completely absorbed with their "Idge" phones.

The Devil says to the new guy, "Oh, this isn't their hell.  It's yours."

I Agree.  --RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers.  Now they drink like their fathers.

JSS: No More Snow-- So Sad, Part 1-- So Sad, Part 2

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  NO MORE SNOW--  As of this morning the last of the snow we got last week has officially melted here at the house in Spring Grove, Illinois.  Let's hope that ends it for the season.

2.  SO SAD, PART 1--  I saw the video of the fan keeping the youngster from getting hit in the head by a bat at a spring training game.  The kid was completely oblivious of the bat coming at his head as he was, you guessed it, completely absorbed in his cell phone.  Smart Phone Indeed!

3.  SO SAD, PART 2--  The Feb. 25, 2016, Speed Bump comic strip showed seven 4-5 year-olds sitting and one standing, all eyes glued to cell phones.  You see the word "Duck" six times above them in balloons and the word "Goose" once.

Oh, Woe Is Us.  --RoadDog

Watch Battery Ran Out and I'm Miserable

Much to my dismay, my watch's battery ran out on Sunday during the midst of that snow storm.  I can now tell you exactly how many hairs I have on my wrist where the watch used to be.  I only look down at it several times an hour, maybe more.

The whole wrist just doesn't feel right either.

Of course, you can't use AA or AAA batteries in a watch.  Yesterday, we were going to go to Wal-Mart to have them put a battery in, but it started snowing again in earnest, so canceled that plan.  Maybe today.

I don't know how people who don't wear watches do it.  I see most pulling out their cell/smart phones to find the time.  I am not used to that and besides, I rarely ever use mine.  I make maybe one call a month on it and receive maybe one call unless I'm on vacation.

One Watchless Dude.  --RoadWhatTimeIsItDog

JSIS: No Cell Phone Talking in Car-- Dominick's Commercials Still-- MAC 0-4-- Gas

JSIS-- Just Some Interesting Stuff.

1. NO CELL PHONE TALKING IN CAR--  As of tomorrow, you drive anywhere and talk on the cell phone, it's a ticket for you. Be forewarned. Still waiting for them to declare driving and texting just as bad as driving drunk. It is perhaps even worse.

2. DOMINICK'S COMMERCIALS STILL--Kind of strange, but WXRT-FM in Chicago was still running commercials for grocery store Dominick's on Sunday although they all closed down for good on Saturday

3. MAC 0-4-- It's been a bad bowl season for my Mid-American Conference which now stands at 0-4 after Buffalo, Ohio, Bowling Green and NIU lost. Last chance for a win is the Go-Daddy Bowl on Jan. 5th with Ball State.

4. GAS-- Dropped all the way to $3.40 here in northeastern Illinois. It had jumped from $3.16 to $3.47 in one minute.

Sure Drops Slow, Though. --RoadDog

JSIS: 30%-- 49 Cents-- Cell Phones-- No Smoking-- Chocolate

JSIS-- Just Some Interesting Stuff From the Oct. 7, 2013, Time Magazine.

1. 30%-- Calorie loss on Burger King's new fries. I'll probably blow it on their new Johnsonville brats.

2. 49 CENTS-- After 3 cent increase on stamps in January. Start stocking up on those Forever Stamps.

3. CELL PHONES-- Apple sold 9 million of their new iPhones in first three days. The iOS7 phone promised waterproofing with a special update. Some users ruined their phones.

Zero- how many of those new iPhoines I bought.

4.  NO SMOKING-- The president gave his reason for not smoking in probably six years, "I'm scared of my wife." Me too.

5.  CHOCOLATE-- Cost of a kg of chocolate (How much, in pounds or ounces, does a kilogram weigh?) up 45% since 2007, at $12.25, highest price ever.

--RoadDog

The State of Cell Phones: Didn't Get Mine

Are you one of the 9 million or so who have signed up for the new I-whatever phones? Sorry to say, but I didn't. I know a lot of you will be getting rid of the "new" one you bought less than a year ago to get this "new" one. At least new until the next "new" phone comes out several months down the road.

Of course, Liz and I have phones that are just a wee bit dated. I think they might even be Cingular phones and I think we got them back in 2003 (my first one). And, I still don't really know how to use mine for the most part. I have never texted or read a text and wouldn't know how to nor plan to.

We were at Captain's Quarters Saturday for their band and "Pirate Day" get-together. We were at the bar and a guy came up to place an order and saw Liz's cell phone out on the bar. He remarked something about it being a real museum piece and he couldn't believe anyone was still using them. He had to look at it.

Oh Well, Technologically Backward Me. ---RoadDog

No Lines or Danger for Me: The Advantage of Being Technologically Impaired

Much was made last week of idiots, er, people, waiting in lines at stores for the newest iPhone when it was released.  I hate lines, but even so, was not tempted to wait in one as I don't even have the first one. 

The cell phone I do have is about eight years old and has stuff on it, but all I know how to do is call out and sometimes answer a call if I hear it and can get it out of my pocket in time.  If it goes to voice mail, there is a 50-50 chance I'll figure out how to bring it up.

And, then there is this new effort to get folks to stop texting while driving.  I don't have to stop doing that as I have never in my life texted in a car, or, for that matter, anywhere.  Shoot, if I were to get even a phone call, I wonder where the music is coming from most of the time (my ringtone is "Bad Moon Rising," although I have been known to reach for the phone when the radio plays the song).

If I haven't forgotten it at home, there is no way I can get it out of my pocket while seated and seatbelted.  We can evidently text.  Liz has the same phone and does text two friends who are into texting.  It involves hitting keys several times, but I don't know how and won't bother learning either.

So, I Guess Being Technolgically Impaired Has Its Good Points.  --RoadDog

JSIS: Lockhorns-- Girl Scouts-- Attendant Amuck

JSIS-- Just Some Interesting Stuff

1. LOCKHORNS-- Always love reading the Lockhorn comics. From the March 4th Chicago Tribune. Mr. Lockhorn looks at his wife and says, "I'll put the toilet seat back down when you return the driver's seat to its original position." I have about cut myself in half getting into the car after Liz drives it.


2. GIRL SCOUTS-- A bog happy birthday to one of the finest organizations anywhere, the Girl Scouts. My wife was a member for a while as well. I already bought my cookies, did you?


3. ATTENDANT AMUCK-- Revolting passengers. I sure don't know what was worse on that American flight Friday. Was it the attendant who went nuts or all those passengers filming it with hopes of making money off their film.

All you saw were the cell phones being held up. How sad. Shouldn't you try to be doing something useful?

You'd Expect That at High School. --RoadDog

Don't Be That Guy: Proper Cell Phone Use at the Ballpark

From the June 23rd Chicago Tribune Sports Section Smack!!

There's a guy standing with three others on a cell phone.

PLAY ON; The guys saying "We're in Section 110. See you soon."

WE'LL ALLOW IT: "Cancel my meetings. I'll be back at the office tomorrow."

DON'T BE THAT GUY: "See me? I'm totally on TV!"

Do I ever agree with this!!

Those folks seeking to be on TV and watching monitors should be dipped head first into cold nacho sauce.

Ridiculous. --RoadDog


FUNNY THINGS TO SAY TO YOUR DOC AT YOUR COLONOSCOPY: "Take it easy, Doc. You're boldly going to where no man has gone before."

The Case of the "Hiding" Cell Phone

Now that you know that I am not a big fan of cell phones, let me tell you about MY cell phone's escapade yesterday.

I took it off my belt at the gas station and intended to put it in my pocket, but forgot. Sitting in Emil's, I realized that I didn't have it, but figured I'd just get it when we got to the library. Once there, I couldn't find it. I wasn't sure if it had dropped out of the truck at the gas station, or perhaps I had it with me in Emil's. I just couldn't find it. Perhaps, even, I had left it at home. I had no clue.

I looked all over the truck cab and in the back seat, but no cell phone. It was doing its best bin Laden scenario--hiding.

Clancy volunteered to call the phone so we could see if it was well-hidden in the truck. The only problem was that I couldn't remember the phone number. I had him call Liz so she could call it.

She did, and we heard it, but could not find it even then. Where could bin La--err, the phone be hiding? The ringtone (CCR's "Bad Moon Rising" or is that "There's a Bathroom on the Right") ran out. We had her call again, but still couldn't find it. We could hear it; just couldn't find it.

I finally noticed a place on the rider's side door where you can put stuff. I know for a fact that I didn't put that phone there, but looked anyway. And there it was. How's it get there? My best guess is that it was on the seat and I turned a corner and it went a-slidin'.

Kind of reminds me of being at a Cubs game back in the late seventies when Larry Bittner playing first base was backing up to catch a pop up. He fell backwards with his cap flying off his head. He jumped up, looked here, looked there, looked everywhere. Finally, he sees his hat on the ground and goes running over to it, lifts it up, and there is the ball. Afterwards, a reporter asked him why he looked under his cap. Bittner told him, "Well, I had looked everywhere else."

Sneaky Cell Phones. --RoadDog

Broom Hilda and the State of the Cell Phone Nation

In today's comic strip, Broom Hilda is walking down the street with a cell phone glued to her ear. Another five people also are walking and talking on their cell phones. They are walking by an open phone booth (not one of the old completely glass enclosed ones like the Blues Brothers used). It had a sign attached to it which read, "Listed with the National Historic Register."

Funny, but all too true. You just don't see phone booths which at one time were all over the place. Cell phones have put them out of business.

I have to admit, I am NOT a real big cell phone person. I don't much care for them. They have their uses and definitely come in handy, especially if you get separated at a function, or need to meet up with someone. HOWEVER, some folks I know have one growing out of their ear and I don't think many things look as ridiculous as a person with one of those blue tooth things.

It does seem that some people get full of self-importance when using them. Then, just about every kid you see has one these days. I know the parental excuse, "I want to always know where my kid is." But, I grew up without one as did everyone my age, and SOMEHOW, we still survived.

I held out against getting one until this past January. I still didn't really want one, but was more or less pressured into it. I still haven't mastered much on it, but am slowly learning.

That is also my big problem with all the new technology these days. I hate learning new stuff. An even bigger problem is that once you learn it, something new comes out and then you have to go back and learn it all over again. Things are just changing too fast, but that could just be old age talking.

Cell Phones. Good or Bad, I'm Not Too Sure. --RoadDog