Friday Night Video

Here's a trailer for the original (to me) "War of the Worlds"  movie. The first time I saw this was on a late Sunday afternoon, on the black and white tv set in our basement. It was one more layer on my already haunted psyche that kept me awake throughout so much of the early sixties. Yet, like so many things in life, I both loved and feared it.

This movie had it all. It started with a flying saucer that landed somewhere out in the boonies (as they did in most movies- except maybe "The Day the Earth Stood Still"), and it never let up. You want pulse pounding action? Try this on for size:  A general mapping out intricate war plans on a chalkboard? Check! War games played out on a giant, government issued Risk board? Check! Random guy on fire, crashing into a table? Check and Double Check!

As a kid, I was dazzled by the glossy special effects. But as I've matured, I've come to appreciate the gritty realism. There is no better example of this than in the scenes of sheer mass panic near the end of this clip. This is reality in it's rawest form. None of that mamby-pamby, "We're all in this together" or  "Help thy neighbor" crap. This, my friend, reflects traditional American values- values like, "When the going gets tough, it's every man for himself." This, my friend, is harsh reality.

You think an alien invasion would be met with an orderly evacuation ("No neighbor, you were here first. Please, go ahead of me.")? Wake up and smell the coffee. Watch and learn as people get thrown through store fronts and hit on the head with crates. Take a good long look at the guy in the back of the truck, swinging his constitutionally protected club for no apparent reason. Which end of the club will you be on? Well? Think about it!

Anyway, I digress.

Somewhere around this house, I have this film on an unopened DVD. After reliving some of these exciting and suspenseful scenes, I'm tempted to crack it open and relive it again- this time in full Technicolor and "with a mighty panorama of Earth-shaking fury!" Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure the Earth shaking fury might scare the crap out of Sam. So instead, I share it with you. Sit back, watch, learn, and most of all- enjoy!

A Simple Question- P.S.

I should point out from the post below that:

A) Customer Service did nothing to resolve my question. I had to find it out myself, and  B) the figure they finally quoted me to add Caller I.D. to my service, was not "$10.99-14.99/Mo". It was a net add of $3.50.

A Simple Question

This is from a customer service phone chat I had with Verizon today. All I wanted to know was how much it would cost to add "Caller I.D." to my phone plan:

Chat Subject:Upgrade Existing Services

Your Question:I'm just trying to figure out how much it would be to add caller ID too my existing service.

A Verizon Service Representative will be with you shortly. Thank you.

Agent Faber has joined. (11:56:13)

Faber : Chat ID for this session is 09251378183. (11:56:13)

Faber(11:56:13): Thank you for choosing Verizon and visiting our chat service. I would be happy to assist you with your question.

For quality and security purposes, your session is recorded and may be monitored or reviewed. Please do not provide sensitive information such as social security, bank account or credit card numbers to the chat agent. May we view your selections and/or account information, including any services you subscribe to, which are displayed to you on verizon.com, so that we may assist you with respect to available Verizon products and services? Under federal law, it is your right and our duty to protect your account information. May I have your permission?

Faber: (11:56:23): Thank you for being our valued Verizon customer. 

ME: (11:56:36): ok

Faber: (11:56:41): I would be glad to assist you with your questions, and navigate you through out the online order process.

Faber: (11:57:26): Could you please let me know if you are logged in to your Verizon Account?

ME: (11:57:45): yes.

Faber: (11:58:31): Please click on the "Phone Extras" button, located on the left side of your Verizon Account page, and let me know once you are on the next page.

ME: (11:59:41): I think so. On the lower right, it says: "Add to your phone service" and gives selections.

Faber: (12:00:06): Please click on the "Add/Upgrade My Services" button, located on the left side of your Verizon Account page, then after you would be able to see "Phone Extras" button, under it.

ME: (12:00:36): Ok. Got it.

Faber(12:01:06): Please click on the "Calling features" tab, and check if you are able to see "Caller ID" feature.

ME: (12:01:21): ok. thanks.

Faber(12:01:56): you are welcome. Could you please let me know if you were able to find the "Caller ID" feature?

ME: (12:03:27): Yup,thanks

Faber(12:04:38): Please select the Caller ID feature, and click on the Checkout button. Let me know once you are on the next page.

ME: (12:05:17): Well, I'm not sure if I want to add it. I was checking out the price.

Faber(12:06:07): Could you please let me know if you make long distance calls?

ME: (12:06:17): Not many.

Faber(12:07:07): You may upgrade your phone plan, with which you would get more calling features.

Faber(12:07:27): Please click on the "Add/Upgrade My Services" button, and let me know once you are on the next page.

ME: (12:07:59): I'm on the page.

ME: (12:08:15): Same as before.

Faber(12:09:05): Please click on the "Add TV or Internet" button, located under the "Add/Upgrade My Services" button, and let me know once you are on the next page.

ME: (12:09:42): Ok, I'm there.

Faber(12:10:58): Could you please check if you are able to see TV, Internet, and phone plans listed under the 'Create your own bundle' section?

ME: (12:11:18): I see them.

Faber(12:12:13): Please uncheck the TV, and Internet sections. Let me know once you have done that.

ME: (12:12:27): It's done.

Faber(12:13:07): Could you please check if you are able to see "Regional Essentials" phone plan?

ME: (12:13:40): Yes, I see it.

Faber(12:14:30): Please select "Regional Essentials" phone plan, and click on the "Add to cart" button. Let me know what price you able to see in your cart.

ME: (12:16:36): I clicked the "Selected" button, but the only "Add to Cart" button is for "Triple Play".

Faber(12:19:51): I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you.

ME: (12:20:06): Now the window went black with a refresh button. I clicked it and I'm back on the "create your own bundle page".

Faber(12:21:41): Thank you for the information.

Faber(12:22:06): I would recommend you to opt for Verizon Home phone, and High speed Internet double bundle, which would cost you $44.99/Mo without any contract.

ME: (12:22:44): I would, but I already have internet that I'm happy with.

Faber(12:23:44): Once you sign up, Verizon will become your Internet service provider (ISP). You will not require any other Internet service provider (ISP) with Verizon high speed internet service.

Faber(12:23:55): The great thing about High Speed DSL is that it's a dedicated connection. Cable internet service is a connection you share with neighbors around you, thus your speed will fluctuate during peak hours.

Faber(12:24:20): You would also qualify for the best bundle discounted price, if you opt for upgraded phone plan, and fastest internet speed plan.

ME: (12:24:27): I'm happy with what I have.

Faber(12:24:37): Verizon Regional Essentials offers unlimited local and local toll calling and 3 of our most popular calling features: Caller ID, Call Waiting and Voice Mail. Since it does not include nationwide long distance, it's perfect if you only make calls within your local or local toll calling area.

ME: (12:25:09): Ok. How much is that?

ME: (12:26:43): I already have call waiting and  local long distance.

Faber(12:26:49): You would get Verizon Regional Essentials + High Speed Internet Enhanced 7.1-15 Mbps double bundle at the rate of $44.99/Mo without any contract. The standalone price for Regional Essentials is up to $49.99/Mo

ME: (12:27:35): Ok.. I'll think it over.
 

ME: (12:29:03): Thanks for your help.

Faber(12:29:43): You would not be charged for any installation fee to install High speed Internet service, as you would get the self installation option.

ME: (12:30:18): Yeah,, but all I'm after is the price of what caller ID would add to the plan I have.

Faber(12:31:53): You may add Caller Id at the rate of $10.99-14.99/Mo to your current Home phone plan; however, if you upgrade your phone plan to Regional Essentials you would get Caller Id, and other 2 calling features included in your phone plan.

ME: (12:33:19): And how much does that add?

Faber(12:34:19): You would not be charge any additional upgrade fee to upgrade your Home phone plan to Regional Essentials.

ME: (12:34:56): What is the added monthly cost?

Faber(12:35:56): If you opt for Verizon Regional Essentials + High speed Internet Enhanced 7.1-15 Mbps double bundle your monthly bill would be $44.99/Mo + Taxes. There is no contract with Verizon Home phone, and High Speed Internet double bundle.

Faber(12:38:37): Could you please let me know if you are still able to see 'Create your own bundle' section on your Verizon Account page?

ME: (12:39:28): I only want someone to look at my monthly bill and say:"It would add X dollars for caller ID, OR there is a bundle that has the services you already have that includes caller ID, so the price difference would be ..." If I can't find that out, I think I'll stay with what I have. I've been on too long as it is.

Faber(12:40:28): I see that currently you have Flat rate phone plan at the rate of $19.64/Mo.

Faber(12:41:33): With Flat rate you would get unlimited local calling without any calling features. You would be charged additional for each calling feature. Plus you would be charged for Regional, and Long distance calling plans.

Faber(12:44:34): If you upgrade your services to double bundle your monthly bill would be $44.99/Mo + Taxes (your estimated taxes and fees would range between 10% - 15% of your total monthly Verizon bill)

Faber(12:44:49): With Regional Essentials phone plan you would get unlimited local, and Regional callings. Plus 3 of our most popular calling features: Caller ID, Call Waiting and Voice Mail.

Faber(12:45:10): With High Speed Internet Enhanced 7.1-15 Mbps Internet plan you would get the fastest internet speed available at your location, and free Wifi service.

ME: (12:45:11): Ok. One last question: I see on the other page, you offer "Call Waiting- ID" and it says it includes "Caller ID", and you also offer just "Caller ID". If I got rid of my current "Call Waiting" and got "Call Waiting- ID", wouldn't this be the same as just adding on "Caller ID"?

Faber(12:46:01): Yes, "Call Waiting ID" includes caller Id, and call waiting features.

ME: (12:47:51): So that's all I want to do, have my current Call Waiting and also have Caller ID. So, I deselect my current Call Waiting, and select "Call Waiting ID", correct?

Faber(12:48:26): Yes, you are correct. Then after click on the checkout button, and let me know once you are on the next page.

ME: (12:49:22): All set. I'll submit it.

Faber(12:49:47): Congratulations on completing your Verizon order successfully online.
You will receive an e-mail confirmation letter, within 24 hours, from Verizon. This e-mail will have your online order number which you can use to check your online order status.

ME: (12:50:19): Ok. Bye.

Faber(12:50:30): You are all set now!

Faber(12:50:40): Can you think of any additional questions that I can assist you with today?

ME: (12:50:53): No, I'm all set.

Friday Night Video

There are fondly remembered shows from my past that have aged nicely... and there are those that haven't. For years I've wished that a show called "Switch" would come out on DVD. Now, after seeing this mercifully short clip, I'm thinking maybe not.

This show played for a couple of years, beginning in 1975 and was about a former cop (Eddie Albert) and a former con man (Robert Wagner) who teamed up as partners in a private investigating firm. I used to watch this with Mom and Dad, and I remember the show as being kind of clever.

I will say that I like Eddie Albert in just about everything I've seen him in- old talk shows included, and my respect for him- not only as an actor, but as a human being, has only grown the more I've learned about him.

And to be fair, maybe it's best not to judge the show from this one clip. Maybe. That said, enjoy.

Friday Night Video

In honor of the weather of the last few days, here's a clip of Gene Kelly dancing in what is a good approximation of my basement- especially around the four minute mark...

Today's Comment

Once I realize it's Thursday already, the rest of the day feels like it should be Friday.

Whirligig

My head is spinning. I'm not used to being this busy. All day Saturday was spent at a college football game.

Living for Half Time

For some odd reason, I seem to have no pictures of the game itself, yet I have an abundance of photos of the marching band.

Sunday was spent picking up Jake, and going to the fair in the morning- until it started to rain. The afternoon was spent getting groceries and cooking food for Jake to take back and then bringing him, and all the food, back to his house.

"Like the Spanish city to me, when we were kids..."

Later that evening, Helaina and I went back to the Fair where we did a lot of walking and taking pictures and even going on the Ferris Wheel together.

I'm beat.

Friday Night Video

I was about ten years old when this show aired and only caught it infrequently. I think that may be because it fell into that time frame where Dad got it into his head that we were watching too much TV or TV was a waste of time... or something like that. Whatever it was, I wasn't paying attention. I only know that it stunted my childhood by not allowing me the full experience of shows like Green Acres.

And don't even get me started on the Beverly Hillbillies.

Here's twenty-five minutes and twenty seconds of pure absurdity...

Dormant

It's sad to see grass and moss overtaking the bare spots under the tree swings.

My Home Town

 

I came across this picture on someone’s website a while back. I wish I had bookmarked the site where I found it so I could least thank the person who took it, if not link to it.

What you're looking at here is a photo taken of one of the four sides of my old hometown square. Judging by the stores and the looks of the cars, it fits nicely into the era of my childhood- the early to mid sixties.

This group of shops faced the town common, as did the shops behind me and across from me.. The fourth side of the common, directly across from the shops in this photo and to my left, would be the town hall.

The shops across from this photo were not places I frequented a whole lot. On the corner, the corner closest to the stores in this photo, was a bank (which I mentioned here). A few doors down on the left from that bank was a Grant’s Department Store.

Grant’s was a competitor of Woolworth’s, but didn’t have the folksy “charm”. The only time I can really remember going into Grant’s was at Christmastime, when my family would go Christmas shopping. I remember shopping for presents on one particular night, and standing in front of racks that were filled with manger figures. These were the hand painted, paper mache type from Italy that you can sometimes, rarely, find at a flea market or tag sale. They’re the ones they now make less colorful, plastic replicas of.

My oldest sister had one of these mangers, so I bought her a donkey and I think, a cow. I knew she already had at least one of these animals, but it made sense to me that there might be more than one of them hanging around a manger. It certainly made more sense than having a fourth wise man- which would look like the exact twin of one of the other guys- stunned expression and all, and it certainly made more sense than buying a second baby Jesus- unless you were going to use one for a stand-in.

So, I bought the two figures and I bought a couple of the Christmas candles, also hand painted: a choirboy and a blue church. These candles sat on our mantel for years, along with other choir boys and girls, a holly decorated lamp post, and a jolly, waving snowman and Santa. Now they sit in a can, somewhere in my basement, since I don’t have a mantel, or the space to show them.

But going back to this photo, just out of sight past the Woolworth’s, and across from the aforementioned bank, was Kinne’s pharmacy (which I have incorrectly spelled elsewhere as “Kinney’s” - even though it makes more sense). Kinne’s (or Kinney’s) was a place I visited most Saturdays when I tagged along with Dad on his errands. This was in the day when a Pharmacy, like most things back then, were stand alone entities- instead of being a part of a super store chain, one that might also sell weapons and ammunition along with the drugs.

It wouldn’t be unusual for a town to have more than one drug store, and indeed, I can think of at least four in my old town, and I'm sure there are ones that I’ve forgotten.

Between Kinne’s and Woolworth's (and also out of sight), was a dress shop. This was also one of those stores that was a stand alone concern, before superstores made them obsolete. Unlike the pharmacy, I don’t mourn the loss.

Next we had Woolworth’s- the combination super store/ dollar store of my day. They had it all. Outside was the bright red sign that glowed brightly at night. It was especially pretty at the holidays where it contrasted nicely with the Blue Tree across the street.

When you passed through the doors, you were greeted with a scale that also sold you a tiny rolled up horoscope for a nickel, and gumball machines- including a grimey one that would dispense a few yummy pistachio nuts which would stain your fingers red when you pried them open.

They also sold housewares and clothes and toys, and in the back, they even sold pets- not big pets, like dogs or, God forbid- cats. But they sold pets such as little mini turtles, which my brother and one of my other sisters had. And they sold fish. And they had a couple of cages filled with colorful canaries and parakeets. Throughout the store you could hear the birds squawking, amplified perhaps due to the old wood floors. The squaks sounded an awful lot like high pitched: “Help! Help!”. Nowadays, most of these pets are either “protected” or extinct.

Woolworth’s also had a lunch counter along one side of the store. This was the type like you might see in a Norman Rockwell painting, but with more grease. I rarely went over there and I never ate there. This had nothing to do with the grease, as appealing as it was. It was because this counter was on the opposite side of the store from the toys and the pets. In between were rows of things like bedding and women's clothing. It just wasn’t worth the hassle. But boy, those hot dogs sure smelled good.

To the right of Woolworth’s was Rimmele’s Market. This was not the hot spot for me that Woolworth’s was. I went in there maybe once or twice. I remember it also having those easy to clean wooden floors, which was probably the same floor carried over from Woolworth’s next door. I remember it had it’s butcher section in the back, which works especially well with a wood floor. And I remember it being filled with old people, including the butcher. Other than that, there was simply no need for me to go in there, particularly when there were better ways for me to spend my time.

One of those “better ways” was right next door- Gardener’s Music Shop. Gardener’s was a narrow store, probably not much wider than ten feet or so, but it ran as deep as Woolworth’s or Rimmele’s. When you squeezed into the store, immediately on the right was glass display counter, behind which was the cash register. The display case was the kind that, had it been somewhere else, might have been filled with watches or jewelry. Here, it was filled with novelties and practical jokes- things like pepper gum, wind up hand buzzers and those little magnetic black and white Scottie dogs that, when you put them nose to nose, one would whip around, so one ended up sniffing the other one's butt.

It also had siren rings that, because it was the sixties, were made of metal… and really worked. They sold those packs of little black pellets, called “Snakes”, which when you lit them, burned rapidly, making a fizzing sound as they expanded into a long ash “snake”. I think it was my brother who got the idea to light the whole pack at once, thus releasing one big, fat ashen snake. I think it was me who got the idea of lighting them indoors, thus releasing flakes of ash across the formerly white living room ceiling. (By the way-talk about making a federal case over something. I should have at least gotten credit for doing it in the fireplace.)

Gardner's sold caps and finely crafted cap guns. They sold little miniature monkeys and little rubber faces that smoked little miniature cigarettes which blew smoke rings when you lit them (refill packs sold separately- just like real life!). Gardener’s had it all, and they wisely kept in behind a glass case.

I had never really thought much about why they called it Gardener’s Music Store. It was just a name. One day I happened to turn my head and there, hanging all along the opposite wall, and fading into the darkness of the back of the store, were packets of sheet music and musical instruments and supplies. I remember thinking, “How about that! They sell instruments too!”

Next to Gardener’s Music was Rexall Drugs. Two things I remember about Rexall. First, back in my day, stores didn’t open on Sundays, unless they were drug stores. This qualified. I don’t remember going into this one on any particular Sunday, but there was one in a neighboring town and sometimes we would go out to brunch on Sundays, then swing by their local Rexall to kill time before going home.

What I remember about this particular Rexall was that it was one of the two places in town where I would buy comic books (that’s if you don’t count the Bird’s Hill Pharmacy, which strictly speaking, was in town- just not in the center). I was on one of my comic buying adventures, along with a forgotten friend, when I bought a book filled with single panel cartoons, the type you see in the New Yorker, and apparently, the type you would see in Playboy.

I brought it home thinking that this was a pretty good investment, at least as good as the latest Batman. When Dad got a look at it, he thought it was hysterical. Mom was mortified. Dad did the obligatory, “They actually sold you this? I should call them!” However, being Dad, he didn’t- and anyway, the impact was lost since he was still laughing. Mom was still disgusted.

Clearly, there was more to this purchase than what I appreciated. Sure there were some naked butts and stuff. And some of the jokes were funny- but they weren’t that funny. Heck, most of them I didn’t even get. But, from the reactions, I knew I had something- and it was either trouble or pure gold- depending on which parent I looked at.

I folded the thing twice and squeezed it into my toy safe. Occasionally I would pull it out and take another look at it, trying to figure out what the big deal was. I never really did figure it out and eventually I lost interest and went back to my regular comics. At least they were in color.

This leaves Brigham’s and Harvey’s Hardware. Brigham’s was, and probably still is, for all I know- a restaurant along the line of Friendly's. It surprises me to see it at this location. I don’t remember it being here, but then, no matter where it was, I don’t remember ever going in there. Similar to grocery shopping, it wasn’t on my radar back then.

Harvey’s Hardware was one of two hardware stores in town. The other, Allen Hardware, was the one Dad and I usually went to. The only thing I remember about Harvey’s was that I somehow decided to stroll through it one day, only to get hassled by some old guy that worked there. When I got home, I told Dad about it. He took me back to the hardware store to complain about it and whoever it was he talked to, they apologized for their grouchy father.

I learned an important lesson from that day when Dad dragged me back to the hardware store, which was: Selling a kid a cartoon book of risque cartoons wasn't the end of the world. But accusing my kid of doing something shifty? That needed to be dealt with.

In other words, it's all about priorities.

Memories are like some arbitrary string of frames, snipped out of the middle of a film. They happen to take place at some random point in time in the world's evolution, which really is no more or no less important than any other point time- in a long reel of film.

I think about that town, and a large part of what made those places so special is that they just happened coincide my youth.

More Flea Market Conversations

Middle aged man trying to sell a pair of used blue jeans to another middle aged man, who's holding them at eye level, thinking it over: "Damn it, just put 'em over your head! If they fit around your neck, they'll fit around your waist!"