Please Make It Stop....I'm Beggin' Ya.....

No this isn't going to be another weather rant, or about the annoying holiday ads on TV, or the really sad abused animal posts that I'm sick of seeing on my Facebook newsfeed.  It's about CAPTCHA, that little box that pops up on blogs and other websites and makes you type in a hard-to-read sequence of letters and blurry numbers.  The purpose of this is to prove you are a human and not a robotic spammer.  It sucks.  There I said it.  Sucks out loud.  As you've noticed, I have limited my life-ranting ever since moving here.  I really don't have much to rant about anymore anyway, but this issue is like a burr under my hide and it's annoying me more with each passing day. 

I don't want bloggers who use it to get mad at me or think I'm telling them how to run their blogs.  But please hear me out on this topic.  I do understand the need for it on certain fan, political and business blogs and sites.  Ones that get more traffic and, therefore, subject to more robotic spam than a craft or photography-themed blog.  Blogging A-Z Challenge also posted about this topic HERE on September 27th.  The key here is robotic spam.  99.9% of your readers are, indeed, human and having to prove it with this ridiculous feature is, well, ridiculous.  If you are a political blogger and post controversial topics, or you have a high profile fan site for a celebrity, you are going to be subject to human spam and vitriolic and/or wacky comments by humans who don't care about filling out a CAPTCHA just so they can leave their two cents.  Having the CAPTCHA turned on makes zero difference, so you might as well turn it off because it's pissing off the majority of your readers.   

I have been aware of CAPTCHA for a long time.  And in the beginning, like 2005 or so, it seemed like a good way to protect your blog from weirdos and spammers, and as time went on the technology got better in terms of building in robotic-spam blockers to stop it before it starts.  In the over 6 years since my blog has been open, I have been subject to very little spam or nasty comments either by humans or robots.  Every now and then someone posts a link to something, but it's certainly not enough to force my friends into typing a CAPTCHA.  I see it, I delete it.  No big deal.  It's not like I get hundreds of comments like The Bloggess and Wil Wheaton do.  As a blog reader, I want to comment and move to the next blog.  Sometimes if I remember there's a CAPTCHA and my time is limited, I won't leave a comment.  Then I feel guilty because I know the time and effort it takes to put out a quality blog and I should at least acknowledge that I stopped by.  But when it takes a person twice as long to type in a nonsensical word than it does their comment, blog owners are going to see less traffic/comments on their sites.  Believe me I would much rather see that my comment 'is in moderation and waiting blog owner approval' than the dreaded CAPTCHA box.  The only reasons I suffer through it is that I have become quite fond of many of the blogs that I read & their owners, and I look forward to each new post, and also because I have way more time to waste online than when I was working.  If and when I do go back to work, I will be unable to visit like I do now and if CAPTCHA is turned on, it's even less likely I will comment.  

When I did Blogging A-Z in April, they emphasized over and over to turn the damn thing off or else the Challenge would come to a screeching halt around the letter H as bloggers opted not to leave comments on, or decide not to follow, a CAPTCHA blog.  Throughout the challenge, the Blogging A-Z hosts asked us how it was going, what were the positives and negatives, and the #1 negative was CAPTCHA.  They again stressed to turn it off.  The people that used this feature refused, even when some readers came right out and commented nicely that it'd be great/appreciated if CAPTCHA could be turned off.  

It's really easy to turn this feature off, turn on comment moderation and even limit who can comment.  This way you can weed it out without forcing people into the word verification.  Maybe some of you don't even know you have it on.

When you are in your list of posts, look on the left side and click on Settings which has a picture of a wrench.  In the drop down of that, click on Posts and Comments.  Now you can select to turn on Comment Moderation if you want to nip spam in the bud.  Where it says Show word verification, if that box next to it says 'yes', click on it and pick 'no'.  When you are done, go to the top right and click the orange 'Save Settings' box.

Please...I'm beggin' ya.....stop the madness......please turn of the word verification once and for all!

Zodiac Compatibility

I sometimes think there is something to astrology and the zodiac.  All the descriptions I've seen of Sagittarius, good and bad, have been pretty accurate, although there are some descriptions that aren't true in my case.

Same with my Aries squeeze.

Just for grins, I looked up our compatibility and was pleasantly surprised by the description:

"Aries and Sagittarius make an ideal combination and the compatibility between the two zodiac signs is quite good. The relationship between the two will be full of enthusiasm, passion, zeal and adventure. Both of them will complement each other in almost every way and there will be a light playfulness in the love match. The energy levels of both, an Aries as well as a Sagittarian, are quite high and neither of them will be required to subdue his enthusiasm even a slightest bit. Sagittarius will never ever feel threatened by the aggressiveness of Aries and Aries will add to the strength of Sagittarius.

Both of them need their individual space and will let the other person have his freedom too. In this relationship, no one will rule the other. One person will help the other in fighting tough times and will never ever let the other feel too low about failures. They will always stand by each other, whatever be the situation. Money is something they will have to be careful about. This is because the combination of an Aries and a Sagittarian means the entire shopping mall at home! Together, they will travel to far off places and fulfill their adventure needs.

Aries Man and Sagittarius Woman: The love match of an Aries man with a Sagittarius woman is one of those matches that were truly made in heaven. He will keep her entertained with his intelligence, while she will mesmerize him with her creativity. Their conversations will be intellectually stimulating. Both share a love for adventure and will mostly be on move, exploring new people and new places. Sagittarian woman will love his funny sense of humor and Aries man will find her charm intriguing. Except for a few glitches here and there, they will hardly find a problem with each other."

Our Chinese Zodiac compatibility is also spot on:

"Chinese Tiger and Dragon can have long lasting passion. They are affectionate and deeply care about each other. They will go to great lengths to make sure the other feels appreciated and desired. Their main problem is that both partners want to be in charge. They may fight about this a lot. They are well matched in this area, both in passion and emotion.

To make this union work, Tiger needs to be emotionally available to Dragon and Dragon needs to allow Tiger some space. They both need to learn to let go of their competitive natures when it comes to their relationship. Their magnetic personalities attract each other like moths to a flame. They are highly compatible in the bedroom. Dragon must figure out how to possess Tiger, who is courageous and independent. Tiger's emotional depth is understanding and compassionate. This makes for a dynamic and ever interesting relationship.

When this pairing consists of Tiger man and Dragon woman, they can find a perfect harmony."

Ultimate Dog Tease

I absolutely cannot get enough of this video.  It already has over 98,000,000 views.  You read that right:  Ninety Eight Million.  

Scraggy Neck

I went to do some beachcombing at Scraggy Neck, in the Pocasset/Cataumet area of Bourne, not too far from Mashnee Island.  I chose these beaches because of their proximity to the oncoming waves in Buzzards Bay, and because they were probably not likely to be visited by people looking for beach glass.  I was betting on some decent finds, especially being the end of the winter stormy weather and before summer arrives.  

I must admit to a sense of entitlement when it comes to visiting places like this.  I cavalierly ignored the "Private Beach! No Trespassing! Residents Only!" signs, drove to the beaches, parked and walked to my heart's content.  I figured I could get away with it, that time of year and in the middle of a weekday.  While I brought Sagan and Pepper with me, I didn't bring them out on the beach with me b/c I just didn't think it'd be a good idea, plus my car would be less likely to be towed with 2 dogs, one of which is a German shepherd, in it.

It was a very windy day, but mild.

This is the Cleveland Ledge Lighthouse. I'd never even heard of it before.  It was built in 1943 and automated in 1978.  It marks the western entrance of the Canal.  It was named after President Grover Cleveland, whose summer white house was at Gray Gables in Bourne.

Funky cracked rock

Coast Guard chopper.

Path to the beach

Epic success!!  Some aren't quite worn all the way, but my 'keep or toss back in the water guide' is, if it can't cut me, it comes home with me.  And no blue shard is ever turned down, able to cut me or not.

More shells and cool stones.  I can't get enough of the beautiful rocks and stones on the beaches here.  I just wish there was a way to identify them.  There seems to be a lot of quartz-type stuff in all colours and they look beautiful when wet.  I really need a rock tumbler!  The one large rock on the far right side glitters with gold sparkles!!!  

Music I Can Go the Rest of My Life Without Hearing Ever Again

While I am a music lover, I am kind of stuck in a certain time period when it comes to what I listen to.  So when I'm in the car, all my stations are ones that play Classic Rock and/or Oldies.  When I was growing up, the Oldies station played stuff from the 1950's.  Now they play stuff from the 70's.  Songs I once loved, and now loathe, due to being over played.  

There was a time when I would drop what I was doing to listen to "Layla" or "Light My Fire."  Now I hear them on the radio, yell out "BORING!" as I furiously punch the next button, and the next one, trying to find something I'm not sick of, something that hasn't been played to absolute death.  I go up the wall whenever a DJ puts on someone requesting a song.  It's always some lame, overplayed, oh-god-if-I-hear-this-again-I'm-taking-hostages song or band.  That's when I yell out, "CLICHE!!!!"  It's usually at this point when all 6 of my programmed stations are playing shit or commercials, that I pop in a mix tape.  And some of the songs on my mix tapes, which weren't in the 'oldies' category when I made the tapes, are now overplayed on the radio so I fast forward through them too.  Like the Police.  I was never a fan of "Roxanne" even when it was a new song, but I find myself growing weary of the stuff from the "Synchronicity" album, my fave, which bums me out.  

I could go the rest of my life without ever hearing the following songs and/or bands:  

Bruce Springsteen, nearly everything by Bob Seger & the Rolling Stones, Eurythmics, The Doors, a lot of Eric Clapton songs, Aerosmith, Journey, Steve Miller Band, Jimi Hendrix, Billy Squier, 38 Special, James Taylor, Boston, Robert Palmer (except "Every Kinda People"), the Beatles (sorry Val), those sexist pigs ZZ Top (I've actually hated them my whole life), Blondie, REO Shitwagon, Van Morrison, Queen (except for "Killer Queen") (sorry Madi),  J. Geils Band, the Cars, the Who *coughoverratedcough*, Madonna, Fleetwood Mac (except for "Hypnotised" which never, ever gets played anyway).  More than a handful of Elton John songs; quite a few in fact.  U2, except for their first album & one other song.  I used to love Dire Straits.  Not so much anymore, but for "Skateaway", which also never gets played.  All the Led Zeppelin songs except "Hey Hey What Can I Do"......you know come to think of it, I'm glad the songs that I really like don't get played because I don't wanna become sick of them too.  But I digress..... 

"Maggie May", "Jack & Diane,  John Lennon's "Imagine".   "Boys of Summer", "Cuts like a knife", "My Sharona", "You shook me all night long" (*yawn*), "Only the good die young", "Arthur's Theme", "Bad Bad Leroy Brown",  "Hotel California", "Take it Easy", "Life in the Fast Lane",  "Life's Been Good" (can you see an Eagles theme here?), "Do you believe in love", "I will survive", "My Sharona", "Runnin on Empty".  I used to love "I Melt with you" till the Hershey company started inundating us with it in their candy commercials.  David Bowie's "Changes".  The Clash's big hits "Should I stay or should I go" and "Rock the Casbah".   "Maybe I'm Amazed", "Show me the way".  "Barracuda" and "Magic Man". Van Halen's "Jump".  Free's "All right now" and Thin Lizzy's "Boys are back in town" are two of my most despised songs ever.

This is really just the tip of the iceberg.  I know there are plenty more songs and bands that I have come to loathe but I just can't think of them off the top of my pointed head.  See, this is why I make mix tapes.  If I had any idea how to use the iPod Jaime sent me, I'd start transferring music onto it now!!  Till then, I'll just keep rotating my giant collection of mix tapes in and out of my car.

Farthest Shore

The title of today's "F" themed blog post comes from the 3rd book of the Earthsea Trilogy, by Ursula LeGuin.

I have, on more than one occasion, mentioned how the west coast had always called to me when I was a child.  How I'd stare out the west-facing window at the sunset, wishing I could be in California, where it was 3 hours earlier.  My goal in life was to get to the west coast, and I achieved that goal and lived there for over two decades.  In that time, I did manage to see the westernmost point of the USA, called Cape Mendocino, in Humboldt County, CA.  It was so remote that there was no place to park, so I never even took a photo of it, we just kept driving (and truthfully, it was a bit of a harrowing ride.....I mean seriously, it took 4 hours to drive the 30 mile round trip out there and back).  I do regret not seeing Cape Flattery, the Northwesternmost point of the USA, in Washington, but someday I'll get back there.

Since moving back to the east coast, I find myself obsessed with beach combing on the westernmost beaches of Cape Cod.  I pore over street maps and Google Earth aerial views, looking for new strips of sand to explore, even if it means trespassing a little.  One would think, with my unsated need to find treasure, that I would be eager to explore the National Seashore, on the Atlantic Ocean.  Yet I find myself returning to look at the western shore of Cape Cod every time.  The other night I was researching how I can get on Cuttyhunk Island to beachcomb there too!  It's proximity at the mouths of Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound probably means a beach comber's dream!

What is this farthest shore thing?  Where did it come from? 

Eye Doc

This eye doctor is in Sagamore.  Every time I pass this sign, I think of the eyes in the Dr. T.J. Eckleburg sign, from The Great Gatsby, which is one of my fave books.  I can't help but wonder if Dr. Bodrie did it on purpose, and I'd love to ask him.

This is how the eyes were portrayed in the 1974 version of "The Great Gatsby". (how young was Sam Waterson?!)  

See what I mean?

Depression Era

Are any of you drawn to certain eras in time?  When I was a kid, I felt drawn to the old west and also to Victorian England.  I still feel a pull to those times, but not as much as I do to the Great Depression.  I assume that I feel that way because of hearing all the stories from my mom and other relatives of what it was like growing up during those hard times....the bread lines, no money, no work, getting a Christmas tree on Dec. 24th when they were dirt cheap or free, etc.  Not to mention all the old photos in shoe boxes that I used to pore over when I was a kid, depicting my family as youngsters.  All in black and white of course.  And old movies as well.  I always joke w/ my mom that the world didn't become colourized till "The Wizard of Oz", and I like to tease, "What was life like in black and white?"  ;-D

It's funny how my two fave movies, Mockingbird and Paper Moon, are set in the 1930s and feature little girl protagonists, Scout Finch....

....and Addie Pray.

Another show that captivates me is Truman Capote's "A Christmas Memory", based on a 1930s Christmas in his own life, when he was a boy.

I love the purses and fashions of that time as well.

I really want to own a velvet cloche hat, one of these days.  I don't normally wear hats, but I do love these.

And we can't forget the massive migration west on The Mother Road, Route 66, during the Depression either.  My honey and I have talked about driving Rte. 66 in an RV for our honeymoon.  It's been on my bucket list for 25+ years so when he suggested it, I was on board immediately.  My dad made the trip west on Rte. 66, to Southern California, in the 1940s, after WW2, to work in a shipyard, and I always wanted to do it too.  Especially before all of the old roadside attractions completely deteriorate and are lost forever, like the Cadillac Ranch, in Amarillo Texas.

I'm also a HUGE fan of the photos of Dorothea Lange, whose portraits of those courageous souls, migrants and "Okies" fleeing the dust bowl became a symbol of that era.  Can you believe the woman in this photo is only 32?  Her face is careworn and shows the hardship of life, making her look much older.  Her name is Florence Owens Thompson and she was the mother of 7 children at the time this was taken in 1936.

I realize that I am viewing the depression through romanticized eyes.....it was no picnic and certainly not a time that one should 'wish' they were around to see.  Still, it draws me like a moth to a flame.

Crescent Moon

There's nothing more celestially magical than a clear night with a beautiful crescent moon, either waxing or waning.

I incorporate the crescent into so much of my arts and crafts.

I also love the old paper moon photos that were popular in the 30's (besides it being my fave movie).

Maybe I just love working in dark blue and yellow?

Crescents are even incorporated into my Christmas decorations and needlework!

I am almost tempted to add Dubai, UAE, to my bucket list, just so I can see the Crescent Moon Tower.  I didn't even think this was a real place till I did further research!

Bucket List

My sweet baby and I were talking about how much traveling we want to do, both realistic trips and dream trips. There are a few overlapping destinations, and I think parts of my list are a little bit more unrealistic and will, more than likely, remain just dreams.  Let's face it, the odds of my getting to beachcomb on the Falkland Islands are pretty slim.  Or taking that cruise to Antarctica. Or New Zealand.  It's possible I could get to Iceland one day, and the British Isles.  I do think my Scot boyfriend should see his homeland.

We also diverge on a few trip ideas...mostly because I resist going to warm climates and he's growing weary of the raw, cold, snowy New England winters.  

So he tossed out the idea of both of us making our Travel Bucket Lists and comparing them to see what we can start planning.  

I've actually had my Bucket List, on the side of this blog for awhile now.  I really regret not doing the rest of the Pacific Northwest Stuff.  Big time.  But he wants to go back up there someday, so at least I know it's still on the table. For now, I will list things I'd like to see within the next few years:

Watkins Glen State Park, NY.  Never really occurred to me to go here till I saw a pic of it recently.  Now I have to go.  It's in the Fingerlake Region of Upstate NY, on Lake Seneca.  

Niagara Falls, NY and/or Canada.  For now I'd be happy to see the American side.  My parents took me to the Canadian side in 6th grade, and I do want to see it again too, but for now NY would be optimum.

Mount Desert Island, Maine/Acadia National Park.  And many other places in Maine as well...any coastal community, Mt. Katahdin, Lubec (the easternmost incorporated place in the 50 states), etc. Angie is eagerly awaiting my visit to see her in Bar Harbor. 

Vermont.  Except for one time when my dad got lost and accidentally drove over the border of NH into VT, I have never set foot in that state.  This trip would be preferably taken in the fall, for the foliage.

Shelling on Sanibel Island in Florida.  It should be noted that I absolutely cannot stand the State of Florida.  It's too hot, too flat, too humid, ugly and yucky.  But my desire for great beachcombing over rides my hatred of that state.  The shells here are amazing.

Walt Disney World/Universal.  My parents took me to Disney in 6th and 8th grades.  They went a 3rd time, w/o me, when I was in college.  I would very much like to see it now, and also visit Universal and the Harry Potter part. Disney also happens to be his fave place on the entire planet, and he's been here dozens of times He wants very much to take me and show me around.  

Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  This would also taken in Asheville, NC. 

Rte. 66 of course.  I assumed he would want to honeymoon at Disney, but he tossed out Rte. 66 and I eagerly agreed.

The Canadian Maritimes. Pick a Province, any Province. (just not Quebec. lol)

Bermuda.  Reeeeeally need to beachcomb here.  My friend Barit told me that there is some decent glass on the beaches.  

I'm certainly not gonna turn down any suggestions for RV trips across the USA or Canada, and I'm game to see anything, like Savannah, GA or New Orleans.  But for now, this is my new Bucket List.