Prior to 1972 there were very few public storage spaces in the USA. Today there are approximately 58,000 companies in the world with 50,000 of them right here. They say that one in ten of us pay money every month to "store" our extra stuff. We pay for rental on about 2.35 billion square feet of public storage. You can rent great big spaces, or, the smallest spaces, which are 10 X 5 or 50 square feet.
I wrote the paragraph above in December of 2010. Whatever the reasons, moving into a smaller place or inheriting an apartment full of Great Aunt Esmeralda's old furniture, more people have more things in more storage now. And eventually some people stop paying for their spaces. Because of non payment a side business and a television series evolved. As they say, one man's (or woman's) trash is another man's (or woman's) treasure.
Since I never lie or stretch the truth here I admit I've watched five or ten minutes of "Storage Wars." Simply put, if rent is not paid, the contents of the space is sold at auction. The winning bid-der hopes he can sell the goods at a profit.
"Fight Erupts In Storage Units' Parking Lot" is one of the headlines on my home page today. In the interest of fact finding I clicked on the story link. I was taken to a video which I promptly shut down. Video is for watching movies and cute animal antics. I know how and I prefer to read my 'news'
Let's just think the obvious. One guy badmouthed another guy, or one guy was sneaky and outbid another guy. I can see the attraction of the show. Like knights of old, these people joust, and maneuver, and position themselves to take possession of potential treasure. I don't care who you are, that there's exciting. Exciting, but a tad boring after awhile.
So, maybe, just maybe, the producers of the 'reality' show decided to throw in some actual fisticuffs? "Hey, how about after the bidding we have a couple of the guys pretend to beat the crap out of each other?" What a stroke of genius, we'll combine the hunt, with the catch, with ultimate fighting. And there you have it ladies and gentlemen, "Real Storage Wars II" The Fight.
Come-on man.....Barbara Walters names Honey Boo Boo one of the most fascinating people of 2012. I got as far as, "it's a love story between a child and her mother. It's really very touching." before I wanted to run over to the waste basket and toss my cookies. Hey Barbara, TOUCH THIS.
And speaking of Barbara:
She said, "Are these all Stanwick movies?"
He heard, Are these all Spanish movies?
Remember Barbara Stanwick? From 1965 to 1969 she was Victoria Barkley the head of the clan on "The Big Valley" television series. I loved her in "Double Indemnity" the 1944 film noir classic with Fred MacMurray and Edward G. Robinson. In it she portrays a woman who uses men to get what she wants. In this case it was the murder of her husband.
This morning Barbara was in her sixteenth movie, "Baby Face" 1933. In it she portrays a woman who uses men to get what she wants. In this case it was position and money. She used several positions to get the money. It was interesting to see the 1933 film version of a harlot, a Jezebel, a slut.
By the way, Wanda and I were watching a Swedish movie the other day. SLUT is Swedish for The End.
Once again, I feel like a traitor to my gender, but lets face it guys. When sex is an issue the last organ we use is our brain.
Just ran across this: "Conservative Celebrities" The first pictured person, Lindsey Lohan. Were they referring (shouldn't this mean putting fur on a second time) to her life or her politics? I'm embarrassed to say I know who she is, but how could I not?
A San Francisco 49er football player was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) and possessing less than an ounce of marijuana. He drove his car into a chain link fence. Both offenses (ha ha ha, offenses, football player) are misdemeanors. What a dumb shit, what's wrong with this guy? Drinking, driving, pot? He's doing something hundreds of young men would give their right arm (no, that wouldn't work) their left testicle to be doing. (The football not the pot) I guess it's not only sex that causes the brain to shut down. He was arrested on his twenty fifth birthday.
Birthday or no birthday, this takes the cake.
Authorities in New York state say a man was arrested for driving while intoxicated while trying to drive from a hearing for an identical charge.
He appeared in court in on an aggravated-DWI charge from August and court officers noticed he smelled of alcohol and seemed unsteady during the status conference.
The district attorney asked a police officer to follow him when he left the courthouse. He was pulled over after driving his 2008 Toyota Tacoma a few feet down the road.
He was arrested on a DWI charge.
Tonight Wanda and I are going to our new local theater to see "It's A Wonderful Life." Made in 1946 with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. It's the story of George Bailey, a family man who's worked hard all his life. He feels he has nothing to show for it. Depressed, he is about to throw himself over a bridge when Clarence his guardian angel appears. Clarence shows him what life would be like if he'd never been born.
"You've been given a great gift George: A chance to see what the world would be like without you. Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?"
After many years I've recently reconnected with my niece. Talking to me a few weeks ago she said, "Uncle Chuck, I've pretty much figured out you have no hidden agendas. What you say and what we see is what we get with you." I hope I got it right. And I hope the meaning comes across. I'm very proud of her words.
What would the world have been like without me? Probably a world with a little less happiness and a lot less laughter. It would be a world with a few less relationships.
I know I can't patch up everyone but I am going to try one more time.
I had something to say to my brother and I never did. I didn't think the conversation should take place over the phone, or by mail, Skype, carrier pigeon, or wire. I wanted to talk about it together, in person. I always figured the next time I was in Michigan we would have the conversation. Now it's too late.
Many of the people that read the blog have family rifts. The longer you wait to try and patch things up the closer you'll get to losing that possibility. When that happens, whatever your feelings are, you can add regret to the list.
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