1.

We’ve had our Berkey water filter for about 9 months, and it recently started running soooo slowly.  The filters are reusable, you just have to scrub them off every now and then with a Scotchbrite.  I asked husband dear to look up how to clean them because that’s man work.  (Any job that involves taking things apart is man work around here.  If I take something apart, there’s a good chance we’ll be buying a new one.)

Turns out we’ve had the filters in upside down this whole time.  It works much better now and flows faster!

2.

This is awesome.  What do famous writers think about other famous writers?

A hint:  Here’s what William Faulkner has to say about Mark Twain.

A hack writer who would not have been considered fourth rate in Europe, who tricked out a few of the old proven sure fire literary skeletons with sufficient local color to intrigue the superficial and the lazy.

3.

So glad Congress took up the pressing issue of whether to let Puerto Rico vote on becoming a state sometime in the future.  It’s not like there’s anything pressing to do, such as fix unemployment or take care of the immigration meltdown in Arizona.  ::sarcasm::

It’s a novel way to drum up more income tax revenue, I suppose.

4.

The repair guy came to look at the oven.  He did not speak English, which was very annoying.

He called his boss on his cell phone, talked, handed the cell phone to me, I talked, handed to cell phone to the guy, and so on.  Translator by cell phone is one way to annoy the customer and make things way more complicated than they need to be.

I think the government should solve this problem by enacting a Communications Stimulus, throwing trillions of dollars at developing an implant that will instantaneously translate any dialogue and beam it directly into the brain.

Maybe Apple will develop an app for the iPhone.  I’d totally buy one then.

5.

I don’t really understand what all the uproar is over this AZ immigration bill.  It says that one will only be asked to provide proof of citizenship if there’s a reason to think a person is not a US citizen, and that showing a driver’s license will be considered proof enough.

I have to show my license when I write a check, go to the doctor or use my health insurance card, get my own money out of my own bank, or return socks to WalMart without a receipt.  What is the big hairy deal?  It’s okay for TARGET to require a DL to buy a videogame or bottle of wine, but a cop can’t ask for it after he has reasonable suspicion?

As an aside, every time I’ve ever had any contact with a police officer I’ve had to show my ID.  Even when I’VE called them, such as when my debit card got stolen.  I had to show it when I got stickers for my car and when I bought spray paint, too.

6.

Mr. S got his orange belt in aikido!  He was so proud of himself and so am I!

7.

I don’t have a number seven, but I gave you eight items last week so now we’re even.

7 Quick Takes vol 14 originally appeared on Mama Says on April 29, 2010. If you see this posted on any other site, please let me know! Leave me a comment on www.milehimama.com

I have to write a positive review of the car repair company.  Is this too passive aggressive?

When the rebuilt transmission failed less than 2 months after we paid for it, we brought the van in for warranty repair.  It only took one letter to the Better Business Bureau to get them to honor the warranty!  After keeping the vehicle for four weeks, they paid for an expert opinion and we didn’t even have to pay for towing to a new repair shop.  When they lost the keys to the vehicle, they paid for a new one of those, too, and even gave us a ride to the dealership where it was towed for rekeying.  Later, when the repair work was incomplete, they towed it to a third shop for at their own expense and we only had to wait 2 more weeks for them to repair the van!  After 40 days, they even provided a loaner car for a weekend so I could buy food for my family!  They replaced a computer that wasn’t even broken for us, too!

I’ll work on it.  The manager who took over the case actually did go way out of his way to make sure things got fixed.  It was just frustrating that they apparently misdiagnosed the car to begin with, replaced parts that probably weren’t broken, and it too so. darn. long!

2.

Archbishop Dolan of Cincinatti New York discusses four major issues facing the Church in America today:

He also says:

Now, he continued, “you might say, ‘I’m ticked off at my natural family, I’m not hanging around with them anymore, I’ve got things to work out.’ But you’re still a member of that family and sooner or later you usually make your peace with it and go home.”

In comparison, “the Church is our supernatural family,” he explained, “you might be upset with it, you might not be showing up for Sunday dinner, you might be mad at it about a couple of things…but you’re still a member.”

The Church “is your supernatural family, and, darn it, we need you and want you to come back home.  You’re always welcome,” Dolan offered.

3.

More Catholic minutiae.  A very interesting article on what Catholicism offers people with same-sex attraction.  Agree or disagree?

4.

Houston Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee can’t even pretend to care about what her constituents think.  Watch her take a cell phone call during a town hall meeting while a woman is speaking to her!

Rep. Lee answers phone.

Sheila Jackson Lee was the congresswoman who sponsored House Resolution 600, to recgonize Michael Jackson as a great humanitarian.  She represents Houston’s 5th Ward, one of the poorer parts of town.  I wonder what her constituents think when she’s worried about Hollywood celebrities and jetting out to California at taxpayer expense to a funeral that is paid admission only, while they are trying to make ends meet and sweltering because they can’t afford to turn the AC on?

5.

I cannot figure out how to embed YouTubes into my WordPress posts.  Help!

6.

More links I tweeted this week!

Poor people need more parenting classes?  It’s in the healthcare bill.  Because rich parents are naturally better, right?  Just look at the Hiltons.

Woman banned from swimming in France because her swim suit covered up too much.  France claims the fabric could hide viruses and is unhygenic.  Puh-leeze.  Back hair is less hygienic than long sleeves.

Remember when the Department of Homeland Security sent out a warning about prolifers and veterans being terrorists?  Turns out their source of information was the INTERNET!   Because it’s a great idea to base security policy on the web of lies world wide web.

87 year old grandma kills rattlesnake with her bare hands.  Is her name Grandma Norris?

7.

I bought a cake instead of making it for Mr S’s birthday.  I forgot how expensive store bought cakes were!  Oh, well, at least I didn’t heat up the house.  The kids were actually disappointed that I wasn’t baking, but they got over it when it was time to eat chocolate.

We have a tradition of letting the kids pick out special cereal, any kind, for their birthday and also they get to plan dinner.  I was very proud of Mr S.  He was very careful to pick out cereal (Corn Pops), cake (chocolate with chocolate frosting), ice cream, and a dinner that Mr R could eat.  He made me double check that the cereal didn’t contain any artificial colors.

Check in with Jen at Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes!

7 Quick Takes MidAugust originally appeared on Mama Says on August 14, 2009. If you see this posted on any other site, please let me know! Leave me a comment on www.milehimama.com