Tuesday, July 07, 2009
The Quitter-in-Chief
So baffling is the ongoing coverage of Sarah Palin that usually I don't attempt to speak of her, because my mouth simply hangs agape and the words refuse to flow.
But I must comment on this quote, which is just beyond absurd for someone who harbors White House fantasies (hilarious and delusional as they may be):
Should someone tell her that a Presidential term is four years -- and they don't offer "breaks?" Or is the Bush presidency the only one she ever followed, thus leading her to the logical conclusion that you get 77 vacations per 8 years in office?
I wonder how long the media will continue to track her like a dead pop star?
|
But I must comment on this quote, which is just beyond absurd for someone who harbors White House fantasies (hilarious and delusional as they may be):
...off--color jokes by talk-show host David Letterman contributed to her decision to step down, (Attorney) Thomas Van Flein said.Wow, can you imagine how she's suffered?
The governor needed a break after being "on duty now for two and a half years solid," he said.
Should someone tell her that a Presidential term is four years -- and they don't offer "breaks?" Or is the Bush presidency the only one she ever followed, thus leading her to the logical conclusion that you get 77 vacations per 8 years in office?
I wonder how long the media will continue to track her like a dead pop star?
|
Monday, July 06, 2009
Very Grumpy News and Notes
- The San Diego Padres have pretty much ruined my fantasy baseball season by trading Scott Hairston to the American League. The organization is now dead to me. Go fuck yourself, San Diego!
- That was a really intense Wimbledon final, and I felt just terrible for Andy Roddick. Not sure if the media made a big deal of the exchange between the two players during Federer's remarks to the crowd. R-Fed tried to "comfort" Roddick by telling him, rather insensitively I thought, that he (Federer) had lost a tough final on Centre Court just last year. To which Roddick appropriately responded, off mic but still audibly, "Yeah, but you'd already won five!" If I were Andy, I think Federer would've been wearing his racket frame as a necklace.
- I have no particular allegiance to Steve McNair, but I felt rather ill when I saw the breaking news of his death. What an awful mess.
|
Friday, July 03, 2009
Welcome, Furries!
Pittsburgh's no Las Vegas. But we do get a few high-profile conventions. This weekend it's a double-dip, and a funny combination at that: MENSA and Anthrocon.
That's right -- the Furries are back. It's hard to miss their arrival. The person buying a bagel in front of me just now had a tail.
I know the company line that it's not all about sex for the Furry crowd. But when I see them, I can't help but think of this episode of Entourage. The last bit of the video is NSFW. No nudity, but there's language and, um, "adult situations."
|
That's right -- the Furries are back. It's hard to miss their arrival. The person buying a bagel in front of me just now had a tail.
I know the company line that it's not all about sex for the Furry crowd. But when I see them, I can't help but think of this episode of Entourage. The last bit of the video is NSFW. No nudity, but there's language and, um, "adult situations."
|
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Wacky names
In my work-related internet travels today, I landed on the Wikipedia page for Congressman and former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler.
His children are named Navy and Island. Yes, Island.
That led me to this Wiki page, which lists Unusual Personal Names. Island Shuler is on the list, along with many others, from ones I've heard of (like the Paltrow/Martin baby Apple) to ones I certainly hadn't, like:
|
His children are named Navy and Island. Yes, Island.
That led me to this Wiki page, which lists Unusual Personal Names. Island Shuler is on the list, along with many others, from ones I've heard of (like the Paltrow/Martin baby Apple) to ones I certainly hadn't, like:
- a National Guardsman who changed his name to Optimus Prime
- a British political candidate named Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrel
- Urban Shocker, who was a major league baseball pitcher in the early 20th century , and...
- Nigel Freemarijuana, which I believe is what the Comet is now going to name his firstborn.
|
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
...on the team?
Pirate deals -- initial reaction
My snap judgement on the Nyjer Morgan for Lastings Milledge trade: I like it.
The Pirates have to go for upside. Sparkly defense and terrific personality aside, Nyjer is not a noteworthy baseball player. He's turning 29, has zero power, and despite a decent OBP, is a low-percentage basestealer. He's not going to get any better, and that kind of player means absolutely nothing to a team like the Pirates.
Milledge, first and foremost, needs an attitude adjustment. But last year's performance -- at age 22 -- shows how much better than Morgan he can be. If he doesn't pan out, what have the Pirates really lost? Other than a few fans who don't understand what has to be done to get the team out of its current predicament.
The only snag could be if middle reliever Sean Burnett (also included in the trade on the Bucs' end) does the unthinkable, and turns out to be a star. Which, knowing the Pirates' luck, he probably will.
Earlier in the day, the Bucs got two minor leaguers for Eric Hinske. Assuming those two men have pulses, it was a good deal.
|
The Pirates have to go for upside. Sparkly defense and terrific personality aside, Nyjer is not a noteworthy baseball player. He's turning 29, has zero power, and despite a decent OBP, is a low-percentage basestealer. He's not going to get any better, and that kind of player means absolutely nothing to a team like the Pirates.
Milledge, first and foremost, needs an attitude adjustment. But last year's performance -- at age 22 -- shows how much better than Morgan he can be. If he doesn't pan out, what have the Pirates really lost? Other than a few fans who don't understand what has to be done to get the team out of its current predicament.
The only snag could be if middle reliever Sean Burnett (also included in the trade on the Bucs' end) does the unthinkable, and turns out to be a star. Which, knowing the Pirates' luck, he probably will.
Earlier in the day, the Bucs got two minor leaguers for Eric Hinske. Assuming those two men have pulses, it was a good deal.
|
Lazy like a FOX (Or "American Idle")
Alright, FOX. Fine idea to do a Michael Jackson tribute last night. But terrible execution.
The network simply replayed the entire two-hour American Idol episode from March in which the contestants sang songs from MJ's catalog. But they added nothing to it. Not even so much as a new intro by Seacrest. In some ways it was actually a bit macabre, since there was no mention of Jackson's death within the program.
Why not re-edit the show to include new voiceovers, interspersing the contestants' performances (minus the judges' comments) with a few celebrity interviews, fan reaction, etc?
How hard could that have been? As it was, the show came off as a cheap way to cash in on Jackson's death without having to actually pay tribute to him at all.
|
The network simply replayed the entire two-hour American Idol episode from March in which the contestants sang songs from MJ's catalog. But they added nothing to it. Not even so much as a new intro by Seacrest. In some ways it was actually a bit macabre, since there was no mention of Jackson's death within the program.
Why not re-edit the show to include new voiceovers, interspersing the contestants' performances (minus the judges' comments) with a few celebrity interviews, fan reaction, etc?
How hard could that have been? As it was, the show came off as a cheap way to cash in on Jackson's death without having to actually pay tribute to him at all.
|
Monday, June 29, 2009
Greenification of the Nation, Pt. II
With our electricity consumption (and bill) dramatically reduced, we've turned our attention to water-related matters.We bought a big ol' rain barrel from the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, which sells them at a nice price and provides free installation and monitoring.
We'll use this (free!) H2O to water the plants and lawn, hose down the hound, wash the car, and other outdoor projects.
If we keep it long enough, we'll make the cost of the barrel back. But the bigger benefit is that we're doing our small part to reduce runoff -- which complicates sewer problems that could eventually financially cripple our region.
If everyone had barrels, we'd greatly reduce the number of times taxpayers get whacked by (and pay a lot to clean up) flash floods like the ones two weeks ago.
|
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Well, that's kind of a big deal for movie people
Semi-lost in the shuffle of the Piece of Shit Hypocrite Family Values Politican Du Jour (no, that's not sticking in my craw at all) is this story: There will now be 10 Best Picture Nominees at the Academy Awards.
Is this just a chance to include more movies, so more people watch the show to see if their favorite wins? Or is it a reaction to those who say the awards are too serious and/or artsy? Will more comedies and lighter-but-still-good films be included?
Clearly it will change the level of prestige associated with being a Best Picture Nominee (though apparently there were originally 10 nominees Back In The Day).
So will they now use asterisks and disclaimers to indicate pre/post-2010 nominees, similar to how we always had to hear that the undefeated '72 Dolphins only played a 14-game schedule?
|
Is this just a chance to include more movies, so more people watch the show to see if their favorite wins? Or is it a reaction to those who say the awards are too serious and/or artsy? Will more comedies and lighter-but-still-good films be included?
Clearly it will change the level of prestige associated with being a Best Picture Nominee (though apparently there were originally 10 nominees Back In The Day).
So will they now use asterisks and disclaimers to indicate pre/post-2010 nominees, similar to how we always had to hear that the undefeated '72 Dolphins only played a 14-game schedule?
|
Sanford and Son Argentinian Mistress
Well, well. Another scripture-citing lawmaker who likes to tell you and me how to live a moral life shows that he's completely and utterly full of shit.Can we declare the whole "family values" platform -- which has proven itself to be a total sham day after day for the last 15 years -- officially dead now? The GOP will have to settle for being the party of... um. Hmm.
I think we can safely scratch Sanford off the list of White House hopefuls. He was one of the "Big Three" Republican governors. So now it's Bobby Jindal and Tim Pawlenty's turn to be exposed as giant hypocrites.
Long way to go before 2012. Don't bet against them!
(Side note: All partisanship aside: What a weird freaking story. Perhaps the strangest politician affair story ever).
|
Friday, June 19, 2009
Well, this just seems wrong
We have the CBS Sports U.S. Open live scoring thing open on a computer here at work, and I noticed this:
WTF? Really? So I clicked, and sure enough, you can pick out your "Favorite," "Preferred," and "Despised" professional golfers. Your most despised golfer.
I was particularly amused by their defining "Despised" ("Players You Hate").
Does this strike anyone else as disturbing on multiple levels?
|
WTF? Really? So I clicked, and sure enough, you can pick out your "Favorite," "Preferred," and "Despised" professional golfers. Your most despised golfer.
I was particularly amused by their defining "Despised" ("Players You Hate").
Does this strike anyone else as disturbing on multiple levels?
|
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Who says there are no free lunches?
iPhone users received Apple's newest software update, version 3.0, last night. It gives us some nifty new features and enables some others that will come down the pike later this summer.
These types of upgrades still seem magical and crazy to me. I mean, it seems normal for Windows to "update" itself, but you never see any real changes. But having major features added to my cell phone, TiVo, or a video game? Wacky. Especially video games, since I come from the era of Nintendo cartridges, which didn't connect to anything -- including the inside of the Nintendo half the time.
|
These types of upgrades still seem magical and crazy to me. I mean, it seems normal for Windows to "update" itself, but you never see any real changes. But having major features added to my cell phone, TiVo, or a video game? Wacky. Especially video games, since I come from the era of Nintendo cartridges, which didn't connect to anything -- including the inside of the Nintendo half the time.
|
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Fav-ruh
If I hear another commentator/newsperson refer to Brett Favre as potentially making a comeback, I'm going to scream.
It's not a comeback IF YOU NEVER LEFT! Bahh!
|
It's not a comeback IF YOU NEVER LEFT! Bahh!
|
Ha ha!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
History
I was just shown a video of Mark Paul Gosselaar's Monday night appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, which he did entirely in character as Zack from Saved by the Bell.
This got me wondering: Why did I never really watch that show? It was on all the time, it seemed, so I know the characters and the general themes. But I can't have watched more than a couple of full episodes.
Did other folks my age watch it? Even though it was about high school, was it more for the middle school set? Or am I just weird?
Now, 90210 -- I was all over that shit.
|
This got me wondering: Why did I never really watch that show? It was on all the time, it seemed, so I know the characters and the general themes. But I can't have watched more than a couple of full episodes.
Did other folks my age watch it? Even though it was about high school, was it more for the middle school set? Or am I just weird?
Now, 90210 -- I was all over that shit.
|
Monday, June 08, 2009
Ain't Looking for Nothin' But a Good Time Huge Wall
We were among the 7.45 million Tony Awards viewers last night -- that's up 19% from last year. Why? I say the brilliant Neil Patrick Harris. That's why we actually remembered to tune in.
Or maybe everyone just somehow knew that Bret Michaels from Poison was going to get clotheslined by a massive piece of scenery.
Seriously!
Now that's entertainment! (Don't worry, he's OK).
|
Or maybe everyone just somehow knew that Bret Michaels from Poison was going to get clotheslined by a massive piece of scenery.
Seriously!
Now that's entertainment! (Don't worry, he's OK).
|
Monday, June 01, 2009
51 days, that took
This is definitely one of the fastest descents into celebrity madness ever.No one had heard of Susan Boyle six weeks ago. Then she got famous overnight.
Last week she yelled at some reporters, and now she's been hospitalized with "exhaustion."
How long before she's out with Britney and Lindsey Lohan, exposing her hoo-hah?
Yeah. I went there with the imagery.
|
Friday, May 29, 2009
Poor angry Beavis is GONE!!
Last night I noticed that all of this site's graphics are gone -- like the D-Nation logo, the "Anchorman" info box, etc. I thought it was just a glitch on my home computer. But just this moment I realized, with great horror, that they are probably gone for good.
You see, I had them stored on my Verizon web storage space. Haven't thought about it in years. But this week we cancelled our Verizon DSL and switched to Comcast. Not sure if I have them saved anywhere else.
Shit.
Hey, maybe I'll start a contest. Create me a logo. The winner gets... my use of their logo!
|
You see, I had them stored on my Verizon web storage space. Haven't thought about it in years. But this week we cancelled our Verizon DSL and switched to Comcast. Not sure if I have them saved anywhere else.
Shit.
Hey, maybe I'll start a contest. Create me a logo. The winner gets... my use of their logo!
|
Scary-ass picture of the week
Man, the natives have really been tearing ol' Bill a new one this week for sounding the Hurricane siren.
I think the bigger issue is: Doesn't Fire Marshall Bill need his teeth back?
|
I think the bigger issue is: Doesn't Fire Marshall Bill need his teeth back?
|
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The List: CCE -- The Year: 1975
OK, OK, you got me. I was born in 1975 and was incapable of having a crush.But in honor of Stevie Nicks' 61st birthday, I must point out that, as I alluded to here, had I been capable of a crush in 1975, she would have been it.
|
TMI Tuesday
Borrowing a page from Sean's TMI Thursday, I ask:
Does coffee make anyone else's pee smell like coffee?
|
Does coffee make anyone else's pee smell like coffee?
|
Thursday, May 21, 2009
The List CCE -- The Year: 1999
Ali Larter. Varsity Blues. If you saw the movie, and are a heterosexual male, I do not think I need to explain any further.Had there been a List in 1999, she would have topped it.
I opted not to post the screen shot from the movie here. Even though there's absolutely no nudity, I suppose it could be considered *borderline* NSFW.
So here's a link instead!
|
What'd they call that thang? "Bush Derangement Syndrome?"
My favorite story of the week comes courtesy of the Republican Party.
Chairman Michael Steele said earlier this week that the GOP must go after President Obama's policies and not fear his popularity:
|
Chairman Michael Steele said earlier this week that the GOP must go after President Obama's policies and not fear his popularity:
Steele said the GOP will take on Obama with class and dignity, unlike the "shabby and classless way" Democrats took on Bush.Fair enough, right? But, uh-oh:
...One of the agenda items at a special meeting of the Republican National Committee next week is to formally rename the Democratic Party [the "Democrat Socialist Party"]. Much like the successful effort to rename French fries “Freedom fries.”Hmm. Well, I guess it's still a step up from this!
|
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Equal Time
Eli got a post the other day, so Basil and Tonks get their turn.
It's hard to tell from this tight shot, but the ladies are perched on a mattress standing on its end. They freakin' love that shit.
I don't know if this is universal to cats, but every time I stand a mattress up, it's "game on" in a matter of seconds.
Watching them climb it is a study in contrasting styles. Tonks (left) crouches down, leaps, and gets to the top in two cheetah-like moves. The less athletically-gifted Basil does it Spider-Man style -- she just grabs on and scales it one dug-in claw at a time.
|
It's hard to tell from this tight shot, but the ladies are perched on a mattress standing on its end. They freakin' love that shit.
I don't know if this is universal to cats, but every time I stand a mattress up, it's "game on" in a matter of seconds.
Watching them climb it is a study in contrasting styles. Tonks (left) crouches down, leaps, and gets to the top in two cheetah-like moves. The less athletically-gifted Basil does it Spider-Man style -- she just grabs on and scales it one dug-in claw at a time.
|
Monday, May 18, 2009
The Year: 1987
Around 1987 I had one of my earliest celebrity crushes, and the object of my affection was former "Go-Go" Belinda Carlisle. She was rockin' the solo career, and I was rockin' the sixth/seventh grades.
I clearly recall owning the above cassingle of "I Get Weak." But I only bought it because of the picture. In no way do I vividly remember blasting the song in my room when it played on the B94 Top Eight at Eight.
|
The List: CCE
In honor of May Sweeps, I've decided to throw you a curve ball. Or maybe a knuckleball. Or a nasty slider.
Either way, it's The List: Classic Crush Edition.
In this countdown (which isn't really a countdown), I will present some celebrities who were my favorites at various points in time before this blog came to be.
First installment is on the way.
|
Either way, it's The List: Classic Crush Edition.
In this countdown (which isn't really a countdown), I will present some celebrities who were my favorites at various points in time before this blog came to be.
First installment is on the way.
|
Closure
So, the closing went fine and only took about 25 minutes. We are homeowners!Who knew that so much could be accomplished simply by signing your name 114 times?
The only mildly annoying thing during our final walkthrough was that there's still a DirecTV satellite attached to the back deck.
Hopefully the company will take it back. If not, then sometime over the weekend I will try to remove it (see photo).
|
