Those is fightin' words

The debate over the new Knight Rider series rages. An article in Popular Mechanics breaks down the new KITT and compares it to the old one. The best part is all the comments at the bottom of the article.  In my opinion, I think it is stupid.  It all goes back to the fact that our entertainment industry falls apart without good writers.  They deserve to be fairly compensated for their creativity and hard work.  Without writers, we get horrible re-makes of 70s and 80s shows, more reality TV, more game shows... barf.  No wonder TV shows on DVD are doing such good business.

First of all, NBC shouldn't be doing this re-make.  They are too commercial, they are too corporate.  Shows like this have a solid, cult following and their fans don't want to see something from their past violated and transformed (pun intended) into a crappy corporate pawn, used for advertisement and promotion of a new model of car.  Shouldn't it be a fun and entertaining show, not a season's worth of commercials for one car company?  How much did Ford pay for that product placement?  And seriously, a Mustang?  I mean it looks nice and all, but it isn't the same.  It doesn't look like KITT.  The Trans Am was solid, imposing, but still accessible by the common man, unlike the Batmobile or this glossy POS.  You can't replace KITT, so why have just have a newer, updated version of him?  Shiny, maybe some nicer wheels, some extra gadgets, but still the same KITT.  That is what people want. Refresh and renew the old, good memories, but don't change them or exploit them for your own gain.

NBC just doesn't get that.  They start drooling when they see dollar signs...

In a similar article, Moviefone.com ranked the Worst Movie Remakes of All Time.

Nooni and Nooni

So as I was walking around IKEA the other day, looking for a couple items for the house, I couldn't stop thinking of the Swedish neighbors SNL skit. I remember that at the time I thought it was ridiculous and stupid and didn't get it. But within a week I was dying to see it again because it was so funny. So after many searches on the web, I finally found it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

The BCS Computer's Feelings are Hurt...

So, as the BCS debate rages on, using this upset-filled season as Exhibit A, more and more people are calling for the playoff system to be implemented ('December Delirium' as some have put it). There are people on all sides of the ball upset about how the bowls are being divided up and how the rankings came out at the end of the season, but is the bracket-based playoff really the answer? Well, if you wanna see what a playoff scheme might look like, check out the College Football Playoff Simulator on ESPN. It is awesome. See how the probabilities stack up, the simulated stats and occasional upsets lead to what would be a very exciting postseason. It didn't take very long for me to generate a Virginia Tech national championship (pictured). The computer knows what is up. But this does raise some questions and concerns...

How many games are you going to ask these teams to play? Are you going to cut out some of the out-of-conference games during the season and back up the conference championships (well, that is if the conference has a championship instead of letting their top team take the last three weeks of the season off)? So what does that do to the chances of the "little guy?" If the season is going to be primarily conference games, then a championship, then seeding and bracket play (potentially 4 more games??) then were do the smaller programs get a chance to show they deserve some recognition on the national stage? Is this just about making the big names bigger and the small ones smaller? Would it become a 16-game season? Possibly more? Would it take away coverage and hype from the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl?

And what about these players? We all question if they are still studying with all that practice and traveling. But if you add another three or four weeks of football onto the season, should they just take the fall semester off academically? I mean how do you expect them to be able to do that and still study? Or do they just get to float by and pass the classes, "for the greater good?"

Can I Get a Witness?

Wow... I had no idea Bill Maher actually felt like this. This video alone almost makes me want to like him. I was with him, wanting to yell out "Preach it, brother!" for the first five and a half minutes. After that it gets more political and he starts dropping the F bomb left and right. But still....



The only sad thing is that there is so much truth to what he is saying that the audience was almost silent during the pauses. The men should have been standing up and giving him an ovation, but instead they respectfully applauded at the properly timed moments. Were they there with a girlfriend or wife and only clapped and laughed when she did, to avoid a tongue lashing at home or passive-aggressive manipulative silent tension around the house. This is an issue that I have been talking about for a long time now it seems, but no one seems to agree with me. They just nod and smile and either think I am some chauvinist pig or I am going to die alone and single in a monastery. I see it especially in commercials and TV shows. The characters are so stereotypical, it is really offensive to me.... but everyone else sees it as normal or just listen and humor my tirades...

That fear of agreement and the ensuing retaliation is so prevalent that I hesitate to even post this on my blog. I know there aren't too many people reading it regularly, but still, why have I been trained to be afraid of agreeing with something like this, which I believe is true? I feel like I am going to be flooded with hate mail and death threats or permanently shunned by the female gender (I know all about your secret gossip networks and listservs) Why are we trying to make men more like women? Aren't our differences the most attractive part? Why has the widely accepted "truth" of "if momma aint happy, aint nobody happy" been applied to all walks of life and all situations? Such that men in our society have to walk around on eggshells to make sure they don't offend a female nearby.

Anyways. I don't usually like Bill Maher and I know he has said a lot of dumb and offensive things over the years. But it is refreshing to hear someone tell this side of the story and uncover the reality sitting right before our eyes. Feminism may have done some great things for the furtherance of females in society and the workplace, but I think it has also had a very negative affect on men, culture, and our society as a whole.

Best Endorsement of All Time

I guess that's how it's gonna be. Seems like my vote is already decided.

Back to you, Kirk...

It is pretty much widely accepted to have a female commentator on the sidelines for every football game to give us an in-depth look into the game (is this because we assume women can sense or feel the emotional charge of momentum and passion on the sidelines better than a man can?). Personally, I have always been opposed to this attempt to freshen and lighten the broadcast with a sweet female voice and some pretty "eye candy" to throw up on the screen.

Granted, I am not as opposed to the sideline reporters as I am the women who actually do the play-by-play sportscasting (you know who you are, Pam Ward), but with their Captain Obvious comments and observations, I wonder if the sideline reporters are anything more than a pretty face to put in front of the camera and talk about football (with their seemingly elementary understanding of the game). Sadly, there are many whose looks have gone the way of the buffalo, and by that I mean both relocated to the mountains of Wyoming and also covered with hair.

So, should they be pulled? Maybe they understand football and can talk into a microphone, but does the audience really want that or do they just want some hottie with words pertaining to football coming out of her glitter-glossed mouth as we zone everything out and stare at the screen?

Well, apparently a couple individuals have taken it upon themselves to answer this question by compiling lists of the hottest sportscasters currently on the tube. I found FoxSports list first as I was looking at some fantasy football scores (yeah, this kinda gives a whole new definition to fantasy football... or football fantasy rather). It seemed pretty good and I don't have too many complaints. I do hope that this list isn't in order because Shana Hiatt, Erin Andrews, and Rachel Nichols should be higher. Speaking of which, why not let us vote or rank? I want my opinion to be heard!! What about Suzy Kolber? Or the little known NASCAR reporter, Shannon Spake? Even Michelle Bonner and the inner monologue battling to convince you she actually is hot?

Well as you would expect, there are many people in the web community that have weighed in on the issue. Here are some links to more female sportscaster content.

• Sideline Hotties (website dedicated to sexy female sportscasters)
• Erin Andrews Slideshow (a little creepy...)
• A Blog List of Hottest Sportscasters (I don't agree with this list at all, but whatever)
• Survey: Favorite Female Hotties at ESPN (Andrews and Nichols clearly running away with it... but what caught my eye was that Nichols was in Maxim? And this didn't get her more votes??)
• The One and Only Maria Sansone... Sideline Reporting??
  

Maybe at some point I will make my own list, but for now, I am glad people are willing to admit why they really like having a pretty female face on the sidelines telling them about football.

Old man bites tenderly...

This is one of the funniest Japanese game shows I have ever seen. The contestants are in a library and have to be quiet, no more than a whisper. The rest is pretty self-explanatory...

Senor Mathador Attacks!

I finally uploaded Benji's Senor Mathador video to YouTube, so now all the world can see the awesomeness. I also just uploaded a couple other videos. It's so easy, I don't know why I waited this long to get into it...

a dropped call can ruin a conversation...

THE UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 36
CHAPTER 10
The “FLAG CODE”

§171. Conduct during playing The Star-Spangled Banner

During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.


What part of that don't you understand, Obama?

You are not in uniform, you are a United States Senator, and you are one of the Democratic candidates for President of the United States, yet you refuse to place your hand over your heart during the National Anthem? If you are unwilling to pledge your allegiance to our nation, then whose nation are you pledging your allegiance to?

Sure some people have made a big deal out of your stance on not wearing an American flag lapel pin. I was surprised that you would come out and declare that you will not wear one as opposed to just deciding privately that you don't need excessively patriotic "flair" on your suits.

Do you have a problem with our flag? With our country? With being a citizen of this country? You're not making a very convincing argument for why America should vote for you.

Excited for tonight...

Tonight can't come soon enough...

Two hearts fading, like a flower.
And all this waiting, for the power.
For some answer, to this fire.
Sinking slowly. The water’s higher.
Desire

With no secrets. No obsession.
This time I'm speeding with no direction.
Without a reason. What is this fire?
Burning slowly. My one and only.
Desire

You know me. You don't mind waiting.
You just can't show me, but God I'm praying,
That you'll find me, and that you'll see me,
That you run and never tire.
Desire

feeling it...

In the wind in the gale, thunder and the hail
Sometimes I feel like I'm going insane
Without the numbness or the pain so intense to feel
Especially now it added up through the years

Most of the time I got nothing to say
When I do it's nothing and nobody's there to listen anyway
I know I'm probably better off this way
I just listen to the voices on the TV 'til I'm tired
My eyes grow heavy and I fade away

And I, I taught myself how to grow
Without any love and there was poison in the rain
I taught myself how to grow
Now I'm crooked on the outside
And the inside's broke...

Sad to see you go...

The internet community was hit hard this week as the popular website TV Links was shut down and the Gloucester police arrested the site's creator (for more on this story, check out these articles: The Guardian | Online Community Mourns | FACT Targets the Little Guy | Digital Spy on FACT | A State-side Reaction | Further Analysis).

This was not the first time someone has gotten in trouble with the law for computer and web usage that infringes on trademark and copyright issues, and it will most-assuredly not be the last. Without self-incrimination, I can say that I am sad to see TV Links go. It was an amazing website, the vastness of the link archive was truly awe-inspiring and exciting. Discovering new TV shows that you had never seen, catching up on missed episodes, reminiscing with an old Transformers cartoon... I can honestly say that TV Links was one of my all-time favorite websites.

But what is disconcerting about this action isn't the loss of a fun website, because really there are lots of similar websites out there (here's a list to get you started), but I worry about the legitimate legal basis for this. As some of the articles and blogs have commented, this man still hasn't been charged and authorities aren't entirely sure what to charge him with. Of course the idea is that they arrested him because his website was providing pirated content to users. But his website was not hosting the content, only linking (hence the site's name) to other sites that publish the videos. So really, his website was just a collection of links to other people's stuff. Is that illegal? Does that count as "inducement?" Even if it does, since this was a UK-based website, "inducement" isn't a recognized or punishable offense in Britain. On top of that, the majority of the content this site linked to was published on foreign (primarily southeast Asian) websites, which are outside the jurisdiction of the British police and courts.

And why is FACT going after this small-time guy instead of some of the bigger sites out there? Is it because they know he won't be able to defend himself or afford a good lawyer? Is it because YouTube has become so popular, not only with users, but also with reporters and news commentators as their pop-culture-relevance flavoring touch, trying to stay young and hip?

I am really sad to see this amazing site go, but I also feel bad for this young man who provided so much for so many people around the world and now has been targeted by the "big guns" and is pretty much hung out to dry. It's just sad....

G'day Goodell!

I do have to say that I love the endless quotes and quips and references to London Calling on Sportscenter and First Take as the dream-jobbers debate the validity and impact of the upcoming NFL regular season game being played in London, England. But as far as the idea, I don't buy it. What does Commish Goodell think this will accomplish? Why does he think this is a good idea?


First of all, I just don't buy the fact that anyone outside of the U.S. is very interested in the NFL, or American football as a sport in general for that matter. I know that they have this whole new promotional campaign to try to get latinos interested in American football. It is as if they are saying, "really, it's ok. I know you love soccer, but come watch the NFL. It won't kill you." But the facts are pretty clear. Unlike other sports, American football is uniquely American and has never been able to successfully move beyond our borders. Although I am not entirely certain that there is a majority of NFL viewers in the U.S. that would want that to happen anyways. The NFL is, and always has been, kinda "our" thing. We have tried hosting games in other countries to try to get people interested and promote it, but those events haven't turned out that well. The (smaller) stadiums aren't full, the atmosphere is completely different, and the fans don't really know what is going on or what to cheer for. It is as if we said, "ok, well this is my favorite toy, but I am willing to share it with you" and then have it rejected. In the past, NFL games played outside the United States have not gone well.

But the difference is, those games were pre-season exhibition games. Not regular season games that actually count and matter!! If you play a pre-season game in Mexico City and no one shows up or the fans don't get it and sit there eating their churros completely befuddled, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter! The NFL execs get a couple extra bucks, the Mexican fans walk out the stadium not sure why there were so many points on the board and barely any kicking involved in a sport called football... and the two NFL teams go back to their respective cities with fun stories and get ready for the season. But, if it is a regular season game, being played across the pond in London, not only do you have the fans that have no clue what is going on in the game and cheer at the wrong times, if at all, fans that have absolutely no investment in the game or either team and could care less who really wins (it is like that stupid board game Hoopla where no one wins, the point of the game is for us all to be happy little fairies that encourage and build each other up).

Did Goodell learn nothing from the disaster of NFL Europe?? Those stadiums are smaller than almost all the NFL football stadiums in the U.S., but none of them sold out, no one really cared, no one watched. Europe sent a message to the front office, loud and clear, "We don't care about American football. We don't get it, we don't want to watch it, the only interest we have is the curious amazement at how you Americans get so into it." But apparently Goodell turned a deaf ear to that and has spent a ton of money, I am sure, on developing this NFL beachhead in London. I hope for the NFL's sake that there is a negative backlash both by the British and by the loyal Giants and Dolphins fans here in the states.

Speaking of which, another reason this game is a horrible idea is the fans. And no, not just the clueless and indifferent European "fans" but also the die hard, season ticket holding, American NFL fans. Home games are highly prized by NFL fans, especially ones who have season tickets, yet this game is taking a home game away from the already miserably awful Miami Dolphins. Now, the Dolphins and their fans are already having a horrible season. Both the starting QB and RB are out for the rest of the season, their usually good defense has been horrible, and their star linebacker, Zach Thomas, might miss the overseas game because of a neck injury.

So, in essence, the season is falling apart in Miami, but you are still taking away a home game that these loyal fans have paid for and expected to enjoy. Both teams are traveling all the way to London (much further than a couple states over for an away game), dealing with the time change, culture change, jet lag, and neutral, if not hostile conditions in the stadium. Then after playing in these strange circumstances, they have to come all the way back to play the following week back in the states. It is in the middle of the schedule and you expect it to not affect these teams rhythm and focus? I think it is a bad idea and I hope that it fails miserably and everyone hates it. It sucks that the Giants and the Dolphins are the ones that have to get sucked into this and that their seasons and potential playoff hopes (the Giants more so than the Dolphins) will be affected by this stupid promotional stunt.

I hope you're happy with yourself Commissioner.

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear era, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river

I rent a room and I fill the spaces with wood in places to make it feel like home
But all I feel's alone

It might be a quarter life crisis or just the stirring in my soul

Either way I wonder sometimes
About the outcome of a still verdictless life

Things I've Learned Recently

• If you're at a restaurant eating dinner with another couple, don't let your wife pull out her cell phone to use the calculator and figure out how the check should be split. It just gets messy and confusing.
• Contrary to popular belief, fried chicken, hushpuppies, and Sweet Tea for breakfast is actually delicious
  
• Round-abouts (aka traffic circles), though brilliant in foreign applications, will never work well in the American traffic system and I find communities and neighborhoods that implement them pretentious and elitist
  
• Trying to make strip malls and fast food restaurants look more classy doesn't work. They are still strip malls and fast food restaurants, it's just now they don't have good signage, good lighting, or the usual external appearance, taking away from their practical use to the customer
• Golf is stressful. I know longer see going to play a round of golf as a luxurious vacation of some sort
• Having a beer on the golf course dramatically changes your perspective on how much your mistakes really matter
  
• I am really competitive
• Overly-hyper-and-bubbly waitresses need to chill out. Someone working in the food service industry with that much energy must be hiding something... or on drugs
• There is a very real and potentially painful limit to how much fried seafood one person can eat
• Corvettes can still make women turn their heads and say "Damn! I want that car!"
• No matter what you eat at a Waffle House, you will always leave happily full and feeling dirtier than when you entered, but in a good way
• I hate Myrtle Beach
• Broadway at the Beach (in Myrtle) is the most ridiculous monstrosity in the world
• Girls with southern accents = to die for
• I can't help being attracted to a woman that serves me beer (ie: bartender, drink cart girl, brewery tour guide... etc.)
• People in the South know the difference between Virginia and Northern Virginia and treat people differently from each
• Although you may get an amazing education, compared to some of the larger universities, W&M students might only get 50% of the "college experience"
• Never take the Skyline Drive for granted. If you have the chance, set aside time and go for a drive on it at least once a year, preferably in the Fall. Drive the entire road at least once
  
• Spending too much time with one person in the car will always get old, no matter who they are
  
• It is possible to get sick of CDs that I once thought were perfect and amazing for all times and all moods, especially in the car
• Trying to listen to a CD in a convertible on the interstate is pretty much a waste of time
• Getting new CDs in the mail is like self-declared Christmas and always puts me in a good mood
• It always feels good to have someone ask, "Have you been working out?" and legitimately mean it, whether they are a golf instructor or good friend you haven't seen in a while
  

We're only one argument from deaf

When you get these feelings next time... next time
Oh, be sure....
You're gonna tear someone apart
I wanna know how it all works out
I had a feeling we were fading out
I didn't know that people faded out
That people faded out so fast

I wanna show you what I've got inside
But you know those parts of me died
Just like that, they faded out
They faded out so fast
And there was love enough left to fix it

But... there it is

Colbert Dips Toe Into Proverbial Pool...

In Stephen Colbert's constantly tongue-in-cheek way, he some how was able to poke fun at the New York Times columnists not only from his own desk on the TV set, but from theirs as well! I think this woman learned a valuable lesson: don't try to intimidate Colbert or get him to back down by challenging him to anything, cause he will take you up on it. As The Decemberists found out, Stephen doesn't back down, no matter what the challenge is.

Read Colbert's NY Times column here.

Spirit of Troof

I ran across this video again. It had been a while, but it still makes me laugh. I know the language is bad, but that is the funniest part. Is this guy really a preacher somewhere? This is some sort of phone-in program, but just like the camera work and video "special effects," the audio is so shoddy, you can't hear the callers. So it looks like this preacher is just talking to himself, which makes it even better.

Once again, brace yourself for the language. It really is over the top...



I don't know which is best:

• His trimmed, balding head and braided ponytail
  
• His missing tooth
• The background/green screen picture that doesn't change. Is that Yosemite Falls?
  
• When he randomly starts laughing in an unsettlingly insane way
• When he throws out expletives every other word while talking about Jesus and the Holy Spirit

Lord, please help us...

Transport, motorways and tramlines
Starting and then stopping
Taking off and landing
The emptiest of feelings
Disappointed people clinging on to bottles
And when it comes it's so so disappointing

Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around

Shell smashed, juices flowing
Wings twitch, legs are going
Don't get sentimental
It always ends up drivel

One day I'm going to grow wings
A chemical reaction
Hysterical and useless

Let down and hanging around
Let down... oh so let down...

The end must be near...

Today's sign that the Apocalypse is near: George Clooney and Ben Affleck should run for President.

Since when does Brad Pitt no anything about anything other than looking pretty and getting paid ridiculous amounts of money? And good lord, of all the people in Hollywood, why would you pick them? The over-the-hill has-been and the perpetually worthless idiot. And since when does being an actor qualify you to run our country? Is it because you are so good at faking/lying/pretending? Hollywood to politics: Reagan, Arnold, and now Thompson. I don't think Clooney or Affleck could handle it.

Yet another reason why Pitt should keep his mouth shut and leave the thinking to the big boys...

Taking it too far...

Man, it is stuff like this that pisses me off.

First of all, after watching the video, I would be willing to give the business owner the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he didn't know it is illegal to fly any other flag above the American flag. Judging by a couple of the ignorant comments to the news story, it seems that there may be quite a few people living in this country, let alone citizens, that don't know about this law.

I do, however, know this law as well as the other regulations for correctly handling (and disposing of) an American flag. Maybe it's because I was in the Boy Scouts or was raised in the family I was, taught these important lessons and ideals by my parents, or maybe it is my excellent observational skills that allowed me to notice how the American flag is honored and respected when flown over businesses and federal buildings (even if the US flag is at half-mast), or even the United Nations building (all flags are at the same height and are the same size, except for the UN flag, because United Nations property is technically international territory) or the way a color guard dips all flags but the US flag during the National Anthem.

So, yes, I know the law. I know both the letter and the spirit of the law and watching that video sickens and saddens me. But not because some dirty infidels from south of the border are purposefully insulting our country. Yes, the man was wrong to fly the Mexican flag over his business like that. But isn't there a more civil way of addressing the situation? Do you really believe that the flying of the Mexican flag above ours was a defiant and cowardly attack on America, Mr. Psycho-war-vet?? He wasn't declaring war or trying to come out and "fight" you as you claim, he was showing support for the Hispanic community in Reno and didn't know it was illegal.

Someone should have informed him that what he was doing was against the law instead of cutting down his flag and throwing it on the ground. The look of confusion, fear, and brokenness when the owner walks over to pick up his Mexican flag off the ground makes me really sad. He is an American citizen and I am sure he was wondering why he isn't welcome in our country, why he isn't accepted. Is this how we treat our own citizens? Is this how we "welcome" them into our country?

In our country, our flag and all it stands for should have a place of honor, not flown below another flag, not used as a picnic blanket or a firestarter, not left in the attic to be eaten by moths or thrown away in the trash can. Too many people have served and died to protect the freedoms we have in this country to disrespect the symbol of that freedom. But we should not trade freedom for oppression and antagonization of others who come here to enjoy those same freedoms. Let him support the Hispanics and his heritage, but inform him of the law and the reason for it so that he can willingly comply, instead of ripping down the flag and throwing it on the ground. Don't just slap some fishsticks on a plate and throw them in the microwave, take some time and teach him how to fish for himself.

Secondly, those comments replying to the story were some of the most ignorant things I have ever read.

1. Hey, hippie-liberal Oregon boy, I was going to rail on your lack of knowledge about our country (spending too much time reading Nietzsche and Marx?) and its flag, but since I already covered that and it appears you are not alone in your ignorance, I'll have to figure out some-other-way-to-mock-your-incredibly-annoying-excessive-use-of-hyphens. And no, just because you are a self-proclaimed "white American male" (really? In Oregon??) that doesn't mean you inherit knowledge of all things American. You still have to pay attention, study, and learn. Idiot.
2. And to the lady from Ashburn (I know it is an assumption, get over it), representing the Old Dominion so well, you lost me very early in your comment, so I skipped it and went on to the next one. Only after coming back later did I see that I may almost agree with you on some parts of your statement. But the fact of the matter is, Jesus wouldn't be getting involved in politics, even if some of the things he did upset the overly religious and political. And the act of you just throwing his name around as if it is a "Get Out of Jail Free" card that will help you win any argument is offensive to me. Jesus would care more about this man than about his actions, even if they did violate the law.
3. And Ms. Hernandez, I am not sure which flag you were referring to as "the Flag," but neither of them needs capitalization. And if you were referring to the Mexican flag in such a way, bestowing such great honor on it by giving it a capital letter and treating it as its own proper noun, then it sounds like you might be further off the wrong end of the pool than this poor business owner. At least he wasn't doing this to glorify The Flag of Mexico. But judging by the rest of your post, you just don't understand when to use the Shift key. See below.
   
4. And maybe I am picky, but the spelling and grammar errors that are rampant throughout these posts piss me off so much. I am not claiming that I never make mistakes, but good grief! Some things said were nonsensical and stupid, but even some comments with a point were so filled with flaws I was too distracted to actually get it. "If you aint got nothin' nice to say (including grammar and spelling), then don't say nothin' at all..."

Alright. That is all I have to say about that. Remember, freedom isn't free; it costs a buck o' five.

Ultimate Collisions

And people wonder how I got concussions playing Ultimate...

Anticipation...

If you can't tell by the changes to my Top 5, I am really excited about the upcoming Ryan Adams concert. I know, I know, it is still over a month away, but I have been wanting to see him in concert for so long now, the anticipation is killing me.
He is, by far, the top of my list of favorite artists right now and has been near the top for the last year after following his career and musical experimentation and expression since buying Gold and Demolition over 5 years ago.
His passion for music and love of creating new ways to open his life to the listener are truly captivating. His voice, sometimes biting and harsh, sometimes smooth and soft and on the verge of tears, tells the story of relationships gone bad, pain and hurt, struggles and difficulties, all of which come from his own experiences. It is as if his creative songwriting basket was overflowing with material to share and stories to tell that he was compelled to start writing and singing.

Anyways. Long story short, Ryan is the new Chris Carrabba, for me at least. While Chris captivated and spoke for the angst-filled and hurting teenagers from his own experiences, Ryan takes it to a deeper level, not only talking about relationships and hurt, but painting beautiful pictures with his lyrics and music. It often gives me chills, it's that good.

So excited. I need to go find a Halloween Head for the concert...

And this is why...

...I hate the new Jeep Wranglers. When you are being compared side-by-side with the H3, I think that is a problem. It is kinda like if I was in a band that prided itself on being independent and alternative and then read in a magazine that some music critic had compared us to Britney Spears (may her career R.I.P.). Whether you like it or not, it is all about image, and the Jeep marketing execs really need to consider where they are going with the image of The Jeep (a.k.a Wrangler, Renegage, Scrambler, CJ, YJ, or TJ)

You have forsaken what got you here in the first place, the attitude and image and power and utility of The Jeep. And when I say Jeep, I mean Wrangler, don't butt in and say, oh, you mean like my Grand Cherokee? No. That is made by the Jeep corporation, but you can't refer to it in the same way as the original Jeep.

I could go off on a tirade about them and how they are pandering to the soccer-mom, grocery-getter, frat-boy, daddy's-little-girl market instead of staying true to their roots. Jeep, don't you have an entire fleet of vehicles that fit that description and target that market? Why change the Wrangler to fit? Stupid. But ultimately, the extended and 4-doored Unlimited was Jeep's answer to the H2 and H3. Why do you feel you need to answer them? Let them do their thing and produce sucky cars that a minority of the world will actually want, but you can rise above that and keep your "franchise player," if you will, unsullied amidst this SUV / LUV crazed culture. I guess if you want to change all your goals and image as a car company and neglect the loyalty and uniqueness of the Jeep community in exchange for a new, ostensibly
cosmetic and superficial consumer base, then be my guest. I'm gonna go get a CJ-8 instead. Work back towards tradition instead of forward towards obscurity.

Where is the accountability?

As Week Two of the NFL season comes to a close tonight, there are a lot of surprises out there. But it seems that I am the only one who remembers all that pre-season chatter and all the predictions from the professional commentators. Sure, I know predictions are tough and you are probably guessing most of the time, but what I want to see is some accountability. I want to see those guys who get paid to talk about football get called out for their predictions that are wrong. Just say you were wrong, say you didn't see this one coming. Stop pretending you know everything, because you don't.

Some Examples:

• The Saints are 0-2 after two embarrassing games. It seemed everyone was picking them to go to the playoffs or even the Super Bowl. Last year it was an inspiring, emotional story. This year it isn't there and as commentators, you should be able to look past the daytime-drama story and see that the O-line and Deuce are a mess and that will not take them far. Also, their defense has already given up 72 points so far this season.
  
• The Houston Texans with Schaub and Johnson are lighting it up, winning both of their first two games. No one gave the Texans a chance. I don't hear anyone admitting they missed that one.
  
• Patriots do well, but Moss is the big story in Foxboro. Everyone was all over him about training camp and the preseason games, and then he comes out and puts up big time numbers. He's got attitude this, he isn't going to be game speed that. Moss made it look like he and Brady have been playing together since 3rd grade. I want to watch you eat your criticism of him.
  
• Cleveland beats the Bengals. Puts huge numbers up on the board. No one wanted to have faith in Jamal Lewis. Everyone predicted the Browns would be able to do nothing, meanwhile singing the praises of Cincinnati. Yeah Palmer this, Johnson that. Where is the Bengals' D?
• Let's see, who else were all you guys making love to in the preseason predictions? Oh yeah, St. Louis! Hmm... an 0-2 start with a pretty lackluster offense. I thought that was your main selling point guys? The dynamite, electrifying, high-powered offense of the Rams. Yeah. About that. I realize this week's game was a little closer than last week's shameful performance. You were just one fair-catch short of holding off those Niners. And no, Jeff Wilkins, I don't blame you. You have a good leg and that kick almost got there. But that isn't the story. Steven Jackson, where is he? I don't know, I don't know. Averaging 59 yards rushing and yet to find that painted rectangle at the end of the field...? And he wanted all the fantasy owners to pick him over L.T.
  
• The Rams have the Bucs next week, who just spanked the aforementioned Saints. No love for Tampa, either, if I recall. Cadillac looks like he may have his wheels back and Garcia is getting it done.
  
• L.T. and the Chargers, unimpressive and uninspiring. Way to win the all-defense opener only to be crushed by the Pats in Week 2. Did you do too many commercials in the off-season LaDainian? Time to play some football. A lot of people pick you guys to be in the Super Bowl...
• The Redskins defense looked great in their opener, but I wont say anything till after their second game tonight on MNF. Always have faith...
  
• And the last thing I want to mention is the off-season quarterback gossip you guys threw around. Romo's feelings are hurt so he will have lost all confidence and won't be able to play football. Uh huh? How about leading the NFL's highest scoring offense (82 points in 2 games), behind only Carson Palmer in fantasy points after passing for 6 TDs and 531 yrds in two games. And secondly, how about Brett Favre? I mean, I think he is a stud and is the man, but for all you people who were calling for him to retire and saying that he is too old and can't play anymore, he has thrown for 3 TDs and almost 500 yrds while leading his team to a 2-0 start. I know the Pack's new defense is impressive and has contributed to their success a lot, but I think you should still apologize to the man, the myth, the legend, Brett Favre.

With all that said, I know you have made a couple calls correctly and rightly so. I am not expecting you to be perfect, granted you do have the sweetest setup of anyone I know. You get to spend the day researching football and then get on TV and tell everyone what you think about what happened and what is going to happen, and they will drink it in and treat it like fact. And as stupid as I think it is, I know there isn't going to be any stopping the months of pre-season predictions and rankings (don't get me started on the college rankings, *cough*Michigan*cough*). It helps people get excited and we all want to guess what is going to happen. But admit that it is a guess and be willing to admit when you are wrong and screwed up and subsequently ruined half the country's fantasy teams, instead of just reminding everyone of the picks you got right. All I want to see is some commentator accountability. Call them out when they mess up. It's what would happen in any other business.

What is this, Russia?

Internet rationing? Ok, Stalin, you're going to restrict our access and ability to do what we want and say that it's "for the greater good?" I mean, are we experiencing an Internet shortage? Are we too reliant on foreign Internet and political tensions in those countries are affecting our supply? Or is Comcast just refusing to spend the time and money and effort to make sure their technology is keeping up with the public demand for higher bandwidth? Isn't that your job as a company that provides Internet access? Your customers want and need better service, so you should give it to them, not cut them back even more. I mean, are you going to equate your situation to the oil shortages in the 70s and cap people off and ration their access to the Web and shut them down? Wow, I didn't realize you had such a stranglehold over the seemingly free and unlimited Internet.

Solidarity, Comrades. Monopolize, control, restrict. For the greater good.

And the Beat Goes On...

As always, Steve Job's announcement today of the new line of iPods sent chills up and down my spine and formed a small puddle of drool on my desk. All their products are so amazing and so revolutionary, I always love watching his media events. But this one was even more interesting for me because of how much I love music and because I have been wanting a new iPod for some time. After watching wave after wave of new, sleek, cooler iPods come rolling off the line, I am finding it hard to fight back the urge for much longer. And today's presentation made it even worse.

A couple comments on the new line of iPods:

• The Ringtone Creator option is way overdue. However, it should work with any song in my iTunes library, not just specific songs that you say are ok. You shouldn't tell me what I can and can't use for my ringtone. Give me the freedom to use any song in my Library.
• The new iPod Nano looks weird to me. It is short, squatty, and the clickwheel now looks out of place, as if you didn't know what else to put there (or hadn't come up with a better option) so you just stuck it back on there.
• I like the new color options and the all-metal casings. I don't know if you should discontinue the old colors completely though. Think how popular those were. Are you expecting people to come in and get a new iPod just so they can have a different color that will accessorize better? Maybe there is a reason the original colors did so well.
• I think that Apple having (PRODUCT) RED options for the Shuffle and the Nano is great. I think it shouldn't just stop there. And I think that Apple can afford to give more than just 50% of that profit. What an opportunity to make a difference, Steve. Come on, Think Different...
• This new line sure does make the iPhone look more appealing, which I am sure was part of the reasoning behind it. I am sure Apple execs could sense the public's hesitation to jump to the iPhone. It is just like the whole Switch campaign they ran a while ago trying to convince people how easy it is to go from PC to Mac. Well, for a lot of different reasons, people are holding out and not snatching up the iPhone, like Jobs had hoped. Those who have bought one love it, but how to get everyone else in on it? Hmm, well Steve drops the price of the phone by $200 effective immediately. That is sure to raise some eyebrows. What about AT&T as the only service provider? No answer. But with rumors of hacks and ways around the monopolistic stranglehold, Apple better come up with an answer to appease the masses soon, if they want this gadget to sell. The customer is always right. Listen to them, ya know, like you used to.
• As far as the new iPod Touch goes, it is basically what people were expecting. But, put it side-by-side with the iPhone and you scratch your head and wonder, why not just get the iPhone? The iPod Touch looks like the younger, smaller, less-gifted, red-headed stepbrother of the iPhone. Yet, it still looks taller than it needs to be. What is that extra space up at the top for? Just so there will be an extra half inch sticking out the top of the carrying case or stuck in my pocket? Maybe I am picky, but the iPod Touch seems overpriced for what it offers, especially standing right next to the iPhone, which is only $100 more (8GB). Maybe that is the whole point behind this. Use the appearance of introducing a new, exciting product that caters to the crowd not looking for a new "smart phone," but really all you are trying to do is to get someone to look at this lineup and say, "Well, why not just buy an iPhone, then?" And if so, then congrats, you got me.

Anyways. Very exciting times. I am probably going to the Apple store tomorrow to drool over them in person. I know, predictable MacNerd move.

Does AppleCare really care?

This video is an extreme (disturbing to some) example of what happens when a company's need to be right comes before customer service. How else is the customer going to get the attention of the big corporations? Who is going to stand up for the consumer? Where do you go with a complaint when you feel like your words fall on deaf ears of millionaire CEOs or inept cubicle jockeys?

There is a rapidly increasing lack of good customer service in this country. Whether it is the pimply high school kid at Starbucks who has an attitude (and no, it isn't just because he is trying to be "emo") or the IT guys located in who knows which third-world country who are really hard to understand and talk down to you like you are an idiot, there is no accountability and there is no good way for the consumers voice to be heard. What happened to "the customer is always right"??

In Apple's defense, unlike Mr. Whitford in the video, I have never had a problem with AppleCare or any of the people on the other end of the phone. I have had questions and have had to get help from them on a couple occasions and they were very nice, very helpful, and didn't make me feel like an idiot for asking about something that I am sure was really simple. So, I can't really speak to his issues with Apple, but I do agree that in general, there is a problem with customer service.

Here is the article that featured the Macbook video.

uhh... what??

Thanks to a tip from one of my favorite sports columnists in a recent article, I found this video. Honestly, I am speechless. I don't know what else to say... so I will let the video speak for itself.

Miss Teen USA 2007 - South Carolina answers a question

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Wow. That is a 12-foot arc slow pitch for anyone who wants to make a blonde joke. Yet another example of how looks are never a substitute for brains. Stay in school girls!

Good Cop, Bad Cop

For fans of Pearl in The Landlord, she's back for her final short film role.

Man's best... brown-noser?

Another article tackling the Vick issue with a refreshing point of view I agree with, but don't hear very much in the news.

Excessive Cynophilia

Don't get me wrong, I love dogs. I love all animals because they are part of God's creation and I hate seeing them hurt or injured or interfered with by humans unnecessarily. But that doesn't change the fact that I believe strongly that any crime against a human being is much worse than a crime against an animal and should be treated as such both in court and in the court of public opinion. It is absolutely ridiculous that this case is getting as much coverage as it is and that people are so outraged and disgusted. Yes, it is bad and wrong. But it is also part of southern culture that a lot of people don't understand AND it is not more disgusting or despicable than hitting, raping, or murdering another human being, yet we seem to be less concerned or outraged when people are hurting people. And I think that is wrong.

"This was the unkindest cut of all..."

A great article about NFL commissioner/dictator Goodell and NFLPA director Upshaw. A good point that hasn't really been discussed yet.

Will you defend the indefensible?

Back when I had a reason to watch...

Ok, so I was flipping through the channels looking for something worth watching to delay going to bed a little bit. I knew what they were going to say on Sportscenter and I didn't really want to watch an episode of the Dog Whisperer. Even FSC, Spike, and ESPN Classic were letting me down.

The source of entertainment came from an unexpected channel, NBATV, which I never watch. They were airing a replay of Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. It was really great to see Jordan playing again, it made me realize how much I missed those days. I used to love basketball and watching the NBA in those days, even though I played soccer year round. Jordan brought a certain excitement and awe to the court every night he played. You always knew he was going to do something amazing. Watching the game and Jordan, Pippen, and the rest of the cast work together so beautifully, made me miss those days. I miss the feeling of awe while watching an athlete at the top of their game, without all the arrogance and talk and controversy.

The Jordan I remember was the best player to ever play the game, yet he continuously let his play speak for itself. He was always confident and always a leader, but he didn't have to be flashy about it (see his new "Let Your Game Speak" commercial. You knew that when there were mere seconds left on the clock, Michael was going to get the ball, and he was going to find some way to win. It still gave me chills even just to see a close-up of him at the free throw line.

I miss the Jordan era. The NBA, and I venture all sports, hasn't been the same since MJ left the Bulls. The NBA is driven by massive egos rivaled only buy their multi-million dollar contracts. Scandals, cheating, brawls, and gangsta attitudes prevail throughout the league. There was a day when everyone looked to Michael Jordan and felt a voice deep inside them say, "I wanna be like Mike." Sadly, that day is long gone, but tonight I had a taste of it once again. A glimpse of Jordan, the Bulls, and the NBA at its best.

I also hadn't realized how much I missed the NBA on NBC theme music (written by John Tesh of all people). Hopefully, you'll enjoy this little look back at His Airness as much as I did. Jordan, Pippen, Rodman all on the court. Malone choking. Phil Jackson nodding to Jordan and saying "You." Classic finish. Gotta love it.

what's there to hide?

I got some skeletons in my closet and I don't know if no one knows it...


This doesn't seem like a good sign. But maybe we should have expected it.

What are you hiding, Hillary? What is it that you don't want us to know because it might affect the voters' perception of you?

Williamsburg Favorites

Taking a little look back on my time in Williamsburg, here are some of my favorite things to do or places to go in this little colonial town.

Favorite Sunday Drives (top down of course)

• Colonial Parkway
• Route 5 West from the Chickahominy River to Richmond
• Jolly Pond Rd.
  
• Rochambeau Dr. (next to 64) from Sonic to 143
• Airport Rd. from Rochambeau to Mooretown Rd.
• Centerville Rd. from Lightfoot to Route 5
• Greensprings Rd. from Route 5 to Jamestown Rd.

Favorite Places to Run

• Trail through the College Woods around Lake Matoaka
• Trails at New Quarter Park

Favorite Walks

• DOG street at night
• Sunken Gardens
• Lake Matoaka Path

Favorite (only) Disc Golf Course

• New Quarter Park

Favorite Places to Chill/Think/Read

• Matoaka Amphitheatre
• Bicentennial Park
• Jamestown Beach / Colonial Parkway
• Chickahominy Wildlife Preserve
• Sunken Gardens
• Shore of Lake Matoaka
• Aroma's

Favorite Places to Eat (local, not chains)

• Peking/Mongolian Buffet (it's a love/hate relationship)
• Sno-to-Go
  
• Fat Canary
• Cheese Shop
• Food For Thought
• Tequila Rose
• Florimonte's Deli
• Subway Station
• The Green Leafe
• Shackelford's (1/2 price burgers on Tuesdays)
• Center Street Grille (1/2 price burgers on Mondays)
• Pierce's Barbeque
• Casa Maya
• Top's China
  

Favorite Foods From Chains

• Wawa - Spicy Sausage, Lemonade Iced Tea, and Toasted Cheesesteak Sub
• Sonic - Cherry Limeade, Chili Cheese Tots, Coney
• Longhorn Steakhouse - Black and Bleu Burger

Favorite Places to Drink/Go Out

• Pints and Pipes
• The Green Leafe
• Paul's Deli
• Chowning's Tavern
• Corner Pocket

So, that's a little trip down memory lane for me, but also, if you are ever in Williamsburg, you might want to check out some of these places.

mmm whatcha say?

Ok, so a little shout out to Big Money and his OC obsession here. I am sure if I had watched the end of the season finale (first video), it would have been incredibly intense and possibly disturbing and emotional. Especially if I was caught up in the lives of all the characters. But the fact of the matter is, I don't watch the show.



But, when this digital short came on SNL (second video) and Travis explained to me that this was a parody of the OC, it was so hilarious and I couldn't stop laughing. Then I went back and watched the original, but couldn't take it seriously because I had already seen the SNL version...



And then I found this...

Yup. Step by Step. One of my favorites from TGIF, I remember this exact episode, but never was it as funny as it was this time. Man. Hilarious.

Oh. And on behalf of Imogen Heap, whose song is now ruined and can never be listened to again with a straight face, shame on you OC!
Sure, you can claim all you want is to be the new pulse of relevant, commercial-driven, insecurity-and-competition-fueled, immature teen music scene. Or that you select obscure, independent, inspirational songs and artists, with the desire to open the eyes and ears of your little sheep to music they aren't able to fully enjoy and will rapidly reject like the latest fad in shirt collars/hair styles and colors/Australian shepherding boots/bean bag animals. Well, you know what, stop it. Just stop it. Ugh. It grates on every nerve in my body and makes me want to puke when I hear a song by an artist I like(d) and respect(ed) played over that pathetic teen soap opera drama BS, as if it were going to evoke deep emotional response and convey meaning beyond brainwashing kids to buy your CDs as their source for new music. You call it TV and millions worship it like an idol, all doe-eyed and ready with tissues, making sacrifices of time, energy, and even emotions to this pagan filth. Doesn't make it right.

As if you ruining songs was all we had to worry about. It's sad how things can go from so nice and fun to awful just because of a crappy show.

Uh Chief Big Cloud?

Best of both worlds... Dwight as the boss and an Arcade Fire reference... awesome!

is it pop or soda?

The question that has caused arguments and even wars throughout the centuries is one that I often find myself caught in the middle of. Are those bubbly beverages called "soda" or "pop" or perhaps the general "coke?" Well, a national survey was taken to resolve this very issue and hopefully avoid future bloodshed. Learn more here

Note that Virginia is surrounded by strong soda, pop, and coke contingencies, which I am sure has led to our general indifference on the matter.

some words from ryan...

Will you comfort me, in my time of need?
Can you take away the pain of a hurtful deeds?
Cause when we need it most, there's no rain at all
And the dust just settles right there on the feed

Will you say to me, "A little rains gonna come."
When the sky can't offer none to me
Cause I will come for you
When my days are through
And I'll let your smile just off and carry me


I want to go to Magnolia Mountain
And lay my weary head down
Down on the rocks
On the mountain my savior made
Steady my soul and ease my worry
Hold me when I rattle like a hummingbird hummin'
Tie me to the rocks on the mountain my savior made

Lie to me
Sing me a song
Sing me a song until the morning comes
If the morning comes, will you lie to me
Will you take me to your bed
Will you lay me down
Till I'm heavy like the rocks on the riverbed
That my savior made

has no one noticed this?

So, I can't get enough of my new favorite website, TV Links... It is so awesome, I can't believe I had never heard of it before yesterday. But now, thanks to technology and this amazing site, I was able to watch my very first episode of Fraggle Rock ever today!!! I wanted to see what all the hype was about, and as always, try to catch up on things I missed out on during the 80s.

So, I picked the first episode they had listed (Wembley and the Gorgs) and started watching. But the man in the show looked and sounded very very familiar... who could it be?? It took me a while and then I placed it!! Sure enough, IMDB confirmed that Gerard Parkes, who played "Doc" in episodes of Fraggle Rock, was also "Doc" the bartender in Boondock Saints ("F-CK!! ASS!!")!! I would have thought some of my friends that actually got to watch Fraggle Rock would have immediately noticed this, but apparently not. Either that or they didn't want to tell me!

Gerry Parkes as Doc in Fraggle Rock and Boondock Saints

I wonder what else I will discover through TV Links...

More than meets the eye...

oh man... so... at first this looks like just a list of all the episodes of the original Transformers animated show, right? And that is awesome...BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! Every one of those links goes to the video from the original episode!!! some of them have been deleted though... but still! Getting to watch even one is amazing!

Now I can catch up on all that stuff that happened in the 80s that I missed...

lie to me, sing me a song

I want to go to Magnolia Mountain
And lay my weary head down
Down on the rocks
On the mountain my savior made

Steady my soul and ease my worry
Hold me when I rattle like a hummingbird hummin'
Tie me to the rocks on the mountain my savior made

I want to be the bluebird singing
Singing to the roses in her yard
The roses in her yard her father grew for her
It's been raining that Tennessee honey
So long I got too heavy to fly
Ain't no bluebird ever gets too heavy to sing

Everyone in this room is now dumber...

Good grief! Fox News, seriously... did you really just waste two minutes seconds of my life teaching me how to create a shortcut on my desktop? Ridiculous.

the good life

And I don't wanna be an old man anymore
It's been a year or two since I was out on the floor

It's time I got back, it's time I got back
And I don't even know how I got off the track
I wanna go back, yeah!

We get to carry each other...

Is it getting better, or do you feel the same?
Will it make it easier on you now...
You got someone to blame...

Did I disappoint you, or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love and you want me to go without
Well it's too late... tonight
To drag the past out into the light...
We're one... but we're not the same

golden road

Take it like a man they said
Take your medicine
Find a golden road and stand
Then I saw exactly what they meant.

Find my homeboys on the dusky road
Who couldn't give a should about their life
Heed their words of faded brown
Then live it and sing about their strife.

Then bring your song to the river at sunrise
Sing that song 'til the river runs clean
It will happen to you As its happened to me
Won't you sing that lovely song for me

It's alright mama
Let your children be loud
Watch them run into trouble
So they can figure it out

We spread our seeds far 'cross this land
Hoping they'd fall on good ground.
A vaccination in the sun and rain shine
And take a good long hard look around.

Then bring your song to the river at sunrise
Sing that song 'til the river runs clean
It will happen to you
As its happened to me
Come clean with me...

my new theme song

nothing more needs to be said

it makes life unfair

I've given up, on giving up slowly
I'm blending in, so you won't even know me
Apart from this whole world that shares my fate
This one last bullet you mention
Is my one last shot at redemption
Cause I know, to live, you must give your life away

And I've been housing all this doubt and insecurity
And I've been locked inside that house, all the while, you hold the key
And I've been dying to get out, and that might be the death of me
And even though there's no way of knowing where to go,
I promise I'm going

Because

I gotta get outta here
I'm stuck inside this rut that I fell into by mistake
I gotta get outta here
And I'm begging you to be my escape

you want the truth, huh?

A good article about the truth behind all that Gore has been saying.

pop

I can understand why my aunt Lucile loves Jeopardy, I do too. But if it were more like this, not only would I enjoy watching it more, but I would get into it more and would be completely convinced that I could rock it if I ever got on the show.

I know that I am the only one who would be really good at it. And judging by some of the questions they got wrong... it would be so easy to take them down

You are an idiot

Seriously. Meredith, you are an incompetent moron.

See her making a fool of herself (meanwhile probably making some Microsoft executive giddy) on the Today show.

Thanks to my good friend and fellow Mac enthusiast, Glen Duff, I was able to spend an hour or so today playing with his brand new iPhone. And I can now attest that it is simple,I repeat SIMPLE, to answer a phone call on an iPhone. It displays a button to touch to answer the call. The button is even green... how much easier does it have to be Meredith?? It is so amazing and seemingly idiot-proof.... but apparently they overestimated the level of stupidity in our country.

And yes, I love Apple products. And no, I am no longer professing my love for the iPhone blindly. I saw one today and used it and think it is awesome. There are are a couple reasons why I, unlike Mr. Duff, did not wait in line at the AT&T store yesterday. I do want one and hopefully will eventually get one. As people have noted in the past, I really do like to get in on the ground floor of new movements or new cool things (bands, movies, trends, tech, iPods...etc). The iPhone is no exception. I am just going to have to wait a little bit.

first descent

one of the sickest runs ever...

Terje's first descent

Nine Words Women Use

A humorous reference tool to help decipher the female code words... and keep you out of trouble...

Nine Words Women Use

1. “Fine” - This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
2. “Five Minutes” - If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3. “Nothing” - This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
4. “Go Ahead” - This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
5. Loud Sigh - This isn’t actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)
6. “That's Okay” - This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. "That's okay" means that "it" is definitely not ok, but she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7. “Thanks” - A woman is thanking you. Do not question or faint. Just say “You're welcome.”
8. “Whatever” - It's a woman's way of saying “F__K YOU!”
9. “Don't worry about it, I got it” - Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking, "What's wrong?" For the woman's response refer to #3.

Posting this will probably bring about some #3 or #8 responses... but whatever...

someday...

the more videos i see and stories i hear, i realize that yet again, Bonnaroo was awesome and i missed the musical festival of the summer for yet another year....


RX Bandits are so ridiculously awesome!

Tom Morello solo as The Nightwatchman

Mute Math doing some crazy solos

Ben Harper opening up his set

Come on, Vatican

I know I am probably going to offend some Catholics, but come on! Can the Vatican really be serious about this?? Are you sure this isn't some sort of SNL spoof?

not a good start...

come on guys... let's not self-destruct again this season...

Landry, I hope this isn't a sign of what's to come... you in the news for stupid stuff like this...

told you so

to all those who doubted me and said that you couldn't tell a difference and that theirs were fine and that I was making it all up (ahem, Bing)....

here is all you would ever need to know to identify the difference between real and fake Cohibas...

the origin of spam...

My brother just told me that as they were studying the case of Compuserve v. Cyber Promotions (1997), he found that the term "spam" email actually was derived from this Monty Python skit, where the characters repeat the word "spam" over and over again.

I love this skit, but had no idea that was where the term came from.

so ****ing awesome...

would the owner of a white station wagon...

gotta compelling protagonist...?

we've been waiting so long...

i wish i could have been there to welcome you back with open arms and a hoarse, screaming voice...

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his name is frank

why do you wear that stupid bunny suit?
why are you wearing that stupid man suit?

I mean, I just don't see the point in crying over a dead rabbit! Y'know, who... who never even feared death to begin with.

What if you could go back in time, and take all those hours of pain and darkness and replace them with something better?

They say right when they flood the house and they tear it to shreds that...?destruction is a form of creation," so the fact that they burn the money is ironic. They just want to see what happens when they tear the world apart. They want to change things.

Smurfs are asexual. They don't even have reproductive organs under those little white pants. That's what's so illogical, you know, about being a Smurf. What's the point of living if you don't have a dick?

He told me to forcibly insert the lifeline exercises into my anus!

pretty sweet...

#SPLIT 07 - SOUND TEAM - No More Birthdays
Uploaded by lablogotheque

wanna ride?

The great new Jack Links commercial in the Messin' With Sasquatch series. I definitely laughed at this one. I love the look on sasquatch's face when they come back for him the second time... so great

anticipation grows...

the seductive image

While cleaning up the apartment, I found my roommate's huge stacks of magazines (aka softcore porn), which I am sure he graciously left for me to enjoy (how could someone leave behind such a robust collection?). His selection swung both ways too, which is really nice. It did seem that his stack of magazines featuring naked men posing with their huge muscles dwarfed the ones with half nude ladies. But don't take my word for it, see for yourself.




I'm not judging his choices in magazine subscriptions, just commenting... Personally, I think having stacks and stacks of these kinds of magazines around is very unhealthy for anyone's self image and perception of others.

And that's all I have to say about that...