BTW

I read four books while on vacation. All of them were mind-candy beach books, but I would recommend them to all. They were:

(I finished the Martha Grimes book in the sidebar before I left for vacation, but I haven't started anything new since I got back, so it stays.)

posted at 1:03 PM | link |

"I'm just at that special place, and I wanted to share it with you. Did you know that Elvis bought all the furniture in just 30 minutes?"

Eerily, Mulder's apartment number, 42, is also Elvis' age at his death. Coincidence? You decide.

posted at 12:26 PM | link |

Unless you live in a cave, you know that today is the 25th anniversary of Elvis' death. Twenty-five years dead and he made $37 million last year.

Anyway, since I'm a bit of a fan, I wanted to note the day with a few items.

Elvisnumberones.com - a marketing site for the new CD, "Elvis 30 #1 Hits", but cool, with a neat jukebox at the bottom of the page that plays snippets of his #1s, along with photos, games and profiles of Elvis as singer, actor, producer/arranger, etc. Many aspects of the Elvis persona are easy to make fun of, but it's nice to be reminded of how talented he really was.

I watched the last half of his '68 Comeback Special (One Night With You) on CMT last night. The program is notable not only for the music but also for Elvis at his sexiest. It's on again tonight at 6:00 P.M. EST. The show included some silly production numbers when I originally saw it quite a few years ago; I don't know if what CMT is airing includes those numbers or not since I only saw the last half. If it does, you can skip those - just watch the "unplugged" portion of the show. Elvis is electric. He would never again equal the performance, and he would later sink into self-parody, but this show captures the Elvis who deserved to be King.

Finally, Elvis on TV this month.

posted at 10:40 AM | link |

The extradition of Ira Einhorn, accused murderer and highly intelligent whack job.

posted at 12:46 PM | link |

Like I said the other day, the one thing the Osbournes have in abundance (besides money) is heart. What a good thing to do.

posted at 12:24 PM | link |

LOL! I think this dude really does have a dead squirrel on his head. You can read the full story here.

posted at 12:16 PM | link |

Runaway pig update.

posted at 12:11 PM | link |

Could this bit of news mean that Salon.com may survive?

(thanks, tvbarn)

posted at 12:06 PM | link |

Wow, I didn't think that such a blatant miscarriage of justice was possible in this day and age.

registration required

posted at 10:44 AM | link |

True Talent Test

"Are you feeling happy and challenged in your work life? Or are you counting the hours until you're "set free" each day? If your job seems like a prison sentence — or simply doesn't feel as meaningful as you'd like it to be, you're probably not utilizing your true talents at work."

How can an unemployed person resist?

My true talent?

Your true talent is mechanical ability

Given this talent, you're most likely curious about how things work and may enjoy tinkering with machines. Have you ever taken something apart just to see how it would fit back together? If this sounds like you, you may have earned the reputation around your household as a real Mr. or Ms. Fix-It.

At times, people like you can be both self-sufficient and a great help to others because when it's time to change a car's oil or tighten a leaky faucet, you can be just the right person to get the job done. No matter what kind of career opportunity you choose, chances are that you'll enjoy it most if it involves working with your hands or seeing the tangible results of your efforts.

They are so on the money. When I was about 4 years old, I took apart this little fire engine I had, the kind that you could sit in that had pedals and you could ride. Then I put it back together again. Maybe I should be going to mechanic's school.

Take the Talent Test yourself, and let me know what it says. You might want to have a paper and pen handy, since math makes an occasional appearance. Have fun!

posted at 10:38 PM | link |

A Nebraska bank is giving away money. Intentionally. Excuse me while I go look out the window to see if the sky is falling. Or maybe that fugitive pig will fly by.

posted at 2:49 PM | link |

Run, piggy, run!!

posted at 2:44 PM | link |

What is the most deadly of the natural disasters? If it's as hot where you are as it is where I am, you probably answered correctly. The heat wave:

"The most deadly heat wave in recent years occurred in Chicago over a week in July 1995, when temperatures hovered around 100 degrees. Then, over 50,000 people were left without electricity, nearly two dozen hospitals closed their doors to new patients, ambulances lined up around the block waiting to drop off victims, and the county buried 68 people in a 160-foot-long trench. Though there was some argument over numbers, scientists now say that 739 people died that week.

For context, the great Chicago fire of 1871 killed half that many. The San Francisco earthquake of 1989 killed 62, and Hurricane Andrew in 1992 killed 26."

registration required

posted at 2:03 PM | link |

This story about Adam Ant dressing up like a cowboy is very funny, but I think they're missing the bigger picture here.

Adam Ant -- Truman Capote -- separated at birth?

posted at 12:52 PM | link |

Dude looks like a lady.

posted at 12:43 PM | link |

Tuesday, right?

It was one of those mornings. I was up relatively early in order to get down to the employment agency and finalize my application for substitute teaching and begin my orientation. My apartment was like an obstacle course, with some sort of mishap around every corner.

I try to get online while eating my cereal (no, I didn't spill it, although I don't know why not), and got a DNS error no matter what site I tried to access. Also couldn't get to my mail server. OK.

I go into my bedroom to get dressed and find that one of the cats, Winnie, has just taken a ride on the Vomitron, puking all over my bed and floor.

After I clean up that mess, I realize I need to close any open windows and put the fans on exhaust to keep the heat of the day out. The only open window is in my bedroom. I reach behind the curtain without thinking and pull the window down. Right on top of my cactus. Not only did I spill the gravel/sand from the pot all over the floor, I managed to stick myself with the cactus needles, a couple of which are still in the palm of my hand.

Finally, on my way out the door, I pick up my soda can to take one last sip -- it's not my soda can, it's an old one, flat, warm, GROSS. As I jerk it away from my mouth...Yep, you got it, I dripped Diet Coke down the front of my white shirt. No time to change, though.

I make it alive to the truck, and as I'm about to pull out of the driveway, I realize that I forgot to put my watch on. I contemplated returning to the house to get it, but only briefly. I was not going to tempt fate by going through that door again.

Luckily, the application process and orientation went well. I'm back now and no mishaps so far...

posted at 12:20 PM | link |

Filmwise Fun

The boyz at Filmwise have a new contest: Barbie and Ken Go to the Movies. (Well, he's actually a Justin Timberlake doll, but what's the difference, really?) And there are loads of Invisibles quizzes to catch up on. Off I go to waste some time!

posted at 12:17 PM | link |

Minor league baseball team has a James Traficant Day. Otherwise known as, "Wear A Dead Squirrel On Your Head And Get In Free".

posted at 12:05 PM | link |

Alright, I admit it - I watched it. The first episode only. I haven't seen last night's episode, the second of the series, and I'm not sure I want to. Anna Nicole Smith is just not interesting enough to be funny or, well, interesting. She's just pathetic. Why I don't find Ozzy Osbourne pathetic, I'm not sure; maybe it's because he at least has/had talent and is surrounded by people he loves and who love him. Smith is just a zaftig caricature of a caricature - the brainless blonde bombshell and her remora-like entourage. And watching her slurring her way through portions of the show, obviously either high as a kite or, just as likely, faking it, makes me uncomfortable. And so I'll probably watch it again, lol.

A couple of articles on the show:

Slate article.
Salon article.

posted at 12:01 PM | link |

One DVD to rule them all.



I got my "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" DVD last Thursday. I was a bit peeved because I pre-ordered it from Amazon and it came 2 days later than the official release date and was $2 more expensive than what was selling at Wal-Mart, but my irritation faded as soon as I had it in my grubby little hands. The movie makes the transition to the small screen quite well, a testament to its depth; underneath the sweeping landscapes and epic action sequences that leap out at you in the theater there are the characters and their relationships, captured just as exquisitely as the external Middle Earth. You all need to get this for your home collection. If you can wait, the DVD being released in November will be the theatrical version plus 30 minutes of additional footage that was cut for time.

An afternoon spent with Frodo, Gandalf and the gang may be just what I need today.

posted at 11:39 AM | link |

Back to School

I really have been neglecting you, haven't I? Sorry about that.

After the family troubles subsided later in the week, my social life picked up. I had a party on Saturday afternoon/evening, then it was out drinking on Saturday night. On Sunday, a baby shower in morning/early afternoon and then a christening party/picnic. I'm pooped.

As far as the career (or lack of it), is concerned, I've decided to look into substitute teaching in area school systems. The program is run through an employment agency, Kelly Services, and you can choose assignments via an online database. I picked up the paperwork on Friday and went down to my town's police station this morning to be fingerprinted for the background check. See:



Tomorrow I'll return to Kelly for the interview/orientation process. School begins Aug 26 in some towns - wish me luck!

posted at 11:18 AM | link |