All We Need is One Pin, Rodney
This guy linked to a Lite Beer from Miller commercial recently and I had to just embed my favorite. I remember just loving these commercials when I was a pup. The commercials were so fun. I have always wondered what was the reason they were so good. Was it the writers? Was there a director or a team of fellers that put this together? It has the same feel to me as the Sinatra, Martin and Sammy ratpack. I don't know. I just loved 'em. Enjoy.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
A Photo Essay of Obama Campaigning
After seeing this set of photos I am really confident in my view of Obama as a president that is more in contact with what it means to be an average American than we've had in that office since the last one to be born in a log cabin. Too early for Lincoln comparisons? OK, how about since that president that told us we didn't have to be afraid?
What is disturbing to me is the resistance to Obama on the far right. Guys like this are still spouting unfounded rumors of Obama's "socialist agenda" or "communist agenda." Two mutually exclusive ideas, from what I understand, but facts are not necessary with this garbage. Not only that, but this congressman also compared Obama to Hitler. This insanity has to stop. Back in 2000 when that idiot Bush was elected there was not this reaction by the left. Sure we thought he was a joke but I don't recall this much rage over his "election". We even let things go after that questionable Supreme Court decision (looking back now we may not have protested enough). Heck after 9/11 (before he prostituted American dead for his personal political gain) we actually got behind monkey boy and gave him our support. C'mon, right wing wackos, suck it up and get behind your president. If he starts to put white folks in concentration camps or tries to give my Xbox 360 to the poor kids down the block I'll protest with you but until then act like adults.
After seeing this set of photos I am really confident in my view of Obama as a president that is more in contact with what it means to be an average American than we've had in that office since the last one to be born in a log cabin. Too early for Lincoln comparisons? OK, how about since that president that told us we didn't have to be afraid?
What is disturbing to me is the resistance to Obama on the far right. Guys like this are still spouting unfounded rumors of Obama's "socialist agenda" or "communist agenda." Two mutually exclusive ideas, from what I understand, but facts are not necessary with this garbage. Not only that, but this congressman also compared Obama to Hitler. This insanity has to stop. Back in 2000 when that idiot Bush was elected there was not this reaction by the left. Sure we thought he was a joke but I don't recall this much rage over his "election". We even let things go after that questionable Supreme Court decision (looking back now we may not have protested enough). Heck after 9/11 (before he prostituted American dead for his personal political gain) we actually got behind monkey boy and gave him our support. C'mon, right wing wackos, suck it up and get behind your president. If he starts to put white folks in concentration camps or tries to give my Xbox 360 to the poor kids down the block I'll protest with you but until then act like adults.
Charleston Panorama
The Battery area of Charleston is pretty amazing. There are the expected old mansions and a nice park with a view of the harbor. Below is a panorama I attempted on S. Battery Street, a street that runs east to west on the northern border of the park. It's a little messy and probably needs to be done over with Autostitch. Sometimes you can use too many pictures.
Below is a satellite shot of the park and the street of which this panorama was made.
View Larger Map
The Battery area of Charleston is pretty amazing. There are the expected old mansions and a nice park with a view of the harbor. Below is a panorama I attempted on S. Battery Street, a street that runs east to west on the northern border of the park. It's a little messy and probably needs to be done over with Autostitch. Sometimes you can use too many pictures.
Below is a satellite shot of the park and the street of which this panorama was made.
View Larger Map
Monday, November 10, 2008
UFO Welcome Center
One of the beautiful things about our country is that so many of us are nuts. It can a double edged sword. Because of the wide spread lunacy of the average American we sometimes elect people like George W. Bush and Tom Delay to power political positions. You take the good with the bad, I guess. If we weren't all so crazy then a few of our more colorful citizens wouldn't build a flying saucers out of plywood and plastic in their backyards. I found the one picture below yesterday in Bowman, SC. God Bless America.
One of the beautiful things about our country is that so many of us are nuts. It can a double edged sword. Because of the wide spread lunacy of the average American we sometimes elect people like George W. Bush and Tom Delay to power political positions. You take the good with the bad, I guess. If we weren't all so crazy then a few of our more colorful citizens wouldn't build a flying saucers out of plywood and plastic in their backyards. I found the one picture below yesterday in Bowman, SC. God Bless America.
The Election
Since I have been sitting in a hotel in Charleston, SC with a broke down internet connection for the last four days I haven't had a chance to comment on the election of Barack Obama. I wasn't one of those Obama maniacs as the right liked to call his most enthusiastic suppporters but once it came down it him and Clinton I was behind him all the way. When it came down to him and McCain and McCain picked the shockingly unqualified Sarah Palin and then started running a disgustingly negative campaign full of Rovian slime then I really prayed for an Obama victory. At that point I decided that McCain didn't deserve a victory and if Palin ever inherited the presidency we would have been on our way to an idiocracy.
I am just happy that a thoughtful and intelligent person will be president for the next four years. What more could we ask for, really?
You know what is too bad? People like Hannity and Limbaugh are not going to let up on Obama. It's going to be the Clinton presidency all over again. It's going to be ugly unfounded rumor after ugly unfounded rumor until our political dialog is poisoned again. It's time for the listeners of these shows to start pushing back. Sure you'd like to think the worst of your political opponents but to let the devil sit on your shoulder and whisper lies into your ear for three hours a day doesn't help anybody. Take a chance, open a newspaper, go to a legitimate news website and, god forbid, turn on NPR. I think you'll find that bias you've been told about is not the force you may think it is.
A few more pictures from Charleston
Friday night I took a few night shots down at the battery with the tripod. I need to get a better camera for these night shots but these are OK.
The Memorial to Confederate Soldiers
A street going north
On Saturday we went to the market on Market Street. It was full of touristy stuff. We were expecting more local artists and craftsmen. Still, it's another nice old set of buildings.
After the market we stopped by the Confederate Museum run by the Daughters of the Confederacy. Holy crap, there is some amazing stuff in there. I saw the first flag to fly over a CSA city and one of the first flags at Fort Sumter (that one had bullet holes in it). There were worn uniforms and homemade clothing made by families during the siege of Charleston. It's full of priceless artifacts. It's the best five dollars you will spend in Charleston, SC. Seeing that flag that flew over Fort Sumter gave me the same thrill I got when I saw the jacket Lincoln was wearing when he was shot.
After the market we drove out to Sullivans Island to see the ocean.
Here is the light house.
Here's Mel on the beach pointing at something.
This is what she saw. It was heading out to sea.
Here is me at the beach.
The obligatory head down deep in thought beach walk photograph.
Holy smokes, the ocean sure is big.
We saw a crab and I stuck the camera in his face. He didn't seem to care. I think he was not feeling well.
Another view of the crab.
There were sandpipers all over the place.
We swung by Patriot Point and there was a display of new and classic military vehicles. I saw the style of Jeep I drove on the Mojave Desert when I was the driver for a controller during a combined armed exercise. I loved, loved, loved driving this vehicle over the desert.
There was this dude dressed up as a WWII paratrooper talking to awe struck boy scouts about his gear.
Patriot Point also offers a nice angle on the bridge over the Cooper River. I didn't realize that there is a walkway over the bridge. That is reason enough to go to Charleston again. It's just calling out for a panorama.
Since I have been sitting in a hotel in Charleston, SC with a broke down internet connection for the last four days I haven't had a chance to comment on the election of Barack Obama. I wasn't one of those Obama maniacs as the right liked to call his most enthusiastic suppporters but once it came down it him and Clinton I was behind him all the way. When it came down to him and McCain and McCain picked the shockingly unqualified Sarah Palin and then started running a disgustingly negative campaign full of Rovian slime then I really prayed for an Obama victory. At that point I decided that McCain didn't deserve a victory and if Palin ever inherited the presidency we would have been on our way to an idiocracy.
I am just happy that a thoughtful and intelligent person will be president for the next four years. What more could we ask for, really?
You know what is too bad? People like Hannity and Limbaugh are not going to let up on Obama. It's going to be the Clinton presidency all over again. It's going to be ugly unfounded rumor after ugly unfounded rumor until our political dialog is poisoned again. It's time for the listeners of these shows to start pushing back. Sure you'd like to think the worst of your political opponents but to let the devil sit on your shoulder and whisper lies into your ear for three hours a day doesn't help anybody. Take a chance, open a newspaper, go to a legitimate news website and, god forbid, turn on NPR. I think you'll find that bias you've been told about is not the force you may think it is.
A few more pictures from Charleston
Friday night I took a few night shots down at the battery with the tripod. I need to get a better camera for these night shots but these are OK.
The Memorial to Confederate Soldiers
A street going north
On Saturday we went to the market on Market Street. It was full of touristy stuff. We were expecting more local artists and craftsmen. Still, it's another nice old set of buildings.
After the market we stopped by the Confederate Museum run by the Daughters of the Confederacy. Holy crap, there is some amazing stuff in there. I saw the first flag to fly over a CSA city and one of the first flags at Fort Sumter (that one had bullet holes in it). There were worn uniforms and homemade clothing made by families during the siege of Charleston. It's full of priceless artifacts. It's the best five dollars you will spend in Charleston, SC. Seeing that flag that flew over Fort Sumter gave me the same thrill I got when I saw the jacket Lincoln was wearing when he was shot.
After the market we drove out to Sullivans Island to see the ocean.
Here is the light house.
Here's Mel on the beach pointing at something.
This is what she saw. It was heading out to sea.
Here is me at the beach.
The obligatory head down deep in thought beach walk photograph.
Holy smokes, the ocean sure is big.
We saw a crab and I stuck the camera in his face. He didn't seem to care. I think he was not feeling well.
Another view of the crab.
There were sandpipers all over the place.
We swung by Patriot Point and there was a display of new and classic military vehicles. I saw the style of Jeep I drove on the Mojave Desert when I was the driver for a controller during a combined armed exercise. I loved, loved, loved driving this vehicle over the desert.
There was this dude dressed up as a WWII paratrooper talking to awe struck boy scouts about his gear.
Patriot Point also offers a nice angle on the bridge over the Cooper River. I didn't realize that there is a walkway over the bridge. That is reason enough to go to Charleston again. It's just calling out for a panorama.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Howdy Again From Charleston
A lot of people sure love Charleston. I've had about ten friends tell me where to go to eat or have a drink. Dave's suggestion of the Hominy Grill sounds intriguing. I walked past it today and it looked like a nice traditional diner.
Didn't really do any sightseeing today. I got up real early for the conference and just lazed around afterward. I walked back and forth twice to the conference and that's almost six miles on foot. There is a shuttle but I haven't used it. It's been so nice out, mid 70's, that walking just seemed to be the thing to do. My dogs were aching when I was done.
So far the best presentation was the second I attended yesterday. Geoff Bilder gave a great and enthusiastic presentation on the problems facing researchers when trying to determine the authority of a web document. I was hoping he would have a blog but I have only found an older blog that hasn't been updated for a year.
Today I attended a good seminar on using digital video for research. It looks like the java based interfaces used on sites like Youtube are definitely going to end up in libraries. In fact they already are. I know we at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library have access to PBS videos via NC Live but I'd like to see us eventually subscribe to a service that has historical videos matched up with text. Primary sources all are the rage so what could be more appropriate than video? We already have some lectures series on CD, why not on our online resources? Of course they didn't discuss how much this stuff costs. Right now it's geared more towards academic libraries it seems to it may be beyond a public library's budget.
Tomorrow there is a talk on Wikipedia and libraries. I am interested in seeing what is said there.
A lot of people sure love Charleston. I've had about ten friends tell me where to go to eat or have a drink. Dave's suggestion of the Hominy Grill sounds intriguing. I walked past it today and it looked like a nice traditional diner.
Didn't really do any sightseeing today. I got up real early for the conference and just lazed around afterward. I walked back and forth twice to the conference and that's almost six miles on foot. There is a shuttle but I haven't used it. It's been so nice out, mid 70's, that walking just seemed to be the thing to do. My dogs were aching when I was done.
So far the best presentation was the second I attended yesterday. Geoff Bilder gave a great and enthusiastic presentation on the problems facing researchers when trying to determine the authority of a web document. I was hoping he would have a blog but I have only found an older blog that hasn't been updated for a year.
Today I attended a good seminar on using digital video for research. It looks like the java based interfaces used on sites like Youtube are definitely going to end up in libraries. In fact they already are. I know we at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library have access to PBS videos via NC Live but I'd like to see us eventually subscribe to a service that has historical videos matched up with text. Primary sources all are the rage so what could be more appropriate than video? We already have some lectures series on CD, why not on our online resources? Of course they didn't discuss how much this stuff costs. Right now it's geared more towards academic libraries it seems to it may be beyond a public library's budget.
Tomorrow there is a talk on Wikipedia and libraries. I am interested in seeing what is said there.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Howdy From Charleston
This will be quick and sweet since I am in the lobby and don't want to hog the computer. I am at a librarian coference and have done some sightseeing. A few pictures to follow.
The city's famous bridge. It's beautiful
Me at the Battery. A great park at the southern tip of Charleston.
A sunset view of the city from across the river. Found this by accident, just driving around.
Fort Sumter. I think it's Fort Sumter. It was in the right spot.
A panorama of a view of the city from across the river.
Melanie standing in front of the city at dusk.
So far this city has been really cool. It's small and easy to get around in and old. Lots of old buildings and it's been in the mid 70's for the last couple of days. I'd like to write more but don't want to hog the internet in a hotel full of librarians and a wifi network that is down. I'm surprised there isn't a line. They must be all out getting drunk.
This will be quick and sweet since I am in the lobby and don't want to hog the computer. I am at a librarian coference and have done some sightseeing. A few pictures to follow.
The city's famous bridge. It's beautiful
Me at the Battery. A great park at the southern tip of Charleston.
A sunset view of the city from across the river. Found this by accident, just driving around.
Fort Sumter. I think it's Fort Sumter. It was in the right spot.
A panorama of a view of the city from across the river.
Melanie standing in front of the city at dusk.
So far this city has been really cool. It's small and easy to get around in and old. Lots of old buildings and it's been in the mid 70's for the last couple of days. I'd like to write more but don't want to hog the internet in a hotel full of librarians and a wifi network that is down. I'm surprised there isn't a line. They must be all out getting drunk.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Google Trends
Have you heard of Google trends? It's a way to see how popular search terms are on Google. You can even see how two or more terms compare. You can limit your search to region and by time. All of the searches below are for searches done on the United States of America.
Well, I see that Google trends has Obama dominating searching in the United States. Maybe that's a good sign. Does interest breed votes? You can view the chart for the last thirty days here.
This chart is sobering though. As you can see there is more interest in Obama and Muslim than McCain's age. Intriguing.
What is really encouraging is that in the last 12 months Obama has closed the gap between himself and free porn. Not only has he closed the gap but in the last couple of days he has actually passed free porn! Now that's power. I think it's interesting that John McCain has not yet topped free porn this month. If you can't beat free porn how can you hope to beat Obama? You can see here how badly Bush did against free porn in November of 2004. He peaked early but fell off at the end. Obama is peaking late which, if you ask a playoff bound coach of any team sport, is what you want to do.
As you can see by this chart that Jesus keeps a pretty steady search rate and and if this wasn't an election year he would be ahead. At least he is still beating the Beatles. Take that, John Lennon! Mr. Smartypants.
Most importantly you can see here that pizza delivery is kicking the snot out of frozen pizza.
On a More Serious Note
Google has an election map that you can here. It's interactive!
Have you heard of Google trends? It's a way to see how popular search terms are on Google. You can even see how two or more terms compare. You can limit your search to region and by time. All of the searches below are for searches done on the United States of America.
Well, I see that Google trends has Obama dominating searching in the United States. Maybe that's a good sign. Does interest breed votes? You can view the chart for the last thirty days here.
This chart is sobering though. As you can see there is more interest in Obama and Muslim than McCain's age. Intriguing.
What is really encouraging is that in the last 12 months Obama has closed the gap between himself and free porn. Not only has he closed the gap but in the last couple of days he has actually passed free porn! Now that's power. I think it's interesting that John McCain has not yet topped free porn this month. If you can't beat free porn how can you hope to beat Obama? You can see here how badly Bush did against free porn in November of 2004. He peaked early but fell off at the end. Obama is peaking late which, if you ask a playoff bound coach of any team sport, is what you want to do.
As you can see by this chart that Jesus keeps a pretty steady search rate and and if this wasn't an election year he would be ahead. At least he is still beating the Beatles. Take that, John Lennon! Mr. Smartypants.
Most importantly you can see here that pizza delivery is kicking the snot out of frozen pizza.
On a More Serious Note
Google has an election map that you can here. It's interactive!
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Yesterday
Yesterday was a cool day. Not weatherwise, it was actually in the lower 70's with a beautiful clear sky. I present the day in pictures.
First off I got this shot of Wendell awake before noon on a Saturday. Seeing that is like seeing bigfoot so we have a bigfoot on the run type shot of Wendell.
This is Gallagher. He thinks he runs this place. Right now he and the dachshund are in the middle of a power struggle.
It was a perfect day for farting around at various retail stores. Here we see local celebrity, Melanie, preparing to head out and face her public.
At Home Depot they had one of those silly Christmas villages on display. The little figures look pretty creepy closeup. They also look to be cheaply made. I'm guessing "Made in China" and are probably poisonous.
Next stop, Garden Ridge. But first let's pause for a self portrait in the back of a rear view mirror of the giant SUV we parked next to. Things in the mirror are not as fat as they appear.
Local Celebrity, Melanie, runs the gauntlet of paparazzi in the parking lot of Garden Ridge.
After Garden Ridge we went to the Roasting Company on Montford Drive. The Roasting Company is a great chicken rotisserie place that has been around for a long time. It is the local restaurant that I have visited the longest here in Charlotte. I started eating there in 1993. I hadn't been there in a while and I almost forgot how delicious their chicken on rice dish is. Man, I love that place.
Later in the afternoon we used some rope and a softball do knock down some dead limbs from the oak tree in our backyard. The project was a success and no one was injured. The One Big Loud Guy was here and after our yard work we shot some hoops.
Nothing but the bottom of the net.
After dominating the first game of Horse the One Big Loud Guy rests.
This is just before Melanie kicked mine, Chris' and Wendell's asses at Horse. She just walked outside and totally dominated the second game. That's wrong.
Wendell attempting to hypnotize the basket so more of his shots wills fall.
After the second game of Horse a slam dunk competition broke out. I won. Here we see the One Big Loud Guy jamming the ball home. Melanie observes.
Look at that son of a bitch sky!
Sometimes the ball bounces over the chain link fence and rolls down into the back corner of the yard. The yard slopes toward the back corner and that ball rolls and rolls when it hits the yard.
I get a little slam dunkin' action. Bam!
Another one. That is not my ass hanging, just my lower back.
Check out that form. Eyes on the prize.
Wendell gets rejected by the rim.
Chris almost tore the rim off with this dunk.
I leave with this shot of my amazing form while dribbling the ball.
Afterward we retired to the porch for a few drinks and some tunes followed by one of the worst movies I have ever seen, Poultrygeist. Avoid it at all costs. It's supposed to be a funny deconstruction of horror movies but it's actually just stupid. The first 45 minutes are watchable. After that I started looking for a way to hurt myself so I could go to the emergency room.
Yesterday was a cool day. Not weatherwise, it was actually in the lower 70's with a beautiful clear sky. I present the day in pictures.
First off I got this shot of Wendell awake before noon on a Saturday. Seeing that is like seeing bigfoot so we have a bigfoot on the run type shot of Wendell.
This is Gallagher. He thinks he runs this place. Right now he and the dachshund are in the middle of a power struggle.
It was a perfect day for farting around at various retail stores. Here we see local celebrity, Melanie, preparing to head out and face her public.
At Home Depot they had one of those silly Christmas villages on display. The little figures look pretty creepy closeup. They also look to be cheaply made. I'm guessing "Made in China" and are probably poisonous.
Next stop, Garden Ridge. But first let's pause for a self portrait in the back of a rear view mirror of the giant SUV we parked next to. Things in the mirror are not as fat as they appear.
Local Celebrity, Melanie, runs the gauntlet of paparazzi in the parking lot of Garden Ridge.
After Garden Ridge we went to the Roasting Company on Montford Drive. The Roasting Company is a great chicken rotisserie place that has been around for a long time. It is the local restaurant that I have visited the longest here in Charlotte. I started eating there in 1993. I hadn't been there in a while and I almost forgot how delicious their chicken on rice dish is. Man, I love that place.
Later in the afternoon we used some rope and a softball do knock down some dead limbs from the oak tree in our backyard. The project was a success and no one was injured. The One Big Loud Guy was here and after our yard work we shot some hoops.
Nothing but the bottom of the net.
After dominating the first game of Horse the One Big Loud Guy rests.
This is just before Melanie kicked mine, Chris' and Wendell's asses at Horse. She just walked outside and totally dominated the second game. That's wrong.
Wendell attempting to hypnotize the basket so more of his shots wills fall.
After the second game of Horse a slam dunk competition broke out. I won. Here we see the One Big Loud Guy jamming the ball home. Melanie observes.
Look at that son of a bitch sky!
Sometimes the ball bounces over the chain link fence and rolls down into the back corner of the yard. The yard slopes toward the back corner and that ball rolls and rolls when it hits the yard.
I get a little slam dunkin' action. Bam!
Another one. That is not my ass hanging, just my lower back.
Check out that form. Eyes on the prize.
Wendell gets rejected by the rim.
Chris almost tore the rim off with this dunk.
I leave with this shot of my amazing form while dribbling the ball.
Afterward we retired to the porch for a few drinks and some tunes followed by one of the worst movies I have ever seen, Poultrygeist. Avoid it at all costs. It's supposed to be a funny deconstruction of horror movies but it's actually just stupid. The first 45 minutes are watchable. After that I started looking for a way to hurt myself so I could go to the emergency room.
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