Howdy Howdy
It's Monday morning and I don't have to be at the library until noon. Mel and I had a nice weekend, did a little Christmas shopping and I spent a few hours scanning some of her family's photographs for a little project we got going on. The Christmas crowds weren't all that bad yesterday. The most crowded store was the World Market. That place is just made for gift shopping. You can get anything there from a wooden statue of a giraffe to a glass tea pot.
We had a nice little house movie night on Saturday. The four of us gathered together to watch the Dark Knight. Heath Ledger was just as great the second time around. Christian Bale's "bat voice" still bothered me but not quite as much. I still wasn't crazy about the ending. There have been several instances in Batman story lines where he fought the cops but I didn't care for how this one was setup. Essentially Jim Gordon has to lie like he lied to his wife earlier in the movie. I still think it's the best Batman movie ever but it's still a mixed bag. What impressed me is that they were trying to make a great movie. That last franchise became a joke, at least these guys are trying.
Mel has become some kind of breakfast hash goddess. I ate so much yesterday morning that I couldn't move for an hour. I just sat at my laptop and played Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword. I did help with the preparation. I chopped the green peppers and the tomatoes.
We also cozified the living by setting up the white ceramic Christmas tree. It's a beautiful piece of Americana made about sixty years ago by Melanie's great aunt. I need to take a picture of it and post it here. We have been improving the living room in baby steps. We got a rug a few months ago at World Market. We finally found the type of shades we wanted for the two antique lamps that sit by the picture window. I think the next step is going to be find a nice curtain for the picture window. What we got there now is jury rigged and a nice curtain would really tie the room together.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
The List of Lists is Growing
Every year for several years now this guy has put together a list of best of the year lists. He does a good job and you can watch it build here. I don't know what it is about lists that we like so much. Is it our need to make order out of chaos? Is it our need to follow authority? Is it our need to find ways to keep ourselves occupied so we don't step in front of a moving train?
Something I may yet just might say at work someday
"Excuse me, sir. That position for which you are applying requires five years experience and a masters degree. You are wearing one sock and you smell like old newspapers..."
Every year for several years now this guy has put together a list of best of the year lists. He does a good job and you can watch it build here. I don't know what it is about lists that we like so much. Is it our need to make order out of chaos? Is it our need to follow authority? Is it our need to find ways to keep ourselves occupied so we don't step in front of a moving train?
Something I may yet just might say at work someday
"Excuse me, sir. That position for which you are applying requires five years experience and a masters degree. You are wearing one sock and you smell like old newspapers..."
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Feets to the Fire
Did you happen to see the Mike Huckabee interview by John Stewart last night on the Daily Show. It's a fine example of how special what John Stewart does is. Does is? Is that English? You can see for yourself below. Politicians just are not accustomed to being asked questions with substance and then expected to answer back with substance. Especially someone like Huckabee that appeals to the baser wing of the right. His bigotry is the really scary kind, it comes with the smile and warmth of your Grandpa but underneath it's still conservatism that would like to jail all the homos. Believe that.
Did you happen to see the Mike Huckabee interview by John Stewart last night on the Daily Show. It's a fine example of how special what John Stewart does is. Does is? Is that English? You can see for yourself below. Politicians just are not accustomed to being asked questions with substance and then expected to answer back with substance. Especially someone like Huckabee that appeals to the baser wing of the right. His bigotry is the really scary kind, it comes with the smile and warmth of your Grandpa but underneath it's still conservatism that would like to jail all the homos. Believe that.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Was (Not Was)
OK, today while screwing around with Itunes I discovered that Was (Not Was) had released an album back in April. April! How had I not heard of this? It's called "Boo" and it's funky, weird and funny. So yeah, it's a Was (Not Was) album. In my excitement I didn't notice that Amazon had a MP3 version I could download so I bought it off Itunes after swearing I would never use Itunes again because the DRM baloney that comes with files you purchase from them. So now if I want to put a song from this album on a mix CD I am going to have to do an illegal download. That DRM stuff is idiotic. I played the album all morning and will continue to play it for the rest of the week. I got new Was (Not Was) in my life and I couldn't be happier.
Video from the album below. Doesn't Sweat Pea Atkinson have a beautiful voice?
OK, today while screwing around with Itunes I discovered that Was (Not Was) had released an album back in April. April! How had I not heard of this? It's called "Boo" and it's funky, weird and funny. So yeah, it's a Was (Not Was) album. In my excitement I didn't notice that Amazon had a MP3 version I could download so I bought it off Itunes after swearing I would never use Itunes again because the DRM baloney that comes with files you purchase from them. So now if I want to put a song from this album on a mix CD I am going to have to do an illegal download. That DRM stuff is idiotic. I played the album all morning and will continue to play it for the rest of the week. I got new Was (Not Was) in my life and I couldn't be happier.
Video from the album below. Doesn't Sweat Pea Atkinson have a beautiful voice?
Saturday, December 06, 2008
William Ayers responds to the bullshit
You know, what has always impressed me the most about what the true radicals in this country call the left is their intelligence and thoughtfulness. Let those that supported Sarah Palin create such a document.
You know, what has always impressed me the most about what the true radicals in this country call the left is their intelligence and thoughtfulness. Let those that supported Sarah Palin create such a document.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Mark Twain and the Flag
From an essay on the American flag and the American subjugation of the Philipines: "I am not finding fault with this use of our flag; for in order not to seem eccentric I have swung around, now, and joined the nation in the conviction that nothing can sully a flag. I was not properly reared, and the illusion that a flag was a thing which must be sacredly guarded against shameful uses and unclean contacts, lest it suffer pollution; and so when it was sent out to the Phillippines to float over a wanton war and a robbing expedition I supposed it was polluted, and in an ignorant moment I said so. But I stand corrected. I conceded and acknowledge that it was only the government that sent it on such an errand that was polluted. Let us compromise on that. I am glad to have it that way. For our flag could not well stand pollution, never having been used to it, but it is different with the administration."
From an essay on the American flag and the American subjugation of the Philipines: "I am not finding fault with this use of our flag; for in order not to seem eccentric I have swung around, now, and joined the nation in the conviction that nothing can sully a flag. I was not properly reared, and the illusion that a flag was a thing which must be sacredly guarded against shameful uses and unclean contacts, lest it suffer pollution; and so when it was sent out to the Phillippines to float over a wanton war and a robbing expedition I supposed it was polluted, and in an ignorant moment I said so. But I stand corrected. I conceded and acknowledge that it was only the government that sent it on such an errand that was polluted. Let us compromise on that. I am glad to have it that way. For our flag could not well stand pollution, never having been used to it, but it is different with the administration."
Monday, December 01, 2008
I knew it was cold!
According to our local newspaper this November we just went through here in Charlotte, NC was the coldest in 32 years. I demand a mild December!
According to our local newspaper this November we just went through here in Charlotte, NC was the coldest in 32 years. I demand a mild December!
Internet find of the day
I recently bought an CD by a musician that calls himself Jay Reatard. Yeah I know, kids these days. But what are going to do? It's great music.
The find is a release by his record company, Matador Records, that features music the label is going to release in the near future. You can download the songs here if you are feeling adventurous. Some are great but they are all good.
I recently bought an CD by a musician that calls himself Jay Reatard. Yeah I know, kids these days. But what are going to do? It's great music.
The find is a release by his record company, Matador Records, that features music the label is going to release in the near future. You can download the songs here if you are feeling adventurous. Some are great but they are all good.
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