April 2004 Archives

Author Hubert "Cubby" Selby, Jr. died on Monday. He was best known for his novel, "Last Exit to Brooklyn" (1964) which was an extremely dark exploration of the rougher side of life, considered by many to be a continuation of the American novel writing traditions started by Henry Miller and Burroughs. He may also be familiar to many people for his novel "Requiem for a Dream" (1978), recently made into a film version by Darren Aronofsky.

Its kind of cheating as an entry, but Magnus sent me this and I thought it was great. Not only is it a flash movie that has a plot and is genuinely interesting for more than 5 seconds, it is also a comic fan-boy obsessed reworking of Clerks, with decent approximations of Kevin Smith dialogue, which I'm certain could have been done much worse.

Heroes

This is probably the best Flash movie I've seen, although I should qualify that a little, since Joe Cartoon and Homestar runner, while amusing, when judged as movies indepently are pretty crappy. So really, there's a lot of room to go, but its an interesting step.

I'm not a particularly big comic fan but the material here isn't too advanced, so most general readers should get the idea of it (although the comicnerds will laugh more often).

This year's Twin Cities Marathon (October 3, 2004) will limit its prize money to only American runners. Marathon officials say that it is hard for American runners to compete with the dominance of Kenyan and Ethiopian atheletes, and this gives Americans a major event to compete in.

On the one hand, it is essentially a prize for achievement, and there are numerous prizes that are given only to Americans (or only to Germans or Moroccans or Hong Kong residents). On the other hand, it is presented by the marathon officials as a labor issue, that is, American runners can't make a living with the Kenyans stealing all the prize money.

I haven't quite made up my mind how to feel about it (not surprising as I'm equally undecided on many more general global trade issues), what does anyone else think?

Here's an article

Of course, this should be up to Laura, but it seems appropriate to have the rest of us offer innappropriate suggestions.

Mine: FreakyHugeCurvy

Just a quick thought on how computers and internet have changed perception. I've noticed now that whenever I see someone close a sentence inside Parentheses, it looks like a smiling one-eyed man. (Like this.) I'm not sure why the one-eyed man is smiling. Is it because he's the king?

1) What are the qualities of your ideal mate, including physical, emotional etc. etc. characteristics? Would she be pretty? Smart? What color eyes? What type of books would she read and movies would she watch? Would she come with nuts? :-D

3) Say you were trapped on a desert island with Andy, Karen, Kristin and Aaron. Who would you eat first and why? (Assuming the ultimate choice of who to eat first was left entirely up to you) And no, you can't pick yourself, because everyone knows that self-sacrifice is a cheater way out. (Anyone reading this will notice that I'm not on that list, because I don't wanna get eaten for asking the question.)

Not sure if any of you remember "Dr." Kent Hovind, the creation-science huckster that spent a lot of time up at Michigan Tech proving that the earth is 6,000 years old and dinosaurs rode on Noah's Ark and other such nonsense. Anyway, here's an update.

Snopes article on Subservient Chicken

Action words for the chicken

Just wanted to take a moment to reflect upon a milestone. Last night, this blog broke the 100 comment barrier, many of which were not actually me. As comments are the lifeblood that validates a blogger's existence, I thank you for helping me feel like I'm not completely wasting my time (even if I am wasting yours).

Somehow I knew it wouldn't take long before Andy would make me regret agreeing to this. So there you have it, 10 hours 48 minutes.

1. If you were stranded on a desert/dessert/deserted island, and stupid your five records melted in the damn sun, and your bloodstained vollyball friend popped, and your solar powered TV only got the WB, and all the beer that washed up on shore was Coors Light, and the Rocketts were there, but they all died... what would be the haiku that you would write yourself in order to stave off madness?

3. If you could eat any Hollywood starlet, past or present, which one would it be? (Assume that a competent celebrity chef would be available to properly... prepare her.)

Have you seen this?

Apparently its a "Have it your way" Burger King promotion. Which is normal enough. Except most BK promotions don't involve dressing someone up in a chicken suit and garter belt, and then allowing you to type in things to him to perform over webcam.

The responses seem canned, but they have quite a library (including knowing the difference between a waltz and a polka, not to mention the moonwalk).

The question: What does BK hope to accomplish with this?

The somewhat more disturbing part: Its kinda fun.

What is one thing you want to do before you die?

Are you at all angry at me for injecting Batman and Robin into one of you plays?

To blow your nose, is it toilet paper or facial tissues?

Questions to answer for today.

1. What would be your super hero power of choice?

2. What are your guilty pleasures? (Or guilty pleasure, if there's really only one.)

3. How do you feel about regret? Is it inevitable or unnecessary, or a combination of both?

I'll work on the rest in installments.

OK, I found this on Samantha's blog, who found it on some other person's blog.

quote:
This is blatantly taken from Desmond's journal (a link to his journal is on the right called: alex knight, if you're curious).

And since I took the liberty and asked Des three questions, I'm abiding by the rules and giving everyone else the same opportunity.

I asked my three questions of Samantha, so I feel it only fair to offer myself up. Of course, I'll apply the same caveat that the questions I'd rather not publish will be answered privately. Samantha's three questions session revealed her to have recently become insane, I can only hope for such results.

Watch wild boars live in Germany
(With Sound!)

No I'm not making it up.

Just a quick recommendation to read this Easterblogg entry, which I think is an important call to reason amidst the histrionics of the Democrats over the "smoking Presidential Daily Brief". While the Bush Administration may have handled its terrorism policy poorly or perhaps failed to address the problems that already existed (neither of which has been proven so far), suggesting that a one-page document saying that Al-Qaeda wished to attack inside the US should have incited any major action in the governemnt is both overblown and irresponsible.

Note: I just made a PR (Personal Record) for longest sentence.

Watched some great hockey over the weekend. My wings lost yesterday, but not too much to worry about yet, although I'd like to see the Power Play start working again.

First Item from the "Who thought this was a good idea?" department

Body piercing and tattoos make way.

Apr 7, 1:23 pm ET

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Body piercing and tattoos make way. The latest fashion trend to hit the Netherlands is eyeball jewelry.
Dutch eye surgeons have implanted tiny pieces of jewelry called "JewelEye" in the mucous membrane of the eyes of six women and one man in cosmetic surgery pioneered by an ophthalmic surgery research and development institute in Rotterdam.

Cont. at link

Source: Reuter's Oddly Enough on Excite! News
http://news.excite.com/odd/article/id/396103|oddlyenough|04-07-2004::13:24|reuters.html

Next from the "Proof that God is either non-existent or perverse" department

And it gets better

If you're looking to eat out near Auburn Hills this coming Monday or Tuesday, then you can do so to help a good cause. The local Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will receive 20% of proceeds at Max and Erma's in Auburn Hills this Mon/Tues (12, 13, or Easter Monday as its known in GM). So not only can you get a good meal and help a good cause, but I just saved you from fighting over what to eat.

I think I ate at Max and Erma's and it was pretty good, but that was a long time ago so I can't give anything but a lukewarm review. Anyone out there have input?

Go here for the flyer you will need to print out and bring with you to the restaurant (should be up later today).

Also
Max and Erma's

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America

Team in Training (if I could recommend one experience in life to every person on earth it would be to participate in Team-in-Training or one of the many similar charity athletic programs. A few of the many other programs are listed here. There are few things in this life that can offer the same level of satisfaction for such a relatively small outpouring of effort. 6 months of work and pain and hell, in exchange for something wonderful you can carry with you the rest of your days, that can't be taken away.)

After almost 25 years, Bob Edwards will no longer host Morning Edition on National Public Radio. Is this an exciting new direction or just New Coke?

I watched the ABC program "Jesus and Paul" tonight, and apart from the incredibly weird MTV moments, it was really interesting.

Yeah, I could create an April Fool's Entry. But who wouldn't be expecting that? So, I intend to create an April Fool's Day Entry on September 24th. You won't expect that!

Of course, I just told you about it.