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September 26, 2006
My Brother-In-Law Has Left for Iraq
My brother-in-law Roy left last Thursday for two months of training prior to his year-long deployment to Iraq. Once there, he will be training the Iraqi Army. To say we're proud of him is an understatement.
Click the above picture to read the piece the Charlotte Observer did about him.
Posted by colrus at 01:30 AM | TrackBack
How to Work an Old-School Hand Dryer
With most restroom hand dryers now being automatic, you may have forgotten how to operate an old-school one.
Here's how:
1. Put your left index finger in the hole.
2. Clap for bacon.
Got it? Good.
Happy hand drying!
Posted by colrus at 01:21 AM | TrackBack
Today's Greatest Video Ever of the Day: "Apache" by Tommy Seebach
On the heels of our discussion about the Incredible Bongo Band's version of "Apache," Mr. Ernie Paik suggested the above video. It is a 1977 clip of "Apache" as performed by the late Danish disco great, Tommy Seebach. He's on the keyboards. And he's awesome.
Thank you, Tommy. May you rest in peace.
Posted by colrus at 01:10 AM | TrackBack
September 21, 2006
Wal-Martastical
Since I was told that there are people a) actually reading this blog and b) suggesting that others should read it, I guess I should wow y'all with this week's exciting details from my life...
The new Wal-Mart at the foot of Signal Mountain opened today. I ran into Brian Edwards there. He bought some stuff. I bought some stuff. Brian, Melissa and I talked in the parking lot for a little while. We all agreed that we should have dinner some time. Then we left.
When I die, I'd like the following to be inscribed on my tombstone:
It is one thing to believe that policy A is better than policy B. It is something very different to believe that those who believe in policy A are wiser, more compassionate, and generally more worthy human beings than those who believe in policy B.Turning the empirical question of the results of policy A versus the results of policy B into the more personal question of a wonderful Us versus a terrible Them makes it harder to retreat if the facts do not bear out the belief.
If the choice between policy A and policy B is regarded as a badge of personal merit, either morally or intellectually, then it is a devastating risk to one's sense of self to make empirical evidence the ultimate test.
This passage is from Thomas Sowell's August 23 column, "Left and Crime, Part II," which was reprinted in today's Times Free Press.
I'm currently wading through the following new releases: The Bob Newhart Show Season 4 DVD set (genius), The Office Season 2 DVD set (also genius), TV on the Radio's Return to Cookie Mountain (I'm really trying to like it) and DJ Shadow's The Outsider (all over the map, but mostly disappointingly awful).
Posted by colrus at 12:42 AM | TrackBack
September 15, 2006
The Ikea Lamp Commercial, Air America and Dog
Some quick thoughts before I sleep.
This IKEA commercial -- done by Spike Jonze -- is 3 or 4 years old, but still fantastic. We used watch it over and over around the PFilm offices...
So, Air America is struggling. When HAVEN'T they struggled? My main thought regarding their troubles is this: You have to have more than just a deep, abiding hatred for George W. Bush in order to create a succesful talk radio network. Yep, that's pretty much it.
Dog "The Bounty Hunter" Chapman was busted. While I'm not clear on all the particulars in the case, my love for the show will likely not be altered. I can't help it. And I want the theme song to be my new ringtone.
Good night.
Posted by colrus at 12:45 AM | TrackBack
September 14, 2006
Kittens, Racoons, Fire and Babies
Catching up on last week's personal happenings...
Having a writer get written up all over the globe will always put you behind a few days, I find.
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Well, the baby's room is coming togther. We had the carpets cleaned and I assembled the crib. We are now decorating the room and de-messifying my at-home office space, which takes up but a scant portion of the baby's room.
Last Thursday night, I was awakened by a squeaking sound outside the porch door. I found some vicious creatures. I took a picture of them the next morning. They belong to our neighbor.
Friday was the launch of Chattanooga Parent Magazine, the second publication launched by The Pulse's parent company. A brief, celebratory shindig was enjoyed at the Meeting Place that night.
When we got home, a racoon came up to the patio. My cat, Emmy, just stood there and watched him.
Saturday, we went to two birthday parties, the second of which was held at Ichiban in Hixson.
Fire!!!
We then joined the birthday family for the most riotous game of Taboo, ever.
On Sunday, we got to see Casey and Linlee Baugh's baby, Avaleigh. She is very tiny and very cute. (I won't post any pics without getting permission first.)
That's not all that happened last week, but I'm too tired to type any more about it.
Posted by colrus at 12:12 AM | TrackBack
September 05, 2006
Cavities and the CBS Newsytime News
So, I started off the day by getting two cavities filled, and wrapped it up by watching the second half of Katie Couric's debut as the anchor of, as my buddy Brian has dubbed it, "The CBS Newsytime News."
I don't know what to think.
I do know that Morgan Spurlock's Hulk Hogan/Randy "Macho Man" Savage reference was so odd that it distracted me from the point of his entire commentary. Something about the importance of free speech.
The show also teased the new Vanity Fair cover, featuring (finally!!! yay!!!) cute pictures of the cute Suri Cruise, and a piece by Steve Hartman showing how American high school students can learn compassion by drawing portraits of third world orphans.
Then, Katie did a quick rundown of famous previous anchorperson sign-offs, including Ron Burgundy's "Stay Classy, San Diego."
She hasn't come up with hers yet.
Look out, NPR. CBS is gaining on ya.
I don't want to call the carpet cleaner guy I hired a liar, but he's a liar. While he was a nice guy, cleaned my carpets very well, and charged me a fair price, his prediction -- that my carpets would be dry within six hours -- has turned out to be woefully false. It's close to six hours since he left, and the carpets are still almost as wet as they were when he left. And that's with three fans blowing on them the whole time.
I'm going to call him again, though. These carpets really are clean. And I'm a patient guy.
Look, I mean it. LaLa.com is very cool. So far, I've received a ton of CDs, and have gotten rid of a bunch. It's sort of like Netflix, eBay and McKay's all mixed together. Try it.
Speaking of music, you owe it to yourself to pick up The Incredible Bongo Band's "Bongo Rock" album when it comes out next month. You've undoubtedly heard the track "Apache," quite possibly the most sampled track in hip-hop history. (Download it here.)
The rest of the album, highlighted by a sweet, laid-back cover of "Pipeline," is great, too.
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CURRENT DIVERSIONS:
Listening: Mercury Rev - All is Dream
Reading: Brain-Terminal.com
Watching: Harlan County, U.S.A.
Posted by colrus at 09:48 PM | TrackBack
September 04, 2006
Please Stop Putting My Office Supplies in Jello
Seriously. I mean it.
Also, buy our DVDs next week.
And watch our season premiere on September 21.
Posted by colrus at 10:28 PM | TrackBack