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Friday, December 21, 2007

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Search for a White Elephant Gift

Yesterday there was a Christmas party here in our division at work, and one of our requirements was to bring a gag gift, a white elephant Christmas present.

I had the toughest time finding one. I was going to bring one of those old school cellular phone bags, but I couldn't find it.

I found a book at Goodwill called "Doctor, am I a virgin again?" but no, that wouldn't work either.


Just hours before the party, I found the PERFECT GIFT. Summed up in five words, its:


SANTA. CLAUSE. CONQUERS. THE. MARTIANS.





It was a hit.

Today's Palindrome (I'm Tired, Again)





Tel Aviv erases a revival: E.T.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Yet Another Reason to Despise the MPAA




I'm borrowing this picture from Entertaiment Weekly. Which poster, to you, is more disturbing?

Well, according to the Motion Picture Association of America, an upcoming documentary about torture and the U.S. military's stance on it, this poster involving two soldiers walking a detainee is inappropriate for children.

Wait.....

What?

Yes. They deemed that poster inappropriate.

More inappropriate than this:





Or this:




Or this:





Or even this:





Okay, this last one was a joke.



But this is just another decision the MPAA has made that they have no right making and deciding arbitrarily. Who would have even noticed this poster? What child would have gotten the implication of pending torture by the soldiers on the hooded man they were walking?

I don't even care that much about the movie--this is just something that the MPAA shouldn't be able to do so easily.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Today's Palindrome (a.k.a. I am Tired)




Star comedy by Democrats

On Me; as Tagged by Meredith

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Describe your perfect morning or evening.

Well, I USED to be an early bird. Man oh man. I used to get up AT LEAST two hours before school started. I would get up between 5 and 5:30 in the morning and give myself plenty of time to get ready. Not only that, but once I could drive, I'd get to school about thirty minutes before classes started. That was the big social part of the day, where a bunch of us friends would all meet up in the gym and talk before the day got started.

Now, however, I'm DEFINITELY a night owl. Even though I fall asleep very easily now, I hardly ever go to bed absolutely tired. I can stay up past midnight and still be just fine.

I'm not sure why the change. I actually think it might be because of past jobs. At the various radio stations I worked at, there would be many nights where I would have to work late into the night. I think I got used to it.

Creativity is...

why I believe in God. I don't think any natural thing can explain our creativity as humans. Why do we all think differently, act differently? How on earth do we all have different personalities? I believe that is something science cannot explain. Why we love music, why certain colors or flavors are enjoyed by some and despised by others. It fascinates me.


What is inspiring you right now?

A lot of things and ideas are inspiring me at this moment.

As far as books go, Beth and I have started reading through Thomas a Kempis' "The Imitation of Christ," and I've really enjoyed it. I'm not as "gung-ho" as he is about being completely separate from the world, but I have been inspired greatly by his desire to live his life as devoutly as possible.

This may sound dumb, but lately I've been inspired by the ever-increasing technology. Not that I can keep up with it, but I love the fact that enormous amounts of information are becoming increasingly available to more people all over the world. This is handy not only for individuals to make better decisions, but also for nations. We've got a long way to go, but I think this world is getting flatter and flatter. I'm very excited.

Just recently I watched the Charlie Brown Christmas, and I was absolutely floored at how amazing it was. It was beautiful in it's simplicity.

I have more I'm sure, but I'm just running a blank.



Which season inspires you the most and why?

Either Fall or Winter. There's something to like about every season, but there's just something about Fall and Winter that just inspires me. I just love the colors and weather of fall. I like Halloween and Thanksgiving. As much as I hate Christmas music airing months before Christmas, I just have this idealistic love for Christmas and that general season.


If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and what would you do there?

I think I would travel to Eastern Europe, Russia. Somewhere around there. I just have to go back.


What is your favorite handmade thing to make?

I don't know. I don't really handmake things. I like writing. I like audio/video editing, which is kind of making something with your hands (and a computer, etc.). Like Meredith, I think with real creativity I'm more of a critic than a creator.


What is your favorite holiday treat?

I like anything pumpkin; pumpkin rolls, pumpkin crisp, pumpkin this and that.

I also like ciders and hot chocolate.

And I"m not sure if this is necessarily a "holiday" treat, but one of my favorite desserts ever (that seems to only be made during the holidays) is STRAWBERRY PRETZEL SALAD.

An Old Childhood Photo


Pink was a bad color for me.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

"Delicious for Chanukah!"


Balducci's offers ham for Chanukah

BY BILL HUTCHINSON
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, December 6th 2007, 4:00 AM
Balducci's in Greenwich Village advertises tasty boneless spiral ham as 'Delicious for Chanukah.' Store blamed a clerk for the gaffe.

Balducci's in Greenwich Village advertises tasty boneless spiral ham as 'Delicious for Chanukah.' Store blamed a clerk for the gaffe.

Oy vey! Pork for Chanukah?

The Greenwich Village gourmet grocery store, Balducci's, has become the butt of the Jewish holiday by advertising its boneless hams as "Delicious for Chanukah."

Manhattan novelist Nancy Kay Shapiro, 46, spotted the kosher faux pas while browsing the meat section Saturday at the chain's outpost at Eighth Ave. and W. 14th St.

When Shapiro went back Sunday, she took photos of the unorthodox display promoting boneless spiral-cut hams for $8.99 a pound, petite smoked hams for $6.99 a pound and boneless smoked hams for $6.29 a pound.

Instead of pointing out the mistake to management, she posted the snapshots on her blog to "amuse others."

"I just thought it was funny," Shapiro, a self-described "unobservant Jew," said. "I wasn't offended in any way. I just thought, here's somebody who knows nothing about what Jews eat."

Shapiro said that when she went back to the store Tuesday, the first night of Chanukah, the signs had vanished.

A Balducci's official was so verklempt about the error he didn't want to speak on the record. He fessed up that "it was a mistake," blaming it on a stock clerk who normally doesn't work the meat department.

He referred all other questions to the company's marketing department in Connecticut.


http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/food/2007/12/06/2007-12-06_balduccis_offers_ham_for_chanukah.html

A Wide Stance

This really really cracked me up!


Tuesday, December 4, 2007

a Little Music News

There may be an upcoming collaboration with Bright Eyes and M. Ward.


This is a little old, but Paste picks The National's Boxer as it's top record of 2007.

The Job Thus Far

Well, yesterday I started my job at In Touch Ministries/Family Network. I'm not exactly sure what organization it is (I guess both), because I'm working in the video (In Touch and Family Network) and the audio (Family Network).

It's been a mostly what I have expected, a little bit what I haven't. I've enjoyed just about all of it. From the people that I'm going to be working with to what all I'm going to be doing, I really like it a lot. I'm getting to learn how to do things I've never done in the video department, and I'm also getting to relearn things that I've done for the radio. I'm pretty excited.

The only semi-downside is that I will have to work second and third shifts from time to time, but that won't be too bad at all.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Time Will Tell

This was written a couple years ago:



Time Will Tell

The acronyms are just a bit construed
But form a perfect word, even if misused.
The Sunday paper and coffee stains
Turn pulp and ink and dry liquid circles
Into a parchment piece with every page
Reading events of the world and closer too.

On the lines and inbetween
Sometimes they both mean the same thing
And lack the certain codes and hidden words
That's often said and never heard.

Invite death out but we're afraid to die.
Try to soar but we're afraid to fly.
Want to walk we're afraid to crawl.
Long to climb but we're afraid to fall.
Invite life out but we're afraid to live.
Invite life out but we're afraid to fight.
Long for love but we're afraid of the pain.
But even pacifists still get killed.

Try to aim for heaven
But always expect hell
And where you scoped and set your sights
Won't be far from where you fell.
Truth takes time
And time will tell.