Pulse Check...
Yes we're still alive. Yes we're still writing daily stuff for two other sites. Yes we like to refer to ourselves in third person. Since I can't do a video blog and I'm having trouble keeping a pointless, wrandom blog, I'm thinking of reading some of my fiction and posting those MP3s here. Would any of you be able to host (Pat, Bear, Bueller)?  ¶
2:32 PM 7 pithy comments

  South 21 Drive-In...
Has it really been a week? Wow. Well anyway as promised in an earlier post I tried the South 21 Drive-In, a restaurant that appeared on Alton Brown's Feasting on Asphalt. If it hadn't been on that show I never would have found it or if I did I don't think I would have stopped. It didn't look like anything special food wise, but the decor was definitely a throwback to the fifties.

They only take cash or checks and not realizing that I didn't bring very much along for the ride. I did have enough to order the Super Boy hamburger with fries and a root beer for $5.90. Let me tell you, it was worth it. The burger wasn't as good Five Guys, but it was better than most other fast food joints. It consisted of two bun-sized patties with lettuce, tom, onions, and mustard with a dill pickle spear skewered to the top. The fries were fantastic and the whole affair was served on a paper plate.

This place is what Sonic tries to be, literally I suppose. The speaker system looks like it's original to the restaurant (1955) and has a tray attached that pulls out on a swing arm so that you can reach it. Service was pretty quick, but I was one of very few customers. Of course it was almost two o' clock. I suppose I should go again so that I can try their "Famous" onion rings and give their milkshake a shot. As good as it was though it's a little out of the way.  ¶
12:15 PM 3 pithy comments

  America's Got Talent But No Taste...
Someone please tell me why these guys didn't win??



I mean I didn't watch all of every show but these guys were the best thing I saw. Of course I told my wife at the beginning, before I'd seen one second that a singer would win. *Sigh* I mean don't get me wrong, the little girl was talented, but Penn and Teller said it best. America apparently voted for cute.  ¶
3:22 PM 2 pithy comments

  Heavy Rotation...

MCF has given us a list of the songs he could listen to over and over. This in part thanks to The Art of Getting By. I figured I would return the favor. I had to do this quick like otherwise the list would take over my blog like kudzu. Most of them are from my teen years.


Panama by Van Halen - When I hear the opening riff from this it blows any cobwebs I have in my brain right out my ears. It's between this and Jump and I suppose Panama edges it out because I actually have this on my iPod. Otherwise this might be a harder fought battle. The whole 1984 album does a time warp for my brain.


Pump Up the Jam by Technotronic - Much like MCF's choice of Groove is in the Heart I defy you to listen to this an not tap your feet. Again it was a hard fought battle in my mind between this and Salt n Peppa's Push It. No seriously. Why are you looking at me like that.


Piano Man by Billy Joel- I am a hardcore fan of the Kid. His songs range from touching ballads to the hard bitten piano driven rock. He is a song writer par excellence. I chose this because it's a story. He manages to fill a three minute song with these unforgettable characters.


Georgia On My Mind by Ray Charles - This song is just perfect to me. It's so singable and he does such a moving job of it that it's just perfect. I don't know what else I can say.


Something in the Way She Moves by James Taylor (right click/save as for video) - This one has a personal connection. While my wife and I were dating it seems like all we listened to was JT. This song distills my feelings about her then and now. She pulled me out of a nose dive of depression and showed me the light.

Okay stopping now. Your turn.  ¶
7:49 AM 7 pithy comments

  Star Trek Inspiration...
These are more funny that anything I think I could come up with:




Click the pic for more.  ¶
1:06 PM 2 pithy comments

  Life stuff...
Things have been more than a little busy. I spent yesterday at home with the kids while my wife visited her grandad. He's in a pretty bad way so y'all can certainly pray for him I spent most of the day with a headache (unrelated to the chilluns, I think).

Today is better. Work is busy. I continue to write for Morse and Fake Life. Feel free to drop comments over at those joints.

I haven't been able to do any significant fiction writing of late, which sucks.

A buddy of mine is about to be published and I have yet to read Chapter 12. Sorry Rock! I will this week, promise!!!

The idea for a vlog (video blog) is tabled due to a lack of time and the whopper of a hard drive that I would need to do it. We're gonna buy a Mac when the tax refund fairy comes so maybe then.

How're you doing?  ¶
3:36 PM 1 pithy comments

  Make Your Own Motivation Poster...

This is a hoot. Now you try!

  ¶
12:10 PM 0 pithy comments

  BookMooch
Okay this is a pretty cool idea. According to the Inquirer (a Brit tech mag) a new site will allow you to trade books with other members. Bookmooch is trying to build such a community. You type in the books that you are willing to give away. Just type the ISBN and Amazon brings up the details. If you want a book, search their database and the owner will ship it to you. You build points by trading which encourages you to give away and not just ... mooch. All you pay is shipping which they estimate will cost you a buck or two.

There's a site that does this with DVD's and another that does it with CDs. Those sites charge a buck per transaction (filthy capitalists). BookMooch founder John Buckman said that he didn't want to charge as he felt it takes away form the sense of community. Bully for him!  ¶
8:08 AM 0 pithy comments

  IQ Test
That's pretty close to what I thought it'd be based on my WISC-R.



HT to MCF  ¶
12:56 PM 4 pithy comments

  What I've Been Up To...
I've been a busy boy, but not here.


Movie News at The Fake Life

Tech Issues at CodeMorse

Writing meaningful crap on a daily basis is HARD! But I like it. More stuff at this here blog in a bit.  ¶
11:21 AM 1 pithy comments

  Jumpcut...
Well in working towards a new project I have discovered a tool to help me edit video. Jumpcut.com lets you upload video and do some basic editing. They also host and let you embed video like Youtube.



I did this in crappy lighting with my Canon A60. I think with better lighting and my tripod I should be able to pull this off.

Hat tip to my bug Katanga for reminding me about the goodness that is Lifehacker.  ¶
1:24 PM 3 pithy comments

  The Dark Knight Rumor Mill...
So it's been confirmed the Ledger is the Joker and now I'm hearing that Philip Seymour Hoffman might be playing a certain tuxedoed bird. I won't put too much stock in that, the internet being what it is, but I think that might work. The man can certainly do subdued creepy and I think that would be a good fit for the atmosphere of the new movie Batman. It would also be a nice change from the DeVito Penguin.

Lisping penguins or not, the only thing about this rumor that makes me nervous is that they might fall into the trap that so many superhero movies have to date. If you do it right, you don't need more than one big name villain. The Joker is the undisputed king of Batman's chock full Rogues Gallery. If you're going to include him, throwing in another villain especially another well known one, makes about as much sense as well.. a bird that swims carrying an umbrella.

Tell you what. Hire PSH as the Penguin and put him in the third movie (trilogies being all the rage). And if you feel the need to put another bad guy in TDK make it someone like Killer Croc and let Bats take him out quickly. Think James Bond.  ¶
11:37 AM 0 pithy comments

  Fan Filmage...
Okay I heard about this first one on NPR and had to check it out. James Cawley and some dedicated fans are picking up Star Trek from where it left off in the sixties. They have some of the original sets, props, and costumes. The website is here. They intend to finish two years worth of eps. I watched the premier "Come What May" here. It was cheesy, but I loved it. I also admire the work that went into it. It's entirely funded by the folks making it. "Capt. Kirk" aka Cawley is a professional Elvis impersonator.

Also you need to watch Chad Vader - Day Shift Manager:

  ¶
10:57 AM 0 pithy comments

  M.C.F.A.T. Volume XV...
Been a while since I've done one...



1) Your life is going to be a graphic novel. Who's writing it, and who's drawing it?

I'd have to say Robert Aspirin and Phil Foglio. It would certainly be funnier and more interesting.

2) Weather patterns are shifting every year. Wars are exploding across the globe. When and how do you see the world coming to an end?

Well I'm kind of partial to the portrayal in Revelation. Angels and Demons slugging it out with their various human allies helping out. Of course, in Revelation the whole thing's a little brief.

3) What, if anything, would turn you into a supervillain?

Well if comics are any indication it would be some serious personal tragedy combined with a nuclear incident. Probably won't happen... Or maybe it already has. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

4) Let's try another showdown question: TMNT vs. The Kurgan; who wins?

Well since they can tuck their heads inside I give it to the Turtles.

SPECIAL BONUS QUESTION: The year is 3994. What’s a Mok?

A mutated gerbil.

  ¶
8:14 AM 5 pithy comments