I’ve been wanting to photograph these buildings on a gunmetal-gray day for a while now – this isn’t exactly what I was aiming for. It’s kind of hard to frame the shot when you can barely see the screen for the glare. Anyway, maybe we can call it “art.”
Monthly Archives: June 2004
Squirrel Arrogance! 25+ Years Later
Nearly 30 years ago, a series of hard-hitting investigative pieces written by a young reporter for the University of Oregon’s Daily Emerald looked into the disturbing problem of “squirrel arrogance.” Squirrels were no longer acting like cute, frisky little nut hoarders – they were ganging up on people and demanding treats. There were dark rumors of muggings… and worse.
Sure, they’re cute, but they’re rodents. And it seems that even now squirrel arrogance is again becoming a scourge in the Eugene area.
I hope the young people now writing for the Emerald are up to the task of digging up the facts on this resurgent and darkly violent trend. Unfortunately, the Emerald has suspended publication for the academic year… so the squirrels are free to run rampant without any journalistic oversight until fall.
Beware squirrel arrogance! Never turn your back on a squirrel, no matter how cute!
Amazing Race Teams!
CBS News | 22 New ‘Amazing Race’Travelers | June 9, 2004 10:52:31
This was announced earlier today on The Early Show, which apparently only TAR and Survivor fans watch for team updates and castoffs.
AAAAAAH!!! I can’t watch the video here… someplace… due to a !&#$(!$ firewall… will have to wait until I get home.
New word: “Zomp.” Apparently means “crush” or “stomp.” Will probably not replace “BOMP!” in the hearts of TAR fans – this is the blaring horn sound heard at the end of the theme music, which indicates “Here we go, hang on tight!”
And yes, I’m wearing a Television Without Pity/Amazing Race T-shirt today, and it says “BOMP!” right on it.
Zomp, indeed.
And WOW! the TAR5 webpage is finally updated with the team information and cool stuff, too.
My Homework Assignment: C+
Over at Rance’s place, a recent essay assignment that didn’t make the cut:
I read recently that one of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s sons wrote a series of murder mystery novels in which Eleanor was the protagonist and solved crimes. Pitch me a summer blockbuster movie in which Eleanor is the main character. Alternate topic: A drama in which Angelia Jolie plays the President.
Contest Rules: As usual winners get 10 DVPs. You may submit only one essay (Exception: you may submit two if you are a Siamese twin). Essays must have a movie title and be no longer than 250 words, including the title. Deadline: June 8, 2004, midnight, wherever in the world it is that midnight plays latest.
Does “sober” vs. “nicely, thank you” count instead of the twin thing? And why not combine both story lines?
Three little words: Prosthetic stunt jowls.
I’d better type fast before the Fuller’s ESB sets in.
::growly movie guy voice::”Angelina Jolie IS Eleanor Rooooooooosevelllllt.”
visual: Angelina Jolie in a sensible dress and Enagetic shoes rappels down the outside of the Capitol Dome, jowls flapping in the wind…
(for the rest of my homework assignment, which got a poor score due to excessive application of beer to the creative process, read on)
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October Surprise!
Take the October Surprise! poll, and while you’re there review the history of the original October Surprise, which was orchestrated by the minions of a certain recently dead President.
I still remember how angry I was that during Reagan’s inaugural, the Iranians held the aircraft holding the American hostages on the runway until after Reagan had been sworn in. I knew there was something fishy about that deal. I just didn’t know how fishy.
Roger Morris on AAR Today
Roger Morris is a guest on AAR today – this is his “Call to Conscience” piece referenced on the AAR/O’Franken Factor blog. Their link points to Salon.com, this one points to Commondreams.org.
The Diplomat who quit over Nixon’s Invasion of Cambodia asks Americans on the front lines of Foreign Service to resign from the “Worst Regime by far in the History of the Republic.”
Interesting reading. As it happens I booked someone (tentatively) to go to Phnom Penh via Saigon today. Actually, via Ho Chi Minh City, but the airport code is still SGN.
Oh, and there’s an audio link up at AAR’s site now to the very funny “Katherine tortures Al because Ann Coulter said so” skit from the other day.
Is this thing on?
Man, it’s always something. Moveable Type’s acting all wonky and pear-shaped.
Sake Bombed
We were out the other night at one the local “Japanese steakhouse” restaurants. The kind where they grill the ingredients in front of you and make little choo-choo noises with smoking volcanoes made out of stacked onion slices.
The party seated next to me included several women and one kid who I’d estimate was all of 16 – a very young 16 – and he was drinking a large beer with a sake cup plopped down inside it. As was his mother, or date, or whatever her relationship was to him. The waitress never blinked an eye or asked for ID.
I found out later that this bizarre looking drink is called a “Sake Bomb.”
The kid was certainly on his way to being bombed when we left.
Firefly: Joss’s Set Report
From the excellent resourceFireflyMovie.com – News comes a set report from Joss Whedon:
Today was (as I think you know) the first day of filming of Serenity. Which is pretty big for me (it felt weird to START with Mal’s death, but scheduling isn’t my area). It was a blast. Sean said it was like school was back in session after summer vacation, which I have decided to take as a compliment. Gina did a happy dance (and there are few happier sights than Gina doing a happy dance). We’re still flying. And the best part is, that’s not even why I’m posting.
Mal’s death? I think that’s Joss playing with our heads. How many Whedon characters have died and come back, or seemed to have died but it was a teaser? Well, I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count that high.
The best part (as was reported elsewhere) was that the opening date for the film is April 22nd, 2005. The good fans over at FireflyMovie are doing a lot of things to get word of mouth going on the project, such as creating banners to be used on websites promoting the Firefly DVD, such as this one. It connects to the Fox Store site for the mighty set, but if you check Amazon for it, you’ll find that it’s often available at Borders and Barnes and Noble. I’m pretty sure that a big boost in sales from the Fox store might get noticed more than other outlets by the beancounters at Fox (not my favorite studio, Fox. Keep cancelling my shows, wiseguys…).
And yes, we’ve been watching the DVD all weekend. I even dreamed about Firefly last night, and heard the theme music.
Or was it a nightmare? It featured Jayne in his horrible orange hat.
Stogey Pretensions
Why is it that some cigar smokers walk around with an unlit stogey in their mouths? Why do they do it in elevators and non-smoking buildings?
It’s pretension, I tell ya.
I rode up in the elevator just now with a guy who bore a slight resemblance to Jeffrey Tambor. He fiddled with and mouthed his tube of tobacco leaves in a disturbingly Freudian display. Why?
He deigned to speak to me as we rode by mentioning that he’d pressed an extra floor button in error. Thanks. Whatever. He got off at his floor and immediately stuck the stogey back in his mouth. Hello? Non-smoking building?
Get off my elevator and mouth that thing someplace where you can actually light it up, businessdude. Otherwise, stick it in a monogrammed silver case or something, it’s disgusting the way you carry it around like a brown pacifier.
Yeah, I’m cranky. It’s Monday. I’ll get over it eventually.