Go Rachel!!!
See how easy that is?
Monday, September 08, 2008
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Quick-hit movie reviews
A few things we've seen over the last few months warrant mention.
Life is Beautiful
Yes, I had never seen this before. Amazing movie. It deserved every bit of praise it got. 5 stars.
Walk on Water
A beautiful story of Jews and Germans and how the past colors the present. I remember that night we had three DVDs in-house, and we were looking for something light. Unfortunately they were all dark movies, at least by the description on the Netflix label. We picked this, and were pleasantly surprised. The issues were difficult, of course, but the end somehow felt... uplifting. 5 stars.
The Break-up
I didn't expect wonders here, just your typical rom-com. Vince Vaughn is usually funny, Jennifer Aniston is pretty good in her movies. Couple breaks up, fights over the condo they co-own. There were some truly funny moments, but Erica and I both agreed that there was too much mean and not enough funny. A couple of the conversations/arguments they had were painfully accurate though. Every now and then Erica and I would look at each other and say "Yup, I've had that one 5 times..." 3 stars.
The Simpsons Movie
Exactly what one would expect. Very funny stuff. "We're going to need more birds" had us both rolling, and Erica is still singing "Spider-pig" today. 4 stars.
--------------------
2 - Not terrible, I probably enjoyed some parts, but I'm certainly not going to recommend it.
3 - I liked it. Definitely not a waste of time. Judge from the description if the concept is for you.
4 - I really liked it, and you should see it. You may not like it as much as I did, but you won't feel cheated.
5 - Rave! What are you waiting for? Also, you're just wrong if you don't like it, so bite me.
Life is Beautiful
Yes, I had never seen this before. Amazing movie. It deserved every bit of praise it got. 5 stars.
Walk on Water
A beautiful story of Jews and Germans and how the past colors the present. I remember that night we had three DVDs in-house, and we were looking for something light. Unfortunately they were all dark movies, at least by the description on the Netflix label. We picked this, and were pleasantly surprised. The issues were difficult, of course, but the end somehow felt... uplifting. 5 stars.
The Break-up
I didn't expect wonders here, just your typical rom-com. Vince Vaughn is usually funny, Jennifer Aniston is pretty good in her movies. Couple breaks up, fights over the condo they co-own. There were some truly funny moments, but Erica and I both agreed that there was too much mean and not enough funny. A couple of the conversations/arguments they had were painfully accurate though. Every now and then Erica and I would look at each other and say "Yup, I've had that one 5 times..." 3 stars.
The Simpsons Movie
Exactly what one would expect. Very funny stuff. "We're going to need more birds" had us both rolling, and Erica is still singing "Spider-pig" today. 4 stars.
--------------------
Ratings scale recap: I use the same rating here as I do at Netflix. A little nebulous, but this is how I see them.
1 - Ugh, why can't I give this a zero?2 - Not terrible, I probably enjoyed some parts, but I'm certainly not going to recommend it.
3 - I liked it. Definitely not a waste of time. Judge from the description if the concept is for you.
4 - I really liked it, and you should see it. You may not like it as much as I did, but you won't feel cheated.
5 - Rave! What are you waiting for? Also, you're just wrong if you don't like it, so bite me.
Gotchya Balls
Erica and I went out to First Saturday, Saratoga's version of a community event that I've been to in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and a few other cities. Art galleries are open late, with cocktails and nibblies, restaurants offer discounts, etc.
In addition to the standard stuff on Broadway, there is Beekman Street, in the "Dublin" section of town. Saratoga may be famous for its money and its summer activities, but like any other town, it has its rough spots. Ten years ago, Beekman was one of them, but people have been building, renovating, and opening the kind of places that would lead to an area revival. Of course, real gentrification will follow, but that's a whole other post.
We only did the Beekman half yesterday, because we got a late start and it was raining, so we didn't feel like walking 5 blocks to get to Broadway. As it was, we had 6 galleries to see, so that was enough.
After we hit all the galleries, we went over to Gotchya's, a well regarded restaurant we hadn't been to yet. We didn't want to hit the budget too badly so we ate at home before we went out, but figured a cocktail and some dessert would be a nice way to end the evening. The place was packed and we had no reservations, but managed to get the last two bar stools. A quick perusal of the menu and we decided real food was in order. Erica went for the greens-and-beans, one of her favorite dishes, and I went for a baby pizza.
Then we noticed the Gotchya Ball, their interpretation of the "Scottish Ball," something I had certainly never heard of before. Anyway, take a hard-boiled egg, pack it into ground beef to make a giant meatball, beer-batter it, and deep-fry. Who the fuck am I to turn that down? Three apps it is.
Erica wasn't too hot on the G&B (too salty), but the pizza was excellent, as was the Ball. We decided that next month, we'll start at Broadway, move over to Beekman, then head to Gotchya's with reservations to sample the dinner menu. Very nice place.
A beer (Hennepin draft), a glass of wine (Hess chardonnay), 3 appetizers that stuffed us: $40 with tip. Perfect.
In addition to the standard stuff on Broadway, there is Beekman Street, in the "Dublin" section of town. Saratoga may be famous for its money and its summer activities, but like any other town, it has its rough spots. Ten years ago, Beekman was one of them, but people have been building, renovating, and opening the kind of places that would lead to an area revival. Of course, real gentrification will follow, but that's a whole other post.
We only did the Beekman half yesterday, because we got a late start and it was raining, so we didn't feel like walking 5 blocks to get to Broadway. As it was, we had 6 galleries to see, so that was enough.
After we hit all the galleries, we went over to Gotchya's, a well regarded restaurant we hadn't been to yet. We didn't want to hit the budget too badly so we ate at home before we went out, but figured a cocktail and some dessert would be a nice way to end the evening. The place was packed and we had no reservations, but managed to get the last two bar stools. A quick perusal of the menu and we decided real food was in order. Erica went for the greens-and-beans, one of her favorite dishes, and I went for a baby pizza.
Then we noticed the Gotchya Ball, their interpretation of the "Scottish Ball," something I had certainly never heard of before. Anyway, take a hard-boiled egg, pack it into ground beef to make a giant meatball, beer-batter it, and deep-fry. Who the fuck am I to turn that down? Three apps it is.
Erica wasn't too hot on the G&B (too salty), but the pizza was excellent, as was the Ball. We decided that next month, we'll start at Broadway, move over to Beekman, then head to Gotchya's with reservations to sample the dinner menu. Very nice place.
A beer (Hennepin draft), a glass of wine (Hess chardonnay), 3 appetizers that stuffed us: $40 with tip. Perfect.
Predictions sure to go wrong
Here's how I see the season playing out.
I'm on record, bitchez!
I'm on record, bitchez!
| AFC | ||
| East | W | L |
| New England | 12 | 4 |
| NY Jets | 9 | 7 |
| Buffalo | 7 | 9 |
| Miami | 4 | 12 |
| North | ||
| Pittsburgh | 10 | 6 |
| Cincinnati | 8 | 8 |
| Cleveland | 7 | 9 |
| Baltimore | 6 | 10 |
| South | ||
| Indianapolis | 11 | 5 |
| Jacksonville | 10 | 6 |
| Houston | 9 | 7 |
| Tennessee | 8 | 8 |
| West | ||
| San Diego | 11 | 5 |
| Denver | 9 | 7 |
| Oakland | 6 | 10 |
| Kansas City | 4 | 12 |
| NFC | ||
| East | ||
| Dallas | 11 | 5 |
| NY Giants | 10 | 6 |
| Philadelphia | 10 | 6 |
| Washington | 6 | 10 |
| North | ||
| Green Bay | 10 | 6 |
| Minnesota | 8 | 8 |
| Chicago | 6 | 10 |
| Detroit | 4 | 12 |
| South | ||
| New Orleans | 10 | 6 |
| Tampa Bay | 9 | 7 |
| Carolina | 8 | 8 |
| Atlanta | 4 | 12 |
| West | ||
| Seattle | 10 | 6 |
| Arizona | 8 | 8 |
| St. Louis | 6 | 10 |
| San Francisco | 5 | 11 |
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Mavericky! From a small town!
Jason Jones is officially insane... officially awesomely insane.
And this is a thing of beauty.
Republicans are truly pathetic.
All stolen shamelessly from Tart.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Holy emmer effing ess
Almost 10% of American home owners are behind on payments or in foreclosure.
Atrios used the word "stunning." I don't think that's even close. In fact, I don't think there's a word in the dictionary for this.
I can walk out to the end of my driveway and see more than 10 houses.
Atrios used the word "stunning." I don't think that's even close. In fact, I don't think there's a word in the dictionary for this.
I can walk out to the end of my driveway and see more than 10 houses.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
It's drafty
OK, all three of my fantasy football leagues are set.
First, my fraternity league, with three outsiders. The Hypocycloids:
I like this team. Solid up and down.
Next, the Toasters league, for the peanut gallery at TwoGlasses. The Saratoga Fucknecks:
Ehhhhhhhhh. Not so hot.
And last, a tech-writers' league. I present to you, Learn to Logic:
This was an auto-draft league, which is the main reason I joined. No effort involved? Sure, sign me up!
First, my fraternity league, with three outsiders. The Hypocycloids:
I like this team. Solid up and down.
Next, the Toasters league, for the peanut gallery at TwoGlasses. The Saratoga Fucknecks:
Ehhhhhhhhh. Not so hot.
And last, a tech-writers' league. I present to you, Learn to Logic:
This was an auto-draft league, which is the main reason I joined. No effort involved? Sure, sign me up!
Are you a good omnivore?
I found this at Bill's place. Great meme.
From Very Good Taste:
1. Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2. Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3. Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
UPDATE: the Toasts added two more "rules":
4. Asterisks on what you must try before you die.
5. A question mark after what you had to look up.
(note: if you don't know what something is, go to the VGT post, they have wiki links)
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea ?
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses ?
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda ?
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi ?
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi ?
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost ?
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong ?
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. ***
85. Kobe beef ***
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate ***
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake
I now have a purpose in life...
From Very Good Taste:
1. Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2. Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3. Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
UPDATE: the Toasts added two more "rules":
4. Asterisks on what you must try before you die.
5. A question mark after what you had to look up.
(note: if you don't know what something is, go to the VGT post, they have wiki links)
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea ?
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses ?
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda ?
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi ?
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi ?
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost ?
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong ?
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. ***
85. Kobe beef ***
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate ***
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake
I now have a purpose in life...
Showing respect
The GOP, backing off on the partying a bit.
Note, the band at one of the parties is called "Hookers and Blow."
As always, IOKIYAR.
(h/t Americablog)
Note, the band at one of the parties is called "Hookers and Blow."
As always, IOKIYAR.
(h/t Americablog)
Monday, September 01, 2008
Labor Day addendum - Fucking With Cats edition
In the post below, I told you that Meeko is a newcomer to the household, a pound dog brought in after Duke passed.
Well, he looks a lot like like Duke. Enough like Duke, in fact, that the cats didn't bat a, um, whisker(?) when he was brought home. At first...
There Meeko is, out on the patio with Mom and Don, sprawled out and loving his new home. Out of the house comes Sylvia, casual as can be, to within a foot of the black dog. Sniff? In an instant, arched back, every single hair standing on end, tail frizzed out like a bad 80s perm, huge howl/hiss, and she was out of there.
A couple minutes later, here comes Ginger, back from a hunting and/or garden-pooping session. Same thing. Up on the patio, walking along all casual-like, heading for the patio door when... sniff? ARCH/FUZZ/HISS and out of there.
Of course, here comes Midnight around the corner wondering what all the fuss is. Hey! Duke's back! Waddle on over. Sniff? ARCH/FUZZ/HISS!
Yeah, I wish I had been there for all of that. I don't know how Tufts got his introduction, but I'm sure it was amusing in its own way. First, Tufts doesn't do anything that can be reasonably called running. Not at 21 pounds, anyway. Second, he's a little shit. He probably sniffed, turned his nose up, and walked away. "Christ, not another one..."
Well, he looks a lot like like Duke. Enough like Duke, in fact, that the cats didn't bat a, um, whisker(?) when he was brought home. At first...
There Meeko is, out on the patio with Mom and Don, sprawled out and loving his new home. Out of the house comes Sylvia, casual as can be, to within a foot of the black dog. Sniff? In an instant, arched back, every single hair standing on end, tail frizzed out like a bad 80s perm, huge howl/hiss, and she was out of there.
A couple minutes later, here comes Ginger, back from a hunting and/or garden-pooping session. Same thing. Up on the patio, walking along all casual-like, heading for the patio door when... sniff? ARCH/FUZZ/HISS and out of there.
Of course, here comes Midnight around the corner wondering what all the fuss is. Hey! Duke's back! Waddle on over. Sniff? ARCH/FUZZ/HISS!
Yeah, I wish I had been there for all of that. I don't know how Tufts got his introduction, but I'm sure it was amusing in its own way. First, Tufts doesn't do anything that can be reasonably called running. Not at 21 pounds, anyway. Second, he's a little shit. He probably sniffed, turned his nose up, and walked away. "Christ, not another one..."
Labor day blogging
Erica and I took a much-needed break this weekend, and I hope you all did too.
Our plans this weekend usually involve Woody's annual Labor Day party, but we had to go down to Mom's place to get some plants in the ground. Erica has a serious hosta collection, many of them expensive collectibles, and many other plants she's not giving up when we sell this house. If they're going to make it through the winter, we had to get them moved as soon as possible to give them a chance to recover and establish themselves before winter comes.
We arrived Saturday afternoon to an empty house, unloaded the truck, and plopped on the patio. With drinks, fresh bread, and fresh tomatoes drizzled with some olive oil at our side, deep breaths were drawn. It's been a long time since I've done nothing. As in nothing. Work and house projects have kept me all kinds of busy and sleep-deprived.
Mom gets home from the a clam-bake at the firehouse, and Don, a volunteer, followed soon after. A little more food, another drink. Mom announces that they have to go to a show put on by the local historical committee, because they're on the board. Do we want to come?
Angelos (on the inside): no no no no no no no no.
Erica: at first was with me, but they managed to turn her against me.
OK, off we go. Good thing I pounded four beers before we go to a church and sit for an hour and a half.
Aaaaaaanyway, it was nice. Three local folk-artists sang songs of Catskill Mountain and Hudson Valley region history. From the towns that were razed to make room for reservoirs to provide NYC with water, to the Anti-Rent War, to the bluestone quarries, to the defunct railroads (many sunk under reservoirs), this was folk story-telling at its finest. This is how history got passed from generation to generation. One of those glad-I-went/would-have-been-fine-on-the-couch-too things. But overall, glad I went.
Sunday morning... WORK TIME! Midnight, Tufts, Ginger, and Sylviastand at atten... sit at attent... wait to be fed. Spoiled rotten fat fucking beasts, all of them. All amazing hunters too; you can safely assume that they get as much food outside as in; hence, their prodigious proportions. The amazing thing about all four of them is how they're tame as can be and bloodthirsty killers. They're all rescues, two from Greece and two from local barns/fields, and they never lost the survival instinct. I've known cats that would be dead ten seconds after walking outside. These fuckers will sit on your lap and love you up grudgingly accept your affection for 1/2 hour, then leap out the door and bring home 2 snakes, 3 squirrels, a barn swallow, and a frog. Killers I tell you!
Don does the tilling, I do the shit-shoveling, Erica is planning away.
Eeeeee-chinecia where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
Mmm... soon, my pretties.
Sylvia exhausts herself. Scratching on warm flagstone is tough work, you know.
Meeko decides I've had too much water. He'll take over from here.
OK, the sofa and console table over here, the loveseat over there...
Hey! A new garden. FOR ME TO POOP IN!
Ginger is the guard kitty. She was at Erica's side the whole afternoon. Supervising, and such.
While Erica was figuring out what went where, Don and I headed into town for a gun show at the firehouse.
Ooooooh, shiny.
Only two tables, nothing really exciting. But for Andes, what the heck. It's something to do.
Check out those two pop-gun-looking things. Old Quackenbush .22s. I wish the pictures conveyed just how damned small and flimsy-looking they are. The one on the right, though, weighs more than any of my long guns - solid iron. $650, too! Must be just a bit collectible. As for me, I'm not in the market for anything right now, because I have all the guns I need for practical purposes. A pellet gun, a .22 for plinking/varminting, a shotgun with both slug and shot barrels, and a 30-06. All my hunting needs are covered. Now, I'd like a .270 for longer-range shooting, and I'd like an over-under for shooting the elusive clay pigeon. But need-wise, and budget-wise, I'm good for a while.
Macro-lensing
Done!
Spot, the old-timer. He gets grayer and slower and more rickety every time we see him. He lost his brother Duke a few months ago to a farming accident, hence the arrival of Meeko. But Spot is still the man. Always outside barking at any noise, protecting the family from evil-doers. Meeko assumed beta-dog status right away, and for good reason - even Duke knew Spot was boss, and they were brothers from the same litter. Inseparable for 15 years, Duke would frolic, Spot would guard. Always. We hope Meeko learns his lessons quickly, because he'll soon have to train a youngster himself.
Can't an old man get some rest around here?
or
Fucking tourists.
or
Damned city-folk.
Wrapped up Sunday with some Scrabble and tennis on the TV.
Today, slept in, packed up, and came home laden with cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash from the garden, as well as some fresh fruit from a local farm.
Tomorrow, back to the grind.
Our plans this weekend usually involve Woody's annual Labor Day party, but we had to go down to Mom's place to get some plants in the ground. Erica has a serious hosta collection, many of them expensive collectibles, and many other plants she's not giving up when we sell this house. If they're going to make it through the winter, we had to get them moved as soon as possible to give them a chance to recover and establish themselves before winter comes.
We arrived Saturday afternoon to an empty house, unloaded the truck, and plopped on the patio. With drinks, fresh bread, and fresh tomatoes drizzled with some olive oil at our side, deep breaths were drawn. It's been a long time since I've done nothing. As in nothing. Work and house projects have kept me all kinds of busy and sleep-deprived.
Mom gets home from the a clam-bake at the firehouse, and Don, a volunteer, followed soon after. A little more food, another drink. Mom announces that they have to go to a show put on by the local historical committee, because they're on the board. Do we want to come?
Angelos (on the inside): no no no no no no no no.
Erica: at first was with me, but they managed to turn her against me.
OK, off we go. Good thing I pounded four beers before we go to a church and sit for an hour and a half.
Aaaaaaanyway, it was nice. Three local folk-artists sang songs of Catskill Mountain and Hudson Valley region history. From the towns that were razed to make room for reservoirs to provide NYC with water, to the Anti-Rent War, to the bluestone quarries, to the defunct railroads (many sunk under reservoirs), this was folk story-telling at its finest. This is how history got passed from generation to generation. One of those glad-I-went/would-have-been-fine-on-the-couch-too things. But overall, glad I went.
Sunday morning... WORK TIME! Midnight, Tufts, Ginger, and Sylvia
Don does the tilling, I do the shit-shoveling, Erica is planning away.
Eeeeee-chinecia where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
Mmm... soon, my pretties.
Sylvia exhausts herself. Scratching on warm flagstone is tough work, you know.
Meeko decides I've had too much water. He'll take over from here.
OK, the sofa and console table over here, the loveseat over there...
Hey! A new garden. FOR ME TO POOP IN!
Ginger is the guard kitty. She was at Erica's side the whole afternoon. Supervising, and such.
While Erica was figuring out what went where, Don and I headed into town for a gun show at the firehouse.
Ooooooh, shiny.
Only two tables, nothing really exciting. But for Andes, what the heck. It's something to do.
Check out those two pop-gun-looking things. Old Quackenbush .22s. I wish the pictures conveyed just how damned small and flimsy-looking they are. The one on the right, though, weighs more than any of my long guns - solid iron. $650, too! Must be just a bit collectible. As for me, I'm not in the market for anything right now, because I have all the guns I need for practical purposes. A pellet gun, a .22 for plinking/varminting, a shotgun with both slug and shot barrels, and a 30-06. All my hunting needs are covered. Now, I'd like a .270 for longer-range shooting, and I'd like an over-under for shooting the elusive clay pigeon. But need-wise, and budget-wise, I'm good for a while.
Macro-lensing
Done!
Spot, the old-timer. He gets grayer and slower and more rickety every time we see him. He lost his brother Duke a few months ago to a farming accident, hence the arrival of Meeko. But Spot is still the man. Always outside barking at any noise, protecting the family from evil-doers. Meeko assumed beta-dog status right away, and for good reason - even Duke knew Spot was boss, and they were brothers from the same litter. Inseparable for 15 years, Duke would frolic, Spot would guard. Always. We hope Meeko learns his lessons quickly, because he'll soon have to train a youngster himself.
Can't an old man get some rest around here?
or
Fucking tourists.
or
Damned city-folk.
Wrapped up Sunday with some Scrabble and tennis on the TV.
Today, slept in, packed up, and came home laden with cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash from the garden, as well as some fresh fruit from a local farm.
Tomorrow, back to the grind.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
There's GHEY on these pages
Virgina delegation to the GOP convention cancels their order of 150 guidebooks to the attractions in Minneapolis and St. Paul because it has a 6-page section of items of interest to gays and lesbians.
That level of hatefulness, and the denial of reality, never fails to boggle. Yes, I know people in general are stupid, and Republicans are worse. But can someone explain to me what harm could come from proximity to a 6-page GLBT section? No, of course you can't.
(emphasis mine)
Are VA Republicans so weak that their fragile little minds just can't handle the stress of acknowledging that teh ghey exists? Are they going to melt just touching the fucking booklet?
Here is a normal person:
• lands at airport
• goes to newsstand
• browses available tourist information
• buys a copy of Secrets of the City
• plans itinerary
Here is a Virginian GOP delegate:
• lands at airport
• goes to newsstand
• browses available tourist information
• picks up copy of Secrets of the City
• drops like a hot potato
• runs screaming to the bathroom, washes hands vigorously
• has nervous breakdown
• dies
• (hey, I can dream)
Seriously, wouldn't a good little homophobe consider this helpful information: "Hey, I'd better not go to the Cock-n-Balls, someone might offer to push in my stool!"
See, a normal straight person would flip through the book, come across the GLBT section, wipe it off, and then move on to something of more relevant interest. Maybe he'd stop and think, "hey that's pretty cool, and I'm sure smart business too," and get on with his life.
I just don't get it.
That level of hatefulness, and the denial of reality, never fails to boggle. Yes, I know people in general are stupid, and Republicans are worse. But can someone explain to me what harm could come from proximity to a 6-page GLBT section? No, of course you can't.
I am so terribly sorry to do this, especially when the both of you have been so "out of your way" helpful, generous and easy to work with. But, we need to cancel the order for 150 of the "Secrets of the City" guidebooks.
Thanks for sending a copy to me so expediently, Tom. Upon looking at it, though, having a section dedicated solely to GLBT will be a BIG problem for many of our folks. We simply can't hand them out.
(emphasis mine)
Are VA Republicans so weak that their fragile little minds just can't handle the stress of acknowledging that teh ghey exists? Are they going to melt just touching the fucking booklet?
Here is a normal person:
• lands at airport
• goes to newsstand
• browses available tourist information
• buys a copy of Secrets of the City
• plans itinerary
Here is a Virginian GOP delegate:
• lands at airport
• goes to newsstand
• browses available tourist information
• picks up copy of Secrets of the City
• drops like a hot potato
• runs screaming to the bathroom, washes hands vigorously
• has nervous breakdown
• dies
• (hey, I can dream)
Seriously, wouldn't a good little homophobe consider this helpful information: "Hey, I'd better not go to the Cock-n-Balls, someone might offer to push in my stool!"
See, a normal straight person would flip through the book, come across the GLBT section, wipe it off, and then move on to something of more relevant interest. Maybe he'd stop and think, "hey that's pretty cool, and I'm sure smart business too," and get on with his life.
I just don't get it.
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