Friday Blogthing: Nibblin' on sponge cake

This is so true, I can't stand freakin' Bette Midler.

Your Karaoke Theme Song is "Margaritaville"

You are a true party animal, but your style is mild and chill. Kicking back with a few friends and a few drinks is all you need to be happy. You certainly don't feel pressured to be a part of any party scene. In fact, you avoid trendier spots. You've been known to kick loose anywhere and everywhere. All you need is a cooler. You might also sing: "Gin and Juice," "Love Shack," and "Red Red Wine" Stay away from people who sing: "Wind Beneath My Wings"

What's Your Karaoke Theme Song?

tagged: Friday, test, Jimmy Buffett, Bette Midler, Margaritaville, meme, blog

FWD: One good deed

I usually don't go in for this sentimental stuff, but this is one amazing story...

In 1986, Dan Harrison (see picture at left) was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University .

On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Dan approached it very carefully.

He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Dan worked the wood out with his hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot.

The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Dan stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away. Dan never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Dan was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teenaged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Dan and his son Dan Jr. were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Dan, lifted its front foot off the ground, and then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.

Remembering the encounter in 1986, Dan couldn't help wondering if this was the same elephant.

Dan summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Dan's legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.

Probably wasn't the same elephant.

tagged: elephant, Africa, wildlife, humor

3 A.M. Poll: Parts is parts

As humans have evolved (if you believe in such things), we've retained certain evolutionary throwbacks that seem to serve no useful purpose.

The appendix, for example, or the fifth toe, or Larry Moore.

So, what is your favorite useless body part?


tagged: body, parts, biology, evolution, male nipples, poll, vote

More Chinese toys recalled

I don't know how regulators let this one slip by.



tagged: Chinese, toy, recall, humor, photo

View from the couch

There’s been a bit of a lack of substance here lately.

I haven’t felt inspired to blog about the books I’ve been reading (working my way through the Cormac McCarthy library. Up next: No Country for Old Men before the movie is released in November).

Politics lately is so much as usual that there’s really nothing new to say about it (is there ever?). And even my Larry Moore hate has subsided slightly since I haven’t watched the KMBC so-called news cast recently.

Luckily, there’s always pop culture to fall back on, and the new TV lineups provide a great opportunity to see what’s new and original on the small screen. With work letting up a little bit, I’ve had a chance to clear the DVR decks and collect some thoughts on some new fall shows:

• The Bionic Woman: Talk about original! Who would ever have thought to do a remake of a show from the ‘70s that was itself a spinoff of a show from the ‘70s? Brilliant!
  
  The series writers cleverly avoid overestimating the intellectual prowess of the viewing public by steering clear of serious subtext that could be raised with this show: What does it mean to be human in an age of technology. What are the moral limits of performance enhancement. How many times should Sci-Fi show actors be recycled?
  
  Instead, the writing team deftly opts to focus on what viewers really want, sexy cyborgs waging epic pseudo-lesbian wire-fighting battles. Sweeeet.


• JourneyMan: Another stroke of genius and originality. The premise is that a man suddenly begins to leap back and forth in time within his lifetime, assigned by some unknown force to solve problems for people from the past.
  
  I don’t know where these people come up with such original ideas!
  
  Anyway, I was bitterly disappointed when I watched the first episode and realized that this show has nothing at all to do with Steve Perry or a string of chart-topping power ballads from the late-70s to early 80s. But I’m still willing to give it a chance since it stars Kevin McKidd, my favorite Centurion.


• Chuck: A pocket-protected member of the nerd herd inexplicably gets the top secrets of the CIA and NSA stuck in his noggin. So it’s either be killed by your government or be forced to work as a spy for your government.
  
  The theme of this show seems to be "We have met the enemy, and he is us." Aside from a quick mention of the North Koreans, the bad guys in this show seem to be American secret agents. Have the PC police really become so bad that we can no longer bash on the Soviets, North Koreans, Chinese, Iraqis or even the Canadians (damn dirty Canadians!).
  
  The comedy seems to be based on the awkwardness of Chuck, played by Zachary Levi who is a genetic splice of Zack Braff and Jimmy Fallon. There’s that Hollywood originality again. Anyway, for lame premise and lackluster comedy, I predict this show will be cancelled within a few more weeks.


• Big Shots: In the same way that Maxim is Cosmo for men, Big Shots is Desperate Housewives for men. Or rather, its Desperate Housewives about men, but still for women. Instead of smokin’ hot ladies, you get smokin’ hot pretty boys, but all the character types are the same: the goofy one, the sexy one, the smart one and the organized one.
  
  Still, you gotta give credit to a show that kicks off its season featuring a truck stop encounter with a transvestite male prostitute. Another thing I like is that the writers blatantly name the country club (the place where much of the intra-gender dialog takes place) Firmwood, which in terms of not-so-subtle double entendre one-ups the great Bushwood of Caddyshack fame.

So that’s a quick roundup. There are more shows out there, but to be honest you really only need to know about The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Of course as I’ve stated on other blogs, taking advice on pop culture from me is like taking table manner lessons from Andrew “Dice” Clay, so there’s that.

tagged: TV, television, Bionic Woman, Journeyman, Journey, Steve Perry, Kevin McKidd, Chuck, Zack Braff, Jimmy Fallon, Zachary Levi, Big Shots, The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Caddyshack

YouTube Tuesday: Put the smooth in smoothie

For some reason I feel like I need a cigarette after watching this.

It's the latest in a series of online short-form videos from your friendly neighborhood cell phone company. Edgy, no?



tagged: movie, YouTube, video, quickie, banana, peel, smoothie, blender

Monday morning quarterback

Okay. I know that there are certain segments of the readership who are coming here this morning to see me eat some crow.

From the many emails and a few comments I've received, the prevailing wind seems to be that I have some music to face. Well, when there's music to face I face it. If that's the way the wind is blowing, let no one say that I don't blow.

30-24

As anyone who cares knows, the KU Jayhawks squeaked by the K-State Wildcats 30-24 on Saturday. Congratulations 'Hawk fans.
As with many K-State fans, I'm suffering a little pain over this one. Though as disappointment in sporting events goes, Saturday's loss is pretty minor. And even though we fans weren't on the field, if you're going to associated yourself with a group, you gotta be there when it all goes to hell.


So here I am. The only things left to do are wait for The D to contribute and Awesome® post to pay off our wager and then start trash talking the Colorado Buffaloes.

tagged: crow, blow, mea culpa, sports, football, KSU, K-State, Lawrence, Mark Mangino, Jayhawks, Colorado, Buffaloes

FWD: To the K-Staters out there...

I just received this via email. Enjoy (it's all in good fun)...

It's that wonderful, magical time of the year
When we gather with those we consider most dear,
Our friends and our family, all folks whom we love,
The people for whom we thank God up above.
How special it is -- oh indeed, it is true --
To know you're with others who can't stand KU,
To be with those equally filled with abhorrence
Toward the snobs on the hill, in the hell known as Lawrence.
Now, I know that we all want our Wildcats to win,
But to ask for much more, tell me, is it a sin?
I, for one, want to see a great thrashing take place,
A beating so bad that they'll find not a trace
Of dignity left in that sad football team,
That they'll wish all day long that it's just a bad dream.
I say, "Beat them by forty, or fifty, or more!
Like 2002, let's put up sixty-four!"
Let's pummel the Jayhawks; let's tear them apart,
Let's surgically sever each liver and heart!
We'll drag their young men through the muck and the mud,
WE'LL CUT OFF THEIR HEADS AND THEN DRAIN OUT THEIR BLOOD!
WE'LL PILLAGE AND PLUNDER AND RAVAGE THE LAND!!
AND WE'LL.........
......Oh, I'm sorry.... um, things...just got out of hand.
I'm afraid that I simply got carried away;
After all, it's just a game young people play.
So I say to our 'Cats, Have a wonderful game!
Through the highs and the lows, you're our boys just the same!
And one more thing -- 'midst the "Go Team's" and "Good Luck's" --
Don't ever forget -- (altogether now) --

KU SUCKS!

tagged: K-State, KSU, Wildcats, KU, Kansas, Jayhawks, football

Friday Blogthing: Losing my religion

Today's blogthing is contributed by SmedRock, but its another blog quiz that gets it wrong.

Agnostic?!?! I don't think so.

I was born a snake handler, and I'll die a snake handler.

You are Agnostic

You're not sure if God exists, and you don't care. For you, there's no true way to figure out the divine. You rather focus on what you can control - your own life. And you tend to resent when others "sell" religion to you.

What's Your Religious Philosophy?

tagged: Friday, test, religion, agnostic, snake handler, meme, blog

Meet me in Brookside

Maybe it was just me, but it seemed last night's Blogoholics Anonymous meeting was a little more mellow than I'm used to.

Most of the usual suspects were there, though Erin ditched to watch (gag) Grey's Anatomy. I know, totally lame.

Anyway, XO has the roll call. The point is that most everyone had gone home by 9 p.m. I realize that it's a school night and all, but c'mon. I mean COME ON!

The three coolest people, Heather, The D and myself, kept the party going until Sponge showed up. It gave us a chance to learn the secret hand code Sponge has developed to make fun of all the people who left early.

But on to important things. As you know, The D has been all up in my hizzy about this K-State v. KU game tomorrow. He through down the gauntlet last night and challenged me to a wager.

So here it is: If KU wins (yeah, right), The D gets a free guest post on this blog. When K-State wins I get to write a guest post on his awesome blog.

That's the deal. I've never had a guest post on this page before, and I don't think I'm in jeopardy of having that happen after this weekend either. But you never know.

All you other KSU types should get in on this action, too

tagged: Kansas City, blogger, Charlie Hooper's, blog, meetup, Brookside, K-State, KSU, KU, football, wager, Grey's Anatomy