Thoughts on the afterlife

We're not talking heaven or hell here, just what to expect if you end up in limbo...

Your drink would always be either just a little too hot or just a little too cold...close enough to right that you'd go ahead and drink it.

Your clothes almost fit right...not so wrong that you'd change, but almost right so you'd go ahead and wear them anyway, but you'd spend the day fidgeting with the clothes.

Every television show would start five minutes into the episode or twenty minutes in if it's a two-hour movie.

Your fingernails wouldn't grow anymore, but they'd be just a little longer than you'd like them to be.

The music would be tolerable - but not good - cover versions of songs that you like.

Fruit would be permanently on the verge of being ripe but never would quite get there, and if it ever did, it would be just a little overripe.

You'd never be first in line - but there wouldn't be enough people ahead of you that you'd give up and come back later.

The vending machines would always pay up, but it would never be what you wanted.

The weather would change daily but would never give a full day or sun or rain...just a constant threat and intermittent drizzle...not cold but not quite warm either.

You wouldn't have to wash your clothes because they wouldn't get any dirtier but they'd always have just a slight smell to them - as though you'd been wearing them for three straight days.

The humming of the fluorescent lights would be the wrong pitch - and it would change every few days so you couldn't get used to it.

And the chocolate would've bloomed.

Matt Damien

I'm thinking that Matt Damon is way funnier and more talented than Ben Affleck. My proof...and this is also background for the recent back and forths between Jimmy Kimmel & Sarah Silverman - neither of which I'm able to post here...

Elegent presentation of musical things

Who doesn't love the combination of great music and data analysis?

Ah, but therein lies the difference

Somehow I don't see the firing/resignation of Kelvin Sampson spurring the same freakish, angry loyalty among IU supporters as did the firing of the General.

There might be protests against the morons who hired Sampson, but I'm doubting there's a lot of anger over IU cutting ties with the cheatin' so-and-so.

Like a regular post...only unexpected

First off, I have no idea what day it is.

Last weekend saw me (and The Girl) head down to Pigeon Forge for our annual weekend in the chalet (indoor miniature golf, how much cooler can that be?) which consumed everything from the moment the workweek ended until 'bout 3 o'clock Monday afternoon. Back to work on Tuesday. Snow day on Wednesday. Back to work on Thursday - but with a shocking early release at 1:15. Ended the in-school collecting part of the Pasta for Pennies campaign (feel free to make an online donation here or to read this post from last year if you don't know my feelings about the campaign). Snow day on Friday.

And I think I'm about to start the weekend this morning...after a work week consisting of one and three quarter broken-up days and about ten thousand dollars raised in that week.

This coming week could be really tough if we actually have to work five solid days.

---

Speaking of somebody having a rough work week, check out this story of a high school basketball ref who laced 'em up for her first game officiating varsity boys and was told to go home. Apparently the co-educational religious school at which she was about to officiate the game believed (and this is a direct quote from their official statement regarding the incident):

This formation of adolescent boys is best accomplished by male role models, as the formation of girls is best accomplished by women. Hence in boys' athletic competitions, it is important that the various role models (coaches and referees) be men.

In addition, our school aims to instill in our boys the proper respect for women and girls. Teaching our boys to treat ladies with deference, we cannot place them in an aggressive athletic competition where they are forced to play inhibited by their concern about running into a female referee.

Her officiating partner supported her and walked out as well.

I'm happier to have read this part of the ESPN story:

St. Mary's isn't a full member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association, and competes against mostly private schools across the state. Gary Musselman, executive director of the activities association, said St. Mary's is on the association's list of approved schools, which means it can compete against other member schools. Next month, at its regularly scheduled meeting, the KSHSAA will discuss whether to keep St. Mary's on that list.

And I don't see that there's any place in today's world for such discrimination.

---

I was hoping to congratulate my high school alma mater in completing their first undefeated boys basketball regular season since 1980, but there was apparently a bit of a weather delay, and the game'll be taking place tonight.

Here's to hoping I haven't jinxed 'em.

By the way, if you're looking to check out Indiana basketball, check John Harrell and Matt Denison's website.

They outstanding.

Quick ones...

In other quick hits...

• U2 3d impressed the hell out of me
• Wicked was excellent
• Apparently somebody's making a movie called Cornhole: The Movie
• Take time to vote before March 1
• Paper or plastic?
• Art from LPs
• Thousands of awesome Lego photos
• Cool design blog
• There Will Be Blood might be a great film, but I'm closer to agreeing with this review

Look to the skies tonight

A second snow day in a week...amazing...

More amazing, however, will be tonight's fifty-minute total lunar eclipse - starting around 10pm here in the Eastern time zone.

Check out NASA's page for all the details, but do make sure to look to the heavens if the weather's clear by then.

A thoughtful endorsement

As time goes on, I find myself leaning further and further toward Mr. Frazier.

I think I'm ready at this time to put my endoresment firmly in the Frazier camp, and I thank Lawrence Lessig for articulating many of the reasons why.

These are my people

I had this one already done, so I'll go ahead and throw it out into the electronic ether...

I checked out YouTube to see what Princeton stuff I could find out there, and here's what I've found...

We've got a bond issue coming up to build a new high school and middle school...


This past fall we had an incident where rumors spread very quickly...thanfully, nothing at all happened...


The same television station was out at the school to film a piece about the school...


I recognize this kid from the hallways but don't know him otherwise...


Here you can see our mute football team playing a big game...


Apparently that football team used to be some kind of a big deal...Thansk to Joey for hunting this one down...


This year's football team was pretty good - plus there was the Viking Rap...


Like most schools, we've got some choirs, too...


This year's senior class is a little goofy...let me also recommend the Food Drive Trailer from the same director...


Our Princeton Entertainment Group puts on some impressive shows...


Hey, I was in charge of this show...and you can see more clips from these guys here...


If anybody knows of any other YouTube videos about good ol' PHS, I'd love to highlight them another week. Drop a link in the comments...

C'ya in March, folks

I'm a week into a campaign - about $15,000 raised so far, in case you were curious, thanks for asking.

I'm nearly that far behind on my grading.

I'm whupped, and it's just Monday.

This coming weekend doesn't look to promise any more rest than the presvious one gave.

I missed one of my favorite annual events this past weekend.

And I forgot my dad's birthday yesterday.

I'm thinking that I need to take a bit of a break from the blog - and the blogosphere - for a few weeks while I try to keep my head above water.

Thought I'd give you the heads up that posting will be negligible - if even at all - for the next few weeks. I promise to come back in March, though, better than ever.

My goal until then is not to check a single blog, not to turn on the Wii or the PS2 until March...and to call my folks more frequently.

I will probably drop that annual plea for a campaign donation sometime late this week, though, so keep your wallets handy, folks.

Thanks for understanding...

Check it, suckas!

From the various parts of the web that I pay attention to...

• Mr. Frazier's speech reworked
• Apparently you're still really bad at Photoshop
• Every part of the web has a video from Sarah Silverman to Jimmy Kimmel, but I can't link to it - though this Sunday will be inspired by it
• Look, JESUS!
• 50 articles I need to read through
• Improv Everywhere has struck again
• the perfect food made more portable
• This doesn't make me wanna see the film any less
• Such a simple combination
• I want a cookie
• A simple investment opportunity
• A perfect gift for Calen
• Juvenile humor's still funny - shock!

Late night public television

I've been down with The Red Green Show since I was back in high school, and not nearly enough people know the joys of Possum Lodge, so today I provide you with a bunch of Red Green clippage...

There's Red's weekly how-to bit. Here he teaches us how to make a perpetual motion machine...


They also visit with their friend/neighbor Bill...


Some of their visits with Bill go better than others...


The show sometimes goes with a clip theme - usually around the times of Pledge Week...


Red always does a little monologue to start the show off...here he's joined by his nephew, Harold, and one of the other regulars...


From time to time, the Lodge members dust off some word games...


I particularly enjoy the Ranger appearance at about three minutes in...


From time to time, Hap shows up and tells a few tales of the old days...


Red's favorite tools is pretty clearly duct tape...


The sewage guy's also a regular...


That guy's apparently been doing the same character for nearly thirty years...

And if you dig the clips, you can go and buy swag from the Red Green online shop. You can even get your own pair of suspenders.

Anonymity might be more revealing

From Weekend America today...

Weekend America gets a lot of letters about coverage of the campaign, and one complaint keeps coming up about media coverage in general: too much focus on the personalities, not enough on the issues. So we decided to run a little experiment. We've taken the remaining candidates for president, given them pseudonyms, and summarized what they stand for. Rollover the fake names to see the candidate behind the position. [Actually, in this case you'll have to go to the original website to find out who each one is.]

I'm Shirley Winslow and I approve this message. A vote for Shirley Winslow is a vote against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I also support a mandatory cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions as a means of fighting global warming. I think there should be a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants including learning English and paying fines but I do support a fence on the Mexican border. I have promised affordable health care for every American in a Winslow administration but I oppose a mandate to get there and I think we can do it without raising taxes. Over in Iraq, I think we need more troops and I oppose a timeline for withdrawal. When it comes to Iran, we should form an alliance with European countries to apply economic and diplomatic pressure. No military action without congressional approval. I'm Shirley Winslow and thanks for your time.

I'm Fred Frazier and I approve this message. I would abolish the Bush tax cuts for households earning more than $250,000 and use that money to fund health insurance for children. Illegal immigrants should have a path to citizenship but it might include paying some fines and learning the English language. I've supported the construction of a fence along the Mexican border. We need to get out of Iraq, something a Frazier administration would accomplish by withdrawing one or two brigades a month, finishing within 16 months. I wouldn't rule out the use of force against Iran to stop them from obtaining nuclear weapons but I would be fine meeting directly with the president of Iran. I'm Fred Frazier and I hope I've earned your vote.

I'm Vicki Hampton and I approve this message. We've got to get rid of all federal income and payroll taxes and replace them with a 23 percent national sales tax on everything but education. That will happen in a Hampton White House. As far as health care goes, we can make it more affordable through tax credits and cost controls. I think we need to move away from fossil fuels and into a culture that embraces alternative energy sources within ten years. To tackle the immigration issue, I say give illegal immigrants 120 days to register and then go back to where they came from, after which they can apply to return. I supported the idea of invading Iraq and I oppose a timetable for troops to return. As for Iran, I favor direct diplomacy. I'm Vicki Hampton. Thanks for listening.

I'm Doris Franzi and I approve this message. I think corporations should have lower tax rates and taxes on unearned income for middle class families should be eliminated. The Franzi administration will take that business friendly attitude into health care as well, favoring a free-market consumer-based system. In our quest for greater energy independence, I support alternative fuels, including biodiesel and ethanol, as well as nuclear power and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I don't believe in giving illegal immigrants a path to citizenship and I oppose a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. Oh, and I also support a constitutional amendment against gay marriage. I'm Doris Franzi and I'll see you in Washington.

I'm Phillip Gronko and I approve this message. On the subject of immigration, I support illegal immigrants learning English as part of a path to citizenship. But I also favor tougher penalties in a Gronko administration for those who hire illegal immigrants and I support the construction of a fence along the US-Mexican border. I think everyone in America should be required to have health insurance even if it means that insurance is subsidized by the government. On the subject of Iraq, a Gronko presidency would mean a phased withdrawal within my first 60 days in office with the goal of most troops being out by 2013. Meanwhile in Iran, I would engage in direct diplomacy. I wouldn't rule out using force but I would get congressional approval first. I support the death penalty and lobbied in favor of a bill that would expand the list of capital offenses. I'm Phillip Gronko and thanks for your support.

I'm Lou Crandall and I approve this message. I think we should withdraw all troops from Iraq immediately and shut down Guantanamo Bay while we're at it. As for Iran, well, they have a right to nuclear weapons if they want them and the Crandall administration will engage in direct diplomacy. Domestically, I think the economy can be improved by ending the war, balancing the budget, and getting rid of the income tax. Illegal immigrants should not have a path to citizenship and I support the fence along the border. I'm firmly pro-life and also firmly opposed to the death penalty. I'm Lou Crandall. Thanks for your support.

In case you're curious, based purely on these summaries, I'm leaning toward Mr. Frazier.

And at the APM website's Select a Candidate chooser, I also aligned myself with Mr. Frazier.

The Random Ten is an easy post

In the heart of the campaign, I'll take a quick and easy post here and there...so today I offer up ten random songs from the home iTunes...all of 'em are four stars except for the last which gets five...

"Body Movin'" by the Beastie Boys

Good, solid start...kicking it moderately old school with the Boys...does it amaze anybody else that they've only put out seven albums in twenty-plus years?

"Gremmie Out of Control" by Pearl Jam

it's weird how various groups get hooked on a certain old style...Pearl Jam seem to dig surf and girl groups...kinda cool...like how the Beatles liked Motown

"Guitars, Cadillacs" by Dwight Yoakam

I love this a capella track by Dwight...no instrumentation, no guitar...just his voice doing one of his better known songs

"Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" by Flatt & Scruggs

all finger pickin' and banjo strummin', this track is pretty typical of these kings of bluegrass...good stuff, not my favorite bluegrass track, but I do love hearing Scruggs drop a simple "oh, honey" in each break

"Queen of Hearts" by Juice Newton

dorky eighties country pop...kinda fun

"Bob Dylan's 49th Beard" by Wilco

beautiful simple tune from Tweedy and the boys from the tour edition of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, proving that just because it didn't make it onto the album doesn't mean that it's not a classic

"Ten Little Indians" by Harry Nilsson"

rarely has a song based on the Ten Commandments been so entertaining...each Indian drops off in the order of the commandments

"Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum

now there's a classic guitar rock tune...this should totally be on Guitar Hero...fuzzed out guitar with religious bent...

"Unwed Fathers" by John Prine

nothing special here...pretty John Prine song but not nearly his finest work ever

"Black Eye" by Uncle Tupelo

and Tweedy makes his second appearance but this time with the first band, the ones who started it all...wither Jay Farrar?

My longshot has come in

I would have easily bet money that if I were to be the owner of both a Nintendo Wii and - as of this afternoon - a Play Station 2...

...and if that Play Station 2 were to be currently receiving signals from one of the two wireless Guitar Hero controllers that I now own to go with Guitar Hero III...

...and if those guitars were going to make a visit to school sometime soon so that the kids could stop by during lunch to play them...

...that I would have been the one to initiate the purchase.

I would, clearly, then have been wrong.

Because The Girl went out today - after asking me (we tend to consult on any purchases of over $100) - and bought a refurbished PS2, two wireless Guitar Hero guitars, Guitar Hero III, and two wireless controllers from the local GameStop...

...so she could take the system in to school and let the kids play during their lunch hour for $1 per song ($3 if they want to duel)...

...with all proceeds going to her school's Pasta for Pennies campaign.

You know, boys and girl, I do believe that I'm in love...

Cars bringing dogfood

The Gods Must be Tasty

Stay of Execution

Do enjoy today's brief taste of Truck Bearing Kibble, and feel free to take in a little more if you've got the time...

At the intersection of commerce and narcissism...and now charity, too...

A recent article in Wired let a blogger unburden himself of his flirtations with PayPerPost, a site that pays bloggers to write posts. It's a simple enough set-up - pay otherwise impartial folks to talk about products or companies so as to start a bit of buzz going. And, in the spirit of true disclosure, it's something that I took part in once before through a different company.

Plus it's something that celebrities do all the time.

It's not a thing that I'm entirely opposed to, even though the concept of schmucks like you and me turning into spokespeople is a little unsettling to me. I understand the draw for the companies, sure. If you hear something from a friend or coworker that you already trust, if they just sort of casually mention something - particularly if they already know your tastes and tailor their "casual" mention to those tastes, you just might be more likely to be influenced to try that fabulous new product. Plus there's the fact that hiring you and me costs pennies on the dollar instead of the thousands that it would take to get a big time celebrity spokesperson.

And now comes this email that came to the other co-chair of our Pasta for Pennies campaign:



I understand how the company found us as we've been advertising the 5K on every runners club and running store website that we could find, but it's still a little weird to think that our little event - something that I think of as being just barely bigger than the Princeton community folks - somehow got the attention of what I think of as a real company.

We're probably going to go ahead and have Fuze as a sponsor for the race - which means they'll likely be handing out their beverages and finding their logo on the back of our shirts. Partially because of the flattery of somebody else thinking of our race as being a big enough deal to want to use it to advertise and partially because we really want to give our runners as cool an experience at the finish line as we can.

But there's a tiny touch of icky in being asked to advertise...

...at least in doing it so overtly.

---

I discussed this with my campaign co-coordinator, her view is that we actively go out seeking this kind of thing from local businesses. Why should that process going in the reverse direction be any different, much less worse?

I think it's because it somehow seems different when we go and ask a local business where we know people and who exist in our community instead of a faceless corporation contacting us asking us somehow to endorse a product about which we know nothing and for which we have absolutely no affinity at all.

And, as always, because I'm a human so I can hold two opposing viewpoints in my mind at the same time.

---

In an update, another business has contacted us.

This one feels even less genuine because it seems much more a form letter request.

Play well

If it weren't for Google, I wouldn't've had any idea that today is the 50th Anniversary of the Lego brick, but thanks to today's doodle, I am informed and so shall be you...

...plus this year's the 30th anniversary of the minifig.

How much cooler can that be?



I do digs me some Legos...in case you hadn't noticed...

A brief musical interlude

From Luscious Jackson - "Naked Eye"...it took me a while to hunt down the single version of this song on mp3...the album version's not nearly as cool as it's got the awesome beat stripped away...


My new favorite, Kate Nash doing a live "Skeletons" that's better than the album version...simpler, much cleaner than the production it's given in the disc...


Arrested Development should've been around for decades, but they flashed and disappeared...sad that...


"He War" by the vastly underpopular Cat Power


Probably Steve Earle's only video...and it had to be in his long-hair phase, eh?


I first heard the Crash Test Dummies from my freshman year roommate at Wabash. Two years later, they had a hit that "Mmmm Mmmm Mmmmm", and I got to see them live in Aberdeen. I'll stick with the first album as being better...and I have no clue what this video has to do with the song...


It doesn't get much better than "Wagon Wheel" by the Old Crow Medicine Show, but the combination of them with the burlesque show is a more than a little odd...


The Black Keys get freaky, freaky and pontificated about religion...to old people...in the midsts of a Jewish sermon...


A lovely little opening or a way to get The Mountain Goats to play in your living room, you make the call...either way, it's some awful lip synching to a great song...


Now here's a cover for you...


Austin City Limits isn't all about the country...as Ozomatli proves...


C'ya next week with another smattering of YouTube goodness, pretty babies...

At least it's new to me

Today's seeqpod playlist isn't going to be for all of you as it's got a little more contry tinge, meaning that there are more than a few songs where the banjo is in the front of the mix. But there's also some impressive tunefulness and nice songwriting throughout.

Sure, there are a couple of tracks where the Avett Brothers's influences are a bit too obvious (I'm talking about you, Beatles on a banjo "Will You Return"), but it's still great music.


SeeqPod - Playable Search

And through the Avett Brothers' website, I bumbled my way to The Nelsonville Arts & Music Festival and The Appalachian Uprising - both of which sound like rather impressive festivals down in south eastern Ohio.

Huh...wonder what's up in the weekends of May and June...

Oh, and thanks to Ashley for introducing me to these guys...and for being persistent enough to nudge when I didn't take the first hint...