There are some movies that you see once in the theaters and forget. There are other movies that you see once in the theaters, forget, and watch once more when it comes to cable. And then you forget it again. There’s a third class of movies that you saw multiple times in theaters, bought the DVDs, and yet you STILL watch them when they show up on cable – this latter class includes the Lord of the Rings movies, the Harry Potter movies, and so on. One other type of movie seen in first run is the kind where you…
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I heard this one just now, and gave it the thundering silence it so richly deserved. Remember, people, if I’m talking to you on the phone at work, the clock is ticking! Don’t crack a joke unless it’s actually funny! Me (in just-the-facts mode): “What’s your phone number?” Caller (in sheepish I’m-such-a-hick mode): “It’s my pager.” Me (in crisper, fact-checking mode): “Pager number?” Caller (in damn-I’m-funny mode): “1-800-I-WISH-I-HAD-A-CELLPHONE” Me (in crickets chirping mode): … Caller (in damn-I’m-not-so-funny mode): “Sorry…” Me (in even more crisp JUST THE FACTS mode): “PHONE number?” Keep in mind, I can type at dictation speed, so…
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No one actually said this on Christmas Eve at Holy Moly. But there was a moment when it must have crossed someone’s mind. When I arrived at the church for a quick run-through of some of the music for that night’s service (which included an extra half-hour singing carols) there was a large altar party being walked through its route. There were about 4 times as many people as usual, what with extra torchbearers and other ecclesiastical supernumeraries, and they had a more complicated processional path to follow, in order to end up by the little creche that was set…
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This story in the Chicago Tribune got me wondering what the real deal was: Chicago Tribune | Winnetka couple arrested after standoff A nearly four-hour police standoff in downtown Winnetka came to an end this morning after a couple who allegedly threatened an officer and barricaded themselves in an apartment surrendered. “They carried him out in his underwear,” said Tim Klein, 13, a neighborhood youth who watched as police brought the couple out of their apartment. “Then a woman came out in her nightgown, and she got into the police car.” The incident began about 5 a.m. when a police…
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David got me this fun little gadget for my car – it takes the output from my iPod Mini and broadcasts a low-power FM signal, which is then picked up by my car stereo. It’s got 3 pre-sets, but you can program it to broadcast at any wavelength. Tune the car radio to the same frequency, and wah lah! Your tunes are on the radio! I’m not sure how far its effective transmission distance is, but it’s a fun toy. Also, it’ll be fun to take a lot of tunes with us when we travel.
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Humorist and damn-fine blogger Adam Felber comments on the (mostly harmless) “War on Christmas” and wishes his readers the politically corrected holiday wishes: Fanatical Apathy – Merry Christmas, Mr. O’Reilly… But what I really wanted to do this holiday season was to wish all of you, the readers of Fanatical Apathy, the merriest and happiest of holidays. I hope you get all the gifts you want and give away more than you can afford. I wish you all the best. May your cups runneth over, and may your designated drivers help you clean up afterwards. Remember late tonight, when you’re…
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It’s a low-key Christmas here at Chez Geeque. I’ve got 2 pies in the oven, and I’m thinking about making a batch of cookies now that the oven is the right temperature. It’s raining, which is depressing, and I’m listening to This American Life‘s Christmas Spectacular (which may prove to be depressing also, but quirky and entertainingly so). As a bonus, they offer their entertaining “In a world…” promo tags as downloadable MP3s. I’ve been laughing at these all week. Jesus has never had such a happy birthday. Tonight I’ll sing at the evening service at Holy Moly, share some…
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…of the simple fact that most schools don’t have girls-only latrines, water to wash with, or privacy. Once puberty arrives, many girls simply stay home. Another School Barrier for African Girls: No Toilet The article notes that if girls and women had access to all the normal goods and services their societies offered, such as a basic education, farming supplies and subsidies, and a supply of sanitary goods, life for everyone would be better. Why? According to the World Bank: The issue, advocates for children say, is not merely fairness. The World Bank contends that if women in sub-Saharan Africa…
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An “obit” from the Trib: Chicago Tribune | Wake planned for New Year’s Eve as reporters mourn the death of Chicago’s fabled City News Bureau THIS JUST IN… Services for Chicago’s City News Bureau, the 115-year-old wire service that was the starting point for hundreds of American journalists, will be held New Year’s Eve in the Billy Goat Tavern, lower Michigan Avenue and Hubbard Street. The wake begins at 8 p.m. Arrangements are being handled by Paul Zimbrakos, CNB editor; Sam Sianis, Billy Goat propietor,and Bernard Judge, former City News editor. All present and former CNB staffers are welcome, along…
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Let’s review – are Eat the State and Blogula Rasa on the same page? Terri Schiavo: Yeppers Intelligent Design (sic): Hee! The War On Christmas: Hell, yes Everything’s Going Splendidly In Iraq: Check Michael Jackson’s Trial: I could care less about MJ Martha Stewart’s Comeback: Ditto MS Howard Dean: Hmm. When he shoots his mouth off, he’s not firing blanks. I’m not so sure about this one. Pat Robertson: Again, I think making the Religious Right look foolish has more value than mere newsworthiness The Minutemen: Okay, I agree we can ignore the yahoos Rossi v. Gregoire (WA state governor’s…