The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Guster, "Airport Song" from Goldfly (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: "You'll be better off this way."
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Project TROIKA
The Professor has done it! The Project TROIKA novel now exists as a first draft manuscript, Tier 2 has reached its successful conclusion. This calls for a drink; I chose a gin & tonic, champagne and/or sparkling wine seeming a little excessive given the difficult work ahead in Tiers 3, 4, & 5. But now's not the time for that, now's the time to raise a glass to my dear friend, The Professor, on the occasion of his momentous achievement. To The Professor!
Grow or die.
Objective ZED ALPHA
*shakes fist at television* Where's my phone call, Trebek?!
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Reel Big Fish, "Hate You" from Monkeys For Nothing and the Chimp's For Free (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: I find it endlessly pleasurable to embrace such a dark, nihilist song when I am in such a happy, delightful mood.
The Professor has done it! The Project TROIKA novel now exists as a first draft manuscript, Tier 2 has reached its successful conclusion. This calls for a drink; I chose a gin & tonic, champagne and/or sparkling wine seeming a little excessive given the difficult work ahead in Tiers 3, 4, & 5. But now's not the time for that, now's the time to raise a glass to my dear friend, The Professor, on the occasion of his momentous achievement. To The Professor!
Grow or die.
Objective ZED ALPHA
*shakes fist at television* Where's my phone call, Trebek?!
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Reel Big Fish, "Hate You" from Monkeys For Nothing and the Chimp's For Free (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: I find it endlessly pleasurable to embrace such a dark, nihilist song when I am in such a happy, delightful mood.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Banzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge
Day 45: Mrs. Skeeter, Esq.'s disdain tops The L.A.W.'s in both vitriol and vehemence, (sic) "you look like you just climbed out of a dumpster behind a big john steak and onion." Mrs. Skeeter, Esq. further contends that the Bonanza is antithetical to the stated objectives of Project PANDORA, "you're just throwing off a ton of energy defeating your best-laid plans." The beard, she claims, is itself hamstringing my already limited ability to woo. It is my great pleasure to present to you now the greatest hits from this afternoon's tremendously fun I.M. conversation—and I'm not being facetious, it was ever-so-much fun; Mrs. Skeeter, Esq. shares my conviction that the deepest bonds of friendship are forged and demonstrated through insults—"interspliced" with the latest digital photographs, from Day 42:
(sic) "i don't get it. you've done it, you have a hideous beard. why do we all need several months of 'silly fun' and ugliness?"
"how strange that… your oldest friends would not want you to walk around looking like you either can't afford or aren't interested in basic grooming."
(sic) "the pictures also make my skin crawl."
With the beard, I, (sic) "just look like a hipster-come-lately. and there's nothing more conformist than a hipster."
(sic) "it's the underlying bad, bad idea that is alarming… that it will be funny to do something that will intentionally make you look and seem really gross, for an extended period of time."
"(it's just so gross!)"
The beard makes me look and seem really gross, got it. Peachy keen! By the end of our discussion, I was reasonably certain that my beard was responsible for rickets, the Exxon Valdez, and the pox upon our popular culture that is Coldplay. If there was any justice in this benighted world my beard would be on trial in The Hague.
A few notes on the strictures of the Banzai Beard Bonanza, a device solely of mine own contrivance. {a} "Trimming" the beard is verboten. I know what my beard looks like after one month; so, what would be the point of keeping it for four months, always cutting it back to that one-month growth? The Bonanza is an experiment; I want to find out what my beard looks like after months of unrestricted growth. {b} "Sculpting" the beard is permitted. For instance, though not visible in the photographs taken Sunday, today I bowed to the inevitable and shaved the straggling hairs on my cheeks, just as I did during '05's original B.B.B. I am still considering shaving the rearward growing extremities of my sideburns, the hairs below my ears in the photos above. {c} Feedback is not only welcomed, but sought after. Again, this entire enterprise is experimental. I know what I think about how the experiment is proceeding, and I am also interesting in how others view the proceedings. I need not necessarily give great weight to those outside opinions, but I am mightily interesting in learning what they are.
Love the beard? Hate it? Feel a deep and abiding ambivalence? Absolute apathy? I want to know!
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
The Ninjas, "Snow Day" from Platypus (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The irony is that I had a snow day today, while "Snow Day" is about a snow day that was devoutly wished for but which did not come to pass. Close enough.
Day 45: Mrs. Skeeter, Esq.'s disdain tops The L.A.W.'s in both vitriol and vehemence, (sic) "you look like you just climbed out of a dumpster behind a big john steak and onion." Mrs. Skeeter, Esq. further contends that the Bonanza is antithetical to the stated objectives of Project PANDORA, "you're just throwing off a ton of energy defeating your best-laid plans." The beard, she claims, is itself hamstringing my already limited ability to woo. It is my great pleasure to present to you now the greatest hits from this afternoon's tremendously fun I.M. conversation—and I'm not being facetious, it was ever-so-much fun; Mrs. Skeeter, Esq. shares my conviction that the deepest bonds of friendship are forged and demonstrated through insults—"interspliced" with the latest digital photographs, from Day 42:
(sic) "i don't get it. you've done it, you have a hideous beard. why do we all need several months of 'silly fun' and ugliness?"
"how strange that… your oldest friends would not want you to walk around looking like you either can't afford or aren't interested in basic grooming."
(sic) "the pictures also make my skin crawl."
With the beard, I, (sic) "just look like a hipster-come-lately. and there's nothing more conformist than a hipster."
(sic) "it's the underlying bad, bad idea that is alarming… that it will be funny to do something that will intentionally make you look and seem really gross, for an extended period of time."
"(it's just so gross!)"
The beard makes me look and seem really gross, got it. Peachy keen! By the end of our discussion, I was reasonably certain that my beard was responsible for rickets, the Exxon Valdez, and the pox upon our popular culture that is Coldplay. If there was any justice in this benighted world my beard would be on trial in The Hague.
A few notes on the strictures of the Banzai Beard Bonanza, a device solely of mine own contrivance. {a} "Trimming" the beard is verboten. I know what my beard looks like after one month; so, what would be the point of keeping it for four months, always cutting it back to that one-month growth? The Bonanza is an experiment; I want to find out what my beard looks like after months of unrestricted growth. {b} "Sculpting" the beard is permitted. For instance, though not visible in the photographs taken Sunday, today I bowed to the inevitable and shaved the straggling hairs on my cheeks, just as I did during '05's original B.B.B. I am still considering shaving the rearward growing extremities of my sideburns, the hairs below my ears in the photos above. {c} Feedback is not only welcomed, but sought after. Again, this entire enterprise is experimental. I know what I think about how the experiment is proceeding, and I am also interesting in how others view the proceedings. I need not necessarily give great weight to those outside opinions, but I am mightily interesting in learning what they are.
Love the beard? Hate it? Feel a deep and abiding ambivalence? Absolute apathy? I want to know!
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
The Ninjas, "Snow Day" from Platypus (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The irony is that I had a snow day today, while "Snow Day" is about a snow day that was devoutly wished for but which did not come to pass. Close enough.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A week before Fat Tuesday, I have decided upon this year's Lenten sacrifice. In the spirit of CADMUS, that wide-ranging interdisciplinary endeavor to become the man I wish myself to be, I have decided to face a challenge that has in the past proven insurmountable. Lads and lasses, prepare yourselves for Mission: Unpossible Drei! Further discussion will follow in one week's time, but for now suffice it to say that this is the year the "unpossible" becomes possible.
In the interest of propriety, all Mission: Unpossible Drei posts that consist of more than a status update such as "All quiet on the Western front" or "Nothing to report" and the like will be prefaced by a warning such as, Caution: Lewdness ahead.
Operation ÖSTERREICH
I did not swim today, though I had every intention of doing so. Due to road conditions that were both adverse and steadily worsening, the campus was shut down in the afternoon. I might have been able to fit in my 1,000 yards, but I was running behind this morning and did not have time to pack my gym bag; so, a trip home to fetch it would have been necessary, and in lieu of this I took The Impossible Ingenue out to lunch. I stand by my choice.
In reluctant acknowledgment that my grand schemes of early morning productiveness almost always come to naught, I have taken the precautions this evening of already packing both my box lunch and my pool bag. Whatever else may transpire tomorrow, I won't be caught unprepared for at least two eventualities.
Project OSPREY
(6) Purdue 76-64 Michigan State (10)
Between Drew Brees winning the Super Bowl and tonight's victory by the ill-starred Boilermakers over the dastardly Spartans, these are heady days for the Old Gold & Black faithful. Many couches will burn in East Lansing tonight, in mourning rather than in celebration, and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving bunch of illiterate ne'er-do-wells.
I caught only the last ten minutes of the first half and the last three minutes of the second half, first before and then after tonight's new episode of White Collar, but even that was enough to make me groan at the officiating. I could not call a basketball game, it seems devilishly complicated, but the zebras out there tonight were supposed to be professionals and yet seemed the farthest thing from it. The only saving grace, I suppose, is that they blew calls against both teams; they were inept, not corrupt.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "This Better be Good" from Traffic and Weather (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: I'm not even particularly fond of "This Better be Good," but from the moment I was awakened by a text message from The Most Dangerous Game at 7:59 A.M.—to begin planning the festivities for The Cowgirl's impending 21st birthday—I knew it was going to be the R.B.D.S.O.T.D.
In the interest of propriety, all Mission: Unpossible Drei posts that consist of more than a status update such as "All quiet on the Western front" or "Nothing to report" and the like will be prefaced by a warning such as, Caution: Lewdness ahead.
Operation ÖSTERREICH
I did not swim today, though I had every intention of doing so. Due to road conditions that were both adverse and steadily worsening, the campus was shut down in the afternoon. I might have been able to fit in my 1,000 yards, but I was running behind this morning and did not have time to pack my gym bag; so, a trip home to fetch it would have been necessary, and in lieu of this I took The Impossible Ingenue out to lunch. I stand by my choice.
In reluctant acknowledgment that my grand schemes of early morning productiveness almost always come to naught, I have taken the precautions this evening of already packing both my box lunch and my pool bag. Whatever else may transpire tomorrow, I won't be caught unprepared for at least two eventualities.
Project OSPREY
(6) Purdue 76-64 Michigan State (10)
Between Drew Brees winning the Super Bowl and tonight's victory by the ill-starred Boilermakers over the dastardly Spartans, these are heady days for the Old Gold & Black faithful. Many couches will burn in East Lansing tonight, in mourning rather than in celebration, and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving bunch of illiterate ne'er-do-wells.
I caught only the last ten minutes of the first half and the last three minutes of the second half, first before and then after tonight's new episode of White Collar, but even that was enough to make me groan at the officiating. I could not call a basketball game, it seems devilishly complicated, but the zebras out there tonight were supposed to be professionals and yet seemed the farthest thing from it. The only saving grace, I suppose, is that they blew calls against both teams; they were inept, not corrupt.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "This Better be Good" from Traffic and Weather (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: I'm not even particularly fond of "This Better be Good," but from the moment I was awakened by a text message from The Most Dangerous Game at 7:59 A.M.—to begin planning the festivities for The Cowgirl's impending 21st birthday—I knew it was going to be the R.B.D.S.O.T.D.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Operation ÖSTERREICH
I swam today, only 1,000 yards, but it was great. I did not experience the profound weariness that has marked most of my first swims over the last few years; at the end of the 1,000 yards, divided into ten 100s, considered continuing, but decided not to risk overdoing it and setting myself back. The real test, of course, will be if I can force myself to go back tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day.
In related news, on my way out of the Rec Center, which involved walking from one end of the building to extreme other end, to the only stairs that access the lower levels, and then another walk all the way back to the other end to access the pool complex (I know, I know, it's bonus exercise build into the architecture), I weighed myself. I weight a boatload, but actually less than I thought. Cool! Not so cool: I still weigh a boatload, which is why, despite the stiffness I can already feel overtaking my arm muscles, I must go back tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day.
Now would be a fortuitous moment for a return of the S.K.P. Machine.
The Banzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge
Day 43: I finally finagled my father into taking a new batch of photographs, but Bog only knows when he'll find time in his "busy schedule" to email them to me. I will post them as soon as I have them.
Last week, in a webcam chat designed to showcase my new niece Natalie, The L.A.W., in her own relentlessly acerbic fashion, said the beard looks "scraggly." My sister isn't always negative, she's just almost never positive. Both my siblings can be put down as solidly anti-beard. The Impossible Ingenue thinks I need to tame the beard, but The Most Dangerous Game thinks I must let it grow wild. We are nearing a point when I must make a decision about sculpting the beard, perhaps getting rid of some of the neckbeard and possibly shaving my lamentably lightly covered cheeks, but the ordinances of the Bonanza do not allow me to trim whatever hairs escape the corralling blade.
For myself, I'm tremendously pleased with the Banzai Beard Bonanza II; I am enjoying Bonsai's Revenge ever so much more than the original Bonanza back in '05. (About which you can now read due to the new template's restoration of The Secret Base's archives!) I would consider simply keeping the beard after the end of the Bonanza, but I very much want to go through with the Massive Mustache Mistake after Cinco de Mustache, and I have given my word to be clean shaven (or at least back to my normal level of facial hair) by my nephew Teddy's first birthday in late May. Mayhap after that….
Banzai!
Project MERCATOR
The patterns of the fall are being repeated, alas, but on a night like this, when a MERCATOR event pops up unexpectedly and intersects with the resumption of ÖSTERREICH, what am I do to? Triage will have to be the order of the day. I covered Operation ÖSTERREICH and the Bonanza, I'll get to MERCATOR in a big post covering the last fortnight/three weeks, and I owe you a "Master Debaters" post before heading off the Arizona at the weekend; priority must be given to "Freaks and Geeks… and Greeks" and finally publishing "Project PANDORA: The Other Woman," just to be done with it once and for all.
2010 won't be like the latter stages of 2009. I will not allow The Secret Base to fall by the wayside.
The Queue
Recently
Nick Hornby, Slam
Charles Brooks, editor, Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2010 Edition & 2008 Edition
Agatha Christie, Crooked House
Currently
Marshall Jevons, The Fatal Equilibrium ***on loan to The Most Dangerous Game***
P. G. Wodehouse, Mike at Wrykyn
Presently
P. G. Wodehouse, Mike and Psmith
Agatha Christie, Passenger to Frankfurt
Agatha Christie, The Murder at the Vicarage
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Green Day, "Nice Guys Finish Last" from Nimrod (T.L.A.M.)
I swam today, only 1,000 yards, but it was great. I did not experience the profound weariness that has marked most of my first swims over the last few years; at the end of the 1,000 yards, divided into ten 100s, considered continuing, but decided not to risk overdoing it and setting myself back. The real test, of course, will be if I can force myself to go back tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day.
In related news, on my way out of the Rec Center, which involved walking from one end of the building to extreme other end, to the only stairs that access the lower levels, and then another walk all the way back to the other end to access the pool complex (I know, I know, it's bonus exercise build into the architecture), I weighed myself. I weight a boatload, but actually less than I thought. Cool! Not so cool: I still weigh a boatload, which is why, despite the stiffness I can already feel overtaking my arm muscles, I must go back tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day.
Now would be a fortuitous moment for a return of the S.K.P. Machine.
The Banzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge
Day 43: I finally finagled my father into taking a new batch of photographs, but Bog only knows when he'll find time in his "busy schedule" to email them to me. I will post them as soon as I have them.
Last week, in a webcam chat designed to showcase my new niece Natalie, The L.A.W., in her own relentlessly acerbic fashion, said the beard looks "scraggly." My sister isn't always negative, she's just almost never positive. Both my siblings can be put down as solidly anti-beard. The Impossible Ingenue thinks I need to tame the beard, but The Most Dangerous Game thinks I must let it grow wild. We are nearing a point when I must make a decision about sculpting the beard, perhaps getting rid of some of the neckbeard and possibly shaving my lamentably lightly covered cheeks, but the ordinances of the Bonanza do not allow me to trim whatever hairs escape the corralling blade.
For myself, I'm tremendously pleased with the Banzai Beard Bonanza II; I am enjoying Bonsai's Revenge ever so much more than the original Bonanza back in '05. (About which you can now read due to the new template's restoration of The Secret Base's archives!) I would consider simply keeping the beard after the end of the Bonanza, but I very much want to go through with the Massive Mustache Mistake after Cinco de Mustache, and I have given my word to be clean shaven (or at least back to my normal level of facial hair) by my nephew Teddy's first birthday in late May. Mayhap after that….
Banzai!
Project MERCATOR
The patterns of the fall are being repeated, alas, but on a night like this, when a MERCATOR event pops up unexpectedly and intersects with the resumption of ÖSTERREICH, what am I do to? Triage will have to be the order of the day. I covered Operation ÖSTERREICH and the Bonanza, I'll get to MERCATOR in a big post covering the last fortnight/three weeks, and I owe you a "Master Debaters" post before heading off the Arizona at the weekend; priority must be given to "Freaks and Geeks… and Greeks" and finally publishing "Project PANDORA: The Other Woman," just to be done with it once and for all.
2010 won't be like the latter stages of 2009. I will not allow The Secret Base to fall by the wayside.
The Queue
Recently
Nick Hornby, Slam
Charles Brooks, editor, Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2010 Edition & 2008 Edition
Agatha Christie, Crooked House
Currently
Marshall Jevons, The Fatal Equilibrium ***on loan to The Most Dangerous Game***
P. G. Wodehouse, Mike at Wrykyn
Presently
P. G. Wodehouse, Mike and Psmith
Agatha Christie, Passenger to Frankfurt
Agatha Christie, The Murder at the Vicarage
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Green Day, "Nice Guys Finish Last" from Nimrod (T.L.A.M.)
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday to The Professor! Without question the smartest person I know, and the only one to have had his own university-funded laboratory chockablock with scientific apparatus, The Professor has spend the last year slaving over the story K. Steeze and I created during the first year of Project TROIKA, forging our plot and characters into a novel. Never in my life have I written anything even a tenth of the length of The Professor's manuscript, and I stand in awe of his accomplishment. He's a hell of a guy and a maddening, puzzling mass of contradictions. Most of all, he is my friend, and for that I am tremendously lucky. Happy birthday, Jon!
Happy birthday to The Professor! Without question the smartest person I know, and the only one to have had his own university-funded laboratory chockablock with scientific apparatus, The Professor has spend the last year slaving over the story K. Steeze and I created during the first year of Project TROIKA, forging our plot and characters into a novel. Never in my life have I written anything even a tenth of the length of The Professor's manuscript, and I stand in awe of his accomplishment. He's a hell of a guy and a maddening, puzzling mass of contradictions. Most of all, he is my friend, and for that I am tremendously lucky. Happy birthday, Jon!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Project PANDORA: Reprising the Prelude
I spent my whole day with The Most Dangerous Game, working on our Duo piece (explanation to follow before the upcoming weekend's big adventure), taking care of a variety of Econ Club business, and having a rollicking good time. Through the agency of a mutual acquaintance, Jenny, The Most Dangerous Game was introduced to The Secret Base; today, she had me take her on a guided tour. She sat at my desk, reading aloud all of last summer's posts concerning my pursuit of her from the very seat in which those posts had been composed. Her account was punctuated by periodic "Ohhh"s of sympathy as she read of how bitter a pill losing her had been. And I learned that had I not been so oft thwarted, she would have accepted my proposal of a date; it might not have lead anywhere, she was at the time the non-exclusive paramour of her current boyfriend, but she would have joined me for at least one evening, with an open mind. Utterly contrary to my thinking over the last half-year, she would have said yes. She—magnificent, magical she—would have gone out with your humble narrator. Holy smoke.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Michael Bublé, "Haven't Met You Yet" via iTunes (The Most Dangerous Game)
I spent my whole day with The Most Dangerous Game, working on our Duo piece (explanation to follow before the upcoming weekend's big adventure), taking care of a variety of Econ Club business, and having a rollicking good time. Through the agency of a mutual acquaintance, Jenny, The Most Dangerous Game was introduced to The Secret Base; today, she had me take her on a guided tour. She sat at my desk, reading aloud all of last summer's posts concerning my pursuit of her from the very seat in which those posts had been composed. Her account was punctuated by periodic "Ohhh"s of sympathy as she read of how bitter a pill losing her had been. And I learned that had I not been so oft thwarted, she would have accepted my proposal of a date; it might not have lead anywhere, she was at the time the non-exclusive paramour of her current boyfriend, but she would have joined me for at least one evening, with an open mind. Utterly contrary to my thinking over the last half-year, she would have said yes. She—magnificent, magical she—would have gone out with your humble narrator. Holy smoke.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Michael Bublé, "Haven't Met You Yet" via iTunes (The Most Dangerous Game)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Welcome to the future of The Secret Base of the Rebel Black Dot Society.
"I didn't sell out, son, I bought in."
Advantages: Detection of comments at-a-glance and, after an absence of several years, the archives of The Secret Base are returned. Hooray!
Disadvantages: The farther down you scroll, the more of your screen is devoted to a blank gray field. (Note that I did not cite my aversion to change, as I feel the advantages more than outweigh that. But this narrow column for the actual blog posts is a bother, and appears to be universal to the available templates. Rats.)
The Victors: Project OSPREY
(16) Wisconsin 62-44 Michigan
11-12, Big Ten 4-7
Why did the valiant Wolverines lose to the pesky Badgers? Myriad factors contributed to our thorough whipping, but I cite principally that we failed to play as a team. Wisconsin executed a strategy, every man filling his role to form a relentless, shot clock-consuming juggernaut; we, on the other hand, we played as a group of inept individuals. We hardly passed on offense, no one seemed interested in hustling to earn on open look, and those few shots that we taken we all dreadful misfires. We were awful. But I mean to take nothing away from the pesky Badgers; they we collaborating authors and architects of our awfulness, perfectly exploiting out all too obvious weaknesses. Today's contest was ugly from beginning to end, the only bright spot being the enthusiasm of the Crisler Arena crowd. Enthusiastic fans at the House that Cazzie Built? Surely the world has gone mad.
Go Blue!
Elsewhere in Project OSPREY…
Illinois 78-72 Michigan State (5)
From The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce, "Happiness, n. An agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the misery of another."
The Queue
The Fatal Equilibrium is assigned reading, normally a disqualifying quality, but I've made an exception for two reasons: {a} it is a novel, after all, and {b} it gives me hope for the feasibility of ever having published a book I call alternately The Economics of Love or Love & Economics, with it's major internal divisions titled "The Dismal Science," "The Misery Index," & "The Tragedy of the Commons."
Recently
Nick Hornby, Slam
Charles Brooks, editor, Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2010 Edition & 2008 Edition
Agatha Christie, Crooked House
Currently
Marshall Jevons, The Fatal Equilibrium
Presently
P. G. Wodehouse, Mike at Wrykyn & Mike and Psmith
Agatha Christie, Passenger to Frankfurt
Agatha Christie, The Murder at the Vicarage
"I didn't sell out, son, I bought in."
Advantages: Detection of comments at-a-glance and, after an absence of several years, the archives of The Secret Base are returned. Hooray!
Disadvantages: The farther down you scroll, the more of your screen is devoted to a blank gray field. (Note that I did not cite my aversion to change, as I feel the advantages more than outweigh that. But this narrow column for the actual blog posts is a bother, and appears to be universal to the available templates. Rats.)
The Victors: Project OSPREY
(16) Wisconsin 62-44 Michigan
11-12, Big Ten 4-7
Why did the valiant Wolverines lose to the pesky Badgers? Myriad factors contributed to our thorough whipping, but I cite principally that we failed to play as a team. Wisconsin executed a strategy, every man filling his role to form a relentless, shot clock-consuming juggernaut; we, on the other hand, we played as a group of inept individuals. We hardly passed on offense, no one seemed interested in hustling to earn on open look, and those few shots that we taken we all dreadful misfires. We were awful. But I mean to take nothing away from the pesky Badgers; they we collaborating authors and architects of our awfulness, perfectly exploiting out all too obvious weaknesses. Today's contest was ugly from beginning to end, the only bright spot being the enthusiasm of the Crisler Arena crowd. Enthusiastic fans at the House that Cazzie Built? Surely the world has gone mad.
Go Blue!
Elsewhere in Project OSPREY…
Illinois 78-72 Michigan State (5)
From The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce, "Happiness, n. An agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the misery of another."
The Queue
The Fatal Equilibrium is assigned reading, normally a disqualifying quality, but I've made an exception for two reasons: {a} it is a novel, after all, and {b} it gives me hope for the feasibility of ever having published a book I call alternately The Economics of Love or Love & Economics, with it's major internal divisions titled "The Dismal Science," "The Misery Index," & "The Tragedy of the Commons."
Recently
Nick Hornby, Slam
Charles Brooks, editor, Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2010 Edition & 2008 Edition
Agatha Christie, Crooked House
Currently
Marshall Jevons, The Fatal Equilibrium
Presently
P. G. Wodehouse, Mike at Wrykyn & Mike and Psmith
Agatha Christie, Passenger to Frankfurt
Agatha Christie, The Murder at the Vicarage
The Victors: Project OSPREY
Halftime: (16) Wisconsin 40-26 Michigan
At one point, the score was Wisconsin 15-14 Michigan. Several minutes of some-of-the-most-pathetic-play-I've-ever-seen later, the tally stood Wisconsin 29-14 Michigan. This is painful to watch.
Go Blue!
Elsewhere in Project OSPREY…
(9) Duke 66-63 Boston College
'Twas already halfway through the second half when I turned on the television in preparation for Michigan/Wisconsin and discovered the Duke/B.C. game. Duke had what I thought was a comfortable, if oddly low, 51-41 lead. Soon, Mom returned home from the grocer's and I helped her both unload her motorcar and put away the newly purchased groceries. I used the w.c. and returned to find the game in its closing seconds and Duke hanging on to a 66-63 lead. I know the Blue Devils aren't world beaters this year, but they're still Duke, or at least they're supposed to be. What in the high holy heck had happened while I was away?
Halftime: (16) Wisconsin 40-26 Michigan
At one point, the score was Wisconsin 15-14 Michigan. Several minutes of some-of-the-most-pathetic-play-I've-ever-seen later, the tally stood Wisconsin 29-14 Michigan. This is painful to watch.
Go Blue!
Elsewhere in Project OSPREY…
(9) Duke 66-63 Boston College
'Twas already halfway through the second half when I turned on the television in preparation for Michigan/Wisconsin and discovered the Duke/B.C. game. Duke had what I thought was a comfortable, if oddly low, 51-41 lead. Soon, Mom returned home from the grocer's and I helped her both unload her motorcar and put away the newly purchased groceries. I used the w.c. and returned to find the game in its closing seconds and Duke hanging on to a 66-63 lead. I know the Blue Devils aren't world beaters this year, but they're still Duke, or at least they're supposed to be. What in the high holy heck had happened while I was away?
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Brother Bones & His Shadows, "Sweet Georgia Brown" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The Washington Generals, those perpetuals punching bags of the Harlem Globetrotters, were the subject of a segment on Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me! (which really should be titled Wait, Wait… Don't Tell Me!), and from that moment no song other than "Sweet Georgia Brown," more commonly known, including to yours truly, as the theme song of the Harlem Globetrotters, could possibly have been today's R.B.D.S.O.T.D.
Freitag, 5 Februar
The Atomic Fireballs, "Swing Sweet Pussycat" from Torch This Place (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Many levels of meaning, spanning trouble with my mom's new cat, Diva, to the free swing dance lesson I attended in the evening.
Brother Bones & His Shadows, "Sweet Georgia Brown" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The Washington Generals, those perpetuals punching bags of the Harlem Globetrotters, were the subject of a segment on Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me! (which really should be titled Wait, Wait… Don't Tell Me!), and from that moment no song other than "Sweet Georgia Brown," more commonly known, including to yours truly, as the theme song of the Harlem Globetrotters, could possibly have been today's R.B.D.S.O.T.D.
Freitag, 5 Februar
The Atomic Fireballs, "Swing Sweet Pussycat" from Torch This Place (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Many levels of meaning, spanning trouble with my mom's new cat, Diva, to the free swing dance lesson I attended in the evening.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Science!
Whither Gulo gulo?
Science!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Dance Hall Crashers, "Do You Think You're Beautiful" from Purr (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"Don't you know that the mirror is not your friend?
Unless you're beautiful,
And then it could be the answer to your problems.
Do you think you're beautiful?
All cool and irreplaceable?
Does it really matter at all?
Do you think you're beautiful?
…
Where should we start?
Beauty queen, magazines, steroids, and silicone.
Pick apart,
Mirror, mirror, who is the fairest of them all?
Wouldn't you rather be smart
Than worry about what it means to get by
If you don't look right?
…
Did junior high break you down?
Were the kids so mean that you never quite recovered?
Or were you popular?
Or were you too busy doing your own thing?
Do you think you're beautiful?
All cool and irreplaceable?
Does it really matter at all?
Do you think you're beautiful?
Oh, do you think you're beautiful?
All cool and irreplaceable?
Does it really matter at all?
Do you think you're beautiful?"
Mittwoch, 3 Februar
Barenaked Ladies, "The King of Bedside Manor" from Gordon (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Apropos of nothing.
Dienstag, 2 Februar
The Aquabats!, "Mechanical Ape!" from Charge!! (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"One man stands as the lone magician,
Sending in plays through the ape transmission. Now,
Who can face, who can face,
Who can face the unbelievable Mechanical Ape?
Who can face, who can face,
Who can face the unbelievable Mechanical Ape?
Well I said,
Whoa-oh-oh-oh (Mechanical Ape!)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh (Mechanical Ape!)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh (Mechanical Ape!)
You cannot deface the Mechanical Ape!
Whoa-oh-oh!"
I contend that one of the great unanswered philosophical questions of our age is, Whom would emerge victorious in a clash between the Mechanical Ape and the Giant Robot-Birdhead?
Montag, 1 Februar
Fountains of Wayne, "Bright Future in Sales" from Welcome Interstate Managers (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"I'm gonna get my shit together,
'Cause I can't live like this forever."
Words I dare not forget, not even for a moment.
Sonntag, 31 Januar
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, "Sunday Morning Coming Down" from Love Their Country (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary-cum-Project MERCATOR: I had The Impossible Ingenue, The Most Dangerous Game, The Cowgirl, & Ska Army over to my house for a screening of Groundhog Day and sundry high-jinks Saturday night. You have three guesses as to how this fact relates to Sunday's R.B.D.S.O.T.D.
"'Cause there's something in a Sunday
That makes a body feel old."
Samstag, 30 Januar
Less Than Jake, "Great American Sharpshooter" from Hello Rockview (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Saturday morning, I motored up to Frankenmuth and saw the 338th Army Band in concert at the invitation of my pal Ska Army (Aaron, The Cowgirl's boyfriend; a Specialist in the Army Reserve; and a member of the fraternity that recently attempted to induct me into its ranks). Ska Army is a member of The Loose Ties and quite the enthusiast for ska, both two-tone and ska-punk.
Whither Gulo gulo?
Science!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Dance Hall Crashers, "Do You Think You're Beautiful" from Purr (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"Don't you know that the mirror is not your friend?
Unless you're beautiful,
And then it could be the answer to your problems.
Do you think you're beautiful?
All cool and irreplaceable?
Does it really matter at all?
Do you think you're beautiful?
…
Where should we start?
Beauty queen, magazines, steroids, and silicone.
Pick apart,
Mirror, mirror, who is the fairest of them all?
Wouldn't you rather be smart
Than worry about what it means to get by
If you don't look right?
…
Did junior high break you down?
Were the kids so mean that you never quite recovered?
Or were you popular?
Or were you too busy doing your own thing?
Do you think you're beautiful?
All cool and irreplaceable?
Does it really matter at all?
Do you think you're beautiful?
Oh, do you think you're beautiful?
All cool and irreplaceable?
Does it really matter at all?
Do you think you're beautiful?"
Mittwoch, 3 Februar
Barenaked Ladies, "The King of Bedside Manor" from Gordon (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Apropos of nothing.
Dienstag, 2 Februar
The Aquabats!, "Mechanical Ape!" from Charge!! (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"One man stands as the lone magician,
Sending in plays through the ape transmission. Now,
Who can face, who can face,
Who can face the unbelievable Mechanical Ape?
Who can face, who can face,
Who can face the unbelievable Mechanical Ape?
Well I said,
Whoa-oh-oh-oh (Mechanical Ape!)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh (Mechanical Ape!)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh (Mechanical Ape!)
You cannot deface the Mechanical Ape!
Whoa-oh-oh!"
I contend that one of the great unanswered philosophical questions of our age is, Whom would emerge victorious in a clash between the Mechanical Ape and the Giant Robot-Birdhead?
Montag, 1 Februar
Fountains of Wayne, "Bright Future in Sales" from Welcome Interstate Managers (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"I'm gonna get my shit together,
'Cause I can't live like this forever."
Words I dare not forget, not even for a moment.
Sonntag, 31 Januar
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, "Sunday Morning Coming Down" from Love Their Country (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary-cum-Project MERCATOR: I had The Impossible Ingenue, The Most Dangerous Game, The Cowgirl, & Ska Army over to my house for a screening of Groundhog Day and sundry high-jinks Saturday night. You have three guesses as to how this fact relates to Sunday's R.B.D.S.O.T.D.
"'Cause there's something in a Sunday
That makes a body feel old."
Samstag, 30 Januar
Less Than Jake, "Great American Sharpshooter" from Hello Rockview (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Saturday morning, I motored up to Frankenmuth and saw the 338th Army Band in concert at the invitation of my pal Ska Army (Aaron, The Cowgirl's boyfriend; a Specialist in the Army Reserve; and a member of the fraternity that recently attempted to induct me into its ranks). Ska Army is a member of The Loose Ties and quite the enthusiast for ska, both two-tone and ska-punk.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Freaks and Geeks… and Greeks: A Prelude
I attended a free swing dance lesson this afternoon, as I did several times toward the tail end of '09. The lads remain in one position and the lasses periodically shift one bloke to the right (their left), until the girl at the end walks all the way back to the other end, like returning the register on an old typewriter. One particularly bright eyed lass informed me that she was in a sorority, and that several of the other distaff dancers were her sorority sisters. She asked me if I was in a fraternity and seemed genuinely surprised that I was not. Later, when the company was dispersing, she invited me to a party at a fraternity house with which her sorority is affiliated. I would have accepted, Project MERCATOR demands no less, but I was under obligation to my father, to attend and take photographs at the Prime Ribs and Politics dinner, organized by his pals—yes, his pals, not mine—in the U of M-Flint College Republicans. I prophecy that there shall be similar invitations in my future; I will report again when all this comes to its predictable, inevitable bad end.
Apropos of nothing else, poetry!
"The Story of Uriah"
by Rudyard Kipling
"Now there were two men in one city;
the one rich, and the other poor."
Jack Barrett went to Quetta
Because they told him to.
He left his wife at Simla
On three-fourths his monthly screw.
Jack Barrett died at Quetta
Ere the next month's pay he drew.
Jack Barrett went to Quetta.
He didn't understand
The reason of his transfer
From the pleasant mountain-land.
The season was September,
And it killed him out of hand.
Jack Barrett went to Quetta
And there gave up the ghost,
Attempting two men's duty
In that very healthy post;
And Mrs. Barrett mourned for him
Five lively months at most.
Jack Barrett's bones at Quetta
Enjoy profound repose;
But I shouldn't be astonished
If now his spirit knows
The reason of his transfer
From the Himalayan snows.
And, when the Last Great Bugle Call
Adown the Hurnai throbs,
And the last grim joke is entered
In the big black Book of Jobs.
And Quetta graveyards give again
Their victims to the air,
I shouldn't like to be the man
Who sent Jack Barrett there.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "Comedienne" from Out-of-State Plates, Disco Two (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The R.B.D.S.O.T.D. is often chosen for whimsical reasons, but not today. I've felt like the titular comedienne all day, and then again when I watched in slightly horror-tinged resignation as my father turn what could have been a rousing campaign speech into another lunatic tirade, I had the same thought over and over again:
"Comedienne, please make up your mind.
Are you laughing or crying?
Are you killing or dying tonight?"
I attended a free swing dance lesson this afternoon, as I did several times toward the tail end of '09. The lads remain in one position and the lasses periodically shift one bloke to the right (their left), until the girl at the end walks all the way back to the other end, like returning the register on an old typewriter. One particularly bright eyed lass informed me that she was in a sorority, and that several of the other distaff dancers were her sorority sisters. She asked me if I was in a fraternity and seemed genuinely surprised that I was not. Later, when the company was dispersing, she invited me to a party at a fraternity house with which her sorority is affiliated. I would have accepted, Project MERCATOR demands no less, but I was under obligation to my father, to attend and take photographs at the Prime Ribs and Politics dinner, organized by his pals—yes, his pals, not mine—in the U of M-Flint College Republicans. I prophecy that there shall be similar invitations in my future; I will report again when all this comes to its predictable, inevitable bad end.
Apropos of nothing else, poetry!
"The Story of Uriah"
by Rudyard Kipling
"Now there were two men in one city;
the one rich, and the other poor."
Jack Barrett went to Quetta
Because they told him to.
He left his wife at Simla
On three-fourths his monthly screw.
Jack Barrett died at Quetta
Ere the next month's pay he drew.
Jack Barrett went to Quetta.
He didn't understand
The reason of his transfer
From the pleasant mountain-land.
The season was September,
And it killed him out of hand.
Jack Barrett went to Quetta
And there gave up the ghost,
Attempting two men's duty
In that very healthy post;
And Mrs. Barrett mourned for him
Five lively months at most.
Jack Barrett's bones at Quetta
Enjoy profound repose;
But I shouldn't be astonished
If now his spirit knows
The reason of his transfer
From the Himalayan snows.
And, when the Last Great Bugle Call
Adown the Hurnai throbs,
And the last grim joke is entered
In the big black Book of Jobs.
And Quetta graveyards give again
Their victims to the air,
I shouldn't like to be the man
Who sent Jack Barrett there.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "Comedienne" from Out-of-State Plates, Disco Two (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The R.B.D.S.O.T.D. is often chosen for whimsical reasons, but not today. I've felt like the titular comedienne all day, and then again when I watched in slightly horror-tinged resignation as my father turn what could have been a rousing campaign speech into another lunatic tirade, I had the same thought over and over again:
"Comedienne, please make up your mind.
Are you laughing or crying?
Are you killing or dying tonight?"
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Project MERCATOR
It might be a bad weekend for blogging, as I've a full social calendar, but I have hopes of getting home relatively early tomorrow evening, in which case I aspire to compose at least one of the following two posts, if not both: "Freaks and Geeks... and Greeks" & "The Topless Towers of Ilium." (That both have Hellenic-themed titles is a function of my bent of mind, not a relationship one to the other.)
I was waylaid tonight by three events: {ein} The Econ Club's monthly dinner, which I had no inkling was tonight until 'twas announced at this afternoon's meeting; I'm the bloody secretary, how had that managed to escape my attention? {zwei} Assisting The Cowgirl (Vanessa, formerly uncodenamed) with her accounting & marketing homework. {drei} Watching the evening's new episode of Burn Notice with my father. I rue his discovery of Burn Notice last season; I watch the new episodes with him only because it's easier than putting up with the whining that would follow if I insisted on watching them on my own. I know, I know, alas and alack, woe is me!
This weekend: Friday, a political event, a favor to my father; Saturday, movie night at the Wilson household; Sunday, roller derby (!), to be accompanied by some new pals from Lansing. Social mother-lovin' butterfly.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "Imperia" from Out-of-State Plates, Disc Two (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: No particular reason for a song of mourning today, the elegance and beauty of "Imperia" happened to ensnare me.
It might be a bad weekend for blogging, as I've a full social calendar, but I have hopes of getting home relatively early tomorrow evening, in which case I aspire to compose at least one of the following two posts, if not both: "Freaks and Geeks... and Greeks" & "The Topless Towers of Ilium." (That both have Hellenic-themed titles is a function of my bent of mind, not a relationship one to the other.)
I was waylaid tonight by three events: {ein} The Econ Club's monthly dinner, which I had no inkling was tonight until 'twas announced at this afternoon's meeting; I'm the bloody secretary, how had that managed to escape my attention? {zwei} Assisting The Cowgirl (Vanessa, formerly uncodenamed) with her accounting & marketing homework. {drei} Watching the evening's new episode of Burn Notice with my father. I rue his discovery of Burn Notice last season; I watch the new episodes with him only because it's easier than putting up with the whining that would follow if I insisted on watching them on my own. I know, I know, alas and alack, woe is me!
This weekend: Friday, a political event, a favor to my father; Saturday, movie night at the Wilson household; Sunday, roller derby (!), to be accompanied by some new pals from Lansing. Social mother-lovin' butterfly.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "Imperia" from Out-of-State Plates, Disc Two (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: No particular reason for a song of mourning today, the elegance and beauty of "Imperia" happened to ensnare me.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Banzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge
Day 31: Finally! Day 28 in pictures; man alive, that was like pulling teeth. The thing I hate about this photographic documentation is that to my eyes, in the mirror, the beard looks fuller and thicker than the photos reveal it to be, and I'd really rather not have that particular bit of self-deception shattered so completely. Nevertheless, the regular photo documentation must and shall continue. The Bonanza is about nothing else if not truth.
Honest to Bog, I thought I'd have quite a prominent bald spot by age thirty. Three cheers for being wrong. Hip hip! Hooray! Hip hip! Hooray! Hip hip! Hooray!
Banzai!
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
They Might Be Giants, "Why Did You Grow a Beard?" from Cast Your Pod to the Wind (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Brother, did I get an earful of this sentiment yesterday during a webcam chat with Teddy's parents. Specifically from his father. So, now the Bonanza is being conducted at least in part, at Teddy's father's insistence, for spite. Spite!
"Why did you grow a beard?
Why did you grow a beard?
Is there no where in the world for a nogoodnik?
Is there no where in the freedom-loving,
Sister-hugging, screaming, yelling…"
Day 31: Finally! Day 28 in pictures; man alive, that was like pulling teeth. The thing I hate about this photographic documentation is that to my eyes, in the mirror, the beard looks fuller and thicker than the photos reveal it to be, and I'd really rather not have that particular bit of self-deception shattered so completely. Nevertheless, the regular photo documentation must and shall continue. The Bonanza is about nothing else if not truth.
Honest to Bog, I thought I'd have quite a prominent bald spot by age thirty. Three cheers for being wrong. Hip hip! Hooray! Hip hip! Hooray! Hip hip! Hooray!
Banzai!
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
They Might Be Giants, "Why Did You Grow a Beard?" from Cast Your Pod to the Wind (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Brother, did I get an earful of this sentiment yesterday during a webcam chat with Teddy's parents. Specifically from his father. So, now the Bonanza is being conducted at least in part, at Teddy's father's insistence, for spite. Spite!
"Why did you grow a beard?
Why did you grow a beard?
Is there no where in the world for a nogoodnik?
Is there no where in the freedom-loving,
Sister-hugging, screaming, yelling…"
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Master Debating*
The Most Dangerous Game is gorgeous, smart, and fierce, utterly fearless in promoting and publicizing the Econ Club. Yet she is a shrinking violet when confronted with traditional public speaking, such as in front of a classroom. She is under the Svengali-like spell of her Communications (public speaking) professor, who enticed her to join the U of M-Flint Forensics Team as a debater last semester. Partnered with an unenthusiastic boob, she compiled an 0-4 record, and so dragooned me into service as her partner. In two tournaments over the last two weekends, at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana and Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, she and I have gone 2-2 twice, for a combined record of 4-4. Not bad for a pair of novices; my only training, not counting my unsuccessful debating career (but a different format of debate) way, way back in high school, was a forty-five minute briefing in the Svengali's office.
We've only faced one team twice, a pair from Bowling Green. They were our first opponents at Butler—my first collegiate debate—and then again at E.M.U. Both times, they were the Government (affirmative) and we the Opposition (negative); despite the burden of proof belonging to the Government, we were quite surprised to learn we'd prevailed against them in the rematch at E.M.U. They are much more technically proficient than we, possessed of a superior understanding of the strictures and customs of Parliamentary debating, or "Parli." We get by on my natural talent as a speaker (some false modesty to be as offensive as boastfulness) and The Most Dangerous Game's ability to relate any and all topics back to economics. During the debate at Eastern Michigan, I, as Leader of the Opposition (who delivers the first negative constructive speech as well as the first rebuttal), complimented them on their effective speaking styles. Blanket thanks to the other team, your partner, and the judge are, I've learned by watching others, part and parcel of Parli, and I was just following good form, though of course with my own inimitable flair. Later, in the hall, the bespectacled member of the B.G.S.U. duo asked me if I'd been serious in complimenting them; I could see written across his face his nervousness and desperate gratitude for my remarks. No, I don't think he and his partner are particularly effective speakers, just vastly more experienced than my partner and I, but what did it cost me to lie? Of course, I told him, mightily impressive. The Most Dangerous Game and I didn't find out we'd triumphed over them until the following afternoon, too late to find them and lord our victory over their heads (though that's probably for the best, as they eventually advanced to the Parli finals, whereas we didn't make it out of the round-robin round). Still and all, we beat them! Ha ha!
The theme of the weekend, a tournament featuring many other events besides Parli, was "Celebrity & Death." (These forensics kids, and by extension their gatherings, are weird enough without introducing a theme, but there you have it.) On the first day, the organizers acted like members of the paparazzi, snapping pictures and asking the competitors who they were wearing. Yes, there was a red carpet. On the second day, the organizers dressed up as deceased celebrities, e.g., Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, and Kurt Cobain. When someone asked who the girl costumed as Janis Joplin was supposed to be, I answered by breaking into "Mercedes Benz" in the scratchiest, most tortured voice I could manage; Janis joined me. When we concluded the first verse, Janis extended her hand and introduced herself by her given name; I replied with mine. After she'd gone, The Most Dangerous Game remarked, "Now that's how you meet girls." So, later, I gave Janis my mobile number and principal email address and asked her to allow me to buy her a drink sometime. I don't expect to hear from her, but I'm quite pleased that I took the chance.
"Who dares wins."
Project MERCATOR
The other four members of the U of M-Flint Forensics Team were driven to Ypsilanti by Professor Svengali in a rental van. I motored behind them in Lumi, eager to have at my disposal the means of leaving E.M.U. independently. Am I really that antisocial? Nay, I was short on time if I was to make my way to Lansing in order to catch The Loose Ties at that wretched hive of scum and villainy, the Commie club; so, while my fellows stopped for dinner in Ann Arbor and then drove back to Flint, I put the pedal to the metal and made a beeline for our state capital. (And very nearly, as I found out, a beeline for our State Capitol.) I had invited the usual gang to accompany me, but four of them, including The Impossible Ingenue, were otherwise occupied at a wedding. The Most Dangerous Game doesn't really like ska and only goes to see The Loose Ties for the social aspect; she made the right call by riding with the others back to campus. Only one fellow, Jake, a fellow member of the Econ Club with whom I've been simply unable to form any kind of emotional bond, accepted the invitation, meeting me at the show, and arriving before I did. (I also invited the new acquaintances I'd made at the surprise party in Lansing about which I have not yet written; suffice it for now that none of them came, though there are plans for a couple to join me this weekend at the latest roller derby bout.) We stayed for two crummy bands before The Loose Ties, then helped our local heroes move their equipment off-stage and said our goodbyes. One of the Loose Ties said he almost didn't recognize me with the facial hair; I recalled that I had not seen them since their show a few days before Christmas, so, yes, they'd missed out on the Banzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge. I see it every day; so, the change is not dramatic, but I suppose it might well be if the last time you saw me I was sporting my beloved sideburns and soul patch.
Always the social butterfly, on Sunday I drove back to Ann Arbor (the hotel at which the Forensics Team stayed overnight Friday was in A2, not Ypsi) and had a delightful lunch with Dr. Hee Haw at Jerusalem Garden. I had not seen the good doctor in seven years! That's bloody ridiculous! We didn't know each other on the staff of the Gargoyle for more than two years, three at the absolute outside, though we also knew many of the same people from his hometown of Saline (the likes of Mrs. Sacramento, the Phantom Frantom, and many of my housemates at 1213, the Idiot Brigade), strengthening our bond. Our conversation was as if we'd seen each other only days before, hilarious and silly as our conversations always were, even when we discussed the very real and vexing problem of where in the high holy heck a fellow is supposed to meet available girls. I had no advice for him except to skirt the boundaries of good taste by pursuing undergraduates, as I am doing with The Impossible Ingenue. It was jolly good seeing ol' Doc Hee Haw, and we share a determination not to allow such a preposterous interval to pass before our next meeting; to that end, we are drawing up a list of eateries in Southeast Michigan which we might patronize. Is a meal necessary? Not strictly, but experience has taught me that even with the best of intentions far-flung friends need an activity around which to gather, a flag around which to rally, and everybody's got to eat.
You should be so lucky as to know Dr. Hee Haw.
*I will never ever ever be too mature to chuckle at that.
The Most Dangerous Game is gorgeous, smart, and fierce, utterly fearless in promoting and publicizing the Econ Club. Yet she is a shrinking violet when confronted with traditional public speaking, such as in front of a classroom. She is under the Svengali-like spell of her Communications (public speaking) professor, who enticed her to join the U of M-Flint Forensics Team as a debater last semester. Partnered with an unenthusiastic boob, she compiled an 0-4 record, and so dragooned me into service as her partner. In two tournaments over the last two weekends, at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana and Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, she and I have gone 2-2 twice, for a combined record of 4-4. Not bad for a pair of novices; my only training, not counting my unsuccessful debating career (but a different format of debate) way, way back in high school, was a forty-five minute briefing in the Svengali's office.
We've only faced one team twice, a pair from Bowling Green. They were our first opponents at Butler—my first collegiate debate—and then again at E.M.U. Both times, they were the Government (affirmative) and we the Opposition (negative); despite the burden of proof belonging to the Government, we were quite surprised to learn we'd prevailed against them in the rematch at E.M.U. They are much more technically proficient than we, possessed of a superior understanding of the strictures and customs of Parliamentary debating, or "Parli." We get by on my natural talent as a speaker (some false modesty to be as offensive as boastfulness) and The Most Dangerous Game's ability to relate any and all topics back to economics. During the debate at Eastern Michigan, I, as Leader of the Opposition (who delivers the first negative constructive speech as well as the first rebuttal), complimented them on their effective speaking styles. Blanket thanks to the other team, your partner, and the judge are, I've learned by watching others, part and parcel of Parli, and I was just following good form, though of course with my own inimitable flair. Later, in the hall, the bespectacled member of the B.G.S.U. duo asked me if I'd been serious in complimenting them; I could see written across his face his nervousness and desperate gratitude for my remarks. No, I don't think he and his partner are particularly effective speakers, just vastly more experienced than my partner and I, but what did it cost me to lie? Of course, I told him, mightily impressive. The Most Dangerous Game and I didn't find out we'd triumphed over them until the following afternoon, too late to find them and lord our victory over their heads (though that's probably for the best, as they eventually advanced to the Parli finals, whereas we didn't make it out of the round-robin round). Still and all, we beat them! Ha ha!
The theme of the weekend, a tournament featuring many other events besides Parli, was "Celebrity & Death." (These forensics kids, and by extension their gatherings, are weird enough without introducing a theme, but there you have it.) On the first day, the organizers acted like members of the paparazzi, snapping pictures and asking the competitors who they were wearing. Yes, there was a red carpet. On the second day, the organizers dressed up as deceased celebrities, e.g., Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, and Kurt Cobain. When someone asked who the girl costumed as Janis Joplin was supposed to be, I answered by breaking into "Mercedes Benz" in the scratchiest, most tortured voice I could manage; Janis joined me. When we concluded the first verse, Janis extended her hand and introduced herself by her given name; I replied with mine. After she'd gone, The Most Dangerous Game remarked, "Now that's how you meet girls." So, later, I gave Janis my mobile number and principal email address and asked her to allow me to buy her a drink sometime. I don't expect to hear from her, but I'm quite pleased that I took the chance.
"Who dares wins."
Project MERCATOR
The other four members of the U of M-Flint Forensics Team were driven to Ypsilanti by Professor Svengali in a rental van. I motored behind them in Lumi, eager to have at my disposal the means of leaving E.M.U. independently. Am I really that antisocial? Nay, I was short on time if I was to make my way to Lansing in order to catch The Loose Ties at that wretched hive of scum and villainy, the Commie club; so, while my fellows stopped for dinner in Ann Arbor and then drove back to Flint, I put the pedal to the metal and made a beeline for our state capital. (And very nearly, as I found out, a beeline for our State Capitol.) I had invited the usual gang to accompany me, but four of them, including The Impossible Ingenue, were otherwise occupied at a wedding. The Most Dangerous Game doesn't really like ska and only goes to see The Loose Ties for the social aspect; she made the right call by riding with the others back to campus. Only one fellow, Jake, a fellow member of the Econ Club with whom I've been simply unable to form any kind of emotional bond, accepted the invitation, meeting me at the show, and arriving before I did. (I also invited the new acquaintances I'd made at the surprise party in Lansing about which I have not yet written; suffice it for now that none of them came, though there are plans for a couple to join me this weekend at the latest roller derby bout.) We stayed for two crummy bands before The Loose Ties, then helped our local heroes move their equipment off-stage and said our goodbyes. One of the Loose Ties said he almost didn't recognize me with the facial hair; I recalled that I had not seen them since their show a few days before Christmas, so, yes, they'd missed out on the Banzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge. I see it every day; so, the change is not dramatic, but I suppose it might well be if the last time you saw me I was sporting my beloved sideburns and soul patch.
Always the social butterfly, on Sunday I drove back to Ann Arbor (the hotel at which the Forensics Team stayed overnight Friday was in A2, not Ypsi) and had a delightful lunch with Dr. Hee Haw at Jerusalem Garden. I had not seen the good doctor in seven years! That's bloody ridiculous! We didn't know each other on the staff of the Gargoyle for more than two years, three at the absolute outside, though we also knew many of the same people from his hometown of Saline (the likes of Mrs. Sacramento, the Phantom Frantom, and many of my housemates at 1213, the Idiot Brigade), strengthening our bond. Our conversation was as if we'd seen each other only days before, hilarious and silly as our conversations always were, even when we discussed the very real and vexing problem of where in the high holy heck a fellow is supposed to meet available girls. I had no advice for him except to skirt the boundaries of good taste by pursuing undergraduates, as I am doing with The Impossible Ingenue. It was jolly good seeing ol' Doc Hee Haw, and we share a determination not to allow such a preposterous interval to pass before our next meeting; to that end, we are drawing up a list of eateries in Southeast Michigan which we might patronize. Is a meal necessary? Not strictly, but experience has taught me that even with the best of intentions far-flung friends need an activity around which to gather, a flag around which to rally, and everybody's got to eat.
You should be so lucky as to know Dr. Hee Haw.
*I will never ever ever be too mature to chuckle at that.
I am an A-1 jerk.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Barenaked Ladies, "Be My Yoko Ono" from Gordon (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Do not mistake the selection of "Be My Yoko Ono" as the R.B.D.S.O.T.D., nor the quoted lyrics below, as a signal of a softening in my disdainful attitude toward The Beatles: they remain the most overrated band in the history of rock & roll. But the sentiment expressed in "Be My Yoko Ono" is beautiful.
"I would gladly give up musical genius
Just to have you as my very own personal Venus."
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Barenaked Ladies, "Be My Yoko Ono" from Gordon (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Do not mistake the selection of "Be My Yoko Ono" as the R.B.D.S.O.T.D., nor the quoted lyrics below, as a signal of a softening in my disdainful attitude toward The Beatles: they remain the most overrated band in the history of rock & roll. But the sentiment expressed in "Be My Yoko Ono" is beautiful.
"I would gladly give up musical genius
Just to have you as my very own personal Venus."
Monday, January 25, 2010
The Banzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge
Day 29: I am waiting on my father for the latest round of photographs, taken yesterday. The beard is beginning to take on the aspect of a proper beard, not just overgrown stubble. I did not properly recall from the first Bonanza just how coarse and curly my beard hair is, so different from the hair atop my head. My beard's first instinct is to go wild.
You're waiting on me and I'm waiting on my father; as soon as he gets the photos to me, I'll get them out to you. The process might actually be faster if I hadn't loaned the X-700 to The Impossible Ingenue for her photography class, but I'd have to be pretty creative with filling up the rest of those rolls, and of course there is the expense of developing to consider. That's naught but idle musing, venting my frustration with my father dragging his feet and bellyaching every time I ask him to photographically document the beard's progress. Really, Dad? You take a lengthy nap every afternoon, but these four or five photos put too much pressure on your jam packed schedule?
Banzai!
He's Dead, Jim
Three months to the day that I twisted the unholy hell out of my ankle, and I can tell that things still aren't quite as they were on the day before that fateful skate. I'm beginning to believe things may never again be exactly as they were before, a dreadful thought. Ah, well. I've got to try running on it soon, though increasingly I am thinking about hitting the pool as the way to restart Operation ÖSTERREICH.
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "Little Red Light" from Welcome Interstate Managers (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Call me juvenile, denounce me as a fool, I don't care; I was ever-so-excited this morning when I received a text message from The Impossible Ingenue, "Hey. Where are you?" Thus was initiated our delightful afternoon together, during which she, an intensely secretive and reticent girl if ever there was one, was uncharacteristically forthcoming.
I was away from my mobile this evening and missed her call, and typically for her age group she didn't leave a voicemail. By the time I rang her back forty minutes later, she informed me that she and The Most Dangerous Game were halfway home. She'd been calling to see if I wanted to get some dessert. Drat and double drat!
"It's not right, it's not fair,
I'm still a mess and you still don't care.
I go to work, I come back home,
But you're still gone and I'm still alone.
And the little red light's not blinkin',
No, no, the little red light's not blinkin',
No, no, the little red light's not blinkin'
On my big black Radio Shack digital portable phone."
The despairing tone of "Little Red Light" isn't at all appropriate, I'm quite thrilled with how today went. But I thought of "Little Red Light" last night on the drive back from Ann Arbor (which I'll tell you about in the next Project MERCATOR post), the dark bastard doing a number on me, taunting me with all the fun The Ingenue had surely had over the weekend without the merest thought of me flitting across her mind. It was in that context, my mouth still fouled by the aftertaste of that moment of doubt and self-loathing, that I was so overjoyed by her text this morning.
Sonntag, 24 Januar
Fountains of Wayne, "Denise" from Utopia Parkway (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: "She makes me weak at the knees."
Samstag, 23 Januar
Less Than Jake, "Bad Scene and a Basement Show" from Borders & Boundaries (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: I drove directly from the weekend's debate tournament at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti to a show in Lansing, to see Flint's own improbable ska band, The Loose Ties. I'd been forewarned that the "club" hosting the show was run by Communists, but I didn't quite believe it until I saw a sign on the wall:
"Environmentally Friendly
Planned Economy
NOW"
Planned economy. "Honest to American God" (in the words of Conrad the Comrade), the sign actually called for a planned economy. There it was, staring me right in the face, the dark side of Amendment I of our nigh-sacred Constitution. Even those who explicitly wish to destroy American liberty are at liberty to say so. The place, called Basement 414, sits at 414 East Michigan Avenue, and the entrance would be within sight of the Michigan State Capitol were it not hidden in a back alley in the shadow of a large smokestack. Seems an appropriate hideaway for Communists plotting against American prosperity and freedom.
The bands besides The Loose Ties were just dreadful, that cacophonous mix of ill-conceived and poorly executed genres known as "screamo." It really was a bad scene and a basement show.
"With too much small talk and lame inside jokes."
Freitag, 22 Januar
Fountains of Wayne, "The Hotel Majestic" from Traffic and Weather (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Actually, it wasn't the Hotel Majestic; for the second consecutive weekend I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express on the University of Michigan-Flint's dime. Of course, as a partially-trained economist I know the University has few dimes of its own, almost all its operating expenses are covered by student tuition and the largess of Michigan's taxpaying citizenry. Thanks, taxpaying Michiganders, and please know that we spent your money frugally by putting three chaps in a room with only two beds. (The fellow I've nicknamed Too Sly voluntarily slept on the floor, which he claims helps his ailing back.)
Day 29: I am waiting on my father for the latest round of photographs, taken yesterday. The beard is beginning to take on the aspect of a proper beard, not just overgrown stubble. I did not properly recall from the first Bonanza just how coarse and curly my beard hair is, so different from the hair atop my head. My beard's first instinct is to go wild.
You're waiting on me and I'm waiting on my father; as soon as he gets the photos to me, I'll get them out to you. The process might actually be faster if I hadn't loaned the X-700 to The Impossible Ingenue for her photography class, but I'd have to be pretty creative with filling up the rest of those rolls, and of course there is the expense of developing to consider. That's naught but idle musing, venting my frustration with my father dragging his feet and bellyaching every time I ask him to photographically document the beard's progress. Really, Dad? You take a lengthy nap every afternoon, but these four or five photos put too much pressure on your jam packed schedule?
Banzai!
He's Dead, Jim
Three months to the day that I twisted the unholy hell out of my ankle, and I can tell that things still aren't quite as they were on the day before that fateful skate. I'm beginning to believe things may never again be exactly as they were before, a dreadful thought. Ah, well. I've got to try running on it soon, though increasingly I am thinking about hitting the pool as the way to restart Operation ÖSTERREICH.
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "Little Red Light" from Welcome Interstate Managers (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Call me juvenile, denounce me as a fool, I don't care; I was ever-so-excited this morning when I received a text message from The Impossible Ingenue, "Hey. Where are you?" Thus was initiated our delightful afternoon together, during which she, an intensely secretive and reticent girl if ever there was one, was uncharacteristically forthcoming.
I was away from my mobile this evening and missed her call, and typically for her age group she didn't leave a voicemail. By the time I rang her back forty minutes later, she informed me that she and The Most Dangerous Game were halfway home. She'd been calling to see if I wanted to get some dessert. Drat and double drat!
"It's not right, it's not fair,
I'm still a mess and you still don't care.
I go to work, I come back home,
But you're still gone and I'm still alone.
And the little red light's not blinkin',
No, no, the little red light's not blinkin',
No, no, the little red light's not blinkin'
On my big black Radio Shack digital portable phone."
The despairing tone of "Little Red Light" isn't at all appropriate, I'm quite thrilled with how today went. But I thought of "Little Red Light" last night on the drive back from Ann Arbor (which I'll tell you about in the next Project MERCATOR post), the dark bastard doing a number on me, taunting me with all the fun The Ingenue had surely had over the weekend without the merest thought of me flitting across her mind. It was in that context, my mouth still fouled by the aftertaste of that moment of doubt and self-loathing, that I was so overjoyed by her text this morning.
Sonntag, 24 Januar
Fountains of Wayne, "Denise" from Utopia Parkway (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: "She makes me weak at the knees."
Samstag, 23 Januar
Less Than Jake, "Bad Scene and a Basement Show" from Borders & Boundaries (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: I drove directly from the weekend's debate tournament at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti to a show in Lansing, to see Flint's own improbable ska band, The Loose Ties. I'd been forewarned that the "club" hosting the show was run by Communists, but I didn't quite believe it until I saw a sign on the wall:
"Environmentally Friendly
Planned Economy
NOW"
Planned economy. "Honest to American God" (in the words of Conrad the Comrade), the sign actually called for a planned economy. There it was, staring me right in the face, the dark side of Amendment I of our nigh-sacred Constitution. Even those who explicitly wish to destroy American liberty are at liberty to say so. The place, called Basement 414, sits at 414 East Michigan Avenue, and the entrance would be within sight of the Michigan State Capitol were it not hidden in a back alley in the shadow of a large smokestack. Seems an appropriate hideaway for Communists plotting against American prosperity and freedom.
The bands besides The Loose Ties were just dreadful, that cacophonous mix of ill-conceived and poorly executed genres known as "screamo." It really was a bad scene and a basement show.
"With too much small talk and lame inside jokes."
Freitag, 22 Januar
Fountains of Wayne, "The Hotel Majestic" from Traffic and Weather (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Actually, it wasn't the Hotel Majestic; for the second consecutive weekend I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express on the University of Michigan-Flint's dime. Of course, as a partially-trained economist I know the University has few dimes of its own, almost all its operating expenses are covered by student tuition and the largess of Michigan's taxpaying citizenry. Thanks, taxpaying Michiganders, and please know that we spent your money frugally by putting three chaps in a room with only two beds. (The fellow I've nicknamed Too Sly voluntarily slept on the floor, which he claims helps his ailing back.)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Operation AXIOM
Today was Jimmy Shaker Day.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "Someone to Love" from Traffic and Weather (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"When it's late (When it's late)
And it's hot (And it's hot)
And a date with The Late Show is all that you've got
Don't give out (Don't give out)
Don't give up (Don't give up)
One of these nights you might find someone to love."
Today was Jimmy Shaker Day.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "Someone to Love" from Traffic and Weather (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"When it's late (When it's late)
And it's hot (And it's hot)
And a date with The Late Show is all that you've got
Don't give out (Don't give out)
Don't give up (Don't give up)
One of these nights you might find someone to love."
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Obamboozled
Happy anniversary, Mr. President. Cult of personalitylink & electionlink. Now go bugger yourself.
The Victors: Project OSPREY
Michigan 68-63 Connecticut (No. 15)
10-7, Big Ten 3-2
I had wanted to watch the game, but missed the start returning from a debate tournament at Butler University in Indianapolis. And, truth be told, I'm glad I didn't see the game, because I didn't deserve to see us win; I didn't deserve to see us win because prior to the game I didn't think we had a snowflake's chance in Hell of winning. Boy howdy, I love being wrong! Is there still an outside, outside chance of making the N.C.A.A. Tournament? Keep hope alive!
Go Blue!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "The Girl I Can't Forget" from Out-of-State Plates, Disc Two (T.L.A.M.)
Dienstag, 19 Januar
Fountains of Wayne, "Hackensack" from Welcome Interstate Managers (T.L.A.M.)
Happy anniversary, Mr. President. Cult of personalitylink & electionlink. Now go bugger yourself.
The Victors: Project OSPREY
Michigan 68-63 Connecticut (No. 15)
10-7, Big Ten 3-2
I had wanted to watch the game, but missed the start returning from a debate tournament at Butler University in Indianapolis. And, truth be told, I'm glad I didn't see the game, because I didn't deserve to see us win; I didn't deserve to see us win because prior to the game I didn't think we had a snowflake's chance in Hell of winning. Boy howdy, I love being wrong! Is there still an outside, outside chance of making the N.C.A.A. Tournament? Keep hope alive!
Go Blue!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "The Girl I Can't Forget" from Out-of-State Plates, Disc Two (T.L.A.M.)
Dienstag, 19 Januar
Fountains of Wayne, "Hackensack" from Welcome Interstate Managers (T.L.A.M.)
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
The Pogues, "The Irish Rover" from The Best of The Pogues (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The Impossible Ingenue & I saw Leap Year yesterday, and within the film a band, not The Pogues, performs "The Irish Rover."
Sonntag, 17 Januar
"Weird Al" Yankovic, "I'll Sue Ya" from Straight Outta Lynwood (T.L.A.M.)
Samstag, 16 Januar
They Might Be Giants, "The Shadow Government" from The Else (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: I spent all day hearing my partner referred to as "the Prime Minister" or "the Leader of the Opposition," several rounds' judges referred to as "Speakers of the House," and other such lovely bits of British Parliamentary slang. If only 'twas really a song about the shadow government; I can't wait until David Cameron is prime minister!
"Where's the shadow government when you need it?"
Freitag, 15 Januar
Less Than Jake, "Five State Drive" from Hello Rockview (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: It was only a two-state drive, Michigan & Indiana, but it felt like more as I had grossly insufficient legroom in the back of our rented late-model Saturn S.U.V. I don't lament the end of Saturn, for never in my life have I sat comfortably in a Saturn vehicle.
The Pogues, "The Irish Rover" from The Best of The Pogues (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The Impossible Ingenue & I saw Leap Year yesterday, and within the film a band, not The Pogues, performs "The Irish Rover."
Sonntag, 17 Januar
"Weird Al" Yankovic, "I'll Sue Ya" from Straight Outta Lynwood (T.L.A.M.)
Samstag, 16 Januar
They Might Be Giants, "The Shadow Government" from The Else (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: I spent all day hearing my partner referred to as "the Prime Minister" or "the Leader of the Opposition," several rounds' judges referred to as "Speakers of the House," and other such lovely bits of British Parliamentary slang. If only 'twas really a song about the shadow government; I can't wait until David Cameron is prime minister!
"Where's the shadow government when you need it?"
Freitag, 15 Januar
Less Than Jake, "Five State Drive" from Hello Rockview (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: It was only a two-state drive, Michigan & Indiana, but it felt like more as I had grossly insufficient legroom in the back of our rented late-model Saturn S.U.V. I don't lament the end of Saturn, for never in my life have I sat comfortably in a Saturn vehicle.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The Banzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge
Day 18: My father took a new batch of mug shots yesterday, but I'm still waiting for him to download them off his camera and email them my way. Reaction to the beard continues to pour in, mostly positive, though I still suspect some of that is mere politeness. (The dark bastard posits, and I smile because I find this genuinely funny, that the beard is a hit because I have a face that is well-suited to being obscured.)
Addition: Day 17 in photographs.
There is still itchiness, but at the risk of inviting disaster I believe the worst is behind me. Of larger concern now is that I need a haircut. I think I shall use level 2 rather than the shorter level 1; I prefer level 1, but it leaves my head looking gray, whereas at the level 2 length the brown of my hair is again readily apparent. I am not yet ready to adopt the Coach Oldham look of a shaved head with a full, bushy beard, and level 1 would be just a tad too close to that look. Bear of a weekend ahead, but I hope to use the M.L.K. Day day off for R&R, including cutting my hair.
The Quality of Mercy
It's not that I don't care about Haiti, it just strikes me as monstrously hypocritical to have ignored the plight of that woebegone land for all these years only to now pretend that it's the most important cause in the world. Most of the world, at least if journalistic accounts are to be believed, is thus behaving monstrously hypocritically. If asked, I suppose that, yes, I'd rather be perceived as callous than hypocritical, though of course we are all hypocrites at one time or another.
To wit: Pray for the blighted people of that benighted land.
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "The Man in the Santa Suit" from Out-of-State Plates, Disc Two (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: I spent a not inconsiderable amount of time today wearing a gorilla suit. I considered "Clint Eastwood" by Gorillaz for the R.B.D.S.O.T.D., but "The Man in the Santa Suit" is far more relevant to today's fantabulous adventure.
Mittwoch, 13 Januar
Paul Simon, "Kodachrome" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The Impossible Ingenue has borrowed the X-700 for her photography class. Apparently, her professor was quite pleased to hear she had access to one, it's quite a spectacular camera, though normally hamstrung by being in the hands—mine own—of a complete amateur. The Ingenue has promised to teach me a thing or two about proper photography; so, in time I'll be an incomplete amateur.
Day 18: My father took a new batch of mug shots yesterday
Addition: Day 17 in photographs.
There is still itchiness, but at the risk of inviting disaster I believe the worst is behind me. Of larger concern now is that I need a haircut. I think I shall use level 2 rather than the shorter level 1; I prefer level 1, but it leaves my head looking gray, whereas at the level 2 length the brown of my hair is again readily apparent. I am not yet ready to adopt the Coach Oldham look of a shaved head with a full, bushy beard, and level 1 would be just a tad too close to that look. Bear of a weekend ahead, but I hope to use the M.L.K. Day day off for R&R, including cutting my hair.
The Quality of Mercy
It's not that I don't care about Haiti, it just strikes me as monstrously hypocritical to have ignored the plight of that woebegone land for all these years only to now pretend that it's the most important cause in the world. Most of the world, at least if journalistic accounts are to be believed, is thus behaving monstrously hypocritically. If asked, I suppose that, yes, I'd rather be perceived as callous than hypocritical, though of course we are all hypocrites at one time or another.
To wit: Pray for the blighted people of that benighted land.
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "The Man in the Santa Suit" from Out-of-State Plates, Disc Two (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: I spent a not inconsiderable amount of time today wearing a gorilla suit. I considered "Clint Eastwood" by Gorillaz for the R.B.D.S.O.T.D., but "The Man in the Santa Suit" is far more relevant to today's fantabulous adventure.
Mittwoch, 13 Januar
Paul Simon, "Kodachrome" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The Impossible Ingenue has borrowed the X-700 for her photography class. Apparently, her professor was quite pleased to hear she had access to one, it's quite a spectacular camera, though normally hamstrung by being in the hands—mine own—of a complete amateur. The Ingenue has promised to teach me a thing or two about proper photography; so, in time I'll be an incomplete amateur.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Project MERCATOR
Sometimes, for no reason, at least none that is readily apparent, friends are jerks to one another. What makes them friends is that they'll forgive each other, no apologies necessary. Were I a betting man, I'd wager we'll prove to be friends come the morrow.
Besides, she started it.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Barenaked Ladies, "Running Out of Ink" from Barenaked Ladies Are Men (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"It's bleaker than you think,
I'm running out of ink.
Give a guy a break,
This is what it takes
To drive a man to drink."
Sometimes, for no reason, at least none that is readily apparent, friends are jerks to one another. What makes them friends is that they'll forgive each other, no apologies necessary. Were I a betting man, I'd wager we'll prove to be friends come the morrow.
Besides, she started it.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Barenaked Ladies, "Running Out of Ink" from Barenaked Ladies Are Men (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"It's bleaker than you think,
I'm running out of ink.
Give a guy a break,
This is what it takes
To drive a man to drink."
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Banzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge
Day 15: Welcome to the third week of this second go-round of the Bonanza. So far, response has been positive, but a part of me suspects these people feel the need to say something and, because they are nice people, say something nice. (Of course, that thinking might just be another of the dark bastard's booby traps.) The Most Dangerous Game complimented the beard as did the professor which whom we were speaking, but the professor had never properly seen my as I normally appear, and they said so one right after the other. A chap nearby also complimented the beard, but he's known for wearing whiskers himself; in addition, he is always very complimentary of me, rightly thinking me the cat's pajamas.
Last night, when the gang gathered for an oddly late (for a Sunday) show of Sherlock Holmes, The Impossible Ingenue said the beard looked good, though in my inimitably doltish fashion I disagreed with her and said it did not yet look good, but that it would when longer. She had beaten me to the punch, complimenting the beard before I could properly appraise her newly dyed locks, no longer blonde but brunette, with charming hints of auburn.
I hope to post up-to-the-minute digital photographs tomorrow, but that depends upon the cooperation of my father. He does nothing all day, and it keeps him too busy to lend a hand to others. I perceive that the as-yet-unnamed beard is coming in more quickly than during the original Banzai Beard Bonanza, but I have no objective measurements with which to confirm or debunk that opinion. And still my cheeks remain woefully bare. Curses! The itchiness has not yet abated, nor have I decided how I shall shave/sculpt the beard once we reach that stage. I'll leave more neckbeard than is fashionable, because I believe the current fashion of confining beards to the jawline and above to be foolish and opposed to the spirit of true beardliness. (Not only have I just made up the word "beardliness," but apparently I've appointed myself Lord High Arbiter of the very concept. In egoism as in all other serious errors, go big or go home.)
Banzai!
This Week in Motorsport
There is a ticking clock at the Formula One website, counting down to the first practice session of the first grand prix of the 2010 World Championships, the Bahrain Grand Prix. 12-14 March, fifty-nine days and counting….
Other dates to note: 20 March, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the opening round of the American Le Mans Series and the main warm-up before the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
12-13 June, the 24 Heures du Mans, the greatest motorcar race in all the world. With last year's experience under my belt, this year I'm going to do it right; bugger sleep, bugger the obligations of kith & kin, I'm going to see as much of Le Mans as is broadcast on television. To do list, between now and 12 Juin: watch Steve McQueen's phenomenal Le Mans and Truth in 24 (sure, the latter is Audi propaganda, but it's still a breathtakingly detailed look inside Le Mans).
The most amusing personalized license plate I've seen in a good while: MEIN VW. Sehr gut!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
King Apparatus, "Hold Me Down" from Marbles (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Inspired by The Most Dangerous Game's FaceSpace status update (and the following is a lyric, not her status): "Because better than you have tried and failed to hold me down."
Sonntag, 10 Januar
Sloan, "Chester the Molester" courtesy of The Watergirl (T.L.A.M.)
Day 15: Welcome to the third week of this second go-round of the Bonanza. So far, response has been positive, but a part of me suspects these people feel the need to say something and, because they are nice people, say something nice. (Of course, that thinking might just be another of the dark bastard's booby traps.) The Most Dangerous Game complimented the beard as did the professor which whom we were speaking, but the professor had never properly seen my as I normally appear, and they said so one right after the other. A chap nearby also complimented the beard, but he's known for wearing whiskers himself; in addition, he is always very complimentary of me, rightly thinking me the cat's pajamas.
Last night, when the gang gathered for an oddly late (for a Sunday) show of Sherlock Holmes, The Impossible Ingenue said the beard looked good, though in my inimitably doltish fashion I disagreed with her and said it did not yet look good, but that it would when longer. She had beaten me to the punch, complimenting the beard before I could properly appraise her newly dyed locks, no longer blonde but brunette, with charming hints of auburn.
I hope to post up-to-the-minute digital photographs tomorrow, but that depends upon the cooperation of my father. He does nothing all day, and it keeps him too busy to lend a hand to others. I perceive that the as-yet-unnamed beard is coming in more quickly than during the original Banzai Beard Bonanza, but I have no objective measurements with which to confirm or debunk that opinion. And still my cheeks remain woefully bare. Curses! The itchiness has not yet abated, nor have I decided how I shall shave/sculpt the beard once we reach that stage. I'll leave more neckbeard than is fashionable, because I believe the current fashion of confining beards to the jawline and above to be foolish and opposed to the spirit of true beardliness. (Not only have I just made up the word "beardliness," but apparently I've appointed myself Lord High Arbiter of the very concept. In egoism as in all other serious errors, go big or go home.)
Banzai!
This Week in Motorsport
There is a ticking clock at the Formula One website, counting down to the first practice session of the first grand prix of the 2010 World Championships, the Bahrain Grand Prix. 12-14 March, fifty-nine days and counting….
Other dates to note: 20 March, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the opening round of the American Le Mans Series and the main warm-up before the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
12-13 June, the 24 Heures du Mans, the greatest motorcar race in all the world. With last year's experience under my belt, this year I'm going to do it right; bugger sleep, bugger the obligations of kith & kin, I'm going to see as much of Le Mans as is broadcast on television. To do list, between now and 12 Juin: watch Steve McQueen's phenomenal Le Mans and Truth in 24 (sure, the latter is Audi propaganda, but it's still a breathtakingly detailed look inside Le Mans).
The most amusing personalized license plate I've seen in a good while: MEIN VW. Sehr gut!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
King Apparatus, "Hold Me Down" from Marbles (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Inspired by The Most Dangerous Game's FaceSpace status update (and the following is a lyric, not her status): "Because better than you have tried and failed to hold me down."
Sonntag, 10 Januar
Sloan, "Chester the Molester" courtesy of The Watergirl (T.L.A.M.)
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Victors: Project OSPREY
Northwestern 68-62 Michigan
8-7, Big Ten 2-2
Drat. The worst part? I made a mental note yesterday to watch this afternoon's contest, only to have all thought of the game fly out of my head until about five o'clock this afternoon. By Lucifer's beard! No, wait, scratch that second sentence, the worst part is that we lost. Two games in a row is good, but it isn't a streak. We blew our chance at a winning streak, and we desperately need an impressive winning streak if we're to have any chance to make the Big Dance. Come on, lads, I want to see some streaking!*
Go Blue!
*Hee hee, you know what I mean, I simply refused to resist the chance for a cheap laugh.
Northwestern 68-62 Michigan
8-7, Big Ten 2-2
Drat. The worst part? I made a mental note yesterday to watch this afternoon's contest, only to have all thought of the game fly out of my head until about five o'clock this afternoon. By Lucifer's beard! No, wait, scratch that second sentence, the worst part is that we lost. Two games in a row is good, but it isn't a streak. We blew our chance at a winning streak, and we desperately need an impressive winning streak if we're to have any chance to make the Big Dance. Come on, lads, I want to see some streaking!*
Go Blue!
*Hee hee, you know what I mean, I simply refused to resist the chance for a cheap laugh.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Secrets of the Secret Base
Haloscan finally sold out. I received an email approximately a week before Christmas informing me that my use of Haloscan's free commenting feature was about to be revoked. I could pay ten bucks a year for their atrocious "Echo" commenting service, or be tossed out into the cold. I chose the cold. Yet when the fortnight deadline passed, naught changed. By now, however, all my old comments have been lost and, contrary to Haloscan's advice, I was unable to smoothly and easily transfer them into Blogger's own internal commenting service.
I've followed the instructions given to equip The Secret Base with Blogger commenting, but it's not working as advertised. No sign of any comments is visible on the main blog page. If you click on the time signature at the bottom, you'll be redirected to a that-post-only version of this blog, where comments are then visible. I'm at a loss what to do, but I'll keep cracking until I get this worked out. Your patience and tolerance are greatly appreciated, dear readers. Also, the Devil take everyone at Haloscan and may misfortune stalk them all the rest of their days.
The Queue
The Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year books take maybe half an hour to an hour to read through, depending on how long one dwells on each cartoon. They're still books; so, they go on the list, but no one should get an inflated view of how much I've been reading lately. Slam was a proper book, the other two took no time at all.
Recently
book holiday
Nick Hornby, Slam
Charles Brooks, editor, Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2010 Edition
Charles Brooks, editor, Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2008 Edition
Currently
Agatha Christie, Crooked House
Presently
P. G. Wodehouse, Mike at Wrykyn & Mike and Psmith
Agatha Christie, Passenger to Frankfurt
Agatha Christie, The Murder at the Vicarage
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Vampire Weekend, "Oxford Comma" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)
Freitag, 8 Januar
Apocalypse Hoboken, "Gummi" from Plea For Peace (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"She dresses down to flatter,
She makes my everything, everything matter."
Haloscan finally sold out. I received an email approximately a week before Christmas informing me that my use of Haloscan's free commenting feature was about to be revoked. I could pay ten bucks a year for their atrocious "Echo" commenting service, or be tossed out into the cold. I chose the cold. Yet when the fortnight deadline passed, naught changed. By now, however, all my old comments have been lost and, contrary to Haloscan's advice, I was unable to smoothly and easily transfer them into Blogger's own internal commenting service.
I've followed the instructions given to equip The Secret Base with Blogger commenting, but it's not working as advertised. No sign of any comments is visible on the main blog page. If you click on the time signature at the bottom, you'll be redirected to a that-post-only version of this blog, where comments are then visible. I'm at a loss what to do, but I'll keep cracking until I get this worked out. Your patience and tolerance are greatly appreciated, dear readers. Also, the Devil take everyone at Haloscan and may misfortune stalk them all the rest of their days.
The Queue
The Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year books take maybe half an hour to an hour to read through, depending on how long one dwells on each cartoon. They're still books; so, they go on the list, but no one should get an inflated view of how much I've been reading lately. Slam was a proper book, the other two took no time at all.
Recently
book holiday
Nick Hornby, Slam
Charles Brooks, editor, Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2010 Edition
Charles Brooks, editor, Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2008 Edition
Currently
Agatha Christie, Crooked House
Presently
P. G. Wodehouse, Mike at Wrykyn & Mike and Psmith
Agatha Christie, Passenger to Frankfurt
Agatha Christie, The Murder at the Vicarage
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Vampire Weekend, "Oxford Comma" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)
Freitag, 8 Januar
Apocalypse Hoboken, "Gummi" from Plea For Peace (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"She dresses down to flatter,
She makes my everything, everything matter."
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The Banzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge
Day 11: Behold! Oddly enough, I was complimented on this debacle by three people today. Of course, they think I'm going to keep the beard short like it is now. The fools! I hate the close beard, that bane of modern men's grooming. Stubble is one thing, but if you're going to grow a beard, then grow a verdammt beard!
Ooo, should I name the beard? What do you think about "Chester"?
Banzai!
The Victors: Project OSPREY
Michigan 64-55 Penn State
8-6, Big Ten 2-1
I was only able to catching the last ten minutes of the second half, but that was certainly the right quarter of the game for the Michigan faithful! The valiant Wolverines were down by ten when first I glimpsed the contest with the ferocious Nittany Lions, but steadily our boys ate away at Penn State's lead. Woo hoo!
Is the season back on track, with a comeback win against Penn State on the heels of the upset of a plainly superior Ohio State squad? Let's all do everything in our power to jinx the rest of the season, like I just did!
Propagandalink.
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Michigan 73-65 Ohio State (No. 15)
7-6, Big Ten 1-1
Missed it completely. I meant to watch it, but Sunday didn't go at all to plan. That's not a complaint, just an observation.
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Indiana 71-65 Michigan
6-6, Big Ten 0-1
I'm no fair weather fan, dear friends. I watched the majority of New Year's Eve's loss to the wily Hoosiers of Indiana University, missing the last thirty seconds because I was already running late for the New Year's Eve extravaganza. We had them, or we could have had them, we just couldn't seal the deal. And that's the most frustrating kind of loss. By Lucifer's beard!
Go Blue!
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Andy Partridge, "I Wonder Why the Wonderfalls" courtesy of The Watergirl (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The theme song to the late, lamented television series Wonderfalls. If you haven't seen the show, I insist you do so soonest. My D.V.D. boxset sits ready to loan. Any takers?
Day 11: Behold! Oddly enough, I was complimented on this debacle by three people today. Of course, they think I'm going to keep the beard short like it is now. The fools! I hate the close beard, that bane of modern men's grooming. Stubble is one thing, but if you're going to grow a beard, then grow a verdammt beard!
Ooo, should I name the beard? What do you think about "Chester"?
Banzai!
The Victors: Project OSPREY
Michigan 64-55 Penn State
8-6, Big Ten 2-1
I was only able to catching the last ten minutes of the second half, but that was certainly the right quarter of the game for the Michigan faithful! The valiant Wolverines were down by ten when first I glimpsed the contest with the ferocious Nittany Lions, but steadily our boys ate away at Penn State's lead. Woo hoo!
Is the season back on track, with a comeback win against Penn State on the heels of the upset of a plainly superior Ohio State squad? Let's all do everything in our power to jinx the rest of the season, like I just did!
Propagandalink.
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Michigan 73-65 Ohio State (No. 15)
7-6, Big Ten 1-1
Missed it completely. I meant to watch it, but Sunday didn't go at all to plan. That's not a complaint, just an observation.
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Indiana 71-65 Michigan
6-6, Big Ten 0-1
I'm no fair weather fan, dear friends. I watched the majority of New Year's Eve's loss to the wily Hoosiers of Indiana University, missing the last thirty seconds because I was already running late for the New Year's Eve extravaganza. We had them, or we could have had them, we just couldn't seal the deal. And that's the most frustrating kind of loss. By Lucifer's beard!
Go Blue!
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Andy Partridge, "I Wonder Why the Wonderfalls" courtesy of The Watergirl (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The theme song to the late, lamented television series Wonderfalls. If you haven't seen the show, I insist you do so soonest. My D.V.D. boxset sits ready to loan. Any takers?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The Queue
What did High Fidelity teach us? You don't need to love the same pop cultural stuff as the people you love. Extrapolate that principle and we arrive at the present situation: I hate hate hate Nick Hornby's book column from The Believer, specifically the collection titled Shakespeare Wrote For Money, but I still enjoy Nick Hornby's books. Or rather, I'm still interested in his books. (And his films. Sure, I'm madly in love with Carey Mulligan and desperately want Sally Sparrow to be a full-time companion on Doctor Who, but Hornby's the paramount reason I saw An Education.)
***SPOILER ALERT***
That said, I really disliked the time travel subplot of Slam. Are we meant to believe a poster of Tony Hawk was actually able to "whiz" the present-day mind of the protagonist, Sam, into his own future body, or are we meant to assume Sam is an unreliable narrator and made up his visits to the future from whole cloth at some later point to deceive the audience into learning some greater lesson? Sam left the matter deliberately unclear. I'm a huge fan of speculative fiction (because so much of modern "sci fi" has jack all to do with science fiction), but I'm not comfortable with how it played out amidst the otherwise strict realism of Slam.
***END ALERT***
Recently
book holiday
Nick Hornby, Slam
Charles Brooks, ed., Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2010 Edition
Currently
Charles Brooks, ed., Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2008 Edition
Presently
Agatha Christie, Crooked House
P. G. Wodehouse, Mike at Wrykyn & Mike and Psmith
Agatha Christie, Passenger to Frankfurt
The Banzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge
Day 10: The itching! The itching! I am tempted to call this phase of the beard-growing process "The Itchening," after the Invader ZIM episode "The Wettening." I really need to get on top of the photographic documentation, but for now suffice it to say that the last five years have not brought the much sought after coverage to my cheeks. I can grow mighty and mightily impressive muttonchops and I've got neckbeard to spare, but the cheeks are still sporadic. I've shaved the small safety barrier between my nose and my mustache, the fire line that prevents mustache hairs from going up my nose, but I've yet to sculpt the neckbeard. For the nonce, I'm letting it all grow like ivy, and only later will I tame and shape it.
I'm not certain how long the Bonanza's going to last. Bonsai's Revenge was supposed to start directly after Thanksgiving and end no earlier than the Ides of March. But with the start pushed back a month, what does that do to the endgame? The Ides of April? May Day? The Drama Queen is vehement that I should grow my beard for an entire year, but I dismissed that out of hand. I'm not opposed to the idea in principle, but were I to follow that plan I'd want to have done so from the start, and I'd have shaved on New Year's Eve, not to shave again for over a year, until the next next New Year's Day; or shaved on my birthday, not to shave until until I was another year older. No, the year beard is not something to be attempted willy nilly. It requires planning and, above all, dedication. Perhaps I'll attempt the year beard for the Banzai Beard Bonanza III: Third Time's the Harm, but not here during Bonsai's Revenge.
Ooo, the beard of one hundred days? The original Banzai Beard Bonanza lasted eighty-eight days, from the New Year until almost the end of March. I am tempted to go for quite a bit longer, but given pause by remembering how desperately I wished to be rid of the beard by the end o' that first Bonanza. I shall ponder and report back on my decision. Gah, the cursed itching!
Banzai!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Sufjan Stevens, "We Three Kings" from Songs For Christmas (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary-cum-Operation AXIOM: And now the Christmastide is at an end. Next Sunday marks the resumption of Ordinary Time. Merry Christmas to all and sundry!
Dienstag, 5 Januar
Bob & Doug Mckenzie, "Twelve Days of Christmas" from Great White North (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary-cum-Operation AXIOM: A very merry Twelfth Night to one and all!
Montag, 4 Januar
Sufjan Stevens, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" from Songs For Christmas (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The instrumental piano version near the end of the album, as there are two distinct renditions of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" on Songs For Christmas, both splendid.
"Rejoice!"
Sonntag, 3 Januar
Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings" from Barenaked For the Holidays (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary-cum-Operation AXIOM: The official celebration of the Epiphany, though of course tradition holds that Casper, Balthazar, and Melchior didn't visit the infant Christ until 6 January.
Bog, I love this song!
Samstag, 2 Januar
Mu330, "This Year More Than Ever" from Winter Wonderland (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Such a glorious melancholy.
What did High Fidelity teach us? You don't need to love the same pop cultural stuff as the people you love. Extrapolate that principle and we arrive at the present situation: I hate hate hate Nick Hornby's book column from The Believer, specifically the collection titled Shakespeare Wrote For Money, but I still enjoy Nick Hornby's books. Or rather, I'm still interested in his books. (And his films. Sure, I'm madly in love with Carey Mulligan and desperately want Sally Sparrow to be a full-time companion on Doctor Who, but Hornby's the paramount reason I saw An Education.)
***SPOILER ALERT***
That said, I really disliked the time travel subplot of Slam. Are we meant to believe a poster of Tony Hawk was actually able to "whiz" the present-day mind of the protagonist, Sam, into his own future body, or are we meant to assume Sam is an unreliable narrator and made up his visits to the future from whole cloth at some later point to deceive the audience into learning some greater lesson? Sam left the matter deliberately unclear. I'm a huge fan of speculative fiction (because so much of modern "sci fi" has jack all to do with science fiction), but I'm not comfortable with how it played out amidst the otherwise strict realism of Slam.
***END ALERT***
Recently
book holiday
Nick Hornby, Slam
Charles Brooks, ed., Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2010 Edition
Currently
Charles Brooks, ed., Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2008 Edition
Presently
Agatha Christie, Crooked House
P. G. Wodehouse, Mike at Wrykyn & Mike and Psmith
Agatha Christie, Passenger to Frankfurt
The Banzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge
Day 10: The itching! The itching! I am tempted to call this phase of the beard-growing process "The Itchening," after the Invader ZIM episode "The Wettening." I really need to get on top of the photographic documentation, but for now suffice it to say that the last five years have not brought the much sought after coverage to my cheeks. I can grow mighty and mightily impressive muttonchops and I've got neckbeard to spare, but the cheeks are still sporadic. I've shaved the small safety barrier between my nose and my mustache, the fire line that prevents mustache hairs from going up my nose, but I've yet to sculpt the neckbeard. For the nonce, I'm letting it all grow like ivy, and only later will I tame and shape it.
I'm not certain how long the Bonanza's going to last. Bonsai's Revenge was supposed to start directly after Thanksgiving and end no earlier than the Ides of March. But with the start pushed back a month, what does that do to the endgame? The Ides of April? May Day? The Drama Queen is vehement that I should grow my beard for an entire year, but I dismissed that out of hand. I'm not opposed to the idea in principle, but were I to follow that plan I'd want to have done so from the start, and I'd have shaved on New Year's Eve, not to shave again for over a year, until the next next New Year's Day; or shaved on my birthday, not to shave until until I was another year older. No, the year beard is not something to be attempted willy nilly. It requires planning and, above all, dedication. Perhaps I'll attempt the year beard for the Banzai Beard Bonanza III: Third Time's the Harm, but not here during Bonsai's Revenge.
Ooo, the beard of one hundred days? The original Banzai Beard Bonanza lasted eighty-eight days, from the New Year until almost the end of March. I am tempted to go for quite a bit longer, but given pause by remembering how desperately I wished to be rid of the beard by the end o' that first Bonanza. I shall ponder and report back on my decision. Gah, the cursed itching!
Banzai!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Sufjan Stevens, "We Three Kings" from Songs For Christmas (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary-cum-Operation AXIOM: And now the Christmastide is at an end. Next Sunday marks the resumption of Ordinary Time. Merry Christmas to all and sundry!
Dienstag, 5 Januar
Bob & Doug Mckenzie, "Twelve Days of Christmas" from Great White North (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary-cum-Operation AXIOM: A very merry Twelfth Night to one and all!
Montag, 4 Januar
Sufjan Stevens, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" from Songs For Christmas (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The instrumental piano version near the end of the album, as there are two distinct renditions of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" on Songs For Christmas, both splendid.
"Rejoice!"
Sonntag, 3 Januar
Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings" from Barenaked For the Holidays (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary-cum-Operation AXIOM: The official celebration of the Epiphany, though of course tradition holds that Casper, Balthazar, and Melchior didn't visit the infant Christ until 6 January.
Bog, I love this song!
Samstag, 2 Januar
Mu330, "This Year More Than Ever" from Winter Wonderland (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Such a glorious melancholy.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Operation AXIOM & Project MERCATOR present: The New Year
New Year's Eve was a wonderland of good friends and good fun, until shortly after midnight—no longer the Eve—when drama-rama broke out with a vengeance. I got to sleep around 8:00 A.M. this morning, and of course we had to check out of the hotel by noon. But instead of heading home, I spent the rest of the day with The Most Dangerous Game, The Impossible Ingenue, and their cousin-cum-sister, The Drama Queen, the center of all the drama. I'm barely alive, but boy howdy did I have a whale of a time!
Tomorrow, The Sardine!
The Rebel Black Dot Song of New Year's Day
Spike Jones and His City Slickers, "Happy New Year" from The Spike Jones Anthology (T.L.A.M.)
New Year's Eve was a wonderland of good friends and good fun, until shortly after midnight—no longer the Eve—when drama-rama broke out with a vengeance. I got to sleep around 8:00 A.M. this morning, and of course we had to check out of the hotel by noon. But instead of heading home, I spent the rest of the day with The Most Dangerous Game, The Impossible Ingenue, and their cousin-cum-sister, The Drama Queen, the center of all the drama. I'm barely alive, but boy howdy did I have a whale of a time!
Tomorrow, The Sardine!
The Rebel Black Dot Song of New Year's Day
Spike Jones and His City Slickers, "Happy New Year" from The Spike Jones Anthology (T.L.A.M.)
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday to my sainted mother, twice over a grandmother and deliriously happy at that happenstance. She's been gone since Boxing Day—helping The L.A.W. and Brother-in-L.A.W. cope with the still brand-new Natalie (Niece-in-L.A.W.? Daughter-of-L.A.W.?)—and I miss her terribly. Happy birthday, Mom!
The Rebel Black Dot Song of New Year's Eve
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, "Auld Lang Syne" from Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: All the best to you and yours in Anno Domini 2010, my friends.
"We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne."
Happy birthday to my sainted mother, twice over a grandmother and deliriously happy at that happenstance. She's been gone since Boxing Day—helping The L.A.W. and Brother-in-L.A.W. cope with the still brand-new Natalie (Niece-in-L.A.W.? Daughter-of-L.A.W.?)—and I miss her terribly. Happy birthday, Mom!
The Rebel Black Dot Song of New Year's Eve
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, "Auld Lang Syne" from Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: All the best to you and yours in Anno Domini 2010, my friends.
"We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne."
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Project MERCATOR
No rest for the wicked. I hosted the gang on Tuesday night for a Psych marathon and to make preparations for our New Year's Eve extravaganza. Worlds collided when Ki-El joined us, becoming the first of my old comrades to meet the new crowd. I am sorry that this Christmas break has not been more productive for The Secret Base, but I've found it to be devilishly brief and passing at a heart-stopping pace. On my honor, Twenty-ten will be a better bloggy blogging year than was Aught-nine.
Tomorrow, of course, belongs exclusively to the aforementioned New Year's Eve extravaganza, about which I will report in as much detail as discretion allows, provided I survive. On Saturday, I am scheduled to see The Sardine; yippee!
The Banzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge
Day 3: The itchiness has begun, and it will get much, much worse before it gets better. Good news, The Impossible Ingenue thinks this is a terrible idea. Oh, wait… crumbs!
Banzai!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Sufjan Stevens, "Holy, Holy, Holy" from Songs for Christmas (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: "God in three Persons."
Dienstag, 29 Dezember
Duvall, "Joy to the World" from O Holy Night (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary-cum-Operation AXIOM: 29 December, the Feast Day of Saint Thomas Becket, martyred for his defense of the Church against the state's avarice.
No rest for the wicked. I hosted the gang on Tuesday night for a Psych marathon and to make preparations for our New Year's Eve extravaganza. Worlds collided when Ki-El joined us, becoming the first of my old comrades to meet the new crowd. I am sorry that this Christmas break has not been more productive for The Secret Base, but I've found it to be devilishly brief and passing at a heart-stopping pace. On my honor, Twenty-ten will be a better bloggy blogging year than was Aught-nine.
Tomorrow, of course, belongs exclusively to the aforementioned New Year's Eve extravaganza, about which I will report in as much detail as discretion allows, provided I survive. On Saturday, I am scheduled to see The Sardine; yippee!
The Banzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge
Day 3: The itchiness has begun, and it will get much, much worse before it gets better. Good news, The Impossible Ingenue thinks this is a terrible idea. Oh, wait… crumbs!
Banzai!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Sufjan Stevens, "Holy, Holy, Holy" from Songs for Christmas (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: "God in three Persons."
Dienstag, 29 Dezember
Duvall, "Joy to the World" from O Holy Night (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary-cum-Operation AXIOM: 29 December, the Feast Day of Saint Thomas Becket, martyred for his defense of the Church against the state's avarice.
Monday, December 28, 2009
The Loot
Presented in the same format in which my Christmas wish list was presented to my kin.
{Literature}
Charles Brooks, ed., Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2010 Edition
Charles Brooks, ed., Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2008 Edition
{Motion Pictures on D.V.D.}
Slumdog Millionaire (curiously, on Blu-ray disc, even though I don't have a Blu-ray player)
Ratatouille
Hook
{Television Series on D.V.D.}
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — The Complete Season One
Psych — The Complete First Season
Psych — The Complete Second Season
Psych — The Complete Third Season
{Music}
Reel Big Fish, Fame, Fortune, and Fornication (on compact disc)
Sufjan Stevens, Songs for Christmas (through the agency of an iTunes gift certificate)
{Miscellany}
Salami (which my mom refuses to make throughout the rest of the year)
Gift certificates to the Men's Wearhouse
Hallmark keepsake ornament — Luke Skywalker & Darth Vader's final duel aboard the Death Star II
Hallmark keepsake ornaments — Anakin Skywalker & Ahsoka Tano from The Clone Wars
Hallmark keepsake ornament - Iron Man (these are my dad's favorite things in the world to give)
Renewal of my subscription to National Review
AA batteries (even though I still have stockpiled AA's from many Christmases past)
candies of many stripes
cold, hard cash
* * * * *
a stocking full of coal (technically, charcoal) & a pair of panties from The Most Dangerous Game (she's an odd duck)
"something" from The Impossible Ingenue (she didn't have it at the gang's Christmas party on 22 Dezember, and I haven't seen her since, woe is me [text messaging every day isn't sufficient!])
The Bonzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge
Day 1: I shaved off my sideburns and imperial yesterday. I've trimmed my sideburns above the bottom of my ears before, but this is the first time I've been completely without them since I first grew them the summer after freshman year. I love my sideburns and I look bizarre without them; not dramatically different, but something small and nagging is clearly amiss. Pictures will be posted as soon as my dad emails them to me.
This second go-round of the Banzai Beard Bonanza is getting underway a month later than I intended. The main reason for suspending the start was Project PANDORA, the pursuit of The Impossible Ingenue and the brief, frustrating, and ultimately idiotic sideshow with The Other Woman. But you know what? The only way I'll ever win The Ingenue's heart is by being me, the best, truest version of me I can be. And I want to grow a beard; growing this beard has been five years in the making, since the first Banzai Beard Bonanza (and stand ready for some serious Wayback Machine action as we move forward). Hang on to your hats, this is going to suck. And this is going to be awesome. And then suck some more.
Banzai!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Barenaked Ladies, "I Saw Three Ships" from Barenaked For the Holidays (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Christmas music will continue throughout Christmastide.
Sonntag, 27 Dezember
Duvall, "Away in a Manger" from O Holy Night (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Seemed an apropos choice for the Feast of the Holy Family.
Samstag, 26 Dezember
Palooka-ville, "Triumph of the GoBots" from Falling Off the Doghouse (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Live on stage for one night only! The pride of the Grand Blanc music scene, together again after many moons! Ladies and gentlemen, the Aloha Lounge is proud to present the one, the only, the original, Palooka-ville!
Presented in the same format in which my Christmas wish list was presented to my kin.
{Literature}
Charles Brooks, ed., Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2010 Edition
Charles Brooks, ed., Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year—2008 Edition
{Motion Pictures on D.V.D.}
Slumdog Millionaire (curiously, on Blu-ray disc, even though I don't have a Blu-ray player)
Ratatouille
Hook
{Television Series on D.V.D.}
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — The Complete Season One
Psych — The Complete First Season
Psych — The Complete Second Season
Psych — The Complete Third Season
{Music}
Reel Big Fish, Fame, Fortune, and Fornication (on compact disc)
Sufjan Stevens, Songs for Christmas (through the agency of an iTunes gift certificate)
{Miscellany}
Salami (which my mom refuses to make throughout the rest of the year)
Gift certificates to the Men's Wearhouse
Hallmark keepsake ornament — Luke Skywalker & Darth Vader's final duel aboard the Death Star II
Hallmark keepsake ornaments — Anakin Skywalker & Ahsoka Tano from The Clone Wars
Hallmark keepsake ornament - Iron Man (these are my dad's favorite things in the world to give)
Renewal of my subscription to National Review
AA batteries (even though I still have stockpiled AA's from many Christmases past)
candies of many stripes
cold, hard cash
* * * * *
a stocking full of coal (technically, charcoal) & a pair of panties from The Most Dangerous Game (she's an odd duck)
"something" from The Impossible Ingenue (she didn't have it at the gang's Christmas party on 22 Dezember, and I haven't seen her since, woe is me [text messaging every day isn't sufficient!])
The Bonzai Beard Bonanza II: Bonsai's Revenge
Day 1: I shaved off my sideburns and imperial yesterday. I've trimmed my sideburns above the bottom of my ears before, but this is the first time I've been completely without them since I first grew them the summer after freshman year. I love my sideburns and I look bizarre without them; not dramatically different, but something small and nagging is clearly amiss. Pictures will be posted as soon as my dad emails them to me.
This second go-round of the Banzai Beard Bonanza is getting underway a month later than I intended. The main reason for suspending the start was Project PANDORA, the pursuit of The Impossible Ingenue and the brief, frustrating, and ultimately idiotic sideshow with The Other Woman. But you know what? The only way I'll ever win The Ingenue's heart is by being me, the best, truest version of me I can be. And I want to grow a beard; growing this beard has been five years in the making, since the first Banzai Beard Bonanza (and stand ready for some serious Wayback Machine action as we move forward). Hang on to your hats, this is going to suck. And this is going to be awesome. And then suck some more.
Banzai!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Barenaked Ladies, "I Saw Three Ships" from Barenaked For the Holidays (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Christmas music will continue throughout Christmastide.
Sonntag, 27 Dezember
Duvall, "Away in a Manger" from O Holy Night (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Seemed an apropos choice for the Feast of the Holy Family.
Samstag, 26 Dezember
Palooka-ville, "Triumph of the GoBots" from Falling Off the Doghouse (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Live on stage for one night only! The pride of the Grand Blanc music scene, together again after many moons! Ladies and gentlemen, the Aloha Lounge is proud to present the one, the only, the original, Palooka-ville!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Sufjan Stevens, "I Saw Three Ships" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)
Mittwoch, 23 Dezember
Billy Joel, "New York State of Mind" from Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Because Mr. Skeeter (ne Jimmy From Queens) thinks I'm a New Yorker at heart and cannot understand why I don't live there.
Dienstag, 22 Dezember
Brian d'Arcy James, "Michigan Christmas" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Because I woke up long before dawn broke to drive with my father to Cleveland so that he could purchase a "parts car," and having done so we then drove back to Michigan at a snail's pace because he didn't want to push his untested prize. And all the while I thought solely about getting back in time for my new friends' Christmas party, which turned out to be exactly as delightful as I'd hoped. All my joy on Tuesday was tied up in returning to sacred Michigan from baleful Ohio.
Montag, 21 Dezember
Catch 22, "Keasbey Nights" from Keasbey Nights (T.L.A.M)
Commentary: I saw The Loose Ties perform for the second time in four days, and, boy howdy, do they love playing their cover of "Keasbey Nights."
Sonntag, 20 Dezember
Susan Egan, "I'll Be Home For Christmas" from Winter Tracks (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: I wasn't home, I was in Ohio celebrating an early Christmas with my nephew Teddy and his folks (with whom reconciliation seems increasingly likely). But, by thunder, I'll be home for Christmas!
Samstag, 19 Dezember
Weezer, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" via iTunes, (free) Holiday Sampler (T.L.A.M.)
Sufjan Stevens, "I Saw Three Ships" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)
Mittwoch, 23 Dezember
Billy Joel, "New York State of Mind" from Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Because Mr. Skeeter (ne Jimmy From Queens) thinks I'm a New Yorker at heart and cannot understand why I don't live there.
Dienstag, 22 Dezember
Brian d'Arcy James, "Michigan Christmas" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Because I woke up long before dawn broke to drive with my father to Cleveland so that he could purchase a "parts car," and having done so we then drove back to Michigan at a snail's pace because he didn't want to push his untested prize. And all the while I thought solely about getting back in time for my new friends' Christmas party, which turned out to be exactly as delightful as I'd hoped. All my joy on Tuesday was tied up in returning to sacred Michigan from baleful Ohio.
Montag, 21 Dezember
Catch 22, "Keasbey Nights" from Keasbey Nights (T.L.A.M)
Commentary: I saw The Loose Ties perform for the second time in four days, and, boy howdy, do they love playing their cover of "Keasbey Nights."
Sonntag, 20 Dezember
Susan Egan, "I'll Be Home For Christmas" from Winter Tracks (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: I wasn't home, I was in Ohio celebrating an early Christmas with my nephew Teddy and his folks (with whom reconciliation seems increasingly likely). But, by thunder, I'll be home for Christmas!
Samstag, 19 Dezember
Weezer, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" via iTunes, (free) Holiday Sampler (T.L.A.M.)
Friday, December 18, 2009
Project MERCATOR
Tonight, my friend's band, The Loose Ties, played at a local watering hole, Woobie's Bar & Nightlife. I last saw The Loose Ties, an honest-to-Bog ska band, three weeks hence, at that selfsame Woobie's; then, a girl I'd just met formed a crush on me, leading to a tale that will eventually be told as "Project PANDORA: The Other Woman." This evening, I was returning from solo skanking in front of the stage to my group's table when a girl left the bar and drew up close to me. She asked in a low voice, "Do you like girls or boys?" I had not quite heard her and asked her to repeat the question.
She did and I answered, "I like girls." She returned to the bar and a moment later I sidled up behind her and whispered in her ear, smiling as I did so, "If that disappoints anybody, I'm sorry." Visual evidence of her ensuing conversation indicates the chap seated to her right had taken a fancy to me. Later, as I stood next to our table after another skanking sortie, this chap stood up and started to approach me before he was bodily intercepted by another of his fellows, who steered him back to the bar and spoke for some time into the chap's ear. The chap had clearly been imbibing to the point of impairment, but this was still, to my knowledge, the first time I was the object of a homosexual advance. In all frankness, yes, it was mildly flattering.
A girl the first time I skanked to the music of The Loose Ties at Woobie's, a guy the second time. I've seen and skanked to the music of The Loose Ties on two other occasions without receiving any offers; so, clearly the operative variable is Woobie's. At Woobie's, I am achick love magnet.
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the day
The Loose Ties, "Awesomer Than You" from the The Loose Ties E.P. (T.L.A.M.)
Tonight, my friend's band, The Loose Ties, played at a local watering hole, Woobie's Bar & Nightlife. I last saw The Loose Ties, an honest-to-Bog ska band, three weeks hence, at that selfsame Woobie's; then, a girl I'd just met formed a crush on me, leading to a tale that will eventually be told as "Project PANDORA: The Other Woman." This evening, I was returning from solo skanking in front of the stage to my group's table when a girl left the bar and drew up close to me. She asked in a low voice, "Do you like girls or boys?" I had not quite heard her and asked her to repeat the question.
She did and I answered, "I like girls." She returned to the bar and a moment later I sidled up behind her and whispered in her ear, smiling as I did so, "If that disappoints anybody, I'm sorry." Visual evidence of her ensuing conversation indicates the chap seated to her right had taken a fancy to me. Later, as I stood next to our table after another skanking sortie, this chap stood up and started to approach me before he was bodily intercepted by another of his fellows, who steered him back to the bar and spoke for some time into the chap's ear. The chap had clearly been imbibing to the point of impairment, but this was still, to my knowledge, the first time I was the object of a homosexual advance. In all frankness, yes, it was mildly flattering.
A girl the first time I skanked to the music of The Loose Ties at Woobie's, a guy the second time. I've seen and skanked to the music of The Loose Ties on two other occasions without receiving any offers; so, clearly the operative variable is Woobie's. At Woobie's, I am a
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the day
The Loose Ties, "Awesomer Than You" from the The Loose Ties E.P. (T.L.A.M.)
Thursday, December 17, 2009
The L.A.W. and the as-yet-not-codenamed Natalie went home today, and both are reported by Brother-in-L.A.W., always a more open communicator than my sister, to be doing well. My mother, unsurprisingly, is pleased as punch, as are, it must be said, we all. Natalie's a Festivus miracle!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Stephen Colbert, "Another Christmas Song" via iTunes, (free) Holiday Sampler (T.L.A.M.)
Mittwoch, 16 Dezember
Susan Egan, "Little Colored Lights" from Winter Tracks (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"It's kind of funny, they're only light bulbs,
Strung around a window or a doorway or a tree,
But those light bulbs, those little light bulbs
Shine with more than just the light we see."
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Wilson
Welcome to the world, Natalie, Uncle Mike already loves you! Also, remember, Uncle Mike is your favorite!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
The Killers, "Believe Me Natalie" from Hot Fuss (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The only "Natalie" song I have.
Montag, 14 Dezember
Jimmy Buffett, "Christmas in the Caribbean" courtesy of The Watergirl (The Watergirl)
Commentary: "Got everything but snow." Sounds hellish.
Welcome to the world, Natalie, Uncle Mike already loves you! Also, remember, Uncle Mike is your favorite!
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
The Killers, "Believe Me Natalie" from Hot Fuss (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: The only "Natalie" song I have.
Montag, 14 Dezember
Jimmy Buffett, "Christmas in the Caribbean" courtesy of The Watergirl (The Watergirl)
Commentary: "Got everything but snow." Sounds hellish.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Wilson
As I type these lines my pregnant sister, The L.A.W., is being induced into labor, five days before her baby, the still gender-unknown "Junior" was "due." I will report again as soon as I have news, God willing that mother and baby are in tip-top shape and resting comfortably.
Max, Benjamin, Paul, or Henry? Molly, Rachel, Natalie, or Sonia?
As I type these lines my pregnant sister, The L.A.W., is being induced into labor, five days before her baby, the still gender-unknown "Junior" was "due." I will report again as soon as I have news, God willing that mother and baby are in tip-top shape and resting comfortably.
Max, Benjamin, Paul, or Henry? Molly, Rachel, Natalie, or Sonia?
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Meaghan Smith, "It Snowed" via iTunes, (free) Holiday Sampler (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: It didn't actually snow Saturday night, it was more of a murderous freezing rain, but I was able successfully to navigate my way home from The Impossible Ingenue & The Most Dangerous Game's house, where the usual suspects watched The Ugly Truth (ugly doesn't begin to describe it) and Pretty Woman (pretty fair).
"And when the Sun dips out of sight,
We'll cozy up together by the fireside.
And just before we close our eyes
Wish upon a star it snows again tonight."
Meaghan Smith, "It Snowed" via iTunes, (free) Holiday Sampler (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: It didn't actually snow Saturday night, it was more of a murderous freezing rain, but I was able successfully to navigate my way home from The Impossible Ingenue & The Most Dangerous Game's house, where the usual suspects watched The Ugly Truth (ugly doesn't begin to describe it) and Pretty Woman (pretty fair).
"And when the Sun dips out of sight,
We'll cozy up together by the fireside.
And just before we close our eyes
Wish upon a star it snows again tonight."
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Project PANDORA
Great Bird of the Galaxy, The Impossible Ingenue is a fan of Invader ZIM! Raise your glasses, here's to serendipity.
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Great Big Sea, "Come and I Will Sing You" courtesy of The Watergirl (The Watergirl, for reals)
Freitag, 11 Dezember
Barenaked Ladies, "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah" from Barenaked For the Holidays (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: On the occasion of the beginning of Hanukkah. Bit of a non sequitur: Hi, my name is Mike Wilson and I am proud to be a Zionist.
Great Bird of the Galaxy, The Impossible Ingenue is a fan of Invader ZIM! Raise your glasses, here's to serendipity.
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Great Big Sea, "Come and I Will Sing You" courtesy of The Watergirl (The Watergirl, for reals)
Freitag, 11 Dezember
Barenaked Ladies, "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah" from Barenaked For the Holidays (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: On the occasion of the beginning of Hanukkah. Bit of a non sequitur: Hi, my name is Mike Wilson and I am proud to be a Zionist.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Explorers Club
No. CLVIII - The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Part III: The Great Pyramid of Giza.
Obamboozled
It is a farce that President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, but credit where credit is due, his acceptance speech—at least the parts I heard—was the finest I've ever heard our charlatan president deliver. Alas, pretty words do not wise and courageous policy make.
Welcome to the parade of horrors. Seen enough yet?
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Tanya Donelly, "The Night You Saved My Life" via iTunes (Mrs. Skeeter)
Commentary: The title, "The Night You Saved My Life," reminds me so much of the last line of a short story, "Lifeguard," I wrote a decade back, in a creative writing class: "Come on, Happy, save my life."
Plus, back to Donelly, "Every day brings a new breed of jackass."
No. CLVIII - The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Part III: The Great Pyramid of Giza.
Obamboozled
It is a farce that President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, but credit where credit is due, his acceptance speech—at least the parts I heard—was the finest I've ever heard our charlatan president deliver. Alas, pretty words do not wise and courageous policy make.
Welcome to the parade of horrors. Seen enough yet?
The Rebel Black Dot Song of the Day
Tanya Donelly, "The Night You Saved My Life" via iTunes (Mrs. Skeeter)
Commentary: The title, "The Night You Saved My Life," reminds me so much of the last line of a short story, "Lifeguard," I wrote a decade back, in a creative writing class: "Come on, Happy, save my life."
Plus, back to Donelly, "Every day brings a new breed of jackass."
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Project MERCATOR
Think you can't inadvertently spent a night out on the town? Guess again. You can fall into these things like a tiger trap. A pleasant tiger trap, mind you, but the simile was always meant to play up the ambush angle anyway.
Tonight was supposed to be a big bloggy blogging night, a night to get caught up and explain what's been on my mind lately. Tomorrow, I devoutly hope. The Secret Base was never meant to be a casualty of MERCATOR.
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "Laser Show" from Utopia Parkway (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Why? Because someone mentioned the laser show tonight at dessert. It's just that easy!
Montag, 7 Dezember
They Might Be Giants, "Bed Bed Bed" from No! (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: I fell asleep on Monday a little after ten o'clock, having gotten about forty-five minutes of restless sleep the previous night. 'Twas one part socialization and two parts schoolwork (and mine own sloth toward same) that kept me up so early.
Sonntag, 6 Dezember
American Hi-Fi, "Flavor of the Weak" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"Her boyfriend, he don't know,
Anything about her.
He's too stoned, Nintendo,
I wish that I could make her see."
Samstag, 5 Dezember
The Blues Brothers, "Expressway to Your Heart" from The Definitive Collection (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"I been tryin' to get to you for a long time,
'Cause constantly you've been on my mind.
I was thinkin' about a short cut that I could take,
But I found I made a mistake.
I was wrong, it took too long.
I got caught in a rush hour,
Fellas started to shower
You with love and affection,
Now you won't look in my direction.
I need an expressway to your heart!
That expressway,
That's the best way."
I'm ready, I just can't seem to find the on ramp to the expressway to The Impossible Ingenue's heart.
Freitag, 4 Dezember
The Articles, "Blue Monk" from Flip F'real (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: On the occasion of the series finale of Monk, "Mr. Monk and the End, Part II." My thanks to all those who made Monk such a great show lo these many wonderful years.
Think you can't inadvertently spent a night out on the town? Guess again. You can fall into these things like a tiger trap. A pleasant tiger trap, mind you, but the simile was always meant to play up the ambush angle anyway.
Tonight was supposed to be a big bloggy blogging night, a night to get caught up and explain what's been on my mind lately. Tomorrow, I devoutly hope. The Secret Base was never meant to be a casualty of MERCATOR.
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Fountains of Wayne, "Laser Show" from Utopia Parkway (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: Why? Because someone mentioned the laser show tonight at dessert. It's just that easy!
Montag, 7 Dezember
They Might Be Giants, "Bed Bed Bed" from No! (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: I fell asleep on Monday a little after ten o'clock, having gotten about forty-five minutes of restless sleep the previous night. 'Twas one part socialization and two parts schoolwork (and mine own sloth toward same) that kept me up so early.
Sonntag, 6 Dezember
American Hi-Fi, "Flavor of the Weak" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"Her boyfriend, he don't know,
Anything about her.
He's too stoned, Nintendo,
I wish that I could make her see."
Samstag, 5 Dezember
The Blues Brothers, "Expressway to Your Heart" from The Definitive Collection (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"I been tryin' to get to you for a long time,
'Cause constantly you've been on my mind.
I was thinkin' about a short cut that I could take,
But I found I made a mistake.
I was wrong, it took too long.
I got caught in a rush hour,
Fellas started to shower
You with love and affection,
Now you won't look in my direction.
I need an expressway to your heart!
That expressway,
That's the best way."
I'm ready, I just can't seem to find the on ramp to the expressway to The Impossible Ingenue's heart.
Freitag, 4 Dezember
The Articles, "Blue Monk" from Flip F'real (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary: On the occasion of the series finale of Monk, "Mr. Monk and the End, Part II." My thanks to all those who made Monk such a great show lo these many wonderful years.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
I'm sorry for the sporadic posts and general lack of content, dear readers, these old bones are as weary as the day is long. I'm going to bed directly after publishing this.
Project MERCATOR
So far past expectations has MERCATOR succeeded, so much the social butterfly have I become, that a night like tonight, with no phone calls or text messages, no high-jinks into the wee hours of the morning, fills me with a peculiar kind of dread. Like something great is happening and I'm missing it, or something awful is happening and I'm not there to stop it. Like this new life is so terribly fragile that one missed opportunity might plunge me back into my former solitude, never again to emerge. However did this happen to me, misanthropic, misfit me?
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Barenaked Ladies, "It's All Been Done" from Stunt (The Watergirl, sort of)
Mittwoch, 2 Dezember
Less Than Jake, "She's Gonna Break Soon" from Anthem (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"It's the boys in bars on Friday night
That replace the emptiness inside."
Project MERCATOR
So far past expectations has MERCATOR succeeded, so much the social butterfly have I become, that a night like tonight, with no phone calls or text messages, no high-jinks into the wee hours of the morning, fills me with a peculiar kind of dread. Like something great is happening and I'm missing it, or something awful is happening and I'm not there to stop it. Like this new life is so terribly fragile that one missed opportunity might plunge me back into my former solitude, never again to emerge. However did this happen to me, misanthropic, misfit me?
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Barenaked Ladies, "It's All Been Done" from Stunt (The Watergirl, sort of)
Mittwoch, 2 Dezember
Less Than Jake, "She's Gonna Break Soon" from Anthem (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"It's the boys in bars on Friday night
That replace the emptiness inside."
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Project PANDORA
I have spent significant time with The Impossible Ingenue every day since Thanksgiving, with lunch scheduled for Wednesday and our second swing dance lesson for Friday. I am so taken with her it's ridiculous.
The Impossible Ingenue & The Last Angry Man at his second Thanksgiving dinner.
And, no, this isn't the out-of-left-field PANDORA news alluded to on Sunday. No time to detail that now.
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Barenaked Ladies, "In the Car" from Stunt (T.L.A.M.)
Montag, 30 November
They Might Be Giants, "Take Out the Trash" from The Else (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"Girl, why not take out the trash?
And once you get him out,
Tell him not to come back again.
Girl, put that cat in the bin,
After what he said,
After everything he did.
You had him figured out a while ago,
And I know it's not exactly breaking news.
But it's all been a little like a trial for you
And a bunch more talking won't make him true."
A bunch more talking won't make him true.
I have spent significant time with The Impossible Ingenue every day since Thanksgiving, with lunch scheduled for Wednesday and our second swing dance lesson for Friday. I am so taken with her it's ridiculous.
The Impossible Ingenue & The Last Angry Man at his second Thanksgiving dinner.
And, no, this isn't the out-of-left-field PANDORA news alluded to on Sunday. No time to detail that now.
The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the Day
Barenaked Ladies, "In the Car" from Stunt (T.L.A.M.)
Montag, 30 November
They Might Be Giants, "Take Out the Trash" from The Else (T.L.A.M.)
Commentary:
"Girl, why not take out the trash?
And once you get him out,
Tell him not to come back again.
Girl, put that cat in the bin,
After what he said,
After everything he did.
You had him figured out a while ago,
And I know it's not exactly breaking news.
But it's all been a little like a trial for you
And a bunch more talking won't make him true."
A bunch more talking won't make him true.
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