Discussion Question: Xmas Edition

You've just won the lottery.

What's the FIRST thing you buy?

A Public Service Announcement

If you have strong emotional attachment to a dog or dogs, consider yourself a "dog person" or a "dog lover" I strongly recommend that you not repeat NOT see the movie "I am Legend".

It is an excellent film. It is very powerful. The writing, direction, cinematography, and acting are all remarkable. I wish I could un-see it.

I will not post details here due to spoiler issues. If you want to know, get in touch with me via a more private medium.

I'm Ready for the Public School System...

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Thanks to the good folks at A Day in the Life of an Ambulance Driver for the link.

A Funny Thing Happened at the Office...

We had a tough night at work the other day, which wasn't made any easier by a particular brand-new rookie. It was hard to get frustrated with her though, because she was obviously trying very hard and doing her best.

So at the end of the shift, I mentioned in passing that I appreciated how hard she had worked. No big deal, right?

Turns out she's a friend-of-a-friend, just out of school, and terrified that she's going to screw up. It gets back to me that my words of encouragement were incredibly appreciated and she's been all cheerful and not thinking she can't hack it and stuff.

People are starting to take things I say seriously.

This is scary.

Because You Demanded It...

...even if you didn't. After a delay caused by me forgetting the pictures were at CVS followed by me being too damn lazy, here's some pics from Fish 'n' Chips:

The view from the cabin:

Shawn demonstrates his mastery of the piscatorial art:

I call this one "The Three Stooges":

Another Discussion Question

Assuming both are not possible, would you rather be loved or respected?

Poorly-Written Algorithms

I've been listening to Pandora a lot lately--one of those online radio stations where you tell it the names of a few bands you like, and it plays stuff it thinks you'll enjoy.

Or not.

I was trying to put together a hard chick-rock station...Bands like The Donnas, The Eyeliners, Lita Ford, Blowtorch Betty, etc...Girls that could kick all our asses.

So what does the computer come back with?

"Eternal Flame" by The Bangles. Arguably they gayest non-Morrisey song ever.

I've been reading a lot of Questionable Content lately. Does it show?

This Amused Me

The back story's too long to relate, but the punchline speaks for itself:

Drunk College Boy: Perhaps not the wisest decision, but a good decision nonetheless.

Drunk Redneck: Where I come from, whe just shorten that sentence to "WOO!".

Amusing Quote of the Moment

From the good folks at Foreign Policy:

"visitors to Paris should expect more than...rude staff"

HUH? I thought that's why people go to Paris.

Well That Was Unexpected

Famous stuntman legend and self-described "explorer" Evel Knievel died yesterday of...old age. Anybody who grew up in the '70's will find this rather surprising, as we all thought he had died several times during his stunt career. Not the case. He retired several years ago due to being "nothing but a mass of scar tissue and surgical steel" (which sounds like a line from a techno-country song) but apparently kept busy in his later years:

Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel

October 17, 1938-November 30, 2007