tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154313292011-07-28T16:20:30.462-04:00Because Attention Deficit Affects 1 InAJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.comBlogger3311100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-51740025010732425502010-08-30T18:02:00.002-04:002010-08-30T18:49:24.615-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/THwsMz8ClpI/AAAAAAAAA_c/HCVKrVCoVSw/s1600/my+mazda5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511328642606732946" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/THwsMz8ClpI/AAAAAAAAA_c/HCVKrVCoVSw/s320/my+mazda5.jpg" /></a> It was a somber day of sorts. The lease on my Mazda was up and we took the more budget conscious option of returning the vehicle without replacing it. I knew the time was coming and I was not crazy about it but otherwise fine. Money's tight. It had to be done. I cleaned it up and I was doing okay. That is, until I had to remove my Spock's Beard and Frost* window clings. For whatever reason, at that precise moment, it hit me. I didn't love it as much as my Pacifica, but liked the car enough to lease it two years ago. Prepping it for inspection, though, I was sad. I'd grown attached to my little car and didn't even know it.<br /><br />We could have kept it, but it didn't make fiscal sense, really. I drove it less than 500 miles a month. It would have been a difficult burden to bear. I just couldn't justify it. And now, for the first time in 15 years, we're a one car household again. It's temporary. Possibly very temporary. In the meantime, it's not like we don't have a perfectly good car. But, at least for now, it's weird. A whole lot of feeling stranded weird.<br /><br />Nothing stuffing myself with pizza can't solve. Tonight, anyway.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5174002501073242550?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-91458166972957658412010-06-03T16:06:00.003-04:002010-06-03T17:36:29.580-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/TAgLi3M8fQI/AAAAAAAAA_M/eKXlyBJZ5XQ/s1600/keyboard+pc.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478641640257912066" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/TAgLi3M8fQI/AAAAAAAAA_M/eKXlyBJZ5XQ/s320/keyboard+pc.jpg" /></a> Last fall I entered my first screenwriting competition. Pretty bold (or dumb, depending on how you look at it), considering I hadn't written anything in months and I don't have a completed script to shop. I missed the first round cut by 2 points, but it was a fun experience. Despite my lack of finished product, I didn't hesitate to enter again when the Spring edition of the contest rolled around in April. The first round results were posted last month. This time I made the cut.<br /><br />I am officially a finalist. Before I let that sound too impressive, it should be noted that I share that designation with 107 others. There were over 1,400 entries, though, so top 7% isn't bad when you consider I was up against people who live and breathe this stuff, people with IMDb credits, filmmakers (one guy made one of those Burger King Freak Out commercials) and winners of other major contests. I really had no business being in this competition.<br /><br />I felt my second entry was stronger than my first, but you never know which judge you'll get, so I spent the past week yo-yoing between 'I could be in the top 10' and 'I'm probably in the middle somewhere.' Well, the second round results were just posted, the top 12 receiving prizes of some kind and the top 3 receiving cash. Alas, I did not make the top 12. Technically, I tied for 13th. It was a mild disappointment, like buying $10 in Powerball tickets and realizing you only have the Powerball and nothing else.<br /><br />Regardless of the outcome, I can now add 'screenwriting competition finalist' to my list of writing accomplishments. More importantly than that, though, I proved to myself that I do have the talent to do this. And if I needed a boost to get back to writing, I sure got it. Of course, reading about the state of the feature film screenwriting market is a depressing exercise, but they say the demand for television writers is up. Just by coincidence, the same day I read that, I got an e-mail about a contest to write an original pilot for a comedy on SpikeTV. I'm strongly considering giving it a shot. If you know me, then you know how funny that is. If you don't know me, I... uh... don't watch Spike and don't get along well with people who do. But, I do have some great ideas for a show their audience will love, tentatively titled, "Idiot." Somehow I think my chances of winning just improved.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-9145816697295765841?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-60018011612021532192010-05-19T19:34:00.003-04:002010-05-19T20:16:08.756-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/S_R2SK-eqFI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/zLM_s_Ochv0/s1600/event+pr+photo.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 197px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473129501718128722" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/S_R2SK-eqFI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/zLM_s_Ochv0/s200/event+pr+photo.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">The Event</span><br /><br /><div align="left">Fall TV is just 4 months away. Time once again to see what's when and where on the big 4 networks. Most notable moves are Big Bang Theory to Thursdays and Glee to Tuesday at 8:00. I'm sad to see Human Target moved to Fridays, as that usually means it's done, but at least they didn't cancel it after one season, which is more than I can say for Flash Forward. Hopefully filling its stylistic shoes is NBC's "The Event," a conspiracy thriller starring Blair Underwood and Jason Ritter. JJ Abrams' "Undercovers" would just seem to be a tamer, small screen "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," but it's Abrams, so it could do well. I have hopes for Michael Chiklis' "No Ordinary Family" and William Shatner's Twitter-inspired comedy "$#*! My Dad Says." I expect "Outsourced" to be among the first of the new crop to go, but we'll see. Monday looks to be an all-out battle, but my DV-R doesn't much care who wins.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">SUNDAY</span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">8:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition</div><div align="left">CBS - The Amazing Race</div><div align="left">NBC - Sunday Night Football</div><div align="left">FOX - The Simpsons</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">8:30</span></div><div align="left">FOX - The Cleveland Show</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">9:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - Desperate Housewives</div><div align="left">CBS - Undercover Boss</div><div align="left">FOX - Family Guy</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">9:30</span></div><div align="left">FOX - American Dad</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">10:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - Brothers and Sisters</div><div align="left">CBS - CSI: Miami</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">MONDAY</span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">8:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - Dancing with the Stars</div><div align="left">CBS - How I Met Your Mother</div><div align="left">NBC - Chuck</div><div align="left">FOX - House</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">8:30</span></div><div align="left">CBS - Rules of Engagement</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">9:00</span></div><div align="left">CBS - Two and a Half Men</div><div align="left">NBC - The Event</div><div align="left">FOX - Lonestar</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">9:30</span></div><div align="left">CBS - Mike &amp; Molly</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">10:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - Castle</div><div align="left">CBS - Hawaii Five-O</div><div align="left">NBC - Chase</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">TUESDAY</span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">8:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - No Ordinary Family</div><div align="left">CBS - NCIS</div><div align="left">NBC - The Biggest Loser</div><div align="left">FOX - Glee</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">9:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - Dancing with the Stars: Results Show</div><div align="left">CBS - NCIS: Los Angeles</div><div align="left">FOX - Raising Hope</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">9:30</span></div><div align="left">FOX - Running Wilde</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">10:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - Detroit 1-8-7</div><div align="left">CBS - The Good Wife</div><div align="left">NBC - Parenthood</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">WEDNESDAY</span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">8:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - The Middle</div><div align="left">CBS - Survivor</div><div align="left">NBC - Undercovers</div><div align="left">FOX - Lie to Me</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">8:30</span></div><div align="left">ABC - Better Together</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">9:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - Modern Family</div><div align="left">CBS - Criminal Minds</div><div align="left">NBC - Law &amp; Order: SVU</div><div align="left">FOX - Hell's Kitchen</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">9:30</span></div><div align="left">ABC - Cougar Town</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">10:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - The Whole Truth</div><div align="left">CBS - The Defenders</div><div align="left">NBC - Law &amp; Order: Los Angeles</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">THURSDAY</span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">8:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - My Generation</div><div align="left">CBS - Big Bang Theory</div><div align="left">NBC - Community</div><div align="left">FOX - Bones</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">8:30</span></div><div align="left">CBS - $#*! My Dad Says</div><div align="left">NBC - 30 Rock</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">9:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - Grey's Anatomy</div><div align="left">CBS - CSI</div><div align="left">NBC - The Office</div><div align="left">FOX - Fringe</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">9:30</span></div><div align="left">NBC - Outsourced</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">10:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - Private Practice</div><div align="left">CBS - The Mentalist</div><div align="left">NBC - Love Bites</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">FRIDAY</span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">8:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - Secret Millionaire</div><div align="left">CBS - Medium</div><div align="left">NBC - Who Do You Think You Are</div><div align="left">FOX - Human Target</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">9:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - Body of Proof</div><div align="left">CBS - CSI: NY</div><div align="left">NBC - Dateline</div><div align="left">FOX - The Good Guys</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">10:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - 20/20</div><div align="left">CBS - Blue Bloods</div><div align="left">NBC - Outlaw</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">SATURDAY</span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">8:00</span></div><div align="left">ABC - College Football</div><div align="left">CBS - Crimetime Saturday</div><div align="left">NBC - Encores (reruns)</div><div align="left">FOX - COPS</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">8:30</span></div><div align="left">FOX - COPS</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">9:00</span></div><div align="left">CBS - Crimetime Saturday</div><div align="left">FOX - America's Most Wanted</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ff9900;">10:00</span></div><div align="left">CBS - 48 Hours</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-6001801161202153219?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-12647135372553722552010-05-01T14:06:00.007-04:002010-05-08T09:14:20.655-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/S9xvqrDu_XI/AAAAAAAAA-I/qJUZ3J-TagQ/s1600/will+owsley.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466366826624515442" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/S9xvqrDu_XI/AAAAAAAAA-I/qJUZ3J-TagQ/s320/will+owsley.jpg" /></a> You've probably heard of Amy Grant, Shania Twain, Kenny Loggins, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers. Heck, you may even know who Ben Folds is. What about Will Owsley? No? Ok, some of you out there may know of him, but for most of the world he's not a household name. And that's what adds to the sadness in hearing the news that he committed suicide last night.<br /><br />Will Owsley made his musical mark largely under the radar of the public, having played in Amy Grant's band for years. This led to other high profile gigs playing and singing with Shania Twain on TV appearances and, more recently, with Kenny Loggins. But, while Owsley established himself in Nashville, he wasn't a country artist. The Anniston, Alabama native grew up teaching himself Eddie Van Halen guitar solos by ear and in the early '90s formed the power pop band, The Semantics, with Millard Powers and Ben Folds (on drums, of all things). Folds left to form the Ben Folds Five and was replaced by Zak Starkey, son of Ringo Starr. With their debut album recorded, the record company decided the shelve it. The album, "Powerbill," was eventually released in Japan and was well-received by critics, but without label backing the album went nowhere and band split up.<br /><br />Will and Millard joined Amy Grant's touring band and Owsley managed to save enough to record his first solo album. The record, simply titled, "Owsley," was released in 1999 and, with his Cars and Wings influences evident, was heralded by power pop fans, but still failed to gain him deserved notariety. Never the less, the album garnered Owsley a Grammy nomination for Engineering.<br /><br />Owsley contributed a song to The Cars tribute album, "Substitution Mass Confusion," and also recorded a faithful cover of Wings' "Band On The Run" for a Paul McCartney tribute.<br /><br />He returned to his bread and butter gig with Grant and five long years passed before the release of his second album, "The Hard Way," in 2004. The title track was featured in the failed Rob Lowe series "Dr. Vegas." Again, despite critical acclaim, the album didn't catch on. His cover of "Band on the Run" turned up on "The Hard Way" as a hidden bonus track. Owsley then, attempting to embrace the future of music, joined Universal Music Digital, becoming one of the first artists to be signed to an all digital deal. He would release double A-side digital singles to outlets such as iTunes. The first of these was "Psycho"/"Upside Down." It was also the last. Other songs were known to have been completed, but never released. I asked him about this in an online chat a few years ago and he confirmed he had more material ready, but had to continue earning a paycheck elsewhere to support his family, including an autistic son.<br /><br />In recent years, Owsley became a session musician for Disney, where he co-wrote, played guitar and sang on the albums of several teen sensations, such as Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and The Jonas Brothers. He played the mandolin that strums through most of Miley's "7 Things."<br /><br />Owsley co-wrote a song with Amy Grant and Vince Gill with the intent to sell the demo for another artist to rerecord. It hasn't turned up yet as far as I know, but Owsley's demo for the song, called "<a href="http://www.konfrst.net/toopoppy/when_lonely_comes_around.mp3">When Lonely Comes Around</a>," was leaked and is, at the moment, Owsley's swan song. Though, in light of his passing, I have a feeling his unreleased material will surface.<br /><br />As an artist, Will Owsley was a much underappreciated pop rock genius. I'm still in disbelief that he's gone. He will be greatly missed.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-1264713537255372255?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-18413395417671168232010-03-25T11:28:00.007-04:002010-03-25T11:48:30.203-04:00While I've admired Ben Folds for years, I've, oddly, never actually bought anything by him. In his brilliance, he blended Chat Roulette, the new social media choice of sexual deviants, with musical improv and, under the nom de plume of Merton, has produced <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbgxA9WfwFQ">this simple, yet incredibly entertaining video</a>. <p></p><p>*WARNING: There is some profanity, so, you know, be mindful of that if you are at work, in the company of small children, the easily offended, or, by some weird coincidence, employed by easily offended small children.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-1841339541767116823?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-10800666527891689772010-03-12T11:13:00.003-05:002010-03-12T12:11:53.176-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/S5poVxHWh4I/AAAAAAAAA-A/UXQ5nve07bk/s1600-h/jagger.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 156px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447781422428751746" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/S5poVxHWh4I/AAAAAAAAA-A/UXQ5nve07bk/s320/jagger.jpg" /></a> Heaven help me, for some reason I've gotten sucked into American Idol again this season. This is not a good thing. For one, I hate that the people behind the show build up the hopes and dreams of wannabe singers only to dispose of them just in time for the next season. For two, talent in the contestant pool this time around is incredibly thin, the worst in recent memory.<br /><br />I have, however, taken a liking to five of them, all of whom have survived to the top 12. Among them, Michael Lynche, Casey James, Siobhan Magnus, Katie Stevens and, begrundgingly, the very talented but hard to watch, Crystal Bowersox. The rest, well, they can go home at any time. It's downright ugly on the Idol stage for most of the finalists as Aaron, Didi and Tim repeatedly butcher their songs week after week.<br /><br />Now that we've reached the top 12, we enter the Idol version of the Twilight Zone, known as theme weeks. Here we take singers of varying genre specialties and make them sing songs from bands and artists they may not know nor like. The judges have been chiding 17 year old cutie Katie Stevens to sing songs that are more age appropriate. They make this an impossible mission by forcing her to choose a song by a band that is older than her grandparents, The Rolling Stones. Somehow I doubt any of the top 12 even own a Rolling Stones CD. Song selection is crucial, of course, and can mean the difference between going home and joining the incredibly sad DeFranco Family Variety Hour national touring show.<br /><br />Given the daunting task of choosing a Rolling Stones song for next week's show, I thought I'd make things a little easier for the remaining hopefuls and offer my two cents. Therefore, here are my song suggestions:<br /><br />Aaron - "Honky Tonk Women"<br />He's got that nasally twang thing goin' on. This could work to his advantage on this song.<br /><br />Andrew - "Sympathy For The Devil"<br />Come up with some fancy chords on your acoustic guitar and couple it with those smooth Latin vocals and make the judges shut up about the whole "Straight Up" thing.<br /><br />Casey - "Saint Of Me"<br />Saint of what? Sure, no one's going to be able to sing along, but it fits his style and vocal and should be strong enough to keep him around.<br /><br />Crystal - "You Can't Always Get What You Want"<br />Much as I don't want her around, there's no denying her Joplin-esque vocal suits Stones week so well it's almost unfair. She could do just about any song. She's too strong to fail here.<br /><br />Didi - "Gimme Shelter"<br />It doesn't really matter what Didi sings this week. She's on borrowed time, but if she can up her performance a notch, she should still be around next week.<br /><br />Katie - "Live With Me"<br />Katie's R&amp;B leaning makes this week especially difficult, but listen to the live version of this song featuring Christina Aguilera and this lesser known song could finally earn her the accolades she deserves.<br /><br />Lacey - "Wild Horses"<br />With her ubersoft delivery, there aren't many Stones songs she can pull off, but a solid rendition of this classic is sure to secure her spot.<br /><br />Lee - "Jumpin' Jack Flash"<br />The judges seem to be oblivious to Lee's pitch problems. He could hide them here with a heavy rock performance.<br /><br />Michael - "Almost Hear You Sigh"<br />Facing a major genre conflict, Big Mike could and should give the Maxwell treatment to this minor hit and bring the house down.<br /><br />Paige - "Rain Fall Down"<br />I'm sure many of the contestants will choose popular songs, but unless you've got the chops, hits should be avoided at all costs. I'm not sure anything can save Paige, but this tune suits her voice and could give her the opportunity she needs to redeem herself.<br /><br />Siobhan - "Emotional Rescue"<br />Quirky, but powerful Siobhan could light the phones up with this one. With its Prince-ly falsetto, it's one of only a handful of Jagger vocals that actually fall in a female register. She should skip the falsetto and sing the hell out of it. She's probably the only one who can pull this one off.<br /><br />Tim - "Angie"<br />How this guy made the top 12 is a head scratcher, but he's still here. Rock doesn't suit him. Staring into the camera with his sad eyes and goofy lips is his thing. Ballad for you.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-1080066652789168977?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-45372773460869647662010-02-19T11:16:00.002-05:002010-02-19T12:48:16.558-05:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/S365qm40IVI/AAAAAAAAA94/q3Gp0Gqb3eM/s1600-h/matthew+perry.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 169px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439989541554626898" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/S365qm40IVI/AAAAAAAAA94/q3Gp0Gqb3eM/s200/matthew+perry.jpg" /></a> It's pilot season at the major networks, more crucial this year at NBC due to the sudden need for 5 hours of programming at 10pm with the loss of The Jay Leno Show. As such, the Big Three (NBC, ABC &amp; CBS) have ordered a total of 60 pilots, a handful of which will get series orders in May.<br /><br />What's (already) disappointing is the lack of creativity in the concepts of these potential shows. True, a vague premise can only evoke so much interest and there's bound to be a winner or two among them, but that doesn't offset the fact that of 31 drama pilots, 17 are centered on law enforcement agencies and detectives (including some who solve crimes with unique observational skills - what a novel idea), 4 are legal dramas and 2 medical. What a relief! We hardly have ANY shows like that!<br /><br />What we can look forward to are shows like "Mr. Sunshine," a sitcom starring Matthew Perry, Andrea Anders and Allison Janney; "No Ordinary Family," a drama about the home life of a family of superheroes (think "The Incredibles") starring Michael Chiklis; Matthew Broderick takes a stab at the small screen. Most of the comedy pilots center on families. In a sea of "same old, same old" sitcom set-ups, cast and writing will determine success. ABC seems to have the lead on interesting new sitcoms, while CBS is developing no less than 8 law enforcement/detective dramas. NBC, sadly, doesn't seem to have anything noteworthy in the pipeline and they need a hit more than anyone. We'll see what rises to the top in a few months when the networks pitch to the advertisers. Until then, hope for the best, but keep your expectations low.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/S365jud5M4I/AAAAAAAAA9w/5ta-NTTNi20/s1600-h/matthew+perry.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-4537277346086964766?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-55720549484072367052010-02-16T11:59:00.002-05:002010-02-16T12:50:50.611-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/S3rO9yqi78I/AAAAAAAAA9o/COzr8zyTcXo/s1600-h/florida+snow.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438887060970860482" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/S3rO9yqi78I/AAAAAAAAA9o/COzr8zyTcXo/s200/florida+snow.jpg" /></a> Winter in Florida. I've experienced 17 of them. As I've stated from time to time, I have ample wardrobe to handle cooler temps and welcome a long Florida version of a "cold" snap. Every year I beg for a longer winter here. This year I finally got my wish. Like most of the country, Florida has had a record setting season, including snow in some areas for the first time in 30 years.<br /><br />A typical Tampa winter consists of low temperatures near freezing for 2-3 weeks, then highs climbing back into the 70s and 80s. This time around, we've had weeks and months with average highs in the 50s, several freezes, actual wind chills and days of gray skies like I haven't seen since leaving New York.<br /><br />Some blame our weather on Global Warming, some think it's just a once in a lifetime freak season. Me, while I absolutely believe in Global Warming, I'm in the El Niño camp on this one. I suppose Global Warming could be influencing the intensity of El Niño, but I don't really care what the reason is. I'm just glad to have a real winter for a change.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5572054948407236705?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-48786127433038518132009-12-31T10:45:00.003-05:002009-12-31T13:02:28.568-05:00<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SzzHZVW8y4I/AAAAAAAAA9g/pba7Qvt9_nc/s1600-h/pope-gregory-xiii.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 174px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421427289491295106" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SzzHZVW8y4I/AAAAAAAAA9g/pba7Qvt9_nc/s200/pope-gregory-xiii.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Pope Gregory XIII</span> </div><br />It's December 31st, so naturally I'm writing a post about... Easter. Why, you ask? As we prepare to turn the page on 2009, I wondered what genius to thank for our 12 month year of 28, 29, 30 or 31 days. I haven't found all of the answers I was looking for, but I did find quite a bit.<br /><br />The ancient Roman calendar consisted of 10 months, some of which carry over to today. September, October, November and December, as you can see by their prefixes, corresponded to the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth months of the Roman calendar. The 12 month Julian calendar was introduced by Julius Caesar in 56BC, after consulting with an Egyptian astrologer. July was named for Caesar. King Augustus later changed Sextilus (the Roman sixth month) to August, and though the Julian calendar initially alternated months of 30 and 31 days, Augustus insisted August have no fewer days than July so as not to appear inferior and stole a day from February. This is why July and August are the only consecutive months of 31 days in a calendar year. <br /><br />Caesar's calculations represented a year length of 365.25 days and many leap days were used to counter the inaccuracy caused by Earth's orbit. These calculations were slightly off, however, resulting in an extra day every 137 years. Over time, this caused the calendar to become out of sync with the seasons.<br /><br />In 1582, the Catholic church sought calendar reform in an effort to ensure that Easter celebrations would take place close to the vernal equinox. By this time, under the Julian calendar, a drift of 10 days had already occurred. Pope Gregory XIII proposed a new calendar based on much more precise calculations that would eliminate most of the leap days and result in an extra day only once every 3,300 years. An interesting aside, here. A leap day does NOT actually occur every four years. Years evenly divisible by 100 are NOT leap years unless they are also divisible by 400. Thus, 1900 was not a leap year, 2000 was, and 2100 will not be.<br /><br />The Gregorian calendar, what we use today, was adopted in October, 1582, however, in order to adjust for the Julian drift, ten days were dropped. They went to bed on October 4th and woke up the next day on the 15th. Similar occurrences took place each time a new country adopted the Gregorian calendar. Great Britain and its territories went straight from September 2, 1752 to September 14th.<br /><br /><div>So, our modern calendar was created to accommodate Easter. This is all well and good, but I still think a better system is out there waiting. Thirteen months of 28 days is only one day short. Maybe that could be New Year's Day, not belonging to a month, but just a day unto itself?</div><div> </div><div>Now, why are there 7 days in a week? That's a question for another day. I'm taking the rest of the year off.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-4878612743303851813?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-71499651244218004202009-12-07T13:15:00.003-05:002009-12-07T13:29:08.548-05:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/Sx1GeJ2AYhI/AAAAAAAAA9I/8ipcWn_FtxM/s1600-h/rolandkorg.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 397px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412559811021660690" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/Sx1GeJ2AYhI/AAAAAAAAA9I/8ipcWn_FtxM/s400/rolandkorg.jpg" /></a>Music has crept back into my routine and I am currently involved in two projects. The first is a one-off collaboration with a number of very talented musicians from the U.S. and Europe. The guitar and drums tracks were provided first with several of us each adding parts, such as vocals, bass, etc. I provided the lyrics for this particular track. I'm considering adding keyboards, though I'm not certain it needs it. The track will be mixed and reposted. I look forward to hearing the result.<br /><br />The second project is a re-recording of one of my old original songs. One of my screenwriting friends recently got the green light to have her script made into a film. Having heard this particular song a few years ago, she told the producers she wants it to be the theme song for the movie. They told her to have me submit it for consideration. As the only existing version is a poorly recorded demo, I'm recording a new version that they will hopefully like. There's no guarantee that they'll use the song, but I'm hopeful. Did I mention the film will be in Italian?<br /><br />I've been off of this horse for a while now. It feels good to be back in the saddle.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7149965124421800420?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-72748280763458244442009-12-07T12:50:00.003-05:002010-05-08T10:31:24.541-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/Sx1AsjqKZ1I/AAAAAAAAA9A/myyWkf_gfbE/s1600-h/cast_flashforward.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412553461399709522" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/Sx1AsjqKZ1I/AAAAAAAAA9A/myyWkf_gfbE/s400/cast_flashforward.jpg" /></a> Ok, so I'm a little late this year. So, were some of the shows. It took some time to figure out which of the new batch of fall shows were going to stick and become part of my regular viewing. I tried 'Hank.' I wanted it to succeed. The premise was decent enough and I enjoy Kelsey Grammer; it just wasn't funny enough and got itself cancelled. I tried 'Modern Family.' While this is apparently a hit, it was a miss for me. I wasn't keen on watching Patricia Heaton in 'The Middle,' because it just seemed like it was destined to be a Malcolm retread, but it has proven to be a big surprise, with lots of fun, quirky characters and situations. It's a keeper. Courteney Cox's new sitcom, 'Cougar Town' seemed like one episode would suffice, but that one has gotten the biggest and most consistent laughs from me out of all the new shows. Who knew she could shed Monica, reinvent herself and pull it off this well? Verrry funny show.<br /><br />Also added to my 'must watch' list is USA's 'White Collar.' Of course Matt Bomer's nice to look at, but the folks at USA really know what they're doing when it comes to creating unique programs and while the writing isn't exactly up to snuff just yet, it's still good entertainment. With the largely satisfying Monk finale complete, I'm glad we'll have this one to fill the void. Another surprise for me is 'the forgotten' with Christian Slater. I expected this one to go away sooner than 'My Own Worst Enemy,' but every week I find myself glued to it. It's surprisingly well-written and worth 44 minutes of my time. Last, but not least, my most anticipated fall series, 'FlashForward.' While I've been majorly disappointed with some of the writing, direction and logic, overall this is a worthy successor to 'Life on Mars' and 'Journeyman.' It manages to sustain a Lost/24 level of tension and WTF factor and it's fun to develop theories as a viewer and watch how they play out. They chose to go on hiatus until March, rather than get into a battle with the Olympics. Hopefully the fanbase will still be there on the other side. Time will tell if this one can continue beyond one season without writing itself into a corner. I hope so.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7274828076345824444?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-88805517812179046782009-11-14T15:45:00.006-05:002009-11-17T13:51:06.780-05:00<div align="center"><a href="http://www.mysterycasefiles.com/"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404063307531716882" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/Sv8W8j0miRI/AAAAAAAAA8I/QoT5JurkmnU/s400/mystery-case-files-dire-grove.jpg" /></a> Click image to see the teaser trailer</div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Last year, Big Fish Games released my favorite hidden object game: Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst. While it was still largely a series of images with lists of items to find, it pushed the genre more into adventure territory with an immersive story, which I love. Well, MCF is back with Dire Grove. Expected to be released in early-mid December, Big Fish's latest entry in the MCF series is the company's largest production to date. They continue to challenge each successive release to be bigger and better than the last, this time by incorporating video footage in a "Blair Witch meets The Shining"-like scenario. Check out the trailer. It looks to be a unique gaming experience.<br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><p></p><p><span style="color:#ffff00;">Update</span>: Big Fish will be releasing a special Collector's Edition to Game Club Members on November 25th for $19.99. Check out the extras!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/d5bf1eN2h30&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/d5bf1eN2h30&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-8880551781217904678?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-10323652616364460412009-09-16T13:17:00.002-04:002009-09-16T14:03:24.375-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SrEdv6dRJVI/AAAAAAAAA8A/zNMqBApmY6I/s1600-h/winger-karma.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382115738667525458" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SrEdv6dRJVI/AAAAAAAAA8A/zNMqBApmY6I/s320/winger-karma.jpg" /></a> What comes around, goes around. I'll tell you why. (okay, so Ratt weren't exactly poets)<br /><br />Back in 1995, a strongly worded letter written by yours truly appeared in Rolling Stone magazine predicting the demise of grunge and the return of melodic hard rock. Well, in some ways, I was right. Of course, most musical styles are cyclical and come back into vogue at some point - swing was big again just a few years ago and even Christina Aguilera put out an album inspired by 1940's boogie woogie. Grunge will likely have a resurgence, too, but for now I'm willing to ignore that and focus on the fact that melodic hard rock IS back. Or at least, it's TRYing to be.<br /><br />I can't pretend I wasn't a huge fan of the so-called hair bands of the mid-late '80s. Indeed, my radio days were rife with the likes of Def Leppard, Whitesnake and dozens of other bands that were as much make-up and spandex as they were musically-inclined. Some of the biggies, such as Def Leppard, have stayed active the past 15-20 years with varying success, but many, many others were forced apart or underground... until now. While the U.S. music market may still be behind the curve, melodic rock has long reigned in certain European and Asian markets, particularly Germany and Japan. A recent ebay auction for my old band's CD sparked a bidding war between two Germans who ended up losing out to an American who bid nearly $95. for it.<br /><br />Many of those underground bands are set to enjoy a sort of renaissance, some with the help of labels such as the little known Italian label, Frontiers Records, that have taken it upon themselves to sign several once popular acts and give them another go. This is both good and bad news as the resulting products suggest that most of these bands should have quit while they were ahead, but there are shiny spots and even a few newer acts out there, such as Black Tide, that hold the hair band torch high despite having been in diapers during the genre's heyday.<br /><br />Def Leppard, Poison, Whitesnake, Motley Crue, Guns 'n' Roses... all have released new albums and/or toured in the past year. Festivals like Rocklahoma cater to the aging fanbase of melodic hard rock bands, prompting even some of the more obscure acts like Trixter to reform and play the 1 or 2 hit songs the girls knew every word to in 1989.<br /><br />Surprisingly, a number of bands, including Danger Danger, House of Lords, Lynch Mob and Winger, are releasing new material in the coming weeks and months. Some of the samples available online invoke cringes, but some will make old fans like myself sit up, feel momentarily nostalgic, then hopeful that the music we once loved has returned, refreshed and ready to move into the future.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-1032365261636446041?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-9745704197581014462009-08-10T11:05:00.002-04:002009-08-10T11:22:04.672-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SoA3PLiuGbI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/8V3zEbey1Jk/s1600-h/sneaker.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368351489761614258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 193px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SoA3PLiuGbI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/8V3zEbey1Jk/s320/sneaker.jpg" border="0" /></a> One of the memories I'm sure a lot of people share is wearing brand new clothes and sneakers on the first day of school each year. I looked forward to it, anyway. It wasn't until my sophomore year in high school that I didn't shop for new clothes right before school started. Well, we did the obligatory shopping over the weekend to pick up a few new items for the kids - things that fit. We would have had to do it whether school was starting or not. The kids just keep growing.<br /><br />I took my son to pick out some new sneakers and was shocked - not by the prices, nor even the fact he'd jumped from a 12 1/2 to a 13 1/2 - but, rather, his choice. We'd gone through infancy and toddlerhood with the simple and easy footwear philosophy known as Velcro. Our parents would have killed to have had Velcro shoes for us when we were little. Velcro is quick. Velcro is a technology kids can adapt to with the smallest of learning curves. Things are different now.<br /><br />I tried to steer him toward the cool new sneaks with the Velcro straps, but my boy was determined - whether out of defiance or naivety - to get... laced shoes. It was going to happen eventually. I didn't know we were there yet. And now, with Kindergarten looming, we embark on a new chapter, one that includes bunny ears and 'cross and throughs.' Where does the time go?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-974570419758101446?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-89734951824542098822009-06-27T10:15:00.002-04:002009-06-27T10:33:37.919-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SkYpvRqWzLI/AAAAAAAAA7I/RCwQTzZJytw/s1600-h/paramore+bne.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352011099348061362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SkYpvRqWzLI/AAAAAAAAA7I/RCwQTzZJytw/s320/paramore+bne.jpg" border="0" /></a> The new album from Paramore, "Brand New Eyes," is set for release on Sept. 29th. Not sure what it is about these guys, I just like 'em and look forward to this album. Turns out it's going to be a busy month for music as most of my anticipated releases for the year - Train, Lifehouse, Darwin's Radio and Porcupine Tree will also be coming out in September. Hope my credit card can handle the strain. Fresh music is always revitalizing for me and when you add football season to the mix, it's looking to be a banner month, indeed.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-8973495182454209882?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-45508309270022982382009-06-02T11:03:00.004-04:002009-06-02T12:28:05.877-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SiU_YaXHtuI/AAAAAAAAA7A/cGvM6Px8G8o/s1600-h/dreaming.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342746221570668258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SiU_YaXHtuI/AAAAAAAAA7A/cGvM6Px8G8o/s320/dreaming.bmp" border="0" /></a> I used to dream a lot, but REM sleep has become somewhat of a commodity since adding small children to the mix at home. A casualty of parenthood. There were mornings when I knew I had dreamt, but couldn't recall the details. And then there was this past weekend. Three dreams, vivid and still in memory.<br /><br />Dream #1. The 'Baby Missing / Castle' Mystery.<br />I had been called to a wealthy family's immense castle home to investigate the disappearance of their baby. My team consisted of myself, Khrystyne Haje (the redhead actress from "Head Of The Class) and T.B. Player/Ethan Embry (the actor who played bass for The Wonders in "That Thing You Do!" - he'll always be T.B. Player to me, because that's how he was credited in the movie). They weren't playing investigators, though. They were themselves. Because actors are who you want investigating missing child cases, right?<br /><br />After speaking to the parents, especially the mother, I became suspicious. Something about her behavior didn't seem right. The team split up to search the castle for evidence. I was standing in a corridor when I felt air blowing on my ankles. There was a long, ornate bench seat against the wall. I pulled it away from the wall and discovered the wall didn't go all the way to the floor. There was a crawl space.<br /><br />I crawled probably the length of a football field before I saw light and spotted another crawl space intersecting the one I was in. When I reached the light, I saw that there was an old iron rung ladder going up a small shaft. I forced the grate up, poked my head out and found myself in the grounds outside the castle, T.B. in the distance. I called him over and told him about the crawl space. We descended the ladder, made our way through the other crawl space and found another shaft. There was fresh dirt on the floor and on the rungs of the ladder. The grate offered no resistance and we emerged into a small courtyard with nothing but high, windowless castle walls on all sides.<br /><br />On the ground, was a long row of small gravestones dating back centuries. All had the family name and all had died as infants. There was a freshly dug empty grave at the end of the row. T.B. said, "Think we're too late?" I contemplated for a moment, then said, "No. Not yet."<br /><br />Then the alarm clock went off and woke me up. I was confident we'd find the baby alive, though. My guess was that this family had some weird sacrificial tradition and the mom knew about it, but couldn't bear to let it happen.<br /><br />Maybe there's a better reason why I haven't been dreaming much!<br /><br />The other two dreams were much shorter and far less interesting, but...<br /><br />Dream #2. The Dream Theater concert.<br />I was in my old stomping grounds of DeWitt, N.Y., and I had tickets to see the band Dream Theater perform in a tiny club that used to be called The Lost Horizon. I left my hotel at 10pm for the 10:30 show, got to the venue at 10:18, found a parking space and discovered I had left my tickets back at the hotel. So, I sped off, back to the hotel to get the tickets and back to the venue. Record time! Back at 10:45! Opened my wallet... Where are the tickets?? I picked them up, didn't I? Where did I put them? Grrrr! Baaaaack to the hotel. I ransacked my room looking for the tickets. It's 11:15! I'm missing the show! Only after sufficiently up-ending everything not bolted down did I realize my error. Will call.<br /><br />I got to the show at 11:50. The will call window was closed. Defeated once again, I sulked over to the door to try to beg the bouncer to get someone to let me get my tickets. Before I could even mouth a word, he opened the door and told me to come right in. Puzzled, I said, "But, I don't have my tickets." He pointed to the VIP badge dangling from my neck and said, "All access. You don't need a ticket."<br /><br />Crap. I've missed 90 minutes already and for nothing. Then the bouncer tells me, "They just started. Still on the first song."<br /><br />Dream #3. Seven-thirty something.<br />I was napping on a loveseat in my dream study, cherry bookshelves packed with hard covers, a massive desk... My eyes opened slowly and gazed at the digital clock on my desk. It was 7:36pm. I zoned out for a moment, then noticed the clock changed... to 7:34. ??? I was still too tired to really move, so I just stared at the clock and watched as the time bounced around between 7:30 and 7:38. I tried to make sense of it in my brain. A malfunction. Must be.<br /><br />Then, I was startled by a British man I know only from an internet forum. His face appeared suddenly, just above me and upside down from my perspective. He grabbed the sides of my face and shook me. He said, in a ridiculously thick accent, "Wake up, mate! If you want to know what's going on, you've got to--"<br /><br />At that moment, my daughter showed up in the doorway of the bedroom, crying (code for: Help! I have to pee, but I'm too tired to pull my undies down!"). I'll never know what the deal was with the clock.<br /><br />Dreams 2 and 3 were back-to-back, so I find it interesting that both had such specific times in them. Not sure what any of that indicates, but I don't really care. I'm getting better quality rest and, once again, in-flight movies.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-4550830927002298238?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-58709184316950469422009-06-02T10:03:00.002-04:002009-06-02T11:00:22.504-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SiUxfEkb47I/AAAAAAAAA64/EH5RkHneE1M/s1600-h/trolldoll.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342730942817231794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 178px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SiUxfEkb47I/AAAAAAAAA64/EH5RkHneE1M/s200/trolldoll.jpg" border="0" /></a> About ten years ago, I went through a little old lady phase. No, I didn't need help crossing the street or watch "Wheel Of Fortune" with the volume all the way up. I played bingo. Not just any bingo. High stakes bingo. Well, high stakes for bingo. My other half and I would pack a bag of supplies and drive to the Seminole bingo hall in Tampa. Finding a decent parking space was never easy and because large groups of retirees were shuttled in from places far and wide, it was even harder to find two seats together inside. And this was no church bingo hall. This was 1,000 seats worth of cafeteria tables full of mostly little old ladies trying their random luck to win thousands of dollars.<br /><br />Since it was on reservation ground, it was not subject to Florida smoking laws. Fortunately, there was a non-smoking bingo room separate from the rest of the hall, but you had to walk through the smoked-filled hall to get to it, then you had to climb a flight of stairs. It was like punishment for going against the norm, like asking for a glass of water in a bar and being forced to dunk your head in a bucket of beer first.<br /><br />Once in the non-smoking room, we'd hunt out two seats and start the ritual set up - spread out our multi-game packs, tape them to the table, set out our ink dobbers, scan the list of the night's scheduled games (typically fifteen 75 number games, with periodic specials), then I'd head down to the snack bar to retrieve drinks and the best curly fries on the planet.<br /><br />Then the fun would start. We'd play 9-12 cards simultaneously, but we were amateurs. These frail little women surrounding us would have 18 games going at a time, dobbing ink on their papers with seek-and-destroy lightning speed and still having time to rub their lucky troll dolls before the next ball was called. We were half their age and they played us under the table.<br /><br />The night ended with the big payoff games, Jackpot Bingo and the Bonanza, which routinely paid into the low thousands. Always a lot of anticipation there. Then we'd pack up and file out into the smoke-free night air, usually a bit lighter in the pocket for our efforts, but certainly entertained. There's always fun when there's a chance of a windfall, no matter how small. And we did win a number of times, once five times in a single session. Invading the elderly's game hall was one thing, but winning? We were dodging old lady glares and troll dolls that night, for sure.<br /><br />A few years later, the bingo hall was demolished to make room for the Hard Rock Hotel &amp; Casino. Once in a while, my wife will say, "I wanna dob ink on paper." I'd just like one more order of Seminole curly fries - hold the smoke.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5870918431695046942?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-87429475059806497972009-05-20T22:42:00.002-04:002009-05-20T23:14:42.471-04:00It's that time of year again. Time to do a lot of typing for a very small audience. Yes, it's the fall tv schedule. I've left The CW out because, well, I'm 40 years old. I'll be watching Smallville. And that covers The CW for me.<br /><br />Gone are My Name Is Earl, Samantha Who, Pushing Daisies, The Unit and Without A Trace (among others). Law &amp; Order: Criminal Intent has been permanently relocated to USA Network. Many shows, including Scrubs, New Adventures Of Old Christine and Cold Case, were saved at the last minute, while many more, such as Chuck and Better Off Ted, will have to wait for midseason.<br /><br />Lots of familiar faces returning in various series - Chris O'Donnell, Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton, Jenna Elfman, Ed O'Neill, Christine Baranski and Sara Rue just to name a few.<br /><br />With that, here's the "shed yule":<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">SUNDAY</span><br />8:00<br />ABC - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition<br />CBS - The Amazing Race<br />NBC - Sunday Night Football<br />FOX - The Simpsons<br /><br />8:30<br />FOX - The Cleveland Show<br /><br />9:00<br />ABC - Desperate Housewives<br />CBS - Three Rivers<br />FOX - Family Guy<br /><br />9:30<br />FOX - American Dad<br /><br />10:00<br />ABC - Brothers and Sisters<br />CBS - Cold Case<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">MONDAY</span><br />8:00<br />ABC - Dancing With The Stars<br />CBS - How I Met Your Mother<br />NBC - Heroes<br />FOX - House<br /><br />8:30<br />CBS - Accidentally On Purpose<br /><br />9:00<br />CBS - Two And A Half Men<br />NBC - Trauma<br />FOX - Lie To Me<br /><br />9:30<br />CBS - The Big Bang Theory<br /><br />10:00<br />ABC - Castle<br />CBS - CSI: Miami<br />NBC - The Jay Leno Show<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">TUESDAY</span><br />8:00<br />ABC - Shark Tank<br />CBS - NCIS<br />NBC - The Biggest Loser<br />FOX - So You Think You Can Dance<br /><br />9:00<br />ABC - Dancing With The Stars (results show)<br />CBS - NCIS: Los Angeles<br /><br />10:00<br />ABC - The Forgotten<br />CBS - The Good Wife<br />NBC - The Jay Leno Show<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">WEDNESDAY</span><br />8:00<br />ABC - Hank<br />CBS - The New Adventures Of Old Christine<br />NBC - Parenthood<br />FOX - So You Think You Can Dance (results show)<br /><br />8:30<br />ABC - The Middle<br />CBS - Gary Unmarried<br /><br />9:00<br />ABC - Modern Family<br />CBS - Criminal Minds<br />NBC - Law &amp; Order: Special Victims Unit<br />FOX - Glee<br /><br />9:30<br />ABC - Cougar Town<br /><br />10:00<br />ABC - Eastwick<br />CBS - CSI: NY<br />NBC - The Jay Leno Show<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">THURSDAY</span><br />8:00<br />ABC - Flash Forward<br />CBS - Survivor<br />NBC - Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Thursday<br />FOX - Bones<br /><br />8:30<br />NBC - Parks &amp; Recreation<br /><br />9:00<br />ABC - Grey's Anatomy<br />CBS - CSI<br />NBC - The Office<br />FOX - Fringe<br /><br />9:30<br />NBC - Community<br /><br />10:00<br />ABC - Private Practice<br />CBS - The Mentalist<br />NBC - The Jay Leno Show<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">FRIDAY</span><br />8:00<br />ABC - Supernanny<br />CBS - Ghost Whisperer<br />NBC - Law &amp; Order<br />FOX - Brothers<br /><br />8:30<br />FOX - Til Death<br /><br />9:00<br />ABC - Ugly Betty<br />CBS - Medium<br />NBC - Southland<br />FOX - Dollhouse<br /><br />10:00<br />ABC - 20/20<br />CBS - Numb3rs<br />NBC - The Jay Leno Show<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">SATURDAY</span><br />8:00<br />ABC - College Football<br />CBS - Crimetime Saturday<br />NBC - Dateline<br />FOX - Cops<br /><br />8:30<br />FOX - Cops<br /><br />9:00<br />CBS - Crimetime Saturday<br />NBC - Trauma (encore)<br />FOX - America's Most Wanted<br /><br />10:00<br />CBS - 48 Hrs Mystery<br />NBC - Law &amp; Order: SVU (encore)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-8742947505980649797?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-58434629411413332712009-05-14T09:44:00.005-04:002009-05-14T12:20:25.859-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SgwhacbsjyI/AAAAAAAAA6I/wUPVCNl1AiE/s1600-h/frost+at+rosfest+050209.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335676396719869730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SgwhacbsjyI/AAAAAAAAA6I/wUPVCNl1AiE/s320/frost+at+rosfest+050209.jpg" border="0" /></a>Yesterday was my half birthday and I usually buy myself a little something, like those half cakes they sell at the grocery store - especially the chocolate chip glazed ... Note to self: go back to store and get half chocolate chip glazed cake. Anyway, I didn't do anything like that this year. Instead, I gave myself a much bigger gift a couple weeks early.<br /><br />As my most scrobbled band on last.fm, it's probably fair to say that Frost* is my favorite band at the moment and certainly of the past year. And since relatively few people know who they are, there's an added benefit for fans - accessibility. Such was the case two weeks ago as we dropped the kids on grandma's doorstep, and, defying the warnings of the snout sniffles, flew to Philadelphia to see Frost*'s only U.S. performance as part of a three-day progressive rock festival called the Rites of Spring Festival. Now, we couldn't leave the kids with grandma for three days without doing permanent damage to all involved, so we had to limit our stay to just the one night to see Frost*, but it was well worth it.<br /><br />The first weekend of May, and Florida's 7 day forecast was already calling for highs in the mid-80s with a chance of melanoma, so heading to the land of "overcast, breezy, high 66" was most welcome. The town around our hotel was beautiful, hilly and green, with vibrantly colored dogwood trees of white, pink and purple all over the place. Quite serene. We made our way to the venue, which was nestled in a lovely little village with shops and mom 'n' pop eateries. It wasn't long before we met up with fellow Frost* fans and made instant friends.<br /><br />The performance itself was unique in that it was the band's only U.S. show, they had a TWO HOUR set (most major bands don't play that long), the show was being recorded for a live CD, and by a fluke, the band recruited a special guest for this one show - one of my favorite drummers, Nick D'Virgilio (Spock's Beard, Kevin Gilbert, Tears For Fears, Genesis). And what a performance it was.<br /><br />With an audience consisting mostly of pot-bellied middle aged balding guys, you'd think the band would be quick to exit after a show, but they stuck around and did the meet 'n' greet thing, signing autographs and posing for photos. It was a great pleasure to meet Nick, who is oddly just a few hours older than me. Maybe if I'd been born an hour earlier, I wouldn't be a complete moron. Also odd, is that the only other time I've seen Nick live was as guest drummer for another band, Fates Warning, when they were opening for Dream Theater and Queensryche.<br /><br />Doubly nice was meeting the rest of Frost* who are all somewhat on loan from other prog rock bands: bassist John Jowitt (IQ), guitarist John Mitchell (It Bites) and vocalist/guitarist Declan Burke (Darwin's Radio). Ultimately, though, the biggest honor was meeting the main man, the keyboardist and founder of this amazing band, Jem Godfrey, who isn't a household name here, nor even in his native UK, but that's not to say he hasn't tasted success. As a songwriter and producer, he has a platinum record under his belt for the single, "Whole Again," by the English girl group Atomic Kitten and also wrote the hit, "That's My Goal" for Shayne Ward, winner of one of Britain's many singing competition shows, The X Factor. Aside from being a friendly fella, he's also incredibly funny, as anyone who's seen his Frost* Reports on YouTube can attest.<br /><br />Outside, I said my goodbyes to my new friends and ended up meeting another musician and new friend - Rob Cottingham, vocalist and keyboardist of Touchstone, another UK prog band performing at the festival. Very friendly and a 'top gent' as they say over there in Soggytown. And just when you thought it was over... We were staying in the same hotel as the band and they had an after party in one of the banquet rooms. It was private, but the guys spent a fair amount of time outside the party to mingle with us common folk. As a result, I got to stand around and chat with Dec for nearly two hours and Jem joined us for a little while before running off again.<br /><br />A most memorable night. And so nice of the guys to hang out with their fans, even if we are pot-bellied and middle-aged. At least I still have my hair.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5843462941141333271?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-70018922691682119102009-05-14T09:25:00.005-04:002009-05-14T09:43:20.570-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SgwfmWf0GYI/AAAAAAAAA6A/_bHV4gd82ls/s1600-h/star_trek_new_logo_movie_poster.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335674402261703042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 231px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SgwfmWf0GYI/AAAAAAAAA6A/_bHV4gd82ls/s320/star_trek_new_logo_movie_poster.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>After the recent reboot of Star Trek, I thought I'd take a look at some other upcoming sequels, prequels and remakes. Hollywood insists on churning them out. It is a business, after all. What they lack in originality they make up for in built-in audiences and licensing. Some are welcome, some are franchises, some beg the question 'why?'... For better or worse, here is just a small sampling of sequels, prequels and remakes coming soon to a theater near you.<br /><br />05/15/2009 - Angels and Demons<br />05/21/2009 - Terminator Salvation<br />05/22/2009 - Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian<br /><br />06/12/2009 - The Taking of Pelham 123<br />06/24/2009 - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen</div><div><br />07/01/2009 - Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs<br />07/15/2009 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince<br /><br />08/28/2009 - Final Destination: Death Trap 3D<br /><br />09/25/2009 - Fame<br /><br />10/02/2009 - Toy Story / Toy Story 2 - 3D Double Feature<br />10/23/2009 - Saw VI<br /><br />11/20/2009 - Cats and Dogs 2: The Revenge of Kitty Galore<br />11/20/2009 - Twilight: New Moon<br /><br />12/25/2009 - Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakel<br /><br />01/15/2010 - Hoodwinked 2<br /><br />03/26/2010 - Clash of the Titans<br /><br />05/07/2010 - Iron Man 2<br />05/21/2010 - Shrek Goes Fourth<br /><br />06/18/2010 - Toy Story 3 (3D)<br />06/30/2010 - Twilight: Eclipse<br /><br />11/19/2010 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Pt. 1<br /><br />12/10/2010 - The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader<br /><br />05/06/2011 - Spider-Man 4<br /><br />06/03/2011 - Kung Fu Panda 2<br />06/24/2011 - Cars 2<br /><br />07/15/2011 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Pt. 2<br /><br />Also in various stages of development or production:<br /><br />Ghostbusters 3<br />Tron 2<br />Transformers 3<br />Terminator 5<br />Men in Black 3<br />Damn Yankees<br />The Chronicles of Riddick 2<br />Little Shop of Horrors<br />True Grit<br />Wanted 2<br />Jurassic Park 4<br />The Sorceror's Apprentice<br />Heavy Metal<br />Footloose<br />The Karate Kid<br />Fantastic Voyage<br />Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles<br />Straw Dogs<br />Sex And The City 2<br />Wall Street 2<br />Gulliver's Travels<br />Drop Dead Fred<br />Escape From New York<br />Cliffhanger<br /><br />I was going to choose one and say, "Movie Title" ... Seriously?? But, there are just too many to choose from. I can do this, though: "FAAAAAME! I'm gonna live forevuhhh..."<br /><br />Someone had to do it.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7001892269168211910?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-59752896619653425522009-03-13T13:27:00.002-04:002009-03-13T13:44:11.416-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SbqXpx0ZxuI/AAAAAAAAA5w/r-NESlV_Bbo/s1600-h/blackcloudssilverlinings.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312725454440482530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SbqXpx0ZxuI/AAAAAAAAA5w/r-NESlV_Bbo/s320/blackcloudssilverlinings.jpg" border="0" /></a> It's been less than 18 months since Dream Theater's last studio album, "Systematic Chaos," but, for the first time in years, it feels like a new album from DT is overdue. So, I was pleased to discover "Black Clouds &amp; Silver Linings" will be out June 23rd. I only hope one of my favorite progressive bands is actually progressive this time around. 'Chaos' had its moments, but wasn't exactly groundbreaking for the band. Cooler than the new release itself, though, is the 3-disc special edition that will be available featuring instrumental versions of the tracks and six tracks of cover songs, one of DT's fortés. Okay, so, progressive metal isn't everyone's cup, but I'm looking forward to it, anyway.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5975289661965342552?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-7919555445278656072009-03-12T15:43:00.000-04:002009-03-12T15:45:33.813-04:00<p><embed id="uvp_fop" src="http://l.yimg.com/cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/fop/embedflv/swf/fop.swf" width="400" height="327" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="id=12354991&amp;rd=eyc-off&amp;ympsc=&amp;prepanelEnable=1&amp;infopanelEnable=1"></embed><br /></p><p>Love, love, love this!</p><p>Squirrel!!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-791955544527865607?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-41527233949792109172009-03-03T12:01:00.002-05:002009-03-03T12:08:17.420-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/Sa1inaqx-NI/AAAAAAAAA5o/YKC94mrNwho/s1600-h/lifeonmarscast.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309007965052860626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 224px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/Sa1inaqx-NI/AAAAAAAAA5o/YKC94mrNwho/s320/lifeonmarscast.jpg" border="0" /></a>In a not at all shocking move, ABC has cancelled my favorite new show, "Life On Mars." Last year, it was "Journeyman." I'm starting to think TV execs don't care about me at all. Color me annoyed.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-4152723394979210917?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-83653528963906236782009-02-09T09:46:00.003-05:002009-02-09T10:40:01.123-05:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SZBCGaDn_yI/AAAAAAAAA5g/LBmibEgi9-o/s1600-h/bodyworlds.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300809439256248098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SZBCGaDn_yI/AAAAAAAAA5g/LBmibEgi9-o/s320/bodyworlds.jpg" border="0" /></a> Grandma came over yesterday to babysit, so we could go out and enjoy a few hours kid-free. Well, we finally got to use that Outback gift card we got for Christmas, though the meal wasn't all that great. Then we went to the Museum of Science and Industry to see an exhibit called "Body Worlds." Really wish we hadn't just had dinner. Granted, the inner workings of the human body are fascinating, but I must say that seeing plasticene cadavers with their skin removed and every organ displayed in myriad ways was a bit disconcerting. It took some time to find a picture I was comfortable "borrowing" from the internet for this post.<br /><br />The "participants" donated their bodies to science, but I did have to wonder if they would have minded being posed as they were. And it didn't take long, via Google Image search, to find some disrespectful photos. Anatomy brings out the joker in some people. I guess I overestimated the human capacity for decency. Of course, the exhibit itself begs the question of decency, and I'm still unsure of the answer. The displays were presented as tastefully as they could be, I suppose, given the subject matter, but is it appropriate to treat the dead as an art project?<br /><br />Since the intent of the exhibit is to educate, I have to find it worthwhile, despite my discomfort. I did learn quite a bit, after all. Did you know, for example, that the appendix looks like the tail of a small mouse? The kidney is about the size of a duck egg? I knew what embryos looked like at different stages from books and such, but I hadn't actually <em>seen</em> embryos at different stages until last night.<br /><br />Also interesting, were the brain slices that showed what a healthy brain looks like and what a brain hemorrhage looks like after a stroke. We saw healthy and diseased organs side by side. I bet a lot of people try to quit smoking after seeing smoker's lung. Normal joints, arthritic joints. There were also slices of an obese man that showed the fatty tissue throughout his body. If the exhibit does nothing else, it certainly motivates people to live healthier lives when they walk out that door.<br /><br />Creepiness aside, I must say... There's no way to push the creepiness aside. It was highly informative, though, and did make me want to treat my body better. After all, there's only one per customer and I do want to stay around a while.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-8365352896390623678?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-26422041805673771642009-01-30T08:35:00.001-05:002009-01-30T08:37:50.504-05:00<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SYMCMXL4SXI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/i_EE_1vCNFU/s1600-h/zombies+sign.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297079998123362674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 284px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SYMCMXL4SXI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/i_EE_1vCNFU/s320/zombies+sign.jpg" border="0" /></a> Go ahead and whine about your ice storms. The south has problems of its own.<br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-2642204180567377164?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-69065716367648275532009-01-02T23:40:00.002-05:002009-01-02T23:58:59.323-05:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SV7sk8CtnxI/AAAAAAAAA3M/QTpEFEXJVjo/s1600-h/whodo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286923131916492562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SV7sk8CtnxI/AAAAAAAAA3M/QTpEFEXJVjo/s320/whodo.jpg" border="0" /></a> As much as it irks me that American television producers keep mining the BBC for ideas, I may be willing to forgive yet another indiscretion, as Lisa Kudrow's production company is developing a U.S. version of the U.K. hit, "Who Do You Think You Are?," a program in which celebrities learn about the lives of their ancestors. Since I have an interest in genealogy, I think it's a safe bet that I'll give this one a shot. I just hope we agree on what constitutes a 'celebrity.' It's not airing on VH-1, though, so we're probably okay.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-6906571636764827553?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-40471541412295553952008-12-30T13:28:00.009-05:002008-12-30T14:14:14.590-05:00<object width="425px" height="360px" ><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="movie" value="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=47654918,t=1,mt=video"/><embed src="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=47654918,t=1,mt=video" width="425" height="360" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><p align="center">(Todd Lampe / Precipice Productions)</p><p align="left">Diane Kelly and Nikki Thompson are two of the sweetest people on the planet, so please take a few minutes to become acquainted with the strummy blues rock sound of Jayla. Check out the video for their single, "Jayla's California," from their new CD, "Faithfully Alive," then pay them a visit at <a href="http://www.jaylamusic.com/">jaylamusic.com</a>.</p><p align="left">Love those harmonies. Miss you guys!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-4047154141229555395?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-14966730211338271412008-12-29T22:57:00.003-05:002009-01-03T00:00:44.871-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SVmcM2N7vhI/AAAAAAAAA3E/bqbLOOdVeuU/s1600-h/61seconds.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285427382222306834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 211px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SVmcM2N7vhI/AAAAAAAAA3E/bqbLOOdVeuU/s320/61seconds.jpg" border="0" /></a>2009 is almost upon us, but the new year will have to wait a little longer than usual. Official timekeepers will be adding a 'leap second' to 11:59PM on December 31st to account for our planet's nasty habit of rotating at a rate that doesn't completely jive with our much more precise methods of time measurement. So, unless you have an atomic clock, be prepared to 'winter' back this time around.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-1496673021133827141?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-57361639933001796352008-12-20T08:28:00.003-05:002008-12-20T08:50:10.331-05:00<a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5REQU4MC3qk"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281865389032287042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 388px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SUz0ljizK0I/AAAAAAAAA28/LIvgG5eoB74/s400/frost2+cover.jpg" border="0" /></a> Fellow Frost*ie, Pedro, has a habit of doing brilliant things. He created <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5REQU4MC3qk">this video</a> as a Christmas card to other Frost* fans utilizing <span style="color:#ffcc66;">LittleBigPlanet</span>, which should boost sales of both the game and Frost*'s new album, <span style="color:#ffcc66;">Experiments In Mass Appeal</span>. The video has far too many band references in it to mention and even I had to pause it several times to catch some of the fleeting ones. Even if you don't know the references, it's fun to watch.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5736163993300179635?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-68611920906774880832008-12-18T23:18:00.002-05:002008-12-18T23:25:53.897-05:00<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SUsgwoDIVOI/AAAAAAAAA20/KcsAe3H2DfM/s1600-h/majel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281351007778395362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SUsgwoDIVOI/AAAAAAAAA20/KcsAe3H2DfM/s400/majel.jpg" border="0" /></a> Majel Roddenberry</div><div align="center">(1932-2008)</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><=(<br /></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-6861192090677488083?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-22477598688775545762008-12-15T13:41:00.002-05:002008-12-15T14:06:15.520-05:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SUak9ua5xQI/AAAAAAAAA2s/4lH_mbH0j4Q/s1600-h/returntoravenhearstscreenshot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280088993478329602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SUak9ua5xQI/AAAAAAAAA2s/4lH_mbH0j4Q/s400/returntoravenhearstscreenshot.jpg" border="0" /></a> Even better than Escape the Room games are Mystery Case Files by <a href="http://www.bigfishgames.com/">Big Fish Games</a>. I lost a couple of afternoons last week on the latest addition to the MCF series, "Return to Ravenhearst," and I have to say this is the best one yet. It employs the staple gameplay of 'find a list of stuff in this picture of lots of other stuff,' but this time they've made a notable effort to incorporate the conventions of point and click adventure into the game. The result is a feeling like you're in the environment, stalking the mansion and its grounds, rather than simply clicking file tabs. <br /><br />If there's a complaint to be made, it's that the ingenious locking mechanisms aren't quite as difficult to solve this time around, but the game makes up for it with a couple of maddening timed games, including a "Whack-a-Troll" game that requires pretty quick reflexes to beat and a classic matching game of concentration in which the images all look similar and the squares shift around like a demonic game of three-card-Monte every few turns. There are some other tweaks, such as the Hint button, which, if you use it, makes you wait before you can use it again. And no more 3-in-a-row speed bonuses, a la Madame Fate (the previous MCF game for PC). More than all of that, though, MCF: RtoR really ups the ante here, creating a genuinely creepy game environment similar to The 7th Guest and not limiting itself to 'Where's Waldo'-style gameplay. Puzzles are all around, which makes this 'Return' a triumphant one.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-2247759868877554576?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-72015752925223987122008-12-15T13:35:00.002-05:002008-12-15T13:41:13.093-05:00<a href="http://neutralxe.net/esc/vision.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280087542383635362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SUajpQq966I/AAAAAAAAA2k/RXmKaB8PFpo/s320/visionscreenshot.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">(Click image to play "Vision")</span></div><div align="center"> </div>I likey me a good 'Escape the Room' game, and was recently pointed in the direction of this one, "Vision," by Neutral. It's free, and I think more satisfying than any other I've played. You think you're done and - surprise - more to do. Very well done, imo. Good way to lose a couple of hours.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7201575292522398712?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-45795615790696570242008-11-22T16:07:00.002-05:002008-11-22T16:14:19.885-05:00This was to have been the day I was going to see <a href="http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthehalf-bloodprince/">Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</a>, but since the release was unnecessarily delayed until next May, I'm instead sitting here having ham and mustard on toast and browsing the interweb. Not exactly what I had in mind.<br /><br />Well, WB released a new trailer a short while back, so I thought I'd do something to commemorate the film's originally scheduled release. Therefore, here is <a href="http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthehalf-bloodprince/">the latest trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-4579561579069657024?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-3422809987751114222008-11-20T09:08:00.002-05:002008-11-20T09:14:47.548-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SSVvh1Lrq2I/AAAAAAAAApc/YsyZ4ps5T6U/s1600-h/lisrobot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270741565909478242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 307px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SSVvh1Lrq2I/AAAAAAAAApc/YsyZ4ps5T6U/s320/lisrobot.jpg" border="0" /></a> The southern California wildfires have claimed the home of Bob May, who portrayed the legendary 'Robot' from the original "Lost in Space" series. Other well-known Montecito residents, including Christopher Lloyd, have suffered damage to their properties as a result of the fires. It just seems to be getting worse every year. We should probably start splicing acorns with flame retardant, because this isn't going to go away on its own.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-342280998775111422?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-2713346662674771812008-11-18T13:18:00.002-05:002008-11-18T13:24:33.304-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SSMHCteGH0I/AAAAAAAAApU/TTGpoGy7nx0/s1600-h/segway.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270063732100570946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SSMHCteGH0I/AAAAAAAAApU/TTGpoGy7nx0/s320/segway.jpg" border="0" /></a> I went for a spin on a Segway during a recent trip to Epcot and found myself impressed. Impressed that it cost $5,000 several years ago and now sells for the bargain price of... $5,000. Still recouping the R&amp;D, eh? Guess it'll still be some time before I put one in my garage. Twas a unique experience and I could see there being a slight learning curve, but it seems quickly masterable. Also got the see the 4-wheel Centaur version up close, which I have to say was pretty sweet.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-271334666267477181?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-59639780811890829962008-11-17T22:35:00.000-05:002008-11-17T22:37:59.892-05:00<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SSI4PMsCTOI/AAAAAAAAApM/6oZnrqQ4oxU/s1600-h/depphatter.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269836347732020450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 293px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SSI4PMsCTOI/AAAAAAAAApM/6oZnrqQ4oxU/s320/depphatter.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland"<br /></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5963978081189082996?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-38696522323510356712008-11-17T13:20:00.002-05:002008-11-17T13:24:55.586-05:00<div align="center"><a href="http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/startrek/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269693074409492530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SSG17l-DkDI/AAAAAAAAApE/4EaOnSamHjM/s320/star+trek+logo.jpg" border="0" /></a> Click image to view the new Star Trek trailer<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-3869652232351035671?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-17643031299415710532008-11-16T14:09:00.001-05:002008-11-16T14:09:52.137-05:00<div style='background-color:#e9e9e9; width: 425px;'><object id='A656872' quality='high' data='http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=pW8geYRNTyasChdP&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' height='319' width='425'><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><param name='movie' value='http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=pW8geYRNTyasChdP&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself'></param><param name='scaleMode' value='showAll'></param><param name='quality' value='high'></param><param name='allowNetworking' value='all'></param><param name='allowFullScreen' value='true' /><param name='FlashVars' value='external_make_id=pW8geYRNTyasChdP&service=sendables.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself'></param><param name='allowScriptAccess' value='always'></param></object><div style='text-align:center; width:435px; margin-top:6px;'>Send your own <a href='http://www.elfyourself.com'>ElfYourself</a> <a href='http://www.jibjab.com'>eCards</a></div></div><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTIyNjg2MjU1NDIwMyZwdD*xMjI2ODYyNTgyNjA5JnA9NDE4ODEzJmQ9MjAyNjcxJm49YmxvZ2dlciZnPTImdD*mbz*3N2RhNjIxOTVkYWI*Njc3OGU4NGU4OGM2YjI3MGE5Yg==.gif" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-1764303129941571053?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-68780337693354392822008-11-04T11:00:00.002-05:002008-11-04T11:17:22.602-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SRBx1cfeL2I/AAAAAAAAAo8/8dh_rVFt3Lg/s1600-h/Jason-OMara_l.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264833127391309666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SRBx1cfeL2I/AAAAAAAAAo8/8dh_rVFt3Lg/s200/Jason-OMara_l.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Jason O'Mara</span></div><br />Well, the fall season has been off and running for a bit now. One show has emerged to become the sole new fall show that I go out of my way to watch. There were a few shows I planned to try out and some are decent enough, such as "My Own Worst Enemy" and "Fringe," but for me, the stand out of the season has been the U.S. version of Britain's popular series, "Life on Mars." It was my most anticipated new series after the demise of Journeyman, but I was concerned that being set in 1973 every week would get old after two episodes. Not so. I'm glued to my seat every week. <br /><br />The writing is hugely important, of course, but the cast is wonderful. I've always liked Jason O'Mara. He was great in "The Agency" a number of years back and has a Mel Gibson quality in his voice and facial expressions. I've never been a Gretchen Mol fan, but I think she's perfect in her role here, and Harvey Keitel's character gets more interesting every week.<br /><br />Unfortunately, liking a show this much usually spells cancellation. Maybe I should say I like "The Ex List." Oh, wait. They already cancelled that one.<br /><br />I do wish the U.S. would stop stealing the U.K.'s show ideas, but I'll let it slide this time.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-6878033769335439282?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-67375037969703957482008-11-04T10:47:00.003-05:002008-11-14T08:57:11.609-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SRBu3pAhovI/AAAAAAAAAo0/AZxNJ-Q2Nsk/s1600-h/sfam.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264829866576028402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SRBu3pAhovI/AAAAAAAAAo0/AZxNJ-Q2Nsk/s200/sfam.bmp" border="0" /></a>Ever notice the beginning of Queensryche's "Operation: Mindcrime" and Motley Crue's "Dr. Feelgood" have the same hospital sounds in the background? Hard rockers will know what I'm talking about. I've heard that same sample used in pain reliever commercials and elsewhere. The sample comes from a widely used sound library. Also in this library is a track of a woman screaming. As much as I've heard the hospital thing, I've heard this scream track probably 20 times more - in movies and movie trailers, commercials, TV shows (most recently in a Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! cartoon), and music (most notably in Dream Theater's "Scenes from a Memory").<br /><br />It's a screeeeaaam, people. You couldn't get a woman to stand in front of a microphone for 5 seconds and get an original scream? Most of the public are oblivious to this particular set of screams, but to me they are distinctive and I spot them immediately. Every time I hear it I wanna... yell loudly. No, that's not it. Shriek? No. Don't tell me. It'll come to me.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-6737503796970395748?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-54231497076326426172008-11-04T10:39:00.003-05:002008-11-04T10:47:36.422-05:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SRBss-yN0pI/AAAAAAAAAos/aw0V9c0Fa-g/s1600-h/hsx+plain.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264827484419773074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 167px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 165px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SRBss-yN0pI/AAAAAAAAAos/aw0V9c0Fa-g/s320/hsx+plain.bmp" border="0" /></a> HSX.com recently switched over to a new version with a completely different layout. The negative response was overwhelming, with some longtime players claiming the game's been ruined for them and they'll never play again - abandoning portfolios over H$1B in some cases. I, too, found the new version practically unusable. The "improvements" involved removing most of the game tools I used regularly. I was willing to trudge along and hope it got better (despite an H$18M free fall, but it seems the backlash has bought players a temporary reprieve. HSX reverted back to its prior version this week with the option to try the new Beta version. I fear we're going to be stuck with the new version sooner or later, but they seem to be listening to what users have to say, so maybe they'll tweak it enough so they haven't wasted their real money trying to give back to those of us playing with the fake stuff.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5423149707632642617?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-69513864218210232862008-11-04T10:25:00.003-05:002008-11-04T10:37:52.648-05:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SRBpmlHC7RI/AAAAAAAAAok/Edsy3SjSom8/s1600-h/lazycat.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264824075913719058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SRBpmlHC7RI/AAAAAAAAAok/Edsy3SjSom8/s320/lazycat.bmp" border="0" /></a> Hard to believe it's been a year since I quit my job. Our finances are starting to feel the effects, but it absolutely was the right decision. If I'd stayed, things would have gotten ugly quickly and there's no guarantee the budget would have allowed me to stay beyond January anyway. No regrets there, believe me. However, it's become clear that taking a year off has done nothing to improve our household income, so I'm now faced with the daunting prospect of seeking a steady paycheck again. The question is, am I employable? Some may view a 40 year old with an afro as two pre-existing conditions. Note to self: get haircut. Other note to self: don't turn 40. We'll see how this goes. Oh, how I hate the whole resumé/filling out applications/interview thing. Ugh.<br /><br />I still plan to continue work on my screenplay in the meantime. Not that that's a reliable source of income, but I can still dream.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-6951386421821023286?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-75294548735067696392008-10-28T00:01:00.003-04:002008-10-28T00:15:53.873-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SQaOtnOEvkI/AAAAAAAAAoc/xTpoi6-T4yU/s1600-h/galapagos_islands_sea_lion.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262050128902274626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 228px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SQaOtnOEvkI/AAAAAAAAAoc/xTpoi6-T4yU/s320/galapagos_islands_sea_lion.jpg" border="0" /></a> How cool are the Galapagos Islands? Take a look at that picture. There are lots of interesting wildlife, from sea lions to tortoises and exotic birds, and they have no natural predators there, so they have no fear of humans. You could hang out with all kinds of critters and the animals don't seem to mind sharing their little paradise with whomever comes along. Very cool, indeed.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7529454873506769639?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-75108603791794122632008-10-27T23:49:00.003-04:002008-10-28T00:14:23.286-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SQaL1EsSzqI/AAAAAAAAAoU/V8vFQs35soE/s1600-h/7day28.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262046958537854626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SQaL1EsSzqI/AAAAAAAAAoU/V8vFQs35soE/s320/7day28.jpg" border="0" /></a> I'm sure most of the country would happily trade us for temps in the upper 70s the first week of November, but this forecast is noteworthy to me for a different reason - it is the first 7-day forecast Tampa has had this season that didn't have any highs starting with an 8 (or a 9, for that matter). I get to wear long sleeves for the first time tomorrow and I cannot tell you how much I look forward to it. Sad, I know.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7510860379179412263?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-52050901171514187402008-10-27T12:58:00.007-04:002008-10-29T11:59:39.296-04:00Watch the new international teaser trailer for <span style="color:#ffcc66;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlrphFBpuio">Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</a></span>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5205090117151418740?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-86602949950064574002008-10-07T21:22:00.003-04:002008-10-07T21:48:14.178-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SOwLpG6VXvI/AAAAAAAAAnY/axH4Jh7Luds/s1600-h/dadip.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254587666092351218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SOwLpG6VXvI/AAAAAAAAAnY/axH4Jh7Luds/s400/dadip.jpg" border="0" /></a> Over the past month or two, there's been a dip in the road not far from my neighborhood that's been getting notably deeper and wider on an almost daily basis. Last week, I started wondering if I should take a different route. Late last week I noticed perforated lines running along the dip in orange spray paint. This morning I had to slow to a crawl to drive over it. Scary.<br /><br />Then, this afternoon I noticed as I approached, a fresh patch of flat asphalt where the dip previously was. My initial reaction was, "Hooray! The dip is gone!" This was immediately followed by a "Wait a minute..." Here we had a swath of roadway rapidly collapsing under its own weight and the DOT's brilliant solution was to put <em>more</em> weight on it? I'll be watching you, little dip hider. I'll be watching.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-8660294995006457400?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-59304174915790223602008-10-07T10:13:00.003-04:002008-10-07T10:31:16.406-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SOtusRAwHrI/AAAAAAAAAnI/N-g3jzI9E7Q/s1600-h/bk.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254415097017671346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SOtusRAwHrI/AAAAAAAAAnI/N-g3jzI9E7Q/s320/bk.jpg" border="0" /></a> I don't consume fast food anywhere near as much as I used to, indulging myself only two or three times a month compared to a once almost daily ritual. However, in those handful of visits, something has become undeniably clear. At some point, Burger King french fries surpassed the seemingly unbeatable McDonald's fries in taste and texture. I was never a McD's fan, but you could always count on their french fries to be awesome... until recently. They changed their oil, took out trans-fats, but so did BK. Imagine my surprise, then, when recent trips have proven BK's product superior in every way. Don't believe me? Allow the taste buds of two small children to weigh in. <br /><br />McDonald's has come to be known as "the french fry store" and my small fries are occasionally treated to small fries after school on Fridays. About a month ago, I opted to go to BK instead. I handed the little baggies back to my passengers and drove off. Within a minute I was hearing, "Mmmmmm" and "yummy" coming from the back seat. I figured it was a fluke - just a good batch that day. But, subsequent trips have yielded the same result and this past Friday I picked up the kids and my 4 year old asked, "Can we go to the burger store?"<br /><br />Now if I could just get him to eat something other than french fries...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5930417491579022360?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-73805219790387034942008-09-29T15:43:00.001-04:002008-09-29T15:49:40.219-04:00<a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=43752332">So Many Faces</a><br/><object width="425px" height="360px" ><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="movie" value="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=43752332,t=1,mt=video"/><embed src="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=43752332,t=1,mt=video" width="425" height="360" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br /><br />The new video from Jarle Bernhoft with a peekaboo cameo by Jarle. There's also a dog that apparently didn't know the words. According to Amazon/CD Now, Jarle's album, "Ceramik City Chronicles," will be available October 7th.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7380521979038703494?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-37969560020628708512008-09-23T16:24:00.002-04:002008-09-23T16:45:06.761-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SNlQlP_qAyI/AAAAAAAAAnA/o_gWLVyB4P0/s1600-h/chickenfoot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249315441555931938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SNlQlP_qAyI/AAAAAAAAAnA/o_gWLVyB4P0/s400/chickenfoot.jpg" border="0" /></a> A little early to draw attention perhaps, but I recently read that the chickenfoot project was near completion with an album expected in early '09. The wha? Chickenfoot is the temporary name of a new, but aged, supergroup comprised of Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani and Michael Anthony. Oh, and that Chad guy (Sammy's neighbor and former RHCP drummer). The music is said to be blues-infused rock along the lines of early Zeppelin. That doesn't really grab me, but the personnel has my interest, so I'll be keeping an ear out for... whatever they end up calling themselves. Turkeytoes has a nice ring to it.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-3796956002062870851?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-80009369254955662232008-09-17T12:05:00.003-04:002008-09-17T12:15:05.080-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SNEq8-HIofI/AAAAAAAAAm4/4Sj6T2Ykrfc/s1600-h/brosbloomposter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247022267816780274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SNEq8-HIofI/AAAAAAAAAm4/4Sj6T2Ykrfc/s320/brosbloomposter.jpg" border="0" /></a> Maybe not a blockbuster, but <a href="http://www.brothersbloom.com/">The Brothers Bloom</a> (which comes out January 16th) looks promising. Rachel Weisz always gets a raised eyebrow from me - two when she's got an American accent and cute hair. And as much as I think this will be entertaining, the writer's next project is a reverse-Terminator type story called, "Looper," in which modern day hitmen take aim at targets sent from the future. I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for that one.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-8000936925495566223?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-44337233865803811912008-09-14T11:31:00.002-04:002008-09-14T11:46:11.881-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SM0uWTkisII/AAAAAAAAAmo/ri3Vp5hHT0c/s1600-h/underdog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245900101702037634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 208px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="228" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SM0uWTkisII/AAAAAAAAAmo/ri3Vp5hHT0c/s320/underdog.jpg" width="218" border="0" /></a> Some dogs get really anxious when storms approach because of increased static charge in the air. Some dogs feel this static in their coats and it makes them uneasy. Well, it turns out, "there's no need to fear." There is a product called Storm Defender, which is essentially a metallic-lined fabric cape, that sells for around $60 and claims to soothe the savage beast with repeated use. At the first hint of a thunderstorm, placing the cape around the dog's neck is said to disperse the static charge. Since freaking out over storms is a learned behavior, it may take a number of caped storms to reverse it. Crazy?<br /><br />Studies were done to test its claims which resulted in a surprising 70% success rate, with decreased anxiety with each use. Some dogs no longer needed the cape. Not all dogs feel the static charge and many are simply spooked by the thunder and lightning, but for those who suffer from storm static build-up anxiety (SSBUA - a completely fictitious disorder acronym), Storm Defender just may save the day.<br /><br />Like people needed a reason to put capes on their dogs.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-4433723386580381191?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-82060428063516043602008-09-12T15:51:00.003-04:002008-09-12T15:55:07.116-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://escape-game.com/dak_en.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245225435393915474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SMrIvjt_elI/AAAAAAAAAmg/Xx2jmVlDX68/s320/knt.gif" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://escape-game.com/dak_en.html">Escape</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-8206042806351604360?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-83612716573619153822008-09-09T23:02:00.004-04:002008-09-09T23:06:00.730-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SMc43vh0XkI/AAAAAAAAAmY/yMA3Ik9Aohg/s1600-h/eagleeye.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244222821398502978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SMc43vh0XkI/AAAAAAAAAmY/yMA3Ik9Aohg/s320/eagleeye.jpg" border="0" /></a>Click for the <a href="http://eagleeyefreefall.com/">Eagle Eye Adventure </a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-8361271657361915382?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-77869379871460707622008-09-06T16:48:00.003-04:002008-09-06T16:55:45.078-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SMLstySCY3I/AAAAAAAAAmI/zGJ59t_-f1c/s1600-h/drivethru.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243013187548373874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SMLstySCY3I/AAAAAAAAAmI/zGJ59t_-f1c/s320/drivethru.jpg" border="0" /></a> So, I pulled up to the menu board and placed my order. The cashier on the speaker said, "That'll be $5.35. Please pull up to the first window, M'am." <br /><br />M'am?<br /><br />Wifey said, snickering, "Did he just call you 'M'am'?"<br /><br />"Yes," I replied with a furrowed brow. "Yes, he did."<br /><br />So, I pulled up to the window. The window opened. The cashier guy said, "Hi, how are you today?"<br /><br />I mustered my deepest Captain Testosterone voice and bellowed, "Fine. How're you?" <br /><br />Last I checked, wifey was still laughing.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7786937987146070762?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-51613640849822372612008-09-06T16:39:00.002-04:002008-09-06T16:45:15.341-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SMLqrkNlZqI/AAAAAAAAAmA/1e1c4mJewdE/s1600-h/ike.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243010950388606626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SMLqrkNlZqI/AAAAAAAAAmA/1e1c4mJewdE/s320/ike.gif" border="0" /></a> It just doesn't pay to live in Louisiana in the 21st century. Slammed by Katrina, slapped by Gustav. Enter Ike to finish the job. Maybe we should ask France for a refund. After all, we do still have the receipt.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5161364084982237261?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-36396493639567245692008-09-06T16:32:00.002-04:002008-09-06T16:37:42.370-04:00<div align="left"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SMLpayYO0aI/AAAAAAAAAl4/swtEu8l4Mxc/s1600-h/100_3542.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243009562621956514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SMLpayYO0aI/AAAAAAAAAl4/swtEu8l4Mxc/s320/100_3542.jpg" border="0" /></a> Well, Microsoft certainly has nothing to fear from the "genuises" on their payroll at msnbc.com.<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-3639649363956724569?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-62236479116758001832008-09-04T19:29:00.002-04:002008-09-04T19:53:08.221-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SMBvqBSbEII/AAAAAAAAAlw/5c_OSyz-u-w/s1600-h/wasps.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242312733950152834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="197" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SMBvqBSbEII/AAAAAAAAAlw/5c_OSyz-u-w/s320/wasps.jpg" width="206" border="0" /></a>Scary movies don't scare me in the least, but flying, stinging insects? I want nothing to do with them. Well, several paper wasp nests have popped up around the perimeter of my house over the past month or two, and despite repeated requests to take care of them, I've kept putting it off. It's not because I'm lazy - I am that, but anything evil that can get to me before I have a chance to run away from it (aka scream) just scares the b'jeebies outta me.<br /><br />Well, earlier this evening, I finally mustered the "courage" to spray these nests, but despite the wasp killer's assurances that it could spray them from a thousand miles away and the victims would not have time to fax their families my description, I've been experiencing phantom stings and crawling ever since. I keep looking for marks, looking at the back of my shirt in the mirror... there's nothing there! But... but... there IS something creating those sensations. Of course, it's most likely psychological, but maybe... maybe little wasp spirits are enacting their revenge or something. I don't know. Maybe I need to go to the imaginary clinic to be treated for imaginary wasp stings. Maybe next time I'll call a pro to take care of it. Being stung in the wallet is much easier to take.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-6223647911675800183?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-19408696942013307082008-09-03T09:22:00.004-04:002008-09-03T10:25:30.034-04:00When I was in school, I always enjoyed walking into a classroom and seeing a projector set up. That meant a few things - 1) no lecture, 2) optional nap, 3) usually an interesting and, darn it, educational film. You remember 'em - here's how volcanoes work... (ooo, lava "that's hot!") ... wildlife of the Yukon... (wow! penguins only live in the southern polar region? neat!). Anyway, it's no surprise that films like those and the factory tours you used to see on Mister Rogers Neighborhood continue to suck me in to this day. When the kids really, really need to fall asleep at night we head straight for "How It's Made" on the Science Channel and they're usually out in seconds. I, however, am mesmerized.<br /><br /><div>In that fine tradition, I've recently become fascinated with a new program on Food Network called "Food Detectives with Ted Allen," which is essentially the Mythbusters of food. For those unfamiliar with Ted, think young Hugh Laurie, less British, less hetero. Anyway, last night's episode tested three popular food myths...</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SL6RFlnMOcI/AAAAAAAAAlY/KIMWhXMi6lE/s1600-h/poppy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241786541487700418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="200" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SL6RFlnMOcI/AAAAAAAAAlY/KIMWhXMi6lE/s200/poppy.jpg" width="141" border="0" /></a>First up: Eating poppy seeds will make you fail a drug test. </div><br /><div></div><div>I smirked and said, "there's no way." And then the results came in... The control tester just ate a plain bagel. Test results: negative. Our second tester ate one poppy seed bagel. Test results: POSITIVE based on old test levels, but negative using new test levels. The third tester ate a large slice of poppy seed cake. She tested positive under both the old and new levels. Further testing showed eating five poppy seed bagels would also fail using the new test levels. Good thing the average person doesn't set out to eat five poppy seed bagels in a sitting.<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SL6RQUo-BFI/AAAAAAAAAlg/GH4O2tPKoGU/s1600-h/saltines.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241786725910316114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 141px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 143px" height="105" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SL6RQUo-BFI/AAAAAAAAAlg/GH4O2tPKoGU/s200/saltines.jpg" width="127" border="0" /></a>Second myth: It is impossible to eat (and swallow) six saltine crackers in one minute.</div><div></div><br /><div>Surely, this is wrong. Six is not that many. However, after three test subjects attempted to prove otherwise, no one was able to consume more than 4 saltines in the one minute time period. Because of the saltine's unique dryness and the body's rate of saliva production, this one held up, however it was stated that it would not be impossible, but extremely difficult.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SL6RQpqEWJI/AAAAAAAAAlo/Gqgago2iVjA/s1600-h/KidsJumpingPool.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241786731552069778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" height="150" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SL6RQpqEWJI/AAAAAAAAAlo/Gqgago2iVjA/s200/KidsJumpingPool.jpg" width="200" border="0" /></a></div>Lastly: You will get cramps if you swim within 30 minutes of eating.</div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SL6RQpqEWJI/AAAAAAAAAlo/Gqgago2iVjA/s1600-h/KidsJumpingPool.jpg"></a> </div><div></div><div>A large number of test subjects ate and jumped right in and frollicked about with no ill effects. The theory was that the blood and oxygen going to work on digestion would be unavailable for the demands of swimmery (yeah, that's a word =P). This proved UNtrue, however, a very large meal followed by a lap across the English Channel is not recommended. </div><div> </div><div>The More You Know...<br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SL6RQpqEWJI/AAAAAAAAAlo/Gqgago2iVjA/s1600-h/KidsJumpingPool.jpg"></a> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-1940869694201330708?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-48379124926867223772008-09-02T18:12:00.004-04:002008-09-06T16:59:43.139-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://www.google.com/chrome/index.html?hl=en&amp;brand=CHMI&amp;utm_source=en-et&amp;utm_medium=et&amp;utm_campaign=en"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241550483637470610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SL26ZNl9BZI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/ioetzmwa7bc/s320/Google_Chrome_Logo.jpg" border="0" /></a> Click the image to test drive the beta release of Google's new-fangled open source web browser. It's certain to be great Googily moogily. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-4837912492686722377?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-48760514501646056552008-09-01T15:08:00.004-04:002008-09-01T15:22:14.464-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SLw92ged3OI/AAAAAAAAAlI/8fZjUso4gHs/s1600-h/whms2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241132072992365794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SLw92ged3OI/AAAAAAAAAlI/8fZjUso4gHs/s320/whms2.jpg" border="0" /></a> I'm not naive about the film industry's insistence on producing sequels ad nauseum - built-in audience, easy money - but some part of me wishes someone high in the ranks of the green light office would stand up and say, "No! We will NOT be making a sequel to this hit film, and that's final!!" Yet, I know no such person exists. Oil and water mix better than the words mogul and integrity. Undoubtedly, someone somewhere is already planning "Titanic: the prequel" and "The Eleven Commandments." Tsk, tsk.<br /><br />When will they learn that some sequels simply should not be made? I know, I know... *sigh*<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-4876051450164605655?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-7557312815717038502008-08-29T22:21:00.002-04:002008-08-29T22:31:13.465-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SLiu5evGF4I/AAAAAAAAAlA/fGC08LXsY8M/s1600-h/Sarah-Palin-Vogue.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240130468971943810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SLiu5evGF4I/AAAAAAAAAlA/fGC08LXsY8M/s320/Sarah-Palin-Vogue.jpg" border="0" /></a> I'd <em>like</em> to be able to say this is a spoof cover of Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin... but, uh... it's kinda not. Are you ready for this 44 year old former beauty queen with two years of experience - in Alaska - to be President of this country? From what I've read of her policies and stances on key issues, I'm far from being a fan. And after making such a big deal about Obama's lack of experience, what was McCain thinking?<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-755731281571703850?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-49057854908411332192008-08-21T11:03:00.004-04:002008-08-21T17:47:53.456-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SK2D4DZYknI/AAAAAAAAAk0/kkWdwMDKdoQ/s1600-h/jurassic.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236986940709442162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="253" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SK2D4DZYknI/AAAAAAAAAk0/kkWdwMDKdoQ/s320/jurassic.jpg" width="268" border="0" /></a> A&amp;E and Bravo. Cable networks that once targeted the educated sector of our population has, in recent years, opted to aim for the double-digit IQ demographic. I used to be a regular viewer of quality shows like <em>Inside the Actors Studio</em> and <em>Nero Wolfe, </em>but in 2008 we now have our choice of <em>Project Runway, Deadliest Catch</em> and <em>Ice Road Truckers</em>.<br /><br />This week on <em>Deadliest Catch</em>, a fishing boat is tossed about in stormy waters while its crewmen nearly kill each other with their carelessness, all in the name of putting seafood on our tables.<br /><br />Next week on <em>Deadliest Catch</em>, a fishing boat is tossed about in stormy waters while its crewmen nearly kill each other with their carelessness, all in the name of putting seafood on our tables.<br /><br />This week on <em>Ice Road Truckers</em>, trucks...drive on a road...made of ice.<br /><br />Next week on <em>Ice Road Truckers</em>, trucks...drive on a road...made of ice.<br /><br />At least The History Channel is still offering educational programming with shows such as <em>Jurassic Fight Club</em>. Oh, wait! Disregard that. I almost forgot. First rule of Jurassic Fight Club...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-4905785490841133219?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-11144485698002398142008-08-17T22:19:00.004-04:002008-08-17T22:38:52.350-04:00In the past month or so, there have been several occasions I've been out and about and encountered something that made me think I seriously need to start keeping my camera in the car. There was a mailbox not far from my house that I wanted to take a picture of - the post the mailbox was mounted to extended up a good 12-15 feet or so. On the mailbox at the standard delivery height was the word, "Checks." Farther up the post, out of reach, was another mailbox that read, "Junk Mail." And all the way at the top of the post was another mailbox that read, "Bills." It was clever and funny. It's been there for years. It's gone now.<br /><br />I see quirky things now and then - more frequently lately, it seems - quirky, funny (sign typos), serious (aftermath of a car accident), wildlife and nature. Today, for instance, I went to the local grocery store for milk and as I walked out to my car, there was a double rainbow. That's the kind of thing you e-mail to our local news stations and they show it during the broadcast. BUT, once again, I didn't have my camera. Of course, if I really was going to bring a camera with me, I'd need a nicer camera to capture these images. But, if I had a nicer camera, I wouldn't be inclined to keep it in my car, now would I?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-1114448569800239814?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-75251066564765609642008-08-16T18:23:00.002-04:002008-08-16T19:29:52.142-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SKdTt9BF7yI/AAAAAAAAAks/X75rq-Qp3Ts/s1600-h/extreme.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235245140779855650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SKdTt9BF7yI/AAAAAAAAAks/X75rq-Qp3Ts/s320/extreme.bmp" border="0" /></a> Last night was an increasing rarity for me - a hard rock concert. Still battling a seemingly endless sinus infection, I downed my antibiotics, but shunned the cough medicine so I could be conscious for the show at my favorite venue - the House of Blues at Downtown Disney near Orlando. When I heard one of my all-time favorite bands had reunited to release a new album and embark on their first tour in 13 years, it was an opportunity I simply couldn't pass up. What's that? One of my other favorite bands is the opening act? What's that? One of my favorite songwriters is also performing?<br /><br />Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp is something I had looked into years ago when I learned my idol, Lou Gramm, was participating in it. It's pricey, but worth it. Average people pony up a few thousand dollars to spend a week with well-known musicians who act as camp counselors coordinating small groups of campers of various musical abilities. They form bands and at the end of the week, perform live. Well, Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp decided to take their experience on the road, traveling to various cities doing one day camps. Last night, they opened the show at House of Blues. <br /><br />Much to my surprise, HoB is now smoke-free, which meant I could watch the show without burning eyes and respiratory distress - an unexpected bonus on the night. And because we bought reserve seats, we got to sit comfortably in the loge with bar service. At one point, a blonde woman tapped my shoulder and whispered into my ear, "I'll give you $80 if you say you're my friend." Ah, some enterprising young lady had usurped security and breached the loge. This was her ploy to get a prime seat. Unfortunately, we had to point out she was lacking the giant flourescent yellow patch everyone else was wearing and she'd be outta luck. She made the rounds, but I saw no takers. Oh, well. No love for the Sneetches with no stars upon thars.<br /><br />Among the counselors that performed:<br /><br />Gilby Clarke (Guns 'n' Roses)<br />Dave Ellefson (Megadeth)<br />Kip Winger (Winger)<br />Mark Slaughter (Slaughter)<br />Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple)<br />Chris Slade (AC/DC)<br />Elliot Easton (The Cars)<br />Earl Slick (David Bowie)<br /><br />Each group of amateurs performed a mini-set with their counselor before a grand finale comprised of all the counselors. Most of the campers were painfully bad, but there were exceptions, and it was fun. I got to enjoy the immensely talented Kip Winger, while Mrs. Gonzo got to drool over Mark Slaughter.<br /><br />After a surprisingly short break, King's X took the stage. And they sounded awesome. Such a wall of sound from one guitar and one bass. Singer/bassist dUg Pinnick had the whole building rumbling with just the most intense, penetrating bass sound ever heard and they put on a heck of a show, playing several tracks from their newest album, XV. I had seen them in 2000 and this band was on another level last night. Just fantastic.<br /><br />Between bands, we peeked over the balcony and noted an usually large group of bald heads. I surmised that they were all in hair bands 20 years ago and didn't get the memo about the ill effects of wearing the headkerchief.<br /><br />Another surprisingly short break (golf clap for the crew) and the insanely good Extreme came out and played like they were never gone, firing off killer songs one after another. It was an amazing set. Incredible playing. There truly is no better rock guitarist than Nuno Bettencourt. I told my wife they were playing two free shows at the New York State Fair in two weeks and she was ready to start packing.<br /><br />After the show, we walked around the side of the building and loitered briefly in the muggy Downtown Disney air. It wasn't long before dUg (yes, that's his name) came out and took a moment to sign autographs and talk to fans. I approached and shook the man's hand. Not wanting to gush too much, I simply told him that it was a great show (which it was) and I'm loving their new album (which I am). He thanked me, then made his way to his tour bus. Moments later, the drummer, Jerry, emerged. I called out to him and got a wave. Apparently the guitarist (Ty) was already on the bus. That's ok. I had chatted with him online before, so I'll still count it as a hat trick.<br /><br />At 1am, we strolled to the car and made the one hour trek home. Babies were asleep. Night owl Grandma was out as well. Much thanks go to Grandma, without whom I might never escape the house.<br /><br />As 40 looms closer, I was starting to wonder if my concert-going days were behind me. As I looked over at the Mrs. headbanging and pounding her fists into the air, it occurred to me that we're not done just yet.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7525106656476560964?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-74422175857655693402008-08-16T17:10:00.003-04:002008-08-16T17:17:56.427-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SKdCeFmRsLI/AAAAAAAAAkk/_wkW0DtBU3E/s1600-h/fay.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235226176507719858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SKdCeFmRsLI/AAAAAAAAAkk/_wkW0DtBU3E/s320/fay.gif" border="0" /></a> I effing hate Florida. Ya know where my house is? At the moment, it's on the perforated line denoting the expected path of Tropical Storm Fay, which may be a category 1 hurricane when it hits three days from now. It's most likely not going to run straight through, but in some ways straight through is better. If the storm continues to track to the west, then Tampa will be on the receiving end of the northeast quadrant of the storm, which is the worst possible part. I can only hope it adjusts enough to track further west and miss us, or take a quicker turn to the north and just give us a mega-rainy day. Did I mention I hate this state?<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7442217585765569340?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-60086011784944623752008-08-15T08:49:00.004-04:002008-08-15T09:04:00.162-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SKV7sUf5QYI/AAAAAAAAAkc/kFb3dxmQMW8/s1600-h/hbpposter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234726143235015042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SKV7sUf5QYI/AAAAAAAAAkc/kFb3dxmQMW8/s320/hbpposter.jpg" border="0" /></a> AARRRGHH!! They MOOOOVED the release date of the new Harry Potter movie from November to NEXT FRIGGIN JULY and for no good reason! Eight extra months of waiting just so they could release the thing during the summer! They weren't behind schedule or anything. GRRR!! You really shouldn't dangle a carrot in front of millions of starving rabbits and pull it away from them unless you want to lose an arm. A cruciatus curse upon them all!<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-6008601178494462375?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-88695370036459667582008-08-08T09:49:00.004-04:002008-08-08T10:17:11.164-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SJxO5YBqiNI/AAAAAAAAAkU/pbbXCeMtCD4/s1600-h/oldie+bunch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232143614706616530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SJxO5YBqiNI/AAAAAAAAAkU/pbbXCeMtCD4/s320/oldie+bunch.jpg" border="0" /></a> A somewhat surprising list of celebs who are still with us, despite rumors to the contrary.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Richard Anderson</span> (from OSI, not MacGyver)<br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Barbara Billingsley</span> (I speak Jive)<br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Ernest Borgnine</span> (of course he's still alive - he's part Borg)<br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Wilford Brimley</span> (m'diabetic testin' supplies...and a tasty way to do it)<br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Sid Caesar</span> (no relation to the salad)<br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Ann B. Davis</span> (did you know Alice's last name was Nelson?)<br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Doris Day</span> (que sera sera)<br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Phyllis Diller</span> (why do I suddenly want to watch H.R. Puf 'n' Stuf?)<br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Kirk Douglas</span> <span style="font-size:78%;">(must be fed intravenously because his teeth have been clenched since the '60s)</span><br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Peter Falk</span> ("there's just one thing that's been both'rin' me...")<br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Andy Griffith</span> (not Horatio, a ratio)<br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Jack Klugman</span> (Oscar!)<br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Angela Lansbury</span> (Ms. Teapot!)<br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Harry Morgan</span> <span style="font-size:78%;">(of M*A*S*H fame, which pioneered the use of extraneous* asterisks*)</span><br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Mickey Rooney</span> <span style="font-size:78%;">(we represent the lollipop guild... oh, wait - he only <em>looks</em> like a munchkin)</span><br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Jean Stapleton</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">("Oh, Ahchie... I don't like livin' alone 'n' sleepin' alone...")</span><br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Dick Van Dyke</span> (a Chitty actor... "OH, Roooooooooob!")<br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">Abe Vigoda</span> (Fish are immortal)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-8869537003645966758?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-70037231886458870522008-08-07T15:05:00.002-04:002008-08-07T15:22:06.230-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SJtHx6wtuTI/AAAAAAAAAkM/48zL41qIYsE/s1600-h/hadron+collider.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231854315033704754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SJtHx6wtuTI/AAAAAAAAAkM/48zL41qIYsE/s320/hadron+collider.jpg" border="0" /></a>In just 34 days, the tenth of September, at 3AM eastern time, CERN's $6B science project will begin its quest for answers to previously unanswerable questions. And while I don't believe the doomsday predictions tied to its operation, I wonder - wouldn't it be interesting if the original 'big bang' was a curious planet turning on a particle accelerator?<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7003723188645887052?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-50210482966754438372008-08-05T09:50:00.002-04:002008-08-05T10:16:05.358-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SJhayjMJ7nI/AAAAAAAAAkE/PrKdz29-teQ/s1600-h/beijing+smog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231030791677013618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SJhayjMJ7nI/AAAAAAAAAkE/PrKdz29-teQ/s320/beijing+smog.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">World's largest wad of duct tape</span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">The Olympics are upon us, and again, I don't really care, but something about it does warrant a blog blurb... blarg, if you will. Olympians train for months, years, decades to prepare for their opportunity to put their stamp on history and represent their countries as global ambassadors in the athletic competition of all athletic competitions. <cue></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Yes, hundreds of highly trained athletes treat their bodies like temples, watch what they eat and exercise more in a week than the average person does in a year. They are the epitome of health, the poster children for toxin-free living. And the Olympic Committee awarded the 2008 games to... Beijing? Really? You're going to take hundreds of the healthiest, most fit people on the planet and make them exert themselves... in Beijing?</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Even if you aren't offended by the Chinese government's policies toward their own people, not to mention the million or so tourists and press coming this week, it makes little sense to have the Olympics there. I suppose the threat of violence is present at every Olympics, but why does it feel like the Chinese aren't going to be able to prevent at attack? But, I'm getting off topic. The point is, the Olympic Committee decided to have the games in Beijing, one of the worst cities for air quality in the world.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">This made no sense to me until I saw the list of other sites considered:</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">- Chernobyl</div><div align="left">- A burping volcano</div><div align="left">- Venus</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Beijing was a fine choice. Too bad the massive influx into their economy won't go to the people living in the slums just yards away from the stadium. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">U! S! A! ... U! S! A! ... U! S! *cough* *cough* cough* *cough*<br /></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5021048296675443837?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-72898657793806841452008-07-31T09:18:00.003-04:002008-07-31T09:29:11.345-04:00<div align="left"><a href="http://popvssoda.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229167024229027778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SJG7tAZbj8I/AAAAAAAAAj8/XhfAczBVbdI/s400/softdrinktermmap.gif" border="0" /></a> Pop? Soda? Coke? How one refers to soft drinks varies depending on geography. Most of the south refers to any soft drink as a 'Coke.' The folks at Pepsi must love that.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">If you'd like to add to the data, click on the map.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7289865779380684145?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-92028461938058879292008-07-29T22:15:00.002-04:002008-07-29T22:23:40.653-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince/27063/main"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228626939651556594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SI_Qf8j4BPI/AAAAAAAAAj0/_Or6ewrROuw/s320/riddle.bmp" border="0" /></a> <div align="center"><a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince/27063/main">The teaser trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-9202846193805887929?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-67450012274497728392008-07-28T15:31:00.002-04:002008-07-28T15:40:46.750-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SI4en5wi31I/AAAAAAAAAjs/-hJJuq-0nDw/s1600-h/dnd+new+logo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228149888291888978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SI4en5wi31I/AAAAAAAAAjs/-hJJuq-0nDw/s400/dnd+new+logo.jpg" border="0" /></a> One of my favorite alt/hard rock bands, Dark new Day, has just put a bunch of new tracks on their <a href="http://www.myspace.com/darknewday">MySpace page</a> and man... they just reiterate how this band towers above every other in their genre. I can't tell you how agonizing it's been to have to wait for WB to get their act together on this thing and agree to release the album. I've been not so patiently waiting for official word, which is supposed to be forthcoming. In the meantime, I get to feast on these killer new songs. Come on, now. Give me a release date!<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-6745001227449772839?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-88499869967265063962008-07-28T14:50:00.002-04:002008-07-28T15:06:59.200-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SI4VC0M0b5I/AAAAAAAAAjk/htW4Rmdff5A/s1600-h/hsx+graph+072808.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228139355540058002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SI4VC0M0b5I/AAAAAAAAAjk/htW4Rmdff5A/s320/hsx+graph+072808.png" border="0" /></a> If only it were real money. The downside of participating in a fake stock market is that the dividends, no matter how great, don't put food on the table. It's still fun, though. In the past 60 days, my portfolio at the <a href="http://www.hsx.com/">Hollywood Stock Exchange </a>has climbed $40 million fake dollars to a new best of $387 million fake dollars. This is significant because it bumps me into an elite group - the top half of the top 1% on the entire exchange, which isn't bad, considering I'm just a casual trader of fake stock in future movie releases. This may be short-lived, though, because I insist on keeping my stock in <em>Star Wars: The Clone Wars</em>, even though it took an eleven dollar plunge today, costing me a million fake dollars. However, this may be offset by today's IPO purchase of <em>The Dark Knight Returns</em>, which is a sure bet to jump tomorrow.<br /><br />This is probably only interesting to me, but it's been a long while since my port was ranked that high and I questioned whether I'd ever reach it again. So, yay to me and my fake goals.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-8849986996726506396?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-76970487584553872732008-07-25T23:37:00.002-04:002008-07-25T23:58:23.856-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SIqcV1P47qI/AAAAAAAAAjc/17zREAZS4x8/s1600-h/popcorn.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227162216401792674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SIqcV1P47qI/AAAAAAAAAjc/17zREAZS4x8/s320/popcorn.jpg" border="0" /></a> Theater economics. Movies are setting revenue records every year, not because more people are going, but because ticket prices continue to climb. Add the unreasonably high expense of concessions to the tab and a couple hours of escapism comes with a hefty price tag.<br /><br />A holy crap fact: Movie popcorn comes with a 1300% mark-up, making it cost more per ounce than filet mignon.<br /><br />So, are the theater owners gouging moviegoers? Yes and no. To the consumer, it's obvious that concessions are ridiculously overpriced. But when you consider that 70% of the ticket price goes to the movie studio, there isn't much left for the theater owners to pay for employees, equipment and maintenance. The selling of concessions is the only thing that keeps the doors open. Could they sell concessions for sensible prices? Sure. But, then they'd have no recourse but to raise ticket prices to remain profitable.<br /><br />If you were faced with a $25 movie ticket versus today's $10-12 ticket with pricey (but optional) concessions, that $6 bottomless bucket of buttered puffs would suddenly seem more than fair.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7697048758455387273?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-2465782708695450092008-07-24T14:12:00.004-04:002008-07-24T14:36:13.063-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SIjGWUKXbDI/AAAAAAAAAjU/gD4DOAyiBpU/s1600-h/burn+notice.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226645454235069490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SIjGWUKXbDI/AAAAAAAAAjU/gD4DOAyiBpU/s320/burn+notice.jpg" border="0" /></a>One of the best shows on TV that you're probably missing is <span style="color:#ffcc66;">Burn Notice</span> (Thursdays at 10pm on USA). It stars Jeffrey Donovan as a spy who's been cut off from his employers by a mysterious organization that is using him as a puppet for an as yet unknown purpose. In between reluctant errands for the mystery organization, he and his accomplices - the delicious Gabrielle Anwar (yes, <em>that</em> Gabrielle Anwar) and Bruce Campbell - help others a la The A Team, minus Mr. T. It's smartly written, full of action and laughs and leaves you wanting more. Who knew the TV folks had it in 'em to air something this good?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-246578270869545009?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-32695858430089725322008-07-18T13:52:00.002-04:002008-07-18T14:17:06.555-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SIDYr9px-EI/AAAAAAAAAjM/5-6arXsr0vQ/s1600-h/mcnabb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224413817545553986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="213" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SIDYr9px-EI/AAAAAAAAAjM/5-6arXsr0vQ/s320/mcnabb.jpg" width="205" border="0" /></a> Pre-season football kicks off two weeks from Sunday, the sign I look for every year that says we're entering into the best part of the year. Football season means autumn is approaching and bringing with it all the hope, joy and optimism I inexplicably feel from mid-September to January. Cooler weather, Halloween, my birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas... Are you ready for some football? Go Eagles!<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-3269585843008972532?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-35860168193588895222008-07-13T15:41:00.004-04:002008-07-13T16:40:59.905-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SHparck5lhI/AAAAAAAAAjE/fYhhfIAtXk8/s1600-h/bmg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222586420341347858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SHparck5lhI/AAAAAAAAAjE/fYhhfIAtXk8/s320/bmg.jpg" border="0" /></a> My wife and I have reached that age when we no longer want to exchange birthday gifts that come in boxes covered in festive paper. We would prefer a memorable event. So, when my wife's birthday approached recently, she made it clear that she wanted one thing and one thing only - tickets to see the Blue Man Group. With Grandma on board to babysit, I ordered tickets for July 12th.<br /><br />"Best available seats," I told the ticket lady.<br /><br />"Are you familiar with the poncho zone?" she returned.<br /><br />"Uh...no," I replied suspiciously. "What's that?"<br /><br />"Rows AA-GG are at the very front of the stage and come with a complementary poncho, as guests in close proximity may occasionally get paint on them or foodstuffs used during the performance," she explained.<br /><br />Hmmm. I pondered that for a moment. Sounded like fun. Sounded like a lot of fun. BUT, I decided to play it safe.<br /><br />"What have you got in regular row A?"<br /><br />Tell me, then, how is it that I left the show with blue paint smeared across my white T-shirt, mysterious goo on my shirt and shoes, covered in streamers from head to toe and... a pair of drumsticks dangling from my ears? The answer is simple - It's Blue Man Group.<br /><br />We were all handed bits of streamer paper before the show began to "decorate" ourselves in BMG spirit. Mine went in a bow around my head, looking like I had a toothache in a Warner Bros. cartoon. Scrolling LED marquees offered bits of information about the show. All paper used in the show is 100% recycled, etc., etc. Early in the show came the goo - spewing out from the stage and overshooting the poncho zone by several rows. I felt the splatter. It looked like something you'd lick off the top of a maple danish. I resisted the temptation.<br /><br />Then, the mute, blue-headed trio left the stage and ventured out into the audience. One of the them approached me, played with my ear for a moment like a curious child, then took my hand and led me to a chair on the stage along with two other audience members. I sat in the middle, with no clue what was in store. I felt one of them putting something adhesive on my ears, and soon after they began a human sound effect symphony of sorts with the three of us, tugging on our ears in sync with specific noises. It wasn't until they were done, that the drumsticks appeared, hanging over my shoulders. They then took us by the hands and led us off stage to return to our seats.<br /><br />Late in the show, the guys headed for the back of the theater and began to unspool rolls upon rolls of crepe paper, pulling them over the heads of the entire audience. And it just kept coming. When you thought it was over, there was another wave of textiles washing over you. Good thing it was all recycled paper. When the end came and the lights came up, I looked around at the carnage and thought for a moment about my Rocky Horror days and how this theater made RHPS look like a tea party. The floor was a sea of paper, a foot thick. We waddled to the exits.<br /><br />I headed for a restroom to clean up a bit. While washing the blue from my hands and the goo from everywhere else, I paused in the mirror to look and the blue stained drumsticks sticking out of my pocket and reveled in the experience. A box covered in wrapping paper has got nothing on this.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-3586016819358889522?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-74462952271980036102008-07-10T09:45:00.004-04:002008-07-10T10:08:12.925-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SHYSzlAmTlI/AAAAAAAAAi8/ECjnBL-dSbg/s1600-h/jarle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SHYSzlAmTlI/AAAAAAAAAi8/ECjnBL-dSbg/s320/jarle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221381495299919442" /></a><br />Jarle Bernhoft. Former lead singer of a crazy good hard rock band from Norway called Span, this guy has transformed himself into the next Maroon5. His first solo album, "Ceramik City Chronicles" comes out next month, but sadly, you'll never hear about it here in North America. Finding Span CDs was a task, lemme tell ya. You'll probably have to find a shop in Oslo to order it from, but it'll be worth it. There's a track on his myspace page called <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=154835308">"Sunday"</a> that's catchy as anything on contemporary hit radio and "Streetlights" would undoubtedly be a sensation in the States if anyone in the music industry had the smarts enough to promote it.<br /><br />If you're a Maroon5 fan, give it a few listens and just try not to love it.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vIAZtdTgsWU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vIAZtdTgsWU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7446295227198003610?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-1976102093822023062008-07-08T22:49:00.003-04:002008-07-08T23:24:10.194-04:00(m word copied from juliet)<br /><br />1. Bold the ones you have seen.<br />2. Put an asterisk after the movie title* if you really liked it.<br />3. Cross it out if you saw a film and really disliked it.<br />4. Underline the ones you own.<br /><br />My stats:<br />Movies I've seen - 58/100<br />Movies really liked - 13/58<br />Movies disliked - 0/58<br />Movies owned - 15/100<a name="cutid1"></a><br /><br /><strong>1. Pulp Fiction (1994)<br />2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03)*<br />3. Titanic (1997)*</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">4. Blue Velvet (1986)</span><br /><strong><u>5. Toy Story (1995)*</u><br />6. Saving Private Ryan (1998)<br /></strong><span style="font-size:85%;">7. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)</span><br /><strong>8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)<br /><u>9. Die Hard (1988)*<br />10. Moulin Rouge (2001)</u><br />11. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)<br /><u>12. The Matrix (1999)*</u></strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">13. GoodFellas (1990)<br />14. Crumb (1995)</span><br /><strong>15. Edward Scissorhands (1990)<br /></strong><span style="font-size:85%;">16. Boogie Nights (1997)</span><br /><strong>17. Jerry Maguire (1996)<br /></strong><span style="font-size:85%;">18. Do the Right Thing (1989)</span><br /><strong>19. Casino Royale (2006)<br />20. The Lion King (1994)*<br />21. Schindler's List (1993)</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">22. Rushmore (1998)</span><br /><strong>23. Memento (2001)</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">24. A Room With a View (1986)</span><br /><strong>25. Shrek (2001)</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">26. Hoop Dreams (1994)</span><br /><strong>27. Aliens (1986)<br /></strong><span style="font-size:85%;">28. Wings of Desire (1988)</span><br /><strong><u>29. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)</u><br />30. When Harry Met Sally... (1989)</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">31. Brokeback Mountain (2005)<br />32. Fight Club (1999)</span><br /><strong>33. The Breakfast Club (1985)<br /></strong><span style="font-size:85%;">34. Fargo (1996)</span><br /><strong><u>35. The Incredibles (2004)</u><br />36. Spider-Man 2 (2004)<br /><u>37. Pretty Woman (1990)*</u><br />38. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)<br /><u>39. The Sixth Sense (1999)</u><br />40. Speed (1994)*</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">41. Dazed and Confused (1993)</span><br /><strong><u>42. Clueless (1995)*</u><br />43. Gladiator (2000)<br /></strong><span style="font-size:85%;">44. The Player (1992)</span><br /><strong>45. Rain Man (1988)<br />46. Children of Men (2006)<br /><u>47. Men in Black (1997)</u></strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">48. Scarface (1983)</span><br /><strong>49. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">50. The Piano (1993)<br />51. There Will Be Blood (2007)</span><br /><strong>52. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988)<br />53. The Truman Show (1998)<br />54. Fatal Attraction (1987)<br />55. Risky Business (1983)</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">56. The Lives of Others (2006)</span><br /><strong>57. There’s Something About Mary (1998)<br />58. Ghostbusters (1984)<br />59. L.A. Confidential (1997)<br />60. Scream (1996)<br />61. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">62. sex, lies and videotape (1989)</span><br /><strong><u>63. Big (1988)*</u></strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">64. No Country For Old Men (2007)</span><br /><strong>65. Dirty Dancing (1987)<br />66. Natural Born Killers (1994)</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">67. Donnie Brasco (1997)</span><br /><strong>68. Witness (1985)*</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">69. All About My Mother (1999)</span><br /><strong>70. Broadcast News (1987)<br />71. Unforgiven (1992)<br />72. Thelma &amp; Louise (1991)<br />73. Office Space (1999)</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">74. Drugstore Cowboy (1989)<br />75. Out of Africa (1985)<br />76. The Departed (2006)<br />77. Sid and Nancy (1986)</span><br /><strong><u>78. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)*</u></strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">79. Waiting for Guffman (1996)<br />80. Michael Clayton (2007)<br />81. Moonstruck (1987)<br />82. Lost in Translation (2003)<br />83. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)<br />84. Sideways (2004)</span><br /><strong>85. The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)</strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">86. Y Tu Mamá También (2002)<br />87. Swingers (1996)</span><br /><strong><u>88. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)*</u></strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">89. Breaking the Waves (1996)</span><br /><strong>90. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)<br /><u>91. Back to the Future (1985)**</u></strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">92. Menace II Society (1993)<br />93. Ed Wood (1994)<br />94. Full Metal Jacket (1987)<br />95. In the Mood for Love (2001)<br />96. Far From Heaven (2002)<br />97. Glory (1989)</span><br /><strong><u>98. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)</u><br />99. The Blair Witch Project (1999)<br />100. South Park: Bigger Longer &amp; Uncut (1999)</strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-197610209382202306?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-2062561829826007322008-07-08T11:06:00.002-04:002008-07-08T11:22:00.848-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SHOCr2YVPMI/AAAAAAAAAi0/JG7VwmrDADQ/s1600-h/judges.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220660082896092354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SHOCr2YVPMI/AAAAAAAAAi0/JG7VwmrDADQ/s320/judges.jpg" border="0" /></a> When my wife recently asked, "Mind if I change the channel?" I said, "Not at all... But, please... Nothing with a panel of judges!"<br /><br />It seems you can't flip through the channels anymore without hitting a half dozen competition shows with average joe contestants vying for something and having to get past the discerning eyes of a few people bestowed with the power to kill their dreams. Thank you, American Idol. We were apparently in need of televised approval from others and just didn't realize it.<br /><br />From Food Network to Celebrity Circus to Dancing with the Stars - hell, even The View - there's plenty of meaningless critiquing to go around. For dumbed down entertainment, try Wipeout. It's pointless and painful to watch, but the commentary is funny and the only judge is the clock.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-206256182982600732?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-81744935605723882222008-07-04T00:31:00.002-04:002008-07-04T02:12:58.433-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SG2nnPkRGMI/AAAAAAAAAis/fF1J66qLntU/s1600-h/shark-global-warming.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219011835827656898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SG2nnPkRGMI/AAAAAAAAAis/fF1J66qLntU/s400/shark-global-warming.jpg" border="0" /></a>I. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Fire in California</div><div align="center">record flooding</div><div align="center">record heat</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Ice in Greenland</div><div align="center">melting</div><div align="center">water flowing in the street</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Earth in Asia</div><div align="center">quaking</div><div align="center">buildings turned to rubble</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Mother Nature</div><div align="center">relishing</div><div align="center">man's self-imposed trouble</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">II.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Four dollar gasoline</div><div align="center">dollars worth cents</div><div align="center">foreign oil dependency</div><div align="center">makes no fiscal sense</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Staples on the rise</div><div align="center">crops of corn and wheat</div><div align="center">from cereal to pizza</div><div align="center">it's costing more to eat</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Corporations wavering</div><div align="center">stocks in great decline</div><div align="center">the only thing on the up and up</div><div align="center">the unemployment line</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">III.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Unauthorized conflicts</div><div align="center">Iraq, Afghanistan</div><div align="center">shades of Vietnam</div><div align="center">no extraction plan</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Thousands of sons and daughters lost</div><div align="center">needlessly broken forever</div><div align="center">sisters, brothers, fathers, mothers</div><div align="center">never again together</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">A losing proposition</div><div align="center">claimed to be a win</div><div align="center">acts in the name of freedom</div><div align="center">administration's spin</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">IV.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">What world will our children inherit?</div><div align="center">It chills me to the bone.</div><div align="center">Have we doomed them all to suffer?</div><div align="center">Would we have had them if we'd known?</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">The future is uncertain</div><div align="center">Will our joys outweigh the sorrow?</div><div align="center">Sleep well, son, and sleep well, daughter</div><div align="center">May your light make a bright tomorrow</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-8174493560572388222?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-55100403231797833202008-07-04T00:24:00.002-04:002008-07-04T00:29:18.114-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SG2mDRNopDI/AAAAAAAAAik/W5finhHvhZk/s1600-h/powerball.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219010118282683442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SG2mDRNopDI/AAAAAAAAAik/W5finhHvhZk/s400/powerball.jpg" border="0" /></a> Thought I'd have to move out of state to ever blow my money on Powerball, but it turns out Florida will become the 30th Powerball state in January. Woohoo!<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5510040323179783320?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-39450746791465583732008-07-03T12:52:00.003-04:002008-07-03T13:15:09.285-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SG0ECLAvbZI/AAAAAAAAAic/sA7SDO31fDg/s1600-h/cranes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218831978554420626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SG0ECLAvbZI/AAAAAAAAAic/sA7SDO31fDg/s400/cranes.jpg" border="0" /></a> For those unfamiliar with sand hill cranes, they often stand 5 feet or more and seem to prefer strolling down the street over flying. They nearly always travel in families (usually families of 3) and are fearless of man and machine. They'll cross the road and take their sweet time doing it. They're big, so they know people would rather wait than hit them. Conversely, people walking in the road used to get out of my way when my Pacifica came down the street. Now that I'm in a Mazda, they behave like the cranes. Mazda? Oh, you can wait.<br /><br />Well, recently the large birdies have been loitering in my neighborhood - more likely they lived here before the houses went up and came back wondering what the hell happened. The other morning there were 7 adults all grouped together a few houses down from mine snacking on whatever was crawling along the easement. Last weekend, after a heavy rain, I came home to find these two sitting in my yard. What's unusual is, they're sitting. I've never seen them sit before. They're always standing. It was a rare treat to have these majestic animals resting on my lawn, so I snapped this shot. The protective one (on the right) opened its mouth to me in disapproval. I explained I wasn't with TMZ and they needn't be concerned.<br /><br />I watched them for a while through my windows and once rested, they got up, stretched their long, spindly legs, then took a few quick steps, spread their massive wings and leapt into the air. Pretty cool thing to see. That's one thing in Florida's favor. Never a shortage of interesting wildlife encounters. Even at home.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-3945074679146558373?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-54531536887153964392008-06-24T09:08:00.005-04:002008-07-04T15:30:17.350-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SGDzK-QTjoI/AAAAAAAAAh0/PTLlsLKtRiM/s1600-h/syr1907a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215435738330664578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SGDzK-QTjoI/AAAAAAAAAh0/PTLlsLKtRiM/s320/syr1907a.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">Syracuse, N.Y., 1907</span></div><p>Genealogy is a hobby of mine. I've traced my wife's family tree back to the ninth century. I've had little success tracing my dad's side of the family, though, because it only takes 3 generations to find myself looking for records in a tiny Sicilian town that didn't anticipate anyone wanting to see their records. I've had some success tracing my mother's family and recently made a fascinating discovery. Fascinating to me, anyway.<br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SGDzLJ48u4I/AAAAAAAAAh8/k1RZeCCYwXo/s1600-h/syr.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215435741453925250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SGDzLJ48u4I/AAAAAAAAAh8/k1RZeCCYwXo/s320/syr.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Erie Canal at Clinton Square, 1909</span></p><p align="left">I had made a connection to a family by the name of Teall several months ago, but at the time, all I was doing was compiling names, dates and places. Over the weekend, I decided to see if I could find any history on the Tealls, because my grandmother lived off of Teall Avenue and I wondered if we were related to the Teall of Avenue fame.<br /></p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SGDzLJLn-ZI/AAAAAAAAAiE/LaUZkHrpp8U/s1600-h/syrfair1909.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215435741263821202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SGDzLJLn-ZI/AAAAAAAAAiE/LaUZkHrpp8U/s320/syrfair1909.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-size:85%;">New York State Fair</span></p><p align="left">Turns out, my great-great-great-great-great grandfather was Dr. Timothy Teall, a veteran of the Revolutionary War who fought at Lexington and Concord opposite his own father (AWKward). After the war, Timothy moved his family from Connecticut to central New York. He was one of the first physicians in a small town called Manlius, where he served in several different civic capacities, including assessor, town clerk, justice of the peace, magistrate and deputy sheriff. His grave is right across the street from a restaurant I frequented in my youth. </p><p align="left">While I descend from Timothy's son, Nathan, one of Timothy's other sons, Oliver, made his mark developing the eastern portion of Syracuse.<br /></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SGDzLR9rq0I/AAAAAAAAAiM/K1u-479JfB4/s1600-h/idiot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215435743621262146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SGDzLR9rq0I/AAAAAAAAAiM/K1u-479JfB4/s320/idiot.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-size:85%;">My summer camp</span></p><p align="left">Captain Oliver Teall was instrumental in the construction of the Erie Canal, producing lime used to make the cement for the face works, arches and locks. He was granted monopolistic control of Syracuse's water supply and also had a role in the completion of the railroad connecting Syracuse to Utica. He is credited as being one of the founding fathers of Syracuse. His house is a landmark.<br /></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SGDzLusiGuI/AAAAAAAAAiU/hG-AVMBgnmc/s1600-h/syru.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215435751333960418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SGDzLusiGuI/AAAAAAAAAiU/hG-AVMBgnmc/s320/syru.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Syracuse University</span></p><p align="left">I've always taken great pride in calling Syracuse my hometown, having spent most of my first 23 years in its suburbs. I've lived in Florida since 1992, but I visit as often as I can and that Syracusan pride wells up the moment I step off the plane there. I take even greater pride now, knowing my ancestors weren't just residents, they helped make it what it is today.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5453153688715396439?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-42871336545611802922008-06-24T08:51:00.002-04:002008-06-24T09:08:15.558-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SGDuDxYPmAI/AAAAAAAAAhU/-jSP3gM-9Xg/s1600-h/Spore_Creature_Creator.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215430117057075202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SGDuDxYPmAI/AAAAAAAAAhU/-jSP3gM-9Xg/s320/Spore_Creature_Creator.jpg" border="0" /></a> EA has released a free demo version of the Creature Creator portion of their highly anticipated game release, Spore. I took it for a test drive and found that the demo version has limited options, though you can pay $9.95 for the full version if you want to get a head start on making beasties. It was fairly easy to use and reasonably fun for a guy who's probably not in the game's demographic.<br /><br />Msnbc.com reported that, inevitably, people are already using the software to create "Sporn," creatures of a phallic, mammorical or otherwise R-rated nature. Fortunately, EA knew this was going to happen and built in controls to block offensive creatures from the games of impressionable children. That reminds me - this backward state known as Florida that repealed the motorcycle helmet law a few years ago (too safe, I imagine), has raised the fine for drivers of pick-up trucks who hang fake scrotums from their trailer hitches. Wow. What a world.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-4287133654561180292?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-63621382716306725022008-06-23T09:13:00.002-04:002008-06-23T09:23:27.699-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SF-hlrclInI/AAAAAAAAAhM/yi47xH-9zRY/s1600-h/George-Carlin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215064562208154226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SF-hlrclInI/AAAAAAAAAhM/yi47xH-9zRY/s320/George-Carlin.jpg" border="0" /></a>Legendary comic George Carlin has left the building. When I was a senior in high school, I saw him perform at the Landmark Theater in Syracuse. Uniquely talented, he was one of the pioneers of observational humor and provided so many big laughs my abs hurt just thinking about it. I still have a cassette copy of "A Place for My Stuff," and his material has stood the test of time. True genius.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-6362138271630672502?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-32450050055725432242008-06-23T08:52:00.002-04:002008-06-23T09:13:20.973-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SF-cryGjJ4I/AAAAAAAAAhE/R8-vc79BSpk/s1600-h/miley.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215059169515874178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SF-cryGjJ4I/AAAAAAAAAhE/R8-vc79BSpk/s320/miley.jpg" border="0" /></a> Our cable company has graciously (read as: sadistically) provided us with a free, on-demand video music channel that has a "Kids Only" section. In the "Pop Hits" subsection are a number of "kill me...kill me now" vignettes such as Crazy Frog's "Axel F," which my son plays over and over and over, Girl Authority, which is 9 teens and tweens that butcher popular songs with their Kidz Bop style, and le soup du jour, Hannah Montana. And as much as it pains me to say - me, Mister discerning musician and music snob - I actually <em>like</em> the Miley Cyrus song and video for "Start All Over." <br /><br />I don't care for Miley's voice (a teapot has more range), but dammit if that song isn't good - really good. And the video is really cool, too - made to look like one continuous shot and very well executed. My kids dance like crazy to it. I don't know who wrote the song...yet, but it gets worse... I've discovered I like 2 other Hannah/Miley songs. I have a good reason for liking one of them, though. I like the chorus of Hannah's "Rockstar." And while Miley's new single, "7 Things," is still teen fare and Avrilesque in the chorus, one of my favorite songwriters, Will Owsley, plays mandolin and guitar on it, as well as sings backing vocals. And, really, from a songwriting standpoint, it's kind of a mess, but some of the changes are quite nice. Bonus points for Will Owsley.<br /><br />I must go listen to prog now to wash off the shame.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-3245005005572543224?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-68888450717102662182008-06-18T15:51:00.005-04:002008-06-18T16:17:00.921-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SFltM07AAII/AAAAAAAAAg8/663nLCKuKN4/s1600-h/foreignertoolate.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213318110790025346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SFltM07AAII/AAAAAAAAAg8/663nLCKuKN4/s320/foreignertoolate.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SFloMBkzSmI/AAAAAAAAAgs/iGsKBjTdnfU/s1600-h/foreignertoolate.jpg"></a>It's been quite a week for new music. Not necessarily albums or even releases, but new songs from some of my most anticipated albums of the year have popped up in the past few days. The new Foreigner single, "Too Late," was the only one actually available for purchase, but thanks to MySpace, I've been able to enjoy brand new songs from Extreme ("Star") and The 88 ("Sons and Daughters") two months ahead of their August releases. And despite fall release dates, Dark New Day and Frost* have been treating fans to new material for months now. I've only heard snippets of the new Marillion, but making up for that was finding a great B-side from Orson's last album on drummer Chris Cano's page.<br /><br />And even better than being able to hear these songs is the rare and beautiful fact that the songs are actually good! Some are better than others, but all are really quite lovely and exceed expectations, for which I'm grateful and now even more jazzed for the albums.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SFloMWDNEzI/AAAAAAAAAg0/t_lbWbpeFcM/s1600-h/extreme+saudades+cover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213312604944798514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="235" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SFloMWDNEzI/AAAAAAAAAg0/t_lbWbpeFcM/s320/extreme+saudades+cover.jpg" width="232" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-6888845071710266218?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-42527590937956516422008-06-07T11:33:00.007-04:002008-06-07T11:49:40.446-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SEqsEAQjv3I/AAAAAAAAAgU/ZTLejwPQNUI/s1600-h/hedley.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209165103796305778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SEqsEAQjv3I/AAAAAAAAAgU/ZTLejwPQNUI/s320/hedley.jpg" border="0" /></a> Harvey Korman - May 29, 2008</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SEqrf6IRd8I/AAAAAAAAAfs/2yNMdGIANuY/s1600-h/bo_diddley.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209164483675649986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SEqrf6IRd8I/AAAAAAAAAfs/2yNMdGIANuY/s320/bo_diddley.jpg" border="0" /></a> Bo Diddley - June 2, 2008</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SEqrfy9Mp7I/AAAAAAAAAf0/65U-A-Lb_Z4/s1600-h/dick+martin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209164481750149042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SEqrfy9Mp7I/AAAAAAAAAf0/65U-A-Lb_Z4/s320/dick+martin.jpg" border="0" /></a> Dick Martin - May 24, 2008</p><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SEqrgCKW6oI/AAAAAAAAAgE/7a20qtXlpRQ/s1600-h/jim-mckay.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209164485831879298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SEqrgCKW6oI/AAAAAAAAAgE/7a20qtXlpRQ/s320/jim-mckay.jpg" border="0" /></a> Jim McKay - June 7, 2008</p><p align="center"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SEqrgaivgHI/AAAAAAAAAgM/gPQ0UG6oY94/s1600-h/spollock2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209164492376604786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SEqrgaivgHI/AAAAAAAAAgM/gPQ0UG6oY94/s320/spollock2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Sydney Pollack - May 26, 2008<br /></p><p>As you get older, so do the iconic figures who preceded you, inspired you, entertained you. And inevitably, they eventually pass on. The odd thing is, when it happens, it seems to happen in spurts. Case in point, five icons in various fields have all passed in the past two weeks. Every day there are fewer people older than you. It's one of those harsh realities of life that we all have to accept, but it still smarts when they go.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-4252759093795651642?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-19980587036586987282008-06-01T14:18:00.004-04:002008-06-07T01:04:13.922-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SELoBcpWcWI/AAAAAAAAAe8/LIVxEN8_aGE/s1600-h/hill+valley.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206979230760857954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SELoBcpWcWI/AAAAAAAAAe8/LIVxEN8_aGE/s400/hill+valley.png" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> "Yeah, kid. Twenty three years from now, fire is gonna damage that clocktower and destroy most of Hill Valley Square."</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">"That's heavy. Hey, aren't you the guy who voiced Roger Rabbit?"</span> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">*Update: Fortunately, about half of the buildings were spared and the courthouse was not damaged as previously reported. Whew!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-1998058703658698728?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-85490132725693381312008-05-31T07:42:00.004-04:002008-05-31T22:35:04.500-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SEIKnt0SUZI/AAAAAAAAAe0/g0qtUrFUfGk/s1600-h/my+mazda5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206735796623790482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SEIKnt0SUZI/AAAAAAAAAe0/g0qtUrFUfGk/s400/my+mazda5.jpg" border="0" /></a>To conclude my ongoing series of new car search posts, a dark horse has emerged to claim victory. My list was narrowed down to the Mazda CX-9, the Mazda CX-7 and the Dodge Journey. I test drove the Journey a month or so ago and, although it has some really neat features, it still had the uninspiring feel of a Dodge. I was disappointed that Chrysler didn't have anything to replace my Pacifica and had to break the news to my long time car guy that unless he could make a Sebring wagon appear out of thin air, I was going elsewhere.<br /><br />Soooo... Last week I went to Mazda and sat in the CX-7 to remind myself why I had previously ruled it out. The moment I smacked my head on the top of the door frame, I remembered. On to the CX-9. I test drove it, and it was like driving on a cloud - smooth, lovely, cool gizmos. My head had a little more clearance, but not much - even with the seat lowered. It's a very nice car, but nearly as big as the Pacifica, only slightly better gas mileage and a sticker price that would choke my finances. I would still buy it in a heartbeat if I was swimming in money.<br /><br />Back to square one, then? Not so fast. Another Mazda model had caught my eye in the past month or so, the Mazda5. It's like a minivan, but even mini-er. I got in. TONS of headroom. I could have worn a top hat and still had room to spare. It's certainly not the most luxurious, but it is sharp, functional for one with two small children, roomy interior, turns on a dime, reasonable price and gets about 10mpg <em>more</em> than the Pacifica. In other words, we have a winner.<br /><br />Search over. Zoom zoom.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-8549013272569338131?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-29850528001734375052008-05-23T11:40:00.003-04:002008-05-23T11:56:16.893-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SDblj05QbTI/AAAAAAAAAek/1YFnfw4yg2g/s1600-h/benbuttonbook.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203598823130164530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SDblj05QbTI/AAAAAAAAAek/1YFnfw4yg2g/s400/benbuttonbook.jpg" border="0" /></a>While I am no fan of Brad Pitt, I don't particularly <em>dis</em>like the guy. Nor should I. After all, he has generously, for better or worse, decided to give me <em>two</em> Christmas presents this year. As I am like a Pavlovian dog when the subject is time travel, I have two doggie treats coming my way - "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," starring Brad Pitt as a man who ages backward and the Brad Pitt produced, "The Time Traveler's Wife," starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams. This is one time that I actually hope they do radically alter the story, as the book was dismal.<br /><br />Ironically, the timing of their releases is a curious case. These two time travel tales will be released a week apart. It would seem counterproductive to put them up against each other like that. It can only hurt the ticket sales for both, but I won't complain -- gift horse, and all that. So, uh, thanks, Brad. Sorry, I didn't get you anything.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-2985052800173437505?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-51103494937889693652008-05-19T21:13:00.003-04:002008-05-19T21:23:01.548-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SDIl7Vrxq2I/AAAAAAAAAec/l_ADEe_hQKU/s1600-h/phoenix.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202262220929608546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SDIl7Vrxq2I/AAAAAAAAAec/l_ADEe_hQKU/s400/phoenix.jpg" border="0" /></a>**Nerd Alert**<br />From the ashes of the Mars Polar Lander mission, which suffered from a "failure to communicate" upon entry into the Martian atmosphere 8 1/2 years ago, comes its replacement - the Phoenix. The Phoenix is set to land in the Martian Arctic region (Marctic?) around 7:53PM this Sunday, May 25th. The Science Channel will cover the event live starting at 7PM. Fo mo info, check out the <a href="http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/">University of Arizona's mission site</a>.<br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5110349493788969365?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-1964731602365670732008-05-15T23:45:00.003-04:002008-05-16T00:44:25.469-04:00<div align="left"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SC0Dm1rxq1I/AAAAAAAAAeU/FFguaA53_i8/s1600-h/lifeonmars.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200817110463392594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SC0Dm1rxq1I/AAAAAAAAAeU/FFguaA53_i8/s400/lifeonmars.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">"Life on Mars" (ABC)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span> </div><div align="left">The fall TV scheds are in, bringing with them a mix of anticipation and sadness. Gone is my favorite show of last season, "Journeyman," and one of the few new sitcoms that were fresh and consistently good, "Carpoolers." Some shows will be absent until January, including (but not limited to) Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse," "According to Jim," "Lost" and, of course, "24."</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I'm happy to see the returns of "Chuck," "Heroes," "House," "Amazing Race" and "Big Bang Theory." I'll still tune in to "Deal or No Deal," "Smallville" and "How I Met Your Mother." Among the new crop, I plan on checking out J.J. Abrams' "Fringe," the Jerry O'Connell/Niecy Nash sitcom (tentatively titled) "Do Not Disturb" and "My Own Worst Enemy." I'll probably try out "Eleventh Hour," "The Ex List," "The Mentalist" and "Worst Week."</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I'm reluctant to get attached to anything, though, because the networks tend to pull the rug out from under everything I like, but time will tell. In the meantime, here's the rundown:</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">SUNDAYS</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#ffcc66;">8:00</span></strong> </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Amazing Race (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Sunday Night Football (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Simpsons (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">8:30</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">King of the Hill (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">9:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Desperate Housewives (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Cold Case (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Family Guy (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">9:30</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">American Dad (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">10:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Brothers and Sisters (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Unit (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">MONDAYS</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">8:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dancing with the Stars (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Big Bang Theory (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Chuck (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Gossip Girl (CW)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">8:30</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">How I Met Your Mother (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">9:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Two and a Half Men (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Heroes (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Prison Break (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">One Tree Hill (CW)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">9:30</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Samantha Who? (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Worst Week (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">10:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Boston Legal (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">CSI: Miami (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">My Own Worst Enemy (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">TUESDAYS</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">8:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Opportunity Knocks (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">NCIS (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Biggest Loser (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">House (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">90210 (CW)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">9:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dancing with the Stars (results) (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Mentalist (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Fringe (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Surviving the Filthy Rich (CW)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">9:30</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Kath &amp; Kim</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">10:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Eli Stone (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Without a Trace (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Law &amp; Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">WEDNESDAYS</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">8:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Pushing Daisies (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Knight Rider (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Bones (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">America's Next Top Model (CW)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">8:30</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Project Gary (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">9:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Private Practice (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Criminal Minds (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Deal or No Deal (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Til Death (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Stylista (CW)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">9:30</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Do Not Disturb (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">10:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dirty Sexy Money (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">CSI: NY (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lipstick Jungle (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">THURSDAY</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">8:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Ugly Betty (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Survivor (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">My Name is Earl (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Moment of Truth (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Smallville (CW)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">8:30</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">30 Rock (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">9:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Grey's Anatomy (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">CSI (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Office (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Kitchen Nightmares (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Supernatural (CW)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">9:30</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Office/SNL Specials (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">10:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Life on Mars (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Eleventh Hour (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">ER (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">FRIDAYS</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">8:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Wife Swap (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Ghost Whisperer (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Crusoe (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Everybody Hates Chris (CW)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">8:30</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Game (CW)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">9:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Supernanny (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Ex List (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Deal or No Deal (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Don't Forget the Lyrics (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">America's Next Top Model (encore) (CW)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">10:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">20/20 (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Numb3rs (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Life (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">SATURDAYS</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#ffcc66;">8:00</span></strong><br />College Football (ABC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Crimetime (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dateline (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">COPS (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">8:30</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">COPS (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">9:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Crimetime (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Knight Rider (encore) (NBC)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">America's Most Wanted (FOX)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffcc66;">10:00</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">48 Hours (CBS)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Law &amp; Order: SVU (encore) (NBC)</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-196473160236567073?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-18844204192237443292008-05-07T10:38:00.003-04:002008-05-07T10:56:02.166-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SCG_DnAyvsI/AAAAAAAAAeM/8DPTSEXfph8/s1600-h/dumbledore.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197645513695084226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/SCG_DnAyvsI/AAAAAAAAAeM/8DPTSEXfph8/s400/dumbledore.jpg" border="0" /></a> Ya gotta love Florida. Just in the past two months 4 local sex education teachers have lost their jobs. Granted, that was because they were hired to be math and english teachers, not to deflower their teen students, but still. Apparently, Florida frowns on more than teacher-student sex, because a fifth Florida teacher has just lost his job. The school district sent him packing, charged with...wizardry. Yes, wizardry. Seems the substitute made a toothpick disappear and then reappear in front of his class, a simple slight of hand trick for even novice illusionists. Then, he got the call from his boss telling him his teaching services would no longer be needed. He fears this incident may hurt his chances for future employment. He may be right. I think even Hogwarts recognizes a cheap parlor trick when they see one. That's why there are no respectable wizard schools around here. Floridian muggles. Maybe he could send his resume to Durmstrang.<br /><br /><br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-1884420419223744329?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-87153206799474173692008-04-01T13:47:00.002-04:002008-04-01T14:25:13.963-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/R_J1bxPZRPI/AAAAAAAAAd8/RRTS4llXg-E/s1600-h/qos.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184335240991687922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/R_J1bxPZRPI/AAAAAAAAAd8/RRTS4llXg-E/s400/qos.jpg" border="0" /></a> Considering we weathered a 100 day writers' strike that left us dazed this past winter, I'm completely blown away, not by the number of anticipated films coming out this year, but the collective caliber of them. <br /><br />2008 isn't the year of Indiana Jones or Batman or Pixar or Shyamalan or Will Smith or The X-Files or The Mummy or James Bond or Harry Potter...<br /><br />It's not the year of OR, it's the year of AND. <br />ALL of those icons are to hit the big screen in the next 8 months. This is great and horrible. OH, so great because, well... LOOK at 'em all! However, there may be too many. Some of these films may cut into each other's business. And how am I supposed to find a babysitter that many times?? I'll be lucky if I get to see one! No, that can't be. I must see them all. Must. All.<br /><br />So, it's shaping up to be one heck of a year for movies. If Star Trek hadn't been bumped, I might've had to pee myself. But, what about music? Same thing. Many of my favorites are releasing new material this year, some for the first time in many years.<br /><br />Foreigner (favorite band of the '70s, 1st new album in 14 years)<br />Def Leppard (favorite band of the '80s, 1st new album in 6 years)<br />Extreme (one of my favorite bands of the '90s, 1st new album in 13 years)<br />Marillion (one of my all-time favorite bands)<br />Dark New Day (one of my favorite bands of the '00s)<br />Frost* (favorite band of the moment, I just discovered them this year)<br /><br />There are a handful of others, too, but wow to so much highly anticipated music.<br /><br />I can't think of a more exciting, jam-packed year for entertainment in recent memory. The fun kicks off in 4 weeks. I hope I last that long.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-8715320679947417369?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-42528576058209137972008-03-31T14:23:00.002-04:002008-03-31T14:28:05.552-04:00<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/R_EsUxPZROI/AAAAAAAAAd0/PsA0zFIocn8/s1600-h/xfiles2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183973381407065314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/R_EsUxPZROI/AAAAAAAAAd0/PsA0zFIocn8/s400/xfiles2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">X-Files 2 teaser poster</span><br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-4252857605820913797?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-76756597806374793422008-03-12T19:17:00.002-04:002008-03-12T19:23:59.980-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/R9hkx3_hQUI/AAAAAAAAAa8/Q2-J0Aj5BiA/s1600-h/deathly-hallows-cover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/R9hkx3_hQUI/AAAAAAAAAa8/Q2-J0Aj5BiA/s320/deathly-hallows-cover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176998579669123394" /></a><br /><br />Finally, the folks behind the Potter movies have done something they should have done a long time ago. The seventh and final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will be split into TWO separate films, Part I and Part II. They will be shot concurrently, with Part I debuting in November 2010 and Part II in May 2011. Yay!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-7675659780637479342?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-49739754170075656382008-03-12T00:56:00.003-04:002008-03-12T01:06:31.563-04:00<script src= "http://flash.revver.com/player/1.0/player.js?mediaId:719432;width:367;height:300" type="text/javascript"></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-4973975417007565638?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15431329.post-58278481179033765562008-03-07T13:54:00.003-05:002008-03-07T13:57:22.819-05:00<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/R9GPpH_hQTI/AAAAAAAAAa0/XdGjJOxSU8w/s1600-h/def+lep+sparkle+lounge.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175075383508287794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TiWtlNpArAg/R9GPpH_hQTI/AAAAAAAAAa0/XdGjJOxSU8w/s320/def+lep+sparkle+lounge.jpg" border="0" /></a> Check out the new single from Def Leppard, featuring Tim McGraw:<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTHjnoiBH1Y">Nine Lives</a><br /><br />Oh, and I love the radio announcer's accent at the end. Sounds like he says, "nih fih dif lipit."<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/15431329-5827848117903376556?l=egoverum.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>AJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031380659904392140noreply@blogger.com0