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November 21, 2008
 
LIFE on Google
I've been very busy at work and at home, leaving me little time to put together even mildly interesting posts. Hopefully as this project enters it's final stage, things will open up and I won't be working quite so much and can spend more time writing.

In the meantime, I found this bit of news so interesting that I couldn't not post about it.

LIFE magazine is working with Google to make all of their photographs available online, and they have a fair amount of the images ready to be searched on.

Dick Butkus of the Chicago Bears
The catalog of photographs include those that were published in the magazine, and plenty that never made their way into the magazine. I've had fun just randomly searching through the catalog of photos. Tons of great images and photographs.

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posted by Brendan | 10:54 PM | permanent link |




November 19, 2008
 
Celebrating Zoolander Style
It's been years since I saw Zoolander, but I vaguely recall a scene similar to the one below.

Obviously someone else had a much more vivid recollection of the film and decided to have some fun with it.

all the gang is there


Every time I look at the Joe Biden face I laugh.

I don't know if it's the goofy-ass smile alone or the combination of that cheesy smile and the motion of the body.

There is also a version based on The Dark Knight. It's not as funny as the Obama Fun Machine, but I offer it up because I love the move.

why did they let the Joker drive?

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posted by Brendan | 11:27 AM | permanent link |




November 12, 2008
 
Why I Never Went Into Logistics
screen shot of the tracking recordWe ordered new water filters for our refrigerator from a company online because 1) Sears no longer carried the filters in their store and 2) we could get them cheap by order in bulk from a trade supplier.

The company supplied a tracking number for our shipment, which I have been clicking on daily so I can see where our filters are.

(I totally geek-out on the use of tracking numbers. Check them constantly. Call Heather when I know the package is about to be delivered. Yes, I’m a dork.)

What I can’t figure out is why something leaving Indianapolis, IN would go all the way up to New Berlin, Wisconsin – a town 26 miles west of Milwaukee – when its intended destination is just outside of Chicago - a town 100 miles closer to Indy than Milwaukee is.

They drove right past us.

and who wants to go to Milwaukee anyway?I’m sure FedEx has worked out all the logistics of shipping and there’s a reason our package didn't stop in Chicago, but it’s a mystery to me. Ultimately I don't care, just as long as Heather and I get our water filters.

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posted by Brendan | 10:12 PM | permanent link |




November 06, 2008
 
Because It's My Birthday And I'll Post This If I Want To


Not much of a Guitar Hero fan, but I like Heidi Klum.

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posted by Brendan | 8:48 PM | permanent link |


 
The Election Results That Really Matter
Frankly, I expected bacon to win by a larger margin.

bacon vs fries

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posted by Brendan | 8:42 PM | permanent link |




November 05, 2008
 
Birthday Cake Idea
Heather, I know this is sorta last minute, but I found the birthday cake I would like to have this year.

The kids at Confetti Cakes already made one, so you pretty much just need to replicate their handy work. I know you are up to the challenge.

LEGO Batman cake

Oh, it took them 12 days to build the cake. But you work fast, I'm confident it won't take you that long.

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posted by Brendan | 1:04 PM | permanent link |




November 04, 2008
 
Write This One Down. It’s A Good One.
Today is Irish comedian Hal Roach’s birthday.

cover to Hal Roach albumWhen my brother and I were little, my grandparents used to play Hal Roach comedy albums for us all the time. Roach’s humor is (was?) somewhat goofy and certainly corny; perfect for impressionable 7 and 8 year-old boys. The subject of his comedy was mainly Irish life – at least the mildly stereotypical Irish life, that was structured around short stories with a few one-liners thrown in for good measure. My brother and I ate his comedy up. We memorized his routines and could do all of his jokes.

Time has worn some of those jokes from my memory, but I surprised myself by referencing one of Roach’s jokes while talking with a co-working this afternoon. After explaining who Hal Roach was and supplying some more examples of his jokes (the co-worker wasn’t too impressed), I decided to see what I could find on the web regarding Roach.

Not entirely surprisingly, there was very little information to be found regarding Roach. His Wikipedia entry is barely a few paragraphs long and there doesn’t seem to be anything else out there besides stores selling one or two of his albums. No personal website. No news. No anything.

All I was really able to learn was that today is his birthday.
So, happy birthday Hal Roach.

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posted by Brendan | 8:41 PM | permanent link |




November 03, 2008
 
Butterfinger Debate
Heather and Ian love Butterfinger candy bars. I can't get past the unnatural orange glow the inside of the candy gives off.

Today's Sheldon comic strip celebrates this difference of opinion.

Sheldon comic for 11.03.08

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posted by Brendan | 10:43 AM | permanent link |




October 31, 2008
 
Life Imitating Art - Unfortunately
This was the front page of The Onion back in May 1993.

The Onion from May 29, 1993
Replace Roy the Forklift drive with Joe the Plumber, and Rush Limbaugh with any recent McCain campaign rally, and the story still reads true.

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posted by Brendan | 12:48 PM | permanent link |




October 25, 2008
 
New Medical News
I don't think I even have to write a joke for this one.
The Stink in Farts Controls Blood Pressure

A smelly rotten-egg gas in farts controls blood pressure in mice, a new study finds.

The unpleasant aroma of the gas, called hydrogen sulfide (H2S), can be a little too familiar, as it is expelled by bacteria living in the human colon and eventually makes its way, well, out.

The new research found that cells lining mice's blood vessels naturally make the gas and this action can help keep the rodents' blood pressure low by relaxing the blood vessels to prevent hypertension (high blood pressure). This gas is "no doubt" produced in cells lining human blood vessels too, the researchers said.
I'm thinking my kids won't ever have to worry about having high blood pressure.

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posted by Brendan | 6:55 PM | permanent link |




October 22, 2008
 
Why I'll Never Get TiVo

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posted by Brendan | 11:00 PM | permanent link |




October 17, 2008
 
It Really Can Fix Anything
Duct Tape Bandages

Real men use duct tape bandages

Buy 'em at Amazon.com

Now if I can only find some weather stripping made out of newspaper . . .

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posted by Brendan | 12:59 PM | permanent link |




October 16, 2008
 
Figured It Out
I thought something about this Presidential campaign between John McCain and Barack Obama seemed familiar. This little piece of artwork finally put the pieces together for me.

Batmobama & Robiden

The 2008 Presidential campaign is an re-tread of an episode of the 1960's Batman TV show. Look, the campaign is even copying the debate.


Can't way to see who shows up to play the Cesar Romero as Joker character to counter Obama/Batman and McCain/Penguin.

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posted by Brendan | 10:50 PM | permanent link |




October 09, 2008
 
Dark Knight Mashup
I don't know if this video mash-up of the audio from The Dark Knight movie trailer with video from Toy Story 2 is new or old, but it's been making the rounds on the blogs I read lately.

Not only is the mash solid, the result is damn funny.


Watching this reminds me how much I enjoyed The Dark Knight and how eager I am to see it again.

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posted by Brendan | 4:34 PM | permanent link |




October 07, 2008
 
Best Insurance Commerical Ever
Mostly because those damn cavemen aren't in it.

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posted by Brendan | 9:55 AM | permanent link |




September 30, 2008
 
As If They Needed Encouragement
After Heather and I moved to Chicago and were preparing to celebrate our first Christmas with our 1 year-old son, Ian, in our new house, my Mom asked if she could come over Christmas morning to watch Ian open the presents Santa had brought him.

Ian is my Mom's first grandchild, so she tends to get a little over-excited about some of the things he does.

I politely turned her down, stating that Heather and I wanted Christmas morning to be for just our immediate family and I reminded her that we would be coming over to her house later in the day for dinner, etc. She would have plenty of opportunities to watch Ian experience the joys of Christmas as a young child.

Well, what if she still came over Christmas morning but stood outside and peaked in through the window, was the counter-proposition.

I always assumed she was joking about standing outside and looking in the through the window, but to be honest, I was never quite certain on that.

If a new report from the Australian government concerning the role of grandparents in the development and well-being of their grandchildren had been released before that Christmas, there probably wouldn't have been any way of deterring her.
Grandparents play a critical role in their grandchildren's lives, helping boost their development even through simple activities such as reading to them or going shopping together, an Australian study said.
With those stats at her disposal, I probably would have had to chase her away with a broom or install blackout curtains that Christmas morning so many years ago.

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posted by Brendan | 12:02 PM | permanent link |




September 26, 2008
 
History of Internet Memes
This is a fantastic piece of work.

An interactive walk-through of the major Internet memes that have been distracting us from our work ever since we discovered the Web.

I remember plenty of the early stuff from the late 90's through 2004, but after that the volume of stuff coming out makes it almost too much to keep up with.

history of Internet memes

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posted by Brendan | 12:50 PM | permanent link |




September 18, 2008
 
How Many Dots?
Not only is this challenging, its a great way to kill time.

Testing Your Approximate Number Sense

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posted by Brendan | 4:46 PM | permanent link |




September 16, 2008
 
Inside the McKillip Castle
Came across two pieces of comic art that I think accurately captures what an evening at home in the McKillip Castle with Heather and I is usually like.

But it is usually a Batman comic that I'm reading

And Heather doesn't have to ask me to take the garbage out
They aren't perfectly representative of course.

Heather doesn't smoke and she doesn't have to ask me to take the garbage out. I'm more than eager to throw things out of our house. But I think you get the idea.

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posted by Brendan | 10:33 PM | permanent link |


 
Quit Your Belly Aching
I want a set to hang at home.
i love these prints

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posted by Brendan | 8:31 AM | permanent link |




September 05, 2008
 
Bill and Jerry
I understand that reaction to the new Jerry Seinfeld – Bill Gates commercial for Microsoft has been rather cold since it debuted last night.

I saw the spot when it aired during the Redskins-Giants game and thought it was pretty funny. The commercial didn’t do much to get me interested in the Windows operating system, but the banter between Gates and Seinfeld made me laugh. Churros, Conquistadors, showering with your clothes on – I thought it was great.

they run tight

According to a Microsoft marketing big-wig, the 90-second spot is supposed to be a "teaser." I guess that means there will be more to come from new best buds Bill and Jerry.

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posted by Brendan | 4:51 PM | permanent link |




September 03, 2008
 
Greatest Campaign Photo This Year
great photo
Read the story behind the photo here

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posted by Brendan | 5:27 PM | permanent link |




August 30, 2008
 
Free Citizen
I think we should all be 'free citizens'

preach it, grandpa!
[Sheldon]

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posted by Brendan | 8:58 PM | permanent link |




August 24, 2008
 
Ain't It The Truth
ooooh, New York is soooo important
Damn New Yorkers.

[via]

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posted by Brendan | 10:49 PM | permanent link |




August 23, 2008
 
Wheelchair Werewolf
Funny. I particularly like the sheriff.

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posted by Brendan | 8:32 AM | permanent link |


 
Vote Fett in '08
Obama picks Joe Biden - that's already played out.

What I want to know is who Boba Fett will be picking for his running mate.

Boba Fett won't take any crap as President

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posted by Brendan | 8:15 AM | permanent link |




August 14, 2008
 
The Scatology of Cheese
a lot of cheeseIs it just me, or does the term "Handcrafted Cheese" sound like something dirty or gross?

I saw the phrase on the side of a truck this morning while walking to work. It was plastered in a big, bold font over an image of piles of cheese. When I read it, I snickered.

Whether you think the phrase is dirty or not is probably more a reflection of the sort of mind the interpreter has, not the inherent meaning of the phrase. If you smirk when you read "Handcrafted Cheese," you probably have a mind that leans towards the scatological.

Handcrafted cheese . . . ha

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posted by Brendan | 8:39 AM | permanent link |




August 07, 2008
 
My Food Post
Growing up in Chicago, I've learned to appreciate a good hot dog. However, as much as I might love a good hot dog with all the toppings, even I might have to pass on the Homewrecker.

my cholesterol count went up just looking at this photo
HillBilly Hotdogs in West Virginia will sell you this 3.5 pound belly bomb.

Eat the 15", 1-pound dog and top it with peppers, onions, nacho cheese, chili sauce, jalapenos, mustard, ketchup, coleslaw, tomatoes, lettuce, and shredded cheese in 12 minutes and get a free t-shirt. Manage to pump the thing into your stomach in less than 4 minutes (and presumably keep it down) and they refund you your $14.99.

Wonderful.

Here's something not as threatening. The Wake n' Bake.

An alarm clock that wakes you up with the smell and sizzle of cooking bacon.

hmmmm . . . bacon
Dudes created an alarm clock that cooks bacon.

That is true genius on display.

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posted by Brendan | 10:30 PM | permanent link |




July 31, 2008
 
Mmmm . . . Beer Bike
Can't say I'm a fan of the Amstel family of beers, but if this bike came rolling down my street I think I would hop on for a ride.

Especially if all those lovely ladies were already riding on it

The Beer Bike will be in Chicago tomorrow.

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posted by Brendan | 7:13 PM | permanent link |




July 30, 2008
 
Dr. Horrible Isn't
If you haven't watched Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, Joss Whedon's web-only three-act show starring Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, and Felicia Day, you are doing yourself a disservice.

In the weeks leading up to the web debut of episode 1, plenty of people were talking about Whedon's project like it was the second coming of entertainment media. I played things more cautious and waited to actually watch the episodes - which I have done a couple of times now.

It is very funny - very entertaining. Neil Patrick Harris is my new favorite actor. I'm not sure if Dr. Horrible revolutionizes how televisions shows will be produced and distributed, but Whedon's show is more entertaining then anything I've found on conventional TV in a long time.

Dr Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is fantastic

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posted by Brendan | 10:00 PM | permanent link |




July 24, 2008
 
Mafia Trivia
Don't know if this is technically trivia or not, but I love the coincidence of this.

mafia princess gets married
Reuter description for the photo above:
Lucia Riina, the daughter of the most feared Sicilian Mafia boss Salvatore "Toto" Riina, leaves at the end of her wedding ceremony with Vincenzo Bellomo in Corleone July 23, 2008. REUTERS/Stringer
The daughter of the most feared Mafia boss is was married in Corleone, Italy; the same city where a young Vito Andolini lived before he escaped to New York City and built his own uber-powerful Mafia empire under the name Vito Corleone – The Godfather.

I know one I’m mixing fact and fiction, but that just makes everything more fun sometimes.

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posted by Brendan | 9:17 PM | permanent link |




July 22, 2008
 
Dare to Hope
This made me laugh:

I still probably won't vote for McCain though
Get the t-shirt.

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posted by Brendan | 11:29 PM | permanent link |




July 17, 2008
 
I Knew That Song Had Lyrics!
In case you were ever wondering what the lyrics to Danny Elfman's score from the Batman movie are, Andrew Goldenberg is here to help out.


This guy is awesome. Apparently he has written lyrics to a bunch of other movie themes.

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posted by Brendan | 4:51 PM | permanent link |




July 11, 2008
 
Hmmmm . . . Bacon Floss
bacon floss - yes, it exists
Yes, it exists.

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posted by Brendan | 10:17 PM | permanent link |




July 09, 2008
 
Nude Dudes
Comic creator Chip Zdarsky spent a week at a nudist colony with writer Ben Kaplan. While Ben wrote a story about the experience, Chip presented his version of what it was like to spent a week naked with your co-worker as a comic.

a brilliant idea
I thought it was pretty funny.

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posted by Brendan | 10:40 PM | permanent link |




July 08, 2008
 
Little Paper Time Capsules
One of the unintended benefits of digging out comics to read that have been in your collection for over fifteen years – the ads. The old print ads are little windows back in time to what was popular when the comic was originally published.

Like this beauty that I uncovered while reading Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #27 from December 1991.
This is the poster for The Last Boy Scout, but it is essentially the same as the print ad that ran in the comic. Only difference is that the print had the release date for the movieDamon Wayans acting tough. Bruce Willis with real hair on his head. 1991 was a strange time indeed. They don’t make action films like that anymore.

And did you know Halle Berry was in The Last Boy Scout? Now I only saw the movie once, but I still didn’t remember her. I only recall something about Wayans’ character tossing a football 100 yards to diffuse a bomb or something.

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posted by Brendan | 9:51 PM | permanent link |




June 30, 2008
 
I Did It Again
It's been a year, so I guess it's time for me to break a toe again.

I did it last night while walking through the living room. I caught the outside of my left foot on the wooden foot of our couch.

My little toe on my left foot is now a bloody and bruised mess.

Still amazes me that a little thing like a broken tow can so screw up your day. It's painful for me to walk, muscles in my legs cramp up because I'm over-compensating for the pain in my toe, and I get random shots of pain in my foot through out the day. All because one little toe.

On the bright side, my injury does provides me an excuse to sit on the couch all evening watching TV. Unfortunately, I don't have the personality for doing that. Too restless when I'm at home. There's always work to be done. So I'll probably end up walking on the damn thing all night and prolonging the time it takes for the bones to heal.

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posted by Brendan | 7:16 PM | permanent link |




June 24, 2008
 
Where I Finally Start Making Sense of at Least Part of My Childhood
According to the Smithsonian (and the photo below from their Flickr stream of photos), it’s been illegal to send a child as postal post item through the U.S. Postal Service since 1913. Apparently after parcel post service was first introduced, at least two children were sent by the service after their parents (presumably) stuck a bunch of stamps to the child’s clothing.

The Postmaster General quickly put the end to the practice.

mailing the baby
Despite it being outlawed in 1913, I believe that parcel post is how my baby sister arrived at our house. As a youngster I don’t recall my mom being pregnant, nor can I find any photographs from 1979 of my mom being pregnant. Yet my sister showed up at our house to take up residence in the spring of 1979. I went to kindergarten class one day, came home and there was a baby sister.

Once or twice my dad explained that he and my mom had bought my sister from gypsies; but I never saw gypsies having around our neighborhood so I dismissed my father’s claims. But I never considered the possibility of someone mailing my sister to our house until now. Mail order babies from gypsies suppliers. It all makes sense now.

Sure, the Postmaster General says that people can’t send babies by mail, but that doesn’t mean people still don’t do it. You’re supposed to pay somebody whenever you play/sing “Happy Birthday to You.” It is a copyrighted song. That doesn’t stop people from belting it out and Grandpa’s birthday shindig.

So I guess my dad was right. My sister was bought from gypsies. They just mailed her to us.

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posted by Brendan | 8:59 PM | permanent link |




June 18, 2008
 
The Post In Which I Reveal the Full Depths of My Geekitude
My dad surprised me with a Father’s Day gift this past Sunday. I thought the gift was undeserved considering the reason he was at my house on Father’s Day (other than to celebrate all things Dad) was to help me move the 4 ton, partially built wood playset sitting in my backyard to a better location.

I give him a bad back and achey arm and leg muscles. He gives me a present. Doesn’t seem fair, but then again, I don’t think I would do any less for Ian if I was in my dad’s position.

Indiana Jones fedoraAnyway, the gift he gave me was a replica Indiana Jones fedora. 100% wool felt and sturdy construction. Looks just like the hat Harrison Ford sports in the films. For an Indy fan like myself, it’s the ultimate in cool.

Now, I’m sure that my baby sister will say she’s known this since the late 1980’s, but I have now realized the full extent of my geek existence. It’s not enough that I quote dialogue from Star Wars movies, struggle to suppress the urge to lecture for thirty minutes when I hear someone innocently ask, “Are there any other super heroes, other than Batman, who don’t have super powers?”, and still have my 20-sided die sitting around here somewhere; since receiving that Indiana Jones fedora from my dad I can’t help but want to wear it whenever I can.

Wearing the hat is fun. I hear the John Williams-penned Indy theme music running through my head. The experience of wearing the Indy hat reminds me of playing Indiana Jones with my brother when we were kids. I was always Indy, dressed in an old fedora my mom had sitting around, a rope “whip”, and a shoulder bag that was really a schlocky American Indian-themed canteen holder that we’d bought in the Wisconsin Dells. Kevin was always the bad guy I was beating the crap out of. Good times.

Indian Jones wearing his hatThe fedora was on my head all last night while I did the dishes, watched the end of the Cubs-Rays game, hauled all the trash out to the curb, and cleaned up the downstairs. In and of themselves boring tasks – with the exception of the Cubs game – but with the hat on it brought a little fun to the work.

Is a married thirty-five year-old father of three running around the house in a replica Indiana Jones fedora an indicator of an emotionally stunted man-child? Maybe.

Is it geeky as all hell? Definitely.

But I don’t care. I wore the hat last night because it was fun to do so, and I’ll do it again tonight if the feeling grabs me. Because it isn’t just any old hat, it’s Indiana Jones’ hat.

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posted by Brendan | 9:57 PM | permanent link |


 
Napping – What You Need To Know
Boston.com breaks down everything you need to know about napping – why it’s good for you, when you should nap, how long you should nap, and how you should nap.
the art of nappingIt’s the perfect napping primer. Everyone should have a copy.

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posted by Brendan | 9:53 PM | permanent link |




June 12, 2008
 
Meow Meow
Tonight, Heather was grocery shopping, so I was on my own getting the kids ready for bed. While reading the girls their stories, I somehow ended up on a tangent telling them about the Meow Mix cat food commercial I remember watching as a kid.

They didn't believe my claim that such a commercial existed. Especially the part about the cat singing.

So while they brushed their teeth, I searched YouTube.

Good 'ole YouTube



Halfway through the first viewing, Emma and Zoe were laughing so hard I thought they were going to fall out of their chairs. I think we watched the thirty-second commercial five or six times before I ushered them off to bed.

Tomorrow, maybe, I'll show them this site.

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posted by Brendan | 9:08 PM | permanent link |


 
The Puzzle Apartment
When Steven B. Klinsky was having his Fifth Avenue apartment with the Central Park views renovated he came up with a simple, and slightly romantic, idea: to have a poem he had written for and about his family be worked into the architecture somehow.

one of the puzzles in the houseArchitectural designer Eric Clough, who had been hired by Klinsky and his wife because Clough has ideas different from the cookie-cutter ideas other architects had presented for the 4,200-sqft space, found a peculiar inspiration in the poetry hiding request. Clough, using donated time from some insanely creative people, weaved a complex series of scavenger hunts, games, and puzzles into the apartment for the enjoyment of the family.

A year and half after the family moved back into their apartment, Clough sent them a short poem in the mail. Deciphering the clues in the poem lead them to a secret compartment in their front hall that was concealing a book. The book contained a narrative that lead them through a scavenger hunt in their own house with all sort of puzzle and riddles to be solved.

The New York Times story tries to explain some of the puzzles.
In any case, the finale involved, in part, removing decorative door knockers from two hallway panels, which fit together to make a crank, which in turn opened hidden panels in a credenza in the dining room, which displayed multiple keys and keyholes, which, when the correct ones were used, yielded drawers containing acrylic letters and a table-size cloth imprinted with the beginnings of a crossword puzzle, the answers to which led to one of the rectangular panels lining the tiny den, which concealed a chamfered magnetic cube, which could be used to open the 24 remaining panels, revealing, in large type, the poem written by Mr. Klinsky. (There is other stuff in there, too, but a more detailed explanation might drive a reader crazy.)
That’s fantastic. I can’t help but be envious of how much crazy fun that family has had in their apartment.

If you go read the story on the NYT's website, make sure you spend time looking at the slide show. It shows many of the amazing puzzles and clues the family had to figure out.

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posted by Brendan | 9:02 PM | permanent link |




June 05, 2008
 
He's Pulling a What?
The meaning behind slang terminology can change over time. Nowhere is that more apparent when you consider this card from the 1941 Blondie comic playing card deck.

Blondie playing card
After you pull you mind out of the gutter I just dragged it into, bounce over for a look at the artwork for the whole set of cards. There is some pretty neat cartoons there.

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posted by Brendan | 11:04 PM | permanent link |




May 21, 2008
 
Patron Saint of Bacon
Saint Anthony, among other things, is the patron saint of pigs and hogs. So by extension I guess we can pray to him for the enjoyment of good bacon.

jimmy stewart 100th birthday

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posted by Brendan | 9:30 PM | permanent link |




May 19, 2008
 
Why Isn’t There An Emergency Alert System For Things Like This?
Found in the Chicago Tribune:
Several lanes of Interstate Highway 80 were shut down for hours overnight after a truck hauling Oreos crashed into a median, spilling tons of the chocolate cookies across the highway, police said.

The crash occurred at about 3:40 a.m. Monday on I-80 just east of Morris, said Master Sgt. Brian Mahoney of the Illinois State Police.

The truck was westbound, hauling about 20,000 pounds of Oreos, when the driver lost control and the rig hit a median before veering into the eastbound lanes. The impact ripped the trailer open, spilling its cargo across the eastbound lanes of the highway, he said.

The driver was not hurt, but police had to shut down the eastbound lanes for several hours while the cookies were cleaned up, Mahoney said. The wreckage had been moved to the side of the road and lanes had reopened by about 6 a.m.
Hmmm. . . Oreos . . .

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posted by Brendan | 9:10 PM | permanent link |




May 16, 2008
 
Sorry, I Had To Make This Joke

The caption that went with this photo:
A protest by pensioners, which disrupted traffic in Melbourne against the Rudd government's lack of support for seniors (AFP/William West)
Frankly, looking at this photo I think where these seniors are lacking support is fairly obvious.

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posted by Brendan | 4:30 PM | permanent link |


 
Sssh. . . Don't Tell Anyone
i pretend to work
Buy the poster here

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posted by Brendan | 3:29 PM | permanent link |




May 09, 2008
 
Random Bits
  • David, at the Ironic Sans website, has fun with letterform art and Star Wars. Check it out, he crafts a really great looking Darth Vader and I loved this word-cartoon.

    Darth Vader. Only you could be so bold“Darth Vader. Only you could be so bold”, is a line delivered by Princess Leia, in case you aren’t up on your Star Wars quotes.

  • This is funny in a "sophomore in high school" sort of way - but still funny.

    www.thingsididlastnight.com

  • Computers, the Internet, modern technology – it makes life easier and allows us to do more.

    It also, apparently, frees up people to think up little projects like this: ManBabies

    I don’t know if it is sublime comedy or borderline disturbing, but I had to look at them all.

    ManBabies.com - Dad?

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    posted by Brendan | 9:42 PM | permanent link |




    May 06, 2008
     
    Funny Things My WIfe Says To Me
    Last night:

    Heather: "Crap, I forgot to sign Ian's thing."

    Me: "What thing?"

    Heather: "The music teacher sent a note home. She said Ian 'used an inappropriate word' during music class."

    Me: "Really, what was the word?"

    Heather: "Crap"

    Labels:



    posted by Brendan | 9:26 AM | permanent link |




    April 30, 2008
     
    Typical Dinner Conversation
    We were having smoked sausage as part of our dinner this evening when Ian found a red spot in his sausage.

    “I think I found where they shot the pig,” he proclaimed with the slightest hint of disgust in his voice.

    “Not really,” I corrected. “First, to make sausage they grind up the meat and pack it into a sausage casing. All that grinding up would hide how they might have killed the pig. Second, they don’t shoot pigs to make sausage or bacon.”

    Apparently unsatisified with my answer, Ian pressed on.

    Another Ian Self-Portrait“Oh, so they stab ‘em?”

    “No, they don’t stab them and they don’t shot them. They kill the pigs another way.”

    Ian continued to search for an answer. “How do they kill them?”

    “You know, this really isn’t dinner conversation,” I said to cut Ian off while scenes from The Jungle ran through my head.

    But now Zoe joined the conversation.

    “Will you tell us after dinner?”

    I caved. "Sure, I tell you after dinner." There’s something to look forward to, I thought, explaining how pigs are slaughtered in mass.

    I figured the topic was closed for the time being, but then Ian provided this little nugget.

    “Well, I bet they don’t kill the pigs with food poisoning.”

    I almost choked on my bite of sausage. The image of killing a pen of pigs with poisoned food was too funny. Food poisoning is certainly a unique idea, but not too healthy of an option if you plan to eat the animal.

    But I had to hand it to Ian for continuing to look for an answer when his first two ideas where shot down. Between gasps of air as I tried to catch my breath from laughter, I assured Ian that livestock was not killed with food posioning.

    And, thankfully, was the end of our discussion on the slaughter techniques used on pigs.

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    posted by Brendan | 9:58 PM | permanent link |




    April 29, 2008
     
    That’s One Angry Chess Player
    Ian has often expressed an interest in chess. We’ve tried to teach him at home a bit and we’ve suggested the chess club at school (he resisted), but as of yet he is a very amateur player. However, if