Here are the wacky websites for March.
MARCH 5 - If you're tired of those porktinis (see January Links), try some of this flavorful beverage.
MARCH 7 - For your cuteness quotient, check out this site for a bunny popularity contest.
MARCH 12 - Tackiness abounds, but if that's for you, then this is for you.
MARCH 14 - Hungry? How about a custom made hot dog? Still hungry?
MARCH 16 - If you ever wanted to know how to build an atomic rocket (according to the sci-fi world), here ya go.
MARCH 17 - Here's the amazing Coors Light Beer Bottle Organ! Could Budweiser do any better?
MARCH 20 - From Roadside America, here's your guide to America's oversized coffee pots.
MARCH 27 - Were you any good at US geography? No? Well, try this challenge to make sure. The best I could do was 47 out of 50, with an average error of 11 miles.
MARCH 28 - Get your air guitars here! With lessons!
MARCH 30 - Those who know me know the obsession with toast. Imagine my joy at finding this.
MARCH 31 - First, listen to this song by They Might Be Giants. Now, go listen to the original (called Why Does The Sun Shine), along with much more edutainment, here.
Also see February Links.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Lost in translation
I frequent the Boardgame Geek website, and I enjoy looking some lists people make. One use recently posted a list about his son who has autism, and sopme of the games the son enjoys. It's very interesting. Through that, one of the comments points to this article, which talks about a woman named Amanda. Amanda has autism has translated some of her thoughts for us who don't speak her language. It references a video, which is what I'm posting here. You may not get it, but give it a try before giving up. Oh, and turn off the blog music first.
This is very interesting to me, as this is the population I work with. The most important point she makes, as I see it, is that her failure to learn our language is seen as a deficit, while our failure to learn her language is seen as being acceptable. We do need to understand that communication is not simply what we understand it to be in our view of things, but other people communicate in different ways.
If you look the video up on YouTube, you'll see that Amanda does respond to people's comments of the video, not all of which are completely positive.
This is very interesting to me, as this is the population I work with. The most important point she makes, as I see it, is that her failure to learn our language is seen as a deficit, while our failure to learn her language is seen as being acceptable. We do need to understand that communication is not simply what we understand it to be in our view of things, but other people communicate in different ways.
If you look the video up on YouTube, you'll see that Amanda does respond to people's comments of the video, not all of which are completely positive.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Blogs out the ears!
No, Bloglish is not introducing a new blog. Not yet. However, I did create a new blog at Live Journal this morning as a way to focus my thoughts, meditations, and reflections. I really like the Live Journal method of blogging as it has a feature to post private messages that are only visible to you. And that's what this entire blog is going to be, a private blog that no one else can see. Why am I even telling you this? It may be good for other people that have thoughts they want to put together, but still keep private. The way I see it, this blog will be just for me, with God reading over my shoulder. I'm really going to try to forge a deeper relationship with the big man upstairs.
What brought this on? Well, a combination of several things. I've been having some temper problems lately. Our dog is driving me up the wall. And I feel like there's a lot of things going on in my life that just need more spiritual support. Plus, I was up at 2:30 this morning, wide awake and unable to sleep hardly at all, so I put it together. Rereading it, its pretty coherent for a three o'clock composition. Again, you'll never know.
Just wanted to get that off my chect. I've been taking a bit of a break from blogging recently, but I'm getting restarted. More to come.
What brought this on? Well, a combination of several things. I've been having some temper problems lately. Our dog is driving me up the wall. And I feel like there's a lot of things going on in my life that just need more spiritual support. Plus, I was up at 2:30 this morning, wide awake and unable to sleep hardly at all, so I put it together. Rereading it, its pretty coherent for a three o'clock composition. Again, you'll never know.
Just wanted to get that off my chect. I've been taking a bit of a break from blogging recently, but I'm getting restarted. More to come.
Monday, March 17, 2008
It's madness, I tell you! MADNESS!
Ah, March. That blessed time of year when 65 college basketball teams wage war to find out which will claim the title of national champion. In 64 games over three weekends, only one will emerge victorious. The only question is: who will it be?
I really only allow myself to get completely obsessed with one sporting event all year, and that is the NCAA tournament. I mean, I enjoy the Super Bowl and the World Series, but I don't really get obsessed unless my team is in it. That doesn't happen very often...it's one of the problems I encounter being a Cubs fan. But the whole process of the NCAA tournament fascinates me...figuring out who the teams will be, where they'll play, who they'll play, then deciding who will win every game before game one has even tipped off. It's great.
My only real beef with the tournament as it is now is the play-in game. Basically, the two worst teams in the tournament play a game to determine who has the right to get thumped by the overall number one seed in the first round. It's nice to get more schools in the tournament, but I have a problem with putting two small schools that won their conference tournament in this game. The only way these two teams (Coppin State and Mount St. Mary's) will ever make it to the NCAAs is by winning their conference tournaments. So rather than letting them play in the actual tournament, they have to play each other to see which one makes the final 64 and will lose to UNC. It's a stupid system. I say make some of the bubble teams (teams that only got an at-large bid by the skin of their teeth) play each other for a 12 seed if you want, but let the conference champions play in the actual tournament. Yes, Coppin State and Mount St. Mary's have no chance, but let them play. End of rant.
So, with Selection Sunday yesterday, we have a tournament, and I've made my picks. I'm always concerned about advertising them in case I jinx something, but whatever happens happens. I'm going with UCLA over Kansas in the championship game.
I really only allow myself to get completely obsessed with one sporting event all year, and that is the NCAA tournament. I mean, I enjoy the Super Bowl and the World Series, but I don't really get obsessed unless my team is in it. That doesn't happen very often...it's one of the problems I encounter being a Cubs fan. But the whole process of the NCAA tournament fascinates me...figuring out who the teams will be, where they'll play, who they'll play, then deciding who will win every game before game one has even tipped off. It's great.
My only real beef with the tournament as it is now is the play-in game. Basically, the two worst teams in the tournament play a game to determine who has the right to get thumped by the overall number one seed in the first round. It's nice to get more schools in the tournament, but I have a problem with putting two small schools that won their conference tournament in this game. The only way these two teams (Coppin State and Mount St. Mary's) will ever make it to the NCAAs is by winning their conference tournaments. So rather than letting them play in the actual tournament, they have to play each other to see which one makes the final 64 and will lose to UNC. It's a stupid system. I say make some of the bubble teams (teams that only got an at-large bid by the skin of their teeth) play each other for a 12 seed if you want, but let the conference champions play in the actual tournament. Yes, Coppin State and Mount St. Mary's have no chance, but let them play. End of rant.
So, with Selection Sunday yesterday, we have a tournament, and I've made my picks. I'm always concerned about advertising them in case I jinx something, but whatever happens happens. I'm going with UCLA over Kansas in the championship game.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Some More Movies
Here's some recommendations of movies I've watched recently. There's quite a range here. Comedy, love story, musical, western.
IDIOCRACY: This is the second live action movie directed by Mike Judge, who previously brought you Office Space, King of the Hill, and that intellectual masterpiece known as Beavis and Butthead. It seems to me that B&B influenced a lot of Idiocracy, as most of the characters talked and acted exactly like them. The movie takes the premise that "survival of the fittest" no longer applies to the human species. Our most intelligent people aren't breeding, putting their career first or finding other reasons to wait. Meanwhile, our dumbest people are popping babies out all over the place. So, when Joe (Luke Wilson) and Rita (Maya Rudolph) volunteer for an army hibernation project that goes wrong and end up waking 500 years later, they awaken in a world that has gotten much dumber. Joe was average in our society; now, he's the smartest man in the world. Naturally, the people want him to solve all their problems, which he attempts to do with mixed results. The movie is very funny, and I would recommend it with a warning that the language is very crude.
ONCE: This is an independent film out of Ireland. It has a sweet story about two strangers that meet and literally make beautiful music together. It's a very mellow movie, with no violence or sex, just lots of cursing. The story, however, mostly just serves as a backdrop to the soundtrack, which is incredible. In fact, the movie just seems like one long music video. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova wrote the music, performed it in the movie, and acted. They also performed the song "Falling Slowly" at the Oscars, which deservingly won. It also produced one of the greatest moments in Oscar telecast history. Hansard accepted his award first, but when Irglova stepped up to speak, she was cut off by the orchestra. During the break, the producers decided to give her a second chance to say something (they were ahead of schedule anyway), and she gave a passioned speech about independent music. It was a great moment. Anyway, I'll recommend the movie, but I recommend the music more.
OLIVER!: Oliver! holds a special place in my heart, as I played the role of the Artful Dodger when I was in fifth grade in an adult production of the show (a local reviewer even said I had the most convincing British accent in the show, which still makes me laugh since one of the cast members was actually British). I haven't watched the 1968 movie in a long time, but now I have. It's really quite excellent. The music is wonderful, the choreography is very tight, the cinematography is beautiful, and the performances are mostly superb. The kid who plays Oliver still bothers me, but Ron Moody's Fagin steals the show, while Oliver Reed's Bill Sykes becomes as menacing a villain as there is. If you don't know the story, a runaway orphan named Oliver Twist gets mixed up with some petty criminals on his way to discovering his destiny. It was the last musical before Chicago in 2002 to win the Best Picture Oscar. I highly recommend it.
3:10 TO YUMA: I don't generally like Westerns. Unforgiven was good, if depressing. Blazing Saddles, of course, though that's more of a parody than an actual Western. I can't really count Back To The Future part III as that's technically scifi. I've seen bits and pieces of the spaghetti westerns, and they seemed pretty good. Mostly, Westerns don't do anything for me (am I the only person in the world that didn't like Tombstone? It feels like it sometimes). 3:10 To Yuma was definitely an exception. It's a fascinating story about men tying to transport a notorious outlaw (Ben Wade, played by Russell Crowe) to Contention, where they'll get him on the 3:10 train to Yuma Prison. Unfortunately, Wade's men are after them, and it takes a lot of courage by Dan Evans (Christian Bale) to get him there. It's a powerful movie, and probably unjustly overlooked by the Academy, but I'll recommend. It's very violent, however...just to warn you.
There you go. Enjoy.
IDIOCRACY: This is the second live action movie directed by Mike Judge, who previously brought you Office Space, King of the Hill, and that intellectual masterpiece known as Beavis and Butthead. It seems to me that B&B influenced a lot of Idiocracy, as most of the characters talked and acted exactly like them. The movie takes the premise that "survival of the fittest" no longer applies to the human species. Our most intelligent people aren't breeding, putting their career first or finding other reasons to wait. Meanwhile, our dumbest people are popping babies out all over the place. So, when Joe (Luke Wilson) and Rita (Maya Rudolph) volunteer for an army hibernation project that goes wrong and end up waking 500 years later, they awaken in a world that has gotten much dumber. Joe was average in our society; now, he's the smartest man in the world. Naturally, the people want him to solve all their problems, which he attempts to do with mixed results. The movie is very funny, and I would recommend it with a warning that the language is very crude.
ONCE: This is an independent film out of Ireland. It has a sweet story about two strangers that meet and literally make beautiful music together. It's a very mellow movie, with no violence or sex, just lots of cursing. The story, however, mostly just serves as a backdrop to the soundtrack, which is incredible. In fact, the movie just seems like one long music video. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova wrote the music, performed it in the movie, and acted. They also performed the song "Falling Slowly" at the Oscars, which deservingly won. It also produced one of the greatest moments in Oscar telecast history. Hansard accepted his award first, but when Irglova stepped up to speak, she was cut off by the orchestra. During the break, the producers decided to give her a second chance to say something (they were ahead of schedule anyway), and she gave a passioned speech about independent music. It was a great moment. Anyway, I'll recommend the movie, but I recommend the music more.
OLIVER!: Oliver! holds a special place in my heart, as I played the role of the Artful Dodger when I was in fifth grade in an adult production of the show (a local reviewer even said I had the most convincing British accent in the show, which still makes me laugh since one of the cast members was actually British). I haven't watched the 1968 movie in a long time, but now I have. It's really quite excellent. The music is wonderful, the choreography is very tight, the cinematography is beautiful, and the performances are mostly superb. The kid who plays Oliver still bothers me, but Ron Moody's Fagin steals the show, while Oliver Reed's Bill Sykes becomes as menacing a villain as there is. If you don't know the story, a runaway orphan named Oliver Twist gets mixed up with some petty criminals on his way to discovering his destiny. It was the last musical before Chicago in 2002 to win the Best Picture Oscar. I highly recommend it.
3:10 TO YUMA: I don't generally like Westerns. Unforgiven was good, if depressing. Blazing Saddles, of course, though that's more of a parody than an actual Western. I can't really count Back To The Future part III as that's technically scifi. I've seen bits and pieces of the spaghetti westerns, and they seemed pretty good. Mostly, Westerns don't do anything for me (am I the only person in the world that didn't like Tombstone? It feels like it sometimes). 3:10 To Yuma was definitely an exception. It's a fascinating story about men tying to transport a notorious outlaw (Ben Wade, played by Russell Crowe) to Contention, where they'll get him on the 3:10 train to Yuma Prison. Unfortunately, Wade's men are after them, and it takes a lot of courage by Dan Evans (Christian Bale) to get him there. It's a powerful movie, and probably unjustly overlooked by the Academy, but I'll recommend. It's very violent, however...just to warn you.
There you go. Enjoy.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
TV on DVD
I love TV on DVD. It's the perfect opportunity to get into shows I haven't watched. I'm the type of guy that really doesn't like to come into a TV show in the middle...I don't know the characters or the storyline, and being lost just doesn't add to my enjoyment. That may be why I couldn't get into Jericho...I saw an episode in the middle of the first season, I was lost, I never watched another one. I had a friend that swore it was the greatest thing on TV, but I just couldn't get it.
A couple of TV shows I've been catching up on with DVDs are The Office and Lost. I started both at the beginning of their DVDs, and really got into them that way. Lost is a colossal mind bender, with all kinds of mysteries. I've really enjoyed the way they use flashbacks to build a character's story, and I think it's a really great ensemble show. I've caught up through season three, and now I need to watch the episodes that are on the internet for season four.
I've also really gotten into The Office. It's absolutely hilarious. The characters are very well conceived, and despite their faults, you can't help but root for them, particularly Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute (played by Steve Carell and Rainn Wilson). I'm seven episodes into the third season of that one.
I tried to get into 30 Rock. I got about halfway through the second episode before turning it off. I've heard it got much better later in the first season, and maybe I'll try it again some other time. Tracy McGrady just really annoys me. Another one I tried was Curb Your Enthusiasm, which I only watched one episode of. Larry David was just irritating me too much.
Heroes is a show I have on hold at the library, so I may be getting into that one soon.
I had the good fortune to start watching 24 when it premiered. I watched the first episode, then the second half of the fourth, and I've only missed one episode since (somewhere in Season Four). It is my favorite show, despite the sixth season being terrible.
So, to recap:
GOOD: 24, Lost, The Office
NOT AS GOOD: 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm
TO COME: Heroes
A couple of TV shows I've been catching up on with DVDs are The Office and Lost. I started both at the beginning of their DVDs, and really got into them that way. Lost is a colossal mind bender, with all kinds of mysteries. I've really enjoyed the way they use flashbacks to build a character's story, and I think it's a really great ensemble show. I've caught up through season three, and now I need to watch the episodes that are on the internet for season four.
I've also really gotten into The Office. It's absolutely hilarious. The characters are very well conceived, and despite their faults, you can't help but root for them, particularly Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute (played by Steve Carell and Rainn Wilson). I'm seven episodes into the third season of that one.
I tried to get into 30 Rock. I got about halfway through the second episode before turning it off. I've heard it got much better later in the first season, and maybe I'll try it again some other time. Tracy McGrady just really annoys me. Another one I tried was Curb Your Enthusiasm, which I only watched one episode of. Larry David was just irritating me too much.
Heroes is a show I have on hold at the library, so I may be getting into that one soon.
I had the good fortune to start watching 24 when it premiered. I watched the first episode, then the second half of the fourth, and I've only missed one episode since (somewhere in Season Four). It is my favorite show, despite the sixth season being terrible.
So, to recap:
GOOD: 24, Lost, The Office
NOT AS GOOD: 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm
TO COME: Heroes
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Yet another Bloglish Blog
I just don't know when to quit. I'd like to announce the launching of the newest member of the Bloglish family, Bloglish Tales. It will feature my story writing, mostly because I think this is the only way I'll ever get published. The full script for The Adventures of Captain Obvious is there, and I've started a new story, The PC Viper Chronicles. It's Chapter One, because I think it may turn into a larger work. However, I think there will be six or seven parts to this first chapter.
The blog itself will probably not be updated very often unless I have an ongoing story. I'll try to let you know here if there's a new story beginning. Happy reading.
The blog itself will probably not be updated very often unless I have an ongoing story. I'll try to let you know here if there's a new story beginning. Happy reading.
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