March 14, 2004
At the movies
As
mentioned previously tonight was Guy's Movie Night. The festivities began with
Die Unendliche Geschichte, more commonly known as "The Neverending Story" (and just what the hell is up with IMDB putting up a title like that as the primary one? Sheesh!). The boys loved it (the two older ones that is, the little guy didn't make it to movie time) and I appear to have been spared from anybody screaming over scary wolf nightmares (knock on wood).
Helen gets the points for this one. She didn't just recommend it, she bought it for us. Helen, you're awesome beyond words' poor description.
Once the lads were abed the grownup fare came out. I watched Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. I'd been putting this one off for a long, long time. You see, Terminator is one of my all time favorite absolutely most loved and cherished movies in the universe. Terminator 2 is quite likely the first sequel I've ever seen that didn't totally piss me the fuck off. On the contrary, it rocked as much as the first one (although in a different way). So I've been terrified of watching #3. I mean, Cameron wasn't even involved in this one! What if it totally sucked? Or didn't totally suck but went all eXtreme and shit and pissed me off in those more subtle suckass ways? Well, it didn't. It wasn't the movie that 1 or 2 were but it wasn't that far behind and it most definitely didn't tarnish its predecessors. Once I started to relax (when I acknowledged that it wasn't sucking ass) I really started to enjoy it. Very excellent ending, too! So long as they keep Jerry Bruckheimer very very far away from it, I'll watch #4 too (you just know that there's going to be a #4 after an ending like that). Points for this recommendation go to Christine.
Honorable mention go to Underworld and Intolerable Cruelty (Susie and MojoMark, respectively). Those were my next choices and will probably fill my slate on the next Guy's Movie Night.
Posted by: Jim at
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My pleasure
Posted by: Helen at March 15, 2004 08:10 AM (6dPV0)
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I just wanted to mention that I SAW that you also "rented" some kind of "erotic" type of movie on our beloved VOD.
When will you EVER learn that the FREE ones SUCK!?!
Hell,what am I saying?THANK GOD THEY ARE FREE!
I just hope the boys didn't get to see it...I rather pay for them to see a GOOD one!
:-)
Posted by: LW at March 15, 2004 11:00 PM (saeHM)
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VOD kicks ass!
Okay, so the free erotic movies don't have a plot or any decently graphic sex. They have boobs and asses and those are still fun to watch.
Posted by: Jim at March 16, 2004 05:09 AM (saeHM)
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March 11, 2004
So what should I see?
Lovely Wife will be going on hens' night this Saturday, leaving me all alone and at the mercy of the three
spawn boys. This is cool for a couple of reasons.
First, she gets out and away from the kids to bleed off some of that accumulated kid rearin' pressure. Sure our kids are an unbearable trial great but she's got at least one of them 24 x 7 except for the rare occasions when she runs out to the store when I'm home. This lets her relax so the chance that she'll snap and just de-skin one of the buggers is dramatically reduced.
Second, she comes back with cool stories. Like the older lady that was trying to pick up The Godfather (part 1) when he was visiting from The Netherlands. Or the time she got touched by Bill Gentry (while she was wearing her galpal's shirt so she can't possibly give that shirt back now). Or even the infamous Purple Velvet Cowboy. Yes, an actual human type person went to a night club in a metropolitan area dressed in a purple velvet cowboy outfit. You just can't get stuff like this from a night at home.
Third, and most importantly, I get to watch movies. Don't get me wrong, we do watch movies together as well. It's just that those movies are ones that only she likes we both like. Ones from the Lifetime Network or Oxygen or The Oprah Channel or like The Usual Suspects or From Dusk Til Dawn. Pretty much anything that makes a temporary vagina grow on male viewers or ones that are mob, true crime or vampire related but not a lot else. Specifically, no sci-fi or fantasy or general horror.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to suggest movies for me to watch this Saturday evening. They should be very good ones that are available now on DVD and for the love of GOD, no chick flicks. They don't have to be recent ones - I sure haven't seen everything.
POINTS: Why the heck not? Five points if I end up watching the movie you suggest. Points awarded to the first suggester only.
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I'd suggest Intolerable Cruelty. It is a Cohen brothers movie so the humor is a little ... quirky, but Clooney is funny, and Catherine Zeta-Jones is HOT-HOT-HOT. My eyes were drawn to her in every scene.
Posted by: MojoMark at March 11, 2004 02:03 PM (E+LQu)
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My suggestion is Very Bad Things. With Christian Slater, Cameron Diaz and a bunch of other great actors but I don't know their names. Great movie.
Warning: Not for kids
Posted by: Tiffani at March 11, 2004 02:11 PM (xpNFK)
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It may seem really shallow but both P and I really enjoyed Bulletproof Monk. Sure, its goofy but the action is good and any movie with Stifler in it is going to be funny.
Or Rabbitproof Fence (though Lovely Wife might also enjoy that as well).
I've heard good things about Intolerable Cruelty and I can wholeheartedly NOT recommend DareDevil which should have been named SuckDevil. Without Jennifer Garner, the movie had nothing. With her, it was barely watchable.
Posted by: Johnny Huh? at March 11, 2004 02:35 PM (AyewP)
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Daredevil is on my list of movies to never watch. In fact let's go ahead and put a "No Affleck" rule into effect here.
Posted by: Jim at March 11, 2004 02:50 PM (IOwam)
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I enjoyed "Identity" very much despite the occasional gore, and for a mindless boys-have-all-the-fun low-budgetish not-very-good-but-a-great-time-waster, "SWAT". If you're into vampire flicks, "Underworld" was great.
If you'd rather stick to the classics, "What About Bob?" "Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension" and the original of "The In-Laws."
Posted by: Susie at March 11, 2004 02:58 PM (8giUV)
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Oh, and there's a really old but great sci-fi/horror/vampire pic called "Lifeforce" if your video store has it...
Posted by: Susie at March 11, 2004 03:02 PM (8giUV)
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Thanks Jim. Thanks for helping point out that IÂ’ve become so completely
pussified sensitized that I canÂ’t suggest one good DVD movie. Thanks.
I think IÂ’m missing Oprah right now...
On second thought... If you liked the LOTR series, and you think Peter Jackson is/was an awesome movies maker, you HAVE to see “Meet The Feebles.” After 45 minutes or so it looses all of its attraction and actually making it to the end requires a concerted effort that you’ll question later. But you have to see it - If only to understand how far he’s come. And to wonder why anyone would have trusted him to make LOTR.
Please – If you do find/get this, also pick up something you want to see as this is purely a novelty movie and you will hate me if this is all you bring home.
Posted by: Clancy at March 11, 2004 03:09 PM (EGVPL)
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Ooh...
Lifeforce. That's one of my favorites. That and
The Keep. Both were books that I had read that were made into movies and the movies didn't totally muck it up.
I was thinking
Underworld would be a good one but I think Lovely Wife will want to watch that it too. She's got a thing for the vampire movies.
Posted by: Jim at March 11, 2004 03:10 PM (IOwam)
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Hey, no problem Clancy. I'm always happy to oblige! Hehe
Posted by: Jim at March 11, 2004 03:12 PM (IOwam)
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I haven't seen "Meet The Feebles," but if you haven't seen Peter Jackson's "Heavenly Creatures" or "The Frighteners," heck you should grab them both and make it a double-feature.
(His "Brain Dead" is also wonderful but not as good as those two.)
Posted by: Brian Jones at March 11, 2004 03:37 PM (E4NcZ)
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The Bourne Identity
Flash Gordon
The Fifth Element
"The One" with Jet Li (The MAN!!!!!) has some of the best fight scenes ever and groovy scifi as well.
Me, Myself,and Irene...in my top ten funniest ever list
Reign of Fire- yeah lots of inconsistencies and writer had NO CLUE about dragon mythology...but DAYAMMN is Matthew McConaughey fine with all them muscles just a-bulging (wiping drool)
Anything directed by Terry Gilliam
Terminator 3 was actually pretty good
The man who would be King (Sean Connery and Michael Caine)
Minority Report
Posted by: Christine at March 11, 2004 03:51 PM (Q/NXM)
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What if Icome home early?So lets not get carried away here,huh?
:-))
Posted by: LW at March 11, 2004 04:47 PM (saeHM)
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Also...I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of Billy boy here.Copyright's on me,I stole them all anyways.
:-)))
ANY woman that hangs out in the ATL area....you MUST go and SEE (and listen,too).
I know a movie....Beloved....hahaha
Posted by: LW at March 11, 2004 04:50 PM (saeHM)
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I second Christine's suggestions of the Fifth Element and Minority Report.
Posted by: Beth Donovan at March 11, 2004 05:51 PM (igCu1)
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Yowsa. Going to take a while to get through Christine's...
Bulging McConaughey? Strangely enough I'm not moved. Flash and 5th Element both done. Same feelings for Me, Myself & Irene. Minority Report was decent...hmmm...T3...that's a definite possibility. Never did get around to catching that one.
Don't worry, Lovely Wife. It'll just be one or two movies and if you get home too early you can watch something in the bedroom.
Posted by: Jim at March 11, 2004 07:09 PM (saeHM)
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Funnily enough I have exactly the same experience when Mrs M is out for a night or weekend. Except pizza tends to creep in there too.
Lost in Translation is good - Bill Murray doing funny in a good way for change.
Master and Commander
21 Grams
Electric Blue #47 - an oldie but a goodie and a fav from...oops. Suppose I'd better scratch Night Moves and the Emmanuelle collection too.
Posted by: Simon at March 12, 2004 12:55 AM (UKqGy)
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Beloved - there's a movie for you!!!
I mountain bike a lot where that movie was filmed. For the longest time, the prop farm house and outbuildings still stood, but they were torn down in the last year or so. I have never seen the movie. Honest.
I sorta saw Master & Commander on an airplane (I watched most of it, but didn't listen). It was OK...
Posted by: Clancy at March 12, 2004 10:55 AM (EGVPL)
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I mentioned Beloved already,no response.
It SUX...btw.
Posted by: LW at March 12, 2004 01:43 PM (saeHM)
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I'm still astounded that we didn't shut that movie off. Beloved is one of the lousiest movies I've ever seen.
Posted by: Jim at March 12, 2004 01:46 PM (IOwam)
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lousiest ever? That would have to be 'The Toxic Avenger." "Meet the Feebles" might be considered extremely lousy if not for some weird quality that actually makes it cool (though still really bad)...
Posted by: Clancy at March 12, 2004 04:56 PM (EGVPL)
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Eraserhead... but you'll have to smoke about a half a bag of pot first or it won't make any sense.
Posted by: Madfish Willie at March 12, 2004 09:51 PM (nr5xk)
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Movie night was a blast. Thanks to Helen and Christine, the lovely ladies who provided and/or suggested the entertainment for the evening. Something like a movie review / follow-up is
here.
Posted by: Jim at March 14, 2004 01:46 AM (saeHM)
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Runners take your mark...
We're getting close. The
2004 Peacock Invitational starts this Sunday night (at midnight). We've got 5 people who are willing to pony up $100 if they smoke at any time for the year of the bet. Care to join us?
I started a bit early, having had my last smoke on Feb 27. That puts my quittin' stats at: One week, five days, 22 hours and 5 minutes. 258 cigarettes not smoked, saving $40.70. Life saved: 21 hours, 30 minutes. (Stats courtesy of this nifty little proggie I heard about from Tiger.)
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I had one yesterday. First one in more than 8 weeks...
Posted by: Clancy at March 11, 2004 11:30 AM (EGVPL)
Posted by: Jim at March 11, 2004 01:14 PM (IOwam)
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I want a donut! *
cries* I'm so friggin' hungry!
Posted by: Tiffany at March 11, 2004 04:42 PM (rDyup)
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You can have a donut, Tiffany. But no taco then.
Posted by: Jim at March 11, 2004 04:48 PM (IOwam)
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Don't I count AT ALL here?I am already a freaggin week aheadayou!
Posted by: LW at March 11, 2004 04:52 PM (saeHM)
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Of course you count, Sweetie. You are my inspiration. You are my shining star. Don't you go away girl.
Posted by: Jim at March 11, 2004 07:11 PM (saeHM)
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March 10, 2004
Those Crazy Japanese
Most arcade game manufacturers go for racing, fighting or some sort of shooting galery concept. As far as I know the
repeatedly ram a giant plastic finger into a virtual rectum milieu is virgin territory. Or it was until recently anyway.
The Boon-Ga Boon-Ga game allows the intrepid player to sodomize one of eight characters including ex-girlfriend, mother-in-law, prostitute and child molester. As you spank and invade the nether regions of your selected victim they scream in agony on the game screen. At the end of your session you get a card that gives you your sexual proficiency rating.
Although the game might seem a bit gratuitously violent (and otherwise disturbing) at least it is promoted by big soft cuddly characters. One is a giant version of the probing fist of doom and the other is a six foot tall shit monster.
I don't have anything else for this one. It's well beyond any satirical skills I may have previously possessed. I'm pretty much just stunned and running on at this point. Let me leave you with a portion of the game review from SeanBaby:
This game does more than threaten the future with an army of highly trained madmen proctologists, it shames America's industrial complex. First we lose the space race to the Commies, and now Japan and Korea have beaten us in the great Virtual Digital Rectal Stimulation Simulation race. And if you're anything like me, you've already asked yourself about the dangers of this ass technology being in the hands of two foreign powers known for giant radioactive monsters and nuclear weapons, respectively. And again, if you're like me, this train of thought quickly hits a wall when you realize that you're not an accredited expert on foreign colon-probing policies. So until one of us is, let's just assume that we're all going to die, but not quite as quickly if we stay far away from Boong-Ga Boong-Ga.
Amen, brother.
(Hat tip to Dopple-G, may he burn eternally for exposing me to this)
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You know one doesn't normally equate Japan with repressed feelings but any country that needs to vent its pent up anger at its mother-in-law or ex-spouse in this way, really needs to consider therapy. I am sensing a lot of mass anger, possibly related to the fact that they got their asses handed to them about 60 years ago.
Posted by: Christine at March 11, 2004 08:49 AM (Q/NXM)
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I dunno...between this and the used schoolgirl panty vending machines I'm just thinking they're overall fubar.
Posted by: Jim at March 11, 2004 09:04 AM (IOwam)
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Christine,
"asses handed to them" is not what happened, they lost sure but in no way was it a reasonable victory. If the americans employed the same method to gain said "victory" today, the whole government would be put up for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Therefore, the only thing you seem to be sensing is your own ignorance.
Posted by: Steve at December 19, 2004 05:12 AM (RBUeX)
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How lazy do you have to be?
A
powered dish scrubber? I couldn't believe my eyes when i saw a commercial for this one. It's a powered screwdriver with a scrubber at the end! The commercial showed the happy housewife getting a bunch of fresh food residue off of otherwise squeeky clean plates, just like any other dishwashing commercial. The difference was she did it with this extrememly slowly rotating two and a half pound appliance.
There is no poor-man's dremel that is going to make dishwashing fun and easy and this seven dollar toy isn't going to do anything that some hot water and a sponge can't do faster and better.
It's a shame that Wal-Mart is going to sell a bajillion of these things and encourage some other dumbass to give birth to the next useless helper appliance.
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Heh, I won't waste my money on it. My "power dish scrubber" is named "Scott" and he only scrubs once a week.
That disposable toilet brush? That I may invest in. I have coupons
Posted by: Tiffany at March 10, 2004 02:27 PM (rDyup)
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haha.. I'm surprised they didn't call it the"kraft-matic power dish scrubber"!
Posted by: jim at March 10, 2004 03:42 PM (lN8eP)
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You obviously didn't read how Bacchus over at Erosblog employed it. Apparently, it never came near a dish.
Posted by: Christine at March 11, 2004 08:52 AM (Q/NXM)
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Cat scratch fever
I've got this love/hate thing with cats. Some are ultra cool. The cats living in my house are this type. Henk is a sexy black beast who thinks he's a dog. He comes when you call, wants to play and be petted constantly and gets along well with the canines in the house. Apple is a fat lazy thing and the only doglike quality she has is that she's a bitch. In other words, she's more of your typical cat. She's still cool though since she likes me and comes out specifically for a Jim petting when the mood strikes her.
I've lived with cats that I thoroughly hated as well. When I was in high school my sister had an evil black monster named Misty (which was also the name of one of my cousins and boy did I get a couple laughs out of that). She hated men. No matter how nice my dad and I tried to be with that cat it would hiss and run away and get its fur in a bunch just like those Halloween stereotype cats. I still kept making the overtures until one day when I got home from school and noticed a nasty smell in my bedroom. Specifically from my dresser. Because that spawn from hell had pissed on my clothes. It was open warfare after that and I took extreme glee in waging a guerilla campaign against that beast that made the last years of its life a frightening glimpse into the hell in which it would spend eternity.
So what has got me thinking about evil cats all of a sudden? The feral beasties that live around my house. I am sick of finding dead bird pieces in my yard. I'm sick of cat prints on my car. I am sick of cats shitting where my kids play. I have had enough of these half wild, half starved, vile, disease carrying felines. I am declaring war.
I am buying a pellet gun and any time I see any of the 8 or 9 miscreants anywhere near my property I am going to shoot the fucker. I'm going to shoot it as many times as I can before it gets out of my range. I'm going to teach Lovely Wife how to fire the gun so she can defend the castle when I'm at work.
And if that doesn't do the trick I'm going to escalate the conflict and get a paint ball gun. I'll put out cat traps. I'll go Carl Freakin' Spackler on their asses!
This is your notice, cats. I'm coming for you and there's not a damn thing your friends at PETA or in France can do about it.
POINTS: 2 points for the first person to source Carl Spackler. No searches, y'all.
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Bill Murray's character in Caddyshack
easy.
Posted by: MojoMark at March 10, 2004 12:50 PM (E+LQu)
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I'm down with you here Jim.
Some cats can be cool, most are just annoying.
I did however shot a cat with something a little bit bigger than a pellet gun, but I had to. I wanted to shoot the big dumb dofus German Sheppard that created the problem, but I didn't.
Posted by: Clancy at March 10, 2004 01:30 PM (EGVPL)
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I smell varmint poontang, and the only good varmint poontang is dead varmint poontang, I think.
MojoMark got it. Carl Spackler was the psycho gopher hunting groundskeeper from Caddyshack. 2 points!
Posted by: Jim at March 10, 2004 01:35 PM (IOwam)
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damn , I knew that one!
Posted by: jim at March 10, 2004 03:43 PM (lN8eP)
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March 08, 2004
No way I can resist this one.
Caption contest!

(Stolen from Speedscape)
RESULTS:
This was a riot. 17 contestants and a load of decent belly laughs among the submissions. Thanks for participating and congrats to the winners!
1st place (10 points)
Senator Kerry is told Howard Dean is re-entering the race. - Simon
2nd place (5 points)
GOTTA GO, GOTTA GO, GOTTA GO RIGHT NOW! - Tiffani
3rd place (2 points)
The power of GEE-ZUS commands you! - Susie
Honorable Mention (no points but a cheery hi-oh and a good day chap!)
The circle of life ended when Kerry dropped the baby lion. - tommy
Allegations of John Kerry's french-ness were proven today with this shot of the girlie-man attempting to catch an American football. - Clancy
POINTS: Hell, yeah. One point goes into the pool for each person who submits a caption and they'll be distributed 60/30/10 to the top 3 captioners. (So if 10 people submitted, the #1 caption would get 6 points, the #2 would get 3 and the #3 would get 1.)
Enter as many captions as you'd like.
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NOT THE FACE, NO NOT THE FACE...Shit there goes the botox.
Posted by: Christine at March 04, 2004 02:57 PM (Q/NXM)
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All I can think of when I see this is:
GOTTA GO, GOTTA GO, GOTTA GO RIGHT NOW!
Posted by: Tiffani at March 04, 2004 03:02 PM (xpNFK)
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The power of GEE-ZUS commands you!
Posted by: Susie at March 04, 2004 03:09 PM (W5F4d)
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I missed the ball, and it's all Bush's fault! If he hadn't pre-emptively and unilaterally thrown the ball, I wouldn't be in this embarrassing situation that reveals how encredibly dorky I am!
Posted by: Ryan at March 04, 2004 03:48 PM (Sc71i)
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This never happened when I served in Vietnam
Posted by: Clancy at March 04, 2004 04:31 PM (EGVPL)
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Allegations of John Kerry's french-ness were proven today with this shot of the girlie-man attempting to catch an American football.
Posted by: Clancy at March 04, 2004 04:33 PM (EGVPL)
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John Kerry celebrates the invention of "talkies".
Posted by: LeeAnn at March 04, 2004 04:55 PM (HxCeX)
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Frankenkerry shows off his moves during rehersals for a remake of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video.
Posted by: MojoMark at March 04, 2004 05:12 PM (E+LQu)
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The circle of life ended wheh Kerry dropped the baby lion.
Posted by: tommy at March 04, 2004 05:25 PM (MhJXW)
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"I swear if Kerry does his '2K3 Panthers Superbowl performance' impression again, he's going down."
-John Edwards (D)-NC
Posted by: tommy at March 04, 2004 05:30 PM (MhJXW)
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In a moment that horrified SPCA representatives, Senator John Kerry lost control of his pet gerbil Dubya. Fortunately a group of west coast spelunkers who were at the campaign sight assisted in safely recovering Dubya and allowing Kerry to continue his campaign efforts without the distraction of a lost pet looming on his mind.
Posted by: Rex at March 04, 2004 06:54 PM (Q/NXM)
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On this issue I have made my position perfectly clear. Footballs should be caught with eyes open.
Posted by: Stephen Macklin at March 04, 2004 08:30 PM (CSxVi)
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While trying to emulate his hero, John F Kennedy, by playing a little football in full view of the press, John Kerry came to the startling revelation that he's really much more of a "paper football" guy.
Posted by: Mike the Marine at March 04, 2004 09:29 PM (r8Ldc)
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With the Texas Soul Choir singing onstage, Kerry tries to get in touch with his soul and let's the healing begin.
I got to, got to, got to try a little TENDERNESS!
Posted by: Helen at March 05, 2004 01:56 AM (Xcg5b)
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I was mis-led as to the location of the ball.
When elected to office I will recall all our balls from Iraq.
Posted by: Simon at March 05, 2004 02:17 AM (GWTmv)
Posted by: Mitzi at March 05, 2004 07:33 AM (0ugnc)
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If I catch this ball I win the election
If I catch this ball I win the election
If I catch this ball I win the election
Posted by: Stephen Macklin at March 05, 2004 07:38 AM (CSxVi)
Posted by: Jeremy at March 05, 2004 08:56 AM (FTWUX)
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"Missed it by that much"
as will go the election in November...
Posted by: Nate at March 05, 2004 11:48 AM (H27u0)
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Aaiiiiiiiowwwww!!!! (doing his best Dean Scream)
(Tacky theft: http://imao.us/sound/deanscream.wav )
Posted by: Clancy at March 05, 2004 01:11 PM (EGVPL)
Posted by: Jennifer at March 05, 2004 04:20 PM (DdBLw)
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Senator Kerry is told Howard Dean is re-entering the race.
Posted by: Simon at March 06, 2004 10:58 PM (PzVmQ)
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10 points! TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!
Posted by: Simon at March 08, 2004 07:51 PM (GWTmv)
Posted by: Susie at March 09, 2004 12:10 AM (8giUV)
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I found it interesting that the media didn't jump all over this pic and they didn't jump all over Kerry when wiped out on his snow ski's (blaming it on the secret service guy he ran into) or when he wiped out on his 10 speed (on an open paved road no less). He's even earned the nickname 'Lurch' from some Democrat rivals.
Yet, for some reason the media seemed to think that Bush's bike crash during a 16 mile mountain bike ride (over rough terrain) was newsworthy enough to run for 4 days straight.
GG liberal bias.
Posted by: Rooster at June 04, 2004 01:43 PM (AQn2N)
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HI,
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFO. ON THE ORIGON OF THE JOHN KERRY FOOTBALL PHOTO??? I A INTERETSED IN USING IT BUT HAVE SOME CONCERNS ON COPYWRIGHT LAW.
ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
SCOTT
Posted by: SCOTT at August 24, 2004 06:15 PM (3iNdC)
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March 05, 2004
My (mostly) empty box
I read
The Littlest Angel Box early this morning. It's about the box of things that Helen sent ahead of her move so they'll be waiting for her when she gets there. Things too important and special to travel with furniture or clothing or common goods. The little mementos and important minutiae of life that you just
can't lose. I read that and thought "Neat, I'll leave a comment with the stuff I'd put in that box". And I have been trying to "fill" my box all damned day but it's still almost entirely empty. And that really confuses me. I've got nothing so important to me that I would go to extra steps to guarantee its safety.
There is one exception, the sole item I've "got in my box" right now. That's Bruff. He's a bear. He's in his own box right now, safe and secure and ready to go anywhere at a moment's notice. He hasn't been out of his box in daylight since we had kids. He's way too cute and way too delicate to take any chance that they'll want to touch him.
I remember when I first got Bruff. I wasn't a stuffed animal sort of kid. I had a couple but never played with them (except when using them as targets). One Christmas I was about half way through the presents (we started with the little stuff and worked our way to the big presents) and I opened Bruff. He was a golden brown bear with a very handsome face, a green shirt and a nametag that said (you can guess this, can't you?) "Bruff". I was intrigued. Why would a bear be named Bruff? I didn't know any Bruffs. There weren't any Bruff Bears in any of the cartoons or shows or corporate tie-ins. Bears didn't have name tags. Did they?
Bruff did. He wasn't afraid to buck the system. He had a name and he wanted the world to know it. So what if bears didn't wear nametags? He didn't care. He was Bruff and he did what he wanted to. It was love at first sight (well, after I figured out that little bit I just explained).
Bruff has been though a lot. He lost an arm once. Surgeon Mom fixed that but the skin graft is very noticeable. He lost an eye once and Optrician Mom removed his other natural eye and gave him two brand new very cool button eyes (from the big can of Grandma's buttons). His fur is a bit less than spectacular. That's probably because he spent a lot of time wrestling and playing Karate Joe (that's what you play when you want to play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles but all you've got is that foot tall GI Joe. And a bear named Bruff). He also caught a good bit of vomit and other nastiness over the years, seeing as he always insisted on staying with me when I was sick.
And his reward for those years of selfless companionship? What does he get now in exchange for the countless hours spent as my foil, boon companion, mascot and assistant? He gets stuck in a box.
That's not quite all he gets, though. He also gets the knowledge that no matter where I go or why I go there, that box will be coming with me.
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1
Like the Velveteen Rabbit-sometimes we just love the fur off of them, and it makes them happy.
Sweet story, man. I really liked it.
Posted by: Helen at March 05, 2004 05:05 PM (sxbCc)
2
I've got a few things I would want to put in but they're too valuable to me to allow someone else to transport for me. I move them myself with the care and respect they require.
One is a brass and teak mousetrap that was my grandfather's and is far, far cooler than it sounds. Its also a work of art.
Another is my handmade Indian flute I'd had made years and years ago. I can't play it well but the sound it makes is marvelous anyway.
But its a neat idea!
Posted by: Johnny Huh? at March 05, 2004 07:04 PM (AyewP)
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I'm going to say shamming on this one. Ooops. Oh, sorry.
Posted by: Simon at March 06, 2004 10:46 PM (PzVmQ)
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That's cold, Simon. Cold.
:-P
Posted by: Jim at March 07, 2004 08:30 AM (saeHM)
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March 04, 2004
I'll take a cowburger and some sheep stew please.
Why is it that we have to rename land-bound animals when we eat them? You don't eat a cow, you eat beef. You don't eat a pig, you have pork. Sheep become mutton when we eat 'em. Tortured baby cow? Not when it's on the plate - then it's veal.
This doesn't happen for birds. Chicken are chicken no matter if they are on the plate or in the coop. Same with turkeys, duck, geese, and the rest of them. Fish too - perch stay perch and a humuhumunukunukuapua`a stays a humuhumunukunukuapua`a. We don't suddenly call shark flesh by some new moniker just before we eat it.
Now that I think about it though, it's not every land animal. Bedouins eat camel, Argentinians enjoy llama and the tribes of the steppes never ever let horse go to waste. It's only the traditional western feedstocks that get renamed when they become food. Why is that?
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You forgot about Dolphins - sad to say is Mahi Mahi.
Posted by: Tiffani at March 04, 2004 09:08 AM (xpNFK)
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Fear not, Tiffani. Mahi Mahi is
Dolfin, not dolphin. It's an actual fish.
Posted by: Jim at March 04, 2004 09:17 AM (IOwam)
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Chicken is neither land-bound nor traditional western feedstock?
And it's an *adult* sheep that becomes mutton; baby sheep remain 'lamb' when eaten.
Posted by: Victor at March 04, 2004 09:46 AM (L3qPK)
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I just realized something else: Anything becomes 'dinner' (or lunch, or breakfast) when eaten.
There! I've run rings 'round you logically!
Posted by: Victor at March 04, 2004 09:48 AM (L3qPK)
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Chicken's a bird and is only land bound 'cause we bred them to be that way.
Good point with the lamb though. I think that goes with the Biblical exception - lamb, oxen and camel remain lamb, oxen and camel when eaten.
Almost forgot deer becoming venison! How did that one slip by?
Not everything becomes dinner, ya know. Sometimes it's breakfast or lunch. Or brunch. Or elevensies. Or second lunch. Or snack.
Posted by: Jim at March 04, 2004 09:52 AM (IOwam)
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Jim - give yourself a Snooze Point for the Hobbit reference :-)
Posted by: Harvey at March 04, 2004 11:46 AM (tJfh1)
Posted by: Jim at March 04, 2004 12:37 PM (IOwam)
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This is another case where you can blame the French. The food name comes from the French name for the aminal it comes from. Or from latin in the case of pork (porcine anyone?) Thats not to say all French are bad, there are probably some ex-pats that are ok.
Posted by: Tommy at March 04, 2004 01:37 PM (MhJXW)
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By Jove I think he's got it! Ox=boeuf, sheep=mouton, pig=porc.
Why only the landbound mammals, though? And why only when we're eating them?
Posted by: Jim at March 04, 2004 01:46 PM (IOwam)
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Actually, it's a fascinating piece of history. The names for the eaten form of barnyard animals are Norman French in origin, while their "live" monikers are derived from their Saxon names. After the Conquest, take a wild guess as to who was tending them and who was eating them.
This extends to birds, btw. Think of "poultry" dishes.
Posted by: Robert the Llama Butcher at March 04, 2004 03:02 PM (XQmyz)
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Bad Sayings, Part 3
It's
been a while but the board monkeys have once again put up a winning loser on the message center as you come into the office. This gem now greets everybody who comes into the building:
Don't be afraid to go out on a limb. That's where the fruit is.
Okay, let's look at this from the position of a customer. Do I want to have a business relationship with a company with a philosophy of "take risks"? Hell no. I want a company with a saying like "Grab the low hanging fruit first". That shows efficiency and a direction towards taking in profits. It's saying "collect that easy money before you waste effort on stuff you don't have the reach for yet". It's also saying "take care of the customers you have now".
And what does this bad saying tell us employees? It's telling us to take chances, take risks, drive for the objective regardless of the consequences. "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" If it were my company I'd prefer a message like "If you can't reach the fruit, get yourself a ladder". Or maybe "What the hell are you doing picking fruit by hand? Get your ass into that harvester!"
I don't mind pithy sayings, I just can't stand idiotic ones.
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March 03, 2004
Things we need
A
Stink-O-Meter(tm) would be nice.
The basic model would just be installed on the bathroom door and indicate the relative stench in the bathroom by flashing a color code similar to the terrorism alert color chart thingy the government uses. Nah, better keep it simpler than that. Green is safe, yellow is use at your own risk and red is extreme danger - avoid at all costs, voluntary entry voids life insurance.
The advanced model would prevent the door opening from the outside during red states to prevent accidental entry and to protect the visually impaired.
A deluxe model would tie into your wireless network so you could evaluate stank levels from your desk and arrange alternate waste disposal methods if necessary.
Yes, there is a specific event that brought this thought process to fruition today. No, I am not ready to talk about it.
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Beware the Ides of March
The Grande 2004 Peacock Invitational (update)
Want to know what it is? The original post is o'er yonder. In a nutshell, March 14 is the last day any of the participants will take a puff for an entire year or they'll pay blood money to the others.
Folks can still get in on the bet until midnight (your local time) on the 14th. So far we've got 5 people in:
Me
Tiffany
Joey
Jeremy
Tiger
I've also put up a sidebar item for the bet. This will remain up for the entire year that the bet is in effect. I've also handed out the points these folks earned by signing up. I've been a busy boy!
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1
I'll run out to the smoking deck (as we call it here) and bum a ciggee-butt just so I can smoke one and quit again if you'll let me in.
I quit for the last time back in Spetember, but I've had one here and there since. It's been probably a month and a half since the last one.
Posted by: Clancy at March 03, 2004 11:26 AM (EGVPL)
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Can I join in - even though I don't smoke?
Posted by: Simon at March 04, 2004 01:07 AM (GWTmv)
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Simon, you and I can just stand in on the sidelines and whistle our support (I hear people who are quitting get a wee bit cranky), and fling packets of chocolate and chips (crisps) at them when the munchies take over.
You can be Head Cheerleader. I'll be Under Cheerleader. That ought to give you a nice visual, anywayw.
Posted by: Helen at March 04, 2004 01:58 AM (ftWzA)
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Clancy - September's a bit out of the zone. That's a full third of a year from the cutoff. Even with casual lapses you're way out of the league of the rest of us quitters.
Simon - What Helen said.
Helen - You rock!
Hmm...I could seriously go for some chocolate right now. Must...resist...chocolate...
Posted by: Jim at March 04, 2004 05:58 AM (saeHM)
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Fortunately I keep my feathers numbered for just such an emergency
I got my feathers ruffled a bit yesterday. Wellbutrin can only go so far and some things that normally wouldn't bother me much now bother me out of all proportion.
The first was Dopple-G doing something that's normally just annoying. I yelled at him. At work. In the bathroom. Not exactly professional.
The second was in the van on the way home from voting. Bear was doing a repetitive mantra "Will you give me your autograph?" over and over and over and over and over. No, he wasn't looking for an answer and no he wasn't actually addressing anybody. Kids will just do this with new phrases. Normally it just gets ignored. This time I snapped and yelled at him.
It's definitely a successful (so far) and (relatively) event free withdrawal. I'll just have to do a better job regulating my snappy tongue.
POINTS: 2 points for the first person to name my source for the title of this post. No searching please.
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Daffy Duck, blown up, picking up his feathers as he says it. Don't remember what the name of the short was though.
Posted by: Mike the Marine at March 03, 2004 09:35 AM (Zw7Hl)
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And if it ain't Daffy, it's Foghorn Leghorn... but now I'm not sure which. But I distinctly remember it being a WARNER BROS. bird being blow'd up real good...
Posted by: Mike the Marine at March 03, 2004 09:38 AM (Zw7Hl)
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"Fortunately, I say fortunately, I keep my feathers numbered [pause] for just such an emergency."
Foghorn Leghorn is correct. 2 points for Mike!
Posted by: Jim at March 03, 2004 09:40 AM (IOwam)
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I want to say that they BOTH said it at some point, but maybe it was just the scourge of that mangy ol' hound-dog and rogue of the chicken coop that had that line.
Posted by: Mike the Marine at March 03, 2004 09:48 AM (Zw7Hl)
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February 29, 2004
Exsmoking, Day 1
Thanks to the Welbutrin there wasn't any shaking or unbearable fits. Lots of lung cookies as the ol' breath bags tried to clean themselves out.
I did have some moody periods this morning. Until the mail came. With the awsomest and unexpectedest spirit lifter ever! Helen, you rock my world. Thank you from all the clan. That's a pretty prodigous thank you, you know. Seeing as there are five of us and all.
To the winch, wench!
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Susie said there was some kind of quit smoking contest going on over here. I am now 2 months smoke free. No wellbutrin, patches or whatever ... just six months of weaning until I was down to 5 a day, then quit on New Year's Day when a friend of mine did. I do find that sucking down a couple of strong mint drops assists me greatly when I feel the need for a cigarette lift. The mint gets down into my throat and gives me a sensation like hot air going down my throat. Good luck, Jim. After more than 30 years, I am so glad to get that monkey off my back. I play the song like an alcoholic going to AA neetings, though: One Day at a Time (without Valerie Bertinelli, regrettably).
Posted by: Tiger at February 29, 2004 10:53 AM (G5PGV)
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We quit before,cold turkey,no aid....I am still waiting for the apartment complex to send me the bill for the huge hole in the wall,that I so professionaly coverd...flying chairs I remember so well.....name calling,cousins beeing yelled at and attacked (almost)...
those were the days....
NAH.....gimme the freaking Wellbutrin!It works,no cutting down...it just makes them taste NASTY and you WILL stop weather you want it or not.BELIEVE ME THEY TASTE NASTY!!
Plus the fact that I don't like answering to anyone or beeing anyones slave.
I eat a lot of Wrigleys now.And Pilsbury rolls....and candy....and I gained NOTHING!uahahaha
My name is LW and I am an EX smoker for over a WEEK now!
Well,JIM BEAT THAT!(just don't move somewhere again for a week!!)
:-P
Posted by: LW at February 29, 2004 11:06 PM (saeHM)
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Just to clarify that "move somewhere for a week" part for all you folks playing at home:
That was when I came down here to Georgia to start the new job and find a place for us to move into. This was the stressful time that ended up with both of us independently returning to the cancer sticks after many a month of non-smokage.
Posted by: Jim at March 01, 2004 07:41 AM (IOwam)
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I understand that people who are quitting with the smoking-age are a bit testy (I myself have never been a smoker, but at least I am not one of those rabid anti-smokers).
So...allow me to whistle my support over here, in my far away corner, where no chairs can reach me
Posted by: Helen at March 01, 2004 08:13 AM (H8Q/6)
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Watch out for phones too. As I recall we lost a couple of phones when quitting smoking previously.
And a footboard.
Don't ask.
Posted by: Jim at March 01, 2004 08:42 AM (IOwam)
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Ah....the old footboard.How could I forgot to mention it?
It is amazing how much adrenaline your body produces when you are on nicotine-withdrawl.Its also amazing how easy it is then for a woman to bend metal..
Posted by: LW at March 01, 2004 10:38 AM (saeHM)
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February 27, 2004
The Grande 2004 Peacock Invitational
I'm a quitter. A lowsy quitter, granted, but a quitter nonetheless.
Kate's a quitter and so is
Kelley. I quit for almost a year and a half back 'round '96 and Lovely Wife and I quit together for better than half a year in '01. I've tried quitting solo quite a few times over the past 16 years, never with any real success. Lovely Wife and I have also tried quitting together a few other times, also without success.
This time it's going to work. See, I'm quitting again. Lovely Wife already did and has been nicofree since Monday. In support of her courageous effort I've refrained from smoking around her or even bringing the deadly tempting cancer sticks into our domicile. This weekend will be the first days of my quitting for real since I'd be an absolute idiot if I started up again on Monday after going without for the entire weekend, returning only to this crazy half-smoker state where I get a mini withdrawal each and every day.
So I'm looking for support. Not moral support, financial support. Here's the thing - the absolute best I ever did was that year plus stretch. It was a year plus because I quit with my Dad, Brother-in-law and Brother-in-law's brother-in-law and we had a bet. Anybody who smoked again, even a puff, for the next year had to pay each of the others $25. The thought that my next cigarette was going to cost me $75 was instrumental to fighting down the urges when they hit. (Incidentally, Bro-in-law and I made it. Dad didn't make it and paid us our blood money. Bro-in-law's bro-in-law was a jackass and renegged on the bet.) So I'm going to go back to what worked and inviting y'all to come along.
more...
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Congrats on the quitting! Wish I had the willpower to do it myself. The lure of other people's money isn't even tempting me at this point. But I have a couple helpful hints for you, and any other quitters out there, who may not want to invest in such items as nicorette gum or the patch.
Drinking Marjoram tea doesn't exactly curb your desire to smoke, but it will act as a deterrent (or perhaps an irritant). Marjoram tea dries the throat, so you won't enjoy the cigarette as much. A half cup when you'd normally have your first smoke and a half cup when you feel a strong urge to smoke.
Sucking on a clove can also eliminate a craving.
Other than that, good luck to anyone who decides to be a quitter.
Posted by: Sue at February 27, 2004 03:12 PM (0SrUW)
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I'm in--"Quit" 2 days ago and the hot flashes are starting now.
Posted by: Tiffany at February 27, 2004 04:49 PM (rDyup)
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Woo hoo! Who's next? Plenty of room in the pool.
Posted by: Jim at February 27, 2004 05:24 PM (saeHM)
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I'm in.
I "officially" quit last November, but I haven't been such a good boy about it. I'm here to say that, as of March 15, 2004, I won't suck another piece of flaming nicotine for at least a year (and hopefully well beyond that).
Put me down and hold me accountable.
(Need to go suck down another pack or two while there's still time.)
Jim, let's go out and grab a beer and a few smokes on the eve of the Ides, whaddaya say?
Posted by: Joey at February 28, 2004 01:27 AM (Sk2Wf)
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Alright, Joey. Welcome aboard!
No can do on the beer and smokes, my fellow Georgian. Smokes ended yesterday around noon for me and I'm off alcohol too for a month or so. Change of habits to help quit the tobaccy plus I'm on the Welbutrin and it reacts poorly with booze.
A celebration eve down the road could be workable, though!
Posted by: Jim at February 28, 2004 07:29 AM (saeHM)
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Im in.
I quit on sat (see my blogger for insane nicotine free ranting) and have made a vow not to smoke another cig until my daughter is walking (shes due on the 21st june). Hopefully by then the cravings will have gone though.
So im well up for it, count me in.
Posted by: Jeremy at February 28, 2004 07:49 AM (FTWUX)
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Okay, Jeremy! That makes a party of four already. Very sweet.
And congrats on the upcoming joyful bundle!
Posted by: Jim at February 28, 2004 08:48 PM (saeHM)
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Hmm. I'll have to have a chat with hubby about this. We tried to quit last year -- I chewed on so many straws, I hurt my teeth. Being that he's a crusty Scot (they part with money only under great duress) this just might work!
Maybe -- just maybe -- by the time the Ides of March we can jump in.
Or am I too late to throw my hat in the ring?
Posted by: margi at February 29, 2004 08:10 PM (kpNlZ)
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Plenty of room in the pool, Margi!
There's no maximum number of participants. If 20 people want in, or 50, or 100, it's all good. The bet for each person never goes over $100, no matter how many total participants there are.
Any you can join right up through Ides of March Eve (that's the 14th by midnight, whatever your time zone is).
Posted by: Jim at February 29, 2004 08:18 PM (IOwam)
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I have not smoked now for
Two months, one week, four days, 22 hours, 15 minutes and 32 seconds. 2517 cigarettes not smoked, saving $503.49. Life saved: 1 week, 1 day, 17 hours, 45 minutes. I love my
SilkQuit meter. (My quittin' was just one agonizin' hour at a time for a while, but now it only amounts to just a couple of excrutiatin' minutes a day I easily deal with by pullin' out strands of my remainin' hair. I have to admit that seein' my aunt walkin' 'round hooked up to an oxygen bottle this past Monday was stark reminder why I decided
now was the time for me to kick that nasty habit.)
Posted by: Tiger at March 12, 2004 11:23 PM (G5PGV)
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February 26, 2004
Anybody know a good lawyer?
No, that wasn't the setup for a joke. An aquaintance needs a very good lawyer in the Augusta and/or Atlanta area. The issue involves a student and a school and said school's policy that improperly forced said student into a youth detention center. Any help/leads would be appreciated.
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February 25, 2004
My dirty little secret
I had got a problem that very few people know about. It was a habit that sometimes affected my life. It was soemthing I wasn't emotionally committed to but just couldn't stay away from. It was not an addiction! I am a mature person in total control of myself. I'm no addict. Anal retentives don't get addictions, we get compulsions. Well, maybe you could call it a need but only occasionally. Definitely not an addiction!
It's not like it filled my entire day or something. It was just one in the morning, maybe another at work, one or two at night. Maybe some practice while I was having a cigarette or on the crapper. You know, when I wasn't otherwise engaged anyway. It's just something I used to keep my mind occupied when I was bored. Well, okay, sometimes I got a bit lost when I was doing it and didn't realize that Lovely Wife was talking to me. And maybe once or twice I didn't hear a kid screaming while I was doing it. Does it really matter that I zoned a bit when I was concentrating? Isn't that the mark of a committed mind?
And so what if I did it a lot? I'm good at it so why shouldn't I have? I don't think anybody ever went up to Jordan and said "You know, Mike...you're playing an awful lot of basketball. Maybe you should give that a bit of a break and try something else for a while". Damn straight they didn't.
more...
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1
low possible to win: 625
Hi possible: 745
Hi Loser: 720
Posted by: MojoMark at February 25, 2004 05:30 PM (E+LQu)
2
Jim - now you can finally get that life you've been missing.
At least it's not like my family, where my Ma, Pa and brother had nightly arguments over who could play Hearts.
Posted by: Simon at February 26, 2004 12:34 AM (UKqGy)
3
Simon-my family used to get VICIOUS during Hearts games. It got ugly. Knives thrown, souls sold, the works.
As for me, I am currently nursing a Freecell addiction-I even dream about matching black and red things.
I am a loser.
Posted by: Helen at February 26, 2004 01:52 AM (I9OSd)
Posted by: Jeremy at February 26, 2004 04:45 AM (6TQoy)
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MojoMark - You got at least one but not all three correct. I won't say which one(s) yet so people can still guess.
In my family it was Pinnochle. Gram was an evil player. When I stayed with her on visits we would play all day and night. We played two man with a dead hand. The dead hand was named "George" after my Gramps. Yeah, that's how serious a player my Gram was.
This prepared me for the vicious games of euchre that occupied the majority of my high school days. Gram cheated like a wench and taught me everything I know so I was a killer euchre player against the lightweights I played against.
Then in the Navy it was spades. Lots and lots of spades. Then more spades. I tried to introduce euchre and had a little success but eventually I gave up and turned to poker since that has almost universal acceptance. I made a lot of money off of my fellow sailors.
Ah, those were the days.
Posted by: Jim at February 26, 2004 05:18 AM (saeHM)
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Sounds like an intervention is called for. I know my mother definitely needs to get checked into the Betty Ford Clinic for Solitaire Rehab. They force you to occupy your time by playing backgammon. The shakes go away in a few days I am told.
Posted by: The Bull at February 26, 2004 06:18 AM (Q/NXM)
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I'm gonna say Shamming. No one would ignore their family over a stupid card game.
oh..my bad we're not voting on this one
Posted by: jimi at February 26, 2004 10:11 AM (zE10C)
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Since you haven't revealed the answer yet, can I get a point for saying that 745 highest possible is right?
Posted by: Harvey at February 26, 2004 01:20 PM (tJfh1)
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Nope, but I'll confirm that that's the only one MojoMark had right. I'll reveal the answers and hand points out in about an hour.
Posted by: Jim at February 26, 2004 01:38 PM (IOwam)
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subsequent to my posting I figured one was wrong, so I'll be interested in your response.
Posted by: MojoMark at February 26, 2004 01:38 PM (E+LQu)
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The answers are:
Highest points possible (with a win): 745
Lowest points possible with a win: 20
Highest points possible with a loss: 705
Solitaire points are scored like this:
5 points when you move a card from the deck to the field.
5 points when you uncover a card in the field.
10 points when a card is played to the waste (the Ace to King piles).
When the cards are dealt out there are 7 already exposed. These cards can generate a maximum of 70 points (by playing them to the waste). The other cards can each generate 15 points (5 for uncovering in the field or playing to the field plus 10 for playing to the waste). 45 cards times 15 points is a maximum of 675 points. 675 plus 70 makes the highest points possible 745.
Playing a card from the waste back into the field costs you fifteen points. Therefore you can always reduce your score to zero (it won't go below zero) by playing a card repeatedly from the field to the waste, back to the field, etc. The catch is there have to be at least two cards in the field because as soon as you put the very last card in the waste the game is over. So you have zero points and your last two cards in the field - those two cards will get you 20 points when you play them to the waste.
The highest points possible with a loss is a bit tougher because you have to figure out the best (or worst?) possible scenario for an almost win. This requires 4 cards be left in the field, 1 exposed and the others unexposed underneath it. The cards are a queen - the up card, the card immediately below that in the same suit (to prevent the stopper from being played to the waste) and the two cards higher than the stopper of the opposite color (to prevent it from being played off of the hidden cards). For example, the queen of hearts is face up in the field. Underneath it is the jack of hearts, king of spades and king of clubs. 4 cards haven't been played to the waste so the maximum possible score with a lost game is 705.
Note that there are many scenarios where you could be stopped and have more than 705 points but all of those can be corrected by playing cards back from the waste. They aren't lost games they're just unfinished ones.
One point for MojoMark
Posted by: Jim at February 26, 2004 02:04 PM (IOwam)
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Points in solitare are meaningless. My office has set up the solitare-speed-challenge.
And the current record for a winning game of standard (draw three) solitare, is held by ME.
68 SECONDS, baby. You can't touch this...
Posted by: Mike the Marine at February 26, 2004 03:27 PM (UJiSP)
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I thought Jim's complete points analysis of the game was extremely sad, until I read Mike the Marine's post.
Now I think you're both sad.
Cut free of the cards, friends.
Posted by: Simon at February 27, 2004 02:06 AM (GWTmv)
14
It's not a bug, it's a feature.
Posted by: Jim at February 27, 2004 04:45 AM (saeHM)
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February 20, 2004
Playing hooky
Well it's a gorgeous day here. We're pushing 60 degrees with a very nice breeze so I'm taking the rest of the day off and going to the park to fly kites with the boys.
Cross your fingers and maybe Ilyka will show up to entertain y'all in my absence.
By the way - Munuviana will be moving to its new high powered home this tomorrow evening. The site won't look any different but there won't be any posting or commenting for the duration of the transit. Maybe 4 hours or so.
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must.resist.urge.to.comment.on "flying a kite"
Posted by: jim at February 20, 2004 04:29 PM (zE10C)
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Um, the site looks... Slightly different. Oops.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 21, 2004 01:27 AM (jtW2s)
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February 19, 2004
Gay Marriage
I haven't really written about this issue for a couple of reasons. First, unless I somehow catch homosexuality from one of my gay friends it isn't likely to ever be an issue for me. Second, it's one of those issues where nothing that anybody says is really going to change anybody's mind one way or another. People have decided their position either emotionally or logically. There's nothing changing in the debate to affect a logical decision and you aren't going to change somebody's emotions via your arguments.
So why am I piping up now? Because I've heard "to preserve the sanctity of marriage" one time too many. Every time I've heard this particular argument I've cringed a little bit at the hypocrisy of the statement. I've run out of cringe room. (Plus the retort finally came to me earlier today at Trey's place.)
The people who are arguing for amendments defining marriage as being a union between one man and one woman do not care one whit about the sanctity of marriage. The people fighting for laws defining marriage as being a union between one man and one woman do not give a damn about the sanctity of marriage. The people who are fighting against any and all legislation that would make homosexual marriage legal couldn't give two shits for the sanctity of marriage.
Want to know how I know this? It's because if they actually gave even the slightest weight to preserving the sanctity of marriage they would be fighting for amendments, laws and legislation to bolster marriage instead of this hypocritical hogwash they are involved in.
Want to preserve the sanctity of marriage? It's easy. Make that "til death do us part" portion for real. Make the marriage contract an actual contract. Make marriage a rare and precious thing instead of the "discard after use" recyclable it has become.
Imagine if marriage was permanent. First off there would be a hell of a lot less of them. People wouldn't be getting married for idiotic reasons any more. Britney would have stayed single. Rock stars and celebrities wouldn't count their spouses with sillhouettes on their car doors. People would be forced to actually deal with their partner and make things work. No quick outs.
So if you care about the sanctity of marriage stop putting your efforts into keeping people apart and start putting it where it should be: keeping marriages together.
more...
Posted by: Jim at
04:38 PM
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I'm for getting government out of the marriage business altogether, personally, but excellent point on the hypocrisy issue. And I still think that if someone's marriage is so fragile that the marriage of two gay guys next door is a threat to his or her fidelity, that person has got much, much bigger problems than the two gay guys next door.
Or two lesbians next door. Whatever.
Posted by: ilyka at February 19, 2004 05:08 PM (I/zh8)
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I'd rather have two lesbians next door. Not real lesbians, of course. I mean the hot nubile ones like in the movies that are really just waiting for that one special guy to lure them back to the home team.
Damn, was that out loud?
Posted by: Jim at February 19, 2004 05:13 PM (IOwam)
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In all states, a marriage performed by a licensed person already IS a contract under civil law, whether also done as an action in a religious setting or not.
Posted by: MommaBear at February 19, 2004 05:13 PM (JTLjb)
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Then put some terms on that contract. Term minimums of a decade or so would be relatively effective.
Posted by: Jim at February 19, 2004 05:19 PM (IOwam)
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I'm with Ilyka on this. I don't like that the government is in the business of sanctity at all.
Posted by: Trey Givens at February 19, 2004 08:29 PM (8d3PJ)
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Damn. I was going to address gay marriage next week and you beat me to it.
I also agree that the government should get out of the marriage business-in Europe, the government is not involved, gay marriage happens, and everything is ok.
It hasn't always been like that-as recently as 10 years ago Norway castrated homosexuals, so it's not like everything is hunky-dory here (and they still do it to the clinically insane, in a nice touch of "let's further the horribleness that is your life.)
But I disagree with one thing you wrote-that we should work hard to keep marriages together.
Yes, marriage is work, hard suffering, flinging dishes and adulterous relationships, inter-mingled with grandchildren sitting at your knee, Christmas presents and whipped cream fights. But marriages change and bust due to the nature of the person-ask any of the Baby Boomers parents, and they'll tell you that had they had the option, they would've definitely divorced.
I think of divorce as a sad fact of society, but then I don't see that marriage to someone that it's not going to work with should equate to a prison sentence.
Posted by: Helen at February 20, 2004 02:20 AM (3nEic)
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Hi, I noticed you were talking about a sexual health matter. If you'd like to submit your page to SH Directory, please do ;-) (http://www.shdir.com)
Posted by: SHDir at September 12, 2004 10:59 AM (CxqOL)
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February 18, 2004
Snagglepuss
I've never been a flosser. It could be because I come from a family of non-flossers or maybe it's because my teeth are fairly tight and when I tried flossing way back when it was too uncomfortable. Maybe the seeping blood from your gums if you misjudge and hit them with the
razor wire floss just turned me off. Whatever the reason I've just never been one to floss. I made up for it by being a militant tooth brusher. Once as soon as I wake up, once before leaving for work, once when getting home from work, once before bed. I used to also brush at work after lunch. I'll still add another brushing in there as needed if my mouth feels nasty.
Bear and Bacon recently had dental hygienists into their school to teach the kids how important tooth care was and to give the basics on brushing and flossing. Now anybody with kids will know what that means. They learned something in school that we didn't do at home. This became the absolute most important thing in the world to them. If they didn't floss then all of their teeth were going to fall out! They'd be overrun by plaque! Their breath would stink so bad that they could conceivably kill the birds with the poisonous gasses issuing from their orifices. (Personally I think that this was a bit over the top. If the birds could live through years of babies with crap pants I doubt they'd kick the bucket from nasty breath. Anyway...)
So Lovely Wife found these neat pre-loaded floss doohickeys. No fumbling around with the wax string and shoving fingers into mouths. Oh, no. Not with these sexy dental beauties. They are slick, easy to use and very efficient. So I tried 'em out.
My teeth are still very tight and it was hard to work the string on down between them. I still misjudged a couple times and was rewarded with crimson spit as my gums protested being sliced by the razor wire floss. And my efforts were rewarded as I dislodged some unidentifiable thing that smelled vaguely like raw sewage. I gagged. Seriously. I fought down the urge to puke. I then realized that I had just found evidence that there was something rotting inside my mouth. I fought down the urge to puke again.
I am now a militant flosser in addition to being a militant brusher.
Posted by: Jim at
04:06 PM
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