New Feature

In my eternal attempts to add more “interesting” stuff to this site, I’ve added a little poll section in the sidebar. I’m going to try to come up with a new poll question each week. It might be something serious, but probably not. It might have something to do with my blog, or maybe one of yours. I might even have a popularity contest among my favorite Blogger World friends. Except LBB. I’d want to keep it competitive! And if it bombs, I’ll get rid of it.

As with all polls, there’s going to be some margin of error. In this one, I’d guess somewhere around ±90 points. Feel free to check it out. Vote early, vote often!!

Burger King/Stephen King

I’ve mentioned this in an earlier post, but it just seems to get weirder. Is anyone at all creeped out by the Burger King ads these days? In particular–the oversized head of the BK mascot? Straight out of a Stephen King novel! The whole look is that of a demon-possessed clown. Sort of like the one in “Poltergeist”, or the ventriloquist’s dummy in “Magic”. No change in facial expression. You’re just waiting for the point in the ad where he pulls out a machete and whacks off someone’s finger (and tosses it into Wendy’s chili pot). Whatever happened to the gentler times of “Have it your way….”?

Now that BK has rolled out their latest offering in breakfast gluttony (the Enormous Omelet Sandwich–730 calories & 47 g. of fat!), they’ve got their newest commercials. And they all feature the creepy King. At the end of one commercial, it shows the King outside a house trying to look through the blinds in a window. Another one has the King on the living room floor, rolling around with the family dog after delivering breakfast, and enjoying it a bit too much. These commercials are a follow-up to the one where a guy rolls over in bed and is face-to-mask with the creepy King (see above).

I don’t know why the BK marketing people think that we’ll all flock to them after seeing these commercials. The one with Hootie (and it apparently is Hootie!) is just disturbing, and these latest ones make my skin crawl. Creepy, creepy, creepy. Unless, of course, Stephen King is actually involved, in which case, the commercials are great!! But they still won’t make me go there…

Easter

Easter has come and gone, and it was pretty good. Alot of sibling/family time together. Our family will get together for just about any reason to have dinner, drink beer and just be together. I feel lucky in that regard. Who’da thunk that my bratty little sisters would turn out so cool? It took years, mind you, but we’re all pretty close. It helps that the whole family, except for one sister, lives in Helena. Mom & Dad are at the tail end of their 3 months of Hawaiian vacation, so they missed out, but we went on without them.

It dawned on me last night that I usually come home, full from Easter dinner, and watch the rest of “The Ten Commandments” on TV.
Lo and behold–no one was televising it last night! Somewhere in my upbringing, I got hooked on all those epic Charlton Heston religious-ish movies: “Julius Caesar”, “Ben Hur”, “The Greatest Story Ever Told”, “The Agony and The Ecstacy”, and perhaps the best–”The Planet of the Apes”. Of course, I have the DVD of “Commandments”, but it’s not quite the same as watching it with all the commercials interrupting it. So I watched two other distinctly different Easter movies:
VS.
I watched “Passion” when it first came out last year, and in spite of the violence, blood and gore, I thought it was a well made movie. It certainly gave us a view that most of us never imagined. Even without subtitles, you pretty much knew who the characters were, thanks to years and years of Sunday school, Bible studies or whatever. After watching it at home on DVD, I found that the blood and violence wasn’t as shocking as in the theater. Perhaps due to the relative size of the screens. Maybe because I knew what was coming. In any case, it still comes off as a pretty good movie.

So I followed that with the 1973 DVD of “Jesus Christ Superstar” (there’s a 2001 version that’s not quite as good). Many of us who grew up in the early 70’s could sing every lyric of every song off that original double LP. I remember when my mother bought it and brought it home in 1971. She had volunteered to teach a religious ed class that year, and was going to somehow use the recording in her class. I was in the 8th grade at the time, and was well into my dorkiness. I remember being very apprehensive about the whole thing, and knew that Mom was going to go straight to Hell for blasphemy or something. The whole rock music/Jesus/”Superstar” thing just didn’t sit right with my Catholic upbringing. Especially the word “Superstar”. The song “Superstar” was just hitting the AM airwaves (the Carpenters’ version of the Leon Russell song–like I said, dorkiness had set in). I somehow thought that using Jesus and Superstar in the same title was some sort of play on the Carpenters’ version. Again, like I said–DORK! But once I listened to it, I was hooked. Since that time, I’ve collected about 6 different versions of the opera (yes, dorky)–Broadway, movie soundtrack, London, 20th Anniv., etc. Even a version where the Indigo Girls play Jesus and Mary Magdalene, with Atlanta-area musicians contributing (pretty good, actually). But none of them are quite as good as the first one.

I had the joy about 7 years ago to conduct the pit orchestra for this (though I would have also loved playing the bass guitar–yes, I also play that) and also had the role of King Herod (yes, I can sing & dance, too!). I can honestly say that “Superstar” was a major influence on my music throughout my life. But after watching “Passion” the first time, I sort of felt that “Superstar” came up a bit trivial. And I haven’t watched it in well over a year.

I’m happy to say that after watching them back to back, “Superstar” holds its own quite well. Same story, different telling. And even though they’re over 30 years old, the “Superstar” movie and original recording can stand up to anything out there. There’s a comfort of knowing the thing inside and out, and I just might have to make it a part of my regular Easter routine. Sorry, Chuck…. Unless I decide to watch all three during Easter weekend!

Happy Easter!

“He is not here: for he is risen…”

Matthew 28:6

Dumping Grounds – Again

I’m re-posting one of my earliest blog subjects, because the same situation arose yesterday, and I’m too lazy to come up with a fresh post. Very few things piss me off, but this is one of them that does:

Back when I was growing up, I remember very clearly the day that I was riding in the car with my mother, going to the store or coming back from my grandparents house, or some such thing. It was memorable because I got to ride in the front seat, and my sisters were in back. These were the days when the typical family had only one car, and wives/moms were expected to stay at home with the kids, while the husband/father took the car to work. Whenever the kids got to be in the car, it was usually a family affair, and the parents would be in front, and me and my cootie sisters were in the back. But on this day, for whatever reason, Mom was driving, Dad wasn’t with us, and I was in the front seat.

At some point during this ride, I rolled down the window and casually tossed out some sort of litter. I don’t remember if it was something small or something large, but it didn’t matter. All of a sudden, my mother stops the car, and in a moment I won’t likely ever forget, ripped me a new one about the sins of littering. With the car stopped in the middle of the street, and traffic trying to get by, she made me get out and pick up whatever it was. My sisters, after the initial shock had worn off, took great glee in the fact that my butt had been royally chewed! That’s all it ever took. Never again, in the next 4 decades, have I ever tossed litter out of a car window.

I bring this up now, because of a disturbing trend I’ve seen over the past couple of years. And it happened again this afternoon. A carload of kids (apparently from a multi-car family!) was stopped at the light across the intersection from me. Someone in the back seat rolled down their window, and tossed out a full bag of empty McDonald’s remnants. Didn’t even bother looking around to see if someone was watching, in case it was something they shouldn’t be doing. Then someone from the front seat hands him another one to toss! The light turns green, and I don’t even move. They pass by me, without the slightest hint that they might have done something remotely wrong!

Now I’m generally the first one in line to defend the maturity of teenagers today. I’ve seen plenty of them getting the short end of the stick, just because of their age. But at what point did the youth of today figure out that it’s OK to just dump out their garbage in the middle of the street?? Between my mother, and that hokey public service announcement of the Indian chief crying over the smog, litter and pollution, the thought of littering hasn’t crossed my mind since that fateful day so, so many years ago. Have we raised a full generation or two of parents who don’t teach their kids anymore? I can’t imagine a parent of my age allowing their children (or grandchildren) to do such a thing!

God bless my mother for teaching me things at a young age. This is just one of the many things she did well for me in my life. She still made a mistake by not forcing me to take piano lessons, but that’s a subject for a future discussion…

Haloscan

It appears that most of us have seen the light and are using Haloscan. Hooray for us! But I’ve noticed one thing. Not one of us has used the Trackback feature. Do any of us feel the need for it? Do any of us know how to use it? Is there a blog out there to teach us? Or someone older and wiser than the rest of us? PLEASE! We need help!!!

The British Are Coming! The British Are Coming!

Stole this from another blog. With apologies to my right-leaning bloggerfriends, this is just too damned funny not to share!

And now, for something completely different….
By John Cleese

To the citizens of the United States of America, in the light of your failure to elect a competent President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective today. Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories. Except Utah, which she does not fancy. Your new prime minister (The Right Honourable Tony Blair, MP for the 97.85% of you who have until now been unaware that there is a world outside your borders) will appoint a minister for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire will be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. You should look up “revocation” in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up “aluminium.” Check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it. The letter ‘U’ will be reinstated in words such as ‘favour’ and ‘neighbour’, skipping the letter ‘U’ is nothing more than laziness on your part. Likewise, you will learn to spell ‘doughnut’ without skipping half the letters. You will end your love affair with the letter ‘Z’ (pronounced ‘zed’ not ‘zee’) and the suffix “ize” will be replaced by the suffix “ise.” You will learn that the suffix ‘burgh’ is pronounced ‘burra’ e.g. Edinburgh. You are welcome to respell Pittsburgh as ‘Pittsberg’ if you can’t cope with correct pronunciation. Generally, you should raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. Look up “vocabulary.” Using the same twenty seven words interspersed with filler noises such as “like” and “you know” is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. Look up “interspersed.” There will be no more ‘bleeps’ in the Jerry Springer show. If you’re not old enough to cope with bad language then you shouldn’t have chat shows. When you learn to develop your vocabulary then you won’t have to use bad language as often.

2. There is no such thing as “US English.” We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter ‘u’ and the elimination of “-ize.”

3. You should learn to distinguish the English and Australian accents. It really isn’t that hard. English accents are not limited to cockney, upper-class twit or Mancunian (Daphne in Frasier). You will also have to learn how to understand regional accents – Scottish dramas such as “Taggart” will no longer be broadcast with subtitles. While we’re talking about regions, you must learn that there is no such place as Devonshire in England. The name of the county is “Devon.” If you persist in calling it Devonshire, all American States will become “shires” e.g. Texasshire, Floridashire, Louisianashire.

4. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as the good guys. Hollywood will be required to cast English actors to play English characters. British sit-coms such as “Men Behaving Badly” or “Red Dwarf” will not be re-cast and watered down for a wishy-washy American audience who can’t cope with the humour of occasional political incorrectness.

5. You should relearn your original national anthem, “God Save The Queen”, but only after fully carrying out task 1. We would not want you to get confused and give up half way through.

6. You should stop playing American “football.” There is only one kind of football. What you refer to as American “football” is not a very good game. The 2.15% of you who are aware that there is a world outside your borders may have noticed that no one else plays “American” football. You will no longer be allowed to play it, and should instead play proper football. Initially, it would be best if you played with the girls. It is a difficult game. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which is similar to American “football”, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like nancies). We are hoping to get together at least a US Rugby sevens side by 2005. You should stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the ‘World Series’ for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.15% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. Instead of baseball, you will be allowed to play a girls’ game called “rounders,” which is baseball without fancy team strip, oversized gloves, collector cards or hotdogs.

7. You will no longer be allowed to own or carry guns. You will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous in public than a vegetable peeler. Because we don’t believe you are sensible enough to handle potentially dangerous items, you will require a permit if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

8. July 4th is no longer a public holiday. November 2nd will be a new national holiday, but only in England. It will be called “Indecisive Day.”

9. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and it is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean. All road intersections will be replaced with roundabouts. You will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

10. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips. Fries aren’t even French, they are Belgian though 97.85% of you (including the guy who discovered fries while in Europe) are not aware of a country called Belgium. Those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called “crisps.” Real chips are thick cut and fried in animal fat. The traditional accompaniment to chips is beer which should be served warm and flat. Waitresses will be trained to be more aggressive with customers.

11. As a sign of penance 5 grams of sea salt per cup will be added to all tea made within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this quantity to be doubled for tea made within the city of Boston itself.

12. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all, it is lager. From November 1st only proper British Bitter will be referred to as “beer,” and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as “Lager.” The substances formerly known as “American Beer” will henceforth be referred to as “Near-Frozen Knat’s Urine,” with the exception of the product of the American Budweiser company whose product will be referred to as “Weak Near-Frozen Knat’s Urine.” This will allow true Budweiser (as manufactured for the last 1000 years in Pilsen, Czech Republic) to be sold without risk of confusion.

13. From November 10th the UK will harmonise petrol (or “Gasoline,” as you will be permitted to keep calling it until April 1st 2005) prices with the former USA. The UK will harmonise its prices to those of the former USA and the Former USA will, in return, adopt UK petrol prices (roughly $6/US gallon – get used to it).

14. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you’re not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you’re not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you’re not grown up enough to handle a gun.

15. Please tell us who killed JFK. It’s been driving us crazy.

16. Tax collectors from Her Majesty’s Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all revenues due (backdated to 1776).

Thank you for your co-operation.

New Blog

I’m going to try something different. I’d love to share some photos–more than what I want to put in this blog, but not enough to bother opening an online album with Flickr or Ofoto. Sooooo……

I’m starting another blog–“Pictures From the Back Row” (catchy title, huh?). I’ll throw in pics of Montana, friends, a little bit of this, a little bit of that, some old, some new. I might even try to keep it interesting! I’ll keep a link over in the sidebar, and I’ll try to let you know when I put something new in over there.

Enjoy!

Montage-a-Google

Found kind of an interesting site. Montage-a-Google. It basically does an image search for any word you put in, and will build a montage of those images. It’s got a couple of advanced options, but I can’t tell if you can save the montage. That would be sort of cool.

But beware. For those of you who are looking for an array of boobs or other hoo-haws, you’ll most likely be disappointed. The pictures Google finds tend to be on the clinical side. A bit of a shock if you’ve never seen those types of pictures. But if you put in something like “trombone”, you get a nice collection of pics.

I don’t know if it serves any purpose than to waste time, but we can all use something like that.

Pics from Butte

I know you’ve been waiting for some pictures of Butte on St. Patrick’s Day, so here you go!

These first ones were taken at the M & M Bar. The M & M had been open 24/7 for something like 113 years, and they never–not once–ever locked their doors in all that time. It was closed down about two years ago as part of bankruptcy proceedings. It was purchased, brought up to code, and opened on the 15th, just in time for St. Pat’s!

Here’s the crowd at 4:20 PM.
And this is the webcam/monitor that captured it all…
That I stayed in front of for 20 minutes, even though no one saw me….
This is the crowd outside the M & M.
Not the biggest crowd of the day–that would have been around noon.
No pictures of us playing. Not much of a crowd all night. We played at the Red Lion Inn, which was booked full of college kids for the night. Yep, lot’s of fornicatin’ going on that night. Well, if they weren’t too drunk to get it up. Anyway, the Red Lion had their shuttle van taking people uptown (where the M & M is) all night, and bringing back precious few of them. So no one really stuck around to listen to us. Until the Edmonton Police Pipes & Drums came by. They brought a crowd in at around 11:00. They played, then stayed to dance, since they were staying there too.

This is the view from the back of In Cahoots, looking out over the dance floor, where they played for about 10 minutes.
Another view of the Pipes & Drums.
Yes, the guy with the bass drum is that tall. Had to be at least 6′9″, maybe 7′!

And finally–me & my friend Mike at O’Toole’s at 8:30 AM, with a couple of beers and a couple of shots already in us! We’ve been accused of being brothers. I don’t know if that’s good for either of us!
All in all, it was a great time! I got to see the guys from OutdoorDrunks.com. Got to see a catfight in the alley behind the M & M with about 100 people watching. I got to see guys peeing behind dumpsters. Got to see a girl peeing in the middle of another alley. Got to see a guy puking next to a truck, and not miss a beat with his conversation on the cell phone (there’s a picture of that on OutdoorDrunks.com!). I’m just sorry I missed the parade!

But wait until next year–it falls on a Friday!!