Jun 2008
No Embedding? Fine... I'll Go To The Concert And Do It Myself
This is a sequel post from yesterday. Mission accomplished.
I suppose I played right into their hands by attending the concert, but at least I kept my protest clean by not patronizing Ticketwhore, oh sorry, I mean Ticketmaster. I bought directly from Variety Playhouse's box office.
Enjoy the clip below. More to follow on my YouTube channel.
Overall, Colbie Caillat's vocals were strong and the audience seemed chill and engaged. A rare combination. Kudos to her for sticking with small venues.
I suppose I played right into their hands by attending the concert, but at least I kept my protest clean by not patronizing Ticketwhore, oh sorry, I mean Ticketmaster. I bought directly from Variety Playhouse's box office.
Enjoy the clip below. More to follow on my YouTube channel.
Overall, Colbie Caillat's vocals were strong and the audience seemed chill and engaged. A rare combination. Kudos to her for sticking with small venues.
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Corporate America Sucks Ass
I'm going to see Colbie Caillat tonight at Variety Playhouse. I'd like to embed one of her videos from YouTube, but I can't because Universal Music has disabled that function.
The company obviously believes that being purveyors of creative property translates into being proprietary assholes.
So, instead of posting her video -- in fact, as a protest to NBC Universal's refusal to play in the sandbox like the rest of us -- here's a montage from a stalwart YouTuber.
This little nugget has about 800K views... Hits that the greedy bastards at the record company would have benefited from.
The company obviously believes that being purveyors of creative property translates into being proprietary assholes.
So, instead of posting her video -- in fact, as a protest to NBC Universal's refusal to play in the sandbox like the rest of us -- here's a montage from a stalwart YouTuber.
This little nugget has about 800K views... Hits that the greedy bastards at the record company would have benefited from.
Toilet Humor: Kimmy Goes For Broke Against A Renegade Turd
Jun 29 2008 Filed in: The Funnies | YouTube
While 'Strapped For People Who Want To Stay In,' Out On His Ear
This is a particularly good group of "Bushed" vignettes... detailing the numerous fill-in-the-blank-gates from the current administration.
Forget about earning medals and serving honorably -- forget about the understanding people serving with him -- another sergeant has been discharged for being gay. So...
Pay close attention to No. 2, and how perfectly Keith captures the idiocy of "Dont Ask Don't Tell." The other two are great as well.
Forget about earning medals and serving honorably -- forget about the understanding people serving with him -- another sergeant has been discharged for being gay. So...
Pay close attention to No. 2, and how perfectly Keith captures the idiocy of "Dont Ask Don't Tell." The other two are great as well.
I Miss Maya Rudolph & 'Bronx Beat'
Jun 27 2008 Filed in: Streaming Web | The Funnies
Thanks To Gene For Hosting In North Georgia
Jun 25 2008 Filed in: New Captures
Put Your Heart On A Treadmill... For Longevity, Prosperity
Jun 23 2008 Filed in: Quotes 2 Remember
In remembering Tim Russert last week, NBC Nightly News ran a segment about the work that Russert did for kids, specifically the Boys & Girls Club of Washington, D.C.
He donated proceeds from his speeches and advocated for youth advancement all the time -- many qualities people didn't know about him.
The piece concluded with one of Russert's favorite sayings:
"No exercise is better for the human heart than reaching down to lift up another person."
He donated proceeds from his speeches and advocated for youth advancement all the time -- many qualities people didn't know about him.
The piece concluded with one of Russert's favorite sayings:
"No exercise is better for the human heart than reaching down to lift up another person."
'Lead Or Leave': Thomas Friedman Nails Bush's Energy Failure
In today's Times, Thomas Friedman deserves some sort of medal.His op-ed, in the plainest terms yet, details why our sorry president deserves a failing grade in energy policy.
I was reporting and writing for MarketWatch.com when Bush took office - and when Cheney was crafting energy policy with a board that consisted of a who's who in Corporate Oil.
Since that time, his failure to act has been widely reported by MSM and blogs, Web sites, focus groups - you name it. The corporatization of energy policy had begun.
Today, Bush is heckling Congress that if they don't act before recess, they've got the blood of $4 per gallon gas on their hands without domestic drilling. Without a formal plan for alternative energy, he's just trying to make his fat-cat buddies even fatter than they were before.
Bush is incompetent. He's an elitist scumbag who thinks he's God's gift (literally, figuratively...), which, as evidenced by the below video, is definitely not true.
It's sad that impeachment is summarily off the table basically because we're so close to him leaving. Just on energy policy alone, his grade is "F".
Of course that's just one reason for our fatigue... Embodied brilliantly by Skeeter and Jimmy Bob, watching from the sidelines, who could give a rat's ass about Bush's arrival:
House To Air On 'Renovation Nation' Next Week
Discovery Channel's "Planet Green" -- a brand-new, all-green channel with requisite tree-hugger programming -- will feature the house renovation next week. Check your local listings, but on my Comcast DVR it's slated for Wednesday night at 6 p.m., on "Renovation Nation."
As you check your local listings, watch out for the "Renovation Nation" that focuses on the Atlanta area.
Here's a preview of the channel itself:
And a preview of the show:
In addition to green products, Charley's deserts and my big gut will be featured. Don't miss it.
I'm gonna go eat my celery sticks now...
As you check your local listings, watch out for the "Renovation Nation" that focuses on the Atlanta area.
Here's a preview of the channel itself:
And a preview of the show:
In addition to green products, Charley's deserts and my big gut will be featured. Don't miss it.
I'm gonna go eat my celery sticks now...
The Residue Of 'Temporary Madness' Is... A Deeper Love
Jun 17 2008 Filed in: Quotes 2 Remember
Thanks to Stephen for posting this on his page.
"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being 'in love' which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident." (taken from Captain Corelli's Mandolin)
"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being 'in love' which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident." (taken from Captain Corelli's Mandolin)
Doing My Best Not To Drool. Really.
Jun 16 2008 Filed in: YouTube | The Green Machine
Coming to Will's driveway in May 2009...
The Best Of Men... Are Tenacious And Youthful In One Package
Jun 15 2008 Filed in: Quotes 2 Remember | Ascribe.net Preview
Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, appearing on the tribute "Meet The Press" episode celebrating Tim Russert (1950-2008), honored the longtime host today with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt:"Remember, the nicest men in the world are those who always keep something of the little boy in them."
True for all of us. That show, the longest running in TV history, will have enormous shoes to fill.
Who's going to operate the whiteboard this November?
David Gregory is a great choice to replace Russert, even though it is way too early to be thinking about that.
After all, someone could only succeed him -- he was irreplaceable... especially during this unprecedented and historic political year.
News Flash To Gay Drama Queens: Your Rights Have Been Upheld
Jun 13 2008 Filed in: The Funnies | The Onion
You gotta read this...
In a related story, the Massachusetts Supreme Court made a ruling of its own. Here's the headline:
"Massachusetts Supreme Court Orders All Citizens To Gay Marry."
The Onion stopped allowing readers to generate code for blogs. Boo!
In a related story, the Massachusetts Supreme Court made a ruling of its own. Here's the headline:
"Massachusetts Supreme Court Orders All Citizens To Gay Marry."
The Onion stopped allowing readers to generate code for blogs. Boo!
Another Reason To Love Family Guy: The Sci-Fi Soul
Jun 12 2008 Filed in: YouTube | The Funnies
Family Guy does parodies and take-offs of Star Trek and Star Wars all the time, much in the same way South Park does. Check out this Star Trek split screen, parodying the funeral for Spock in ST II:
Selfish Is As Selfish Does
Jun 12 2008 Filed in: Quotes 2 Remember
"I am convinced that the
majority of people would be
generous from selfish motives,
if they had the opportunity."
-- Charles Dudley Warner
I don't care what the reasons are -- just be generous. But... intention is always nine-tenths of a life lived well, so there's that, too.
-- Charles Dudley Warner
I don't care what the reasons are -- just be generous. But... intention is always nine-tenths of a life lived well, so there's that, too.
Lessons Of Improvements And How They Make A House A Home
Jun 10 2008 Filed in: Home Improvement | The Green Machine
(ATLANTA :: 10 June 2008) As I embark on this active journey to refashion the house on Myrtle, I’ve come to know my home on a deeper level - and, as it turns out, I have sharpened my home-improvement priorities even further.As a writer/blogger, I see it as an obligation to write about my experiences - to show that eco-friendly practices, home updates and renovation need not break the bank. In fact, they can end up saving money in the long run.
And let’s not forget, as we update our homes we are suiting our own priorities in addition to writing the next chapters for those who live in the house after us.
What have I learned? Here’s a primer:
- GeoDeck. I now have this pastic-sludge derived product abutting the front door of my historic, Midtown Atlanta home. The “driftwood” color reminds me of the grey shingles you’d find on a Cape Cod home on Nantucket - except it’s virtually indestructible. Don’t try to install it by yourself - even someone like Steve Thomas had issues trying to lay it correctly at the house. (We had to order another batch because of the error.)
- Brac Greywater system. This product has its faults, including leaving rings on toilets and needing filter maintenance. But when you’re in a drought-prone area like I am, this system will come in handy. It’s in place for the future of the house once I put on the addition and more water can feed into it.
- Rinnai tankless water heater. The advantage here is that, once your H20 is hot, it stays that way. In standard water heaters, you keep a set amount of water hot for use at all times - and use energy to keep it that way. With a tankless, you turn your home into an on-demand consumption zone and save energy.
My improvement pursuits have also spurred a story idea - one that has been accepted by The Sunday Paper. Through an extended title search during the renovation I learned that my home was quite likely the first owned by a woman in the state of Georgia. (For more, watch the HGTV episode.) Her family, the Cannons, owned the property for roughly 50 years. So, I thought, what a great idea to name the house after them.
I’m now on a mission to find this family and include them on the renaming - and also create a commemorative plaque for the house’s façade. Watch for that soon.
Meantime, here’s my final message and lesson learned: always embark on your home-improvement journey ready to learn more. About your home, its history, and your own priorities.
# # #
Huge Thanks To All Who Swarmed Atlanta & Artistry For 40/70
Jun 10 2008 Filed in: Cool Events | Cool People
What Superhero Are You?
Jun 09 2008 Filed in: General Posts | The Funnies
The Green Lantern is pretty cool, I gotta say.
You are Green Lantern
Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...
You are Green Lantern
| Hot-headed. You have strong will power and a good imagination.  |
Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...
What Is A (small c, small l) 'civil libertarian'?
Jun 08 2008 Filed in: Ascribe.net Preview | Rant
Many of you have asked me what this means in my "about me" section recently... well, here's your answer.
Also, I've put a permanent link in the sidebar for the future. Being a civil libertarian indicates a political thought process rather than a specific party loyalty.
In a nutshell, this country was founded on freedoms, with an "s" - and our founding fathers' intent should never be interpreted as a tool of restriction, prejudice, hatred, excessive intrusion or any other violation that keeps America from the greatness it once knew.
For the past seven years, "power to the people" has been overtly, blatantly, construed and twisted into "power to the executive branch." And that royally sucks. I hope we're on our way to changing that.
Freedom is also NOT something we can "spread" or impose on other people. It's not a tool, it's a privilege. We should treat it as such. Personal freedoms, our civil liberties, are both a collective and a personal obligation. And that's why it's so important to me to protect them... so long as we use them wisely.
Remember: live consciously, be responsible and achieve, think freely and love regularly. That makes our freedom actually mean something. - WP
Also, I've put a permanent link in the sidebar for the future. Being a civil libertarian indicates a political thought process rather than a specific party loyalty.
In a nutshell, this country was founded on freedoms, with an "s" - and our founding fathers' intent should never be interpreted as a tool of restriction, prejudice, hatred, excessive intrusion or any other violation that keeps America from the greatness it once knew.
For the past seven years, "power to the people" has been overtly, blatantly, construed and twisted into "power to the executive branch." And that royally sucks. I hope we're on our way to changing that.
Freedom is also NOT something we can "spread" or impose on other people. It's not a tool, it's a privilege. We should treat it as such. Personal freedoms, our civil liberties, are both a collective and a personal obligation. And that's why it's so important to me to protect them... so long as we use them wisely.
Remember: live consciously, be responsible and achieve, think freely and love regularly. That makes our freedom actually mean something. - WP
Rock Star? Maybe. But He's Striking The Right Chords Here
Jun 04 2008 Filed in: Ascribe.net Preview | YouTube
In accepting last night, Obama spoke about many high hopes he has for this country... one of them is that we will no longer use religion as a wedge that divides us.
Is this our time?
One more thing before the clip... Can we talk to Michelle Obama about that purple dress? Not feelin' it. At all.
Is this our time?
One more thing before the clip... Can we talk to Michelle Obama about that purple dress? Not feelin' it. At all.
Kids Say The Damndest Things... With Better Memories
Jun 04 2008 Filed in: YouTube | The Funnies
NBC has disabled YouTube's embedding function for many of these great, classic Friends bloopers -- but I found one that will make you chuckle...
Watch how Jennifer Anniston and David Schwimmer gain some greater understanding about their lines.
Watch how Jennifer Anniston and David Schwimmer gain some greater understanding about their lines.
'Teal Treasure' Heads Up WP.com for June (Tirol, Costa Rica)
Jun 01 2008 Filed in: New Captures
This capture was shot at a retreat in Costa Rica... the door struck me because of how perfectly weathered the paint was... almost like it was intentionally distressed.
And since I'm obsessed with texture in photos - like tree bark, rusted metal, etc. - this capture really got to me.
Make sure to click through the link and vote! (Image flipped for the header banner, fyi.)
And since I'm obsessed with texture in photos - like tree bark, rusted metal, etc. - this capture really got to me.
Make sure to click through the link and vote! (Image flipped for the header banner, fyi.)