From a Friend in Brooklyn...

What Irks You?

Apropos of this blog, the New York Times today ran a piece on things that annoy people and what those people are doing about it. Among my favorites:

• Ordering starbucks using the terms "small" "medium" and "large"


• Saving up those cards that fall out of magazines and sending them in blank so they cost the company money


• Obtaining the names of spammers and signing them up for catalogs and junk mail galore
  

The article aslo provides some resources, like www.bugmenot.com, which offers shared usernames and passwords for free sites so that you don't have to register.

What Irks You?

Apropos of this blog, the New York Times today ran a piece on things that annoy people and what those people are doing about it. Among my favorites:

• Ordering starbucks using the terms "small" "medium" and "large"


• Saving up those cards that fall out of magazines and sending them in blank so they cost the company money


• Obtaining the names of spammers and signing them up for catalogs and junk mail galore
  

The article aslo provides some resources, like www.bugmenot.com, which offers shared usernames and passwords for free sites so that you don't have to register.

CBS Would Rather Not

For those of you who didn't see Dan Rather's final broadcast (or those luddites who don't even own a TV) here is a link to the video.

The Onion: Bush Announces Iraq Exit Strategy

"We'll Go Through Iran"
As usual, the Onion has a brilliant satire of our foriegn policy. My favorite line: "Bush said the U.S. Army, which deposed Iran's longtime enemy Saddam Hussein, should be welcomed with open arms by the Islamic-fundamentalist state. 'And Iran's so nearby,' Bush said. 'It's only a hop, skip, and a jump to the east.' "

Do Not Go Gently

According to this story a man in the Dominican Republic won a drinking contest yesterday by doing 50 shots of tequilla, then fell over dead. I once heard Dylan Thomas died after drinking eighteen straight shots of whisky. But then, he wasn't trying to win a title.

Need a Mindless Break? Watch This.

This is a fantastic site. IT shows a giant industrial shredder eating everything from a washing machine to a huge tractor tire. Hours of fun. Enjoy.

Russian Scientists Develop Drunkenness Drug

Scientists in Russia (you have to love any posting that begins with those three words) announced this week that they have developed a new pill which "prolongs drunkenness and enhances intoxication." You really have to respect the Russians for even thinking of that.
The best part: "I don't want it to become a party drug," says the lead scientist. "We are for responsible drinking."

I Just Think This Picture Is Funny

Offensive In So Many Ways, But Funny

Three Men In an Airport

Three strangers strike up a conversation in the airport passenger lounge in Bozeman, Montana, while awaiting their respective flights.

One is an American Indian passing through from Lame Deer.

Another is a Cowboy on his way to Billings for a livestock show and the third passenger is a fundamentalist Arab student, newly arrived at Montana State University from the Middle East.

Their discussion drifts to their diverse cultures. Soon, the two Westerners learn that the Arab is a devout, radical Muslim and the conversation falls into an uneasy lull.

The cowboy leans back in his chair, crosses his boots on a magazine table and tips his big sweat-stained hat forward over his face. The wind outside is blowing tumbleweeds around, and the old windsock is flapping; but still no plane comes.
Finally, the American Indian clears his throat and softly he speaks, "At one time here, my people were many, but sadly, now we are few."

The Muslim student raises an eyebrow and leans forward, "Once my people were few," he sneers, "and now we are many. Why do you suppose that is?"

The Montana cowboy shifts his toothpick to one side of his mouth and from the darkness beneath his Stetson says in a smooth drawl . . .

"That's 'cause we ain't played Cowboys and Muslims yet, but I do believe it's a-comin'."

Jackie Robinson Remembered

The Times has a nice story on Jackie Robinson today, as Congress has awarded him the Congressional Gold Medal. I had hoped that some of the sports sites or columnists would take the occasion to write up something more poerful for this well-deserved recognition of a true sports hero, but haven't seen anything so far. I will post anything I find.

Cool Photos

A friend recently sent me this link to a beautiful website with some really lovely photographs by Gregory Colbert. It's part of an exhibit at the temporary Nomadic Museum at Pier 54, for those in New York.

More on the Singing Fat Guy

Apparently I wasn't alone in my fascination with this video clip of a fat kid singing to his webcam. The clip has now been viewed by over a million people, according to the original posting website, and has appeard on CNN and VH-1.

So Disturbing

I really don't know where to begin with this one. This is taken, verbatim, from the Post website:

Filene's Basement is hosting the "Running of the Brides" where brides-to-be will descend upon the Union Square location to find the perfect wedding dress at rock bottom prices. One lucky New York Post reader will beat the mad rush and have the opportunity to shop for their dream wedding dress before the store opens to the public. Plus, The Post's Wedding Page's writer will help the winner choose the perfect wedding dress.

I'm struggling to find something positive to say about this. Although the combination of trends and assumptions behind this are so collectively aweful they are nearly apocalyptic, I guess I'm sory of impressed that they managed to cram so many cliches into three sentences.