CMo's Home Away from Home

[CMoore.com] Awesome to Crap

2008-10-29T16:57:00.001-07:00

Speaking of first to worst - I caught a rerun of Psych, season one, and was reminded how awesome the show was when it began. The first season is well written, tight, funny, and smart. Sean is likable, Gus has plenty of lines, the cop-psychic interplay is fun, and the pacing is fantastic.

By season three, the protagonist (Sean) is a smarmy asshole, Gus has basically disappeared, product placements are overwhelming the plot, and the show feels stale. Once again, the old adage holds:

In season one, the actors work for the writers
Season two, they work together
By season three, the writers work for the actors

As a case study in this truism, see the behavior of Heigl, Katherine.

Sorry Psych. It was good while it lasted.

[CMoore.com] Oops

2008-10-22T15:25:00.001-07:00

Sorry guys, my bad.

[CMoore.com] Today is my Favorite YouTube Day Ever

2008-10-21T11:13:00.001-07:00

[CMoore.com] I can't decide

2008-10-21T11:10:00.001-07:00

this is either the gayest or most heterosexual piece since Chuck Berry’s “My Dingaling”

Can’t decide. Brain aneurysm!

[CMoore.com] That's the Most Heterosexual Thing I've Ever Seen

2008-10-21T10:56:00.001-07:00

Also, frickkin awesome

[CMoore.com] Cunning and Sneaky

2008-10-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

[CMoore.com] Kiss that meme goodbye

2008-10-16T21:25:00.001-07:00

Time to put “fail” in the “dude, where’s my car?” pile.

When Ben Bernanke and Henry Paulson testified before the Senate banking committee last month about Paulson’s proposed bailout bill, a demonstrator in the audience held up an 8.5-by-11 piece of paper with one word scrawled on it in block letters: “FAIL.” Earlier in September, Sarah Palin’s interview with Charlie Gibson was dubbed by some bloggers an “epic fail.” Grist magazine invoked the phrase when John McCain told a Maine TV reporter that Sarah Palin “knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States.” And just last week on the Atlantic’s Web site, Ta-Nehisi Coates found the theory that Bill Ayers ghost-wrote Barack Obama’s memoir so “desperate” he called it an “Epic Fail.”

[CMoore.com] Good timing

2008-10-15T20:36:00.001-07:00

Managed to get the lens right on the bastid’s face wut killed ya

… actually, I’m calling fake, but it’s a good un.

[CMoore.com] This may be the worst thing I've ever seen

2008-10-02T10:55:00.001-07:00

I can’t believe it took me 30 years to find it.

No, wait. Seriously? They filmed that? It made it past editing and was actually released? Inconceivable!

[CMoore.com] Kermit Bale

2008-09-30T10:59:00.001-07:00

Christian Bale == Kermit… with photographic evidence

[CMoore.com] 10 Most Challenged Books, 2007

2008-09-30T08:44:00.001-07:00

Also known as my new reading list

1) "And Tango Makes Three," by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

2) The Chocolate War," by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence

3) "Olive's Ocean," by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language

4) "The Golden Compass," by Philip Pullman
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint

5) "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," by Mark Twain
Reasons: Racism

6) "The Color Purple," by Alice Walker
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,

7) “TTYL," by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," by Maya Angelou
Reasons: Sexually Explicit

9) "It's Perfectly Normal," by Robie Harris
Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit

10) “The Perks of Being A Wallflower," by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

I’m kind of sad I’ve only read four of those, actually.

[CMoore.com] When Lipsyncing is a good thing

2008-08-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

I knew it was bad, but that’s just… wow.

[CMoore.com] Disappointed by America yet again

2008-08-03T21:18:00.001-07:00

HGTV’s next design star has approximately 1/10th the talent and 1/100th the design skills. Even if the methodology wasn’t screwed up (texting A or B is a blow to the person with B), even if Jen has nothing but matching the demographic of the watchers, I thought the obvious talent disparity on this, the worst of the Design Star seasons was such that the better designer would win.

Oh well.

Matt, you got jobbed.

[CMoore.com] This may be my new favorite blog

2008-08-01T19:40:00.001-07:00

[CMoore.com] Hate to say I told you so

2008-08-01T05:54:00.000-07:00

… but I told you so!

Welcome back, billmon.

[CMoore.com] Jessica Simpson Epic Fail

2008-07-21T19:36:00.001-07:00

So the never-had-talent tries to reinvent herself as a country star. It did not go well.

Audiences booed and clapped as the singer, 28, opened for Sara Evans on Saturday at the Country Thunder USA festival in Randall, Wisconsin.

“I don’t know what your perception is of Jessica Simpson or what tabloid you buy, but I just want you to know that I’m just a girl from Texas,” Simpson told the crowd. “I’m just like you. I’m doing what I love and dating a boy.“

J. Simp, honey, it’s not the singing they were booing. You have to know your audience, and cowboys like to keep that shit on the downlow, know what I’m sayin?

[CMoore.com] One Badass Leopard

2008-07-21T18:57:00.001-07:00

Behold, as a leopard attacks and kills a crocodile. With pictures!

Man, I don’t know what the croc said, but that leopard musta been pissed to do that.

[CMoore.com] You know who I love?

2008-07-17T21:18:00.001-07:00

Joss Whedon.

Check out his Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog shorts. Aaaaawesome! (Neil Patrick Harris, Nate Fillion, and Felicia Day are the actors)

[CMoore.com] Separated at Birth?

2008-07-09T19:50:00.001-07:00

from the amazing mind of ghostfinger, compare and discuss:

2.5 men set:

with Laverne and Shirley, the California year(s):

Same set or same set designer?

[CMoore.com] I am aware of all internet traditions

2008-07-08T19:20:00.001-07:00

And now, you too, can finally keep up with my awesome cultural references. Except you can’t. Because I’ll always be ahead of you. Just try and keep up, bitches!

(seriously, though, this will at least get you, and you know who you are, past the “dude, where’s my car?” stage of lame-o ness)

[CMoore.com] A Little Help for My Fred

2008-07-02T05:30:00.001-07:00

[CMoore.com] PSA - Help Save Helpline - 1.800.SUICIDE

2008-07-01T21:54:00.001-07:00

Give what you can, share where you may.

[CMoore.com] Carlin on Bullshit

2008-06-24T20:33:00.001-07:00

[CMoore.com] Bummer

2008-06-23T05:37:00.001-07:00

Edgy comic George Carlin dies at 71

Comedian George Carlin, a counter-culture hero famed for his routines about drugs, dirty words and the demise of humanity, died of heart failure at a Los Angeles-area hospital on Sunday. He was 71.

Carlin was amazing. His routines were those of a 2%er who managed to actually connect with the rest of the world. From religion to sex to politics to culture to plain reason, he was a veritable cornucopia of wit and humor.

In sum, I have this to say: shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker and tits.

[CMoore.com] Design Star Music

2008-06-22T20:05:00.001-07:00

OK, it’s got to be said - WTF is up with that cheesy-ass music they’re using this year when they show the “after” shots on the room? Seriously, it’s awful 80s-era euro synth trash mixed with muzak.

Also, this is the cryingest season ever.

The show has fundamental problems - it’s entirely focused on the “design” part and not at all focused on the “TV” part; there is no reason for any winner to have a show at the end, and the competition is not geared toward the “thematic show with personality” part which is kind of, you know, crucial for a personality-based show - but the competition is fun (for a comparison on how to do it correctly, see the Next Food Network Star where there’s a huge emphasis on the contestant’s theme and TV style, not just their cooking). If you want to see a floundering train wreck of a show, watch either of the last two seasons winners, which are flat out boring shows.

Also, the viewers’ choice person (Stephanie) looks like someone I know +35 lbs.

Also also, these people cry more than fuckin Ricky on Project Runway. And they only kept that Kentucky woman (Tracy) in for the conflict/drama. Maybe she has BPD with the level of enmity going on there. Then again, she does seem like a pretty huge assmunch and not a team player in the slightest so it’s probably deserved.

Anyhoo, the music during the reveals in the Design Star thingee this year is poke-your-eyes-out awful.

[CMoore.com] YouMeme Watch 02

2008-06-03T19:22:00.001-07:00

[CMoore.com] YouMeme watch 01

2008-05-24T23:09:00.001-07:00

Pitted, so pitted

Thought I’d share some vids as they start entering the zeitgeist

[CMoore.com] Meta pop music video

2008-05-23T19:46:00.001-07:00

Great video by Weezer

… I love the warmth and acceptance of all the freaky YouTube miniceleb memes.

Weezer isn’t my favorite band, but the video? Good stuff. You’ve got afroninja, the leave Britney alone! kid, Miss South Carolina… and hugs all around.

[CMoore.com] Now THAT is what I call graffiti!

2008-05-15T19:44:00.001-07:00

Holy crap this is awesome

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

[CMoore.com] The effects of fear and our diminished existence

2008-04-12T17:29:00.001-07:00

One graphic nicely sums up our age of irrational and overcontrolling fear. We’re doing it to ourselves, people.

[CMoore.com] It's an oldy but a goody

2008-04-12T13:48:00.000-07:00

I had totally forgotten about this series of exchanges between Judd Apatow (40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad, etc) and Mark Brazil (that shitty 70s show, general insane douchebag-slash-multimillionaire). But just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile! (also - interested in ghostfinger’s take on Brazil’s particular form of mental instability).

This came about from the real estalker where I noticed that Brazil is eating his shorts on real estate deals (lost a mil on a sale last year, going to lose as much on today’s listing) … and it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

[CMoore.com] In case you wanted to try out a baseball league

2008-03-23T20:43:00.001-07:00

Thought I’d give a simple points league a try and what do you know? ESPN has a free and easy setup thing.

Group: Always Room for More
Password: leskanic

http://games.espn.go.com/bbc/group?groupID=4220

[CMoore.com] Wanna buy a house?

2008-03-22T22:09:00.001-07:00

The Humphrey Estate is on the market. For a mere $48 mil. (outside of Atlanta, of all places)

Check it out, though, it’s … remarkable.

[CMoore.com] New Pattern

2008-03-14T20:26:00.001-07:00

Interspersing recipes with totally awesome clips from Japanese TV

Enjoy! It’s faaaaaantastic

[CMoore.com] Someone had to approve this

2008-02-20T17:12:00.001-08:00

I don’t know who, but my guess is that certain someone is a GENIUS

CMo in Springfield

2007-07-01T21:17:00.001-07:00

You, too, can make your own (you’ll have to take a screenshot for something like the above, though)

Four things

2007-07-01T16:39:00.001-07:00

Old meme, but I’m compelled…

FOUR JOBS I’VE HAD IN MY LIFE:
1. camp counselor
2. resident advisor
3. conference coordinator
4. porn star. or maybe it was internet consultant. one of the two.

FOUR PLACES I HAVE LIVED:
1. Ogden, UT
2. Cedar Park, TX
3. NYC
4. Lacey, WA

FOUR TV SHOWS I LIKE TO WATCH:
1. The Office
2. Friday Night Lights
3. The Colbert Report
4. Footballer’s Wives

Actually, that just about covers the entirety of TV shows I like to watch.

FOUR PLACES I’VE BEEN ON VACATION:
1. Cancun
2. Victoria, Canada
3. Orange County. No, seriously. It sucked.
4. El Reno, OK

FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS:
1. pizza
2. thai
3. almost any kind of bread
4. pizza!

I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:

1. Wherever Jamie’s at. I can hear your cutesy-pie groans from here. Quit it.
2. NYC
3. Paris
4. Tropical beach. With good service and no party peeps. Perhaps on the med. Whichev

FOUR FRIENDS I THINK WILL RESPOND:

none

FOUR PLACES I LIKE TO SHOP:
1. Bookstores
2. Funky boutiques in the artsy sections of towns
3. Real estate websites
4. Shoe stores

Better questions:
FOUR RECENT BOOKS YOU’VE LIKED
NAME FOUR PRESIDENTS WITHOUT LOOKING ANY UP
FOUR FAVORITE NUMBERS
FOUR FAVORITE TOES
FOUR FAVORITE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS, AND IF YOU SAY BUSH V. GORE I WILL HIT YOU
etc.

Copycat

2007-06-27T22:27:00.001-07:00

I totally did that too. Only I didn’t. Instead I stiffed this girl who wanted to be my guest but was kind of scaring me with her overaggressiveness and so even though I totally could have hit it and she would have eaten me alive, I just kinda ditched her like a scaredy cat. But other than that, this graduation was exactly like mine.

I have GOT to get back to NYC

2007-06-27T22:22:00.001-07:00

Just to see this play. Seriously.

The troof

2007-06-27T22:14:00.001-07:00

Dipshits who need to speed have small dicks

Anti-speeding ad wags fingers
CANBERRA, Australia, June 26 UPI — An Australian anti-speeding TV ad features young women making hand gestures at a speeder that imply the target has a small penis.

The campaign features young women, an elderly woman and other young men not in the drivers seat wiggling their little fingers in a gesture that implies the speeder is poorly endowed

I know of at least one dissociative stalker going through a perpetual midlife crisis to which this applies. Tiny, dude. Tie-knee.

Why the Gong Show was Cancelled

2007-05-22T14:53:00.001-07:00

Ah, those lost innocent days of yore.

Welcome to Craigslist

2007-05-21T11:40:00.001-07:00

As part of my moving, I thought I’d throw some stuff on CL at insanely low prices (I usually just donate, but I figured what the hell). Anyway, I had this computer desk that we got for >$100 in NYC for Voldemort back in my 2L year. It’s not worth nearly that much, but it’s still useful and in great shape, so I put it up for the “why not?” price of $25.

Here’s my favorite response. It also happens to be the best exemplar of the CL buyerflake, evar!

From: [name withheld] <[something]@hotmail.com>
Subject: Desk.
To: [me]

I can come tonight and pick up your desk & haul it away.

I have $23 bucks in my purse at this very moment. Are you set on 25?

AWESOME!

I ended up just donating the desk, btw.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that

2007-05-18T22:10:00.001-07:00

Sorry, there’s been a job search going on and big networking changes at work made the blogging more difficult (well, sorta. I was also burnt out).

But … I’ve got a new job… which will keep me super busy and I’ll be a Very Important Person and all that now, but also requires moving to a whole new area where I figure I’m going to have nothing to do in the evenings except comment about the world. And how hot it is there.

Like, seriously hot.

Have I mentioned it’s hot yet? Because it is. Supposedly. But I trust those in the know. And they say it’s hot. So… hot! Hotty hot hot hot. This kind of hot:

Not Jessica Biel-kind of hawt. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Anyhoo, I’ll be back, bitches. Prepare yourselves.

A word of warning

2007-05-15T23:19:00.001-07:00

If anyone spoils any part of the plot events of The Sopranos final season before I get a chance to see it on DVD is going to need some serious padding around the nether regions due to the asskicking that will commence.

This is brought about because no less than 5 blog posts today have started with something like “not to spoil anything with The Sopranos, but…” and then, of course, go on to spoil the plot event. So far I’ve managed to avoid contamination, but if anyone else keeps this up, I’m calling Jeff Gillooly.

You have been warned.

Just in time for mother's day

2007-05-09T21:37:00.001-07:00

a new affiliate relationship! I always use FTD.com when ordering for deliveries anyway, so I figure… why not be an affiliate? Same selection and prices to you… and maybe I can pay for hosting.

Here’s the deal, 10% off for Mother’s Day:

Enjoy

Probably not what he had in mind

2007-05-09T14:39:00.001-07:00

Ooops

A man died while trying to outdo a rival with an acrobatic move while “battle dancing,” police said.

Robert Stitt, 48, and his rival were competing in a parking lot Monday night when he tried a forward flip and landed on his head.

Dammit, I need a new death scene now. This guy just stole all my thunder. He’s a death plagiarist!

Best. Headline. EVAR!

2007-05-03T11:43:00.001-07:00

Seriously awesome

Royals To Get A Taste Of Angels’ Colon

This is right up there with my [team] hits Bong Hard headline o’ my deams (Bong was a pitcher with the Braves a couple years back)

Somebody needs to call facilities management

2007-04-26T11:49:00.001-07:00

From today’s game-weather report for the KC@MIN contest:

59Â°F - Mostly cloudy. Refreshingly cool. Wind: 9mph/NE

Now, first, I love that it’s “refreshingly cool.” It’s like a mint patty of a baseball game.

But the even better part is the 9mph wind… inside the Metrodome. Did Gigantaur attack and no one tell us?

From the unfortunate product name files

2007-04-23T12:38:00.001-07:00

Amazon.com: KitchenAid Hand Blender.

Despite its name it is not, apparently, meant for the blending of hands.

The Inbox Of Nardo Pace

2007-04-04T11:15:00.001-07:00

The Inbox Of Nardo Pace, The Empire’s Worst Engineer

Subject Trash Compactor
From Death Star Detention Level Janitor Date A Long Time Ago 7:46 PM
To Nardo Pace

Hey, kid. That trash compactor you designed is up and running and I’ve got to say it looks great. Lots of grime, a magnetically sealed hatch that can’t be opened from the inside, a tentacled garbage creature that practically serves no purpose at all. It’s got everything a salty old janitor could ever want.

good times. Palpatine was my favorite.

Interesting

2007-04-04T07:46:00.001-07:00

… hey, it’s better than that execrable Tori Amos version of Smells Like Teen Spirit.

This is analogous to my job search

2007-03-21T10:19:00.001-07:00

Fuckin Courtney Love

2007-02-27T18:36:00.001-08:00

So a commercial comes on today for a new baseball game for some console. Graphics look great, yadda yadda… hey, wait a minute. What’s that song they’re using?

Breed by Nirvana.

Nirvana. In a commercial. For a video game.

May the gods smite you but good, Courtney. But. Good.

Things I do not believe in

2007-02-13T18:41:00.001-08:00

(though I may have at one time)

Karma
Choosing your own reality
Free will
.
.
.
Hope.

Nothing like having a noveau riche climber obsessed with ostentatious displays of prosperity and having ‘made it’ with one-half your brains and one-third your talent being in a position of gatekeeper to your career. Frustrated? Moi? Ohhh… a tad.

The Office mmmurder

2007-02-13T07:10:00.001-08:00

(in the spirit of Shine)

Food Pix and Recipes

2007-01-27T12:15:00.001-08:00

Was trying to figure out something interesting to cook and happened upon Tastespotting, which has tons of nice pics of food and recipes on how to make them.

Thought I’d share.

For those using Firefox with Adblock (and probably the Adblock Filterset G Updater), all the images will be blocked unless you remove espotting.com from the domain list.

Everything you need to know about Big Pharma

2007-01-18T11:56:00.001-08:00

They’re evil and they only care about your health if it helps their profitability.

It is expected there would be no problems securing funding to explore a drug that could shrink cancerous tumors and has no side-effects in humans, but University of Alberta researcher Evangelos Michelakis has hit a stalemate with the private sector who would normally fund such a venture.

Michelakis’ drug is none other than dichloroacetate (DCA), a drug which cannot be patented and costs pennies to make.

It’s no wonder he can’t secure the $400-600 million needed to conduct human trials with the medicine - the drug doesn’t have the potential to make enough money.

Michelakis told reporters they will be applying to public agencies for funding, as pharmaceuticals are reluctant to pick up the drug.

At roughly $2 a dose, there isn’t much chance to make a billion on the cancer treatment over the long term.

According to research on DCA, formerly used to fight metabolic disease in children, the drug apparently revitalizes damaged mitochondria in cancer cells, effectively triggering cell death and shrinking the cells.

“One of the really exciting things about this compound is that it might be able to treat many different forms of cancer,” explained Michelakis.

This is also a large part of what’s wrong with the American medical system.

Who would ever want a $2 pill that shrinks/kills tumors with no side effects? Don’t be ridiculous. The mere idea of such a thing being desirable is absurd.

Kick some of that big-C ass, jane

2007-01-16T21:05:00.001-08:00

Best wishes and have a speedy recovery.

Good luck, Jane

2007-01-16T21:04:00.001-08:00

Best wishes

Way better than dick in a box

2007-01-16T11:08:00.001-08:00

Speak of the devil...

2007-01-12T13:45:00.000-08:00

Because it's stuck in my head, that's why

2007-01-09T12:27:00.001-08:00

enjoy

Man down! Man down!

2007-01-08T15:38:00.001-08:00

First billmon closes up shop (again… but you’ll be back!) and now Berube augers in.

The dynamics of the ebb and flow of blogging are interesting. The demands of always having something to say about whatever it is that is most cutting edge can be draining. Which is why you have so much burnout and turnover. From my experience (and I’ve been doing this since 1997), it’s best to just go fallow for a bit and post when you feel like it. After all, it’s not like the site is going anywhere. If you make grandiose proclamations and farewells… you’re kind of stuck. If you come back, it will have been like staging your own funeral or eleventieth birthday party only to show up at the next summer’s barbecue wearing a hawaiian shirt and birkenstocks.

And no one likes birkenstocks. Except those freaks who wear them. *shudder*

Come on back anytime, billmon and Berube. Our door’s always open. Oh, and someone light a candle for Greenwald. He’s burning his candle at both ends. Would hate to see him end up like JoplinMoonHendrixMorrison. No, really.

No Surge

2007-01-08T14:55:00.001-08:00

Though We, the People, are essentially powerless to stop this insane escalation of an idiotic war as perpetuated by an unaccountable authoritarian/Caligula-liite, I cannot stand idly by as the AWOL preznit sends more of your sons and daughters to die in the sands of Iraq.

No Surge.

No McCain/Lieberman magic pony plan.

No Surge.

No Bush/Cheney oedipal dreams of imperial grandeur.

No more.

If you can call your congresscritters to register your opposition to this latest infernal idiocy (which, by the way, is also a precursor to the likely upcoming naval and air strikes on Iran - this is America, how?). You are not alone and maybe, just maybe, enough voices working together can stop this insanity.

Hungry For a Month

2007-01-08T09:19:00.001-08:00

As an experiment, one noble soul decided to try to spend $30 total for all his food for a month.

For the month of November, I'm only spending $30 on food. The only exception will be things that are freely available to the average person salt taken from restaurants, sauce packets from Taco Bell, free coffee from an office. Buying in advance is fine, but at the end of the month, it all has to add up to $30 or less.

Interesting and provocative experience. And he donated his saved money to a food bank, which was an awesome gesture.

What Does 200 Calories Look Like?

2007-01-06T22:41:00.001-08:00

Wisegeek has this cool picture gallery (arranged by mass) of what 200 calories looks like. If you’re watching your calories this is pretty interesting. Even if it’s not it’s almost artistic. Almost.

The Corporatization of Google

2006-12-27T22:18:00.001-08:00

Buh-bye pr0n

The personal blog of San Francisco’s Violet Blue, a sex writer published in the San Francisco Chronicle and Valleywag’s sister site, has been removed from the Google index, along with several other adult sites. Tiny Nibbles, which runs a well-known annual list of the year’s sexiest geeks, does not show in Google’s search results, even if filters are turned off. Other sites affected include ErosBlog, a sex news site, and Comstock Films, which makes adult movies of real-life couples. The content’s all legal, and naughty, rather than degrading. Some word Violet wrote probably triggered a Google ban, inadvertently, but the search engine’s rules are opaque, as is the procedure for an appeal against deletion. You think there are other search engines, so that’s okay? There are no other search engines.

Personal pr0n, anyway. Bigger players such as Vivid and other more corporate-ish sex sites are still available of course.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

2006-12-27T16:56:00.001-08:00

From the “why didn’t I think of that?” Files…

Ever wondered how much dough is in a pint of CCCD ice cream and what it would taste like cooked? Well, now you have an answer.

The Xmas Death Trio

2006-12-27T09:15:00.001-08:00

It was an interesting triumverate of deceased this year. James Brown, Frank Stanton, and Gerald Ford.

The Godfather of Soul, the father of news television, and … the inspiration for Chevy Chase’s best SNL bits. Hard to come up with a lasting Ford impression.

Joe Barbera (of Hanna-Barbera fame) also passed, but four legs breaks the Rule of Three, so I’m going to ignore it.

I’d write a long obit about James Brown and what his music meant to me (not to mention the world), but he’s way too busy getting a new pair of shoes in his afterlife of choice, teaching Rick James what funk is all about. Nothing left to say, outside of the bad jokes that keep popping into my head (e.g. the hardest working man in showbiz is now Kid Rock).

Hit it!

Best Holiday Movie Ever?

2006-12-26T11:46:00.001-08:00

Discuss

How To Hide Your Porn... on a Mac

2006-12-19T09:24:00.001-08:00

What with the appletistas taking over and all, I thought some of them might like to learn how to hide their files from casual snooping. Obfuscation isn’t security, but it might, say, keep your friend who is borrowing your laptop to check their webmail from opening your private full-frontal photoshoots featuring yourself, three goats, and a couple jars of peanut butter.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Are you fucking kidding me?

2006-12-14T10:08:00.001-08:00

Mariners to get Jose Vidro in exchange for Snelling, Fruto

The Seattle Mariners would acquire second baseman Jose Vidro in a tentative trade that would send outfielder Chris Snelling and pitcher Emiliano Fruto to the Washington Nationals.

Vidro, an immobile, injury-prone, washed up 2B (when you have a young, promising 2B already in the system, so the Vidro-2B will have to DH) who is owed $12M for an injury prone, highly talented OF and a med-high ceiling pitcher? FSM, Bavasi, that’s just embarassingly bad. Horrible. Beyond the pale.

I’m glad I’m not a fan of the Mariners or I’d have to go set something on fire right about now.

Gunga galunga

2006-12-12T09:08:00.000-08:00

With Ramirez, Batista, Washburn, and probably Thomson in the fold… the Seattle Mariners could set the record for fewest K’s in one year in the modern era next year.

So at least they’ve got that going for them.

p.s. you stink, Bavasi!

'tis the Season

2006-12-12T07:34:00.000-08:00

… to give everyone a Shocker 101 education. Fun for the whole family (or your partner, at least).

And there’s more, including a mug and a spaghetti strap tank top for that cute girlfriend of yours. The dark color shirts (black, maroon, green, blue) are selling like hotcakes.

Supplies are unlimited! Make sure you get yours today before they don’t run out!

(if you want, you can make your own stuff, too)

How to keep your home's appreciation in the family

2006-12-11T15:34:00.001-08:00

Though the bubble has burst, our homes are still almost always going to be our single greatest asset. And when we sell those assets, our eyes get as big as saucers when looking at all the apprecation our lovely four walls have accumulated. However, there are some things that can significantly reduce the amount you will realize from that appreciation. Taxes aside, real estate agent fees are the biggest chunk. With a little extra work and/or creativity on your part, the agent fees can largely be avoided.

A typical home sale incurs agency fees of 6-7%, with half going to the selling agent and half to the buying agent. Selling and buying a home involves a lot a paperwork and is a total pain in the ass… but 7% is a steep tax to pay (on a $500,000 home sale, you’ll be paying $30,000 in agent fees). How can you avoid paying it?

To avoid the buyer agent fees, you could sell only to unrepresented buyers. That will limit your pool of available buyers, but it can save you some money. Essentially, though, I think paying the buyer agent fees is nigh unavoidable, which leaves the selling agent.

Traditionally, there’s the for sale by owner route. There are a number of websites that will let you list your house FSBO for a flat fee (as little as $399).

I think a great middle ground (and fast-rising option) is Redfin. They have a flat $2,000 fee like the FSBO sites, but also have experienced sales agents who will show your home and take care of all that onerous paperwork. That $30,000 in agent fees for your $500,000 home just became $17,000 ($15,000 for buyer agent + $2,000 for Redfin). You could potentially save yourself $28,000 if you find a buyer not using an agent.

And that, as my mom would say, is better than a kick in the pants.

I have no association or relationship with Redfin… but I’ll be using them when I put my house up for sale in the near future.

The difference between pros and hacks

2006-12-05T15:25:00.001-08:00

Pros come ready to perform. Hacks forget the lines to their one song and flub even the simplest parts.

Fergie? You’re a hack.

Not as much of one as Jess Simpson of course, but still a hack.

Brady

2006-12-02T13:02:00.000-08:00

I’m not a football fan by any means, but this is funny. It also made me reconsider my sexual orientation.

I don’t know how to quit you, Brady.

I’m a tight end
but I hope one day
to be your wide receiver
how I long for you to hit meeeee
in the slot

Genius!

Still lite blogging ... blame the partners

2006-12-01T15:10:00.001-08:00

Today’s episode straight from Anonymous Lawyer is where the partner, after sitting on a report for 3 days, decides at 3pm on Friday to ask for a huge volume of work “by Monday.” As part of this, the person tasked with 99% of the work is the one who is paid the least, has no authority, and will under no circumstances be getting a bonus this year.

So, long story short, I told ‘em to stick it.

Contact lurve

2006-11-30T20:22:00.001-08:00

The Ciba Vision Clear Care product is the only, repeat only, contact solution that ghostfinger enjoys, recommends, and uses without qualification. Unfortunately, we can’t find it in the stores around here.

Luckily for us, there’s this intertube thing:

Seriously, she loves this Clear Care stuff. And if it’s ghostfinger-recommended, you know it has got to be good.

Drat

2006-11-30T14:20:00.001-08:00

My multimillion dollar patent idea… has already been worked out.

US researchers have outlined a relatively simple system that could deliver power to devices such as laptop computers or MP3 players without wires.

The concept exploits century-old physics and could work over distances of many metres, the researchers said.

Figures that would happen 2 weeks after I think of it. Boo.

Interesting idea

2006-11-30T14:16:00.001-08:00

Interesting… and a bad investment

Stocks, bonds or Steen? That’s a question that 19-year-old Ron Steen of Anaheim Hills,Calif., hopes investors will wrestle with.

In August, Steen put himself on eBay (Charts) to pay for his college education, offering 2 percent of all future earnings to the highest bidder, with a minimum $100,000 bid.

What with Steen having to average 1.5M/year until age 65 to match a 6% investment, I’m thinking he’s not going to have any takers. Bonus points for audacity, though.

More Dealios - computer gaming

2006-11-28T14:54:00.000-08:00

Ghostfinger’s doing this project about violence and computer games, which got me thinking… man, I love games! And when I buy games, I go to GoGamer (all the way back to the day when it used to be called CompuExpert).

Being forced to use a laptop as my primary machine has really killed off a lot of my favorite games. Well, that and having all my free time sucked up elsewhere, that is. In any event, I recommend GoGamer highly if you’re in the market for some games.

… if I was shopping for myself, I’d get Neverwinter Nights 2

Neverwinter Nights 2 DVD

(since they’re apparently never going to freaking release Jade Empire). If you’ve got to play on a console, you can’t go wrong with a Madden Football (consoles are the only time football is acceptable)

The Things I Learned Yesterday

2006-11-28T14:22:00.000-08:00

During my 7 hour, yes 7 hour (6:30p to 1:30a), 30 mile trip from my home to ghostfinger’s last night, I had the following thoughts:

1) Fun! What a remarkably enjoyable experience! I was especially enjoying the part where I neither went to the bathroom nor ate before I left.

2) I freaking love my car. I will not trade it, I will not sell it, not for all the diamonds in the world. The boomoblile not only never slipped (in a way that would be her fault - there was a point where we were caught on an elevated cloverleaf freeway entrance and all the cars started sliding to the guard rail. From a dead stop. FUN!), but she was the only car that seemed to make it through everything OK. If you’ve got the Boomobile on your side, then you’re in good hands.

3) FUN!

Slow blogging

2006-11-27T12:21:00.001-08:00

out of town, working. You know, that stuff.

Anyway, I missed making more gift recommendations for Black Friday. Which is OK, since I’m more into the Dont’ Buy Anything Today Friday aspect of things. Besides, it’s easy to find a deal for Black Friday. What’s hard is finding one on the third Tuesday in November with a red bow and zombie repellent throwins.

Mmm... Cameras

2006-11-21T17:10:00.000-08:00

I can’t think of a better consumer guide to top notch cameras than Flickr’s new Camera Finder utility.

Looks like the Canon EOS Rebel XT is the hands-down winner. The others are the Nikon D50, Canon EOS 20D, Nikon D70, and the Canon Digital Rebel (non XT version).

Guess where I’m looking first when I get my digital SLR camera?

The author ejection seat

2006-11-20T16:06:00.000-08:00

Following Henry’s following of Jim Henley’s following of Adrienne Aldredge’s meme:

What authors have you given up on for good? And why?

Now, we’ve got two people saying Dan Simmons so I can’t use him. Which is unfortunate, since he certainly deserves to be on the list, both because of the GWOT malarkey and his horrible second-novels in each series he’s done. So… here’s my list of authors that started off great. Our relationship was perfect and my love for them burned brighter than two suns … only to fizzle when they kept publishing past their expiration date. These authors are dead to me, our love a dry, barren, scorched earth of place where only the unlikeliest of seeds may take root henceforth:

Chuck Palahniuk. Invisible Monsters, Fight Club, and Survivor were fantastic. Choke was good. But Diary, Lullaby, and Haunted were all empty nothings that lacked the energy, vision, and genius of his earlier work. I was pretty sure I was done after Diary, but I’m certain I’m done after Haunted.

Neal Stephenson. There, I’ve said it. Quicksilver was such an awful book that it overwhelmed the truly awe-inspiring works of Snow Crash and Diamond Age. and I liked the Big U, Zodiac, and Cryptonomicron as well. Interface… not so much (it was a long way to go just to get a black woman as president). Visionary, meth-and-death-metal fueled genius… toppled under it’s own weight and affectation of writing three massive tomes longhand.

Orson Scott Card. Three of his works were fantastic - Ender’s Game, Seventh Son, and Red Prophet. Some were pretty good (like the first two in the Homecoming series), but every book after the second in each of his series was just awful. The returning to former glories with Ender’s Shadow and the like is just pathetic. The well is dry, Orson. That and the freaking incessant pounding of the Mormon mythology drums just gets tiresome.

On the bubble: Neil Gaiman, Greg Bear, George R. R. Martin, Jim Butcher, Stephen King
Definitely on the list, but too trite to mention: J.K. Rowling, Robert Jordan, Michael Moore, Anne Rice

Hot Fuzz

2006-11-20T12:35:00.000-08:00

I just saw the teaser poster for Hot Fuzz:

The guy on the left? That’s Simon Pegg. You know, that hilarious guy from Spaced and Shaun of the Dead? I’m psyched for Hot Fuzz just based on Pegg’s involvement, though I really think they need to get working on Day of the Ed.

Gifts - 19" widescreen LCD megahot deal

2006-11-20T11:03:00.001-08:00

Newegg is currently carrying a smoking hot deal for a 19″ widescreen LCD (4ms refresh rate) for $190. If I was using anything besides my laptop, I’d jump all over that. Maybe two and dual-screen it. That would be awesome.

I can’t link directly to the product with Newegg’s aff links, but it’s the top deal o’ the day today. If it’s not there when you click, search for “SAMSUNG 941BW“. $229.99 - $40 mail in rebate.

Pet Peeve o' the week

2006-11-19T21:28:00.001-08:00

I have two DVD-specific rants. One, concerning the technology itself, where the designers have prohibited you from going directly to the menu and you can’t reauthor the DVD because of that egregious violation of our fair use rights known as the DMCA.

But today… today we’re going to talk about something else: DVDs for television series that do not place their chapter marks right after the opening credits. Yeah, I’m talking to you Stargate SG-1 and The Wire (and the early seasons of The Sopranos). After you’ve seen the credits once, do you really need to keep on seeing the menus the next 12-21 times you watch the series? And you can’t even find out that the chapter points are set at ass-random times until after it’s too late.

So here’s to you, underthinking DVD designers! Give us freakin’ appropriately-placed chapter points.

Gifts - Terry Pratchett

2006-11-19T00:28:00.000-08:00

Hey, did you know that Terry Pratchett as a new book out? Because he does. It’s called Wintersmith. And the Nac Mac Feegle are in it too!

FSM, I love the Nac Mac Feegle (what are they good for? Drinkin’! Drinkin’ and what? Drinkin’ and fightin’! Drinkin and fightin and what? Drinkin’ and fightin’ and stealin’!). Don’t know who Terry Pratchett is? Why, he’s only the wittiest, funniest, satirical writer in like… ever. His most famous and successful construct is a fictional universe called Discworld. It’s a flat planet that sits on top of four giant elephants who stand on the shell of the great space turtle A’Tuin. The series is inspired storytelling and genius disguised as satire. I’m such a fanboi, I’ve even reviewed and provided capsule summaries of all 30-something Discworld books, feel free to peruse at your leisure. But comment so I can feel some lurve.

Anyway, books are always cool gifts and Pratchett is good fun for the whole family. So he’s going on my wishlist as well as the Deals n’ Gifts list. Pratchett and Susanna Clarke’s The Ladies of Gracie Adieu are the books I’m most looking forward to these days. Well, that and the next 3 from Steven Erikson.

Vino

2006-11-16T11:13:00.001-08:00

Here’s a new idea (for me) for gift giving this year - wine! Now, I’m no oenophile or even a connoisseur, but in the under-$20 reds category, I’ve got some decent experience. Interestingly enough, wine.com has a category just for that (though they include whites too. Apparently, some people like it sweet), which makes my choices a lot easier.

We’re generally a shiraz/syrah house, but I’ve heard good things about the Folie à Deux Ménage à Trois Red ($9) and the Cantena Malbec ($18, 90 rating). Of shiraz’ I know and like, they have the Fat Bastard Shiraz for $11, though I can’t seem to find my favorite cheap deal find of the year, the Lindeman Padthaway shiraz 2003 (they don’t appear to carry Lindeman at all. Oh well) and that screwtop Pinot Noir $11 thing that was awesome but who’s name escapes me at the moment. Sigh.

Wine.com also offers glassware, of course, and they have their own most popular gift suggestion ideas as well.

Coming from what is essentially a teetotaler family, the idea of gifting alcohol on the holidays is new ground to me, yet appealing. This year, at least. And remember - a glass of red a day keeps the heart healthy!

Matsuzaka

2006-11-15T11:27:00.001-08:00

Well, the BoSox are paying $51.1M to talk to the best free agent pitcher available this offseason. Is he worth the 80-90 million he’s going to cost? Quite possibly. When you add together that his translated stats are better than Clemens’ over the past 3 years and the increase in money from Japanese marketing and that he’s only 26 and can still improve… I could see the deal working out. It’s possible that he tanks or gets hurt, of course, but I think from a business standpoint, he’s at least a break even proposition (and that’s not even getting to the marginal monetary value of the wins that he brings to the table).

A Matsuzaka-Schilling-Beckett front three would be pretty impressive (if flyball heavy), especially for a team that has poor OF defense. We don’t know who the Sox are going to put in the corners, but let’s assume Manny and a slugger leaving mediocre+ Crisp in center. That’s… somewhat troublesome, but not overly so for such a K-heavy top three.

Anyway, who cares about that. Let’s see how he pitches!

Slider:

The infamous gyroball:

If you’re in a fantasy league next year, I recommend trash talking and comparing him to Irabu. Then picking him up on the cheap.

Deals? Buy used and after market

2006-11-14T23:17:00.000-08:00

I’m a huge believer in buying used things, particularly in areas where immediacy is not an issue and quality does not decline much, if at all.

Yeah, I’m looking at you, books. Textbooks, novels, hardcover, softcover, whatever. Used books markets are the greatest invention in the history of ever. The one I use? Half.com.

This is the least obnoxious banner they have offered (the others are all those lovely animated gifs. Woo.):

I think I saved over $300 last semester on ghostfinger’s textbooks by using half.com for most of the purchases (this was before I knew about Valore., so I’ll definitely comparison shop next semster). Anyway, half.com totally rocks and it’ll save you a bundle of money.

I’m a big believer in giving books away too of course, but iffen I’m going to be buying, the first place I looke is half.com. You can get CDs and DVDs on half.com as well, though I’ve been less successful for those products compared to its competitors (like Amazon marketplace) in terms of savings.

Good tips from a script reader

2006-11-14T15:15:00.001-08:00

Good luck, buddies

According to Quentin Tarantino, if a rookie screenwriter wants to get their script read by the right people in Hollywood they must first find a way to bypass the script readers. In the director's eyes, a reader will never recommend you since they're frustrated writers themselves and don't want anyone else to succeed. Tarantino was killing me softly with his advice, telling my whole life, with his words, killing me softly. Yes, I do read scripts on occasion for extra cash and I'm also currently writing a script that I know everyone will hate and that I'll never finish anyway. However, I assure you that we readers have nothing but respect for the show-offs who actually complete a script. It's more accurate to say that we're hoping your script is very, very, very bad.

I’m not really tacking with the cut of his motherfuqin jibe, but they’re good tips to keep in mind while you’re-

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
What is that perfume you are wearing?

CMo looks at the camera directly and shrugs.

writing your killer screenplay.

Cool Gift Ideas - the Sleepwalker

2006-11-13T22:27:00.001-08:00

The Sleeptracker! It's a watch! It's an alarm clock! It's a watch alarm that only wakes you up when you are at the appropriate moment in your sleep cycle!

I've met a couple of people who have this watch now and they swear by it. What it does is:

Sleeptracker monitors your sleeping patterns to wake you up at the right time

Wake up during an optimal "almost-awake" moment of your regular sleep pattern

Designed to wake you in a pre-set "alarm window" timeframe so you wake feeling refreshed and energized

Continuously monitors your body for signals that you are nearly awake to wake you at the best time

Sure the Sleeptracker is a touch on the ugly/geek side, but wouldn't it be worth it to be woken up every day at the best possible part of your sleep cycle, refreshed, invigorated, and ready to face the day?

Let the holiday crush begin!

2006-11-13T16:35:00.001-08:00

For the next six weeks or so, I’m going to try and post a daily deal or gift idea. This may or may not continue past that time, but for now, let’s window shop!

Originally posted at: http://cmoore.com/2006/11/13/let-the-holiday-crush-begin/

Occasional $$$-update

2006-11-12T21:09:00.000-08:00

I am a member of a few different programs that I can support without reservation. I'm not a fan of advertisements or anything that interferes with the free flow of information, but in a few instances I've signed up with some programs that I can endorse without reservation and if you sign up through me (via the links below), you get the same deal everyone else gets... and I get a little bit of money for referring you.

Also, I wanted to state for posterity who butters my muffin - theoretically of course, since I've never actually gotten anything from any of these companies - in the interests of full disclosure.

Books, Movies, Music, Everything

iTunes - $0.99 songs, $9.99 albums, audiobooks, videos, and more.

Barnes & Noble - books, music, videos, and other goodies.

Amazon - books, clothing, electronics, music, movies, and more.

Netflix - great library, great rates, no late fees.

Valore Books - specializing in textbooks (buying and selling)

Electronics and Computer Hardware

Apple - shop for some great hardware and software at good prices, including the iPod (nano, shuffle, inspi(red)), a MacBook, and tons of other goodies.

TigerDirect - great prices, large inventory

Telecommunications

Packet8 - VOIP, with unlimited calling and long distance for $19.99/month

Web Hosting

Gate.com - Professional, fast web hosting + $1 domain names

Hostmonster - Web Hosting, unlimited domains for $4.95

Bluehost

Hostgator

Dreamhost

Domain Parking

NameDrive - great interface, good payouts.

Sedo - most traffic, best auctions

Amazing fact! Music available on the interweb thing

2006-11-08T19:24:00.001-08:00

No, really. And there’s this place that is the leading music shop on the whole of the truck-filled tubular net doohickey, called eye-music. Now, I don’t know why they call it that, since you listen with your ears, but that’s what they call it so that’s what I’m calling it.

Sure, Mondegreen is available for free download … but it’s also on the eye-music even without any videos! Isn’t that cool?

I gave it a look and it’s $1/song and $10/album (roughly). The best part is - you won’t get sued by the RIAA! Sweet!

Originally posted at: http://cmoore.com/2006/11/08/amazing-fact-music-available-on-the-interweb-thing/

Voter Protection stuff

2006-11-08T09:12:00.001-08:00

I spent yesterday ensuring that everyone who came to my assigned precinct who wanted to vote could vote (provisionally, if nothing else). There were no disruptions outside of one crank (my state is not New Jersey, Tennessee, Ohio, or Florida … thankfully enough) and everyone there was quite knowledgable after working elections together for 20 years.

It was safe, boring, and peaceful. Just the way democracy should be.

For an off-year election, turnout was super high. Since there were no wedge issues on our ballot, I took that as a sign people were pissed as hell… which I found out late last night was pretty much true, even if that fucktard Lieberman’s still around in a position of even more possible damage to the republic than ever before.

But let’s not focus on that for the moment. Let’s focus on the zero-loss unprecedented Dem victory in 3 branches of government (house, senate, gubernatorial)!

Originally posted at: http://cmoore.com/2006/11/08/voter-protection-stuff/

Getting My Democracy On

2006-11-07T00:20:00.000-08:00

No blogging for me today, I’ll be out volunteering as part of the Voter Protection program.

Vote!

Don’t shoot anyone in the face while I’m out.

Originally posted at: http://cmoore.com/2006/11/07/getting-my-democracy-on/