And now: one of my favorite scenes in any movie, ever.
Decidedly Rated R for tommy gun-related violence.
And Shoemaker sends this along:
Film. Comics. Sci-Fi. Superheroes. Pulp. Noir. History. Superman. 20th Century Archaeology.
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
It's St. Patrick's Day! Hope you put on some green. These guys did.
 |
| Ollie and Hal urge you to drink responsibly |
Monday, February 21, 2011
Signal Watch President's Day Profile: Calvin Coolidge
Most of you know that when it comes to Presidents, I find Theodore Roosevelt to be up one of the most fascinating (somewhere next to the "now-slipped-into-the-territory-of-mythos", like Abe Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson, I guess). But 'ol TR gets a lot of coverage, so I won't do that here until I actually read that third volume by Morris.
The 20th Century saw a wide array of men (well, a wide array of moneyed white men) land in the White House. From Reagan to Kennedy to FDR to Nixon to "Wild" Bill Clinton, it was a wild ride, indeed.
But who talks about Calvin Coolidge? Nobody.
Coolidge was fortunate to land in the White House between World War I , and that little political hot potato we call The Great Depression.* Coolidge managed a Bush-43 maneuver, saying good-bye to the White House just as the economy was going to holy hell and leaving Hoover in office to make a series of increasingly bad decisions, and shrug off responsibility. Coolidge was part of a chain of Republican presidents that is mostly dull when history isn't making you want to slap both Harding and Hoover. Somehow, Coolidge never feels very slappable. But he doesn't seem much of anything, when you do a little Googling.
It may explain much that Coolidge took the Presidency only after the death of President Harding, who was on a "Tour of Understanding" or some such, which was not entirely unlike Superman walking across America to "get back to the people". Coolidge served without much in the way of scandal or notoriety, and if you think about our record since Truman, that's kind of AMAZING.
Coolidge served from 1923-29 as President, and somehow William Henry Harrison gets more ink for managing to catch a cold during his inauguration and immediately die in office (which: hubris, people).
Why do we not write songs about Coolidge, insist on naming airports after him, and why have conservatives not lauded Coolidge as they do Reagan? From the White House's own website:
The White House also says:
Even the White House seems to struggle to figure out what this guy was actually doing 40 hours per week other than hanging about, or even to have something positive to say about the dude, but its hard to say much negative either. The reason: Coolidge is most famous for not just doing nothing, but for basically refusing to talk during his Presidency. Including (or especially) at social functions and dinner parties. He was pretty keen on just answering with a simple "yes" or "no", leading this website to postulate that Coolidge was likely an early cyborg presidential replacement.
Clearly, this lack of "shooting one's mouth off when given the slightest provocation and when nobody can stop you" is where Coolidge and I would diverge, but I kind of like the idea of the person who runs their life and presidency by remembering the old adage about "better to remain silent and let them think you a fool than to speak and remove all doubt".
In some ways, he's the ideal Tea Party guy, in that his lack of desire to see the government (ie: himself) actually do anything fits in neatly with the "less government" idea. He was no TR when it came to using the Presidency and, by extension, the entire US, as a blunt instrument. Coolidge, sought not to rock the boat and to do what he could to promote Capitalist ideals. After all, he was the guy who coined the idea that "the business of America is business". He may be the Ron Swanson of Presidents.
Without trying to throw too many political grenades, I'll mention that the Democrats of the Southern States during the 1920's were not always the most interested in concepts of social justice based upon racial, ethnic and other barriers. Republican Coolidge was of the Abraham Lincoln school of 19th Century and early-20th Century Republicans and recognized the gallant participation of African-Americans in the first World War, and acted in support of black citizens, Catholics and others who had to put up with the bigoted nonsense Americans tend to cultivate (see: Woodrow Wilson).
On a final note:
I read somewhere long ago, and cannot find the source, that Coolidge also liked to sneak off and hide in the bushes from his security crew, then hop out and scare them when they came looking for him. If true, then Coolidge was exactly my kind of guy.
Hmmm. You know, I probably should have covered Taft. That guy was probably more interesting.
More reading on Coolidge:
Wikipedia is oddly complete
Calvin Coolidge's web site (Yup)
Well, that sort of covers it. He's not exactly John Adams, people.
*If anyone wants a name for the Depression we're sinking into now, may I recommend "Great Depression 2: Depression Forever!"
The 20th Century saw a wide array of men (well, a wide array of moneyed white men) land in the White House. From Reagan to Kennedy to FDR to Nixon to "Wild" Bill Clinton, it was a wild ride, indeed.
But who talks about Calvin Coolidge? Nobody.
Coolidge was fortunate to land in the White House between World War I , and that little political hot potato we call The Great Depression.* Coolidge managed a Bush-43 maneuver, saying good-bye to the White House just as the economy was going to holy hell and leaving Hoover in office to make a series of increasingly bad decisions, and shrug off responsibility. Coolidge was part of a chain of Republican presidents that is mostly dull when history isn't making you want to slap both Harding and Hoover. Somehow, Coolidge never feels very slappable. But he doesn't seem much of anything, when you do a little Googling.
It may explain much that Coolidge took the Presidency only after the death of President Harding, who was on a "Tour of Understanding" or some such, which was not entirely unlike Superman walking across America to "get back to the people". Coolidge served without much in the way of scandal or notoriety, and if you think about our record since Truman, that's kind of AMAZING.
Coolidge served from 1923-29 as President, and somehow William Henry Harrison gets more ink for managing to catch a cold during his inauguration and immediately die in office (which: hubris, people).
 |
| This guy. 6 years. |
The political genius of President Coolidge, Walter Lippmann pointed out in 1926, was his talent for effectively doing nothingWell, to his credit, the 1920's were a pretty good time in America, if you ignore Prohibition and how much that would have put a cramp in you getting your party started. We had movies by the 1920's, phonographs, a lack of war, gangsters livening stuff up with bathtub gin, and flappers were making wearing slinky dresses and dancing and drinking a welcome idea.
The White House also says:
But no President was kinder in permitting himself to be photographed in Indian war bonnets or cowboy dress, and in greeting a variety of delegations to the White House.So, you know: he was screwing around with disguise kits for 6 years. Was he the Jimmy Olsen of presidents?
 |
| Now largely forgotten, the raves in the Coolidge White House were, according to Eleanor Roosevelt, "Off the hook". |
Clearly, this lack of "shooting one's mouth off when given the slightest provocation and when nobody can stop you" is where Coolidge and I would diverge, but I kind of like the idea of the person who runs their life and presidency by remembering the old adage about "better to remain silent and let them think you a fool than to speak and remove all doubt".
In some ways, he's the ideal Tea Party guy, in that his lack of desire to see the government (ie: himself) actually do anything fits in neatly with the "less government" idea. He was no TR when it came to using the Presidency and, by extension, the entire US, as a blunt instrument. Coolidge, sought not to rock the boat and to do what he could to promote Capitalist ideals. After all, he was the guy who coined the idea that "the business of America is business". He may be the Ron Swanson of Presidents.
Without trying to throw too many political grenades, I'll mention that the Democrats of the Southern States during the 1920's were not always the most interested in concepts of social justice based upon racial, ethnic and other barriers. Republican Coolidge was of the Abraham Lincoln school of 19th Century and early-20th Century Republicans and recognized the gallant participation of African-Americans in the first World War, and acted in support of black citizens, Catholics and others who had to put up with the bigoted nonsense Americans tend to cultivate (see: Woodrow Wilson).
On a final note:
I read somewhere long ago, and cannot find the source, that Coolidge also liked to sneak off and hide in the bushes from his security crew, then hop out and scare them when they came looking for him. If true, then Coolidge was exactly my kind of guy.
Hmmm. You know, I probably should have covered Taft. That guy was probably more interesting.
More reading on Coolidge:
Wikipedia is oddly complete
Calvin Coolidge's web site (Yup)
Well, that sort of covers it. He's not exactly John Adams, people.
*If anyone wants a name for the Depression we're sinking into now, may I recommend "Great Depression 2: Depression Forever!"
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day - The League tells you about LOVE
Ah, c'est l'amour.
It is that magical day of the year when the expression of love is wrapped up in overpriced doo-dads in color combinations which nature never intended and the day when the un-coupled among us insist that the coupled-up among us are rubbing our relationships in their faces.*
Well, love is grand. Here in year 15 or 16 with Jamie, I have been told we're getting a pizza and watching a movie. That is what I call a successful Valentine's Day. She got her bouquet Saturday, and she'll get a card tomorrow. That, people, is love.
And today I want to talk about love. This video more or less encapsulates my feelings about Jamie.
Really, when you can find a girl who wants to also sit and watch Space Ghost Coast-to-Coast and/ or Cartoon Planet with you, you hold onto that girl with both hands and do not let go.
As Jamie and I have been together for a good, long while (every day is magical, my dove!), I have no real concept of dating in the 21st Century. Heck, texting didn't exist when Jamie and I began a-courting. Cell phones weren't part of the equation, and back in my day, kids, we had a land line and an answering machine, and we liked it. We certainly didn't have the option of iDUMP4U had it all turned sour.
If Jamie were abducted by aliens tomorrow and I were suddenly on the market, I presume I would come across as a crazy person, which is why, for selfish reasons, I am very glad that Jamie is a very patient person who puts up with ALOT.
Jamie and I are far from perfect, and I am certain that when we're not around, people have their opinions of us each individually and how they see us operate together. But all I know is that for whatever reason, many years ago, I found the little pale girl across the table genuinely funny, very cute and very smart.
I do not believe I've ever revealed the tale of how we met, but its a tale frought with romance and mystery.
To begin with, I was very, very drunk.
Actually, its not a very good story. Never mind.
I am averse to talk of predestination, "the one", etc... That stuff is for poets and 17 year old girls dating 21 year olds with Camaros and iffy facial hair. Instead, what I will say is: when you do meet someone with whom you are perfectly happy, who makes you happy, and with whom you realize you'd take a bullet for and they'd do the same - do not @#$% it up. Do what you can to make it work.
Jamie is, absolutely, my best pal. A pal I get to smooch on. The magic doesn't come in some lightning bolt or mystic power. The unexplainable bit comes in the fact that we've been together for what most in the US consider the entirety of our adult lives, and that she's still an inspiration and someone I learn from all the time, and even then she goes on to be oddly supportive of all of my nonsense.
I am very much a guy still head over heals for a kooky, pale little girl who is still full of surprises.
Happy Valentine's Day, Jamie. I love you, indeed.
Brak explains exactly how I feel about love (seriously, stick with this one):
*and let me tell you, after spending money on flowers an overpriced meal, and god knows what else, what we really want to hear is how we were doing this intentionally to make you feel bad about yourself. This is strictly between me, my lady-friend and Bank of America, trust me.
 |
| oddly, this happened early in our courtship as well |
It is that magical day of the year when the expression of love is wrapped up in overpriced doo-dads in color combinations which nature never intended and the day when the un-coupled among us insist that the coupled-up among us are rubbing our relationships in their faces.*
Well, love is grand. Here in year 15 or 16 with Jamie, I have been told we're getting a pizza and watching a movie. That is what I call a successful Valentine's Day. She got her bouquet Saturday, and she'll get a card tomorrow. That, people, is love.
And today I want to talk about love. This video more or less encapsulates my feelings about Jamie.
Really, when you can find a girl who wants to also sit and watch Space Ghost Coast-to-Coast and/ or Cartoon Planet with you, you hold onto that girl with both hands and do not let go.
As Jamie and I have been together for a good, long while (every day is magical, my dove!), I have no real concept of dating in the 21st Century. Heck, texting didn't exist when Jamie and I began a-courting. Cell phones weren't part of the equation, and back in my day, kids, we had a land line and an answering machine, and we liked it. We certainly didn't have the option of iDUMP4U had it all turned sour.
If Jamie were abducted by aliens tomorrow and I were suddenly on the market, I presume I would come across as a crazy person, which is why, for selfish reasons, I am very glad that Jamie is a very patient person who puts up with ALOT.
Jamie and I are far from perfect, and I am certain that when we're not around, people have their opinions of us each individually and how they see us operate together. But all I know is that for whatever reason, many years ago, I found the little pale girl across the table genuinely funny, very cute and very smart.
I do not believe I've ever revealed the tale of how we met, but its a tale frought with romance and mystery.
To begin with, I was very, very drunk.
Actually, its not a very good story. Never mind.
I am averse to talk of predestination, "the one", etc... That stuff is for poets and 17 year old girls dating 21 year olds with Camaros and iffy facial hair. Instead, what I will say is: when you do meet someone with whom you are perfectly happy, who makes you happy, and with whom you realize you'd take a bullet for and they'd do the same - do not @#$% it up. Do what you can to make it work.
Jamie is, absolutely, my best pal. A pal I get to smooch on. The magic doesn't come in some lightning bolt or mystic power. The unexplainable bit comes in the fact that we've been together for what most in the US consider the entirety of our adult lives, and that she's still an inspiration and someone I learn from all the time, and even then she goes on to be oddly supportive of all of my nonsense.
I am very much a guy still head over heals for a kooky, pale little girl who is still full of surprises.
Happy Valentine's Day, Jamie. I love you, indeed.
Brak explains exactly how I feel about love (seriously, stick with this one):
*and let me tell you, after spending money on flowers an overpriced meal, and god knows what else, what we really want to hear is how we were doing this intentionally to make you feel bad about yourself. This is strictly between me, my lady-friend and Bank of America, trust me.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, December 26, 2010
2010 Christmas Loot Wrap-Up
Anybody get their Red Ryder BB Gun with the compass in the stock and this thing which tells time?
Christmas has come and gone. I haven't fully completed my present exchanges as I haven't seen my folks and brother since Christmas Eve, and I need to catch up with my Uncle, Cousin and Cousin's daughter. We're going to do all that stuff tomorrow, I think.
Thus far, my Christmas Loot-Getting was all right on the money.
My gift from Jamie was not a surprise. I've needed a computer for a while, and in October I got the very laptop upon which I'm typing. Merry Christmas to me from Jamie.
As the field of gift-giving and givers has narrowed over the years, the odd, wacky and unexplainable loot has dwindled to the point where, these days, I no longer am left looking at a nose hair trimmer or other such assorted gifts on Christmas morning wondering "how does one even write a thnk you note for this?".
Kind of sad in a way. Those inexplicable gifts are always fun to ponder.
Also got:
So, yeah, its been festive.
Non-Corpsman MattyM spent Christmas Eve with us, and it was great having him around. A very lovely Christmas, all told.
If you have time, write in and tell me (a) one outstanding or surprising gift and/ or (b) one "WTF?" generating gift.
Christmas has come and gone. I haven't fully completed my present exchanges as I haven't seen my folks and brother since Christmas Eve, and I need to catch up with my Uncle, Cousin and Cousin's daughter. We're going to do all that stuff tomorrow, I think.
Thus far, my Christmas Loot-Getting was all right on the money.
My gift from Jamie was not a surprise. I've needed a computer for a while, and in October I got the very laptop upon which I'm typing. Merry Christmas to me from Jamie.
 |
| Superman's plot to redistribute wealth? No wonder the cape is red... |
As the field of gift-giving and givers has narrowed over the years, the odd, wacky and unexplainable loot has dwindled to the point where, these days, I no longer am left looking at a nose hair trimmer or other such assorted gifts on Christmas morning wondering "how does one even write a thnk you note for this?".
Kind of sad in a way. Those inexplicable gifts are always fun to ponder.
Also got:
- Star Trek Movie Blu-Ray set - its the first six Trek movies with Shatner and Nimoy, plus a bonus disc
- A book: Diary of a Lost Girl
- a gift certificate to Austin Books and Comics (I think I know how to use that)
- dog toys - and if you think, "oh that's for the dogs". No. Keeping dogs happy is one of my primary functions at home. I am very pleased to find dog toys in my stocking.
- A sort of electronic pen that you can hook up to your PC that will digitally record everything you write or presumably draw. Expect some experimentation to show up on this site in the near future.
So, yeah, its been festive.
Non-Corpsman MattyM spent Christmas Eve with us, and it was great having him around. A very lovely Christmas, all told.
If you have time, write in and tell me (a) one outstanding or surprising gift and/ or (b) one "WTF?" generating gift.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas!
I did.
 |
| Pretty good present each and every year |
Friday, December 24, 2010
Happy Christmas Eve!
PREPARE THE MILK AND COOKIES!!!
The Big Man is coming!
Merry Christmas Eve, Signal Corps!
May your Christmas be jolly and bright!
Now get out there and listen for sleigh bells.
The Big Man is coming!
 |
| This dude is totally wasted |
May your Christmas be jolly and bright!
Now get out there and listen for sleigh bells.
 |
| everyone in this picture needs less sugar |
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Merry Christmas from The Signal Watch
 |
| This is pretty much my optimal tree lighting ceremony |
Merry Christmas from all of us at The Signal Watch!
I am expecting limited posting for a few days to spend time doing Christmas-type-stuff (The Dug and K will be here in a few hours!), but I also wanted to get out ahead of the curve and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas as you head off to your respective destinations and settle in for a festive Yuletide Season. (What is a Yule, anyway?)
 |
| I'll be honest, my idea of a good Christmas does not include being covered in mice. |
Its been a fantastic year here at our house, and its been a great year getting back into the swing of things with this site. We hope you've enjoyed our return to blogging (which, I hear, is now a dead use of technology. I'm retro!).
I like to think this is a season for giving, so I'll make two quick suggestions for a couple of international charities to give to this Christmas, as I know you're all good to your local charities, already (right?).
 |
| Ms. Brooks thinks giving to charity on the holidays is a great idea |
In the past few years, the Christmas Story which comes back to me again and again is that of the 1914 Christmas Truce, when German and British soldiers put down their arms and their differences and took time to remember what it was that they had, instead, in common. Soccer, carols, battlefields and the knowledge that under other circumstances, they'd be sharing tobacco and stories, and not hurling bullets at one another across an apocalyptic landscape.
Call it a miracle. Call it an act of humanity at its finest. Its what should be.
I hate to send you to Wikipedia, but they have a detailed synopsis of the event.
How odd and strange, and yet... exactly what it should be that the better parts of our nature should know that we can live better with one another, no matter what we hear about those on the other side of the battlefield, or what those who have something to gain from division and anger have to tell us. If only for one day.
Peace on Earth. Goodwill.
We wish you a very Merry Christmas. Here's to you and your loved ones!
 |
| now dash away, all! |
We'll be back at blogging cruising speed after the Holiday.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Trololololo! Chlidren's choir makes Christmas Magic/ Nightmare Fuel
People, I have no idea...
but I do like that V, Hilary Clinton and Superman are all in the choir.
but I do like that V, Hilary Clinton and Superman are all in the choir.
Friday, December 17, 2010
So help me, this is the actual letter we sent out in cards to family this year
Merry Christmas to Our Friends and Family,
I hope 2010 has found you well. We’ve had a fine year, but an unremarkable year. Ryan is in the same job and continues to enjoy working at the Texas Digital Library, Jamie remains healthy and happy, and, frankly, if you check last year’s letter, there’s not much to update. Our two dogs mostly stick to dog-type activities, and Jeff the Cat remains, as always, Jeff the Cat.
None of that, of course, is terribly exciting. So, this year we’re providing a fictional accounting of 2010:
We were of course all thrilled when, this year, Jamie became the first woman alive to partake in a jet-pack powered flight across the length of the Ural Mountains. Many didn’t believe that Jamie had the spirit or determination, but those people didn’t know about all of the months of hard work that went into planning the flight, let alone the work she had done with her design team to perfect her “rocket wing”.
Jamie is happy to keep the dream alive of the jetpack becoming as common as Hyundais. We’re currently considering test flights over the Grand Canyon or Mt. Fuji. Next steps will likely be determined by sponsorships and international laws regarding air space.
Early in July, Ryan was lucky enough to participate in a study at the University of Texas in which there was a terrible and unpredictable mishap that sent him spiraling through time and space. We’re glad to say that Ryan returned to the present, none the worse for wear. Legally, we’re not allowed to discuss much more, but we know the researchers are still working on their publications and we look forward to the article appearing in The Journal of Unreproducible Results. Ryan is mostly looking at his little mishap in the lab as one big summer adventure and hopes to volunteer again next year.
As the year draws to a close, we look back on all of our adventures, from the Gorilla issue we had in the yard, to the ghost of Benjamin Franklin appearing in our coat closet, and can be grateful for our friends, our family, stable livelihood, good health and the surprisingly flexible laws of physics.
Happy Holidays,
Ryan and Jamie
I hope 2010 has found you well. We’ve had a fine year, but an unremarkable year. Ryan is in the same job and continues to enjoy working at the Texas Digital Library, Jamie remains healthy and happy, and, frankly, if you check last year’s letter, there’s not much to update. Our two dogs mostly stick to dog-type activities, and Jeff the Cat remains, as always, Jeff the Cat.
None of that, of course, is terribly exciting. So, this year we’re providing a fictional accounting of 2010:
Jamie is happy to keep the dream alive of the jetpack becoming as common as Hyundais. We’re currently considering test flights over the Grand Canyon or Mt. Fuji. Next steps will likely be determined by sponsorships and international laws regarding air space.
As the year draws to a close, we look back on all of our adventures, from the Gorilla issue we had in the yard, to the ghost of Benjamin Franklin appearing in our coat closet, and can be grateful for our friends, our family, stable livelihood, good health and the surprisingly flexible laws of physics.
Happy Holidays,
Ryan and Jamie
"Santa with Muscles" is one of the worst movies I've ever seen, holiday or otherwise
And, yes, I've seen it. Which is why The Dug and I are bad for each other.
I only ask that you watch the trailer and feel a small part of you die inside.
I only ask that you watch the trailer and feel a small part of you die inside.
Monday, December 13, 2010
So a few of my favorite Christmas Tunes - some of which Nathan didn't mention
Ah, the Holidays. I love the lights, the cold weather (when we can get it in Texas), the food and camaraderie. And, as we've discussed, the music.
The older I get, the more I realize its a time of year for dwelling a bit in the past, enjoying the same movies, songs, decorations, etc... over and over. That's a good thing. We need a chance to reflect on who we are, who we were and who we can be next year, and if it takes putting a fake tree in your living room and hanging gaudy baubles from the branches to do that, that's okay.
That doesn't mean every year is that same. Every Christmas is, of course, different. For some its the first year of a new romance. For others, its the first year alone. For some its Christmas with a new baby, while others may just see it as a day when they can get overtime during a shift at the toll booth. But so it seems appropriate that with all the ways we filter Christmas, so, too, should we have a wide variety of songs.
Here are some more favorites:
Miss Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas:
Mr. Bing Crosby with White Christmas (which held the record for best-selling record for decades, btw):
I'm not sure Merry Christmas from the Family by Robert Earl Keene is popular outside of the Great State of Texas, but around here, its definitely got some traction. And, yes, people always sing along. Apologies to those of you from outside Texas.
Ms. Darlene Love singing Baby, Please Come Home (this is a top 3 type favorite for me. Do not accept U2 covers):
The Pogues and Ms. Kirsty MacColl (RIP) on Fairytale of New York:
And there's no video of this track, recorded circa 1963 - Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, The Bells of St. Mary's. Its also not, technically, a Christmas song. The movie "The Bells of St. Mary's" was released during the Holiday season (only a small part of it actually takes place during Christmas), but somehow its become a quasi-Christmas classic. And its a really great movie, too. I confess to getting a little weepy at the end.
Anyhow, Bob B. Soxx (I am guessing: not his real name), just kills on this song.
Special Bonus Tracks:
-From Mr. Mojo Nixon, a man who has made a career out of not really caring a whole lot/ not taking it all too seriously, Sleigh Ride. In one take. Without ever bothering to look up the lyrics.
-and this isn't a song. I'm just posting this for Jamie. It's the long-forgotten Stick Figure Theater's take on Its a Wonderful Life.
The older I get, the more I realize its a time of year for dwelling a bit in the past, enjoying the same movies, songs, decorations, etc... over and over. That's a good thing. We need a chance to reflect on who we are, who we were and who we can be next year, and if it takes putting a fake tree in your living room and hanging gaudy baubles from the branches to do that, that's okay.
That doesn't mean every year is that same. Every Christmas is, of course, different. For some its the first year of a new romance. For others, its the first year alone. For some its Christmas with a new baby, while others may just see it as a day when they can get overtime during a shift at the toll booth. But so it seems appropriate that with all the ways we filter Christmas, so, too, should we have a wide variety of songs.
Here are some more favorites:
Miss Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas:
Mr. Bing Crosby with White Christmas (which held the record for best-selling record for decades, btw):
I'm not sure Merry Christmas from the Family by Robert Earl Keene is popular outside of the Great State of Texas, but around here, its definitely got some traction. And, yes, people always sing along. Apologies to those of you from outside Texas.
Ms. Darlene Love singing Baby, Please Come Home (this is a top 3 type favorite for me. Do not accept U2 covers):
The Pogues and Ms. Kirsty MacColl (RIP) on Fairytale of New York:
And there's no video of this track, recorded circa 1963 - Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, The Bells of St. Mary's. Its also not, technically, a Christmas song. The movie "The Bells of St. Mary's" was released during the Holiday season (only a small part of it actually takes place during Christmas), but somehow its become a quasi-Christmas classic. And its a really great movie, too. I confess to getting a little weepy at the end.
Anyhow, Bob B. Soxx (I am guessing: not his real name), just kills on this song.
Special Bonus Tracks:
-From Mr. Mojo Nixon, a man who has made a career out of not really caring a whole lot/ not taking it all too seriously, Sleigh Ride. In one take. Without ever bothering to look up the lyrics.
-and this isn't a song. I'm just posting this for Jamie. It's the long-forgotten Stick Figure Theater's take on Its a Wonderful Life.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
O Tannenbaum
So this afternoon I had a small realization. Last year I can't say I was ever really in what I think of as "The Christmas Spirit". I enjoyed the holiday. It came, it went, turkey was had and presents exchanged. But something was missing, and I couldn't figure it out.
As much as anything else, Christmas is about ritual. Its why when we start dating someone new, everything about their family's Christmas sounds completely crazy (Jamie's family has a quiet family event. When I was growing up, you could expect up to 12 people sleeping in the house on Christmas Eve. I didn't sleep in my own bed on Christmas until the end of college.).
The ritual we decided to forego in 2009 was a tree. I think Jamie and I have had a tree in every apartment and house we've shared. As a kid, everything about the tree was part of the holiday ritual. We did not go as a family to the lot and pick out a tree. We pulled the branches out of the boxes, laid them out according to size (marked by a dab of color at the aluminum stem of the branch) and then began putting the thing together. It took forever just to get the branches on, let alone getting lights strung (we had no fancy pre-lit trees in those days) and ornaments hung.
And then, we all had to stand back, look at the tree, and notice that, yeah, that thing really listed, and we'd maybe get a new fake tree next year. Which we finally did when I was a Junior or Senior in high school.
But, man, you should have been there for the great "The Clapper" experiment of 1996. Let's just say that having a device that uses sound to turn the power on and off in the same room where you're watching football and basketball for two weeks straight makes for a magical Christmas tree. (That said, my Grandma loved standing up at night and "clapping" the Christmas tree off.)
Anyhow, last year after we got Scout, who is a very sweet but very nervous dog, we decided not to put up our fairly sizable fake tree. She might eat branches or ornaments. She might knock the tree over. We didn't know. Also, we were kind of glad not to lose the square footage in the middle of the house.
This year we actually decorated the front and inside of the house Thanksgiving weekend (another ritual), but... its just been off again. Our stockings are up, the nutcrackers are in place, the garland is out... but once again, I just didn't really feel like it was Christmas time. Even after going shopping for a good chunk of the day.
And I realized: maybe I need to decorate a tree. Maybe that's just part of the deal. If I don't assemble a fake tree and place ornaments upon it, maybe my Christmas engines simply won't fire.
Anyhoo... this evening we went out and got a small tree that we can place on a side table. It had sort of plastic legs you slide into place, and it doesn't exactly require assembling, but something like it. We put on some carols and put some ornaments on (its much smaller than our usual tree). Jamie sang a song or three.
The tree is now decorated, complete with Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and GL. Its got a star and a menagerie of animals and these nice glass orbs Jamie bought a while back. And I'm already feeling much, much better about Christmas.
I also have two UT sports ornaments. And as I was hanging them, I made a little promise to myself that these were for better luck next year for our mighty Longhorns. I confess, I even rubbed them for good luck.
That's what this time of year is about. Saying good bye not just to this year, but looking back at all the years, all the memories you unpack, with hope for better next year.
A Christmas album was playing, the dogs were settled and snoring on sofas, my lovely wife was under a blanket and reading, and I sat back in the glow of the lights, quite content.
And then I read this bull@#$%.
%$#@!!! %$#@ity @#$% %$#@!!!!!!!
UT's defensive coordinator, Will Muschamp, is leaving to become head coach at the University of Florida. In my book, this is a total disaster. He was supposed to be staying at UT and make millions of dollars and then take over when Mack Brown retired. But, ohhhhh no. UT had to have a 5-7 season, and Mack Brown isn't leaving on that note, so you bet Muschamp started looking around.
The guy is a great coach, he may well poach some of UT's better coaching staff that remains in the wake of the coaching resignations and firings the past week or so following the Longhorn's 5-7 season. Muschamp won't be here to recruit for 2011, and our defense was barely holding on, as it was.
My magical UT ornaments did NOTHING.
Stupid 2010. Stupid 2011.
As much as anything else, Christmas is about ritual. Its why when we start dating someone new, everything about their family's Christmas sounds completely crazy (Jamie's family has a quiet family event. When I was growing up, you could expect up to 12 people sleeping in the house on Christmas Eve. I didn't sleep in my own bed on Christmas until the end of college.).
The ritual we decided to forego in 2009 was a tree. I think Jamie and I have had a tree in every apartment and house we've shared. As a kid, everything about the tree was part of the holiday ritual. We did not go as a family to the lot and pick out a tree. We pulled the branches out of the boxes, laid them out according to size (marked by a dab of color at the aluminum stem of the branch) and then began putting the thing together. It took forever just to get the branches on, let alone getting lights strung (we had no fancy pre-lit trees in those days) and ornaments hung.
And then, we all had to stand back, look at the tree, and notice that, yeah, that thing really listed, and we'd maybe get a new fake tree next year. Which we finally did when I was a Junior or Senior in high school.
But, man, you should have been there for the great "The Clapper" experiment of 1996. Let's just say that having a device that uses sound to turn the power on and off in the same room where you're watching football and basketball for two weeks straight makes for a magical Christmas tree. (That said, my Grandma loved standing up at night and "clapping" the Christmas tree off.)
Anyhow, last year after we got Scout, who is a very sweet but very nervous dog, we decided not to put up our fairly sizable fake tree. She might eat branches or ornaments. She might knock the tree over. We didn't know. Also, we were kind of glad not to lose the square footage in the middle of the house.
This year we actually decorated the front and inside of the house Thanksgiving weekend (another ritual), but... its just been off again. Our stockings are up, the nutcrackers are in place, the garland is out... but once again, I just didn't really feel like it was Christmas time. Even after going shopping for a good chunk of the day.
And I realized: maybe I need to decorate a tree. Maybe that's just part of the deal. If I don't assemble a fake tree and place ornaments upon it, maybe my Christmas engines simply won't fire.
Anyhoo... this evening we went out and got a small tree that we can place on a side table. It had sort of plastic legs you slide into place, and it doesn't exactly require assembling, but something like it. We put on some carols and put some ornaments on (its much smaller than our usual tree). Jamie sang a song or three.
The tree is now decorated, complete with Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and GL. Its got a star and a menagerie of animals and these nice glass orbs Jamie bought a while back. And I'm already feeling much, much better about Christmas.
I also have two UT sports ornaments. And as I was hanging them, I made a little promise to myself that these were for better luck next year for our mighty Longhorns. I confess, I even rubbed them for good luck.
That's what this time of year is about. Saying good bye not just to this year, but looking back at all the years, all the memories you unpack, with hope for better next year.
A Christmas album was playing, the dogs were settled and snoring on sofas, my lovely wife was under a blanket and reading, and I sat back in the glow of the lights, quite content.
And then I read this bull@#$%.
%$#@!!! %$#@ity @#$% %$#@!!!!!!!
UT's defensive coordinator, Will Muschamp, is leaving to become head coach at the University of Florida. In my book, this is a total disaster. He was supposed to be staying at UT and make millions of dollars and then take over when Mack Brown retired. But, ohhhhh no. UT had to have a 5-7 season, and Mack Brown isn't leaving on that note, so you bet Muschamp started looking around.
The guy is a great coach, he may well poach some of UT's better coaching staff that remains in the wake of the coaching resignations and firings the past week or so following the Longhorn's 5-7 season. Muschamp won't be here to recruit for 2011, and our defense was barely holding on, as it was.
My magical UT ornaments did NOTHING.
Stupid 2010. Stupid 2011.
Friday, December 10, 2010
NathanC Helps You Pick Out Your Holiday Tunes
We have a brief window here for enjoying the sights and sounds of the Holidays. A while back at our links site I mentioned a list of Christmas music suggestions I'd seen at the always-trustworthy Pop Culture Safari.
Click here to visit that list.
Do not proceed until you've read the column.
Okay? Okay.
A lot of good stuff in there. I just don't think its Christmas without the Phil Spector Christmas album. Spector may have gone bonkers, but: (a) he knew how to get a great sound (b) he knew talent (c) he knew how to cut a Christmas album and (c) The Ronnettes.
I have many trusted sources when it comes to music, but I figured that I should look to one of our specialists in such matters. Already Mrshl weighed in with recommendations for the Holidays from Sufjan Stevens and Low.
Corpsman NathanC is very knowledgeable about music of many genres, loves Christmas, and, honestly, works in radio. So while you may like your stuff... let's give Nathan a little benefit of the doubt. Man has paid his dues.
Nathan and I had an email correspondence over a few days, and Nathan's end went like this:
Nathan: Okay, so I finally got around to checking out that list. Man, I can find no fault in *any* of those Christmas music picks on the blogger's "main list." My top choices are the Phil Spector album, which captures the essence of Christmas in the big city. It feels very modern and classic at the same time. I have the Wynton Marsalis album, and can attest that it is a swingin' affair. Much better than an album of Wynton's original compositions (sorry Wynton), which I find to be too often academic.
(The League says: I don't think this is on the album, but diva Kathleen Battle does Christmas with Marsalis and Co., and its worth a listen)
Of all the modern crooner/swinging Christmas records, my favorite has been Diana Krall's "Christmas Songs" from a few years ago. The arrangements are terrific. And I fall in love with her when her voice cracks during "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"
I don't know that I can add more to what this fella says about the albums, other than to recommend a "buy" on the Spector, Presley, Guaraldi and Sinatra albums. Must-have for ANY Christmas collection. As for the Chipmunks, you'll be okay with the one song. And buy Diana Krall's CD.
(The League Says: Elvis Costello is a wise man.)
Later:
Re: Bob Dylan's "Christmas In the Heart":
Far from the "What the hell?" reaction most people had to this album, I felt Bob Dylan's choice to release a Christmas album to be inspired. Dylan's voice has always been unique, but since "Time Out of Mind," it's lowered into a grizzled drawl. His past few albums have been somewhat inspired by old-timey and regional music (note Dylan's favored Col. Sanders suit and tie, too), and so I feel his present demeanor and style fits within the context of a Christmas record. The arrangements on Christmas in the Heart only amplify the fireside feel. It's like your kind uncle full of eggnog singing.
(The League Says: Here's some of that album!)
By the way, those Christmas song compilations that Target puts out ("Jingle Bell Rock," "A Traditional Christmas, Vol. 1," etc.) every year are great. I always pick some up for half-off after Christmas.
Was Nat King Cole on that guy's list? If not, for shame!!!!
Who are my favorite Christmas song interpreters of all time?
In no particular order:
Nat King Cole
Frank Sinatra
Doris Day
Ella Fitzgerald
Diana Krall
Elvis Presley
(The League Says: For The King, we post video. Respect.)
My favorite Christmas song? Of course, it's Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song." It doesn't order you to deck the halls, to jingle bells, or anything like that. It just reminisces about the many sights, sounds, and smells of the season, and wishes you a Merry Christmas. Which is what we all want, isn't it?
(The League says: We agree that this is absolutely top notch. Here's The Velvet Fog himself)
And Finally:
The Beatles Christmas recordings are charming if you're a big fan of the group. But after 1965's record, they start to get very, very zany, and work better if you're under the influence.
The reviewer used the word "melancholy" to describe "Christmas Time is Here" by Vince Guaraldi. To quote The Princess Bride, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
And I just checked his list again. He *did* skip Nat King Cole! Heresy!
The League Says:
We've got our own favorites and we'll be back with them soon!
Click here to visit that list.
Do not proceed until you've read the column.
Okay? Okay.
A lot of good stuff in there. I just don't think its Christmas without the Phil Spector Christmas album. Spector may have gone bonkers, but: (a) he knew how to get a great sound (b) he knew talent (c) he knew how to cut a Christmas album and (c) The Ronnettes.
I have many trusted sources when it comes to music, but I figured that I should look to one of our specialists in such matters. Already Mrshl weighed in with recommendations for the Holidays from Sufjan Stevens and Low.
Corpsman NathanC is very knowledgeable about music of many genres, loves Christmas, and, honestly, works in radio. So while you may like your stuff... let's give Nathan a little benefit of the doubt. Man has paid his dues.
Nathan and I had an email correspondence over a few days, and Nathan's end went like this:
Nathan: Okay, so I finally got around to checking out that list. Man, I can find no fault in *any* of those Christmas music picks on the blogger's "main list." My top choices are the Phil Spector album, which captures the essence of Christmas in the big city. It feels very modern and classic at the same time. I have the Wynton Marsalis album, and can attest that it is a swingin' affair. Much better than an album of Wynton's original compositions (sorry Wynton), which I find to be too often academic.
(The League says: I don't think this is on the album, but diva Kathleen Battle does Christmas with Marsalis and Co., and its worth a listen)
Of all the modern crooner/swinging Christmas records, my favorite has been Diana Krall's "Christmas Songs" from a few years ago. The arrangements are terrific. And I fall in love with her when her voice cracks during "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"
I don't know that I can add more to what this fella says about the albums, other than to recommend a "buy" on the Spector, Presley, Guaraldi and Sinatra albums. Must-have for ANY Christmas collection. As for the Chipmunks, you'll be okay with the one song. And buy Diana Krall's CD.
(The League Says: Elvis Costello is a wise man.)
Later:
Re: Bob Dylan's "Christmas In the Heart":
Far from the "What the hell?" reaction most people had to this album, I felt Bob Dylan's choice to release a Christmas album to be inspired. Dylan's voice has always been unique, but since "Time Out of Mind," it's lowered into a grizzled drawl. His past few albums have been somewhat inspired by old-timey and regional music (note Dylan's favored Col. Sanders suit and tie, too), and so I feel his present demeanor and style fits within the context of a Christmas record. The arrangements on Christmas in the Heart only amplify the fireside feel. It's like your kind uncle full of eggnog singing.
(The League Says: Here's some of that album!)
By the way, those Christmas song compilations that Target puts out ("Jingle Bell Rock," "A Traditional Christmas, Vol. 1," etc.) every year are great. I always pick some up for half-off after Christmas.
Was Nat King Cole on that guy's list? If not, for shame!!!!
Who are my favorite Christmas song interpreters of all time?
In no particular order:
Nat King Cole
Frank Sinatra
Doris Day
Ella Fitzgerald
Diana Krall
Elvis Presley
(The League Says: For The King, we post video. Respect.)
My favorite Christmas song? Of course, it's Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song." It doesn't order you to deck the halls, to jingle bells, or anything like that. It just reminisces about the many sights, sounds, and smells of the season, and wishes you a Merry Christmas. Which is what we all want, isn't it?
(The League says: We agree that this is absolutely top notch. Here's The Velvet Fog himself)
And Finally:
The Beatles Christmas recordings are charming if you're a big fan of the group. But after 1965's record, they start to get very, very zany, and work better if you're under the influence.
The reviewer used the word "melancholy" to describe "Christmas Time is Here" by Vince Guaraldi. To quote The Princess Bride, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
And I just checked his list again. He *did* skip Nat King Cole! Heresy!
The League Says:
We've got our own favorites and we'll be back with them soon!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
I'm going with spelling it "Hanukkah"
Today is the last day of the festival, but I wanted to wish our readership, Jewish and not-Jewish alike, a happy Hanukkah.
We hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday season, and we hope those celebrating Hanukkah had a great one.
Monday, December 6, 2010
I am pretty sure you won't finish reading this meandering blog post
It would be bad form to not have a post ready for a Monday, but I'm kind of running dry at the moment. Bear with me.
The weekend
The holidays are here, and that meant Saturday we were able to attend a lovely get together at Matt and Nicole's place. Sweaters were worn, cocktails embibed, and a cold front hit just before the party, so it didn't feel odd or unseasonal.
I learned a lesson in trying to be a safe driver: if you're planning to cab it around town - do not decide its time to call a cab at 2:00 AM on Saturday night/ Sunday morning during the middle of holiday revelry. They will never, ever show up. And you will spend an ugly hour regretting that last cocktail with SyFy Channel on mute showing some horrendous movie with Alan Cumming painted blue, and Jamie just staring at the window and repeating "where are they?", only to give up and force a sober Nicole to drive you all the way back to your house at 3:10 AM.
Today was fairly lazy. Played with the dogs. Read. Cleaned up a bit. Walked the dogs. Fixed the fence. Slept for a while in the afternoon, facedown on the sofa. Denied the fact that I need to go to Lowe's and do a few last bits of Christmas shopping (I am way, way out ahead on Christmas shopping). Met up with Matt and Nicole at a sort of Italian bistro near Nau's, ran into Keora and Laura (wife of SimonUK).
And now I'm sitting in front of the fake fire with sleepy dogs.
Big 12 and Longhorn Football
OU won the Big 12 Championship, which is secretly good news to me (as OU is my second favorite college team, but we do not say such things in Austin).
And it looks like UT's long-bemoaned Offensive Coordinator, Greg Davis, will be leaving UT's coaching staff by hook or by crook early this week.
I don't know much about Davis. He doesn't get in front of the mics or cameras very often, but I know that in a city that screeches to a halt on game days, I have never heard one person who didn't second-guess or immediately leap to chip in to question Davis's coaching and play calling. That's not an exaggeration for dramatic effect, that's a fact. And it seems that UT's great recruiting of the past 10 years finally wasn't able to overcome the deficit in offensive coordination. At some point, you can't have 100K people in the stadium all slapping their foreheads, and everybody but the Offensive Coordinator knowing that the play called was not going to work.
That's not to say people aren't warily eyeing Will Muschamp (UT's Defensive Coordinator), his millions per year and the fact that UT oddly already anointed him Mack Brown's successor despite the fact that Brown isn't scheduled to retire or leave Texas. I don't think Muschamp is on the chopping block quite yet, but if UT is giving up as many touchdowns next year as they did this season? That sweetheart deal is going to dry up pretty fast.
Anyway, strange days for Texas football.
On the positive side: Looks like Oregon will challenge Auburn for the National title spot! Very happy for our man in Oregon, Fantomenos. The Ducks have been building to this point for a while, and I'm personally planning to dress in green and watch that one.
Jackie Chiles returns
Back in the 1990's Seinfeld was (and still remains) one of my favorite shows. Many will remember the OJ-case inspired character, Jackie Chiles, loosely based on now-deceased showboating attorney Johnny Cochrane.
A colleague of The Signal Watch is a contributor to award-winning legal blog Abnormal Use, which recently swung an interview with the actor who portrayed Jackie Chiles, Phil Morris. We encourage you to read the interview.
I confess that, yes, I do still watch Smallville on the CW (I'm quite a fan of Ms. Durance who plays Lois. Rowr.). For the past few years, Morris has guest-spotted on the program as J'onn J'onzz/ John Jones (aka: The Martian Manhunter), and he's been a real highlight in a show that I usually enjoy semi-ironically (because, man, Smallville...). I figured it was too much to ask that they spin the character off into his own, better show, so I take what I can get.
You can also see Morris in new clips as Jackie Chiles on Funny or Die!
Congrats to Abnormal Use for a great 2010!
Spider-Man play suffers another injury
An actress playing a major role as a villain suffered a concussion when a rope smacked her in the head. This same actress has to sit in her harness 6 hours per day.
I really do think people will turn up to watch the show, but its for the same reason you go to NASCAR races: horrendous accidents.
Never Assume
You people can enjoy the malarkey that is The League in small, bite sized chunks and opt in or out of dealing with me as you please. Even Jamie has the option to tell me to shut it, and/ or leave the room. But there is a person who does not have any options. 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, my officemate (who also reports to me in the org chart) has to sit and listen to whatever I say. And I kind of just talk. And talk. And talk and talk and talk and talk and talk all day every day.
And its kind of unfair. Literally nobody else on the planet has to put up with my monologuing or fear for their livelihood. And so it came to pass that I was completely under the impression that my officemate and I were on the same page that KANYE WEST IS THE GREATEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED, EVER.
Apparently, not so. So, if anyone else has some ideas for what to get an officemate for Christmas that isn't the new Kanye West album, please let me know.
The weekend
The holidays are here, and that meant Saturday we were able to attend a lovely get together at Matt and Nicole's place. Sweaters were worn, cocktails embibed, and a cold front hit just before the party, so it didn't feel odd or unseasonal.
I learned a lesson in trying to be a safe driver: if you're planning to cab it around town - do not decide its time to call a cab at 2:00 AM on Saturday night/ Sunday morning during the middle of holiday revelry. They will never, ever show up. And you will spend an ugly hour regretting that last cocktail with SyFy Channel on mute showing some horrendous movie with Alan Cumming painted blue, and Jamie just staring at the window and repeating "where are they?", only to give up and force a sober Nicole to drive you all the way back to your house at 3:10 AM.
Today was fairly lazy. Played with the dogs. Read. Cleaned up a bit. Walked the dogs. Fixed the fence. Slept for a while in the afternoon, facedown on the sofa. Denied the fact that I need to go to Lowe's and do a few last bits of Christmas shopping (I am way, way out ahead on Christmas shopping). Met up with Matt and Nicole at a sort of Italian bistro near Nau's, ran into Keora and Laura (wife of SimonUK).
And now I'm sitting in front of the fake fire with sleepy dogs.
Big 12 and Longhorn Football
OU won the Big 12 Championship, which is secretly good news to me (as OU is my second favorite college team, but we do not say such things in Austin).
And it looks like UT's long-bemoaned Offensive Coordinator, Greg Davis, will be leaving UT's coaching staff by hook or by crook early this week.
I don't know much about Davis. He doesn't get in front of the mics or cameras very often, but I know that in a city that screeches to a halt on game days, I have never heard one person who didn't second-guess or immediately leap to chip in to question Davis's coaching and play calling. That's not an exaggeration for dramatic effect, that's a fact. And it seems that UT's great recruiting of the past 10 years finally wasn't able to overcome the deficit in offensive coordination. At some point, you can't have 100K people in the stadium all slapping their foreheads, and everybody but the Offensive Coordinator knowing that the play called was not going to work.
That's not to say people aren't warily eyeing Will Muschamp (UT's Defensive Coordinator), his millions per year and the fact that UT oddly already anointed him Mack Brown's successor despite the fact that Brown isn't scheduled to retire or leave Texas. I don't think Muschamp is on the chopping block quite yet, but if UT is giving up as many touchdowns next year as they did this season? That sweetheart deal is going to dry up pretty fast.
Anyway, strange days for Texas football.
On the positive side: Looks like Oregon will challenge Auburn for the National title spot! Very happy for our man in Oregon, Fantomenos. The Ducks have been building to this point for a while, and I'm personally planning to dress in green and watch that one.
Jackie Chiles returns
Back in the 1990's Seinfeld was (and still remains) one of my favorite shows. Many will remember the OJ-case inspired character, Jackie Chiles, loosely based on now-deceased showboating attorney Johnny Cochrane.
A colleague of The Signal Watch is a contributor to award-winning legal blog Abnormal Use, which recently swung an interview with the actor who portrayed Jackie Chiles, Phil Morris. We encourage you to read the interview.
I confess that, yes, I do still watch Smallville on the CW (I'm quite a fan of Ms. Durance who plays Lois. Rowr.). For the past few years, Morris has guest-spotted on the program as J'onn J'onzz/ John Jones (aka: The Martian Manhunter), and he's been a real highlight in a show that I usually enjoy semi-ironically (because, man, Smallville...). I figured it was too much to ask that they spin the character off into his own, better show, so I take what I can get.
You can also see Morris in new clips as Jackie Chiles on Funny or Die!
Congrats to Abnormal Use for a great 2010!
Spider-Man play suffers another injury
An actress playing a major role as a villain suffered a concussion when a rope smacked her in the head. This same actress has to sit in her harness 6 hours per day.
I really do think people will turn up to watch the show, but its for the same reason you go to NASCAR races: horrendous accidents.
Never Assume
You people can enjoy the malarkey that is The League in small, bite sized chunks and opt in or out of dealing with me as you please. Even Jamie has the option to tell me to shut it, and/ or leave the room. But there is a person who does not have any options. 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, my officemate (who also reports to me in the org chart) has to sit and listen to whatever I say. And I kind of just talk. And talk. And talk and talk and talk and talk and talk all day every day.
And its kind of unfair. Literally nobody else on the planet has to put up with my monologuing or fear for their livelihood. And so it came to pass that I was completely under the impression that my officemate and I were on the same page that KANYE WEST IS THE GREATEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED, EVER.
Apparently, not so. So, if anyone else has some ideas for what to get an officemate for Christmas that isn't the new Kanye West album, please let me know.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Sort of what I'm Up to
 |
| In my head, this just improved Santa 1,000,000 percent |
I'm doing my last bit of traveling for 2010 and am attending a conference in Houston. Lots of nice folks doing interesting stuff in libraries.
In a lot of ways, traditional public and academic libraries are likely behind corporate entities who have been struggling with business needs issues for decades in data management and deep storage. In an institution such as a library that is asked to store literally anything that it is handed (and make it available to the world on demand), that management becomes a complex issue. Its not enough just to have the item, but that item has metadata around it that describes the item. The web's half-baked manner of tagging, keywords, etc... kind of works, but its not useful for preservation, curation, true findability and longterm use and storage. Ie: Its not enough to just have the thing and have it sitting on a server where Google might find it anymore than a traditional library would be terribly useful without a card catalog.
So. Anyway, that's some of what I work on most days. And its pretty focused at this conference.
The big challenge (not one that really falls into my jurisdiction) will be the mad scramble for the next few decades to turn paper into 0's and 1's, describe it and make it available. Its one thing to have... stuff in a library, just sitting in a box or on a shelf. Its quite another to imagine actually dealing with every page, every picture, every... everything that can be in even the smallest library. Not to mention trying to wrangle the brand new stuff created everyday and all the stuff that's deteriorating on shut-down hard drives, etc.. that never really existed as paper created in the past 20 years.
Its... a big task. So be nice to your local archivist, digital librarian, metadata librarian, what-have-you.
My part is the fun part, and that's working with these folks and trying to provide them with solutions, support, tools, etc... And finding new opportunities for researchers to work together and find one another's work thanks to TECHNOLOGY.
Also, the catering at this thing was really good. I confess to liking prosciutto more than I ought.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Here's Some Dapper Folks Enjoying the Holidays
I'm off in Houston and busy, so here's some pics of the office holiday party at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.
 |
| Don and Peggy ponder the meaning of the holidays |
 |
| This makes me weep for myself when I ponder the office parties and lack thereof at my different employers |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)