From Not Exactly Rocket Science, this Amazon list of unfortunately named authors. Funny stuff!

Posted by: Ted at 07:09 PM | category: Links
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Who Tends the Fires has moved.

Posted by: Ted at 06:27 PM | category: Links
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Stuck up top for a week, scroll down for new posts.

A month ago I wrote this:

Here's your chance to be creative. Design a banner for Rocket Jones. Drawing, painting, photography, simple, complex, I don't care. Enter as many as you'd like.

Then I mentioned voting for favorites and actual prizes and what not. Banners were thunked up, creativity was exercised, and links were tossed about with abandon.

They're all gathered in the extended entry (in no particular order) for your perusal. Some you've seen before, some were last minute arrivals, all are super-neato-keen. Check 'em out and vote for your favorite by leaving a comment.

Thank you. more...

Posted by: Ted at 02:28 PM | category: Links
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1 Oh, this is hard. I like a bunch of them. The rocket in the pocket is hilarious but I'm also very keen on the 50's retro sign. I like the medieval one too.

Drat.

Okay, if I have to pick only one I'll cast my vote for the 50's retro sign.

Posted by: Jim at May 05, 2005 08:57 AM (tyQ8y)

2 I gotta go with the Rocketeer Extraordinaire banner. My second choice would be the Rocket Jones .mu.nu banner with the lady and the kid riding the rocket. It reminds me of the old Golden Age pulp covers, like something you would have seen on a van Vogt book or Astounding Tales.

Posted by: eric at May 05, 2005 10:03 AM (ZUryZ)

3 The 1950's banner caught my eye, but I gotta go with the Bayeux Tapestry version. Nobody else has anything like it!

Plus, the "Rocket in your Pocket" one misspells "Jonesin'" - and uses an open single quotation mark instead of an apostrophe. Yeah, call me Mr. Grammar-Pants.

Posted by: Elisson at May 05, 2005 10:37 AM (6RZ2o)

4 50's Retro!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at May 05, 2005 11:38 AM (+S1Ft)

5 woot!

The tapestry design is truly inspired, but since nobody is voting for the Werner Von Braun design (I can vote for my own, right? I can't? oh.)

tapestry.

Posted by: Derek at May 05, 2005 12:08 PM (wEVXE)

6 I like the pocket, the medievil one and the one with the lady and kid on the rocket. Also the road sign one. Just put 'em in rotation, Ted!

Posted by: Susie at May 05, 2005 01:27 PM (IPJ6q)

7 They're all going into the rotation, we're just choosing up who gets the secret prize.

Posted by: Ted at May 05, 2005 02:33 PM (blNMI)

8 It's hard to pick just one. I like the "Rocketeer Extraordinaire" a lot...but I gotta go with the tapestry.

Posted by: Victor at May 05, 2005 03:12 PM (L3qPK)

9 numbero seis! or as you darn gringitos would say, ::counts fingers:: "this many!"

(number six!)

Posted by: kyer at May 05, 2005 03:38 PM (oY0vI)

10 Wow, those are cool.

The '50's one is the coolest of the cool, I think.

Posted by: nic at May 05, 2005 04:50 PM (Sx8zO)

11 How about just rotating the lot of them?

Posted by: ethne at May 05, 2005 09:34 PM (jBfSi)

12 '50's retro rocket! Luv it!

2nd choice would prolly be the medievel one, followed closely by the rocket in the pocket.

I also like the simplicity and color of numero seis.

And my German isn't just a little rusty, it's dust. But, I think that reads "This can not BE! Oh, well! It IS... Rocket Jones!" Is that right, Beuller?

Beuller...?

Posted by: Tuning Spork at May 05, 2005 10:10 PM (g5pve)

13 Ooops! I meant numero cinco! Damn dusty Spanish...

Posted by: Tuning Spork at May 05, 2005 10:21 PM (g5pve)

14 Wow!They're all so cool.If I gotta choose I choose the retro.My grandma had one of those wild designs on her kitchen table.Red counter tops with the gold metal flakes,the drinking bird,the string art and the bullfighter on black velvet hanging on the wall,the drinking glass from a bottle cutter,rabbit ears,Speed Racer and Ultraman with Captain Chesapeake in the afternoon on UHF 45,the huge strawberry cookie jar..........oh,man I'm really flashin'!!!!!

Posted by: Russ at May 06, 2005 12:23 AM (ObxzR)

15 Spork, you're *almost* right. It's not "oh well!", it's "oh shit!"

LOL I knows me German swear words.

Posted by: Ted at May 06, 2005 07:55 AM (blNMI)

16 I like the 6th one down best.

Posted by: Maelstrom at May 06, 2005 01:14 PM (GzvlQ)

17 I like the fifth one down the best, although I like the second and third ones too.

Posted by: Donna at May 06, 2005 01:38 PM (zBzvc)

18 I like the midevil one myself. They're all top notch, though.

Posted by: Paul at May 06, 2005 03:04 PM (vbP6L)

19 The tapestry one.

Posted by: LeeAnn at May 06, 2005 03:51 PM (vqSdN)

20 I too...have to say 1950's inspired design. Why? I think Rocket Jones sounds like some sort of 1950's TV show.....

Posted by: ArmyWifeToddlerMom at May 06, 2005 03:54 PM (pN/vX)

21 1950's

Posted by: pam at May 07, 2005 08:21 AM (l6NIn)

22 Even though I have several up there, I have to say I like the 50's retro is great! Even if I did not do it!!!

Posted by: Amy at May 07, 2005 09:08 AM (tPzR0)

23 I like the pocket one, only the "jonesin'" part needs to be fixed, and that bottom line should be knocked down a point size or two.

I am an editor who works with designers all day -- can you tell? I drive them nuts.

Posted by: dawn at May 07, 2005 10:24 AM (Dh1V0)

24 I like the Rocket in the Pocket, the second one, and the 6th.

Posted by: Rachel Ann at May 07, 2005 01:53 PM (eI45D)

25 I vote for the tapestry banner. Somehow I can you see totally on board with sending a rocket back in time.

Second up is A Rocketeer Extraordinaire.

But hey, no hockey-themed logo? I'm crushed.

Posted by: Debbye at May 08, 2005 05:32 AM (ckJ/X)

26 It is a real toss up for me. My natural inclination is to vote for the Bayeux Tapestry one. It is really inspired.

But the Tom Lerher fan in me screams out to vote for Werner Von Braun.

I am torn. We can't split our vote can we?

Posted by: The Maximum Leader at May 09, 2005 11:23 AM (jiSuM)

27 I vote for the most excellent 50's retro banner!

Posted by: michele at May 10, 2005 10:04 PM (ht2RK)

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One of the best things about my iPaq PDA is that I can use it as an MP3 player, and storage cards are coming down in price all the time, which means I can carry more music with me.

The frustrating part is that since it's not a dedicated music player, it only accepts the MP3 format. Now that wouldn't be a problem except that Windows Media Player - and most other equivalent apps - don't save CD's in MP3 format. So even though I've got hundreds of legally purchased CD's full of music, I couldn't download them to take with me.

Enter Quintessential Player. This is a completely free music player that does so much more, including ripping my music collection into the MP3 format that I must use. Lots of add-ons and extensions over and above the already impressive list of standard features. If you're tired of dealing with Windows Media Player (eh) or Real Player (barf), give this one a try. So far I'm loving it!

Now I need more (and bigger) storage cards.

Posted by: Ted at 11:34 AM | category: Links
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Here's a group of illustrations that show the myriad types of Star Trek spacecraft together, showing relative size.

Update: I missed this before, but if you scroll down, there are 3-view silhouette recognition charts and more.

Posted by: Ted at 11:25 AM | category: Links
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Derby bettor loses, finds ticket worth $864,253.50

Spokane, Oregon Mayor Taking Leave Amid Allegations

Posted by: Ted at 11:26 AM | category: Links
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You've got this mental picture of all these different bloggers you read every day, and then you get a chance to meet them face to face, and they look totally different than what you've imagined, but they're still wonderful anyway and you have a great time and can't wait for the next chance to get together again...

Mookie and I went to see Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy last night.

Posted by: Ted at 06:12 AM | category: Links
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Handy in so many ways, I can't understand how people have gotten away from carrying a knife. I have a Swiss Army, the Fisherman model, that goes with me everywhere, and I've given smaller versions to the girls as gifts.

Here's a dandy guide to "The Care and Feeding of the Swiss Army Knife". Good information here, whether you're looking to buy or already have one.

Posted by: Ted at 12:10 PM | category: Links
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I found this incredible tribute to Stan Freberg (thanks Ti!). Some of you may be asking yourself, "who?" Go read, because you know him, you just might not realize that you know him.

A brief bio and more can be found here.

Oh my darlin'. Oh my darlin'. Oh my daaaaaaarlin' Clementine...

Posted by: Ted at 05:42 AM | category: Links
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My favorite "fierce American" expressed surprise at the lack of hockey-related logos in the banner contest. So I'll put Maurice "Rocket" Richard (pronounced Ree-shard) up top for awhile. From his bio pages:

Richard became the NHL's first 50-goal shooter in 1944-45. This feat was accomplished in 50 games, a performance that wouldn't be equaled until Mike Bossy did it in 1980-81.

Now you shouldn't confuse him with a later legend who also played for the Montreal Canadiens, Henri Richard. For you heathens who don't know who "Pocket Rocket" Richard is:

The only individual to have his name on the Stanley Cup 11 times as a player. Incredibly, he played on a Stanley Cup winner in more than half the seasons he played.

More on his career here.

Posted by: Ted at 08:45 AM | category: Links
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Just a reminder and an invitation to join us at the Potomac Nationals baseball game on the evening of May 14th. Here's your chance to see the future of the Washington Nationals, put some faces to blogger names, and there will be fireworks afterwards too.

Hope to see you there!

Already expressing interest:

Mookie (and at least my wife and one other kid)
Goddess Dawn
Nic of Shoes, Ships & Sealing Wax
Victor of Publius & Co.
Buckethead (and family) of the Ministry of Minor Perfidy
Newlyweds Rob & Big Hair from L&R

Details, details: The game starts at 7pm, and the ticket office opens at noon. Rob suggested the $10 box seats which looks to be right down on the field. I was thinking Section 3 of reserved seating ($9) because it might be easier to get a group of seats together there. What say you? Either works for me.

Directions and stadium map are here.

Posted by: Ted at 05:29 AM | category: Links
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1 The Big Hair reminds me that the DC101 Chili Cookoff is that day.

Sorry.

How about Sunday?

Posted by: Rob@L&R at May 06, 2005 10:34 AM (4a1Xa)

2 Not a problem, Rob. It's a long season, and we plan to attend several games. Sunday's a no-go for me, getting ready for the following weekend's Team America Rocket Contest event.

Posted by: Ted at May 06, 2005 04:18 PM (+OVgL)

3 I'm still in -- any seating area is fine. I'm a baseball illiterate and am all about getting to see the Rocket Jones entourage!

Posted by: dawn at May 07, 2005 10:27 AM (Dh1V0)

4 Victor and I will sit anywhere you say. It looks like there's not really a bad seat in the house.

Posted by: nic at May 08, 2005 07:31 AM (Sx8zO)

5 As I recently rejoined the ranks of the employed, I am very much up for this. While I won't have received my first, glorious paycheck by then; I know I have money in the pipeline. I no longer need to worry about every last penny, and how to best to allocate it. This is a very good thing, and celebrating with a baseball game seems fitting.

Keep me posted on all the pesky details, so that I can tell my wife and therefore not forget to go to the game, or go to the wrong stadium.

Posted by: buckethead at May 09, 2005 10:21 PM (r8pWR)

6 I wish I could on the 14th. But I have a previous engagement. A few of us are planning on getting together the evening of Saturday, May 21 for a few hours at a restaurant downtown. If you are interested, please drop me a line.

Posted by: The Maximum Leader at May 10, 2005 01:04 PM (jiSuM)

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Thanks to Victor, a link to a movie ad parody: Zombies make movies.

I think the undead chick is pretty darned hot.

Posted by: Ted at 10:15 AM | category: Links
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Over at SilverBlue (who has moved, let linkage adjustment commence), we are treated to this wonderful bit of fun:

The Top 15 Signs You Are Worshipping GodZILLA, Not God

15> Less smiting, more biting!

14> Every single story in the Old Testament ends with God destroying a city.

13> You insist that every courthouse display a copy of 10 instructions for destroying Tokyo.

12> Your hymnal is copyrighted by Blue Oyster Cult.

11> YouÂ’re expected to build a cross big enough for crucifying Godzuki.

10> You issue a fatwa for jihad on Mechagodzilla.

9> The whole “Bambi is Satan” thing should have been a big tip-off.

8> His sole commandment: Thou shalt run screaming through the streets.

7> Every time you kneel to pray, your Lord steps on you.

6> Golden calf? No response.
Sacrificial lamb? Not even a twitch.
Passenger train full of screaming Japanese passengers? Bingo!

5> The sermon is lovely, but Reverend TakoshiÂ’s words are out of sync with his lips.

4> Instead of a communion wafer, youÂ’re supposed to eat Tokyo.

3> Recently chosen Pope Megalon XVI crushes all attempts to alter church doctrine.

2> You just spent $20,000 on eBay for the Virgin Mothra stuffed calzone.

and Topfive.comÂ’s Number 1 Sign You Are Actually Worshipping GodZILLAÂ…

1> That thing about keeping the templeÂ’s lamps lit for eight days with no oil? Not a problem.

I posted the whole thing, but he posts good jokes and photos often, so you should visit him regularly.

Posted by: Ted at 09:43 AM | category: Links
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Not one, but two nifty internet places to visit from Iceland, land of geothermal energy.

• Denita points the way to these beautiful photos of the Aurora Borealis.
• Stop by and say hello to Maria, a new Munuvian member who lives in Reykjavik.

Yay!

Posted by: Ted at 07:39 AM | category: Links
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Zombie Prom, the off-broadway musical.

Sometimes the synergy of this ol' world is frightening.

Posted by: Ted at 06:10 AM | category: Links
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From Ace:

I didn't know a girl-on-girl tickling scene with Andie MacDowell could be so... disturbing.

A couple of things here. First, I was busy on the computer when the movie being talked about came on. When I realized something other than music was playing in the background, it took me a few minutes to realize that the character was supposed to be "special". She acted exactly like Rosie O'Donnell always acts. Loud and obnoxious.

Secondly, Andie MacDowell is an actress that I cannot stand. She was marginal in Groundhog Day, but I think she became irrevocably dead to me after her performance in Michael.

"Pie. Pie. Me oh my..."

Posted by: Ted at 11:28 AM | category: Links
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As promised, a photo of my daughter Rachael (aka Mookie) before heading out to prom.

(in the extended entry) more...

Posted by: Ted at 02:57 PM | category: Links
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