It just occurred to me that we are two-thirds of the way through 2005. I don't know about you, but I'd be perfectly happy if the rest of this year were boring and uneventful.

Posted by: Ted at 02:54 PM | category: Square Pegs
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My niece called. Her and the kids are safe alive. They're still in the vicinity of what's left of Gulfport, Mississippi.

Posted by: Ted at 12:52 PM | category: Square Pegs
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The entire quote:

"Let me tell you something, folks. I've been out there. It's complete devastation," Gulfport Fire Chief Pat Sullivan said Monday. He estimated that 75 percent of buildings in Gulfport have major roof damage, "if they have a roof left at all."

Gulfport experienced a storm surge of more than 20 feet. Think about that for a second. Stand up, and if you're six feet tall, the water level pushed inland was more than three times your height.

We've had no word about my neice in Gulfport, who refused to evacuate despite living within blocks of the beach. At this point, I could care less about her, but I'm worried sick about her small children.

"The hurricane was scary," Scott Radish told The Times-Picayune. "All the tree branches fell, but the building stood. I thought I was doing good. Then I noticed my Jeep was under water."

"I've never encountered anything like it in my life. It just kept rising and rising and rising," said Bryan Vernon, who spent three hours on his roof, screaming over howling winds for someone to save him and his fiancee.

Idiots like these shouldn't be spared natural selection. Call me hardhearted, but I'd leave 'em right where they are, especially if rescuing their stupid asses meant someone else has to risk their lives.

Across a street that had turned into a river bobbing with garbage cans, trash and old tires, a woman leaned from the second-story window of a brick home and pleaded to be rescued.

"There are three kids in here," the woman said. "Can you help us?"

You had the chance to save your children, and blew it. I hope they learn from this experience, and I hope they never forget that you're a selfish nitwit who endangered their lives for no good reason.

Worried sick and pissed off, that's me.

Update: Just got word that their house is gone. Completely. No news about my niece and the kids.

Posted by: Ted at 07:51 AM | category: Square Pegs
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I think Tim Allen would agree. Me? I'm not so sure.

Posted by: Ted at 04:45 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Or whatever you do to send good juju down to the folks in New Orleans and vicinity. I've got relatives close to the water in Gulfport who're determined to ride this one out. Stupid? I guess we'll know in a few days, eh?

(update) Wizbang! has the text of the official National Weather Service Warning. Here's a little bit:

POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS...AS MOST POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED. FEW CROPS WILL REMAIN. LIVESTOCK LEFT EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL BE KILLED.

The guys at Wizbang! also have a look at what the folks sheltering at the Superdome might go through. Pray for them too, they're going to need it.

Posted by: Ted at 06:04 AM | category: Square Pegs
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You leap out of bed, scoop up the dog, race downstairs, throw open the front door, toss the dog outside, and watch him barf up all over the porch. Which you then proceed to clean by hosing it off.

All before properly waking up.

Posted by: Ted at 10:24 AM | category: Square Pegs
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We are all individuals.

Posted by: Ted at 10:17 AM | category: Square Pegs
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1 ...just like everyone else.

Of course some of us are more individual than others

Posted by: Zoe Brain at August 29, 2005 09:12 PM (tAq8A)

2 I'm not! (one of my favorite scenes from that film, Ted)

Posted by: RP at August 30, 2005 02:20 PM (LlPKh)

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Seen over at Naked Villainy.

Jimmy Stewart You scored 19% Tough, 19% Roguish, 33% Friendly, and 28% Charming!

You are the fun and friendly boy next door, the classic nice guy who still manages to get the girl most of the time. You're every nice girl's dreamboat, open and kind, nutty and charming, even a little mischievous at times, but always a real stand up guy. You're dependable and forthright, and women are drawn to your reliability, even as they're dazzled by your sense of adventure and fun. You try to be tough when you need to be, and will gladly stand up for any damsel in distress, but you'd rather catch a girl with a little bit of flair. Your leading ladies include Jean Arthur and Donna Reed, those sweet girl-next-door types. Find out what kind of classic dame you'd make by taking the Classic Dames Test.

I'm not displeased.

Posted by: Ted at 08:46 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Remember a while back I mentioned that I'd been offered a review copy of an independent horror flick?

It showed up in my mailbox yesterday.

Woot!

Posted by: Ted at 06:02 AM | category: Square Pegs
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According to Mookie, the Bible is the most popular fanfic in history.

Posted by: Ted at 05:45 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Just got home from work. The girls are off to their respective schools, and Liz isn't back yet from helping Rachael to settle in. It's just me and the dogs and a house that seems a little more empty than usual... until I get to the basement and see the ever-present pile of laundry that needs doing.

At least it'll be a smaller ever-present pile.

Silver linings, people, silver linings.

Posted by: Ted at 04:56 PM | category: Square Pegs
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Yesterday, I listened to a co-worker gripe about having to go to yet another meeting.

Me: I know how to get out of meetings.

Co-worker: How?

Me: Ask questions they don't want to answer. Bring up points they don't want to consider.

Co-worker: What's the point of that?

Me: Be obnoxious. They'll quit inviting you.

Co-worker: Can you teach me?

Oh yeah, he got me good.

Posted by: Ted at 06:12 AM | category: Square Pegs
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1 You mean he was kidding?

Posted by: michele at August 25, 2005 01:04 PM (DPFIK)

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Poor ladies.

Belgian women's soccer team SK Berlaar had to stomach a 50-1 defeat against rival KV Mechelen on Saturday because their goalkeeper had opted to attend a music concert instead, a local newspaper said.

Oh man, that's gotta be tough, playing without a goalkeeper.

"Our keeper went to Pukkel Pop. That's why," substitute goalkeeper Charlotte Jacobs told Het Laatste Nieuws daily on Monday.

They had a sub? And the other team still scored 50 goals? I'd fine the starting goalie for not taking the substitute with her to the concert.

"At half-time the score was 27-0. But after half-time we were able to recover."

By "recover", she means she only allowed 23 more goals. Sounds like a political analyst working for the Democrats (yeah, I know, cheap shot).

"...we scored once ourselves, right at the end. They allowed us to score. That was sweet of them," Jacobs added.

That's just wrong.

Posted by: Ted at 04:50 AM | category: Square Pegs
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What the hell happened?

Posted by: Ted at 05:30 PM | category: Square Pegs
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We never did get to the rocket launch on Saturday. I'd started feeling ill Friday morning, and had to leave early to take Rachael to the doctor for her pre-admission checkup. She hadn't been feeling all that great, and on the way home she urped. So between both of us feeling less than wonderful, her working both days, all the packing to get done (oldest daughter Robyn and her boyfriend each took a carload down to ODU), plus the hot, oppressive, humid weather, well, we took a pass on standing out in the sun all day (fun as that may be).

Liz takes Rachael to her campus on Thursday. Robyn continues to move her stuff all week. Busy little bees, we are.

Posted by: Ted at 05:54 AM | category: Square Pegs
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With all but a handful of companies already reporting for the quarter, it turns out that three quarters of them met or exceeded their projected earnings.

Posted by: Ted at 06:08 AM | category: Square Pegs
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We hear a lot of noise from those who want us to ignore the fact that we were attacked (thanks to the Flea for the pointer).

Ten tons of steel from the World Trade CenterÂ’s twin towers will be used in the construction of the USS New York, according to a Navy official.

The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock is slated to be commissioned in 2008.

Forget? Hell no.

Posted by: Ted at 11:55 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Taco Bell is as good at marketing as Burger King is bad. Very few clunker ads. They don't drive a commercial run into the ground either. The little mutt "Yo Quiero, Taco Bell" could've become obnoxious, but they know to quit a little early - leave 'em wanting more.

What got me to thinking about this is a pile of hot sauce packets in our kitchen. Each one has a prominent little spot on the front with a cute message. For instance:

"It's ok to say it. I love you too."

"Hey, where are you taking me?"

Subtle, simple, effective.

Posted by: Ted at 05:21 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Like I promised I'm going to promise (trust me, it'll make sense eventually).

(in the extended entry - safe for work but may offend delicate sensibilities) more...

Posted by: Ted at 08:49 PM | category: Square Pegs
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If I understand the story correctly, they bummed around for years under various band names, finally cut an album and waited a couple more years before becoming an overnight sensation.

Now, they're so overplayed that I'm sick of them and wouldn't mind if they faded back into obscurity for a few more years.

Posted by: Ted at 07:19 PM | category: Square Pegs
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1 This love has taken its toll on me
She said Goodbye too many times before
And her heart is breaking in front of me
I have no choice cause I won't say goodbye anymore

Posted by: Blogeline at August 15, 2005 07:42 PM (XcifK)

2 You evil woman. How's it going? Long time, no see!

Posted by: Ted at August 15, 2005 07:58 PM (+OVgL)

3 Ah well, it's going.
You know, home alone...just me and my new LAPTOP!!!

I can't stand that song anymore either. His voice is very annoying.

Posted by: Blogeline at August 15, 2005 08:10 PM (XcifK)

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