April 06, 2005
Slammed
MuNu and Rocket Jones got hammered last night by a flood of spam comments. What a pain.
Update: It's still going on.
Update 2: I finally remembered that I could block the IP. Doh! Oh well, mess cleaned up.
Posted by: Ted at
06:00 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Someone should be fired for thinking that one up
Around here, bus systems like to use the word "link" in their name. We've got OmniLink and MetroLink and who knows what else. Just south of here is the oldest continuously chartered town in Virginia,
Dumfries.
What einstein thought Dumflink would be a good name for their bus service?
Posted by: Ted at
04:39 AM | category: Square Pegs
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April 04, 2005
Bad Surprises
Tomorrow we dip into savings for a new washing machine. I ran a load this evening and when I went down to the basement to swap it into the dryer I found our entire bottom level a shallow puddle.
Judging from the black ooze that came out from under the washer and the fact that the agitator is frozen in place, I think the clutch or motor seized early on and the beastie just kept chugging through the wash/rinse/spin cycles, turning belts and bearings into so much sludge.
It took Mookie, Mom and I about a half hour to get the water up (thank goodness for heavy-duty carpet cleaners!) and reasonably dried out. Of course, our son managed to leave every blanket and sheet on his bed dangling onto the floor, save one. Oh frickin' well, looks like he'll be cold for a few nights. Maybe it'll teach him to pick his crap up like he's supposed to.
Probably what annoys me most is that it didn't start to smell like burning or make any odd sounds, so it had plenty of time to dump that entire cycle of water out onto the floor. Bah.
Posted by: Ted at
09:26 PM | category: Square Pegs
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Aw, that sucks. I'm sorry.
I feel for your son. My bedroom at home was in the basement, and we suffered a couple of floods. My father's reaction was quite similar to yours...
Posted by: nic at April 05, 2005 04:33 PM (etHvD)
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Rice Cake?
This morning on the way to work I heard that song
Short Skirt, Long Jacket by the group
Cake. It's been quite a while since I've heard it, and this time, what came to mind was that photo of Condoleeza Rice in her duster and knee boots.
Oh, this explains it.
Posted by: Ted at
06:10 AM | category: Square Pegs
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OK, WTF is this supposed to mean? I recognize it as an astrological chart but I've never seen any more reason to study that nonsense than who slept with whom in a soap opera. I consider astrology to be "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing".
So, just what does this chart say?
Posted by: Jim Gwyn at April 04, 2005 09:12 AM (6iy97)
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Hell if I know.
It was just something weird and stupid I found when googling images of Condi.
Posted by: Ted at April 04, 2005 09:55 AM (blNMI)
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I was confused too until I read this...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natal_chart
And now I'm even more confused.
Posted by: Oorgo at April 04, 2005 01:32 PM (lM0qs)
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New Banner Contest
If you've visited
Rocket Jones more than a couple of times you've noticed that the banner at the top of the page changes every week or so. It's nothing automatic, I just switch it when I think of it.
I also add new banners every once in a while, and they all go into my queue and make their way back to the top in time. Derek said it best, "you can never have too many banners." He's an artist, so consider that expert testimony.
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. Even if all you can do is stick figures, as long as it's done with charm, it's fine with me.
Sometime in the near future I'll put 'em all up and we'll have a vote on the favorite and I'll come up with some sort of actual prize, but probably all of them will make it into the banner rotation.
Guidelines are simple:
- keep the width to about 500 pixels maximum
- keep the height to about 300 - 325 pixels maximum
- naughty is ok, vulgar is not
Other than that, well, wow me.
I've displayed several of the current Rocket Jones banners in the extended entry to give you an idea about what's already been done. I'd love to see entries unlike anything ever seen on b-b-b-broadway!*
*Reference for the hardcore Zappa fan.
more...
Posted by: Ted at
04:56 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Well, I'm no graphic ahtist, but I might be able to draw up something. 'Cept that I don't have a scanner, so there's no way to turn it into a jpeg.
Here's an idea that maybe Stephen can help with: A rocket is flying -- flames shooting out it's a** -- and a rider (presumably Ted) is holding the reigns. Kinda like Dr Strangelove, but this rocket is climbing up up up at a 30 degree angle. Maybe even waving a hat in the air with a determined
gonna-kill-me-some-washing-machines look on his face.
Eh. That's all I got.
Posted by: Tuning Spork at April 04, 2005 10:30 PM (E1aZR)
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Hah, just thought of something. Have to wait 'til I get home and fire up the old scanner.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 11, 2005 03:50 AM (AIaDY)
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April 03, 2005
Now I'm kinda glad I didn't
A couple of months ago I had this killer idea for completely redesigning
Rocket Jones for one day only - April Fools day. Apparently several others did too.
Fortunately, I got too busy to even make a start on it, so I don't look like some kind of predictable lemming.
Posted by: Ted at
09:56 AM | category: Square Pegs
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April 02, 2005
I see a new PC in my near future
Mookie came downstairs the other night while I was at my computer and said that my monitor was *really* blurry.
I hadn't noticed, but she's right. I think it's getting worse too.
Posted by: Ted at
08:07 PM | category: Square Pegs
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Uh... shouldn't you be replacing the monitor when the monitor gets fuzzy? The other way is kinda like buying a new car when you get a flat.
Of course, if you do take that route, you should be all set for NASA.
Posted by: Phelps at April 04, 2005 07:12 PM (6Ggq6)
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My PC is the computer equivalent of an Edsel. I like it because it's set up juuuuust the way I want, but it's still old and very outdated. To modify your example a bit, imagine buying a brand new grille for that rusted out Yugo in the front yard.
Posted by: Ted at April 04, 2005 08:29 PM (ZjSa7)
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Gauging Interest
Our local minor league baseball team is the
Prince William Cannons recently renamed Potomac Nationals (Carolina League - A level). My wife and I are planning on attending several evening games this season.
Would anyone be interested in attending a game as a group? They have Saturday night games with fireworks afterwards, and I believe we can get discounts and/or set up a picnic for groups of 20 or more.
If this sounds like something you'd like to do, leave a comment and/or drop me an email. If you'd just like to hook up for a game some evening, that'd be cool too.
Potomac Nationals home page
Map showing directions to the ballpark
Posted by: Ted at
09:36 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Yeah! Particularly for a Saturday game...in rush hour it would probably take four hours. But quite doable on a Saturday!
Posted by: nic at April 03, 2005 07:08 PM (etHvD)
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...four hours for us to drive to Dale City in rush hour, that is. But you can read my mind and knew what I meant, right?
Posted by: nic at April 03, 2005 07:10 PM (etHvD)
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I'm always up for an adventure -- and lord knows I need to get out of the house once in awhile. Count me in! Can I bring my own booze?
Posted by: dawn at April 03, 2005 11:24 PM (Dh1V0)
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The Big Hair and I could be persuaded.
My suggestion would be box seating, which is only $10.
Posted by: Rob@L&R at April 04, 2005 10:49 AM (hOncZ)
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The mrs. and I would definitely be interested. I haven't been to a minor leagu game since I used to go see the Akron Aeros when I used to live in Ohio. And junior has yet to see a real baseball game. We're already in Mt. Vernon, that wouldn't be much of a drive at all.
Posted by: Buckethead at April 05, 2005 04:53 PM (r8pWR)
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More hockey oddness
I know that I had a Hockey Whoopass Jamboree game yesterday, yet the AHL website comes up "not found". Guess I'll have to Google the results...
Ah yes, my Cleveland Barons whupped all over the Rochester Americans. This was the Barons' first win in seven tries this season against the Amercs.
Posted by: Ted at
09:20 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Dali inspired sports equipment
Those crazy Buffalo Sabres are at it again, trying to
save hockey by being all innovative. This time, they're proposing a rounded
net that increases the target area by 13%.
It's odd looking, and I'm not sure what I think of it. I like the idea of making it harder for a goalie to completely shut down the angle by hugging the post. But still, to my mind, why not just make the goalie pads smaller?
An observation about that picture: the goalie is an employee of the Sabres organization and to me appears to be a rather smallish man. Modern goalies are big tall guys who absolutely fill the net, so that illustration looks to be a little overstated about the effect of the change.
Posted by: Ted at
09:05 AM | category: Square Pegs
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1
I take issue with all of that. ISSUE!
first: I assume that the idea is simply an april fool's prank. It would have to be. It's so absurd.
second: "hugging the post" only works on a very shallow angle shot. You have to know when and where to come forward to cut off the angle properly on everything else.
third: Goalie pads and their respective size ain't the problem. Modern goalies are simply better conditioned than their predecessors. Goals are still scored, but the professional goalie, in general, is a better athlete than ever before.
finally: since it's all an April Fool's prank, none of what I typed really matters.
Posted by: Derek at April 02, 2005 09:30 AM (iY1/W)
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Derek, I absolutely agree with your third point, and that's why something has to change. Goalie skills have improved so much that they've got too much of an advantage now.
Similar to when baseball tinkers with the height of the pitching mound, the rules need changing to restore balance to the game.
I hadn't thought about this being an April Fools joke, but maybe it is. Then again, something radical like this might just be what it takes, so I keep an open mind.
Hockey needs fixing. Regardless of what purists and traditionalists say, if the sport is going to survive as more than a niche curiosity that people only care about during Olympic years, then changes must be made.
Posted by: Ted at April 02, 2005 09:52 AM (ZjSa7)
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feh. With as much respect as I can muster, I spit on change.
The game is awesome.
Posted by: Derek at April 02, 2005 11:27 AM (iY1/W)
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What about giving the goalie a, you know, hockey stick?
Posted by: Brian J. at April 02, 2005 01:12 PM (V04ml)
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Why don't they just put a freakin' soccer net back there?
Posted by: Victor at April 02, 2005 05:46 PM (etHvD)
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How about something like Rollerball (the original with James Caan) only on ice skates and without the roller derby aspects?
Yeah, that's what hockey needs... motorcycles on ice!
And maybe landmines... cuz everything is better when there's EXPLOSIONS!
Posted by: Rob@L&R at April 03, 2005 10:14 AM (hOncZ)
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April 01, 2005
Bread
The bread machine has been getting a workout lately. I made my first loaf of rye the other day and everyone agrees that it's good but a tad too subtle. The next loaf will have more rye flour in the mix. Not that it seemed to matter, there was only one slice left this morning, and we're not a big bread-eatin' family.
Last night the house smelled of cinammon as some raisin bread baked. A thick slab of that toasted and slathered with butter made for a fine breakfast.
Bread machines. Another easy way to appreciate the simple things that make you happy.
Posted by: Ted at
06:10 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Ted, adding more rye to the recipe might not do it for you... if you're unlucky you'll end up with a brick thanks to rye's lack of gluten (and, indeed, tendency to break down the gluten that wheat brings to the mix). You might want to instead kick up the flavor by doing a pre-ferment of some of the flour and water with the yeast before doing the bread machine thing. That will add great depth of flavor, a little tang, and it ought to bring out the rye-ness too. Rye plays
extremely well with sourdoughs and preferments.
Posted by: Johno at April 01, 2005 09:17 AM (pf148)
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I hope there is at least a slice of cinnimon bread left for me....PLEASE!!!!
Posted by: Robyn at April 01, 2005 09:30 AM (/AsC4)
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Johno, thanks for the tip! I know very little about making bread, so experimentation is the key word.
Robyn, sorry, we ate every scrap this morning. In fact, I forced the dogs to eat the last 3 slices just so you wouldn't get any. On top of that, the new rule is that we only use the bread machine once a week, because we're Atkins-friendly (or Robyn-unfriendly, your choice). I guess I'm saying: sorry kiddo. Too bad. So sad.
*sticking my tongue out at'cha*
Posted by: Ted at April 01, 2005 09:46 AM (blNMI)
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There are no other words than... are
*comment edited*
Posted by: Robyn at April 01, 2005 09:59 AM (TiyH+)
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NO MORE EDITING MY COMMENTS!!!!!! AND I REPEAT...
But since I do know that you were lyin bout no more bread, i guess i can take it back now...
*comment edited* (this is kinda fun)
Posted by: Robyn at April 01, 2005 01:47 PM (/AsC4)
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Ted, if you want a quick primer on how to do a pre-ferment, drop me an email. You'll dirty a bowl, a whisk and a spatula, but your bread machine will still do all kneading and baking.
Posted by: Johno at April 01, 2005 02:44 PM (pf148)
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Yeah, I recently started baking rye bread in my machine too. I've found that a little bit of olive oil added to the rye mix gives a more even texture.
Raisin bread - my recipe replaces the water with apple juice. Yum. Walnuts are another great thing to add. I've tried other nuts and other fruits and they don't work as well.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at April 02, 2005 05:52 AM (+S1Ft)
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That cinammon raisin bread sounds yummy... !!!!!!!!
Posted by: Cindy at April 02, 2005 11:09 AM (nO0F0)
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March 31, 2005
Yes, I've been playing with the banners
I've got a couple of new ones and some ideas I'm working on.
Posted by: Ted at
09:21 PM | category: Square Pegs
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maybe I shall whip up an extra banner for you in my spare time. A man can never have too many web banners, you know.
Posted by: Derek at March 31, 2005 10:44 PM (dfss3)
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That would be very cool Derek, thank you! My first original banner was done by an artist friend. It's still in the rotation, despite the unflattering toon Ted it shows.
Posted by: Ted at April 01, 2005 06:13 AM (blNMI)
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Free Association
Seen on the back of a Vlasic pickle jar:
"There's always time for a dill moment"
First thought that popped into my head: "Yeah, just before becoming a Darwin Award nominee."
Posted by: Ted at
11:56 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Liveblogging My Colonoscopy
Or are y'all still burnt out from the last election?
Posted by: Ted at
05:35 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Interesting train of thought there.
Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 31, 2005 09:13 PM (BUnQl)
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I'm waiting.... Where is the liveblogging?
Posted by: The Maximum Leader at April 01, 2005 10:01 AM (jiSuM)
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If I ever have one, I'll make sure to send you personal updates.
Never let it be said that I don't do my utmost for Rocket Jones readers.
Posted by: Ted at April 01, 2005 12:22 PM (blNMI)
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March 30, 2005
I wish she would die already
I'm sorry, but there's no gentle way to put that. As soon as she dies then the real debate can start instead of this never ending circus horribilus.
Captain's Quarters is beginning to sound like the mirror image to Kos. It's depressing and boring.
Nobody wins, and until her body stops breathing, we can't even work towards making sure there is never a next time.
Posted by: Ted at
08:22 PM | category: Square Pegs
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I think I'm with you on that. She's gone. Now let's make sure that this never happens a-frickin-gain.
Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 30, 2005 11:34 PM (GIVbO)
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No more Terri-specific laws. Debate and address the matter fully.
Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 30, 2005 11:36 PM (GIVbO)
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Smarter than a speeding bullet
That's me. Remember that
book thing making the rounds? The one where the very first question is:
You're stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be?
Apparently I'm not the only one who didn't get it right away. Think about the story. Think about the people who hoard books. Remember that everyone in that group would memorize a single book?
Ahhhhhhh.
Posted by: Ted at
12:49 PM | category: Square Pegs
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Well, you weren't the only one. Everyone was choosing
Ivanhoe and very few were choosing
The Old Man and the Sea.
Posted by: Brian J. at March 30, 2005 03:55 PM (V04ml)
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Ugh! I had to read old man and the sea for school.. worst book ever.
Posted by: Mookie at March 30, 2005 05:41 PM (ZjSa7)
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I loved F-451! Loved what it did for my interest in the solar system and interstellar travel.
BTW, if I was fatalistic, I would have chosen to perish by fire than be memorized in secret.
Posted by: michele at March 30, 2005 08:27 PM (ht2RK)
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I thought the whole deal was to pick which book that you thought was least likely to be burned. So, I wanted to be
Charles And His Purple Crayon.
Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 30, 2005 11:40 PM (GIVbO)
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No, the point is to pick a book to memorize so that when it's burned it will be preserved....
Posted by: Susie at March 31, 2005 08:17 AM (6pkez)
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All of y'all are wrong! The purpose was to interpret the question as you see fit. If the author of the meme *wanted* to know which book you'd memorize, s/he would've (or should've) asked, "If you had to memorize one book, which one would it be?" Likewise, if there was one book you wanted to burn...you get the idea.
Posted by: Victor at March 31, 2005 01:15 PM (L3qPK)
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Reminder
Top left corner of this page. The pink button. Click it on friday, the first of April and leave a comment. No fooling.
Posted by: Ted at
12:19 PM | category: Square Pegs
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Posted by: buckethead at March 31, 2005 10:07 AM (r8pWR)
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LOL Yep. And you're the first person to notice. I bet everyone's been clicking on her boobs in the banner and muttering "Ted said this would *do* something dammit".
Posted by: Ted at March 31, 2005 10:20 AM (blNMI)
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Well, I click on the boobs, too. I just don't expect the website to do anything.
Posted by: Buckethead at March 31, 2005 04:52 PM (r8pWR)
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Maybe I'm too Ameri-centric
The
Major Soccer League is renaming their teams to be more like the teams around the world. So instead of, for instance, the Dallas Burn, you'll have teams like FC Dallas, where the "FC" stands for "football club". Yeah, maybe in the rest of the world, but not in Dallas.
New to the league this year are Real Salt Lake City (pronounced Ray-al) and Chivas USA. Chivas is spanish for goats. Really.
I was never a fan of that odd trend for new niche sports teams to name themselves for something other than a noun - the "Rage", the "Freedom" and so on. It just seemed so trendy, like a loser trying desperately to be cool.
So the MLS gets away from that nonsense, but decides that they need to be less American and more like Europe. Like I needed another reason to ignore them.
Posted by: Ted at
12:17 PM | category: Square Pegs
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Real Salt Lake? Seriously? Real is Spanish for royal. I thought we settled that issue some 200+ years ago. Puhleese.
Posted by: RP at March 30, 2005 04:48 PM (LlPKh)
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Rage and
Freedom and
Heat and
Jazz are nouns, but, abstract nouns, not plural nouns. They don't refer to the teammates but to entity of the club as a whole. And, yes, it's annoying as hell. I can't wait for someone to lash back by naming a team
The Vermont Syrup. Heck, Billie Jean King even named her team
The Philidelphia Freedoms.
Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 30, 2005 11:53 PM (GIVbO)
3
Spork, I failed English. Badly. I never got the hang of that whole noun/verb/adverb thing.
Posted by: Ted at March 31, 2005 04:46 AM (ZjSa7)
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That dumb, and I can't lick myself either
So I get home Monday to an empty (of humans) house. Son got called in to work, wife was working late, Mookie has musical rehersals, and it's just me and two dogs who are very happy to see me.
They went out. They came in. We played and just generally acted like guys do when they have the run of the house. Lots of toys being thrown about and growling and rough-housing going on.
I had to use the bathroom, so as usual I shut the door behind me and as I stood there I wondered why I did that since I was home alone. When I opened the door, both dogs were sitting there in the hallway and looking at me like, "You are soooo whipped."
There's wisdom there if you know how to read it.
Posted by: Ted at
04:40 AM | category: Square Pegs
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ROFLMAO! I lived alone (sans a year-and-a-half with the ex- and one with friends) for 15 straight years and ALWAYS shut the door behind me. Privacy is always privacy -- even from the rest of the house!
Posted by: Tuning Spork at March 31, 2005 12:00 AM (GIVbO)
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March 29, 2005
Asinine Quote of the Week
And believe me, there've been some doozys.
"But people would rather live under undemocratic rule than in the chaotic atmosphere of Iraq, for example, which the Americans tout as a model." -- Egyptian Diplomat
The definition of chaos being "more than one choice on the ballot", of course.
Posted by: Ted at
08:36 PM | category: Square Pegs
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