I'll never own any of their products or use their services, just because their commercials insult my intelligence and piss me off.

Posted by: Ted at 08:07 PM | category: Square Pegs
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Those new butter & garlic Ritz crackers? Yowza!

Posted by: Ted at 12:10 PM | category: Square Pegs
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Canada over Czech Republic, 4-3 in OT. What a game!!!!

Posted by: Ted at 09:21 PM | category: Square Pegs
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I'm not "getting over it". I'm not "moving on".

I drive past the Pentagon each and every work day. People I worked with have had to take the anthrax antidote. My mail at work had to be irradiated before I could open it.

The uncertainty and fear of that unforgettable day are gone. Even if I don't know specific faces, I know in a general way who the enemies are. I also understand that they want to hurt my family, and the more brutal the method the better in their eyes.

I mourn every innocent life lost, and I celebrate every terrorist death, although none of them can die slowly enough to satisfy me. I also rejoice in the fact that for every victim murdered, for every soldier that makes the ultimate sacrifice, many many more of them have died. They may be many, with new volunteers recruited every day, but attrition is on our side.

We are winning.

I'm going to spend today with my wife and kids. We're going to do ordinary things. Not because we want to go back to the obliviousness of the pre-9/11 world, but because we refuse to let those bastards take even a single day of our lives away from us. That's part of winning too.

Posted by: Ted at 01:02 AM | category: Square Pegs
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1 ...because we refuse to let those bastards take even a single day of our lives away from us.
For some reason I went fot a long bike-ride today. My legs are sore fer sure, but I think my spirit is stronger.

I'm sorry if that strikes any moonbats ya as a bit cryptic.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at September 11, 2004 11:29 PM (GE7HQ)

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We've got the one, Mookie, still at home, but our son is back from the Navy and temporarily staying with us. Oldest daughter is home from college for the weekend, so for the first time in quite a while we've got a full house again.

I'm really looking forward to experiencing this 'empty nest syndrome' that I keep hearing about.

Posted by: Ted at 05:11 AM | category: Square Pegs
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According to intrepid cub reporter Anonymous Kyle, he received a hand-delivered note announcing the "possibility" of cleaning of the "refrigrator" [sic] tomorrow.

Breathlessly, Kyle continues:

the nog is in jeopardy...

*Wondering what the hell I'm blathering on about? Read the beginning of the saga here, and continuing episodes here and here (and many many more besides).

Posted by: Ted at 08:46 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Previous taglines are all stashed over at the Tagline Archive.

Posted by: Ted at 05:23 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Here's hoping that President Clinton has successful heart bypass surgury and a swift recovery. May he have a long life spent annoying the hell out of me.

Also, my thoughts and prayers are with the children and victims of the hostage situation in Russia. I'm sickened and disgusted by the actions of the terrorists, and my heart is hardened towards the cause of their independence and the people who support them.

Likewise, to the people of Nepal, who watched as twelve of their citizens were butchered by cowards hiding behind a false religion. You have my sympathies, and my respect for the manner in which you've steadfastly refused to be influenced by barbarism.

Posted by: Ted at 10:47 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Canada just handed Slovakia their ass in the World Cup, 5-1.

Posted by: Ted at 09:18 PM | category: Square Pegs
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Please? August has been one less-than-wonderful month around the ol' homestead.

Posted by: Ted at 05:21 AM | category: Square Pegs
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That certainly describes Rocket Jones lately. I've been a tad busy, so a lot of recent posts are full of quickie links sprayed around like some manic link-sprinkler. Yeah, that's me - a link-sprinkler!

Posted by: Ted at 06:15 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Today I met up with a friend from my old workplace. We had some lunch, and he says "you been smoking crack?" because I've lost some more weight. It's been slow and steady for me, so I don't really notice it other than clothing-wise. Even if he was just being nice, I appreciated the comment. The crack helps too.

Posted by: Ted at 07:20 PM | category: Square Pegs
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Since the spammers have refined the word randomizer routines they use, some of their 'from' names and subject lines have been pretty entertaining. This one was too good not to share:

Need a lover to enjoy this weekend with ,? That person you want to find is here ,. bacterial infantry

Posted by: Ted at 05:45 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Like they say: if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right...

(in the extended entry) more...

Posted by: Ted at 05:29 AM | category: Square Pegs
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I'm reading a weird little book titled "The Planet Mars and It's Inhabitants" by one Eros Urides who supposedly lived on Mars for a time. It's a whackjob book, the kind you find on UFO sites and the like, usually listed as 'true but suppressed important works'. I tried digging up more information on it, but all Googles lead to the sites that present it as non-fiction.

In the book, Eros Urides describes a utopian Mars where spirituality is part of the very fabric of life. Mars is 100% Christian, and much preaching ensueth within. But one passage kind of tweaks at me:

As all property is considered as belonging to the Father, and is held in common by the people of the planet, there exists no incentive for anyone to steal. Each individual has all he requires for his comfort.

Posted by: Ted at 01:20 PM | category: Square Pegs
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1 It'd be the only way communism could work: in a vacuum with an absolute authoritarian at the top.

Posted by: Linda at August 20, 2004 02:40 PM (mmKG+)

2 Yes, it's still communism. The fact [sic] that the planet is 100% Christian could only be because of forced conformity.

Or, maybe the Martians are just averse to asking questions.

Posted by: Tuning Spork at August 21, 2004 01:12 PM (aQTmy)

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We've had the power go out twice now in the last two nights as strong thunderstorms moved through the area. In the last fifteen years, I'd wager that we haven't lost electricity more than twenty times total, which makes this notable.

Our electric co-op NOVEC, is also incredibly efficient at restoring power when it does fail. A typical outtage lasts 10 minutes, and an hour or more is something worthy of neighborhood conversation.

Atta boy NOVEC, even though you've deprived me of a good excuse to sleep in on work days.

Posted by: Ted at 06:04 AM | category: Square Pegs
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We keep hearing about Allawi and Sadr and foreign "insurgents", but nobody talks about that irrelevent old man anymore.

Except when the subject of the death penalty comes up.

Posted by: Ted at 04:15 PM | category: Square Pegs
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I'm sitting there, trying to use our universal remote to turn the volume up on the TV, and managing to do everything but. My wife is greatly amused, and I finally hand her the remote and tell her to deal with it. She does, with about four seemingly random button presses (and a dozen silent spells I'm sure).

She smiles and says, "it's not rocket science."

"Exactly, which is why I can't figure it out!"

I get up and leave the room. TV. Who needs it?

Posted by: Ted at 06:03 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Traffic was outrageously cooperative this morning, I made the Dale City to Rosslyn run in 20 minutes. The only time I had to slow was going through the Springfield mixing bowl, and slowing down meant 60mph. On top of that, it's a beautiful cool morning, so I put the windows down and cranked up the stereo.

It turned out that this morning's randomly-selected CD was perfect for the drive. Check out this lineup:

Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water
Deep Purple - Woman From Tokyo
Foghat - Fool For The City
Foghat - I Just Want To Make Love To You
Foghat - Slow Ride
Gary Wright - Dream Weaver
Gary Wright - Love Is Alive
Little Feat - Rock & Roll Doctor
Little Feat - Spanish Moon
Styx - Lady
Styx - Renegade
Uriah Heep - Sweet Loraine
Uriah Heep - The Wizard
Steely Dan - Do It Again
Steely Dan - Reelin' In The Years
Santana - Samba Pa Ti
Santana - Black Magic Woman
Santana - Oye Como Va

Now, I obviously didn't hear them all this morning. In fact, as I was pulling into the parking garage the first Gary Wright song was just coming on, which made me think of something. That disk is basically a 70's era stoner soundtrack*. I can just see it: someone scores a bag and a few friends gather 'round the bong, getting high and listening to some tunes.

I am so gonna jam on the drive home.

*For the record: I didn't smoke dope in high school, I was always the straight-but-cool friend. I keep telling y'all, I'm boring.

Posted by: Ted at 06:15 AM | category: Square Pegs
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1 Great play list!

Posted by: Susie at August 18, 2004 07:22 AM (CSnd4)

2 Hey, Ted, would you be insulted if I said...
Damn you're old!

Posted by: Kin at August 18, 2004 09:57 AM (t9u+J)

3 As long as it was the full 8-minute version of Slow Ride and not the chopped version 94.7 plays.

personaly, I think I would have left Styx and Steely Dan off and put on some cuts from side two of 2112.

I was heavily self-medicated back in the day.

Posted by: Rob @ L&R at August 18, 2004 10:59 AM (9B3PF)

4 Slow Ride... the first song I heard in the first bar I was ever in... Mr H's in Sunset Center, Amarillo, TX circa 1975... one of my ex-hs-football-teammates was playing college ball and one of his college teammates was working the door, so we got in the door...

Posted by: Mudfish Billie at August 18, 2004 09:54 PM (f4tF1)

5 Kin, I'd be really insulted, if I could remember what I was talking about.

Rob, you got me to thinking. I like Styx and Steely Dan a lot, but if'n not already on another disc, I'd probably replace the Styx with Jethro Tull and the Grateful Dead, and put Steely Dan's "Only A Fool Would Do That" on instead. Maybe add "Willin'" too from Little Feat.

Posted by: Ted at August 19, 2004 08:32 PM (ZjSa7)

6 Looks like I have some downloading to do. On the "Ellen" show, she asked the audience to identify Gary Wright's "other" song (other than "Dream Weaver") -- nobody could come up with it!

Posted by: dawn at August 19, 2004 09:05 PM (Zgn4s)

7 Love Is Alive is wa-a-a-ay better than Dream Weaver, imo, if only for the cool beginning.
And, yes, I'd replace Steely Dan with Jethro Tull any day! I mean, does S.D. have to use so many dang 6ths? All they are is "jazzy" 6ths! I like "Reelin' In The Years" and "Rikki, Don't Lose That Number" -- and even "Deacon Blues" -- but, jeeze, enough with the f^#&*$N 6th chords!!!

"Acres Wild", "The Mouse Police Never Sleeps", "Nursie", "Reason To Wonder", "One Brown Mouse"...

Shoot, now I gotta go grab my guitar.....

Posted by: Tuning Spork at August 19, 2004 11:13 PM (3E/Ba)

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Rocket Jones the blog sucks lately. For many good reasons, including the new job. Even my recreational reading has been dominated by technical books. Ever relax to "An Introduction to SELinux"? Boy howdy, talk about riveting.

So I haven't had the time to devote online that I used to, and this site has inevitably suffered. I'm not apologizing, just stating the facts as I see 'em. I'm also not considering shutting down, I have too much fun with this.

I don't get to visit the places on my blogroll nearly as much as I used to, and that bites because I feel like I'm losing touch a little bit with good friends.

On the plus side, I've got a whole heap of fun movies to review, a surprise for some of you, and of course the whole Blogger Bowl 2004 league. The draft results are in, annika is trash talking (and we Raiders fans can talk some shit), and, well, let's just say that I've got some things in the works. Not earth-shaking stuff, but stuff.

In other words, keep checking back for continued blogging ala Rocket Jones. It may suck, but it's my suck.

Posted by: Ted at 06:22 AM | category: Square Pegs
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1 Jules Winnfield: Wanna know what I'm buyin' Ringo?
Pumpkin: What?
Jules Winnfield: Your life. I'm givin' you that money so I don't hafta kill your ass. You read the Bible?
Pumpkin: Not regularly.
Jules Winnfield: There's a passage I got memorized. Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you." I been sayin' that shit for years. And if you ever heard it, it meant your ass. I never really questioned what it meant. I thought it was just a cold-blooded thing to say to a motherfucker before you popped a cap in his ass. But I saw some shit this mornin' made me think twice. Now I'm thinkin': it could mean you're the evil man. And I'm the righteous man. And Mr. .45 here, he's the shepherd protecting my righteous ass in the valley of darkness. Or is could by you're the righteous man and I'm the shepherd and it's the world that's evil and selfish. I'd like that. But that shit ain't the truth. The truth is you're the weak. And I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin, Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be a shepherd.

Posted by: Anonymous Kyle...again at August 17, 2004 09:50 AM (blNMI)

2 A motto to live by--if only babel fish could translate into latin!

Posted by: Steve the Llamabutcher at August 17, 2004 01:59 PM (Q9Wgy)

3 Hooray for suckage!

Posted by: Keith at August 17, 2004 05:19 PM (jbvVc)

4 Aww...I luv ya ;-)

Posted by: Lynn at August 17, 2004 05:21 PM (eAcba)

5 Everyone's too busy to blog/read these days (except for my employers, who have suddenly managed to read every last one of my pages in the past two days). I may find myself with a LOT of time to read blogs more regularly pretty soon!

Posted by: dawn at August 19, 2004 09:08 PM (Zgn4s)

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