31 December 2012
Quote of the Day: The Avengers
I finally saw the Joss Whedon-directed "Avengers" movie. (Thank you, library!) It was pretty good, for a big, blow-em-up action movie:
Steve Rogers: Thor, what's [Loki's] play?
Thor: He has an army, called the Chitauri. They're not of Asgard or any world known. He means to lead them against your people. They will win him the Earth. In return, I suspect, for the Tesseract.
Steve Rogers: An army. From outer space.
Bruce Banner: So he's building another portal. That's what he needs Erik Selvig for.
Thor: Selvig?
Bruce Banner: He's an astrophysicist.
Thor: He's a friend.
Natasha Romanoff: Loki has them under some kind of spell. Along with one of ours.
Steve Rogers: I want to know why Loki let us take him [prisoner]. He's not leading an army from here.
Bruce Banner: I don't think we should be focusing on Loki. That guy's brain is a bag full of cats. You can smell crazy on him.
Thor: [angry] Have a care how you speak! Loki is beyond reason, but he is of Asgard and he is my brother!
Natasha Romanoff: He killed eighty people in two days.
Thor: He's adopted.
Steve Rogers: Thor, what's [Loki's] play?
Thor: He has an army, called the Chitauri. They're not of Asgard or any world known. He means to lead them against your people. They will win him the Earth. In return, I suspect, for the Tesseract.
Steve Rogers: An army. From outer space.
Bruce Banner: So he's building another portal. That's what he needs Erik Selvig for.
Thor: Selvig?
Bruce Banner: He's an astrophysicist.
Thor: He's a friend.
Natasha Romanoff: Loki has them under some kind of spell. Along with one of ours.
Steve Rogers: I want to know why Loki let us take him [prisoner]. He's not leading an army from here.
Bruce Banner: I don't think we should be focusing on Loki. That guy's brain is a bag full of cats. You can smell crazy on him.
Thor: [angry] Have a care how you speak! Loki is beyond reason, but he is of Asgard and he is my brother!
Natasha Romanoff: He killed eighty people in two days.
Thor: He's adopted.
Labels: movies
30 December 2012
Quote of the Day: White Collar
From the pilot episode:
[Neal finds out that Diana is a lesbian...]
Neal: Doesn't the FBI have a policy about that?
Peter: That's the military. We don't ask. We don't care.
[Neal finds out that Diana is a lesbian...]
Neal: Doesn't the FBI have a policy about that?
Peter: That's the military. We don't ask. We don't care.
Labels: White Collar
29 December 2012
BOOM!
Today UConn played Stanford, at Stanford. Going into the game, Stanford was ranked #1 and UConn was ranked #2. Stanford also had an 82 home game win streak going, the longest active streak and the second longest (after UConn) of all women's basketball.
Everyone thought this would be a close, exciting game.
It wasn't.
UConn laid waste to Standford. At halftime it was 31-13. The final score was 61-35. Ouch!
Everyone thought this would be a close, exciting game.
It wasn't.
UConn laid waste to Standford. At halftime it was 31-13. The final score was 61-35. Ouch!
Labels: UConn basketball
Quote of the Day: Xena
From "King Con" (3.15):
Xena: Give me that hat.
Rafe: [in a sing-song voice] What do you say?
Xena: Or else.
Xena: Give me that hat.
Rafe: [in a sing-song voice] What do you say?
Xena: Or else.
Labels: Xena
28 December 2012
Quote of the Day: Tumblr
From S#*! my mouth says:
sometimes I get frustrated because you can’t put numbers in caps
12
am I screaming?
you’ll never know
sometimes I get frustrated because you can’t put numbers in caps
12
am I screaming?
you’ll never know
Labels: random silliness
27 December 2012
Quote of the Day: Leverage
From "The Nigerian Job" (1.01):
Eliot: [Dubenich] tried to kill us!
Parker: More importantly, he didn't pay us!
Eliot: How is that more important?!?
Parker: I take that personally.
Eliot: There's something wrong with you.
Eliot: [Dubenich] tried to kill us!
Parker: More importantly, he didn't pay us!
Eliot: How is that more important?!?
Parker: I take that personally.
Eliot: There's something wrong with you.
Labels: Leverage
26 December 2012
Quote of the Day: "Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores"
I got this great book for Christmas, edited by Jen Campbell. Here's a sample:
Customer: I want to buy a book for my mother. She like Danielle Steel.
Bookseller: Here she is, under "S" for Steel.
Customer: ... Well, I don't know which ones she's already read ... Do you?
Customer: I want to buy a book for my mother. She like Danielle Steel.
Bookseller: Here she is, under "S" for Steel.
Customer: ... Well, I don't know which ones she's already read ... Do you?
Labels: books
25 December 2012
Mo & Jed's "White Christmas"
[I doubt anyone noticed, but I posted the same quote and video this year as last year. I think I'm going to make them my holiday blogging tradition. Like a Yule Log, but with alien swear words.]
Quote of the Day: Farscape
From "Terra Firma" (4.13):
Aeryn: Well. Merry frelling Christmas.
Crichton: Amen.
Aeryn: Well. Merry frelling Christmas.
Crichton: Amen.
24 December 2012
Winter Wonderland
Quote of the Day: Veronica Mars
From "An Echolls Family Christmas" (1.10):
[Keith is decorating their Christmas tree with San Diego Padres ornaments.]
Veronica: You know, there are some people who think Christmas is about the birth of Christ, not baseball.
Keith: Well, we're all entitled to our own religions, Veronica.
[Keith is decorating their Christmas tree with San Diego Padres ornaments.]
Veronica: You know, there are some people who think Christmas is about the birth of Christ, not baseball.
Keith: Well, we're all entitled to our own religions, Veronica.
Labels: holidays, Veronica Mars
23 December 2012
Bizarro Santa Clause Is Coming to Town
From Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen:
Quote of the Day: Supernatural
From "A Very Supernatural Christmas" (3.08):
Dean: Remember that wreath Dad brought home that one year?
Sam: You mean the one he stole from, like, a liquor store?
Dean: Yeah, it was a bunch of empty beer cans. [wistfully] That thing was great.
Dean: Remember that wreath Dad brought home that one year?
Sam: You mean the one he stole from, like, a liquor store?
Dean: Yeah, it was a bunch of empty beer cans. [wistfully] That thing was great.
Labels: holidays, Supernatural
22 December 2012
Community Christmas Teaser
NBC, in its infinite stupidity, pushed back the premiere of the fourth season of Community to February 7th, despite the fact that they had already filmed a Christmas episode. Recently they released a sneak peek:
Quote of the Day: Black Adder
From "Blackadder's Christmas Carol":
Baldrick: I've been helping out with the workhouse Nativity play.
Ebenezer Blackadder: Oh, of course. How did it go?
Baldrick: Well, not very well. At the last moment, the baby playing Jesus died!
Ebenezer Blackadder: Oh, dear! This high infant mortality rate's a real devil when it comes to staging quality children's theatre. What did you do?
Baldrick: Got another Jesus.
Ebenezer Blackadder: Oh, thank goodness. And his name?
Baldrick: "Spot." There weren't any more children, so we had to settle for a dog instead.
Ebenezer Blackadder: Oh, dear. I'm not convinced that Christianity would have established its firm grip over the hearts and minds of mankind, if all Jesus had ever said was "woof!"
Baldrick: I've been helping out with the workhouse Nativity play.
Ebenezer Blackadder: Oh, of course. How did it go?
Baldrick: Well, not very well. At the last moment, the baby playing Jesus died!
Ebenezer Blackadder: Oh, dear! This high infant mortality rate's a real devil when it comes to staging quality children's theatre. What did you do?
Baldrick: Got another Jesus.
Ebenezer Blackadder: Oh, thank goodness. And his name?
Baldrick: "Spot." There weren't any more children, so we had to settle for a dog instead.
Ebenezer Blackadder: Oh, dear. I'm not convinced that Christianity would have established its firm grip over the hearts and minds of mankind, if all Jesus had ever said was "woof!"
Labels: Black Adder, holidays
21 December 2012
Gingerbread Downton
This dude made a replica of the mansion / manor / house from Downton Abbey
out of gingerbread! Here's a cool timelapse video of how he did it.
[h/t GoFugYourself]
out of gingerbread! Here's a cool timelapse video of how he did it.
[h/t GoFugYourself]
Labels: Downton Abbey, holidays
Quote of the Day: Due South
From "Gift of the Wheelman" (1.10):
"The last half hour I've gotten calls from seven department stores, the Salvation Army, two parade officials, and the director of a children's pageant. This was further augmented by calls from four city councilmen, the Deputy Mayor, and the Police Commissioner. All curious as to why we are detaining all the Santa Clauses in the city on Christmas Eve. The Police Commissioner was especially irked since his daughter was sitting on Santa's knee in a department store when said Santa was cuffed and thrown into a paddy wagon. In our zeal to solve this case, I can't help but wonder if we haven't been, I don't know, how do you say it ... excessively stupid?"
- Lt. Welsh
"The last half hour I've gotten calls from seven department stores, the Salvation Army, two parade officials, and the director of a children's pageant. This was further augmented by calls from four city councilmen, the Deputy Mayor, and the Police Commissioner. All curious as to why we are detaining all the Santa Clauses in the city on Christmas Eve. The Police Commissioner was especially irked since his daughter was sitting on Santa's knee in a department store when said Santa was cuffed and thrown into a paddy wagon. In our zeal to solve this case, I can't help but wonder if we haven't been, I don't know, how do you say it ... excessively stupid?"
- Lt. Welsh
20 December 2012
Christmas Island
One of my favorite songs from Kristin Chenoweth's Christmas album is "Christmas Island":
If you don't mind watching a commercial first, you can find the official "video" here.
If you don't mind watching a commercial first, you can find the official "video" here.
Quote of the Day: The X-Files
From "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas" (6.06):
[Mulder has been waiting for Scully.]
Mulder: I almost gave up on you.
Scully: Sorry. Checkout lines were worse than rush-hour on the 95. If I heard "Silent Night" one more time, I was going to start taking hostages
[Mulder has been waiting for Scully.]
Mulder: I almost gave up on you.
Scully: Sorry. Checkout lines were worse than rush-hour on the 95. If I heard "Silent Night" one more time, I was going to start taking hostages
Labels: holidays, The X-Files
19 December 2012
Sue Bird at UConn (Again)
Just like last year, Sue Bird is recuperating from hip surgery at UConn.
The Storm website has an interview with her:
Is it good to go through that process in a comfortable place with familiar faces?
It's really helpful. They know me really well. They know how I play. The coaches have been great and helpful, especially Shea Ralph, who works out with me individually pretty much every day. Even when I do practice with the team, they know I'm trying to come back, so they're very caring. It's good to be around that.
How helpful is the opportunity to scrimmage against the UConn team?
It's great, there's no question about that. This is the closest I can come to being in an actual game. There's no other way to emulate it. It's really valuable for me and I'm really lucky that I have this available to be able to practice with them. They're very good. On the flip side, sometimes it makes me feel tired and old because they're in tip-top shape midseason and here I am trying to come back. Sometimes it points out where your deficits are, but that's good because then I know what I need to work on.
The Hartford Courant has an article about her rehabbing at UConn. She also gives her thoughts on Kelly Faris' WNBA potential:
"The WNBA can be a funny league," Bird said. "It can be about finding the right place at the right time. ... But what Kelly brings to the table is something not a lot of people bring. She possesses a lot of intangible things that, frankly, many WNBA teams tend to overlook on an 11-player roster."
"To me, when you get down to the last few roster spots, you want to find someone who can do many things well, as opposed to just one thing. She brings things you need to win basketball games, like hustle plays. And she has worked on her shooting, which potentially could be a make-or-break thing for her. You need to make shots."
The Hartford Courant also posted video of her practicing with the team. (Sorry, can't embed it.)
The Storm website has an interview with her:
Is it good to go through that process in a comfortable place with familiar faces?
It's really helpful. They know me really well. They know how I play. The coaches have been great and helpful, especially Shea Ralph, who works out with me individually pretty much every day. Even when I do practice with the team, they know I'm trying to come back, so they're very caring. It's good to be around that.
How helpful is the opportunity to scrimmage against the UConn team?
It's great, there's no question about that. This is the closest I can come to being in an actual game. There's no other way to emulate it. It's really valuable for me and I'm really lucky that I have this available to be able to practice with them. They're very good. On the flip side, sometimes it makes me feel tired and old because they're in tip-top shape midseason and here I am trying to come back. Sometimes it points out where your deficits are, but that's good because then I know what I need to work on.
The Hartford Courant has an article about her rehabbing at UConn. She also gives her thoughts on Kelly Faris' WNBA potential:
"The WNBA can be a funny league," Bird said. "It can be about finding the right place at the right time. ... But what Kelly brings to the table is something not a lot of people bring. She possesses a lot of intangible things that, frankly, many WNBA teams tend to overlook on an 11-player roster."
"To me, when you get down to the last few roster spots, you want to find someone who can do many things well, as opposed to just one thing. She brings things you need to win basketball games, like hustle plays. And she has worked on her shooting, which potentially could be a make-or-break thing for her. You need to make shots."
The Hartford Courant also posted video of her practicing with the team. (Sorry, can't embed it.)
Labels: Seattle Storm, UConn basketball
Sleigh Ride
Quote of the Day: Modern Family
I had this plan of doing Christmas quotes and videos for the week leading up to Christmas. I had quotes saved on my computer, videos bookmarked in Firefox... I was prepared! And then my computer died and now I don't have access to that stuff. But I will soldier on!
From "Express Christmas" (3.10):
Mitchell: I'll get the [Christmas] tree. Because if you get the wrong one, you know, people get upset.
Claire: You get upset.
Mitchell: I'm people.
From "Express Christmas" (3.10):
Mitchell: I'll get the [Christmas] tree. Because if you get the wrong one, you know, people get upset.
Claire: You get upset.
Mitchell: I'm people.
Labels: holidays, Modern Family
18 December 2012
Bah, Humbug
My computer's dead.
Thankfully I have a back-up, so I can at least check my email, but my "real" computer is dead.
Dead, dead, dead.
I can't even get it to start with the Install Disc. It just shuts itself down again.
I was thinking of buying myself a new computer, but I wasn't really planning on doing that RIGHT NOW.
Blech.
Merry Christmas!
Thankfully I have a back-up, so I can at least check my email, but my "real" computer is dead.
Dead, dead, dead.
I can't even get it to start with the Install Disc. It just shuts itself down again.
I was thinking of buying myself a new computer, but I wasn't really planning on doing that RIGHT NOW.
Blech.
Merry Christmas!
Labels: computers
Quote of the Day: Carolyn Hax Chat
From the chat on 12/15/06:
Boston, Mass.: Carolyn!
I've been waiting ALL YEAR to tell you this! Remember last year when someone said their family clapped after each gift was opened? And we all thought it was hilarious and strange?
Well, last year, I told my (large) family about the clapping, and they were highly amused. They decided we should do it, too, but NOT tell my brother. So we started applauding every time someone opened a present. At first he looked really, really confused, but then he joined in as if it were completely normal. It took about 1/2 an hour before he finally stopped and said "Ok WHAT is with the G-D CLAPPING?! Are you people DRUNK?"
So, thanks to the 'nut who provided last year's holiday entertainment!
Carolyn Hax: There's nothing like an innocent victim to bring out a gag's true potential. Thanks for sharing.
Boston, Mass.: Carolyn!
I've been waiting ALL YEAR to tell you this! Remember last year when someone said their family clapped after each gift was opened? And we all thought it was hilarious and strange?
Well, last year, I told my (large) family about the clapping, and they were highly amused. They decided we should do it, too, but NOT tell my brother. So we started applauding every time someone opened a present. At first he looked really, really confused, but then he joined in as if it were completely normal. It took about 1/2 an hour before he finally stopped and said "Ok WHAT is with the G-D CLAPPING?! Are you people DRUNK?"
So, thanks to the 'nut who provided last year's holiday entertainment!
Carolyn Hax: There's nothing like an innocent victim to bring out a gag's true potential. Thanks for sharing.
Labels: holidays
17 December 2012
Jingle Bells in Russian
I think Sue Bird should be counting her lucky stars (and her agent) that she doesn't have to go her Russian team until January. This is the video her team made for Christmas. (Ignore The Chipmunks at the beginning, and skip to 0:13.) Familiar faces can be found at 0:25 (Silvia Dominguez), 0:29 (Ewelina Kobryn), 0:33 (Diana Taurasi), and 1:05 (Candace Parker)
Labels: holidays, Seattle Storm, WNBA
Quote of the Day: Doctor Who
From "A Christmas Carol", the 2010 Christmas Special:
The Doctor: Ah, yes, blimey, sorry. Christmas eve on a rooftop, I saw a chimney... my whole brain just went... “What the hell?” Don’t worry. The fat fella will be doing the rounds later. I’m just scoping out the general... chimney-ness. Yes. Nice size. Good traction. Big tick.
Man: Fat fella?
The Doctor: Father Christmas. Santa Claus. Or, as I’ve always known him, Jeff.
The Doctor: Ah, yes, blimey, sorry. Christmas eve on a rooftop, I saw a chimney... my whole brain just went... “What the hell?” Don’t worry. The fat fella will be doing the rounds later. I’m just scoping out the general... chimney-ness. Yes. Nice size. Good traction. Big tick.
Man: Fat fella?
The Doctor: Father Christmas. Santa Claus. Or, as I’ve always known him, Jeff.
Labels: Doctor Who, holidays
16 December 2012
Quote of the Day: Kristin Bauer van Straten
Kristin Bauer van Straten plays Pam on True Blood. Her character often speaks Swedish with Alexander Skarsgård's character, Eric. Both he and his character are Swedish. Van Straten grew up in Wisconsin.
From this intereview:
AfterEllen: So do you speak Swedish in real life, or is that something you had to adapt for the parts where you and Eric are speaking that?
Kristen Bauer van Straten: Yeah, that was something I had to do for the part and it's nerve-wracking, but it's really fun. I just have to memorize consecutive sounds, so for me it's just gibberish. I have no idea what I'm saying! I'm just trusting that Alex isn't messing with me. That's where I get it! They write it in English and I call Alex in a panic and he records it for me. And he's all day long on set, you know, the poor guy has a whole scene to shoot and all day long, after every take, I don't look at the director, I look at him and go "Yes? No?"
From this intereview:
AfterEllen: So do you speak Swedish in real life, or is that something you had to adapt for the parts where you and Eric are speaking that?
Kristen Bauer van Straten: Yeah, that was something I had to do for the part and it's nerve-wracking, but it's really fun. I just have to memorize consecutive sounds, so for me it's just gibberish. I have no idea what I'm saying! I'm just trusting that Alex isn't messing with me. That's where I get it! They write it in English and I call Alex in a panic and he records it for me. And he's all day long on set, you know, the poor guy has a whole scene to shoot and all day long, after every take, I don't look at the director, I look at him and go "Yes? No?"
Labels: True Blood
15 December 2012
Quote of the Day: Farscape
From "PK Tech Girl" (1.07), John Crichton:
"[I'm a] Human. It’s kind of like Sebacean, but we haven’t conquered other worlds yet, so we just kick the crap out of each other."
"[I'm a] Human. It’s kind of like Sebacean, but we haven’t conquered other worlds yet, so we just kick the crap out of each other."
Labels: Farscape
14 December 2012
Happy Things
Today Cracked.com had a list 5 Videos That Will Brighten Your Day. This was my favorite:
I'll let Cracked explain:
It's called "Happy Things," which, incidentally, are also the only English words that appear in the song. There's a girl playing piano and another girl singing, and sometimes they laugh or dance. The one who sings is clearly trying to tell me something...
But I have no idea what it could be. The rest of the song could be a list of happy things or a graphic retelling of events surrounding the Holocaust. I don't care. I never want to know. And I swear, I'm not just laughing at them because "Hey, their language is different from mine. Wacky!" I love this video because they're clearly have such a great goofy, silly old time, and their joy is completely infectious. You won't find two people having more fun on the Internet. It's simply one of the most adorable music videos I've ever seen. I hope those two girls have a long and fruitful career singing about trains or apartheid or candy or Phil Spector. Whatever. They have my support.
I'll let Cracked explain:
It's called "Happy Things," which, incidentally, are also the only English words that appear in the song. There's a girl playing piano and another girl singing, and sometimes they laugh or dance. The one who sings is clearly trying to tell me something...
But I have no idea what it could be. The rest of the song could be a list of happy things or a graphic retelling of events surrounding the Holocaust. I don't care. I never want to know. And I swear, I'm not just laughing at them because "Hey, their language is different from mine. Wacky!" I love this video because they're clearly have such a great goofy, silly old time, and their joy is completely infectious. You won't find two people having more fun on the Internet. It's simply one of the most adorable music videos I've ever seen. I hope those two girls have a long and fruitful career singing about trains or apartheid or candy or Phil Spector. Whatever. They have my support.
Labels: music, random awesomeness
Quote of the Day: Dollhouse
From "Belle Chose" (2.03):
[Boyd & Adelle are discussing a coma patient.]
Boyd: Do we really want to wake this guy up?
Adelle: Mr. Langton, have you no charity? We are working to reunite a desperate family with their wayward loved one.
Boyd: And by "wayward", do you mean that they've been looking for him ever since he skipped his last bail hearing?
Adelle: A bail hearing over a minor matter which has since been resolved.
Boyd: And by "resolved", do you mean --
Adelle: Yes, yes. A judge was bought off. There is no need to continue translating me.
[Boyd & Adelle are discussing a coma patient.]
Boyd: Do we really want to wake this guy up?
Adelle: Mr. Langton, have you no charity? We are working to reunite a desperate family with their wayward loved one.
Boyd: And by "wayward", do you mean that they've been looking for him ever since he skipped his last bail hearing?
Adelle: A bail hearing over a minor matter which has since been resolved.
Boyd: And by "resolved", do you mean --
Adelle: Yes, yes. A judge was bought off. There is no need to continue translating me.
Labels: Dollhouse
13 December 2012
Quote of the Day: The Washington Post
From this article about the 12-12-12 concert for the victims of Hurricane Sandy:
"Alicia Keys and Billy Joel are the benefit concert equivalent of first responders. They always show up, they’re always prepared, everybody is happy to see them and their presence is weirdly comforting."
"Alicia Keys and Billy Joel are the benefit concert equivalent of first responders. They always show up, they’re always prepared, everybody is happy to see them and their presence is weirdly comforting."
Labels: music
12 December 2012
Weird Al Lost on Jeopardy
One of many Weird Al song that I didn't know was a parody for the first fifteen years I listened to it:
Labels: music
Quote of the Day: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
From "The Prom" (3.20):
Anya: Men are evil. Will you go with me [to prom]?
Xander: One of us is very confused, and I honestly don't know which.
Anya: Men are evil. Will you go with me [to prom]?
Xander: One of us is very confused, and I honestly don't know which.
Labels: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
11 December 2012
Quote of the Day: Swish Appeal
From their article Which former WNBA players should have their numbers retired?:
[Jersey] #9 Janeth Arcain (HOU 1997-2003, 2005). The retiring of Janeth Arcain's number is a superfluous exercise - her team no longer exists, and there is no where that her number can be retired until the Comets are revived (if ever) in Houston.
However, I have a suggestion for another honor. I think a new award should be added to the WNBA's current list of awards - "Best Foreign Player" and it should be called the Janeth Arcain Award. The only problem with such an award might be that it will belong to Lauren Jackson for the foreseeable future.
[edited to add:]
[Jersey] #9 Janeth Arcain (HOU 1997-2003, 2005). The retiring of Janeth Arcain's number is a superfluous exercise - her team no longer exists, and there is no where that her number can be retired until the Comets are revived (if ever) in Houston.
However, I have a suggestion for another honor. I think a new award should be added to the WNBA's current list of awards - "Best Foreign Player" and it should be called the Janeth Arcain Award. The only problem with such an award might be that it will belong to Lauren Jackson for the foreseeable future.
[edited to add:]
Labels: Seattle Storm, WNBA
10 December 2012
December 10th
Quote of the Day: Carolyn Hax Chat
From the chat on 12/12/08:
Sacramento, Calif.: When your birthday lands during the "holiday season," the horror stories can get even worse! With a birthday five days after Christmas, I got used to "combined" gifts and receiving gifts long after the actual date (because people are so shopped-out by Xmas that they can't possibly remember anything happening during the dead zone between Xmas and New Years!).
The topper, tho, was my grandmother across the country. In latter years she turned into one of those crazy hoarder types who kept every newspaper, egg carton and ketchup packet she could get her hands on. Before that, though, she was simply -cheap-. When I was a kid, she'd mail us one big box via last-class postage; sometimes it'd get to us three weeks early, sometimes two months late. Out from the big box the year of my seventh birthday came a small package with my Xmas present: a left shoe. In an identically wrapped box with instructions not to open until my birthday five days later: the right shoe. She also cut a cardboard "book" of Life Savers in half and included half with each "gift"! My mother, being most kind, actually told me at the time, "Obviously, you don't have to write two thank-you cards to your grandmother". Those shoes alone almost added an entire year to my therapy as an adult.
Carolyn Hax: More abuse of perfectly good accessories.
Washington, D.C.: A truly kind mother would have helped you write two thank-you notes:
Dear Grandma, Thank you so much for the beautiful left shoe. It really made my Christmas fun and unique. I used it to hop all the way around the house in the snow. Whee! Love, Child.
Dear Grandma, The right shoe was great! It was a wonderful birthday surprise! My right foot happened to start to get frostbite recently, so I don't know how you knew I needed it but it's just perfect! Thank you so much for the thoughtful birthday gift. Love, Child.
Carolyn Hax: This just subtracted a year from my therapy, thanks.
Sacramento, Calif.: When your birthday lands during the "holiday season," the horror stories can get even worse! With a birthday five days after Christmas, I got used to "combined" gifts and receiving gifts long after the actual date (because people are so shopped-out by Xmas that they can't possibly remember anything happening during the dead zone between Xmas and New Years!).
The topper, tho, was my grandmother across the country. In latter years she turned into one of those crazy hoarder types who kept every newspaper, egg carton and ketchup packet she could get her hands on. Before that, though, she was simply -cheap-. When I was a kid, she'd mail us one big box via last-class postage; sometimes it'd get to us three weeks early, sometimes two months late. Out from the big box the year of my seventh birthday came a small package with my Xmas present: a left shoe. In an identically wrapped box with instructions not to open until my birthday five days later: the right shoe. She also cut a cardboard "book" of Life Savers in half and included half with each "gift"! My mother, being most kind, actually told me at the time, "Obviously, you don't have to write two thank-you cards to your grandmother". Those shoes alone almost added an entire year to my therapy as an adult.
Carolyn Hax: More abuse of perfectly good accessories.
Washington, D.C.: A truly kind mother would have helped you write two thank-you notes:
Dear Grandma, Thank you so much for the beautiful left shoe. It really made my Christmas fun and unique. I used it to hop all the way around the house in the snow. Whee! Love, Child.
Dear Grandma, The right shoe was great! It was a wonderful birthday surprise! My right foot happened to start to get frostbite recently, so I don't know how you knew I needed it but it's just perfect! Thank you so much for the thoughtful birthday gift. Love, Child.
Carolyn Hax: This just subtracted a year from my therapy, thanks.
Labels: holidays
09 December 2012
A-L-B-U ..... querque!
I'm still on my Weird Al Yankovic kick. Here's the classic "Albuquerque":
Skip to here if you want listen to the spelling.
Skip to here if you want listen to the spelling.
Labels: music
Quote of the Day: Farscape
From "The Peacekeeper Wars" miniseries:
Crichton: Is it just me, or is [the baby bump] getting bigger?
Aeryn: It's a geometric pregnancy.
Crichton: Please tell me that means we're going to have a mathematician.
Crichton: Is it just me, or is [the baby bump] getting bigger?
Aeryn: It's a geometric pregnancy.
Crichton: Please tell me that means we're going to have a mathematician.
Labels: Farscape
08 December 2012
Robert Pattinson & Twilight
Based on these interview clips, it appears that Robert Pattinson (star of the Twilight movies) hates them as much as the rest of us. I find that reassuring.
[h/t Jezebel]
[h/t Jezebel]
Labels: movies
Quote of the Day: Twitter
As seen on the Tumblr You Can't Fight City Hall, the official Twitter accounts of MTV shows Awkward and Teen Wolf:
Awkward: Let's get to #1! Vote [for Awkward] for the most underrated series. We can totally take on our Teen Wolf friends!
Teen Wolf: OH, IT'S LIKE THAT, HUH
MTV: Be. Have.
Teen Wolf: Stay out of this, mom.
Awkward: Let's get to #1! Vote [for Awkward] for the most underrated series. We can totally take on our Teen Wolf friends!
Teen Wolf: OH, IT'S LIKE THAT, HUH
MTV: Be. Have.
Teen Wolf: Stay out of this, mom.
Labels: random silliness
07 December 2012
Quote of the Day: io9
From io9's 8 ways X-Men movie continuity is irretrievably fucked:
6) Moira MacTaggart
In 2006's The Last Stand, Moira MacTaggart is a 38-year-old Scottish doctor researching the mutant gene. In the ‘60s-set First Class, Moira MacTaggart is a 32-year-old American CIA agent who has no problem infilitrating dangerous places in her underpants. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE.
6) Moira MacTaggart
In 2006's The Last Stand, Moira MacTaggart is a 38-year-old Scottish doctor researching the mutant gene. In the ‘60s-set First Class, Moira MacTaggart is a 32-year-old American CIA agent who has no problem infilitrating dangerous places in her underpants. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE.
Labels: movies
06 December 2012
Top Pop 50 of 2012
This is a mash-up of some of the top pop songs of 2012. I recognized almost all of them, but I don't watch videos, so I was desperately trying to figure out which video matched with which song.
There's also videos for 2010 and 2011.
There's also videos for 2010 and 2011.
Labels: music
Quote of the Day: Xena
From "The Quill is Mightier..." (3.10):
Ares: We were starting to warm up to each other there, weren't we?
Gabrielle: Yeah, we were.
[pause]
Ares: I didn't like it.
Gabrielle: Right back at ya.
Ares: We were starting to warm up to each other there, weren't we?
Gabrielle: Yeah, we were.
[pause]
Ares: I didn't like it.
Gabrielle: Right back at ya.
Labels: Xena
05 December 2012
I Miss These Guys!
Colin & Ryan were the best part of Whose Line Is It Anyway?:
"TapiOOOOOOca!"
"TapiOOOOOOca!"
Labels: random silliness
Quote of the Day: The Mary Sue
The Mary Sue is a site for "girl geek culture", and they recently had a post about "10 Characters Who Don’t Deserve All the Stuff That Happens To Them". My favorite was about Battlestar Galactica character Helo:
"[Helo] steps in on multiple occasions for Colonel Tigh as XO, Lee Adama as CAG, and pretty much any job that any other character is feeling too overwhelmed, drunk, or godsdamned mystical to perform at a given moment of crisis."
"[Helo] steps in on multiple occasions for Colonel Tigh as XO, Lee Adama as CAG, and pretty much any job that any other character is feeling too overwhelmed, drunk, or godsdamned mystical to perform at a given moment of crisis."
Labels: Battlestar Galactica
04 December 2012
Quote of the Day: Doctor Who
From "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" (7.02):
Riddell: Doctor, this is a two-man job.
[Amy picks up a gun.]
Riddell: What are you doing?
Amy: I'm easily worth two men. You can help, too, if you'd like.
Riddell: Doctor, this is a two-man job.
[Amy picks up a gun.]
Riddell: What are you doing?
Amy: I'm easily worth two men. You can help, too, if you'd like.
Labels: Doctor Who
03 December 2012
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Labels: music
Quote of the Day: Geno Auriemma
From UConn reporter John Altavilla's twitter:
"Geno says when recruits tell him they are foremost interested in playing time, he figures he doesn't want them anymore."
By the way, UConn played Maryland tonight. At 63-48, it was a lot closer than I expected. Credit to Maryland. Kelly Faris was her usual ridiculous self: 8 points, 8 steals, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds.
"Geno says when recruits tell him they are foremost interested in playing time, he figures he doesn't want them anymore."
By the way, UConn played Maryland tonight. At 63-48, it was a lot closer than I expected. Credit to Maryland. Kelly Faris was her usual ridiculous self: 8 points, 8 steals, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds.
Labels: UConn basketball
02 December 2012
Quote(s) of the Day: Twitter
After today's Seahawk's @ Chicago game, and (spoiler!) the overtime touchdown pass that left receiver Sidney Rice lying on the field for a minute:
fan #1: Sidney Rice- "we won?.... I scored?!"
fan #2: Sidney Rice might have just won a game while unconscious.
(Good news: Sidney Rice tweeted "Thanks for the prayers. I passed all of the test and cleared to go for next week. Great Team win for us today!")
fan #1: Sidney Rice- "we won?.... I scored?!"
fan #2: Sidney Rice might have just won a game while unconscious.
(Good news: Sidney Rice tweeted "Thanks for the prayers. I passed all of the test and cleared to go for next week. Great Team win for us today!")
Labels: sports
01 December 2012
Auditioning for Starbuck
Katee Sackhoff talks about auditioning for the role of Starbuck .... and finding out that her character was male in the original show:
"Let's be honest: I needed a job and I wanted to shoot a gun."
"Let's be honest: I needed a job and I wanted to shoot a gun."
Labels: Battlestar Galactica
Quote of the Day: Battlestar Galactica
From "Scar" (2.15):
Starbuck: It is funny. You know the President says that we're saving humanity for a bright, shiny future on Earth. That you and I are never gonna see. We're not. Because we go out [into battle] over and over again until someday, some metal motherfrakker is gonna catch us on a bad day and just blow us away.
Apollo: Bright, shiny futures are overrated anyway.
Starbuck: It is funny. You know the President says that we're saving humanity for a bright, shiny future on Earth. That you and I are never gonna see. We're not. Because we go out [into battle] over and over again until someday, some metal motherfrakker is gonna catch us on a bad day and just blow us away.
Apollo: Bright, shiny futures are overrated anyway.
Labels: Battlestar Galactica
