Tuesday, November 25, 2003

the life-changing pig puppet

You'll need a login to read the story, but the photo is viewable by all, at least for now. The porcine entertainer is Porky Chops, or at least a later version of him. What the story doesn't mention is that my mom was the original voice of Porky. She still has the original puppet, which is pretty beat up: he got a skin graft near his snout after a kid got him too close to a TV light, and is basically showing the age a much-loved 25-year-old toy would show.



The existence of Channel 13 has helped countless kids get through some rough times, but upon reflection, also influenced my life a great deal. The station was the start of my my mom's career path; she began there as a volunteer once my sister started school, helping host shows. After a couple of years she became staff, then the went from there into working on the adult psych ward, then got her nursing degree and went to the head trauma unit, then labor & delivery. The experience also started her down the dark path of collecting pigs. The less said about that the better.



I also volunteered there in my early teens; it was there I got my interest in A/V, which led me to a TV Production magnet high school, which then led to J-school (print). Not only would I have not met Kirsti had I not gone that route; but if I had gone to my local comprehensive high school instead, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have graduated, or at least not on time...I would have gone the way of the junior-high buddies that went to Henry.

Monday, November 24, 2003

downs and ups

I've not been in much of a posting mood as of late, due to general crappiness. I've been working 11-hour days for the past few weeks, and then curling four nights a week -- so have not really relished the thought of coming home and hopping on the computer. The week-long losing streak on the ice didn't help much either. Mom had a health scare that seems to be okay now, while one of her dogs had one that isn't okay, and will most likely be in Stupid Puppy Heaven when we get up to MN tomorrow. And then yesterday morning, there was the harrassing voicemail waiting for me at work; a direct reference to an incident from last Thursday. Only a handful of friends have my work number, so I'm 90% certain this was a coworker's doing. But I can't prove anything, nor can the IT folks trace this "outside caller." I should probably be thicker-skinned about this (and usually am), but I'm not working 7 to 6 every goddamn day with no benefits to be mocked for something I feel sorta lousy bout to begin with.



But there've been some good spots as of late. One of which is sitting on the floor behind me; Kirsti and I got an eMac as our main Christmas present to each other. It's niiiiice, or seems to be, anyway; we won't get it set up 'til after thanksgiving. Not a moment too soon, either, as the trusty 6100 is about to give up the ghost.



Note elsewhere that Mark is just now getting rid of his Mac Classic, circa 1991. We got eight, nine years out of our 6100; one of the first Power Macs to hit the market. When people sneer about Apple's alleged declining market share and predict doom yet again, they're either forgetting or ignoring the installed base. Yeah, Macs are expensive; yeah, their annual marketshare is only 5% or so; but the thing is that users hold on to them forever and upgrade them, instead of buying a new machine every 3 years.



Let's see, what else...

Finally saw Lost in Translation. Along with American Splendor, one of the year's best. There's more to be said later, I think.



Last Wednesday we went to a Fountains of Wayne show. They were fun, but I was surprised to see so many kids there for what I still consider to be a poppy college-radio band. (Seriously, kids -- I mean 11 and 12-year-olds. I guess it's been while since I've seen a band who was actively riding a big TRL hit. ) FoW gave more or less equal time to all three albums, including a nifty version of "Radiation Vibe" from the debut, which segued at times into "Double Vision," "Seven Nation Army" "Oh Sherrie," and "Let's Go."



Oh, and the losing streak is snapped; as of tonight, I've won two of my last three. Tonight's win had nothing to do with my awful play, but I'm not complaining too much.

Saturday, November 8, 2003

Got into a bit of a kerfuffle over on Matt's blog this week over the Reagan miniseries. The irony of it all is I probably wouldn't've watched either, despite the swell Judy Davis. From my perspective a Reagan biopic-- even one financed and starring Barbra Streisand herself-- would be too respectful. Unless all the points mentioned here were to be covered.

Here are some of the fabulous nonsequiturs that appeared in today's dose of spam:



am telling you nothing new. It all lay in the surface of practical

The Great Eastern sailed on the 13th of July, 1866. The operation

Full Selection of US Licensed Prescriptionsconstitution. The sovereign, in order to live and act, must

We Now Have Xanax, Valium, Levitra, and Faster Acting Viagr@ SoftTabs

From US Pharmacies, not Mexico or Pakistanservices of professional persons, are, in a great measure, guided

must cause the enemy to regard our straightforward attack as one

in their native country. We possessed a house in Geneva, and a campagne

and realized, it would found in the name of humanity a complete

away into the dancing hall, whirled round it at full speed with her


--in a pharmaceutical ad



The retribution you have received is to be loved by me.The retribution you have received is to be loved by me.I cowered from Amber as she kicked my arse.The retribution you have received is to be loved by me.

--sexual stamina pills



comprise all those persons most celebrated for their scientific

even silence. I have nothing more to say to you. Let this first time you

and not to learn all things indiscriminately. I confess



the right to govern, obedience to it becomes a moral duty, not a

Good-night. He thought me over for a moment, then went out by

This gentleman, the Rev. Mr. Hussey, was one of the rejected

Removal Information on Site

in the Theory of Descent. By A. Weismann. Translated and Edited by

There were about 6,000 cubic yards to detach, so as to dig

Ten thousand thanks to Henry for his kindness, his affection,


--financial independence



UltimatelyA blizzard comes and all the hunters head in to their campsite.

Most importantlyBilly has to catch three coons to qualify for the finals.


--meet singles "just like me." Oh, you mean the married kind?

Tuesday, November 4, 2003

Kill Bill

When have you married well? When she opts for the stylized, hyper-violent controversial film over the well-regarded drama. So we both enjoyed Kill Bill a great deal, though K. didn't care for the more realistic scenes of violence. The film works a little more if you've seen some of the old Shaw Brothers martial-arts/revenge pics, and some of the crazy stuff Takashi Miike is churning out in Japan. It may be a disappointment to casual Tarantino fans who were drawn to Pulp Fiction by the dialogue. Kill Bill is written like subtitles or a dub-track in an old chopsocky. Too wordy, or stilted, or erudite, or something, to believably come from someone's mouth: "Those of you lucky enough to have your lives take them with you! However, leave the limbs you've lost. They belong to me now." Not a movie that will see you bombarded with quotes for months (probably a Good Thing). Yet somehow it all works, and very well. I'm looking forward to Part 2.



I must say that some well-known bloggers here and here are quite off-base about this movie that they haven't seen. Lileks at least admits he hasn't seen it and gives his reasons why; I deduce that Easterbrook hasn't seen it through his botching of plot points. Also, both are quick to dismiss Tarantino's movies as degrading crap -- but are either ignoring Jackie Brown and the rather tender love story at its heart, or saw a different film than I. I suppose it's been a while since Dr. Wertham was last exhumed.