Well, this is something I've wanted to do myself for quite a while. Somebody apparently beat me to it.

At LenPal's Bartending Guide, you can search for drinks you can make with the liquor you have on hand.

So when am I having another party?

An edited version of this essay was read on Car Talk the weekend before last, and I meant to try to find a linkable copy of it somewhere. Luckily, MetaFilter beat me to it.

It's entitled "How I Met My Wife", and it's a short read. Go read it.

The coolest thing that has happened to me today is pulling a hair out of my beard to find that it has split ends. This is not so rare, but this particular hair is split into no less than nine different strands.

I found an interesting review of The Butlerian Jihad over here. My Dune fanboy friends might be interested.

The reviewer has not been impressed by any of the prequel books, and even less so with Jihad. I'd have to say I agree to a point. There was definitely more going on in the original books, and the prequels are little more than passable adventure novels with the names of characters from the Dune series inserted. But I'll read them and enjoy them.

The interesting part of the review is his mention of "The Dune Encyclopedia". I seem to remember Ed once talking about this book, but I don't remember if he owned it or not. It sounds interesting, anyway. Appartently it was written in consultation with Frank Herbert, the author of the original Dune books. It was written as a history book from a couple thousand years after the events in the first three Dune novels. I'm going to have to see if I can find a copy of this around somewhere...

But do read the review. There's also some interesting stuff about spinoffs from other sci-fi/fantsay franchises. It's a good read, if you're into that kind of thing...

Anyway, the folks at Penny Arcade have slightly stronger feelings about the Dune prequels.

Well well well... I suppose if we couldn't get the Cubs/Red Sox World Series that everybody wanted, seeing each team choke in game 7 of the Championship Series is almost as good. Now I can go back to the status quo, that being not giving two rat shits about baseball. I don't think I even care enough to root against the Yankees.

Ah, but it's football season. The hometown team is doing pretty well. Last Sunday I went to the bar I work at to watch the Chiefs/Packers game. I was a thoroughly outnumbered Packer fan in a sea of red. Things looked good until an interception in the fourth quarter started a collapse allowed the Chiefs to come back from a 17 point deficit and send the game into overtime.

The Chiefs won the toss and Green Bay did their very best to stop Priest Holmes, and failed. The Chiefs got into fairly easy field goal range, but The Pack managed to block the field goal. Green Bay takes over on downs and hands the ball off to Ahman Green who promptly fumbles, and the Chiefs complete a pass for a touchdown to end the game.

I was getting down on the Packers early in the season, but they have made excellent showings in the last several weeks. The Chiefs are just a damn good football team, and losing to them in such a close game is to the Packers credit. But if I said "A Win Is A Win" when we played The Bears, I guess I need to say "A Loss Is A Loss" now. Green Bay is currently sitting at 3-3, and it's looking less and less likely that we're going to catch Minnesota, a team that I refuse to admit looks very good, even though they do. Looking at the general weakness in the NFC and the Packers remaining schedule, I still think we're going to be able to sneak in as a wild card.

To get that going, we're going to need to start getting some wins. This week the boys will be heading down to St. Louis. The last time Green Bay played at St. Louis was the disastrous NFC Championship Game in 2002. Brett threw six interceptions in that game and Green Bay lost 45-17. It's revenge time.

Hey marc, did you manage to score tickets to the game since it's right there in town?

Don't become a victim of Internet Withdrawl.

Julian Sanchez at Reason makes a somewhat convincing argument for libertarians to jump ship from the Republicans and vote Dean.

I hate to say it, but I've been leaning that way myself lately. The last presidential election was probably the last time I'll vote for a non-viable Libertarian Party candidate. My reasoning was always that the Republican's religious wing was a bit scary, but very unlikely to actually manage to pass any legislation that would bother me. The idea of pro-lifers on the supreme court kind of scares me, but I still don't think they'd actually manage to get one up there. Republicans will pass anti-gay legislation (Defense of Marriage Act, etc.), but the Dems vote for that crap too. I used to think that you could at least count on Republicans for fiscal responsibility, but as Julian points out in his article, that's not really the case either.

It actually looks like the best bet for fiscal restraint is a divided government. If the Republicans are going to hold congress this year, maybe a Dean presidency would not be a bad idea. Foreign policy worries me a bit, but my faith in Bush in that arena is fading fast as well. If by some freak confluence of events Kucinich gets the nomination I'll vote for Bush again simply on a foreign policy basis. Kucinich would pull out of Iraq upon taking office. I'm sorry, but it's too late for that. Dean may have been against the war, but at least he's pragmatic about where we are now:

Dean said his policy would have been based on containing Saddam without going to war. Now that the United States has acted, it should follow through by getting the help of foreign troops so U.S. soldiers can return home, he said.

I guess I don't have too much of a problem with that. Kucinich is planning on voting against the $87 bil. in reconstruction assistance for Iraq. I think that really needs to get over there, and quick.

Anyway, I need to start paying more attention to the Democrats before I make up my mind. I've been just a bit too busy drinking beer, playing darts, and hanging out with the S.O. to worry about it. I suppose that's a good thing.

Julian's article of course started a healthy debate over at Hit & Run.

Some Latin Poetry for my friends in Grad School.

(via Metafilter...)

I know I really should have something to say about this, but... I mean...

Wow. Just Wow...

I ran over to the bookstore and read the first couple pages of Steve Martin's new book The Pleasure of My Company over lunch. So far it's very good. From listening to his interview on Fresh Air earlier this week, it sounds like this new novel is loosely based on one of his old essays, and one of my favorites, too. You can read it here. It's called "How I Joined Mensa."

Steve Martin rules... Unfortunately, I don't think he's released a book longer than 125 pages or so. I'll probably be done with this one this weekend, then I'll get back to The Butlerian Jihad.

Well, not really... Since I've joined Netflix, I've been going out of my way to see a bunch of old movies that I probably should have seen by now. I've seen some that I really, really liked (Casablanca, The Hunt for Red October), some I enjoyed (It's A Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Maltese Falcon), some I thought were maybe a bit overrated (Caddyshack), and some that I just didn't understand why they were ever considered good (Being There, Easy Rider, Sophie's Choice).

Well, Scarface just came out on DVD, so I put that on my list. I haven't had three hours to watch it, so I finally broke down last night and watched an hour of it. I'll finish it up over the next couple of nights.

My impression so far is that it's a bit silly. It's very difficult not to giggle every time Pacino talks in that embarrassing Cuban accent and the very 80s decadance is amusing as well. The one thing I've gained from watching the movie is the knowledge that the 80's radio station in Grand Theft Auto III is pretty much the the Scarface soundtrack. I guess it's worth having watched just to have gained that knowledge.

I rarely listen to NPR's Fresh Air just because of what time it's on. It's too bad I missed yesterday's show since Bill O'Reilly was interviewed and walked out because he apparently didn't think the interview was Fair and Balanced.

You can listen to the archive of the interview here.

I really should listen more often... Steve Martin was interviewed a couple of days previously. I assume he was plugging his new book The Pleasure of My Company. Steve is great, and if you haven't read his collection of essays Pure Drivel, you're nuts.

Party at Fort Awesome this Friday. Stop by. E-Mail me for directions.

It's a phildo party. You can't miss those.

Some fella found the Camaro from Better Off Dead. He restored it and has pictures on his website. He also has the story of how he found it.

This is almost inspirational enough for me to try to fulfill a lifelong ambition by tracking down and purchasing a stillsuit from David Lynch's Dune.

Speaking of John Cusack movies, is this Runaway Jury movie going to be any good? It has a hell of a cast... John Cusack, Dustin Hoffman, and Gene Hackman. It's a Grisham movie, and those have all been somewhat enjoyable... If it comes out this weekend it'll have to wait, though. Kill Bill comes out Friday, and I'll have to see that...

And to further follow this IMDB fueled stream of consciousness post, I did not know that there were so many Bill Hicks videos. I'll have to see if I can find some of those.

(Camaro found at memepool.)

Do they say "fuck" on regular network TV yet? Apparently Bono dropped an f-bomb during the Golden Globes, and the FCC got some complaints. They've since ruled [pdf]:

The complainants allege that the licensees named in their respective complaints aired the “Golden Globe Awards” program, during which the performer Bono uttered the phrase “this is really, really, fucking brilliant,” or “this is fucking great.”

...

As a threshold matter, the material aired during the “Golden Globe Awards” program does not describe or depict sexual and excretory activities and organs. The word “fucking” may be crude and offensive, but, in the context presented here, did not describe sexual or excretory organs or activities. Rather, the performer used the word “fucking” as an adjective or expletive to
emphasize an exclamation. Indeed, in similar circumstances, we have found that offensive language used as an insult rather than as a description of sexual or excretory activity or organs is not within the scope of the Commission’s prohibition of indecent program content.

Wow... You didn't go to sleep, did you?

"Leaping"?

Wow, a 100 question 80's Quiz. I got an embarrassing 72. Beat that, suckas! (Surprisingly, there are no Mr. T questions...)

Damn, I guess so. I was starting to get worried about The Pack, but they got exactly what they need right now, a decisive 35-13 victory over the previously unbeaten Seattle Seahawks. Green Bay finally manages to get their season over .500, and they guys looked good. I even made the right decision and headed out to Mulvaney's to watch the Packers. They had plenty of Chiefs TVs too, and since that game went longer than the Packers game, I got to catch the end of that one as well.

Speaking of Kansas City, we have another giant to slay next week when the now 5-0 Chiefs head up to Lambeau. No split loyalty here... I'd like to see the Chiefs do well this season, but they're going to have to drop one next week. My bold prediction: Dante Hall doesn't return one for a touchdown for the first time this season, and that makes the difference in the game, Packers win by 4 or so.

Normally I'd be heading out to Mulvaney's to watch the game, but since it's the Chiefs, we'll have it on local TV here and I can pick whatever bar I want to watch the game. I think I'll head into hostile territory and wear my jersey to the bar where I work.

Speaking of which, somebody remind me to get a Gilbert Brown jersey next time I'm up in Green Bay.

And finally, if we end up with a Cubs/Red Sox World Series, does that mean that the universe will have to cease to exist before game 7 in order avoid a win by either team?

I wish I had had the foresight to archive the site while it was still up, but Tristan A. Farnon has removed Leisuretown from the interweb.

Well I'm depressed.

I'm in a bit of a quandry, I guess. This Sunday, the Packers play the Seahawks. The Seahawks are on a bit of a tear this season, having gone 3-0 so far. The Packers have not fared so well, but knocking off a so-far-undefeated team might be the spark they need to start turning this season around.

Also, there's the added drama of Mike Holmgren's second return to Lambeau, and Matt Hasselbeck's first return as a Seahawk. So enough to keep it interesting. I just haven't been really impressed by anything I've seen Green Bay do this season, other than some excellent plays against the Bears. But those were the Bears. I'm worried about tomorrow's game.

Green Bay just can't finish behind Detroit this year, for God's sake. I will be at Mulvaney's to watch the Packers on Sunday. I'll probably be bringing the s.o. out there with me as well.

On the other hand, there is a hell of a game going on at the same time right here in town. 4-0 Denver is heading to Arrowhead to lose to the 4-0 Chiefs. As long as I've lived here, I've always said that the Chiefs can do as well as they want. They can even go to the Super Bowl, as long as they lose to the Packers (again) once they get there.

This Denver/Kansas City game is the game to watch this weekend. I'm sure they'll have it on a TV at Mulvaney's, but I hate trying to pay attention to a game with no sound. I guess I'm going to have to invest in NFL Sunday Ticket by next football season so I can flip back and forth. In the meantime, I guess I'll be at Mulvaney's to see The Pack, but I'll have to make sure I get a seat close enough to a Kansas City TV.

Which sports commentator should go next? If you don't like my choices, tough. Leave suggestions for who I missed in the comments.

I simply give you this:

Leave it to John Rocker to come out in defense of Rush Limbaugh.

"All I will say, is people need stop being so sensitive," Rocker said while appearing on Sporting News Radio's Peter Brown Show. "(Rush) wasn't trying to physically hurt or mentally hurt Donovan McNabb. I mean, he just wasn't doing it. I know Donovan is probably a little upset by it, but that certainly wasn't (Rush's) his intent. He has been a journalist and newsman long enough to know better than to intentionally, blatantly make a comment like that to intentionally offend somebody."

I hear that the West Virginia Chapter of the Ku Klux Klan (no longer affiliated with Sen. Robert Byrd) also added words of support.

OK, I'll bite....

The Blog Of The Century Of The Week is trying to start up a chain post of some sort. I'll gladly play along. He has listed ten authors , and asked us to remove the ones we don't read and replace them with ones we do read. So without further ado:

His list:

Kurt Vonnegut
Neal Stephenson
Isaac Asimov
Dan Simmons
Douglas Adams
Neil Gaiman
Chuck Palahniuk
Mark Z. Danielewski
Orson Scott Card
Nick Hornby

And Mine (links are to my favorites, or at least ones that I've read):

Kurt Vonnegut
Neal Stephenson
David Sedaris
Frank Herbert
Douglas Adams
Neil Gaiman
Chuck Palahniuk
Sarah Vowell
Hunter S. Thompson
Ken Layne

Since most of my legions of fans and admirers don't run weblogs, feel free to leave your list in the comments.

Now I know everybody has been waiting with baited breath for my take on the Rush Limbaugh controversy. I guess it's over now, and I guess I'm glad he's off that show. Honestly, I only watched the ESPN pregame because Rush was on and I wanted to be watching when he inevitably fucked up. I missed last weeks show, so I have failed in my mission.

OK, so now that one druggie is off ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown do you think we might be able to get rid of the other one?

That's the only lame joke I can come up with here. Back to watching Fox pregame for me, I suppose. On a closing note, I did listen to Rush's show yesterday on my way back from lunch. He sounded more beat down than I've ever heard him on his show. I take it he's actually upset about losing this job. World's smallest violin, etc. I did hear one funny statement, though. I'm not sure if this was from a caller or from Rush himself, but I actually think that this came out of Rush's pie-hole:

"This is just further blurring of the line between sports and entertainment."

Indeed. I'm entertained.

Update: Oh, on the Oxycontin thing, a quick google brought this up on a message board:

Rush Limbaugh (talk radio) talked about OxyContin at length today--maybe an hour of his 3-hour show. The talk was mostly about the abusers of the drug, and that it was a shame that the abuse affected people who really need it.

Hmmm...

Posted by Ryan Olson at 09:28 AM | Comments (0)