joygantic

A Completely Mezmerizing Video

I can't explain why but I couldn't stop watching.

TV

Until recently I hadn't been watching much TV.  But TiVo changed that.  And tonight so did United Airlines.

I just got back home from a trip to Kansas that, in a style I've become accustomed to, felt more like a commando insertion than a "trip."  Left yesterday, arrived after dark, ate dinner, tossed and turned and could sleep because I was focused on miny mission (OK, not true, the bed was just super horrible amplifying my hotel insomnia), woke up, checked in with HQ, performed mission which lasted just two hours, returned to airfield, flew back to base.

On the flight back I zoned out with a couple glasses of free wine (tip: if seated near the 1st class cabin and also nice to flight attendants they will give you free things, not that this is why I was nice but it's a natural feedback loop), was eating takeout salad (Wolfgang Puck's primary contribution to humanity has been to make airport acceptable), and was alternately reading The New Yorker, a book on China ("China is so complex that the nearly every statement about it is true), and up dating my To-Do list.

But these activities came to a halt in the face of inflight entertainment which made it possible to be eat, drink and be stimulated without simultaneously negotiating the surface area required to read.   The fine folks at NBC were kind enough to provide the flying public with an advance screening of their new series Friday Night Lights.

This generosity was in stark contrast to the Rotary Club which had a commercial advocating peace and humanity just getting along--it was the only video segment to be preceded by a disclaimer: THIS IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT.  Shocking. I had no idea that you could pay money to force people trapped in a tin can to watch your cultural products.

But back to Friday Night Lights.  Yes, I'm totally being a tool of NBC's viral marketing strategy right now, but it was really good.  Peter Berg directed (and maybe produced?) it based on the book that I believe his cousin wrote which was the basis for the movie of the same name that he directed. I don't give a shit about football and have a natural bias against Texas, so I don't know why I liked this so much.  But seriously, it was about the best network TV I've seen.  I think it airs next week.  OK, enough shilling for giant media companies.

Oh! But did I mention how good Weeds is??

Flickr Hassles

I just LOVE Flickr, but damn the upload utility is a piece of crap.  I've been trying to upload my 400 Burning Man photos since Sunday with mixed results.  Flickr Uploader seems to like to only load some of the selected photos which makes it a pain in the ass. 

So don't get too attached to anything you see.  I'm uploading/deleting/reuploading and then will tag and sort and put a ribbon around everything.  It'll happen this week.  Promise.

Newsweek! (One of these things is not like the other)

Trivia Returns!

While I've retired from quizmastering in order to devote time to my list of ever expanding projects, BELLTOWN PIZZA TRIVIA is BACK!   

BTP Trivia founder and Quizmaster Supreme George will be overseeing the kickoff of the trivia season next Monday, October 2nd at 7pm.

Fun times!

Headed to Portland

We're enroute to Portland for Bernie's memorial service tomorrow. 

Looking forward to celebrating the great life of a departed loved one and love that we'll spend Saturday celebrating the great life of someone who's still with us, since it's Ms. Sara's birthday! 

Lots to do when we return to Seattle, including unpacking from Burning Man.  We've only been home a few weeks so I'm not at all concerned about this.  I just refuse to have a repeat of 2003 when I didn't unpack until, uh, the following summer.  Oh, and I'll get my pix posted eventually.

As an aside, I continue to be amazed at all this technology we humans have built. We're blitzing down I-5 and while Dia drives I've been doing email and writing this little blog entry.  See that photo to the left?  That's me writing this.  Very pomo, I know.

My Hometown Makes Metafilter

Apparently Vista is now home of the Internet Craftmanship Museum.

Edgy Jesus

Back in May, The Stranger published an article about this hipster church in Seattle, Mars Hill, that focused primarily on its homophobia.   Last week Salon weighed in with a lengthier and more substantial piece that detailed both its astonishing growth and the intent of the congregants to breed their way to power, something more easily accomplished if you relgate woman to a deferential place in the family/insular community. 

The story is fascinating but pretty chilling since this is happening in "progressive" Seattle.  My brother even brought it up when I was talking with him this weekend in nearly the same tones I hear him (he's a sociologist) discuss moral panics or cults.

Today, Ariel shares her first hand experience attending a Mars Hill with some of her female friends.  I believe a cold shower was required after the service.

Getting Coffee's More Fun if You're a Pirate

My usual early morning coffee person was a bit flustered but the barista exclaimed "is it Talk Like a Pirate Day Already?!"  Aye!

Larry's Thoughts on Kinky

Kinky Friedman, that is.

My friend gets to plug his book in which he "explored what has happened when drag queens, hippies, and other malcontents have mocked electoral rituals by running for office" in The Chronicle of Higher Ed.  Go Larry!