Wednesday, March 28, 2012
"Collage This"
b) "Berserk" with Joan Crawford. Known for saying "Don't **** with me fellas."
c) "Alligator Man" which took place on the Bayou. Classic horror tale from the 50's.
d) "Viva Lost Wages" my favorite King movie. Along with "Roustabout."
e) "Planet of the Apes" Charlton Heston said 'god dammit' in most of his movies after "Ben Hur" and the "10 Commandments." Wonder if he had to explain this in order to enter the pearly gates.
f) The Twin Starlight Saw many a movie here as a teen. Still in existence today, a throwback.
g) Famous episode from "The Twilight Zone."
h) "Make my day!"
i) "North by Northwest"
j) Burgess Merideth ( later the 'Penguin' in the Batman tv show, and Rocky's manager. "I want you to eat lightning and crap thunder" ) in another Twilight Zone. k) JFK and Tricky Dick Nixon in the infamous debates of 1960.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
"I'll Be Back" Back on my Beatles Kick
Youtube has some fascinating stuff on it. This is another jewel. From the fab 4. Not sure if this the Anthology version, but it is not the polished final recording.
P.S. The killer of John Lennon went to high school just a couple of miles from HW, my employment venue of 30 years.
P.S. The killer of John Lennon went to high school just a couple of miles from HW, my employment venue of 30 years.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The Surprising Benefits of Being Unemployed
Saw this article today. Very funny and, er, spot on! By a David Dvorkin
The great ebb and flow of the marketplace has recently forced me to try to convince myself of the benefits of being unemployed.
Some of those benefits are obvious, and I could have anticipated them even before a supervisor tapped me on the shoulder and said he needed to talk to me about something. ("Do you have a minute?" he asked. What would have happened if I'd said no, that I was too busy?)
1) Not Having to Wake up to the Alarm Clock
That's an obvious one. There was a character in the Snuffy Smith cartoon strip of many years ago who retired but would still get up at the crack of dawn and go down to the mill every morning just so he could thumb his nose at the place as the get-to-work whistle blew. That was an amusing strip, and I saved it for years. But I wouldn't want to take the bus downtown every weekday just to emulate that cartoon character, even if my old workplace had a whistle and even if I had retired voluntarily. So I've turned off the alarm.
(Oh, you ask, but what if you oversleep and waste away the hours you should be spending looking for another job? That hasn't been a problem. The constant sense of dread wakes me up in plenty of time — usually well before the crack of dawn.)
2) Getting Rid of Telemarketers and Door-to-Door Salesmen
Back in the glorious paycheck days, I used to think about telling them I'd just lost my job. Actually, sometimes I really did tell them that, because I'm a cowardly kinda guy and it's easier to fib than to be firm. Now I don't have to fib. When I tell them I'm unemployed, they hang up or back away quickly, terrified of infection by the job-loss virus. And they seem to have crossed me off those secret lists they hand around. It's true that some of one's friends back away with the same look of fear in their eyes, but I'm sure that's unconscious.
I'm hoping to get taken off the snail-mail solicitation lists, too. From time to time, for example, I get invited to contribute to the Republican National Committee. Yeah, sure. Try me again after I've developed Alzheimer's. Throwing solicitations of that sort away was always easy. But it was hard and induced considerable guilt to throw away unanswered solicitations from organizations I support philosophically. Sometimes you're just strapped for cash, you know? Even with a regular paycheck coming in. I'd feel terrible guilt as I tore up the good-guy solicitations and dropped them in the trash, and I'd tell myself that at least if I lost my job, I'd have an acceptable excuse and wouldn't feel guilty. And I was right! Actually, I still feel guilty, but I tell myself that I'll resume making contributions to those worthy outfits as soon as I have a regular paycheck again.
3) My Beard
It's still growing! Well, of course it is, you say. Let me explain that, on an emotional, irrational level, I still feel relieved every morning when I realize that I still need to shave.It's still growing! Despite the way I frequently feel, I haven't really been unmanned.
4) Snobbery
We have been cured of the sin of snobbery. It was very minor snobbery, really. It was limited to the conviction that name-brand items are superior to those sold under supermarket house brands. Oh, sure, sometimes we'd buy the house brands out of some sort of general moral conviction that we ought to save money. And then we'd gradually drift back to the name brands because . . . well, we just did. But, say, that house-brand food tastes pretty good! And the house-brand toilet paper, er, holds up better under use! And the house-brand cans stack better! And the labels are spiffier! Yes, sir, solid values, suitable for normal daily use. Or every-other-day use, if you feel the need to make the item last a bit longer.
For the complete list:
The great ebb and flow of the marketplace has recently forced me to try to convince myself of the benefits of being unemployed.
Some of those benefits are obvious, and I could have anticipated them even before a supervisor tapped me on the shoulder and said he needed to talk to me about something. ("Do you have a minute?" he asked. What would have happened if I'd said no, that I was too busy?)
1) Not Having to Wake up to the Alarm Clock
That's an obvious one. There was a character in the Snuffy Smith cartoon strip of many years ago who retired but would still get up at the crack of dawn and go down to the mill every morning just so he could thumb his nose at the place as the get-to-work whistle blew. That was an amusing strip, and I saved it for years. But I wouldn't want to take the bus downtown every weekday just to emulate that cartoon character, even if my old workplace had a whistle and even if I had retired voluntarily. So I've turned off the alarm.
(Oh, you ask, but what if you oversleep and waste away the hours you should be spending looking for another job? That hasn't been a problem. The constant sense of dread wakes me up in plenty of time — usually well before the crack of dawn.)
2) Getting Rid of Telemarketers and Door-to-Door Salesmen
Back in the glorious paycheck days, I used to think about telling them I'd just lost my job. Actually, sometimes I really did tell them that, because I'm a cowardly kinda guy and it's easier to fib than to be firm. Now I don't have to fib. When I tell them I'm unemployed, they hang up or back away quickly, terrified of infection by the job-loss virus. And they seem to have crossed me off those secret lists they hand around. It's true that some of one's friends back away with the same look of fear in their eyes, but I'm sure that's unconscious.
I'm hoping to get taken off the snail-mail solicitation lists, too. From time to time, for example, I get invited to contribute to the Republican National Committee. Yeah, sure. Try me again after I've developed Alzheimer's. Throwing solicitations of that sort away was always easy. But it was hard and induced considerable guilt to throw away unanswered solicitations from organizations I support philosophically. Sometimes you're just strapped for cash, you know? Even with a regular paycheck coming in. I'd feel terrible guilt as I tore up the good-guy solicitations and dropped them in the trash, and I'd tell myself that at least if I lost my job, I'd have an acceptable excuse and wouldn't feel guilty. And I was right! Actually, I still feel guilty, but I tell myself that I'll resume making contributions to those worthy outfits as soon as I have a regular paycheck again.
3) My Beard
It's still growing! Well, of course it is, you say. Let me explain that, on an emotional, irrational level, I still feel relieved every morning when I realize that I still need to shave.It's still growing! Despite the way I frequently feel, I haven't really been unmanned.
4) Snobbery
We have been cured of the sin of snobbery. It was very minor snobbery, really. It was limited to the conviction that name-brand items are superior to those sold under supermarket house brands. Oh, sure, sometimes we'd buy the house brands out of some sort of general moral conviction that we ought to save money. And then we'd gradually drift back to the name brands because . . . well, we just did. But, say, that house-brand food tastes pretty good! And the house-brand toilet paper, er, holds up better under use! And the house-brand cans stack better! And the labels are spiffier! Yes, sir, solid values, suitable for normal daily use. Or every-other-day use, if you feel the need to make the item last a bit longer.
For the complete list:
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Restaurant Stacks Impressive Offer To Lure Peyton Manning
Of all the teams in the running for Peyton Manning, the Titans might
just have the sweetest deal. But not because of what owner Bud Adams has
put on the table.
It's Nashville-based Shoney's that has put the icing on thecake
pancakes. The popular midwest diner chain has offered the free agent
quarterback a free stack of their famous flapjacks every day for the
remainder of his career if he chooses the Music City.
The company took out a full page ad in the sports section of The Tennessean newspaper on Friday. Above a picture of their pancakes it reads, "Peyton, Sign Here and Tennessee Would Really Be Stacked."
It went on to woo the former University of Tennessee star, laying out the offer with a message from the top: " Shoney’s CEO David Davoudpour wants to sweeten the deal. Sign with our hometown team and you’ll receive FREE PANCAKES EVERY DAY throughout your career here in Nashville. Let’s Win. And Let’s Eat!"
It's Nashville-based Shoney's that has put the icing on the
The company took out a full page ad in the sports section of The Tennessean newspaper on Friday. Above a picture of their pancakes it reads, "Peyton, Sign Here and Tennessee Would Really Be Stacked."
It went on to woo the former University of Tennessee star, laying out the offer with a message from the top: " Shoney’s CEO David Davoudpour wants to sweeten the deal. Sign with our hometown team and you’ll receive FREE PANCAKES EVERY DAY throughout your career here in Nashville. Let’s Win. And Let’s Eat!"
Commuter accused of sex act on train walks free from court after telling court he was strumming an 'imaginary banjo'
This one is for the record book!
A commuter accused of indecency on a train has walked free after telling a court he was strumming an imaginary banjo.
Before Melvyn Webb was acquitted, the judge in his trial had informed the jury that men do sometimes innocently ‘fiddle with themselves in public’.
The case arose after a woman complained of seeing a newspaper moving on his lap as he breathed heavily.
Mr Webb, 54, denied a single charge of outraging public decency on the 7.08am Basingstoke to Reading train, saying he was merely adjusting his underwear.
After his arrest, the health and safety adviser told police: ‘For my sins I play the banjo, so sometimes I do, with my hands, pick out a pattern on my knees....’
To see the whole article click here!
A commuter accused of indecency on a train has walked free after telling a court he was strumming an imaginary banjo.
Before Melvyn Webb was acquitted, the judge in his trial had informed the jury that men do sometimes innocently ‘fiddle with themselves in public’.
The case arose after a woman complained of seeing a newspaper moving on his lap as he breathed heavily.
Mr Webb, 54, denied a single charge of outraging public decency on the 7.08am Basingstoke to Reading train, saying he was merely adjusting his underwear.
After his arrest, the health and safety adviser told police: ‘For my sins I play the banjo, so sometimes I do, with my hands, pick out a pattern on my knees....’
To see the whole article click here!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
"March Madness"
It's that time of year again. March Madness.
And we've already had the usual upsets. Duke took it on the chin tonight. Because it's a prissy college, most people are glad for the Blue Devil demise.
Last year's champion bid adieu in the first round. Connecticut. I never can remember how to spell it but methinks this could be spot on, er, right on. Not sure when "spot on" became so fashionable, but yours truly refuses to recognize it as a phrase, and you will never here it uttered by my larynx.
And Notre Dame lost tonight. What happened to the luck of the Irish. And who can forget George O'Leary. He landed his dream job-head coach-but was ousted for lying on his resume. Never coached a game.
Harvard vs. Vandy, two brainy schools, slugged it out Thursday night with the Commodores winning by nine. Wonder if Lionel Ritchie matriculated at Vandy? At Rowdy High in 1969, our Star Student, a hotshot quarterback too, went to Vandy on a football scholarship. He now has his Phd.
And Syracuse squeaked by NC Asheville because Fab Melo was not spot on with his grades. I mean he was academically ineligible. And who can forget Dexter Manly, who graduated from Oklahoma State? Later on it was learned that Dexter couldn't read or write.
March Madness. It's that time of the year again. Spot on!
And we've already had the usual upsets. Duke took it on the chin tonight. Because it's a prissy college, most people are glad for the Blue Devil demise.
Last year's champion bid adieu in the first round. Connecticut. I never can remember how to spell it but methinks this could be spot on, er, right on. Not sure when "spot on" became so fashionable, but yours truly refuses to recognize it as a phrase, and you will never here it uttered by my larynx.
And Notre Dame lost tonight. What happened to the luck of the Irish. And who can forget George O'Leary. He landed his dream job-head coach-but was ousted for lying on his resume. Never coached a game.
Harvard vs. Vandy, two brainy schools, slugged it out Thursday night with the Commodores winning by nine. Wonder if Lionel Ritchie matriculated at Vandy? At Rowdy High in 1969, our Star Student, a hotshot quarterback too, went to Vandy on a football scholarship. He now has his Phd.
And Syracuse squeaked by NC Asheville because Fab Melo was not spot on with his grades. I mean he was academically ineligible. And who can forget Dexter Manly, who graduated from Oklahoma State? Later on it was learned that Dexter couldn't read or write.
March Madness. It's that time of the year again. Spot on!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Fears of deadly asteroid hitting Earth next year are likely overrated
All of the talk about an asteroid wiping out life on Earth next year is almost certainly overblown. Discovery Magazine's Bad Astronomy blog writes that the odds of 2012 DA14 impacting Earth this year are "essentially zero."
012 DA14 shares the Earth's orbit with the sun, so it could come back to pose a threat in the future. But even a worst-case scenario impact from the asteroid, which is 150 feet in diameter, isn't likely to wipe out civilization. First, it would have to overcome the substantial odds of making impact with our planet. Then, it would need to survive entry through Earth's atmosphere. And finally, it would have to strike a lake, or a body of water near enough a population center to trigger a tsunami, earthquake or some other natural disaster....
P.S. I'm not worried about the asteroid;I'm more concerned with the US spacecraft returning from Venus.
012 DA14 shares the Earth's orbit with the sun, so it could come back to pose a threat in the future. But even a worst-case scenario impact from the asteroid, which is 150 feet in diameter, isn't likely to wipe out civilization. First, it would have to overcome the substantial odds of making impact with our planet. Then, it would need to survive entry through Earth's atmosphere. And finally, it would have to strike a lake, or a body of water near enough a population center to trigger a tsunami, earthquake or some other natural disaster....
P.S. I'm not worried about the asteroid;I'm more concerned with the US spacecraft returning from Venus.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Susan Backlinie
Segue: When I posted the "Jaws" alternate movie posters last week, little did I know Susan Backlinie-she being the shark's ( twenty footer ) first victim, was in such high demand. Traffic to the Pond has soared ( relative, of course ) during the past week. For my little out of the place blog, that is saying something.
Ms. Backlinie also posed for Penthouse in the 70's. But she got old like the rest of us. I never thought of her as being overly attractive, but what do I know.
I am proud of myself for solving the technology issue. Chalk one up for the baby boomers!
Friday, March 09, 2012
Peyton Manning leaves generous tip, server gets fired for posting a photograph of bill
It was a good thing Peyton Manning left such a nice tip for his server at the Angus Barn because it was one of the last the server would ever receive at the Raleigh, N.C., steakhouse.
According to the Triangle Business Journal, a server at the restaurant was fired after posting a photograph of the generous tip Manning left on a $625 bill. The restaurant included its own 18 percent gratuity, bringing the tab to about $739, and Manning added another $200 on top -- roughly -a 50 percent tip. "Jon" was terminated by restaurant owner Van Eure for violating the restaurant's privacy policy....
According to the Triangle Business Journal, a server at the restaurant was fired after posting a photograph of the generous tip Manning left on a $625 bill. The restaurant included its own 18 percent gratuity, bringing the tab to about $739, and Manning added another $200 on top -- roughly -a 50 percent tip. "Jon" was terminated by restaurant owner Van Eure for violating the restaurant's privacy policy....
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
Brewster McCloud"
Edna Milton Chadwell, Last Madam of ‘Chicken Ranch’ Bordello, Dies at 84
Edna Milton Chadwell, the last madam of the infamous Chicken Ranch
brothel, died last week at the age of 84. The Chicken Ranch of La
Grange, Texas, was the house of ill repute that inspired the Broadway
musical, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." It later became a hit
movie.
Chadwell's passing inspired a surge of interest in the 1982 film starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds. The flick was an enormous success, taking in nearly $70 million. It was one of the biggest musical hits of the decade, despite mixed reviews......
Chadwell's passing inspired a surge of interest in the 1982 film starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds. The flick was an enormous success, taking in nearly $70 million. It was one of the biggest musical hits of the decade, despite mixed reviews......
Saturday, March 03, 2012
"Taxman-uh uh Mr. Wilson"
With the presidential election coming up soon; with the Republican candidates vying to win the nomination; with my buddy, Hootz, extolling the virtues of his paying more taxes, the song "Taxman" by the Fabulous 4 is still relevant today.
From Wikipedia:
Harrison said, "'Taxman' was when I first realised that even though we had started earning money, we were actually giving most of it away in taxes. It was and still is typical."[4] The Beatles' large earnings placed them in the top tax bracket in the United Kingdom, liable to a 95% supertax introduced by Harold Wilson's Labour government.[5] In a 1984 interview with Playboy magazine, Paul McCartney agreed: "George wrote that and I played guitar on it. He wrote it in anger at finding out what the taxman did. He had never known before then what he'll do with your money."
In 1980, Lennon recalled in an interview with Playboy magazine, "I remember the day he [Harrison] called to ask for help on 'Taxman', one of his first songs. I threw in a few one-liners to help the song along, because that's what he asked for. He came to me because he couldn't go to Paul, because Paul wouldn't have helped him at that period. I didn't want to do it... I just sort of bit my tongue and said OK. It had been John and Paul for so long, he'd been left out because he hadn't been a songwriter up until then."
Ian MacDonald praised McCartney's contributions to the song saying his guitar solo was "outstanding" and his bass part was "remarkable"
From Wikipedia:
Harrison said, "'Taxman' was when I first realised that even though we had started earning money, we were actually giving most of it away in taxes. It was and still is typical."[4] The Beatles' large earnings placed them in the top tax bracket in the United Kingdom, liable to a 95% supertax introduced by Harold Wilson's Labour government.[5] In a 1984 interview with Playboy magazine, Paul McCartney agreed: "George wrote that and I played guitar on it. He wrote it in anger at finding out what the taxman did. He had never known before then what he'll do with your money."
In 1980, Lennon recalled in an interview with Playboy magazine, "I remember the day he [Harrison] called to ask for help on 'Taxman', one of his first songs. I threw in a few one-liners to help the song along, because that's what he asked for. He came to me because he couldn't go to Paul, because Paul wouldn't have helped him at that period. I didn't want to do it... I just sort of bit my tongue and said OK. It had been John and Paul for so long, he'd been left out because he hadn't been a songwriter up until then."
Ian MacDonald praised McCartney's contributions to the song saying his guitar solo was "outstanding" and his bass part was "remarkable"
Half-century on, Chamberlain's NBA century lives on
On March 2, 1962, before a crowd of 4,124 in out-of-the-way Hershey, Pennsylvania, Chamberlain made 36 of 63 shots from the field and 28 of 32 from the free throw line to score 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks, a feat whose mythic status has only been enhanced by the lack of film or photographic record of the contest.
P.S. The article doesn't mention that Wilt slept with over 20,000 women. Allegedly, that is.
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