Daily postings of interesting news, photos and other commentary. Maybe even the occasional rant. And some Jeep stuff too. And as always, I will continue to reveal the treacherous actions of the snakes.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Separated at Birth?


A friend mentioned to me last night that I remind her of Chris Daughtry.

Maybe.

Monday, November 05, 2007

Bulls on Parade

During the USF Parade:

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After the parade

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Thanks WaltripGirl for the photos!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Hsssss

Our MIT based Boston Bureau Chief brings us the following story: (you may need to watch a 30 commercial first)

The video from CNN

The resident wonders what it was doing there; the consulting herpetologist suggests that it was looking for water.

My theory: the snake just want a Sssssssslurpee and needed some spare change.



And no, the fact that the room is illuminated by Christmas lights did not slip past my observant eyes.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Monday, September 24, 2007

Tj's flip flop

Rubber Side Up!

I flopped my Jeep on to its side yesterday. That was a first.

There are pictures on someone's camera . . . but I don't know whose . . . all I could see out the left window was dirt, and sky out of the right.

No damage to anything or anyone. Hooray for the armor plated Jeep!

I did lose about 3 -4 gallons of fuel out through the filler tube though.

Stay tuned.

(And Scarlet, don't freak. Your daughter was not on this trip. . . . . . she would have been fine though.)

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Mew.

Australians cook up wild cat stew

By Phil Mercer BBC News, Sydney

Australians have come up with a novel solution to the millions of feral cats roaming the outback - eat them.

The felines are the descendants of domestic pets and kill millions of small native animals each year.
A recent Alice Springs contest featured wild cat casserole. The meat is said to taste like a cross between rabbit and, perhaps inevitably, chicken.
But wildlife campaigners have expressed their dismay that Australia's wild cat now finds itself on the nation's menus.
Cat stew recipe
Feral cats are one of the most serious threats to Australia's native fauna.
They eat almost anything that moves, including small marsupials, lizards, birds and spiders.
The woman behind the controversial cat stew recipe has said Australians could do their bit to help the environment by tucking into more feral pests, including pigeons and camels.
But it was a recipe for feline casserole that impressed some of the judges at an outback food competition in Alice Springs.
Preparing this unusual stew seems simple enough.
The meat should be diced and fried until it is brown. Then lemon grass is to be added along with salt and pepper and three cups of quandong, which is a sweet desert fruit.
It is recommended that the dish be left to simmer for five hours before being garnished with bush plums and mistletoe berries.
Marinated moggie was not to everyone's taste. One of the competition judges found the meat impossibly tough and had to politely excuse herself and spit it out in a backroom.
Wild cats are considered good eating by some Aborigines, who roast the animals on an open fire.
This outback cuisine does come with a health warning.
Scientists have said that those eating wild cats could be exposed to harmful bacteria and toxins.
Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/6974687.stmPublished: 2007/09/02 06:28:49 GMT© BBC MMVII

I am shocked . . . shocked I tell you.

Study: Men Men Go for Good Looks
Monday, September 03, 2007

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer

WASHINGTON — Science is confirming what most women know: When given the choice for a mate, men go for good looks.
And guys won't be surprised to learn that women are much choosier about partners than they are.
"Just because people say they're looking for a particular set of characteristics in a mate, someone like themselves, doesn't mean that is what they'll end up choosing," Peter M. Todd, of the cognitive science program at Indiana University, Bloomington, said in a telephone interview.
Researchers led by Todd report in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that their study found humans were similar to most other mammals, "following Darwin's principle of choosy females and competitive males, even if humans say something different."
Their study involved 26 men and 20 women in Munich, Germany.
Participants ranged in age from 26 to their early 40s and took part in "speed dating," short meetings of three to seven minutes in which people chat, then move on to meet another dater. Afterward, participants check off the people they'd like to meet again, and dates can be arranged between pairs who select one another.
Speed dating let researchers look at a lot of mate choices in a short time, Todd said.
In the study, participants were asked before the session to fill out a questionnaire about what they were looking for in a mate, listing such categories as wealth and status, family commitment, physical appearance, healthiness and attractiveness.
After the session, the researchers compared what the participants said they were looking for with the people they actually chose to ask for another date.
Men's choices did not reflect their stated preferences, the researchers concluded. Instead, men appeared to base their decisions mostly on the women's physical attractiveness.
The men also appeared to be much less choosy. Men tended to select nearly every woman above a certain minimum attractiveness threshold, Todd said.
Women's actual choices, like men's, did not reflect their stated preferences, but they made more discriminating choices, the researchers found.
The scientists said women were aware of the importance of their own attractiveness to men, and adjusted their expectations to select the more desirable guys.
"Women made offers to men who had overall qualities that were on a par with the women's self-rated attractiveness. They didn't greatly overshoot their attractiveness," Todd said, "because part of the goal for women is to choose men who would stay with them"
But, he added, "they didn't go lower. They knew what they could get and aimed for that level."
So, it turns out, the women's attractiveness influenced the choices of the men and the women.

Friday, August 31, 2007

Two quick bulletins

There is nothing in this article that makes me feel comfortable.

Halmark, when you care enough to send the very best.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Sorry guys.

Regrettably, the topic of this festival is not what you think.

Mayonnaise, Maggots, Mirrors . . . . . and naked sign language.

Barkeep: Would you like to try our new cocktail?

Businessman with loosened tie: Sure, whats in it?

Barkeep: Muddled snails, bong water and emu vomit.

BWLT: Sure, sounds better than what I had at Nakamura's yesterday.

****************************************************************

It would seem someone absconded with all of the mirrors in the trailerpark, sorry, strike that. I mean, Chateau de Skank.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"You are sole proprietor and owner of the Whizzo Chocolate company?"

"I am"

__________________________________________________

This is an outrage! I am, of course, referring to the stripping [of the government subsidy.]

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Ever wonder?

For those of you who have ever wondered, "How much would it cost to have someone drive to my home and remove 900 gallons of human waste?"; the answer is $215. And worth every penny.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

All is not well in the Animal Kingdom

Dog Owners gone bad.

Cat Owners gone crazy (surprise, surprise.)

Bad news for the environment.

Speechless.

Australian goo invasion.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Space Rack Truck to blame?

Good thing they launched from Florida . . . . that way there is no deductible on the replacement.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Please Mark Your Calendar!



Greetings my friends!

As many of you know I am on the board of The Life Enrichment Center, a not-for-profit that provides continuing education classes and other services to our community’s active seniors.

On Friday, September 7th, we will be having our annual art show; I have attached the invitation.

It is my hope that you (and your friends) will attend, peruse the paintings, and maybe even take one home with you! This is our annual fund raiser; food and drink will be available, live music, and other fun activities! You might even catch me on the dance floor.

* Please feel free to invite your friends, and repost on the web!

Friday, August 10, 2007

Ommm Paa Paa



I kid, I kid! He is very talented, perhaps misguided, but undenyably talented.

Today's Headlines

Awww, c'mon, who didn't camp out in the back yard as a kid?

Snakes.

"That was actually us."

Fun Bags from our Friends to the North.

In my Chief Wiggum voice, "That's some mighty fine police work there, boys."

I think I sit behind this guy's American counter part at the Performing Arts Center.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Too good . . . .

This article really has it all, namely, in no particular order:

- A police officer with a funny last name
- References to Special Ops
- crazy dollar amounts like "$85,000"
- a monkey

Click here.

Kudos to Publix

http://www.publix.com/about/newsroom/NewsReleaseItem.do?newsReleaseItemPK=2636

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Investment or cabin site, you can't go wrong!

These lots are amazing . . . . . . great area of N.C. too, just outside of Blowing Rock and Boone . . . . minutes away from Lineville Gorge, Grandfather Mountain, the New River (ironically the oldest river in the U.S.) Appalachian skiing and Appalachian University.

Let me know if you have any questions!

The realtor handling the sales is Bob Novacek at Blowing Rock Properties, 800-849-0147.

http://www.navica2.net/displays/?n=390&i=129050&k=qRbtee

Monday, July 23, 2007

Myspace

Hmmmmm. Something funky went on with myspace and it would seem I have been highjacked.

If you have received an email from me about some myspace nonsense, it is invalid.

I deleted my account to nip the problems in the bud. I doubt I will reopen a new account . . . . all of my friends know how to get hold of me.

East Coast Boating Fun

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Monday, July 16, 2007


I went off road yesterday. And got stuck.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

I am happy to report that I won the poker game on Tuesday, which almost makes up for NOT WINNING A SINGLE HAND last week.

The FedEx guy should be here at any moment with some off-road lights for the Jeep. Nothing really special, but I am excited non-the-less. There will also be a fluid reservoir bottle that I am going to adapt to be a brake fluid reservoir for the Deuce that will be positioned in an easier to reach location.

And in today's news:

The key quote in this article is "The tests are designed to be incredibly difficult and TSA does anticipate a fair level of failure." Hopefully the terrorists will be less tricky.

Badger . . . Badger . . . Badger!

Monday, July 09, 2007

Poker on Tuesdays

Don't forget the usual suspects play poker at Gaspar's Grotto on 7th Ave most Tuesday evenings.

Let me know if you need more info. Happy hour and BS session starts at 6:30, game - on at 7:30ish.

Baah-Whoooosh! Crocodiles, The Virgin Mary and a "Happy Ending."

This is one of those articles where each time you read it, it gets better and better.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Independence Day

Old Glory was flown over the cab of the deuce, a group of friends loaded in the back, and we rolled in the Temple Terrace parade as 20 Jeeps followed close behind.

Here are some pictures . . . .

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Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Happy 4th!

Have a happy 4th everyone.

Enjoy some fireworks (safely) whether real or artificial!

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Monday, July 02, 2007

Fenders: Finished

After lots of masking, I completed the fenders this weekend. The black "paint" is actually a textured substance similar to spay-in truck bed liner.

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Marketing 101

Want to effectively promote your Jeep club? Emost demonstrates how of increase your number of logo impressions.



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Friday, June 29, 2007

North Carolina

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Have a nice weekend, everyone!

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

I was wondering what I was going to do this weekend . . . . . . .



Rubens Tube - video powered by Metacafe
So . . . . kickball. Drunken kickball. Drunken kickball in costumes.

That was something. Dixie was quite the hottie in her nurse outfit . . . . . I sported a kilt.

Some of the rules of the game:

You must kick with you non-dominate foot.
You must have a beer in your dominate hand.
You must start at home plate with a full beer.
Beer must be empty by the time you return home.
Any idle time spent on 3rd base shall be passed by dancing.
If you stop dancing on 3rd base you must take a shot of Mad Dog 20/20.

There were many more rules of the game. And it was like 168F on the field. Dixie played the entire game . . . . I played about 30 seconds. Way too complex.

After the game, it was off to MacDintons. We were supposed to continue on to a luau on the beach . . . . but that did not happen.

Video of the fun turned up on the MJ morning show . . . . if you look carefully you can see Nurse Dixie in the candy stripes standing next to the pitcher.



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Tuesday, June 26, 2007

My armor plating project is complete! Although I do think I am going to paint the flat flares black.

It is 5/16" cold rolled steel with DOM tube reinforced edges. No more plastic bits for me!

Bring it on!

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Now that is marketing!

Thanks to Paul S. for sharing this little nugget:

All of these are legitimate companies that didn't spend quite enough time considering how their online names might appear ...
and be misread.



"Who Represents" is where you can find the name of the agent that represents any celebrity.
Their web site is http://www.whorepresents.com/


Experts Exchange is a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at http://www.expertsexchange.com/


Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at http://www.penisland.net/


4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at http://www.therapistfinder.com/


5. There's the Italian Power Generator company, http://www.powergenitalia.com/


6. And don't forget the Mole Station Native Nursery in New South Wales, http://www.molestationnursery.com/


7. If you're looking for IP computer software, there's always http://www.ipanywhere.com/


8. The First Cumming Methodist Church Web site is www.cummingfirst.com

Friday, June 22, 2007

Eeeeeeeewwwwwwww

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070621/D8PTEPE01.html


OK now that we have covered that . . . . . .

Quick update:

The new armour plating on the Jeep is complete, except I am going to to make Maaco touch up a couple spots that they missed. Pictures as soon as I can remember to get both my Jeep and camera in close proximity.

The "brain" of my Jeep is currently sitting on a workbench in Wisconsin . . . . being upgraded. The Jeep still runs w/o it, but the suspension system is static.

Spent 4-5 days in N.C. It was a working trip .. . . but I did find the time to teach the nephews how to play Texas Hold 'em.

It would seem I am playing some sort of Kickball drinking game tomorrow. I sure there will be a follow up story there.

Cherrio - have a good weekend everyone!

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Fend for yourself!

I am not sure if I mentioned this earlier . . . . but I had a little mishap on the trail with the Tonka toy Jeep. It seems that trees in Zephyrhills have the uncanny ability to shift their trunks 2 or 3 feet laterally at will. Who knew? Must be that Z-Hills water.

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So I decided that I would replace the flimsy fenders with something a bit more beefy.

Like this:

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This process is on-going, but is nearing completion. The fenders have been made, shipped and mocked-mounted to my Jeep. They are now in the paint booth.

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Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Meanwhile, as I am at the fuel station

So I am at the corner of Florida and Fletcher fueling up the CJ . . . . . .



Me: (grumble, stupid gas prices, grumble)

A voice comes from the other side of the pump. Let's call her Bambi.

Bambi: How am I supposed to know? Excuse me sir-

I peer around the pump to find a 30ish blond lass bedecked in designer spandex fueling an Z4, no doubt en-route to a gym with big mirrors and windows.

Me: Hello, yes?

Bambi: Do you live around here?

Me: Yes, I do. *Chuckle* Are you lost, little girl?

Bambi: *giggles* No, but the gas pump is asking me to put in the zip code, and I have no idea what the zip code is here because I live in SoHo.

I pause as these words settle into the ototory regions of my grey matter.

Me: Uh . . . . *suppresses laughter* I am pretty sure it is asking for YOUR zip code, you know to make sure your card is valid.

Bambi: That's silly, my signature is right on the back.

Me: Yes, . . . . . that is, indeed, as you say, silly.

About Me

My photo
Former gigs: Animatronic creature tech for film and live action, production studio manager for USF, film production consultant, cameraman for WTVT, IMAX Theatre director, museum director, harbor cruise ship captain. Current gigs: loan officer, commercial property manager, Vice Chairman of The Life Enrichment Center, Trustee of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Director of the University Area Community Development Center, Director of a private grant-making foundation.