Islands Lost

the Maldives have lost 42 of their islands.

Whiskey

i was watching some vh1-country this morning before i grudgingly pulled myself out the door to the metro - and the video for "Whiskey Lullaby," the Brad Paisley/Allison Krauss duet, came on - it's such a sad and beautiful song - it never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

Cheadle

don cheadle is one of my favorite character actors....but he's getting a chance to flash his lead acting chops in the upcoming "Hotel Rwanda." it's getting some good press so far...

Are Dead Bodies Dangerous?

many may now be concerned, given the recent disaster. slate.com explores this here...

It's Coming

a new Jetta is coming...and it looks a bit bulbous.

Lenny Briscoe Leaves the Force

sadly, actor Jerry Orbach died Tuesday night of prostate cancer at age 69. his Lenny Briscoe character is one of my favorite tv cops of all time...

Jeopardy Deathmatch!

all right, i'll admit it. Ken Jennings is my hero. not for the money he won, but for the sheer trivial power he possesses. and it looks like he's gonna get a chance to flex his trivia muscles again - producers of Jeopardy announced Tuesday a "Super Tournament," which will pit Jennings in a final match against two survivors of a competition between nearly 150 past five-time winners.

Euro

are you having a difficult time deciding which currencies to accept when you sell your cocaine, crack, and heroin? one word - euro!

I'm New Jersey, Bitch!

well, i had wanted to see Zach Braff's movie, "Garden State," for a long time now, and i finally saw it last night. did it live up to the hype? unfortunately, no. i'd have to agree with Sam's "too much navel-gazing" evaluation. though Braff maintains his quirky appeal (go watch Scrubs!), the movie itself drags like an overloaded Cessna, struggling to take off. and, if you want to see what "The Garden State" is really like, go out and rent "Clerks."

Woodson to Retire

one of my favorite football players, safety Darren Woodson will soon be making his retirement announcement. though the Cowboys teams of the 90s are generally remembered for their offense (i.e. The Triplets), Darren Woodson patrolled the secondary with a vengeance, giving Dallas' quick and undersized defense some bite.

Nog

for all of you egg noggers out there, here's a little critical evaluation of some of the best nogs out there...though i'm rather pissed that they slammed my Silk Soy Egg Nog. it's good. really. Captain Morgan says so.

Quotable

here's the best sports quotes of 2004. what? you don't believe me? go and find out, ye of little faith...

Elliott

i just got back from sitting in the waiting room of Brown's Nissan - they had a copy of the December 2004 Spin Magazine - inside it was an amazing article on Elliott Smith - sad, insightful, and a wonderful read. i'd recommend kicking back at Barnes & Noble and giving it a perusal.

Collateral

well, I finally saw "Collateral." although there were a few cool scenes, and I really enjoyed Tom Cruise’s performance as a cold, calculating hitman, the movie didn’t quite gel the way it could have, or should have, resulting in my “aight” rating. perhaps pete will give me a refund...

i did like the soundtrack – Michael Mann used music well, and he did a good job of enhancing the mood of the visuals with sound. and damn, that Audioslave song, "Shadow on the Sun," rocked.

King of the World

i was just having a discussion regarding which building is the tallest in the world - coincidentally, a recent article just provided a little insight...

*the $1.7 billion Taipei 101 (in Taiwanese capital) last year surpassed the twin Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur as the world's tallest building*

in case anyone is interested...

They're Classes.....Really!

here's a list of a few interesting college courses that msn.com put together....

Skydiving

there are now parachute systems for planes....it's quite cool.

The Minister of Defense

sadly, Reggie White passed away this morning after suffering a massive heart attack. as a Cowboys fan, i always dreaded facing the Eagles and their Gang Green defense - Reggie was the leader of that team, and an utterly dominating player - even so, his influence off the field was nearly as great as his impact on the field. the man with the gravely voice will be missed.

Free Fiona!

Dave Muscato, a Missouri musician and Apple afficionado, founded the Web site www.freefiona.com last month in an effort to pressure her record label to release "Extraordinary Machine." Apple's follow-up to "Tidal" and "When the Pawn ..." reportedly has been finished since May 2003.

Unsolved

here's a list of history's "greatest unsolved crimes" - at least, that's what msn.com thinks...

How About DC?

apparently, the next season of The Real World is going to take place in Austin. Austin? we're not talking about a music festival here. how about some Real World in DC! we've almost got baseball - it think it's time for some Real World, baby!

Patdowns, Lite

ladies....airport security screeners now will keep their hands to the "chest perimeter" of women unless detection equipment picks up the possibility that they are hiding explosives between their breasts. (insert your witty comment here)

thanks to yahoo.com

They're Coming...CLONES!!!!

they (Genetic Savings and Clone) have officially started selling "cloned-to-order" pets in the US - i am now free to create my identical maine coon cat army!

Hawkeye

here's a nice little bit on perhaps my favorite television actor of all time, Alan Alda

They're Dead and You're Not

here's the invevitable list of people who died in 2004. so relish it. just don't relish in it.

Identify Yourself!!

just click on the face to identify the different people on the cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. this is so cool!

muchas gracias to Casper for the tip...

Separated at Birth?

Mike Holden and Johnny Knoxville

you decide!!!!

Smokeless Lasagna

this is my last post of the night. really. monday night football is almost finished - the dolphins are almost finished 28-23 - or maybe not! beginning January 10th, italy is outlawing smoking in many public places - i had always thought that europeans were born with a cig attached to their lips - but this'll fix 'em! perhaps. now quality wine and cuisine can be enjoyed in respiratory bliss. the difficulty breathing can come after you stuff yourself.

It's The Cheese, Man!

well, i thought i was tired, but i suppose the baked doritos i ate just aren't ready to go to sleep yet... so i've got to post a link to this hilarious beer-rating table - and if you don't find it's freakin' hilarious, you can send me a nasty comment. i encourage it.

Clapton

crack cocaine. read about it. and if you don't enjoy it, send me a nasty comment. i encourage it.

Dasher or Dancer?

pooping reindeer candy. you know you need to take a look at that. and if you don't have the immediate urge to eat some, send me a nasty comment. i encourage it.

The Flip Side of the Coin

clothes! where are the emperor's clothes! a few critics whip out the tommy guns on music's "greats"...

thanks to Ondioline for the tip...

I Want the Roc!!!!

why doesn't roc get more acting roles? that's roc, as in charles dutton. and yes, that's totally unrelated to anything i'm saying here. so be it. don't watch "I, Robot." it isn't worth your time, unless you just want to see some quality special effects or what the fresh prince would look like if he did a few cycles of steroids. "bourne supremacy" is a tight little action thriller, however - much closer to what today's james bond movies should be than today's james bond movies. i'm planning on seeing "Collateral" next, as of now - if it sucks, i'm blaming pete, cus he recommended it. feel free to blame pete for any cinematic disappointments you may encounter - he encourages it.

A Reason to Play Hooky

looks like a deal has been reached to build a new baseball stadium in washington, DC - with private financing...or at least that's what the little ticker on the bottom of my monday night football is now saying. looks like we're going to have baseball in DC!

Can I Be Someone Else?

and if i hear the phrase, "you've just got to let Michael Vick be Michael Vick," i think i may vomit.

Excuses

looks like TO is out for the season...i'm not happy TO got injured, but now when the eagles lose in the NFC Championship Game, this'll give eagles fans and excuse to whine about - i want to see them lose it fair and square - then i can laugh at them.

Pierced

yeah, i'm not overly fond of having to wear glasses....but i don't think i'd do this

thanks to Casper for the tip...

Spin

not happy with the view from your apartment? then move to this apartment building in Brazil, where each floor rotates around 360 degrees

You Don't Know What a Write-Off Is, Do You?

the Financial Accounting Standards Board's (FASB) decision thursday calls for public companies to start expensing options beginning with their first fiscal reporting period after June 15, 2005. private companies and companies that file as small business issuers are not required to comply until after Dec. 15, 2005. yeah, you're right, i am an accountant...

Just Add Stuffing...

this Minnesota power plant is going to burn turkey droppings for fuel.

As The Onion Turns...

this is kind of bad, but it's The Onion, remember?

Anna & Enrique

you know you want to know more about the fact that they just got married. just admit it. so click here, you pop culture fiends!

Load Up

need some target practice? want to test your skill? try this little blast 'em game...

Get Cookin'!

it's the end of the year - release the new cookbooks! yeah, that's right!

Good For Jumping

yes folks, France has opened the world's tallest bridge. but i'm sure the bridge will soon be surpassed by a taller German bridge...

Don't Mess With Texas (or Dioxin)

i still find these before and after (dioxin poisoning) pictures of Ukranian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko incredible, and quite scary.

Some Kind of Pillow

there's a new pillow in town in Japan - well, a new shape for a pillow, that is...

thanks to Lee Head for the tip...

A Good Day To Die

apparently, this study shows that Christmas is the deadliest day for Americans...whoops, was that too dark?

Papa Was A Moonshiner

apparently, local officials have discovered a 3-mile pipeline used to smuggle moonshine from Belarus to Lithuania.

A New Flavor Brewing?

thrust back into the limelight thanks to his scene-stealing appearances on the latest edition of the VH1 reality show "The Surreal Life," Public Enemy rapper Flavor Flav is working on a new album with PE colleague Chuck D as well as a solo disc. A new single, "Flavor Man," will be out early next year... -Billboard.com

Floyd Haiku

money guy pratt plays
ends of bass chords run unchecked
jeff rages to this day

by Lee Head

DUDE!!!!

i really wish somebody would write a paper on the origins and social effects of the word, "dude." oh wait!!!! this dude already has!!!!

Stupid.com

this site has some rather wacky gifts - take a look

Art-O-Matic

Come out to Art-O-Matic tonight - and hear us (Some Brave Apollo) rock. And make sure you go to 3rd & H in the NE quadrant, not the NW quadrant, like some people have mistakenly tried!

Pssst! Wanna Buy Some Splenda?

apparently, the demand for the artificial sweetener has vastly exceeded the supply, as well as the production capacity. better stock up now, atkins-lovers!!!!

The Best Helmets

the SI best college football helmets list continues, this time with the best "letter logo" helmets

Seven Stages of a Bad Gig

the December 2nd posting from Steve Bowes' blog is pretty much hilarious...

The Unknowing Consumer

Anderson: here Barry, here's some special beans from mexico. they'll make you big and strong.
Barry: oh, why thank you, my friend. i hope they work as well as those special steroid-free
drops i was taking. and this additional hair that's grown on my back - it's all good, right?

The Inflation of Barry

ROCK

Motley Crue is set to reunite for a world tour! awwwwwww yeah! and this time i see 'em, i'm wearing earplugs!

thanks to Casper for the tip...

Looks Like Giambi's Been Using the Juice

Based on BALCO transcripts obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, Jason Giambi admitted to having used steroids and human growth hormone. No mention of Mr. Bonds, however.

Five

Read this article about your new BMW M5 before you buy it....but feel free to read it if you think the car is one ugly looking concoction.

And Now For the Taxes...

My hero Ken Jennings will probably owe about $1.04 million in federal and Utah taxes on his Jeopardy winnings, Byers said, citing preliminary calculations by H&R Block. That kind of puts a damper on things now, doesn't it?