Thursday, September 29, 2005

Cryptic Football Players

Can you guess these American Football players from the cryptic clues?

  1. Sketched a light wind.
  2. Sticky liquid from a rabbit hole.
  3. Chauffeur for Trump.
  4. One who conceals a deceased talk show host in his hand.
  5. Big room for Italian poet.
  6. Arrow-maker from English city.
  7. German dark beer.

And one very cryptic player:

  • July through November starters meet male Running Back.

Sports: Appropriate Names

Raiders' Defensive Back Stanford Routt. Pity he went to college in Houston instead of Stanford. And he doesn't run routes. But I'm sure he's been involved in some one-sided games.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Movies: William Fichtner

Pity poor William Fichtner. Usually cast as the creepy cop, the sleazy husband or the violent co-worker. Now he's the (probably) evil Sheriff on ABC's "Invasion". (Show seems okay - could do with more main characters.) How does it feel when your agent tells you, "Sorry, Bill, but they don't want you for the hero. They think you'd make the perfect baddie."

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

TV: Pot Pourri


  • Is there any better feeling than when "The Daily Show" begins with today's date, so you know it's not a repeat?
  • What's up with the sound of the theme music when "The Daily Show" comes back from a commercial break? Is it "phasing" or "flanging"? I'm not the only one who noticed this.
  • "The Amazing Race: Family Edition" looks pretty good so far. Amish buggy accident! Woman who said Pennsylvania "might be a state"! Little girl calling her older brother a dork! Edith Bunker dropping the clue, then having a meltdown!
  • Norm Chad is supposed to be the funny one on ESPN's World Series Of Poker, but Lon McEachern had the best line tonight. When the camera showed Chris Grigorian's girlfriend cheering him on, Lon said she was "leading the Grigorian chant".

Monday, September 26, 2005

TV: Dylan On PBS

  • I watched the first part of the Dylan documentary on PBS. Favourite quote: "Bob Dylan was a bastard in the second half." (Unhappy English fan, talking about the "electric" part of Dylan's concert.)
  • For commercial-free TV, there sure are a lot of commercials on PBS.
  • Worth it for the clips of Odetta and John Jacob Niles. Go to his page to hear his "bone chilling soprano voice". Freaky!
  • Part 2 tomorrow unfortunately coincides with the season premiere of "The Amazing Race". I'll be pulling for the Bransen girls.

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Movie Quiz: Names

In which movies do you find these names? They're not necessarily the names of characters. (The year the movie was released is given in parentheses.)

  1. Keyser Soze (1995)
  2. Dapper Dan (2000)
  3. Bingo Crepuscule (2004)
  4. Trudy Kockenlocker (1944)
  5. Citizen Dick (1992)

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Cookies: Morelianas

Is there a more delicious bilingual cookie than Nabisco's Morelianas? The box says "Sandwich Cookies - Galletas Sandwich" and "Orange Flavor - Sabor Naranja". They're made in Mexico, then shipped to the US. Part of a trend of foods targeted at the Hispanic market. Named after a town in Mexico, they seem to be quite different from the original Morelianas - "flat caramel-like disks of burnt milk and sugar"

Words: Fr-

Words that start with "fr-".

  • Frass: (noun) Insect excrement.
  • Fribbler: (noun) A trifler. "One who professes rapture for the woman, and dreads her consent."
  • Froward: (adjective) Stubbornly contrary, obstinate.
  • Fraktur: A Germanic typeface.
  • Frist: (verb) to sell stock from a "blind" trust before it takes a nose-dive (stock from your family's company).

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Appropriate Names: Movies

Stunt man Stuart Fell - as mentioned by Michael Palin on the commentary track for "Ripping Yarns". There is also a stunt man called Chester Tripp

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Facial Hair

You know who'd look good with a chin puff (like the Chef Sauce chef)? Joe Lieberman.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Lyrics Quiz: Mystery Theme


  • 'Steada treated - We get tricked! 'Steada kisses - We get kicked!
  • Like the mountains in springtime. Like a walk in the rain. Like a storm in the desert. Like a sleepy blue ocean.
  • She goes for her medical. She’s passed, it’s a miracle. She’s up over the moon. She whistles nonsense tunes.
  • Heading out this morning into the sun, riding on the diamond waves, little darlin' one.
  • They say that all is fair in love and war, and child, believe it. When mama stayed in Saint Tropez, she had a fall or two.
  • Annie, are you okay? Are you okay, Annie?
  • I tell myself too many times, Why don't you ever learn to keep your big mouth shut? That's why it hurts so bad to hear the words tThat keep on falling from your mouth.

Monday, September 19, 2005

Advertising: Budweiser

That August Busch IV - what a stiff. Is he really the best person for their TV commercials?

He "has a reputation as a party boy" - could have fooled me. Maybe they should show him whooping it up like a drunken frat boy. (Other choice quote: ""Wall Street doesn't know how bright he is.")

Apparently, the Busch family has supported the Demmy-crats ever since FDR repealed Prohibition.

That still doesn't change the fact that so many people compare Bud unfavourably to urine.

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Song List: Borrowed Lyrics

Songs that borrow from other songs. It can be a straight quote, with proper attribution, like Prince in "The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker":
"Oh, my favorite song" she said.
And it was Joni singing "Help me I think I'm falling".

It can be the ironic use of pop lyrics, like The Brunettes quoting the Spice Girls in "Leonard Says":

Please don't scare me like that ever again.
I won't be an audience for your self-aggression.
And if you wanna be my lover,
You've gotta get with my friends.

It can be a slight variation on the original, like The Silent League borrowing a melody from George Michael in "The Catbird Seat":

You're never gonna wanna dance again.

It can be hero-worship that crosses over into spooky "SWF" territory, as when Ian McNabb of The Icicle Works tries to become Neil Young in "A Factory In The Desert":

Dream up, dream up,
Let me fill your cup.

If you count psalms as songs, there's U2 in (Psalm) "40":

I waited patiently for the Lord.
He inclined and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the pit,
Out of the miry clay.

And finally, there's the full-blown appropriation of someone else's lyrics, put to a different tune, like Spiritualized using JJ Cale's words in "Run":

They call me the breeze.
I keep rollin’ down the road.

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Sudoku: Software

For Sudoku solvers, I recommend Simple Sudoku, a freeware Sudoku generator/solver. The website also contains a page of Hints, with some advanced techniques. (While I was running Simple Sudoku for the first time, I heard my hard drive grinding away big time. Turns out the program generates a respository of puzzles in the background the first time it's run, so don't panic.)

More Sudoku techniques.

Evolution: Darwin Not A Racist

The Dallas Morning News' Religion section has a letter today from a Wylie creationist. He writes:
That full title of Darwin's book is: The Origin Of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.
For anyone who has read Darwin, there can be no doubt that he was an outspoken racist. Anyone with black skin, according to him, represented a lower, less advanced form of civilization.

The writer goes on to infer that Evolutionists must welcome Hurricane Katrina as "a good and natural thing".

Talk.Origins debunks that canard, pointing out that Darwin used "Races" in his title to refer to varieties within a species. It also links to Darwin's writings, where it is clear that Darwin held advanced views for his time. He describes convicts from India as "noble-looking figures", and compares them favourably ("from their outward conduct, their cleanliness and faithful observance of their strange religious rites") to British convicts sent to Australia. (Although he does make reference to "the disagreeable expression of a mulatto".)

Darwin also writes of the only time on his trip when he encountered "a want of politeness":

I feel glad that this happened in the land of the Brazilians, for I bear them no good will — a land also of slavery, and therefore of moral debasement.

There is more, if you're interested, at the EvoWiki.

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Feeble Attempt At Humour

Apple has announced its latest winner: the iPod nana. Measuring just 4" x 2.5" and weighing less than an ounce, it smells of cat pee, squeezes your cheeks and tells you that you look just like her cousin who died in 1928 when he fell through the ice on a frozen lake.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Music: Country

Country Music Round-up.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Sports: Appropriate Names

More sports people with names appropriate to their sport.

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Office Pools: Emmys

Enterpool has added a pool for the primetime Emmy awards, being held next Sunday. There's a public group anyone can join, "A Lifetime Achievement Award For Screech".

Having "Desperate Housewives" in the comedy category makes it difficult to pick, especially when it's up against the last season of "Everybody Loves Raymond". In the Reality category, look for "The Amazing Race" to repeat. And you'd expect "The Daily Show" to win again in the oddly named "Variety, Music Or Comedy Series" category.

Music: Classical

Dallas Morning News article about a piano concerto by George Tsontakis being premiered by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra next weekend. Pianist Stephen Hough is quoted as saying:
"There's no soft center to this music. It is very muscular, and dare I say masculine? He's a Greek-American. He's got a mustache."

"He's got a mustache"? Several members of the Village People also had mustaches.

In the same article, the composer says:

"Yesterday I went to take a quiet walk, and there was a guy on the other side on a cellphone, just yelling into a cellphone. I couldn't get away from him. There's no contemplation left. That's worse to me than the wars that are happening."

I'm no fan of cellphones but I think I'd rank them below wars in my list of irritants.

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Lyrics Quiz: Tell

Here's a great songwriting tip. Add an extra dimension to a conversational song by telling the listener to tell someone else.

  1. And you can tell your friend there with you, he'll have to go.
  2. Tell him that you're never gonna leave him.
  3. So say hey Willie, tell Ty Cobb and Joe Dimaggio.
  4. ...And tell Tchaikovsky the news.
  5. Tell my wife I love her very much. She knows.
  6. Tell her I'm sorry, tell her I need my baby. Oh, won't you tell her that I love her?
  7. You better tell that girl I'm gonna beat her up.
  8. Please tell my mother I miss her the most.
  9. Tell those girls with rifles for minds that their jokes don't make me laugh.
  10. So tell my baby I said so long. Tell my mother I did no wrong. Tell my brother to watch his own. And tell my friends to mourn me none.

Words: Antivenin

Memo to Shell: Yes, Antivenom and Antivenin are both correct. I'd never heard of Antivenin before. "Venin" is the French word for "venom".

Movies: Miscasting

Creepy Elijah Wood has been quoted recently as saying about his role in "Green Street Hooligans" that the plot is "pretty far-fetched", and ""I just played the character I was meant to play and make that transition as believable as I possibly could in the context of the story." Sounds like someone is trying to distance himself from his film.

The Daily Telegraph calls it, "a lager-lout melodrama so consummately rubbish it's impossible to take seriously." Zap2It makes fun of the marketing of the film as "The movie Hollywood doesn't want you to see." (Roger Ebert (who has gone soft) gives it a much kinder review.) See summaries of more reviews at Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic.

The residents of the real Green Street are upset at the portrayal of their neighbourhood. Among those quoted: the owners of a cafe called "Pie, Mash and Eels". Hmmmmm, eels!

Now Ezekiel Wood says he's nervous about playing Iggy Pop. As well he should. He looks nothing like young Iggy and lacks his dangerous charisma. So why doesn't Zephaniah just back out of this project quietly and let a more suitable actor take over?

Friday, September 09, 2005

Music: Swedish

New Cardigans video for their next single, "I need some fine wine and you, you need to be nicer". That's a long title. The new album, "Super Extra Gravity", comes out in the US on October 25th. In the meantime, buy "Long Gone Before Daylight". You won't be sorry.

Thursday, September 08, 2005

TV: Fall 2005 Guide

Your guide to the new shows on Fall TV.
  • "Commander In Chief" (ABC) - Remember how great it was for liberals when Martin Sheen was pretend-President? Well, now Geena Davis is pretend-President! A woman! Can you believe it? (But don't worry - she's not elected President: she's Veep when the real President dies.)
  • "The War At Home" (FOX) - Michael Rapaport has made a career out of playing tough guys. I'm sure he really is a tough guy. Now we're supposed to buy him as a lovable father? The studio audience will laugh for fear he'll come after them with a baseball bat.
  • "Night Stalker" (ABC) - This remake stars Stuart Townsend. Stuart Townsend can't act. His only notable achievement is bagging Charlize Theron. (Why is his character called the Night Stalker? Because he "stalks the night".)
  • "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS) - Doogie Hauser is about as funny as Michael Rapaport (although far less threatening).
  • "Ghost Whisperer" (CBS) - Jennifer Love Hewitt in tight white t-shirts.
  • "Eggz Benedict" (MTV) - The last remnants of the "Jackass" crew travel to the Vatican, where they try to evade the Swiss Guard and pelt the Pope. "You've been Eggz'd, Benedict!"
  • "Whipper & Snapper" (NBC) - A Dominatrix and a tabloid photographer become unlikely roommates after a mix-up by their zany realtor. The two join together to solve crimes, run a Montessori school and play Cupid to the ghosts who live in their basement. Sounds like another winner for NBC!

Music: Indie

Some crazy Italians have made a list of the top 100 "indiepop" albums. They write: "Many of enclosed discs are collections of single: it is not strange, in a kind that has been above all issue of seven inches and 45 turns, to find therefore many late collections or esumazioni posthumous; the riscoperta one is in the game of the indiepop." There are many artists here that I have never heard of (Biff Bang Pow?). Note that the list is in alphabetical order. (Found via Indie MP3.)

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Cryptic Crossword: 7x5

The whales are starting to learn new tricks - but they still can't solve Cryptic Crosswords. That's what separates us from the animals. If you don't solve these clues, it means the filthy beasts have won.

1  2 3  4
        
5      
       
6      

Across

1. American car for esteemed French lady, we hear. (5,2)
5. Gold found by FBI agents. Treasury starts to increase. (7)
6. Football player wrapped in sheet makes frozen dessert. (7)

Down

1. Aquatic bird rises against gravity and bites. (5)
2. Debate Republican caught in fever. (5)
3. Database shelters itty-bitty nerd. (5)
4. Salute to music includes sacred choral work, played backwards. (5)

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Automobiles: Safety

Toyota is introducing a safety system to ensure that drivers keep their eyes on the road. Three cheers for Toyota! Jeers to those drivers who think that they have to maintain eye contact with their passengers while they chat, even if the passenger is in the back seat or strapped to the roof rack.

The Simpsons: Curse

The Curse Of The Simpsons strikes again - Bob Denver i dead. He played himself on the episode where Homer joined the Naval Reserve. Guess we'll never be able to say "Hey, little buddy!" and hit him over the head with a hat ever again.

Monday, September 05, 2005

Office Pools: Supreme Court

The following anecdote appeared in an article about judges' instructions to juries.
The case was a murder trial in which jurors had to decide whether the defendant killed his victim with "malice," which has a complex definition involving an intentional act performed with conscious disregard for human life. After a couple of days of deliberations, Corrigan said, the jurors approached the judge in bewilderment, pointed out that the trial involved a fatal shooting, and asked, "What's this mallet you keep talking about?"

Speaking of judicial matters, those crazy cats over at Enterpool have set up a pool to pick President Bush's next Supreme Court nominee. It's a public contest, so just sign up, join the group and make your pick. They have helpfully provided links to Wikipedia articles on all the likely nominees. The deadline to make your pick is Midnight on Sunday, September 11. My prediction: it's going to be a woman.

Words: Furphy

A headline at Google News caught my eye: Fling 'a furphy'. The brief excerpt at Google began: "HOLLYWOOD beauty Kirsten Dunst has denied she and Orlando Bloom had a fling..."

So what is a "furphy"? I clicked on the story at this Australian website (part of Rupert Murdoch's (spit) News Corp) but the word is never used in the body.

The word turns out to be Australian slang for a false rumour, deriving from the water-carts made by J. Furphy which were used in World War I. (Soldiers would gather by these tanks and gossip - or perhaps the drivers of the carts brought rumours with them. The article points out that scuttlebutt has a similar origin.) J. Furphy & Sons are still in business.

Feeble Attempt At Humour

Tinactin may act tough, but it's really a pussy-cat.

Sunday, September 04, 2005

Office Pools: American Football

(American) Football season starts on Thursday. Enterpool has upgraded its site to help manage your office Football pool. You can now create your own group and invite friends to play - automatically. Best of all, it's free. Sign up today.

Music: Opera

From the New York Times, Garry Marshall is directing an opera in L.A.

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Monarchy

Poor old King Carl Gustaf of Sweden. Yes, he has a lovely wife (Abba sang "Dancing Queen" the night before the wedding), but some religious nutjob in Topeka, Kansas has included Sweden and its monarch in his anti-"fag" railings. Unsurprisingly, this "church" thanks God for Hurricane Katrina.

Good old King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great of Thailand, the world's longest-reigning head of state. Not only did he help shepherd Thailand to democracy, he translated "A Man Called Intrepid" to Thai and holds several patents for rainmaking.

Friday, September 02, 2005

Pot Pourri


  • If Nancy Grace is not the most despised woman on TV, she's certainly the most despicable.
  • Quite frankly, I think there's not enough monkey business.
  • Most delicious apple: Royal Gala. Good old 4174.
  • And who assigns those 4-digit produce numbers? The International Federation for Produce Coding.
  • The DVD release of "Leonard, Part 6" has 4 stars from Amazon customers. "Overlooked gem", "stroke of genius", "Best Movie Ever!"
  • A lovely photo of a wrecked Hummer H2.
  • What do Gary Glitter and Stevie Wonder have in common? (There's a hint in one of the items above.)

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Poem: Nigel Mansell

Poem


You can't make plans for Nigel Mansell.
At the last minute, he'll call to cancel.

Current Events: Hurricane Katrina

This BBC report has a good cross-section diagram of New Orleans at the bottom of the page.

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Peeves: Office Etiquette

  • Today (Wednesday) I heard someone ask a co-worker, "How was your weekend?" This question may only be posed on a Monday (or Tuesday if Monday was a public holiday).
  • I got a business email today with a blank Subject line. There is no excuse for this.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Cyber-Stalking

The Dallas Morning News featured art gallery director Ashley Tatum in their Sunday "High Profile" feature. She looked very cute so I thought I'd try a little cyber-stalking. And here she is at the bottom of the page for this personal trainer, where she's described as " Fine Art Gallery Director/Model". Some interesting quotes from the other clients. She's also in a photo with Carolyn Farb (self-styled "First Lady of Philanthropy") and Caroline Hunt. How Texas is that? I love how Farb has the same superior smirk in every photo.

Monday, August 29, 2005

Music: MP3 Blogs

elbo.ws - another MP3 Blog aggregator. I like it better than Web Nymph because they show which files are available. (For evaluation purposes only, naturally.)

Note that Aquarium Drunk has a couple of tracks from the forthcoming Ryan Adams & The Cardinals honkytonk album. (And a slogan taken from "The Simpsons".)

And, in case you're wondering, the ".ws" suffix is for Samoa (some say Western Samoa). Someone already has windo.ws.

Sunday, August 28, 2005

The Simpsons: Charles Nelson Reilly

My least favourite recurring gag on "The Simpsons" is when a character, after making a mistake or getting in a bad situation, tugs at their collar and makes a strangulated "Euuawwww" noise (impossible to spell). From a commentary on the Season 6 DVD, I learn that this is based on Charles Nelson Reilly in the TV version of "The Ghost And Mrs. Muir". Interesting that Reilly's most recent credits include a short film called "Gaydar" and "SpongeBob SquarePants".

Words: Bully

The Word Detective says that the positive meaning of "bully" (as in Theodore Roosevelt exclaiming "Bully!", meaning "Splendid!") is older than the negative sense of "thug". It comes from the Dutch word for "lover" or "brother". (The Dutch use the same word for both? That's a trifle unseemly.) Ink magazine agrees, and suggests (plausibly) that Roosevelt's Dutch ancestry explains his usage of the word. Therefore, when Roosevelt spoke of the Presidency as a "bully pulpit", he meant it was a splendid platform.

Friday, August 26, 2005

Band List: 3-Letter Acronyms

An alphabet of 3-letter band acronyms. Rules: (1) The band must have started with a non-acronym name (so REM is out, but Public Image Ltd is okay). (2) The acronym must be used by fans of the band. (3) The band may have adopted the acronym later (like ELO). So how many of these acronyms do you recognise?

Religion: Ayatollah Sistani

Official web site of Grand Ayatullah Sistani (thanks Robb). Some doubt its authenticity, but only a true holy man could have this many scrolling windows on one web page. Also, the web site is linked from Wikipedia and the Whois lookup checks out.

The Ayatollah answers questions from the faithful on many interesting topics. No shaking hands with girls, "temporary marriages" are okay, and no, Imam Hussain did not combine the prayers of zuhr and `asr on the day of `Ashura.

Of course, you're going to head straight to the questions about sex. Just notice the repetition of questions in each topic - very strange.

You will need the Glossary, but good luck scrolling to a letter (at least in Firefox).

In the interests of equal time, here's an American Catholic Q & A, and the official Catechism from the Vatican. Also, a bonus anti-Scientology website, which is redundant now that Tom Cruise is running around like a crazy man.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Current Events: George W. Bush

Let's honour our Veterans - starting with this one.

Song List: Cannonballs

Topic suggested by Shell: has there ever been a song that mentioned cannonballs in a meaningfulway?

The greatest "Cannonball" song ever is the one by the Breeders, but Shell's right. What the hell does this mean?

Hey now, hey now, Want you, Koo Koo, Cannonball [2x] In the shade [4x]. I know you, little libertine. I know you're a cannonball. I'll be your whatever you want. The bong in this Reggae Song.

Supertramp's "Cannonball" is not as great as I remembered it being. And "cannonball" seems to be chosen for its rhyme alone.

I paid the price, for taking your advice. I felt it all, just like a cannonball.

And as for "Champagne Supernova" by Oasis, yes, it's nonsensical (but defended by some). Noel admits that he couldn't think of anything else that rhymed with "hall".

Slowly walking down the hall. Faster than a cannonball

The brass ring goes to Ryan Adams for mentioning cannonballs in two songs: "Cannonball Days" and "English Girls Approximately". Must be part of his Oasis fixation.

I'll miss you but go on, goodbye. I feel like a straight from his cannonball days, When all of your roses were mine.

Tall drink of water, she's a Norfolk waterfall. Little daybreaker, she's a shootin' like a cannonball.

Damien Rice seems to be the only one who uses it thoughtfully. Well, he is Irish. Would you call "float like a cannonball" a simile, a contradiction in terms, or an oxymoron?

Stones taught me to fly. Love taught me to lie. Life, it taught me to die. So it's not hard to fall when you float like a cannonball.

I'll also cut Van Morrison a break for his "(Straight To Your Heart) Like A Cannonball", which is probably so named in tribute to Cannonball Adderley.

We move along. Keep singing our song. Straight to your heart like a cannonball.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Music: MP3 Blogs

Music blog Turquoise Days is posting cover versions from an NME 1992 compilation, and taking requests. He has fulfilled half of my request (so far) - Suede doing "Brass In Pocket".

Apples v Oranges: Christie

Who is the greatest Christie of all time?

  • NBA player Doug Christie, known for his uxoriousness. Also, repeatedly used the phrase "That's the just of it" when interviewed on The Ticket (thanks Robb and Shell). Maybe his version is an improvement on the more usual "That's the gist of it". According to the Word Detective, the word "gist" is itself taken from the wrong part of a French phrase.
  • Doug's wife Jackie Christie, who has a clothing and home decor business when she's not whipping her husband.
  • Yorkshire singer Tony Christie. Tony's specialty was songs that mentioned US cities: "Is This The Way To Amarillo?", "Las Vegas", "Don't Go Down To Reno". He's back in the spotlight in Britain thanks to Peter Kay. He even toured with Anastacia, which seems an odd pairing.
  • Mystery writer Agatha Christie. Creator of Miss Marple (transparent attempt to get more visitors from Germany.
  • British sprinter Linford Christie, tainted by drug scandals, famous for his "lunchbox".
  • Auction house Christie's, founded by James Christie in 1766. Both Christie's and Sotheby's were indicted in 2001 in a price-fixing conspiracy.
  • Sixties singer Lou Christie. Born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco. His web site requires QuickTime, so he's automatically on my Enemies List.
  • Serial killer John Reginald Halliday Christie.
  • Wisconsin ski resort Christie Mountain.

I've got to go with the mountain.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Lyrics Quiz: Tomorrow

Lyrics Quiz all about Tomorrow. (I woke up with Song #1 in my head.)

  1. Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday. Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday. You've changed your place in this world. You've changed your place in this world.
  2. If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?
  3. Let the devil take tomorrow ’cause tonight I need a friend.
  4. I'm feeling good, I'm feeling oh so fine. Until tomorrow, but that's just some other time.
  5. Learn to love me. Assemble the ways. Now, today, tomorrow and always.
  6. If your life was bad to you, just think what tomorrow will do.
  7. There’s a man I’ve found could remove his sorrow. He lives in this town, let’s see him tomorrow.
  8. But how beautiful it was - ’tomorrow’. We’ll never have a day of sorrow. We got through the ’30s, but our belts were tight. We conceived of a future with no hope in sight.
  9. And if it’s the price I pay. Some say, tomorrow’s another day. You’ll stay. I may as well play.
  10. Tomorrow we can drive around this town and let the cops chase us around. The past is gone but something might be found to take its place.
  11. If you feel like leaving, you know you can go. But why don't you stay until tomorrow. If you want to be free, you know, all you got to do is say so.
  12. Well let the boys all sing and the boys all shout for tomorrow.

Sunday, August 21, 2005

Automobiles: Hybrids

Here's a bumper sticker idea for someone to make a fortune off: "My next car will be a hybrid". A Google search shows it's a popular sentiment. A sticker like that would look great on the back of a Hummer. Wait, they've had a hybrid Hummer in the military since 1998.

Celebrities: Connections

Some bizarre connections:

The strangest connection of all time? Robert Fripp marrying Toyah. "It's A Mystewy", indeed.

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Optical Illusions

Very cool optical illusion (with explanation). Index of all 57 illusions/phenomena on this well-designed site.

Music: Classical

You can listen online to the BBC Proms. Click on the "BBC Proms Radio Player". Concerts are available for 7 days. Right now, I'm listening to Prom 48 with Elgar, Maw, MacRae and Shostakovich - all music for strings.

Genealogy: Ireland 1837

Now online - Samuel Lewis' 1837 Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. From the entry for Longford:
The lower orders are shrewd, intelligent, and industrious, fond of manly exercises and amusements, such as foot-ball, hurling, and wrestling, but on Sunday evenings the chief and invariable amusement is dancing. They are of a very proud and independent spirit, which manifests itself most conspicuously in their great repugnance to hire as servants, an occupation considered by them to be highly disreputable; hence they remain at home living in penury in a cabin and on a small patch of ground. They are exceedingly litigious, ever ready to have recourse to the law upon the most trivial subjects.

And for Mayo:
Killery harbour is known to be one of the best fisheries for herring; but this branch has been much crippled by the restrictions of the fishery laws. Herrings have been known to set in to some of the bays in vast shoals, yet, from the want of salt, they were left to rot on the shore in heaps; and the wretched fisherman, whose little stock had been expended in fitting out his sea equipage, witnessed his own ruin with abundance apparently within his grasp. To obviate this calamity, salt is now stored at Clifden, Westport, and Bellmullet.

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Music: Rock and/or Roll

Wreckless Eric expresses his dislike of Chris Martin, Glastonbury, Elvis Costello, Live Aid, Live 8, Status Quo, Queen, Bob Geldof. But he liked the Who. Scroll down to listen to an hour-long solo radio performance by Wreckless Eric. His chatter between songs is best - I like his speaking voice. Which is actually very similar to his singing voice. "Whole Wide World" is at the 47 minute mark.

Music: Novelty

Listen to "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?" by North American Hallowe'en Prevention, Inc.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

The Simpsons: 1-800 Number

1-800-223-2369.

This is the phone number to order a different case for the Simpsons Season 6 DVD set. Call outside business hours (Pacific Time) to hear a message from Homer. Or is it? You can also go to Simpsonsbox.com.

Hoax: Space Shuttle

Company reorganisation seminar today began with story of how the range of the Space Shuttle was indirectly determined by the width of a horse's ass. I'd heard the story before, but a couple of details didn't ring true. The railway tunnel could have been made wider to take bigger rockets (or, as Robb says, they could have built the rockets closer to the launch site). Snopes says it's false (or "True, but for trivial and unremarkable reasons").

Automobiles: Which Side Of The Road?

Why do some countries drive on the right and some on the left? Historical table and country-by-country guide here. Some very interesting tidbits.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

A-Z: Musicians


  • A?
  • Eric B. - pioneering hip-hop artist, rarely seen without Rakim.
  • Vitamin C - girl from Eve's Plum makes happy pop music.
  • Chuck D - rapper from Public Enemy.
  • Eazy-E - another rapper, this time from N.W.A.
  • Adam F - Drum & Bass artist, worked with Tracy Thorn.
  • Gina G - the "Ooh Aah...Just A Little Bit" Aussie singer.
  • Arthur H - French jazz/pop band.
  • Prince Far I - reggae great.
  • David J - former member of Bauhaus/Tones On Tail/Love & Rockets.
  • Josef K - jangly Scottish band from early 80s.
  • Jack L - would-be Jacques Brel from Ireland.
  • Aerial M - "post-rock" instrumental band featuring guitarist David Pajo.
  • N?
  • Candy-O - a Cars tribute band from Canada.
  • Master P - rap mogul.
  • Stacey Q - had a hit in the 80s with "Two Of Hearts".
  • R?
  • Department S - one-hit Brits ("Is Vic There?").
  • Mr. T - don't say Mr. T isn't a musical genius until you've heard his "Treat Your Mother Right". Then you can say it.
  • Thriller U - easy-listening reggae singer.
  • V?
  • W?
  • Generation X - punk band that spawned Billy Idol.
  • Y?
  • David Z - engineer/producer who worked with Prince and Fine Young Cannibals, among others.

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Feeble Attempt At Humour

Costume party ideas.

  • If your name is Eric, carry a wet sponge and dab the side of your head with it. When asked why you're not wearing a costume, say, "What do you mean? I'm Erick Dampier."
  • If your name is Steve, wear a raincoat and a tiara. It will be obvious to all that you are Steve McQueen.
  • If your name is Rob(b), set yourself on fire and say, "Look everyone! I'm Robert Burns!"
  • If your name is Pat, jump on people from behind and announce that you're a Pat on the back.
  • If your name is Shell, shave off your eyebrows, then paint on new ones about an inch above the originals. Walk around with your mouth hanging open. "I'm Shell-shocked."
  • If your name is Jim, have a more talented older brother named John and get him to die young from a drug overdose. Then land a mediocre sitcom where your wife is played by an actress far too beautiful to be your real-life wife. You can then pass yourself off as Jim Belushi.

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Lyrics Quiz: America

In honour of my return to these shores, an American Lyrics Quiz. Hint: one of these is by Morrissey.

  1. She’s a good girl, loves her mama. Loves Jesus and America too.
  2. Oh but ain’t that America for you and me. Ain’t that America, we’re something to see baby. Ain’t that America, home of the free.
  3. Good morning, America, how are you? Don't you know me? I'm your native son.
  4. Take a jumbo across the water. Like to see America. See the girls in California. I’m hoping it’s going to come true, but there’s not a lot I can do.
  5. It’s on America’s tortured brow that Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow. Now the workers have struck for fame ‘cause Lennon’s on sale again.
  6. Turn the key and slowly unlock the door, as a man breathes into a saxophone, and through the walls you hear the city groan. Outside is America.
  7. Holly came from Miami F.L.A. Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.
  8. In Europe and America, there’s a growing feeling of hysteria, conditioned to respond to all the threats in the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets.
  9. Every child had a pretty good shot to get at least as far as their old man got. But something happened on the way to that place. They threw an American flag in our face.
  10. It’s coming to America first. The cradle of the best and of the worst. It’s here they got the range and the machinery for change. And it’s here they got the spiritual thirst.
  11. In America, it brought you the hamburger. Well, America, you know where you can shove your hamburger. And don't you wonder why in Estonia they say, Hey you, Big fat pig, You fat pig, You fat pig.

Lyrics: Annette or Aimee

Fun lyrics game: Annette Funicello or Aimee Mann?. I scored 11 out of 16. Hooray for whoever created this quiz!

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Song List: Johnny

Shell buries his contribution once again in the Comments section. Doesn't he know that no one ever reads the Comments? Here it is again:

Songs with "Johnny" either in the title or somewhere in the lyrics. For starters:

  • "Angry Johnny" - Poe
  • "Johnny Be Good" (sic) - Chuck Berry
  • "Be Good" - Men at Work
  • "Johnny Are You Queer" - Josie Cotton

Some he missed:

  • "Johnny And Mary" - Robert Palmer
  • "Johnny Was" - Bob Marley (and Stiff Little Fingers)
  • "Johnny In The Echo Cafe" - Saint Etienne
  • "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again" - traditional
  • "Johnny Mathis' Feet" - American Music Club

And songs that mention "Johnny":
  • "Hey Hey My My (Into The Black)" and "My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)" by Neil Young
  • "Walk Of Life" by Dire Straits
  • "It's My Party" by Lesley Gore

Monday, August 08, 2005

Sports: Football

The headline at the Basque News And Information Channel is "Asier Del Horno's Chelsea beat Arsenal in the Community Shield". A bit parochial, no? Silly Basques. An anagram of his name is "El Senor Hairdo". Meanwhile, Didier Drogba (who actually scored the two goals) is "Odd Brigadier". And manager Jose Mourinho is "I'm Joe Honours".

And why did the Charity Shield become the Community Shield? Minor scandal, apparently, "for failing to disclose to ticket purchasers that only "profits" from the game would go to good causes, and for delaying the distribution of proceeds."

Advertising: Mazda

Risque commercial for Mazda, featuring a mannequin. As seen on British TV (but not, probably, US TV). Mind you, I haven't seen this ad on TV yet. (And while you're at Fat Campus, don't miss the early Jim Morrison video.

Health

Good news for women's health.

Friday, August 05, 2005

Words: Numpty, Sledging

The Brits do have some funny words, don't they? Numpty means "idiot", but sounds much nicer. Sledging means "insulting your opponent" in Cricket. More sledging.

And if you're missing baseball like I am, some Texas Rangers lowlights.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Sudoku etc.

USA Today has a nice Sudoku puzzle done in Flash. (Too easy though.)

Gizmodo has an interview with Jonathon Keats, a conceptual artist who has created a "camera" with a hundred year exposure.

Explanation of British number plates, including those tricksy Norn Iron plates.

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Furniture: Funny Store Names

The name of this Northern Ireland furniture store makes me laugh: All Things Nice.

Friday, July 29, 2005

Meteorology

Strange colours in the sky over Dallas/Fort Worth. There's a photo gallery too - some nice shots. Personally, I think it's just a promotion for Shell's favourite movie of all time, "War Of The Worlds" (he says that about every Dakota Fanning film).

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Music: DFW Bands

Here's one for Robb - Dallas - Fort Worth Area Band Encyclopedia. My favourite band name in that list is She Only Thinks In Manchester. Interesting entry for Secret Machines, who have gone on to better things, but are here described as a "one-off side-project" with the full name The Secret Machines Of Captain Audio.

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Song List: Numbers

Shell added a comment to my last post. Let me drag it out into the sunlight:

Robb and I came up with a good idea. Songs with a number in the title. The first one is, of course, "One" by either Three Dog Night or by U2.

And later added these contributions:

Robb offers these songs:

  • 3 Strange Days - School of Fish
  • 68 Guns - The Alarm
  • Summer of 69 - Bryan Adams
  • Spirit of '76 - The Alarm
  • 96 Tears - The Stranglers

And I will add:
  • 10 X 10 - 808 State
  • TVC15 - David Bowie
  • 5:15 - The Who (Is that for 5 or 15?)
  • You're Sixteen - Ringo Starr
  • Hey 19 - Steely Dan

Off the top of my head:

  • "Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
  • "4th of July" by Aimee Mann (do ordinals count?)
  • "Seven Chinese Brothers" by REM
  • "Seven Into The Sea" by In Tua Nua
  • "16 Days" by Boo Hewerdine
  • "17" by Paul Hardcastle
  • "17" and "Twenty Three" by Stephen Duffy
  • "18 And Life" by Skid Row
  • "74-75" by the Connells

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Peeves: NASA

Here's another thing that gets my goat. At some point in the last 30 years, NASA decided that the person who announces "Liftoff!" should also utter some hokey, rah-rah piffle about the mission. Today's shuttle launch was described by NASA "Launch Commentator" George Diller as:
“Liftoff of space shuttle Discovery beginning America’s new journey to the moon, Mars and beyond.”

For the launch of the Deep Impact mission:
"We have ignition and liftoff of a Delta 2 rocket, carrying Deep Impact - NASA's journey to unlock the mystery of the solar system's origin," said NASA launch commentator Jessica Rye.

For John Glenn's return to space:
"Liftoff for six American heroes and one American legend," added launch commentator Lisa Malone.

They're even spreading internationally!
"...Four, three, two, one and liftoff, we have engine ignition and liftoff of the Proton rocket carrying Zvezda, the centerpiece of Russia's contribution to the international space station, setting the stage for permanent human presence in space," said NASA launch commentator Kyle Herring in the Russian mission control center near Moscow.

Just stop it!

Friday, July 22, 2005

Lookalikes: Saddam Hussein

  • Doesn't Saddam Hussein look like Dennis Miller in the latest video? "What can I tell ya - gassing those Kurds was just like replacing Uncle Bud on "My Three Sons" with Uncle Charlie. Who's gonna notice?"
  • AT&T Natural Voices - text-to-speech converter. Sent to me by Robb, who likes the U.K. English Woman's voice (Audrey). He likes making her say, "Bitch! You gonna die, ho!"
  • Kim Wilde is appearing in a commercial on British TV. A sad reminder of the passage of time for those of us who lusted after her in the "Kids In America"/"Water On Glass" days. She's really into gardening now.
  • Speaking of commercials, the Right Guard ad with Michael Strahan playing golf is shown in the UK, but without his name in the voiceover since the Brits don't know who he is. (You can watch the UK version and US version here if you don't believe me.)
  • And, finally, a poem:

Sienna Miller
Should have hired a nanny who looks like Phyllis Diller.

TV: "Extras"

I'm jumping on the anti-"Extras" bandwagon a little late. (Jim started the backlash three weeks ago.) The first episode had its moments (looking at the photos) but also had some hoary routines (pretending he knows about Japanese cinema, the "black, white, yellow" comment). What really turned me off was Ben Stiller playing himself. Maybe it's my revulsion at his simian features. (I'm a very shallow person.) Are we supposed to applaud him for portraying himself as an asshole? Although I did like the "Starsky & Hutch" exchange.

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Cryptic Crossword: 7x5

The whales are starting to learn new tricks - but they still can't solve Cryptic Crosswords. That's what separates us from the animals. If you don't solve these clues, it means the filthy beasts have won.
1  2 3  4
        
5      
       
6      

Across

1. American car for esteemed French lady, we hear. (5,2)
5. Gold found by FBI agents. Treasury starts to increase. (7)
6. Football player wrapped in sheet makes frozen dessert. (7)

Down

1. Aquatic bird rises against gravity and bites. (5)
2. Debate Republican caught in fever. (5)
3. Database shelters itty-bitty nerd. (5)
4. Salute to music includes sacred choral work, played backwards. (5)

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Music: Broken Social Scene

Is it wrong to love this photo? Yes, most probably so. It's not schadenfreude. It's the bewildered look on the guy's face - "I was only trying to buy some weed!" Maybe the cops beat up Ric Ocasek and Brad Garrett and smushed their faces into one grotesque amalgam. (Note the misguided optimism of Ric's website - "See you all in 2004").

Lyrics Quiz: Rave

"Rave" Lyrics Quiz. The last few are quite obscure.

  1. Rave on, it's a crazy feeling and I know it's got me reeling when you say, "I love you," rave on.
  2. Wouldn't it be nice to get on wiv me neighbours. But they make it very clear they've got no room for ravers.
  3. She's uncertain if she likes him, But she knows she really loves him. It's a crash course for the ravers.
  4. Rave on, down through the industrial revolution, Empiricism, atomic and nuclear age. Rave on down through time and space down through the corridors. Rave on words on printed page.
  5. Raving station, beside yourself. Calling on in transit, calling on in transit.
  6. It's a bigfoot baby all covered in fur now. Stark raving naked in the fornication nation. We were secretly married out in Las Vegas at a little bitty chapel, Joan Collins married us.
  7. I won't give in and I wont feel guilty. (I won't give in and I won't feel guilty.) Rant and rave to manipulate me. (Rant and rave to manipulate me.)
  8. Seventeen is the number of the house where drums are beating. It's a trip for the ravers and an air-raid for the neighbours.

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Tech: Google Earth

From lifehacker, this chap has made a "movie" from Google Earth. (Unfortunately, his .avi wouldn't play on my machine.)

Also from lifehacker, make your own LCD projector for $200.

Monday, July 18, 2005

Cults: Scientology

Excellent Slate article about L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology. I can understand Tom Cruise and John Travolta being members (they're actors!) but was taken aback that Beck is too. This poorly-edited anti-Scientology website says his parents were/are members. And Beck's mom (as a midwife) delivered Beck's wife!

There's a line in Leonard Cohen's song, "Famous Blue Raincoat" ("Did you ever go clear?") that's a Scientology reference. This Stereogum post has some good info on the Cohen connection - one excuse is that he just joined to meet chicks. Cohen is such a lovable fraud himself that I'm sure he was just investigating out of professional curiosity.

But the question remains: Why are they dead?

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Music: David Byrne

Russian "junkyard" band performing "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" - warning: serious ass cleavage on display. (Thanks Jörg!)

Looking for information on the performers, I came across David Byrne's blog/diary from his Summer 2004 tour. Puts my blog in the ha'penny place.

Friday, July 15, 2005

Lyrics Quiz: One Of These Days

Lyrics Quiz with a difference. All of these songs are called "One Of These Days" - match the song to the artist.

Artists: Michelle Branch, Paul McCartney, Tim McGraw, Van Morrison, Pink Floyd, Neil Young.

  1. One of these days, I’m gonna sit down and write a long letter To all the good friends I’ve known And I’m gonna try And thank them all for the good times together. Though so apart we’ve grown.
  2. One of these days, I'm going to cut you into little pieces.
  3. One of these days, I won't be afraid of staying with you. I hope and I pray, Waiting to find a way back to you. Cause that's where I'm home.
  4. One of these days I've got to get things straight. I'm gonna stop acting like a reprobate. One of these days you know I've got to get things straight. I'm gonna stop staying out late And acting like a reprobate.
  5. One of these days When my feet are on the ground, I'm gonna look around and see, See what's right, see what's there, And breathe fresh air, Ever after.
  6. One of these days you’re gonna love me. You’ll sit down by yourself and think About the times you pushed and shoved me And what good friends we might’ve been. And then you’re gonna sigh a little, Maybe even cry a little but One of these days you’re gonna love me.

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Music: Best Rhymes

What is the best rhyme in popular (or unpopular) music? "It Ain't Necessarily So" (lyrics by Ira Gershwin) has some beauties. "He fought Big Goliath/Who lay down and dieth." "He made his home in/Dat fish's abdomen." "Oh, I takes dat gospel/Whenever it's pos'ple."

I'm also partial to the immortal line from Cork/London band Stump, "Then Charlton Heston put his vest on."

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Monday, July 11, 2005

Lyrics Quiz: Telecommunications

Telecommunications Lyrics Quiz.

  1. I'm in the phone booth, it's the one across the hall. If you don't answer, I'll just ring it off the wall.
  2. Inventing lovers on the phone, who called to say, 'come dance with me', and murmur vague obscenities.
  3. Getting cards and letters from people I don't even know. And offers comin' over the phone.
  4. The telex machine is kept so clean as it types to a waiting world.
  5. I had to phone someone so I picked on you. Hey, that's far out so you heard him too! Switch on the TV we may pick him up on Channel Two.
  6. I kind of like the feel of this extra few feet in my bed. Telephone's ringing, but I don't answer it 'cause everybody knows that good news always sleeps till noon.
  7. And it's all your fault. I screen my phone calls. No matter-matter-matter-matter who calls. I gotta screen my phone calls.
  8. O.K. so no-one's answering, Well can't you just let it ring a little longer? I'll just sit tight, through the shadows of the night. Let it ring for evermore.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Movies: Overused Songs

Robb wants to know which song has been used the most in movies. He suggests "Sweet Home Alabama", used in (of course) "Sweet Home Alabama (2002)" (one version by Jewel), "8 Mile (2002)" (rap version by Eminem), "Con Air (1997)", "Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)", "Crimson Tide (1995)", "Forrest Gump (1994)", "Joe Dirt (2001)", and many more.

Shout-outs

Congrats to Eric on solving the Irish-themed mini-crossword.

Ireland: US State Dept. Report

The US State Department's report on Ireland, prepared for those being posted to the Embassy in Dublin. My favourite parts:
Improvements have progressed to such an extent that ... a telephone can be installed within 6–10 weeks of application.

Traffic is heavy and people tend to drive too fast on a road network system that is out of date. Many of the main roads outside of Dublin are winding and narrow, which makes passing difficult. Irish drivers tend to drive more aggressively than drivers in the US.

Because of the cool damp climate, woolens can be worn most of the year. Even in summer, light cotton clothing is rarely worn. Irish houses are frequently cold compared to those in the U.S.

Swimming is popular among the Irish who are not deterred by the cold water.

Monday, July 04, 2005

Children's Names

Parents should stop naming their daughters "Emma" or "Emily". It's too difficult to remember which. I like the Latvian system of having separate letter endings for male and female names, although it could be simplified further. All girls' names should end in "a" (Emma, Francesca, Christina, Maria, Sara - no 'h'). Boys' names should end in "o" (Pato, Johno, Franko).

In fact, since Emily and Emma were the #1 and #2 most popular baby names for girls in 2004 in the USA, there should be a moratorium on both. In England and Wales, Emily was #1 and Emma #18, so maybe it's not so much of a problem there.

Sunday, July 03, 2005

Cryptic Crossword: 5x5


1 2 3
     
4    
     
5    

Across

1. Irishman comes to sorry ends as fallguy. (5)
4. In seat of Irish High Kings, I make crown. (5)
5. Rambles with President in high school. (5)

Down

1. Throw in nightcap. It chafes! (5)
2. Express gratitude - we hear it's for military vehicle in Dublin. (5)
3. Irish poet? Yes, at heart. (5)

Friday, July 01, 2005

Automobiles: Driving In Ireland

Rules for driving in Ireland - the bit about forcing two lanes where only one is marked is particularly true. At one point on the Kilbarrack Road, there are two arrows painted on the road, side by side. No one I've asked knows if that is to encourage lane-sharing, or just to emphasise the direction of travel. Like the old Dave Allen joke about one yellow line meaning "No parking at all", and two yellow lines meaning "No parking at all, at all". (Maybe it was Jimmy Cricket.)

What does my head in are the new kilometer speed limits. Not the kilometers, themselves. It's the speed limits they've chosen. They obviously wanted nice round numbers. My daily route alternates between 50kph and 60kph. That's 31mph and 37mph. Why not just make it 55kph all the way - 34mph?

Thursday, June 30, 2005

Feeble Attempt At Humour

  • I was walking around town with my sketchpad and charcoal pencils when I saw Johnny Tightlips. I asked him several times if I could do a portrait of him, but he refused to be drawn.
  • Can you compare an Opel model to a tin container? Corsa can.
  • Bono shows up at the Pearly Gates with a Checkers board under his arm. St. Peter asks, "Did you come here to play Jesus?"

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Music: Whistling

Paul Johnson in The Spectator laments the lack of whistling in today's music (and singles out Bing Crosby as a prime whistler of yesteryear).

The only recent whistling that I can think of is by Bryan Ferry in Roxy Music's cover of "Jealous Guy". Can you think of any others?

Bonus: How to whistle.

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Words: Bee's Knees

When I heard someone using the phrase, "It's the business", recently, it occurred to me that it might be related to the phrase, "It's the bee's knees". Answers.com says yes, "the business" is derived from "the bee's knees". The Telegraph says that "bee's knees" is a nonsense phrase from the Jazz Age, and also mentions "the dog's bollocks".

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Music: U2

I was singing "Zoo Station" to myself on my drive home when I realised why Apple called their mini music player the Shuffle. "I'm ready for the shuffle - ready for the deal. Ready to let go of the steering wheel" Nothing to do with the fact that it can only play songs randomly.