This is pretty funny.
How I Spent My Stimulus is a site which relates the purchases people across the country have made with their 2008 Economic Stimulus Package payments.
What about you guys? What do you plan to buy with your stimulus money? I bought a new computer with mine (I just got it a little early is all).
Please, everyone check out this link to an article which helps to let you know whether you use the right-side of your brain more, or the left-side, and leave a comment to let us know which way the dancer was spinning. (via kottke.org)
Continue reading "What is Your Brain?"(Blog stolen from a friend)
If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a memory of you and me. It can be anything you want, either good or bad.
When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people remember about you.
I'm often a guy who likes to roll with the punches. When I have differences with someone, I can easily chalk that up to differences in personality and preference and be done with it.
There is a guy at work though, who won't let this one issue slide by like that. Every time someone refers to their evening meal as "dinner" he corrects them (always in a joking manner), pointing out that he believes it is called "supper". For a while we've simply gone back and forth about what it is called, and the discussion usually ends with the following argument: "What was the Jesus' final meal called?" And of course everyone knows it is called the Last Supper. This is supposed to be the nail in the coffin of any argument to the contrary.
This discussion has been going on intermittently since I started working here a year ago. I finally decided to put the issue to rest today.
I looked up the definition of the words, "lunch", "dinner" and "supper" and compared them. Here is the email I sent to the six people in the office who are most often involved in the discussion:Turns out, what the meal is called depends on how big it is. If the meal at midday is the largest, main meal of the day then that meal is called dinner, if it isn’t the large main meal then its just lunch. If the meal in the evening is the largest, main meal then that meal is called dinner, if it’s a light meal then its supper.
din·ner (dĭn'ər) Pronunciation Key
n.
The chief meal of the day, eaten in the evening or at midday.
A banquet or formal meal in honor of a person or event.
The food prepared for either of these meals.
A full-course meal served at a fixed price; table d'hôte.
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lunch (lŭnch) Pronunciation Key
n.
A meal eaten at midday.
The food provided for a midday meal.
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sup·per (sŭp'ər) Pronunciation Key
n.
A light evening meal when dinner is taken at midday.
A light meal eaten before going to bed.
A dance or social affair where supper is served.
So dinner is whichever meal is the largest of the midday or evening meal. I think that explanation makes perfect sense, but I suspect that most people simply called each meal one thing or another based solely on the time of day.
What do you guys call your midday and evening meals?
Without dwelling on the thought, if skill set, education and training were not a factor, what would your dream job be?
Continue reading "Survey"Hey everyone, I need some help solving a mystery.
On Saturday I checked the mail and there was a package in the mailbox. A few days ago I ordered a hardcover book from Amazon.com and was surprised that it had arrived so quickly.
I walked into the house, sorted through the rest of the mail and then opened the package. I was surprised to find that the book in the package was not the book I had ordered. I checked the packing clip to see if there had been some mistake, perhaps my book was mixed up and another was sent in its place? The packing slip had my name all over it and the book I received was the book on the slip. There hadn't been some mistake.
Well, upon closer inspection the mystery took an exciting turn. The book I received was actually a book I hadn't heard of, but was a book I was very glad to have in my hands.
You see, a few months ago I read Max Brooks' parody survival guide, The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection From the Living Dead. I simply LOVED the book, and who wouldn't? Zombies are awesome and when the invasion happens I would like to count myself among the prepared who will survive and live to repopulate the planet. Plus it was hysterical.
I didn't even know that Brooks had written a new book, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, yet that is the book that showed up in my mailbox.
So what I ask of you dear readers is, does anyone know who sent this to me and why? I would certainly like to thank whoever had the wonderful insight to do so because that package certainly made my weekend.
Lost begins its third season this evening, and obviously I can't wait. I hope the third season blows the second out of the water, even though I liked the second season a lot.
I've been meaning to ask, are you guys watching Heroes on NBC? I assume that you all are because I know my reading audience is very smart, and anyone smart enough to know they should be reading my blog has to be smart enough to know that this show is awesome.
It is only two episodes in so far, so I can't say yet how great it is, but I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that it's the best new show of the fall season. I love it. I get completely lost in the show for an hour, and there aren't many shows that have done that for me. Granted, I am partial to sci-fi type shows, so many of you may not like it too much, but I ask that you at least check it out. It is very cool.
Another new show which has me very excited this season is Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Who knew this show was going to be so damned good? And I mean it is seriously good. I think anyone can enjoy watching this kind of show. It's not genre TV like Heroes, so the appeal is to a much broader audience. The writing is quick, biting, witty and real. The casting and acting have been absolutely top-notch thus far. I am pretty blown out of the water on all counts. If you haven't already (and I know you probably have...you guys are smart remember) check out this show also on NBC.
Other new shows of the season which I am enjoying are Smith starring Ray Liotta and Jericho starring Skeet Ulrich, both on CBS. I am really into both of these as well, but not nearly as excited about them as the two mentioned above. Smith is really exciting to watch. Each episode plays out like an hour long movie once a week. I've been really impressed with the cast and writing so far. These characters have complicated, dark pasts that we will get to explore for a long time watching the show. I like that. The writers have done a superb job at hinting at their dark pasts without actually telling us too much, which keeps me coming back every week. Plus, the heists they pull every week are seriously cool.
I have been keeping up with ABC's Six Degrees, and so far I like it, but I need to see some excitement and something to get me interested and invested in the characters. It's been a slow start for that one. Again, if you have time and are looking for good television, I suggest these three.
It hasn't started yet, but I look forward to the premier of NBC's 30 Rock created by ex-Saturday Night Live alum Tina Fey. This looks to be a great new comedy. Have you guys ever really watched Alec Baldwin in a comedic role? The guy has got serious comedy instincts.
The great thing about network television this year is that all three of the major networks have committed to airing their shows online after they've aired on TV. So if you miss an episode and did not record it, all you have to do is visit the network's website and watch the show there. Very cool, and very wise on the part of the networks.
There are some shows returning this year which are also pretty good. Here are the shows in the second or greater season which I have been trying to keep up with. Most of these are also recommended.
My Name is Earl
The Office
How I Met Your Mother
What About Brian
Scrubs (though this one isn't returning for a while)
Hey, any of you guys into gardening?
If you look on the sidebar you will notice that I have added a link to the National Gardening Association in the "Stuff I Read" links. I found the site yesterday while Googling "winter vegetables in Louisiana". It's pretty cool. They have a section for gardening in different areas of the US, based on climate and season. I haven't had time to read through it all yet though.
Why was I Googling that you say? I'm glad you asked.
I want to plant a garden in our back yard, and I don't want to wait until the Spring. I want to plant it now. So I am wondering what vegetables grow well in a Louisiana winter. I'll grow most anything, but whatever I decide on has to be something I'm interested in eating, obviously. It also has to be something I want to serve to guests, because otherwise I'll just have a bunch of stuff I'll have to get rid of.
Do you guys know of any veggies that grow well in our winter weather? I plan to read some more online, and ask the folks in the local nurseries, but I haven't had time yet. In the meantime I thought you guys might know something.
