I’m A Wreck!

(O.K. technically I’m a Wreckporter.)

Anyone that knows me has probably heard me pimp Cakewrecks as the funniest blog EVAH!  It never fails to bring a smile to my face and start my day off on a good note.

 Every time I’m at the store I can’t resist perusing the bakery case in hopes of finding a wreck worthy of this site.  Normally I leave disappointed, but one fateful night a couple of months ago, I found the HOLY GRAIL OF A CUPCAKE WRECK!  I immediately whipped out my cell phone and snapped a picture of it in all of its 1.3 megapixel glory.  I felt like I had spotted Bigfoot and I couldn’t wait to send it in.   

 I was beginning to fear that my wreck wasn’t worthy enough for the site, and that no one else would be able to share in triumph of finding the ugliest cupcakes ever.  Imagine now my joy when I clicked on the site this morning and saw my wreck there in all of its awful glory, made even better with Jen’s puns!

 Go see it for yourself (the last one on the page) while I wipe a joyful tear from my eye!  http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2009/10/sideshow-slideshow.html

 Thanks Cakewrecks!

His Balloon Was Fast, But Snark Is Faster

I made the comment yesterday during two hour ballon chase we were all following on cnn.com, “I bet he’s hiding in the garage and he’s gonna pop out soon and say SURPRISE!!“

Now everyone at work thinks I’m psychic!

Falcon, the “Balloon Boy” is safe.  It may or may not (read MAY) have all been a publicity stunt by his batshit crazy dad that had us all fooled.  Thank goodness the snarklords of the interwebs were quick to put this whole thing in perspective!  Check out the great memes like the one above at urlsque.com .

Just in case you think Falcon puking during EVERY interview wasn’t bad enough, how about dad FARTING on the air with Diane Sawyer! 

I guess John Gosselin can be thankful that there are worse dads out there taking some of the spotlight away from him!

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

I be wishin’ ye a Happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day, Matey!!! 

Make sure ye be changin’ yer Facebook language settin’ to “English (Pirate)” or else ye be walkin’ the plank! Savvy?

 

What a Difference a Year Makes!

… See my Tabblo>

It’s Hip to Be Round

Who knew I was so hip and ahead of my time?

It’s Hip to Be Round

Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times

 

By GUY TREBAY

Published: August 12, 2009

“This year an unexpected element has been added to the look, and that is a burgeoning potbelly one might term the Ralph Kramden…

What the trucker cap and wallet chain were to hipsters of a moment ago, the Kramden is to what my colleague Mike Albo refers to as the “coolios” of now. Leading with a belly is a male privilege of long standing, of course, a symbol of prosperity in most cultures and of freedom from anxieties about body image that have plagued women since Eve.”

 

Read the new York times Article http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/fashion/13POTBELLY.html

Goodbye Old Friend

 

I finally said goodbye to my ’98 Saturn yesterday. After 11 years (9 owned by me) and 170,000 miles, I think it served its purpose well. This was the first car that I chose and paid for myself, and since it was not a hand-me-down, it had a lot of unnecessary sporty features like a power moon roof, performance tires and a spoiler. Even though the black paint was difficult to keep clean, and the black interior was very hot in the summer, I felt cool driving it. It was my own affordable version of K.I.T.T.

Through the years, it had its share of problems, from electrical and transmission, to a leaky moon roof and windows, and finally the head gasket/engine and exhaust. It caused me many a headache and heartache this past year when it would die at stoplights, but through it all it was still MY car.

The engine roared for me a final time this weekend, as I moved it out of the driveway in preparation for the tow truck. It died just as I made it into the street, never to start again. The starter, knowing its fate, had given up on life. I donated the car to charity, so even though it has died, the proceeds from the sale will help children live. (Plus a nice tax deduction for me!)

Goodbye, old friend, I shall remember the journeys we took together and the good times we shared, especially the warm summer nights with the moon shining through the open roof and good tunes on the tape deck.

 

My Favorite Story From “The Onion”

Second-Graders Wow Audience With School Production Of Equus

January 25, 2006 | Issue 42•04

NEWPORT NEWS, VA—Second-grade students at Franklin Elementary School impressed parents, teachers, and fellow students with their recent production of Peter Shaffer’s Equus Friday.

Enlarge Image Alan Strang (Kyle Keever, 7) prepares to blind a horse (Kate Piper, 7).

The avant-garde play, described by audience members as “adorable,” was originally produced in London in 1973. The story revolves around troubled 17-year-old Alan Strang, played by Kyle Keever, 7, and his encounters with his psychiatrist after he blinds six horses with a metal spike. The play focuses on the causes underlying a seemingly senseless act of violence, and forces characters and audience members alike to confront questions of responsibility and ultimate meaning.

“The kids loved it,” teacher and director Michael Komarek said. “Once they stopped screaming about horses getting their eyes gouged out and realized that it was just a launching point for more complex ideas about alienation from the modern world, they rolled up their sleeves and dug right in.”

Despite its truncated 30-minute length and shoestring budget, the production—which received a standing ovation from a sold-out crowd of 65 in the school cafeteria—attested to the resonant themes of Shaffer’s play.

 

Read the full story here.

Advertising Fail

 

 

Hmm… with sales prices like this, no wonder Circuit City went out of business!

Watch a Trailer, Save a Life. It’s That Easy!

Many of you probably know that my daughter was born with a congenital heart defect called Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) and required open-heart surgery a week after she was born.  (More info can be found from this post.)  Today she is a healthy, active, “normal” two year old thanks to the doctors at Children’s Hospital of Illinois and research funded by The Children’s Miracle Network. 

Now you can help save the lives of millions of children just like my daughter without spending any money or exerting much effort.  WordPress and Showtime have teamed together to support the Children’s Miracle Network.  All you have to do is scroll down to the red box with the CMN logo on the bottom right side of my blog and click on the box that says “Help now. It’s free”.  Showtime will ask you to watch a short trailer for one of their series.  (When I clicked, it was for Nurse Jackie, which looks like an awesome show starring Edie Falco from The Sopranos.) 

 That is ALL you have to do and Showtime will make a donation to The Children’s Miracle Network!  (C’mon, it’s not like you weren’t going to watch some trailers on the net today anyway!)

UPDATE:  (11/12/09) Showtime’s sponsorship has ended.  Thank you to everyone that watched a trailer and left a message.  With your help we raised over $5,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network!

Broadway in 3-D

How would you like to see a Broadway show in 3-D?  (I know, “Isn’t ALL live theatre essentially in 3-D?“)  SHUT UP AND READ!

A company called Fugobi is pitching the idea of filming Broadway productions to be shown on movie screens in a 3-D format.  Producers Dale Smith and Tim Hickson shared their ideas for a “21st century model for theatrical distribution”  with an audience of Broadway producers, tour presenters and industry professionals at the Broadway League’s annual Spring Road Conference.

The project, called “fugobi broadway 3d,” is a response to “an increasing demand for interactive, integrated and inclusive entertainment options.” Smith and Hickson’s “fugobi broadway 3d” will combine “the unique thrill of live performance with the captivating experience of 3D film, bringing the Broadway experience to digital cinemas across the United States and around the world.” It will give “Broadway fans a new way to enjoy and interact with their favorite shows and to expand Broadway’s reach by giving new audiences the chance to see the best that Broadway has to offer without having to travel further than their local cinemas.”  -Kenneth Jones, Playbill on-line.

 I think it is a FANTASTIC idea!  There is still nothing to equal the thrill of seeing a show live, but this sounds like it will come close.  It would be a wonderful opportunity for both new and seasoned Broadway fans to see some of the Award winning performances up close that they may have missed because they live hundreds or thousands of miles away from New York city.  

In these economic times, I may not be able to afford a trip to NYC and a $100 theatre ticket, but I CAN afford $15 and a trip to the movie theater! 

Read the full article by Kenneth Jones at Playbill.com .