Well that sucked ass. One trip down, three to go before the end of the year (and still three more in January). I'm so happy I think I might die. If I don't drop into a sleep-deprived coma first.
I keep re-living the horror of having to sleep in a bathtub Monday night. And every time I do, I think back to Tyrone the seeing-eye dog and how he had to stay all scrunched up under two people's feet for 3-1/2 hours on a plane and wonder if doggies retain memories of bad things in their lives, or if they just forget about them the minute they've ended. If that's the case, I really envy dogs.
A lot of crap happened in the past three days and, since I haven't been around, so we're going to catch up bullet-style...
• Mind the Gap. As an American bloke fascinated by foreign accents, I have no problem admitting that I'm a little smitten by the lovely voice of the London Underground announcements every time I visit. Turns out the lovely woman who creates them, Emma Clarke, was recently fired because of some comments that came out of a series of spoof Underground announcements she did for her site (and don't overlook her blog, which is great). This makes me very sad, and I hope that this terrible mistake is soon rectified so I can be happy again...
• Olympical. Turns out not all international news is bad. Beautiful Vancouver, BC (my neighbor to the north) has just released the mascots for the 2010 Olympic Games, and they're great! Whoever came up with the idea of using a sasquatch as mascot is a frickin' genius. I cannot wait until they start selling Quatchi plush toys...
• Macintosh Bargains. Just dropped a nice chunk of cash at the European-Indie Programmers "Give Good Food to your Mac Promotion," which has a line-up of incredible Macintosh programs at ridiculous bundle prices (anywhere from 30% to 70% off depending on how much you buy). These are not crappy bottom-drawer apps that nobody wants, they're all high-quality, totally professional releases you can't live without! I bought an even dozen... some I probably don't need but, at 70% off, I couldn't resist.
• Kindling. Finally got to play with an Amazon Kindle digital book. It's worse than I thought, which is pretty bad. In a day and age where the bar for stunning design in physical structure, user interface, and usability has been set so incredibly high (thanks Apple!)... how can companies release such total crap and think people won't notice? Here was an opportunity to finally get digital book distribution just the boost it needed to go mainstream, and Amazon totally dropped the ball. Tragic. If you are considering the purchase of one of these DRM-laden, hideously expensive, ugly-as-sin monstrosities... I highly recommend seeing one in person before parting with your hard-earned money.
• Daisies. Yet another amazing episode of Pushing Daisies is unfolding tonight. I sure hope the rumors of the writers strike being settled are true, because I needs me the new television shows! Death by pink goo... what a way to go.
And with that, I should probably get some sleep. I've got a full day tomorrow before heading out again.
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Personally, I liked the “Don’t mess with the Pie Ho’s!” line. 🙂
OMG, Dave, you’re right–those mascots are fantastic! I hope I get to travel to Vancouver soon; preferably before the Olympics. My dad loved it there, and he and I shared travel sentiments almost universally.
Those mascots look suspiciously Japanese to me . . . very kawaii!
I have always envied dogs, but mostly for their ability to lick themselves.
Awww… miga is so cute!
Thanks for the link to Emma Clarke’s blog. I have been wanting to learn more about that story! I am a bit smitten as well 🙂
Yeah, that was a great episode of Daisies.
Where can you get a look at a Kindle in person?
I gotta ask, I notice how your banner image (in addition to your postage stamp self portrait) changes based upon the content of that day’s post (today’s, for example, is ass on a platter and you open with “That sucked ass”). Is this something where you pick which one goes up when you write the post or do you have some sort of smart or keyword-based setup determining what images are up there. Or is this just some strange coincidence entirely and nothing is done on your end and I just wind up seeing the perfect image each time I visit?
You know I was down this morning then I read your blog!
Please continue to deliver the swift kick in the head I need every morning.
I love that woman! I’m going to London in March and I was really excited for some “Mind the Gap” gear… humm… I wonder if she’ll still be there!
I read somewhere that a dog’s memory is good for about 45 minutes and after that, it’s gone. That’s why we get the same jump-up-and-down greeting whether we’ve just come back from the store or a two week vacation. HOWEVER, a dog will retain a TRICK, taught once and never repeated, for as long as SEVEN YEARS! Trivia for the day.
You’ve reminded me that I need a MIND THE GAP t-shirt (in extra small, tight, slinky spandex, and — oh — cropped off so my tummy shows at the bottom) quickly. I love the Olympic paraphanelia(?)……BOO. And I keep thinking of you in that bathtub too…..and laughing and laughing and laughing……(don’t hate me)
“the truth ain’t like puppies….a bunch of them running around…you pick your favorite.”
this week’s daisies was better than last week’s, methinks. i sure hope alfredo comes back!
i hope you got some sleep…that whole bathtub thing seemed awful.
i’m pretty sure dogs can remember – why else would my dog pee when she sees men with beards? because she was abused by one. scary, sad stuff!
Those are cool mascots. I liked the one’s they picked for the Salt Lake games in 2002, too:
2002 mascots
You don’t understand why companies can put out crap for products and expect people not to notice?
Are you kidding?
I thought you watched Idiocracy?!?!?
I’m in love with Emma Clarke. I imagine she looks just like Elizabeth Hurley.
I gotta catch Pushing Daisies in reruns or see if their on the web.
And the are cuter.
If you put some earmuffs on Bad Monkey I bet he could be an Olympic mascot, too.
Olympic mascots are already on sale, local news talked to a bunch of folks and the reviews are mixed. Not a lot in the positive except from kids and the young at heart.
Check here for the mascots.
I am in love with those Olympic mascots… Brilliant!