Plat du jour--guest submission

From Carolyn Ann's collection.

Yawn of the day

Another New Jersey Lawmaker Charged with Corruption

Plat du jour

Weekly free associations

1. Disguised :: Hidden


2. Big wheel :: VIP


3. Irritating :: Pest


4. Care :: Charity


5. Grandpa :: Grandma


6. Shooting :: Pain


7. Sunglasses :: Shades


8. Stampede :: Cattle


9. Painstakingly :: Exact


10. Terrible position :: ??

From: Unconscious Mutterings

Plat du jour--guest submission

From Carolyn Ann's collection

Semi-random thoughts

● I got a campaign e-mail from Mark Green, candidate for NYC Public Advocate, which includes his proposals for

GOVERNMENT 2.0: NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR A NEW DEMOCRACY

•Implement “Open 311” by making 311 accessible over the Internet in real-time.
•Make government information available in real-time through an “Open Data Directive” to leave the era of burdensome freedom of information requests behind.

along with other computer/internet-based proposals. But I really have to wonder how good he and he staff will be at these things--the e-mail started "Dear [Firstname]."

● I just ordered a 2-year calendar for 2010-11. I sure hope that isn't tempting fate.

● Does anyone really care what John McCain thinks anymore? (Well I suppose he's a better Republican voice than Rush Limbaugh.)

Plat du jour

I think this just might belong to a New York artist of some sort.

Headline of the day

Man with Spears tattoo steals earring-wearing dog

Dear God, Please send a hurricane to Florida

Not a real big bad one, you know, just enough of one to shut Crist up.

Thanks,
Caprice

Is God protecting Fla. at Gov. Crist's request?

Plat du jour

Nick's ride, I think.

Weekly free associations

Late again this week.

1. Delayed :: Reaction


2. Irresponsible :: Teenager


3. Stupendous :: Tremendous


4. Barcelona :: Spain


5. Solution :: Simple


6. Simplify :: Explain


7. Crumble :: Toast


8. Podcast :: Download


9. Conversation :: Piece


10. Homepage :: Excite

From: Unconscious Mutterings

Plat du jour--guest submission

From Carolyn Ann

Semi-random thoughts

● The current Dear Abby is every bit as good as her mother. Maybe better. She's much better than the advice columnist Newsday uses--although that might be partially due to the fact that they run her column in such a small space.

● Someone commented on a friend's FB post:

when you start using words that a ph.d. candidate doesn't know in your facebook status then...

(well, i don't know but i wanted to point out that I have no idea what "sartorial" means)

A PhD candidate!?!! I learned that word in junior high school (I think it was in connection with an excerpt of Carlyle's Sartor Resartus that we read for English class). Anyhow, I checked his profile and found out that he goes to Stony Brook--so I would take any PhD granted there with a good-sized grain of salt.

● My Amazon Visa card is being upgraded to a Visa Signature card. The big difference is that there will be a new category of rebates. I'll get 2% for gas, dining, and drugstore purchases (and office supply stores also, according to the fine print). My American Express Blue Cash card gives me 5% for gas and drugstores (and supermarkets), but only 1.25% for the others. So it looks like I'll be using the Visa in restaurants and Staples starting in October.

Plat du jour

A Robert Frost fan?

Best Overheard in New York of the day

Asian girl #1: Hey, did you guys smell that in that building back there?
Orthodox Jewish girl and guy: No, what?
Asian girl #1: It totally smelled like bacon!
Asian girl #2: Yeah! You're right, oh...
Orthodox Jewish girl and guy: Yeah... hm. So that's what bacon smells like?

Source

Headline of the day

Man Rescues Falcon from Gang of Bully Pigeons

Runner-up: B'klyn Man Says Cell Phone Turns on Oven

This is just stupid

It was bad enough they made a 150lb cupcake. Now this:
1,224-pound cupcake sets record as world's largest.

Plat du jour

A night shot, so you can't see that the car was a quite blue.

The best pie chart ever

Source
HT to Veronica

Weekly free associations

I'm late this week.

1. Death :: Panel


2. Identified :: As


3. Saturday :: Night


4. Dumped :: Upon


5. Division :: Long


6. Stilted :: Overly Formal


7. Crimes :: Punishments


8. Stumped :: No idea


9. Future :: Past


10. Team :: Work

From: Unconscious Mutterings

Glob anniversary

I just noticed that yesterday was the fourth anniversary of this blog. This is the 1,496th post. I've attracted over 58,500 visitors--despite the fact that I no longer try to post every day, I no longer post much about what I'm doing (I now use Facebook and Twitter for that), and I seldom post reviews of anything. Still, people keep coming--an average of 40 per day. So I must be doing something right. Thanks for visiting.

Plat du jour

I see Lubby? I club by? I have no idea.

And her dog ate her son's genitals

Expert: Dog could have severed boy's genitals

Everyone seems to be blaming their pets.

Plat du jour

Did they win this car?

Tweet of the day

Dear gym teacher of 1984, Sorry I went along with the 8th grade in calling you Thunder Thighs. Please know I have them now too. Love, me.

--@vmarinelli

Plat du jour--guest submission

This is better than 3BRATS, I guess. Found by Joanne.

Semi-random thoughts

● Why are the plums I just bought more ripe than the remaining ones I got a week ago?

● We arrived back at Penn Station at exactly the same time I was finishing the first Harry Potter book. However, unlike Harry in the last scene in the book, we did not come in on track 9 3/4.

● How did I get a subscription to Rolling Stone?

● My doctor is happy with my blood sugar and cholesterol numbers. So am I.

● I got a notice of our health insurance renewal. Our rate is going up 17%! Granted, it did not go up at all last year, but this is very high even over a 2 year period.

Plat du jour

And his dog ate his homework

Treasure Coast man blames cat for downloaded child pornography

HT to Patrick Yacco

Plat du jour

Let's hear it for technology

Paterson Hospital To Let Abuse Victims Get Restraining Orders

I ♥ NYC

From Overheard in New York:

Bible thumper: I love you all... even you, sir.
Man: I hate you.

--A Train

Plat du jour

Never forget what? POWs? Trade Center victims?

Facebook status of the day

Mother:"You're President of the abstinence club!"
Daughter: "Well, I wasn't planning on running for a second term."

Plat du jour--Music Department, part 5

This one is a bit confusing. RAGX means ragtime (clue: the plate frame), but 4MI? For me? Four miles? For M.I.? Form I? I dunno.

I thought I didn't want to hear another word about Michael Jackson

But I was wrong.

From Overheard in New York:

Jew for Jesus, holding out pamphlet: Here, have one.
Woman: Hmm?
Jew for Jesus: It's about Jesus!
Woman: Oh, I'm not interested in him. I thought it was about Michael Jackson.

Plat du jour--Music Department, part 4

I find a lot of these musically-related plates in the Tanglewood parking lots. This belongs to a string quartet player.

Weekly free associations

I missed a week.

1. Memo :: Cube


2. Copy :: Machine


3. Office :: Depot


4. Stapler :: Jammed


5. Paycheck :: None


6. Watercooler :: Waste


7. Desk :: Messy


8. Human :: Resources


9. Resort :: Last


10. Boss :: None

1. Taxman :: Beatles


2. Material :: Girl


3. Format :: Disk


4. File cabinet :: Need


5. Ignore :: Facebook


6. Super! :: Glue!


7. Fireproof :: Building


8. Blockbuster :: Gone


9. Snooper :: Pooper


10. Good will :: Hunting

From: Unconscious Mutterings

Plat du jour

Movie quiz

If you get 7 out of 10 right you're a "Movie Star," 4 to 6 right a "Best Supporting Actor" and 3 or less a "Lowly Usher." Answers in the comments. (I got 4 right.)

(1) "The Jazz Singer" was the first talking film. What year did it open?

(2) First animation film ever nominated for "Best Foreign Film" Oscar.

(3) The two films receiving the most nominations for an Oscar are "All About Eve" and "Titanic." How many nominations did each receive?

(4) Name 3 of the 7 actors who played "The Magnificent Seven" (1960).

(5) A film about blacklisting in which Woody Allen starred but did not write or direct.

(6) The actor who holds the record for most leading roles, 142 films.

(7) John Huston directed both his daughter and father in movies for which they each won an Oscar. What movies?

(8) Clark Gable did not win the best actor Oscar for "Gone With the Wind." Who did win that year?

(9) Francis Ford Coppola directed 2 films which won consecutive best picture Oscars. Which films?

(10) Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift were film stars in a Theodore Dreiser tragedy. Which film?

HT to Elliot Kanbar, president of the Quad Cinema

Plat du jour

Ironically, I saw this while waiting on the line to get into the Katy Perry performance, which stretched half-way around the block.

EDIT: It was the line that stretched half-way around the block, not the performance. The performance pretty much stuck to the stage, and when she tried to crowd surf at the end her security grabbed her legs and wouldn't let her do it.

Headline of the day

Mom of decapitated baby: 'I didn't mean to do it'

This is so sad.

Plat du jour--guest submission

Found by Joanne.

Weird headline of the day

Alcohol-fueled brawl clouds Maine cod fish races

Plat du jour

Plat du jour--guest submission

Joanne found this one. Perhaps it was on the vehicle they're building in Central Park, right next to the zoo.

Yogi Berra is alive and well, writing for Time Magazine

Sharp was known in Washington as one of the best lawyers nobody knew.

From Inside Bush and Cheney's Final Days

Plat du jour

Marian? Batman?

Tweet of the day

(well, yesterday)

When the husband and kids are gone is a great time to let my hair down & do crazy stuff they'd never understand. Now eating brussel sprouts!

Plat du jour--guest submission

Yes, the Mets do now play at Citi Field.

Another one found by Joanne.

Tweet your prayers to the Western Wall!

New service lets Jews tweet a prayer to God

It's @TheKotel

Plat du jour

Adopts what? Children? Pets? Laws?

Living with wild turkeys VI

Aggressive Turkey Moves into Tenafly Neighborhood

I ♥ NYC!

From Overheard in New York:

Bimbette #1: So then I found out he hooked up with Amy while I was peeing in the bathroom.
Bimbette #2: Did you still sleep with him?
Bimbette #1: Yeah, of course! Why should I let her have all the fun? I just don't know what to do now, though cause I feel like I had her sloppy seconds.
Random lady sitting in front of them: Girls can you shut the hell up already? I'm trying to enjoy a quiet train ride home. No one here cares who you slept with, we all know you're gonna be with a different guy next week, anyway.
(girls jump up and run out of train car, one in tears)

--Penn Station

Headline of the day

Gravedigger helped unearth Ill. cemetery scandal

Semi-random thoughts

● I ♥ superglue.

● I was headlined in a post by Burlesque Magazine on FB. They probably misread the article from last fall that they linked to, thinking I perform. Still, it's an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence with Murray Hill, Angie Pontani, and Peekaboo Pointe.

● Is anything ever monged besides fish?

● I got my new DVR hooked up (the hard drive in the old one died Sunday). It's a new model, and I gained some new functions, but lost some old ones. It's nice getting black (not gray) bars on the sides of 4X3 programs automatically, but I miss being able to buffer two shows at once--though I think if I record both of them I will be able to switch back and forth, fast-forwarding through the commercials. The new remote that came with it can actually power on the TV and the A/V receiver, and control the audio volume via the receiver as well.

● What exactly do they do at the dress rehearsal of a burlesque show?

Presidential quote of the day

For people who want a president to look great in tight jeans, I'm sorry."

From the AP

Plat du jour

Sorry, but the West Village is in New York, not New Jersey.

Twitter exchange of the day

XXXXXXXX:

I'm driving I'm driving - oops guess I shouldn't be tweeting :)

YYYYYYYY:

@XXXXXXXX Yay! You get your license back???

Plat du jour

Weekly free associations

1. Banter :: Yak


2. Amazing :: Race


3. Towel :: Washcloth


4. Cinema :: Movie


5. Newspaper :: Times


6. Not good :: Bad


7. My type :: O+


8. Twinkle :: Twinkle Little Star


9. Actress :: Actor


10. Daft :: Crazy

From: Unconscious Mutterings

Plat du jour

I wonder if they're any relation to QQQQQ?

Huh?

150-pound Minn. cupcake sets Guinness record

I thought the whole idea of cupcakes is that they're small.

Weekly free associations

Gosh, it's been a long time since I posted anything.

1. Sister :: Twisted


2. Talks :: Walks


3. Electric! :: Company


4. Corner :: Store


5. Turnstile :: Subway


6. Swap :: Meet


7. Young :: Restless


8. Horrific :: Terrible


9. Block :: Party


10. Wind :: Chimes

1. Independence :: Day


2. Meltdown :: Atomic


3. Vulture :: Bird


4. Hope :: Faith


5. Float :: Boat


6. Hole :: Wall


7. Trespass :: Forgive


8. Moving :: Target


9. Extinct :: Dead


10. Alligator :: Crocodile

From: Unconscious Mutterings

Plat du jour

I wonder if he knows the MINISTER.

Yawn headline of the day

Nielsen: Kids spending more time online

Report from the Berkshires II: Wildlife sighting

I have not seen any of the bears that our inn warned us about. However, yesterday morning we saw a fox wandering around the lawn of the place. It was maybe 10 yards away, and just stood there looking at us for a while (and vice versa). I tried to get a picture of it, but my cellphone camera failed me.

Plat du jour

Where in the world is he? Taanglewood.

Report from the Berkshires

I haven't been eaten by a bear. So far.

Plat du jour

I wonder who's driving her.

Mother knows best

From Overheard in New York:

Girl: I told my mom that I would probably be alone for the rest of my life. Yesterday she sent me an e-mail with a link to petfinder.com.

--Student Center, Barnard

Plat du jour

Weekly free associations

I almost forgot this week's.

1. Guest :: Host


2. Impact :: Sudden


3. Unplanned :: Pregnancy


4. Tactic :: Strategy


5. Delayed :: Response


6. Bombastic :: Reaction


7. Comfort :: Inn


8. Trumpet :: Trombone


9. Joe :: the Plumber


10. Budget :: Rent-a-car

HT to Unconscious Mutterings.

Plat du jour--guest find

Found by singer/songwriter Namoli Brennet. It's been too long since I heard her singing live.

Headline of the day

Anti-Anxiety Drugs Raise New Fears

HT to Ivan Dominguez

Plat du jour

On a great big SUV, the perfect urban vehicle. Not.

It was stopped at a red light, so I couldn't get real close. This is greatly enlarged.

Weekly free asssociations

I forgot to do these for a while.

1. Divorce :: Court


2. Napkin :: Paper


3. Camera :: Digital


4. Leather :: Stormy


5. Fractures :: Breaks


6. Flip out :: Go crazy


7. Coroner :: Forensics


8. Atomic :: Particles


9. Liz :: Smith


10. Leave :: Go away

1. Nudity :: Partial


2. Domestic :: Foreign


3. Burp :: Baby


4. Baby :: Burp


5. Dateline :: Television


6. Retract :: Claws


7. Suppose :: Real


8. Surreal :: Dali


9. Infidelity :: No-no


10. Token :: Subway

1. Hockey :: Ice


2. Twirling :: Pasties


3. Montreal :: Donna


4. Better :: Best


5. New :: Old


6. Rally :: Political


7. Stanley :: Livingstone


8. USB :: Connection


9. Scouted :: Out


10. Cough :: Syrup

HT to Unconscious Mutterings.

Plat du jour--guest submission

I guess this person is unseasoned.

From Carolyn Ann's collection.

Semi-random thoughts

● Shaquille O'Neal traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers! Yes!

● I was invited to a political event called "Late Night." It starts at 8:30. No wonder so many politicians seem to be anti-nightlife. They don't know the first thing about it.

● I got called for jury duty. I ♥ jury duty. (I am a lawyer. I enjoy seeing the law at work.) It's even at a convenient date.

● Why are conservatives in favor of charter schools, saying it's good for the public schools to have competition, yet they are opposed to the government giving private health insurance some competition?

Plat du jour

Help needed for GENDA and DASA NOW!

NYers! Get GENDA and DASA voted on! Call the governor's office. 518-474-8390. Tell the Governor who you are, your zipcode, and that you are in favor of GENDA S2406, and DASA S1987A, and that you want to make sure that are included on the list of bills for any special session called by Governor Paterson. Make sure you mention the bill numbers! (This is very important!)

Thanks!

Plat du jour--guest submission

Joanne again.

Great! It's outdoors, so people can smoke

Obama to sign anti-smoking bill in Rose Garden

OK, I'll admit to taking a cheap shot in order to make a joke here. I really doubt anyone directly involved will be smoking at the ceremony, and smoking might very well be banned in the Rose Garden. In fact, I have no idea what the White House smoking rules are.

Plat du jour

Neo-Nazis 1, Jews 1

Road cleaned by neo-Nazis may be named for rabbi

Plat du jour--guest submission

Found on a cute, little Mini Cooper by former mHB member Carolyn Ann. This is the first of a large number of plates she has given to me. Thanks, Carolyn.

Living with mountain lions III

Chihuahuas Confront Cougar in SoCal Garage

Plat du jour--guest submission

Joanne keeps finding them.

Semi-random thoughts

● My bank wants me to put "Retired" for employer on forms I submit, not "None." I guess that makes a difference.

● I did a reply all to an e-mail I received, and got back an "Automatic Response" saying

Hello, I am away until February 28, 2007 and am unable to read your message.

● I hate it when people cc me on their replies to e-mails from others, without copying the original message. I'm left guessing what the original message said.

● The Indians actually climbed out of last place for 2 or 3 days, but they're back in the cellar now. The Central Division is so even they're only a game and a half out of third place, and 6.5 out of first.

● I generally stay away from all those silly Facebook quizzes, but sometimes I can't resist. I succumbed to the "Do You Make A Better Man or Woman?" quiz and got the result: You Are 48% Male, 52% Female. They got that one right.

Plat du jour

I think a fishnet bodysuit might qualify

From Overheard in New York:

Son to father: Daddy, do they sell Spiderman clothes in here?
Father: No, I am pretty sure they don't sell Spiderman stuff in here.
Son: Yes they do!

--Victoria's Secret

Plat du jour--guest submission

Joanne keeps finding them.

That's telling him

From Overheard in New York:

Male suit: See, look at her! (points at woman on BlackBerry) Women are more likely to get killed while texting than men. Men are always aware of their surroundings.
Female suit: No, men just can't walk and text at the same time. Women are better at multi-tasking.
Male suit: Alright, since you're so good at multi-tasking, suck my dick and make me a sandwich.
Female suit: I've got news for you. If you keep eating sandwiches, even hookers won't want to suck your dick.

Plat du jour--guest submission

A wonderful plate.
Another find by Joanne.

Is there a copy editor in the house?

I got an ad today for a product which will remain nameless to protect the guilty. It read:

It is proven to withstand rain, wind and even precipitation.

Plat du jour--guest find

I'm sure Howard University is very proud to have graduated a thug.

I find it curious, though, that the license plate holder says "Alumni." If it were the Howard University Alumni Association the plural would be fine, or if the car were co-owned by two or more Howard grads. But I suspect it belongs to a Howard alumnus, who never took ancient Greek from its Classics Department. (I doubt an alumna would have such a plate, but I'm just going by gender stereotypes here.)

Found by Victoria Marinelli

Oh, no! What am I going to do for foundation?

P&G phasing out Max Factor in US

Maybe that's why one of the Duane Reades in my neighborhood didn't have a Max Factor section when I went last week. I did get one from a different store, and ordered more online. I think I'll order a whole bunch more.

Plat du jour

Could this belong to Murray Hill, the hardest-working middle-aged man in show business?

Headline of the day

Family axes wedding plans, Egyptian cuts off organ

Apparently they won't use "penis" in a headline. Stupid.

Weekly free associations

1. Nursery :: School


2. Side effect :: Possible


3. Heart to heart :: Talk


4. Try :: Try again


5. Hog :: Warts


6. Symptom :: Fever


7. Collide :: Conduct


8. Fury :: Sound


9. Incorporated :: Limited


10. Summer :: Winter

HT to Unconscious Mutterings.