Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Remember
Remember, remember the sixth of December:
From two until five o'clock
All persons of reason
Should be in due season
At the Bookworm in Frisco, 'ey wot?
More later.
UPDATE (11/7): Or not. (see 11/7 post)
From two until five o'clock
All persons of reason
Should be in due season
At the Bookworm in Frisco, 'ey wot?
More later.
UPDATE (11/7): Or not. (see 11/7 post)
Labels: In Print
Monday, October 27, 2008
The Great Gum Gambit
There's a scene toward the end of The Great Escape where a pair of escaped Allied POWs get themselves captured when a Gestapo dude addresses them in English and they respond in kind. I've adopted this to busting the gum-chewers in my classroom (too often when you directly confront chewers they tuck the gum up in their cheeks and deny its existence).
Here's how to play:
So far I've busted two perps with this technique. Yeah, perps.
Book 'em, Danno.
Here's how to play:
- Observe student chewing gum.
- Request they spit out the green piece of gum they're chewing*.
- Wait for them to pull out their white/red/tan/blue piece of gum and insist it isn't green.
- Make them spit out their non-green colored piece of gum
So far I've busted two perps with this technique. Yeah, perps.
Book 'em, Danno.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The Jeffersons
President William Jefferson Clinton came to Thomas Jefferson High School on Oct. 15, to support senate candidate Rick Noriega. The evening was as much pep rally as stump speech, and a good time was had by all.
A couple oddnesses: the Billy Joel selections in the pre-event background music mix included "Only the Good Die Young" and "You May Be Right" (which includes the lyric: "You may be right / I may be crazy / But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for"). Might I suggest "We Didn't Start the Fire" next time....
Also, Clinton made the mother of all faux pas with his "barring some miracle Obama will be the next president." Ouch.
Not sure if my vote was swayed; I do think the threat of filibuster is an important check in Congress, but we'll see....
Some pix:
And here's a few video snippets from the evening.
In his comments, Clinton mentioned when he grows up he wants to be able to tie a bowtie like John Wiley Price does. If you're not familiar with JWP and his haberdashery, behold.
A couple oddnesses: the Billy Joel selections in the pre-event background music mix included "Only the Good Die Young" and "You May Be Right" (which includes the lyric: "You may be right / I may be crazy / But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for"). Might I suggest "We Didn't Start the Fire" next time....
Also, Clinton made the mother of all faux pas with his "barring some miracle Obama will be the next president." Ouch.
Not sure if my vote was swayed; I do think the threat of filibuster is an important check in Congress, but we'll see....
Some pix:
- Clinton and Noriega
- Clinton at the lectern: 1, 2, 3, 4
- Presidential Salute
- Near the wings: 1, 2, 3
- Phil in the audience
- Phil in the aisle, getting closer to the president (the blur by the blurry Texas flag)
And here's a few video snippets from the evening.
In his comments, Clinton mentioned when he grows up he wants to be able to tie a bowtie like John Wiley Price does. If you're not familiar with JWP and his haberdashery, behold.
Labels: Bill Clinton, Philpix
Monday, October 20, 2008
(Not Quite) Free, At Last!
But at least under $50 for a tank of gas. Sixteen gallons at $2.559: $41 and change.
Good times.
Good times.
Labels: Good Times
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Turnip Remote Taffy
It doesn't bother me that I'm #1 on a Google search for "Turnip Remote Taffy," as much as it does that someone would be searching for that in the first place.
Labels: I'm Just Saying, Stats
Saturday, October 11, 2008
It's a Small (and Creepy) World
Just read this post over at Mark Bertrand's "Write About Now" blog: There's a Story All Right.
Flashback eighteen years ago: Dina and I were still living in Sunnyvale, taking our annual Thanksgiving trip to Eugene, Ore. We're halfway through the Cascades, near Mount Shasta, snow all around, though thankfully the roads aren't icy. Our bladders are full and the roadsigns give no hope of rest stop any time soon. Then we come upon a gas station/bar/store in the middle of nowhere. Ever the gent, I let Dina use the facilities first. She comes out with a strange look on her face, which in my haste to push past her, I take for relief.
Nope. Clawfoot bathtub complete with half-dressed mannequin. I think she had on less than the picture at Mark's site and was more slumped in the tub (it was the middle of night, so she was probably (un)dressed for bed). Same sketchy guy at the bar when I came out, though.
I've almost forgiven Dina for not saying anything about the surprise in the bath ... but, yeah, there's definitely a story.
Flashback eighteen years ago: Dina and I were still living in Sunnyvale, taking our annual Thanksgiving trip to Eugene, Ore. We're halfway through the Cascades, near Mount Shasta, snow all around, though thankfully the roads aren't icy. Our bladders are full and the roadsigns give no hope of rest stop any time soon. Then we come upon a gas station/bar/store in the middle of nowhere. Ever the gent, I let Dina use the facilities first. She comes out with a strange look on her face, which in my haste to push past her, I take for relief.
Nope. Clawfoot bathtub complete with half-dressed mannequin. I think she had on less than the picture at Mark's site and was more slumped in the tub (it was the middle of night, so she was probably (un)dressed for bed). Same sketchy guy at the bar when I came out, though.
I've almost forgiven Dina for not saying anything about the surprise in the bath ... but, yeah, there's definitely a story.
Labels: Friends, Good Times
Friday, October 10, 2008
So Close
Filled up the car this morning for $3.199/gallon. Final tally: $50.02.
Oh so close to breaking the half-century mark....
Oh so close to breaking the half-century mark....
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Another Thing I'm Getting Too Old For
Went to the Texas State Fair today. Rode the Gravitron (they call it something like Spaceship 2000, but it's the old Gravitron ride). Big mistake. Managed not to get sick, but it was close.
Also ate many deep-fried things (which I'm almost too old for, but not quite yet). Deep-fried ice cream, coated in chocolate sauce and Pop-Rocks, and topped with a Twizzler? OK. Chicken-fried bacon? Not bad, but needed cream gravy. Deep-fried grilled cheese sandwich? Awesome.
Other highlights: U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps and a kid-oriented science show. Neither was deep-fried, but both were very good, nonetheless.
If you're in the neighborhood, you really should check out the fair. (Parking in Remote Lot 13 entitles you to a free train ride to the fair and back; lifting your hands and shouting "wheeeeeee!!!" is optional.)
Also ate many deep-fried things (which I'm almost too old for, but not quite yet). Deep-fried ice cream, coated in chocolate sauce and Pop-Rocks, and topped with a Twizzler? OK. Chicken-fried bacon? Not bad, but needed cream gravy. Deep-fried grilled cheese sandwich? Awesome.
Other highlights: U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps and a kid-oriented science show. Neither was deep-fried, but both were very good, nonetheless.
If you're in the neighborhood, you really should check out the fair. (Parking in Remote Lot 13 entitles you to a free train ride to the fair and back; lifting your hands and shouting "wheeeeeee!!!" is optional.)
Labels: Fast Food, State Fair
