Bonus Post: Thing 21

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 21:

File this under how you made my college experience the "bestest" ... but Jon M, you were indeed the "bestest" college roommate a guy could have.  And with only 21 days until the end of the world (and since this is your birthday and all), I'll pause for a quick minute and thank you first of all for being a multi-semester co-dorm-er (after all, I was on a run of single semester ones -- not my fault, just circumstance, right?) ... so you brought a bit of stability into my life back then.  Plus you introduced me to golf (Fred Couples, right?) and to country music (Reba and Garth both) ... and you were there the one and only time I ever consumed a boatload of SoCo that Thanksgiving break eve (and when I climbed all over the lobby and told everyone in German that I was going to "fly like in the Reebok commercials" -- and sorry about the morning after when I tried every 20 minutes for about 7 hours to rid my stomach of any bile it still had in it) ... and you provided the group of us some of the best mix tapes ever (FE213 Anthology pt 1 and 2 ... and yes, we're that old that cassettes were a method of communication back when we were in college) ... and you helped co-parent the illegal kitten Smokey  for quite a few months in the room at the end of the hall that we declared, by its position there, to be exempt from any rules and regulations.  As the kids nowadays say ... good times ... good times ... 

Random Flashback for Friday 11/30/12

It's the holidays (as far as I'm concerned ... I'm getting the tree tonight and decorating this weekend)!

And this, true to the usual construct for these flashbacks, is a picture of ME -- well, ME from twenty years ago at a family gathering in 1992.  And look at me so skinny and with so much hair (and so accessorized -- is that a ring, a watch, a choker and a stud I see PLUS my very dirty backwards hat that I wore everywhere for awhile back then) ...

As with all of these photos, there's a story.  Remember that "family gathering"?  It was at my bio-dad's new place (I ran away in spring 1989 ... and by the holidays of 1992 he was divorced) -- which was at his just-became-his-ex-wife's ex-house in Fredericksburg (where she had previously lived with her first husband) and he was dating his just-became-his-ex-wife's previous old-boyfriend-the-preacher's ex-wife.  I think maybe spite was the gift he was giving that holiday season.

Regardless, it was a reason in that season for us to get together ... and there will be more pics in the weeks ahead ...

Bonus Post: Thing 22

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 22:

File this under under "look ma, I went and got myself a career" ... but if the world is ending in 22 days, I should probably stop and thank those who have shaped my work life once I became an adult.  Throughout this series, I've been calling out those direct supervisors of mine with whom I've spent the most time over the course of my career as "company man" since early 2004, and tonight I thank the one who was my boss for most of the last two years.  Becki K guided me (and the special team I'm on that was created as part of our restructuring) through the joys (and challenges) of working from home (biggest joy -- I can do more for more people just through the power of the laptop and many many many web-based systems ... biggest challenge -- I am tempted to graze all day and have added double digit poundage now that my snacking habits have combined with a sedentary work day in front of said laptop).  She's one of those people for whom it is a pleasure to work because she has the skill to evaluate your strengths and to feed you projects that make you more successful because they match your talents ... while still finding ways to challenge you.  I've always been lucky in this job to have bosses who were also great people -- and I'm glad she continued that trend.  As of late, she's now my grand-boss (not to imply a generational divide, but to communicate the fact that she was recently promoted and went up a level), but at least I still get to interact with her from time to time.  Thanks Becki!

Random Thought for Thursday 11/29/12

Dearest Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk:

I was catching up on my AHS episodes the other night and I finally got to episode 5.  And, unless I misread the screen, the only warning I got was for V (as per the rating system).

Frankly, that disappointed me.  Where's the S and the L and the D in that episode?  You've raised the bar in titillation, so an hour that only warrants a V makes me feel like I'm missing something -- like I'm watching something that's not "whole".

So thanks in advance for making sure the remaining episodes of the season provide a full dose of V, S, L and D.  Gots to get my fill of depravity, pretty please!

Much appreciated ... hugs and kisses ... Troy

[And while I'm drafting letters to producers ... Dearest Bertram Van Munster (yep, it's my Amazing Race Aside with three things I learned from last week's episode):

1.)  Thing ONE:  Does anything say "Cold War is over and the Communists lost" like the fact that Moscow is the city with the most billionaires?
2.)  Thing TWO:  As much as I tolerate Lexi and Trey (recall -- I still blame Lexi for being corrupted by the twinners when they got her to agree to steal the long-haireds money that one leg), part of me wanted to see if they would really fly to Paris by mistake and then figure out that they were supposed to be in Amsterdam.  That would have been classic.
3.)  Thing THREE:  And speaking of folks being corrupted by the twinners, I'm still very much rooting for the Ja(y)meses to be in it until the finish, but it broke my heart to see the pressure that poor sweet Jaymes was under during the drama of the double u-turn.  But hey -- that's the game!]

IT'S THE V/S/L/D THAT MAKES IT SO DARN GOOD:
http://www.fxnetworks.com/ahs/

MEET THE EVIL TWINNIES:
http://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/cast/183900

MOSCOW --> A BASTION FOR CAPITALISM?:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/09/us-billionaires-russia-idUSTRE7287NA20110309

Bonus Post: Thing 23

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 23:

File this under long overdue thanks ... but to the extent that I may have forgotten to be grateful for  someone who was once the world's best bartender back in the mid to late 00's (I might be just a tad biased), and with just 23 days left before the apocalypse (I'll be drinking that night too I reckon -- although you won't be there to serve the drinks any longer), here's a better-late-than-never toast to you, Travis O, for the shots, and the pints, and the penguins, and the gift of the miniature Guinness bottle, and the changing-of-the-channel to the Penn State games upon request, and the letting me be one of the last ones to leave once the lights came up -- and, most importantly, for the conversation and for keeping me company and for the connection we shared.  Cheers! 

Random Wordplay for Wednesday 11/28/12

Powerball Productivity Plunge

Used in a sentence:  "It was kind of hard to focus at work today whilst thinking about how I'd spend the winnings should my numbers get called tonight -- and since I don't suspect that I was alone in my financial daydreams, I imagine that workplaces all across the country were experience a Powerball Productivity Plunge."

A few notes should I win -- the news told me that I daresn't spend any monetary windfalls for a good six months while I find myself some financial planners, so don't come asking until at least summer 2013.  Also -- winning the lottery means that you are almost certain to lose friends and family, so you who are out there thinking I'll be the source of an unlimited supply of dollars, there's no need to hasten the inevitable.  As a matter of fact, a sure way to know that I won -- I'll probably spend the first chunk of change to legally modify my name so that I can't be found.

So here we go ... now we just wait with baited breath ... numbers clutched ... hopes alive ... until I hear that the winning ticket was sold in Chicago!

10 TIPS SHOULD IT BE YOU AND NOT ME WHO WINS:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2012/02/11/10-things-to-do-when-you-win-the-powerball/

PHYTOPLANKTON PRODUCTIVITY IS ALSO PLUNGING:
http://www.seafoodsource.com/newsarticledetail.aspx?id=18056

CHECK YOUR NUMBERS HERE:
http://www.powerball.com/pb_home.asp

Bonus Post: Thing 24

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 24:

File this under confessions ... but to the lady who ran the bed and breakfast near what once was the Funcks restaurant on the Swatara Creek out on the way to Memorial Lake near Ft. Indiantown Gap for whom I was to perform one of my Mysterious Murder Quests in the mid-nineties, you already said that you knew that the reason I had to cancel at the last minute was fabricated.  I'm just clearing my conscience now that there's (maybe) only 24 days left before the end of the world -- and so I'm finally agreeing with you (of course, since news reports say that you've passed, I'm not sure if this forgive-me-father-for-I-have-sinned moment carries much weight).  There was no sudden emergency that kept us away that night -- we just flat-out weren't prepared.  I know I can't go back in time and change things -- but if it's any solace, I did decide to disband the concept and I performed no more after I failed to uphold that obligation.  Hopefully the afterlife has the internet so that this almost 20 year old overdue apology does something more than just relieve me of the burden I've carried that long.  Sorry for letting you and your patrons down.

Random Tune for Tuesday 11/27/12

It's the holidays!

The tree and decorations won't be up in this household until the upcoming weekend, but the Christmas music has begun (since the rule is ... it's allowed on the way home from the Thanksgiving meal with the Indiana family and not before ...)!

And this relatively new album (from 2009) was the first CD I listened to this year, so it seems like such a natural fit that the first song off of it is the first tune I'll post in a series of holiday songs over the next few weeks -- a song that seems to be updating the classic lyrical feeling of Silver Bells with a decidedly NYC focus.

The random video I found on the youtube appears to be of some person's trip to that city in 2010 -- which is actually when I was also there for a December work meeting -- so the shots all look a bit familiar (but it's a completely random coincidence).  My favorite line -- "may we find in each other we're not so alone" ... bring on the goodwill-toward-men and god-bless-us-every-one!

MAY WE FIND IN EACH OTHER WE'RE NOT SO ALONE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orZb6FDw1QE

Bonus Post: Thing 25

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 25:

File this under "I was going to try to wait and outlive you and urinate on your grave" (hey -- it's not all sunshine and light when the world is ending in just 25 days (allegedly)) ... but to she whom I've referred to sometimes as my bio-dad's fourth wife or sometimes as the step-creature, I just want it to be known that I am happy with who I am and content with who I have become IN SPITE OF the way you chose to "raise" your boyfriend/husband's kids not BECAUSE of it.  To any attempts to imply that I might not have gotten to college had I not runaway from home in high school, or that the stubborn streak that has served me (mostly) well in my life wouldn't have developed otherwise had I not taken you on as an opponent in my formative years (PS -- my genetic DNA is apparently partly Prussian, so that character trait was there all along) or that the strict we-shall-not-show-love-or-affection-in-this-household beyond making sure that only the most basic of your Maslow needs were met was somehow an intentional well-meaning choice to prepare me for a cold cruel world -- I reject them all.  All that is and was positive in my life is because so many others have gone out of their way to fill in the child-raising blanks of my youth and because good always triumphs over evil (and sure, maybe the "evil" comes from the metal plate that they put in your head after your car accident when I was young -- who knows from whence it came ...)!  As a matter of fact, the only thing for which I will thank you is the statement you said that set me free nine months prior to my 18th birthday (which is when the government would have allowed me to go) -- "I should have seen to it long ago that you were dead."  That touch of crazy was the key to my freedom.  So for that -- I give you thanks -- but for absolutely nothing else.

Random Memorial for Monday 11/26/12

Gone but not forgotten:  the man behind these eyebrows.

That would be Tony Nelson to me (yep, I'm old, so I'm going with the Jeannie reference).  Admittedly -- Tony's eyebrows were much more kempt than these are -- they were featured on the JR Ewing character in the reboot of Dallas.  It's just that my 80's prime time soap of choice was more the rejected Ewings and their cul-de-sac friends on Knots Landing than the Ewings left behind on Southfork.  But I remember Jeannie and so I recognize that it's a well known celebrity who crosses many generations who has now crossed over.

Curious to see how the 2nd season of the Dallas reboot handles your demise ... and on there and in many other non-fictional places ... you will be missed.

A NOT QUITE UP TO DATE BIOGRAPHY:
http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/larry-hagman.html

BARBARA EDEN's TAKE:
http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2012/11/i-dream-of-jeannie-barbara-eden-pays-tribute-to-larry-hagman-in-an-open-letter.html

HOW WILL THEY HANDLE IT ON THE NEW DALLAS?:
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20650910,00.html

Bonus Post: Thing 26

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 26:

File this under love ya like a brother, man ... but Erik S (whose birthday is today), with just 26 days left until the world ends (I apologize in advance for reminding you of the world-ending scenarios of your youth) and absolutely no chance of me getting back to PA before the (alleged) Mayan apocalypse ... thanks for letting me play with your puppy dogs through the years ... and for conversations around a wood stove in your parents' homestead ... and for playing some memorable characters in the Mysterious Murder Quests in my college decade ... and for getting me that great deal on the motorcycle that Corey and I shared for that one summer ... and for letting me live artistically vicariously through you and your endeavors of the last few years.  Even though your prophecy during our trip to DC to be near Pearl Jam in 1995 of how we would never all be together like that in the same way again came true -- at least the fact that you and I stayed connected through the years was an exception.  Happy Impending Apocalypse to you and yours!

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 11/25/12

What Chicago is talking about this week:

The code-of-silence tax, courtesy of city cop Abbate.

With a 2011 population report of 2,707,120 in the city, and the city being tasked with paying an $850,000 judgment to a female bartender beaten by an overweight cop (the woman appears to be a third of his size), that means that each of us has to pay 31 to 32 cents for the crime (the civil trial came down to whether a code of silence permeated the police department and protected the perpetrator of the assault who was one of their own).  Considering the coward punched and kicked the bartendress about a dozen times (apparently because it was closing time at the bar and she wouldn't serve him any longer), that's only 3 cents per strike per Chicagoan.

Of course, there will be appeals and/or attempts to collect the money for the fine from other sources I'm sure (joked the woman-beater as he left the courthouse, "I think I got a VISA card in my wallet" -- by the way, I'm sure that that company just loves that association).  My idea -- something akin to an old fashion kissing booth -- with a twist.  We set up Abbate in a booth and allow anyone who has 3 cents to slap, strike, kick or punch the guy.  I'm sure people would travel from all around for the event and we'd raise tons of funds -- and we can use the first million to pay the city's fine and every other million thereafter can go to a charity that fights to stop violence against women.  

WARNING -- THIS SURVEILLANCE VIDEO IS DISTURBING:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRrpCMir_OQ

THE VISA QUOTE SOURCE:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8884926

EXCESS MONEY RAISED FROM THE ABBATE BOOTH COULD GO HERE:
http://www.menstoppingviolence.org/

Bonus Post: Thing 27

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 27:

File this under great appreciation ... but if the world is ending in just 27 days, then it was awfully nice of Cherilyn Sarkisian to release a sneak peek of a song off her album due in 2013 for those of us who might not be around to enjoy it.  [Of course, let's face it -- everybody knows that she'll survive into the post-apocalyptic times as the famous quote goes ... so there's that.]  I've been a fan for years (with just a touch of a healthy obsession in collecting and consuming her creative output of all kinds) and I think it's about how she is so comfortable in her own skin to make a career out of constantly changing it (which seems paradoxical in and of itself and just makes me appreciate her more) to which I am most drawn.  It's the "tell it like it is" attitude and the ability to prove everybody wrong and to take the word "no" as a challenge to overcome -- it's all of that wrapped up in one that provides the inspiration for me.  And for that and so much more, I offer up my gratitude to Cher in the waning (allegedly) days of this world.

Random Soapbox for Saturday 11/24/12

I don't mean to go off on a rave here, but ...

... you must go now directly to your television (or your on demand menu provided by your cable provider or your internet based consumption model for entertainment) and find and watch episodes of Prank My Mom (hint:  it's on Lifetime -- which is not just for women any more).

Don't dismiss it as "just another candid camera" show -- it's reliably laugh out loud funny in almost every set-up.  Vivaca A Fox's breasts were brought in to host around episode three (I don't know if it's wardrobe or a skeevy camera man or just her endowment, but they seem to be prominently displayed in each of her intros).  Keep an eye out for the improv actor who almost always plays a cop, as he has the uncanny ability to turn up the absurdity of the situation to just this side of the line to being unbelievable.  And once you've watched, you'll have to see if you agree with me about the kids that sign up for the program to prank their mothers -- since they have to get moms who are disappointed enough in their children to not be totally unbelieving of the artificial scenarios, I'm pretty sure that they found the children in the waiting room of a methadone clinic.  But even so, that's what makes it so fun to watch.

Also fun to watch -- what was the BEST episode of one of the BEST shows on TV -- yep, it's time for my Amazing Race Aside (sorry so late -- I just watched it on the DVR what with the holiday) with three things I've learned from this past week's episode:

1.)  Thing ONE:  I already said it but it was the BEST resolution of a cliffhanger in that the longhaired lawyers still got to race (well for a little bit) and in that Abbie and Ryan got to prove their humanity by sticking with the pact to wait out the Beekman Boys' attempts at the synchronized swimming (and that the four hour penalty was applied next day).
2.)  Thing TWO:  I'm going to petition the company for which I work (which runs standardized practice test prep) to write into our test day scripts the Moscovian "Pencils down ... Next round ..." so long as it is yelled out in that thick accent at that exact decibel level.
3.)  Thing THREE:  Give the Ja(y)meses their own show already -- they are a hoot and a half!

YOU CAN WATCH THEM HERE:
http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/prank-my-mom

I KNOW ... I KNOW ... METHADONE CLINICS SHOULD NOT BE MOCKED:
http://www.codeinewithdrawal.com/find-a-methadone-clinic/

HAVE YOU MET THE JA(Y)MESES?:
http://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/video/2273712974/the-amazing-race-meet-jaymes-james
 

Random Posting for Penn State 11/24/12

Here are 9 Nittany nuggets from today's game!

1.)  Well that was a bit of an unexpected nail-biter.
2.)  Taco Bell -- your choice to sponsor part of ESPN2's coverage of today's game was effective as we paused the game to run out and get an XXL Steak Nacho platter!
3.)  I'll give you this -- once those Badger boys start running, they just keep on going, don't they!?
4.)  And I'll also give you this -- I'm not the kind of guy to OD on an OCD like focus on stats, but congrats to Montee Ball and your NCAA record that was set during today's game.
5.)  Must every one of our touchdowns go under official review?
6.)  Good thing the FCC doesn't give fines for swear words that can clearly be figured out with only the most basic of lip reading skills -- or, as said more artfully by one of the announcermen, McGloin sure has been "emoting openly" today.
7.)  Atta boy Ficken!  It all came down to your kick in OT -- even more redemption for your slow start earlier this year.
8.)  Nice touch -- honoring 42 with the number on the helmets since Mauti couldn't play today!
9.)  Also a nice touch -- deciding to recognize this team for overcoming all that they did by adding 2012 to Beaver Stadium.

In closing, thanks to Mark Arcidiacono, Joe Baker, PJ Byers, Cody Castor, Derek Day, Andree Dupree, Emery Etter, Jacob Fagnano, Mike Farrell, Frank Figueroa, Patrick Flanagan, Michael Fuhrman, Jordan Hill, Gerald Hodges, Brian Irvin, Christian Kuntz, Evan Lewis, Pete Massaro, Michael Mauti, Matt McGloin, Shane McGregor, Stephon Morris, JR Refice, Matt Stankiewitch, Sean Stanley, James Terry, Jamie Van Fleet, Garrett Venuto, Mike Wallace, Mike Yancich and Michael Zordich ... and the countdown to our next post-season game in 2016 stands at 48 more games!

"See" you all Aug 31 at the new Meadowlands stadium!!

[Note:  In honor of the Sandusky scandal victims who came forward, remember that RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1.800.656.HOPE(4674).]

THE SENIORS!:

http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/penn-state-football-a-capsule-look-at-all-31-nittany-lion-seniors-for-todays-senior-day-1187128/

THE 2013 SCHEDULE!:

http://www.happyvalley.com/penn-state/psu-football/2013-penn-state-football-schedule-schedule

CONGRATS MONTEE!:

http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2012/11/wisconsins_montee_ball_sets_ca.html

Bonus Post: Thing 28

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 28:

File this under love ya like a brother, man ... but Jakey W, on this,  your 24th birthday, and with an eye toward the end of world in exactly four weeks (allegedly), it's important for me to be sure to say that I'm grateful for all the memories of you as you grew up -- like going to the Senators games on City Island, and being a part of my one and only helicopter ride (over exotic Palmyra PA nonetheless), and for hanging out in the Lebanon bowling alley arcade or the PA Ren Faire or hiking up at White Rock.  Time passes, life's events intervene, roadblocks appear and are overcome -- and we go where we go to live out our lives -- but time and distance never erase the connection.  Can't wait to hear your continued success stories (in and out of school) ... and be sure to stay safe out there!

Random Flashback for Friday 11/23/12

"This" is just around the corner (don't let that 60 degree Thanksgiving weather fool you)!  And "this" is a twenty year old shot of my bio-moms in  Montana.

The twist -- keeping in mind that today is November 23rd -- this picture was taken in 1992 as I stated -- but on August 23rd of that year.

Which, come to think of it, is probably one of the reasons why it's likely that I'll never live in Montana but maybe just go there (clearly before the end of August of whatever year that happens) to see how beautiful it is.  (Or maybe even to see my bio-moms -- something I've never done.  To be clear, I have seen her every now and then when life's circumstances have allowed, but I've never traveled to Montana as she's always made the trip east  -- that's what I meant.)

Thankfully, Chicago's winter forecast is for less snow than usual -- but the flip side is that we're forecast to have more clippers and be colder.  So -- bring on the winter weather!

Bonus Post: Thing 29

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 29:

File this under how I love my Indiana family ... but whereas the previous post in this series spoke about the current generation of family there, it's the next generation that has always held and will always hold a special place in my life (well -- for at least the next 29 days until all manner of Mayan hell breaks lose).  Of course, kids don't stay kids forever -- and now Teddy and Jac and Robert are all grown up and (respectively) preparing to graduate from the Air Force academy, serving overseas in Deutschland or working their way through various restaurants as the next chapter of life is awaited.  But I don't care how old they get or how distant they are geographically, they are still the three young-uns for whom we hid Easter Eggs each year, with whom we played all manner of games (cards or word or trivia or otherwise), beside whom we made all kinds of Chicago memories and unto whom we wish only the best life possible -- full of whatever they seek wherever they seek it.  Dare I say?  If the world doesn't end and we all have many years left ... I feel confident that our futures are safe in their hands.  God bless you three and keep you safe in whatever your activity ... and be sure to keep your Facebook statuses updated so we can follow along and not feel like we're so damn far away.

Random Thought for Thursday 11/22/12

My random thoughts aren't always limited to these daily posts ... sometimes, especially when I'm around other people, the things I think actually get said out loud -- often with mixed results.  For instance ...

Exclaimed as I headed back to the feast of food after finishing my first go-round:  "I didn't get this beauteous figure by stopping after the first plate!:

Shared after a post meal visit to what the British would call the water closet:  "That was such a quality experience that I weighed myself after as I was sure I had lost five pounds!"

Suggested as we reflected back on the interactions of the holiday gaterhing:  "The secret will be to get the next generation here as quickly as possible because the holidays are really all about the kids and they serve to distract the adults from their issues ... so it's time for the boys to recognize that they are all of child-bearing age."

And no fear -- those of you who were part of the pre-Thanksgiving card game.  Alcohol turns my "humor" a dark dark shade of "blue", so none of the stuff that was said there would be deemed blog or Facebook friendly.  But we sure did laugh, didn't we!

Hope your holidays were as exciting as mine!

I THOUGHT THE PYRAMID WENT OUT OF FASHION?:
http://www.getbeauteous.com/2012/03/learn-to-know-healthy-eating-pyramid.html

POUNDS ON ... POUNDS OFF!:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/305679-bowel-movement-weight-loss/

EVEN THE LAST BOY WILL BE IN THIS RANGE QUITE SOON:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/30737.php

Bonus Post: Thing 30

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 30:

File this under how I love my Indiana family ... but as I'm writing this somewhat retroactively (catching up on the posts that should have hit during the holiday while I was too busy eating and drinking and drinking and eating), it's fair to say that if the world's ending in just 30 days, then these past 48 hours were the last time that so many of us were all gathered together for holiday celebrations.  And no matter what else is going on -- sneaking away to South Bend/Mishawaka is always a break from the normal humdrum of day to day activity when I can look forward to getting involved in a game of Michigan Rummy or catching up on tractor tales or hanging by the pool (in weather-appropriate times) or heading out to the shooting range (just for a few times -- turns out I'm not such a good shot -- which I blame my glasses/contacts) or relaxing with a drink (let's face it -- it's rarely just one drink) with Walt and Dolly and Shirly and (now) Eddie and (newly returned to the area) Midge and (house hosts) Bill and Lisa and (recently married and family-d) Wally.  [And -- bonus for me -- there's such a good chance that I'll get to be around dogs or cats or rabbits or turtles or pheasants or frogs or whatever other animals might be the current family pet(s) of one kind or another.]  Troubles may come and go, words may be said in ways that only words-with-family (and that's a MUCH different game than words-with-friends) can be said ... but these are the folks that I'll want to have my back in the upcoming apocalypse.

Random Wordplay for Wednesday 11/21/12

Over the Skyway and through the Dunes ... to grandmother's house we go ...

Used in a sentence:  Over the Skyway and through the Dunes ... to grandmother's house we go ... [D'oh!  It is already a complete sentence!]

The countdown to another bacon-wrapped turkey has commenced (it was the featured menu item for Thanksgiving 2009, and it will make a return to the table tomorrow).  And the car is packed -- blue cheese stuffed olives (somebody is fond of martini's), pillows (ain't no pillow like yo' own pillow), a stack of old papers that I'm behind on reading (which I'll try to get through while watching the Macy's Day parade tomorrow) and Christmas music CDs (retailers may have been playing them since Labor Day -- but the trip home from the family's place in Indiana post-holiday is when it starts for me).

Bring on the Thanksgiving traditional festivities!

WHY IS THIS CONVERSATION ON NIKE TALK?:
http://niketalk.com/t/513989/christmas-music-before-thanksgiving

WHY DID I NOT SEE THE BACON WIKI EARLIER?:
http://bacon.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:LexiLexi/The_Ultimate_Thanksgiving_Meal:_A_Bacon_Wrapped_Turkey

WHY AREN'T I THERE?:
http://social.macys.com/parade2012_kaws/?cm_mmc=VanityUrl-_-parade-_-n-_-n#/home

Bonus Post: Thing 31

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 31:

File this under things I miss most about the 18 months I lived in Uniontown ... but if the world ends in 31 days, then that means I won't be able to continue posting.  Well not this series, which clearly has an expiration date regardless of what happen on December 22.  But my other normal daily posts -- which includes my flashback Fridays (where I'm telling my life story one twenty year old picture at a time) -- will be in an arrested state in the year 1992.  And that means that I'll never get to the photos I have from 1993 that I had planned to share of when I was wild and crazy in Uniontown PA -- pics of a drunken NYEve party with Hills coworkers, and a party with the haunted house folks down in WV, and a party with Charlie and the boys in the apartment above me(which involved a frig full of Rolling Rock that was surreptitiously acquired), and a party as a mascot for that graduating senior class (which involved an exchange student and my first funnel), and a party with the Cherry Tree crew (that may or may not have led to vehicular damage of a sort that played out for months), and a party at Cedar Point (with funds raised from candy sales) ... maybe it goes without saying, but I did turn 21 at the beginning of said party year (which, in retrospect, now makes so much sense as to how I was in a drunken state for much of that year in that town)!  Oh well ... party on (as I'll plan to do on the night of Dec 21st)!

Random Tune(s) for Tuesday 11/20/12

So -- a choice today. -- two tunes from which to choose.

You can either go "old school" with the song selection (the first link below) and get all Thanksgivingy with your Thanksgiving self in a hymnful prayerful way ...

Or you can go new school and check out this so-bad-it's-almost-good youtube smash that is Rebecca-Black-ian in nature ... but definitely overtly and non-subtly Thanksgivingy.  And just try not to pick up the drumstick and sing along in 48 hours -- especially when you pass the mashed potatoes around the table!  Oh-oh-oh -- it's Thanksgiving!

OLD SCHOOL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEvBXcgFw4c

NEW SCHOOL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSBq8geuJk0

Bonus Post: Thing 32

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 32:

File this under the OPPOSITE of famous cartoonist Charles M. Schulz's quote that "... big sisters are the crab grass in the lawn of life ..." (you know that Lucy had to come from somewhere, right?) ... but older sister Sharon, thanks so much for being a part of my life.  [And with that, I can retire what is easily the clunkiest opener of this whole bonus series -- but let's face it, I'm out of older sisters (not counting my bio dad's WWII family).]  Admittedly -- you're not on Facebook so we haven't re-connected (plus there was that phone call I had with your husband about Ralph's situation that didn't go so well) ... but that doesn't mean I can't remember how bold you were to get up and leave the dinner table the minute you turned 18 back when we were younger and looking to escape our living situation, or thank you for how you used to let me walk to your house and watch MTV and then get a ride to school (all unbeknownst to the evil stepcreature).  Before we stopped communicating so much, I used to really enjoy the quick visit at your workplace(s) when I was on one of my trips back home ... so just in case this world ends in 32 days ... and since our family is so scattered such that we don't say this as often as we should ... and since we're really not talking so much right now anyway -- just know that I love you.

Random Memorial for Monday 11/19/12

(Almost) gone but not forgotten:  the snack treat that should have died back when it was theorized that it makes you kill people (RIP Harvey M).

Look -- part of me wants to care, but I just can't muster up the feelings because:

1.)  I grew up on (and still often crave) Tastykakes, which apparently survived its brush with the Great Recession earlier this year and which I can still get from a Chitown food joint or load up on whenever I get back east.
2.)  This development seems to somehow be related  to our political divide (what with the unions and all) and I'm trying to uphold a no-politics moratorium for the time-being post-election.
3.)  I live in Wrigleyville, which means I'm just a short-walk-a-few-blocks-toward-the-lake away from having all the Twinkies I could possibly pick up on any given late night -- wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

All that aside, unless your people can work out a miracle in mediation, golden sponge cakes with creamy filling, you will be missed (not so much by me -- but by some folks somewhere, I'm sure).

WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS -- TWINKIES MAKE YOU KILL PEOPLE SO GOOD RIDDANCE:
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/psychology/insanity/7.html

LAST CHANCE IN MEDIATION:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323622904578129282702373350.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

TRY THESE INSTEAD!:
http://www.tastykake.com/

Bonus Post: Thing 33

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 33:

File this under the OPPOSITE of famous cartoonist Charles M. Schulz's quote that "... big sisters are the crab grass in the lawn of life ..." (you know that Lucy had to come from somewhere, right?) ... but older sister Sherry, thanks so much for being a part of my life.  [I'm doing this subset of posts in order of birth, and if I remember family lore right, this twin was born just before the other twin whom I'll feature tomorrow.]  We both went through what we went through when we were younger -- and we both came out so much stronger on the other side -- but you led the way in showing how it is to be done.  You showed me how you can thrive by having the right kind of outside support system ... how the bonds of "family" can be grown with others who aren't officially related to you ... how you can use hard work and determination to set goals and achieve them irrespective of the hand that life has dealt you ... and how you can find love and give love and experience love even if you start your adult life a little unsure of what love really is.  I could never say thank you enough for those gifts that you gave me.  But just case this world ends in 33 days ... and since our family is so scattered such that we don't say this as often as we should -- I love you.

Random Scandal Sheet for Sunday 11/18/12

What Chicago is talking about this week:

While maneuvering my way through downtown yesterday around so many who were gathered to kick off the holiday season (the lights were turned on on the mag mile), I couldn't help but notice that many of the panhandlers had laminated signs that read "homeless", "please help" and/or "veteran".

It took me until today's internet research to shake off my jadedness (admittedly, my first thought was that it was a strange use of donated change to laminate a sign -- and my second thought was that the proliferation of signs seemed to imply that folks were somehow organized into some new business model) ... but it turns out that the signs are a result of a local initiative for a group to pass them out in hopes that it would be harder for passersby to ignore the people on the corners.

Which all just leads me to request that, in this season of thankfulness, please remember those who are less fortunate than you.  And Happy Thanksgiving week to you and yours!

FROM WHENCE THE SIGNS CAME:
http://homelesssigns.org/

AS FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/us/free-signs-for-panhandlers-receive-mixed-reaction.html

AS FEATURED IN A FELLOW CHICAGOAN'S BLOG:
http://www.366randomacts.org/2012/05/day-124-passed-out-laminated-signs-to.html

Bonus Post: Thing 34

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 34:

File this under great appreciation ... but on the list of people I'll miss most if the world does end in 34 days (and don't worry -- if you're reading this, OF COURSE you're on that list somewhere), the group of people with whom I work every day will be pretty high up there.  Back in 2010, the company for which I work restructured and my full time job changed pretty drastically.  And let's face it -- the time we spend at work is the second biggest chunk of time in a week (after the category of sleeping -- and some weeks, that time chunk lags and the work time chunk slips into that number 1 spot) -- so it's key for your own well-being that you enjoy that time.  Even though I work from home, the team I'm on has found a way to stay virtually connected in such a way to make my work life extremely enjoyable.  I may have only met most of the folks once or twice in person, but I have come to admire their dedication,  respect their commitment, appreciate their insight and value their friendship.  The best part -- they make me smile every day (and since it's a virtual relationship -- that's evidenced by how many times I make use of my Skype emoticons as we interact throughout our work shifts).  So colleagues Iain M, Katie O, Kerrilee D, Kiley P, Nataliya D, Nicole S and Rebecca M -- you are all greatly appreciated -- by me!

Random Soapbox for Saturday 11/17/12

I don't mean to go off on a rant here, but ...

... at the risk of being gender-insensitive, I'm going to go out on a limb and strongly suggest that nutcrackers remain a profession for males.

Well not so much small-'n'-nutcrackers, as that could be anyone of any gender that chooses to bust a loved one's balls -- after all, who am I to judge.  And look -- I'm all for little girls growing up to do anything that little boys can do and I would love to see a female in the oval office (although, I'm not so fond of the Bachmanns of this world, so I would also love for said female to be slightly more moderate of political orientation than the aforementioned erstwhile presidential candidate).

It's just that, while scoping out the new downtown Chicago Target today (for those of you who don't know, Target is basically a Walmart for those who live in -- or who aspire to live in -- a slightly higher tax bracket), I was a little shocked to see these drag-queen-nutcrackers on the shelf.  Upon closer inspection, it appears that they were designed to be nutcracker angels (which, now that I see that phrase in print, sounds a little like a female biker gang), but they just seemed to be a little extra-painted with wigs and weaves that would be better seen on a Real Housewife as they mirrored the natural flat chested design of a big-'n'-Nutcracker.

And I'm not picking on drag queens either.  I'm just saying -- there's a time and a place.  And the nutcracker shelf ain't it.

THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG -- THERE'S A WHOLE COLLECTION:
http://www.target.com/p/nutcracker-collection/-/A-14169590

WHAT ONCE WAS CARSON'S IS NOW A TARGET:
http://www.suntimes.com/business/13970656-420/target-to-open-downtown-chicago-store-wednesday-in-old-carsons.html

WHILE SEARCHING FOR A POSITIVE DRAG QUEEN LINK, I FOUND THIS:
http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/10/mma-drag-queen-beatdown/

Random Posting for Penn State 11/17/12

Here are 9 Nittany nuggets from today's game!

1.)  First and foremost ... our thoughts are with you and yours, Michael Mauti (but if you're so tough that you can do tug of war one-handed, then your recovery should be a speedy one indeed -- fingers crossed).
2.)  That was quite the record breaking game -- congrats McGloin and Robinson on all the records you broke (or almost broke) today!
3.)  Ficken -- you know your past is behind you when the announcermen barely mention the way your season started.
4.)  I'll break form and give a shout out to a player from the opposing team -- but good game Replogle (about whom the announcermen seemed to make an awful lot of awful references to his weight.  I used to work with someone back in Harrisburg at RiteAid with that last name, so that made me think that I might have known you!
5.)  Clearly this gets filed under first-world problems, but I was out and about in Chicago this afternoon so I had to watch this game on the DVR -- which means it wasn't in HD -- which accounted for why the picture looked so poor today.
6.)  Was Indiana trying to out-nascar our nascar strategy?
7.)  Not that it ultimately mattered, as Indiana's win-loss record against Penn State stands at ... the number that stands for "never have won a game".
8.)  That being said, I have heard that the Hoosiers are pretty good at basketball!
9.)  Ok boys -- one more game until the sanction-imposed long break.  Let's go out with a bang next week versus Wisconsin!

In closing, thanks to all who stuffed the big blue bus today (a food bank fundraising drive held on campus) ... and the countdown to our next post-season game in 2016 stands at 49 more games!

[Note:  In honor of the Sandusky scandal victims who came forward, remember that RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1.800.656.HOPE(4674).]

OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH MAUTI AS HE DEALS WITH TODAY'S INJURY:

http://www.ydr.com/psu/ci_22018421/jim-seip-penn-states-mike-mauti-gets-heros

HE'S KEEPING IT NASCAR UP IN HERE:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/homepage/20121117_Bill_O_Brien_keeps_Penn_State_s_focus_on_Indiana.html

THE STUFF THE BLUE BUS FOOD DRIVE:

http://www.centredaily.com/2012/11/12/3400936/penn-staters-hope-to-fill-bus.html

Bonus Post: Thing 35

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 35:

File this under how you made my college experience "the bestest" ... but as I come to grips with the fact that I may not make it back to Germany if the world does end in 35 days (and pre-Armageddon as is playing out in the middle east doesn't have me scared at all, right?) and as I am now getting constantly reminded of the semester I spent abroad in Germany in 1990 by my nephew is now stationed there and who is flooding Facebook with photos of the countryside and posts about the bier and the bahn, I should pause and thank those who made that Koln experience of mine such an unbelievable one.  I spent the fall of 2010 reminiscing in my Flashback Friday series on this blog (just click on the Series:  Real World Koln link to the left to relive those photos and memories), but to Brian and Amy and Tony and Beth and Monika and Tracey and Karl and Steve and Doug and Kari and the other Amy and Adam and Jon and Steph and Cindy and Pat and Robin (that was in no particular order other than looking back through those photos) -- THAT was an amazing semester that I shall never forget!  In your honor, I raise a Kolsch and a Doner Kebab to each of you and I kiss my piece of the Berlin Wall (that I hacked off myself) in memory of the good times.  If only there was more time left in this modern world for us to coordinate our own little Wiedervereinigung, Deutschland style.  All the same -- Prosit to you and yours!

Random Flashback for Friday 11/16/12

It's (practically) the holidays!

So here's another shot from 1992 of my family members enjoying the holidays by doing holiday like things (which is how I'll close out this year of Friday flashbacks)  And this photo pairs nicely with the one from last week, as -- if you look really closely -- you can see my nephew's older sister (which is just a longer way to say ... my niece) as the third one from the end of the dance line.  You'll spot her there by the Christmas tree -- at the same recital where last week's photo was taken (some twenty years ago).

Is there anything cuter than kids at the holidays?!  So  -- Happy Thanksgiving week to you and yours!

Bonus Post: Thing 36

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 36:

File this under a desire to just go on the record about something ... but if the world does end in three dozen days, I'm never going to be able to finish any of my ideas for my big writing projects (that, admittedly, I've not yet quite started putting the thoughts that are in my head to paper) ... which means no reviving the folks from Winston Falls (around which almost all of my Mysterious Murder Quests were based back in the 90's) ... and no 2084 -- updating the classic 1984 (can't spill all my secrets, but suffice it to say that traditional political parties will have been replaced by a person's allegiance to competing tech companies -- can I copyright that thought if I time stamp it on the internet?) ...  and no Joey's (a top secret serialized nightlife drama for which I've been doing lots and lots of research in the last few years) ... and no superhero tome (where the hero's power is based on an ability to use empathy to absorb the pain of others except that he has no release so he almost turns into a supervillain until he's rescued and redeemed when he learns he has a child).  Curse you Mayans (and modern day life in which I must pay bills instead of pursuing my true passion)!

Random Thought for Thursday 11/15/12

WARNING:  The Walking Dead season 2 spoiler alert contained within this post.

Anyone else see that dramatic fatalistic commercial warning folks that if they had chicken pox when they were younger that they were already living with the shingles virus and were at risk -- and then immediately think of the "we're already all infected with the zombie virus" plot line of The Walking Dead?

No -- just me?  OK.  Whatevs.  I watch too much TV, I know it.  I'm OK with it.  Moving on ...

SHINGLES IS NOT A LAUGHING MATTER, pt. 1:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,532827,00.html

SHINGLES IS NOT A LAUGHING MATTER, pt. 2:
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/understanding-shingles-treatment

A SPECIAL WIKI FOR THE WALKING DEAD:
http://walkingdead.wikia.com/wiki/Zombies

Bonus Post: Thing 37

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 37:

File this under long overdue thanks ... but if the world is ending in 37 days as the Mayans implied, then I should probably spend some time going through all of the files in my storage room (which currently has the appearance of the place of an apprentice hoarder), where I will undoubtedly find things I saved from high school -- including items that will remind me that I owe Sally P some thanks.  Thanks for the rides to the IU13 special seminars (I think we made it to most of them, right?) ... and for teaching me how police use the lines on the road to run their country speed traps ... and for distracting me in Physics with all those notes we passed around our senior year ... and for our Sociology project where we took care of our baby egg, and mapped out some future married life (and I think we even planned the future divorce?) replete with blueprints for our future house and financial plans for the future education of our future kids, etc., etc.  So for all of that high school stuff and for the occasional conversation when I worked late nights at the Quality Inn before I left town -- THANKS!

Random Wordplay for Wednesday 11/14/12

Disclaimer(s) -- If you are of the Phelps-ian mindset (I'm talking about Fred not Michael), then you may want to avert your eyes and skip this post.  If you are sick of comments about last week's election and do not want to see me break my promise to not have any more posts about it, then you may want to avert your eyes and skip this post.  If you have lost any sense of humor in the modern world, then you may want to avert your eyes and skip this post.  If you have conscripted verses of the Bible for your own personal agenda -- even though that's spot on for what I'm about to say -- you may want to avert your eyes and skip this post.  If not, then this "wordplay" was just too funny for me not to steal from someone else's post last week and to put here, even if it is, in format, slightly different than my normal construct for Wednesday posts:

"It all makes sense now.  Gay marriage and marijuana being legalized on the same day.  [A loose interpretation of] Leviticus 20:13 is that "if a man lays with another man, he should be stoned".   Here we've just been interpreting it wrong all these years!"

CHOOSE -- YOU COULD CRY OR YOU COULD LAUGH AT THE RIDICULOUSNESS:
http://www.ranker.com/list/7-craziest-westboro-baptist-church-protests-ever/melody-yan

SEE -- EVEN FRED PROTESTS MICHAEL:
http://voices.yahoo.com/michael-phelps-targeted-fred-phelps-westboro-2015088.html

IT'S THE YOUNG KIDS THAT WILL LEAD THE WAY TO CHANGE:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/11/14/stark-generational-divide-on-gay-marriage-immigration-and-yes-marijuana/

Bonus Post: Thing 38

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 38:

File this under confessions ... but I probably should have done a better job of setting expectations about this bonus series before I started posting it sixty-two days ago.  In the spirit of "better late than never", and with "never" (allegedly) approaching in just 38 days, please note:  

1.)  I am 95% sure that the world is not ending.  The other 5% of me is intrigued by the "science" behind the notion that maybe the earth's magnetic poles will switch (you know, something that would cause superstorms to suddenly turn left instead of right, for example) or that we'll have a man-made disaster that was simply "foretold" (note to self -- no travelling to the Middle East for the next year or so, as I'd rather not be present for Armageddon).  But let's face it -- even with my bets hedged, I am fully expecting that the 22nd of December will be much like the 21st (with the difference being that the 21st will be a workday and that the 22nd will be a day when I'll likely have a hangover after a Friday night end-of-world  bar crawl). 

2.)  My list will not get to include everyone who has impacted my life.  Since my blog and my Facebook are intertwined (thanks again Mark Zuckerberg for providing me with a captive audience of sorts), I'm leaning toward referencing those that are in my FB friends list.  Just mentioning that fact in the spirit of full disclosure.

3.)  For those that did make the list, please know that placement on it is not correlative to "importance in my life"*.  I let the creative muse determine what gets posted when -- and certain calendar days or numbers on the list just make sense for certain topics (i.e.  Thing 69).  So Thing 94 should not think that it is any more or less important to me than Thing 57.  *The exception will be the top 10.  I am saving those days for "special" entries.

4.)  I'm allowing the end of the world craze to serve as a spark for my creativity.  And if, in the process, I get to say things to people that I may have thought but never had taken the time to say before, then I see that as a win-win (unless you are one of the three "I was waiting to urinate on your grave" posts as that's more of a win-lose).  By the way -- if you take away nothing else (and I don't care from where it is you draw your inspiration) -- I hope that one of these one hundred maybe makes you stop and think and say a long overdue something to someone in your life.  Because life is much shorter than you may think ... and humanity withers or thrives based on whether we keep our connections one to another.

Now -- where's my bug-out bag?  [Note:  that's a joke.  I do not have a bug-out bag ... well, at least not yet.  Check in with me in 30 more days.]

Random Tune for Tuesday 11/13/12

Sometimes it doesn't get any more random than this.

I was making a sandwich for lunch yesterday, and I caught myself singing ... "There is nothing we won't try ... never heard the word impossible" ... for no apparent reason.  I mean I haven't seen the TV show which features those words in quite some time.   And it was a Monday after all, so it seemed a little  unexpected that I was in such a chipper mood.  The nearest I can figure is I heard a tune that reminded me of this tune ... and suddenly ... there I was singing it.

Of course it is an upbeat stick-with-it kind of message, which would work for a challenge of ... say ... a race around the world?!  Which leads me to this week's Amazing Race Aside, with three things I've learned from this past week's episode:

1.)  Thing ONE:  Such a dramatic cliff-hanger ... with props for what seems to be an initial honoring of the "handshake" to run the race as a foursome for those two bottom teams who haven't learned that layovers of less than 90 minutes in international airports are never a good risk to take when racing.
2.)  Thing TWO:  Was there ever a better fit for a challenge than synchronized swimming for the Ja(y)meses?
3.)  Thing THREE:  I love how the "shush" hand gesture accompanied with sound is so universal, as the Russian library patrons displayed.

HERE's THE LONG VERSION -- CHECK OUT THE SAX SOLO IN THE MIDDLE!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JijyXS6Sb30&feature=related

Bonus Post: Thing 39

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 39:

File this under unsung heroes who deserve to be sung about (or should that be "about whom songs should be sung"?) ... but three cheers for Dr. Scott.  My undergrad German professor at LVC recently retired, and I missed the deadline to contribute to the festivities, so, with just 39 days left before the Mayan apocalypse, I'll be sure to share in this forum how much of a role he played in so many students' lives.  It wasn't just the German classes he led, but it was everything he did as faculty advisor of the theatre department back in the day (pre-Pry) when I was involved that springs to mind.  He advised ... he advocated ... he counselled ... he assisted ... he acted (yep, that is him in the pics of the museum scene in the 1990 production of On The Town) ... and, of course, he taught so many of us -- both in and out of the classroom.  He deserves a statue on campus for his contributions ... and may I be the first to suggest that it be a replica of the white bicycle he rode all over LVC back in the day -- a bike you could see outside of any campus building and instantly know that you had a friend you could find inside.  Dr. Scott -- we sing your praises (... and wish you a belated blissful retirement)!

Random Memorial for Monday 11/12/12

Gone but not forgotten:  The Black Market.

This post has to start with a preface -- I recognize that I don't check off many of the boxes for the disadvantaged groups affiliated with race or gender (yep I'm mostly a white guy with ancestry that is truly "American mongrel" -- on my dad's side as far back as Prussia and on my mom's side with English and just a touch of Native American to give me a slightly ethnic look if photographed right) and I will freely admit that it took work colleagues to inform me that I can no longer order Oriental food (a descriptive word now just reserved for rugs and history, in case you're as uninformed as I was).

But I was still taken aback when I saw a headline recently talking about the price of a ticket to a basketball game on the "secondary market".  I originally thought that was a nod to political correctness and/or sensitivity (depending on which side of that debate you fall) and that the concept "black market" was going the way of words that should no longer be said in polite (or mixed) company.  Just a little bit of research has now edified me to the concept of a "secondary market" as an acceptable term to use for ticket-resale (or the resale of other items in a legal manner).  I think the confusion sprung from the fact that I'm used to hearing "ya need tickets?" over and over again outside of my apartment window here in the shadows of Wrigley Field, and so I immediately jumped to the conclusion that the article must have been naming something sold in that illegal market.

"Illegal market" -- I think that's what I'll say henceforth, as no color descriptor is then needed, which will mean that I can't get into any trouble.  So -- my use of "black market", you will not be missed.

SO IT'S AN OK TERM AFTER ALL FOR TICKET RESALE:
http://www.ticketnews.com/news/understanding-sports-ticket-prices-on-the-secondary-market071208568

BUT APPARENTLY IT'S THE NEXT BIG BUBBLE (AFTER SCHOOL LOANS, I'M SURE):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/secondary-markets-and-the-next-big-fraud/2011/05/31/AGHVXFGH_story.html

LOOKIE HERE -- OTHERS HAVE "DEBATED" THIS AS WELL:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080831204528AAnkwbc

Bonus Post: Thing 40

100 Things I've Always Wanted To Say But Never Did And Now Maybe Should Since The World Might Be Ending -->

Thing 40:

File this under great appreciation ... but with just 40 days left in the modern world (allegedly), I need to be sure to schedule my time to catch up with all that is the tortured genius of Aaron Sorkin -- he whom I met in the West Wing episodes ... which led to Studio 60 ... which led back to Sports Night on DVD .. which led to Moneyball and The Social Network and HBO's season one of The Newsroom on the old DVR/ondemand.  For someone like me who watches a lot of TV ... that's still a lot of TV to watch before whatever's in store for us that the Mayans knew about but didn't fully clarify (maybe).  And a marathon of viewing highly intellectual rapid fire walk-and-talk scene after scene is going to be exhausting, so I have to map it out very carefully, with periods of rest in between.  Sorry boss, but it looks like I might have to call off work for a few days/weeks to fit this in (anyone know -- is end-of-world prep an HR approved absence?)!  Let the viewing commence!