trouser hacks

QotD: My Dream Address

nobody@vox.com(billturner) — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 15:24:52 -0500

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Why?
Submitted by abcdefg81.

Somewhere, anywhere in Italy - Florence or Venice preferred. Why? If you've been there, you'd know why. :)

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Still good

nobody@vox.com(billturner) — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:17:57 -0400

Watching the amazing video Merlin posted I was reminded of this one music video I managed to catch on Night Flight (and on VHS) of the guitarist Stanley Jordan. I must have watched that video dozens of times, but about 10 years ago I lost the tape. I would often recall that video and would occasionally search online for it, but I could never find it.

But now there's YouTube. And the video was there.

It's damn good to see the video again. At around 2:30 he gets the groove going, and at around 3:45 he starts TEARING IT UP. Good Stuff.

So, thanks Merlin, and thanks YouTube.

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QotD: Better than the original?

nobody@vox.com(billturner) — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 12:16:45 -0400

What is your favorite cover song?
Question submitted by Ray.

You really can't perform a Stevie Wonder song better than Stevie ever played it, but The Dirtbomb's cover of "Livin' for the City" is so sublime, it comes damn close.

The Dirtbombs - Livin' For The City

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QotD: They're Grrreat!

nobody@vox.com(billturner) — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:26:46 -0400

What or who is your favorite product mascot? Why?

I think pretty much all corporate mascots suck. Most are there primarily to have something cute to interest children.

HOWEVER, if I had to pick one, it would be the Stay-Puft marshmallow man, because of the movie Ghostbusters. Of course, Stay-Puft is just a made up company. So, I didn't really answer the question then, did I?

Stay-puff-marshmellow-man-film

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More quarters please...

nobody@vox.com(billturner) — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:32:44 -0400

I remember going to Six Flags in Arlington and heading straight for the arcade in the middle of the place (passing all the roller coasters) so I could play Spy Hunter for hours. Then I'd eventually get on some rides. I loved that game.

As for current favorite game, I can't say I have one. For the short time I owned a Playstation 2, I had a blast with Katamari Damacy.

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This book, wow...

nobody@vox.com(billturner) — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 12:32:27 -0400

I don't think I could list a single book that has really changed my life. I'd like to think that every book I have read has changed my life in little ways. The book I finished just the other day, Fast Food Nation, certainly has me looking at the fast food industry in a whole new light, not that I was ever a fan of theirs to begin with.

The biggest way that books may have changed my life, is just that so many have made me truly appreciate the written word. Some favorites (off the top of my head) include _The Moviegoer_ by Walker Percy, _The Sun Also Rises_ by Hemingway, _A Confederacy of Dunces_ by John Kennedy Toole, _The Sound and the Fury_ by Faulkner, _A Scanner Darkly_ by PK Dick, _The Wind-up Bird Chronicles_ by Haruki Murakami_, _If on a winter's night a traveler_ by Italo Calvino, and so many more I could spend all day listing them out.

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Number one with a bullet

nobody@vox.com(billturner) — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 23:52:17 -0400

Hmm, the number 1 song on the day I was born was "It's Too Late / I Feel the Earth Move" by Carole King (never heard it - but I know Ms. King has a wonderful voice). On my 21st birthday it was The Jackson Five song "I'll Be There" covered by *shudder* Mariah Carey. I lose!

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Best. Commercial. Ever.

nobody@vox.com(billturner) — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 12:43:45 -0400

There was this commercial on years and years ago that still sticks out in my mind as my favorite.

The whole thing is shot with a soft filter so everything looks dreamy. It opens with a shot of a dining table with a nice dinner laid out: candles, silver, fancy food, wine glasses, etc.

Then we see the woman waiting on one side of the table, in a nice fancy dress. The camera turns and we see the man enter. He's wearing a great suit or tux and starts walking into the room towards the table. This lilting classical/romantic music is playing in the background, the pace increases.

We see her face, she's smiling, being bashful, etc. He walks up to the table, smiles, and then leans on the edge, all nonchalant and smooth.

The table tips over with everything spilling to the floor, the wine, the food, everything. The camera shows their surprised faces and the mess on the floor.

Then the pitch. It's for something like ScotchGuard or Stain guard. Until the table tips it could have been an ad for anything: suits, dresses, a fancy hotel, silver, wine, whatever. Then the mess.

I still love this commercial even though I haven't seen it in at least 10 years. It always struck me as perfect.

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Dammit, Mavs!

nobody@vox.com(billturner) — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 12:26:36 -0400

I can't call myself a sports fan, but when the local team is winning (well, football or basketball), I'm cheering with the rest of them. Yeah, I'm a fair-weather sports fan. I can live with that.

Last night, my wife and I met some friends at the local dive to watch the Mavericks play Miami on the bar's swanky new widescreen TV. Even though the Mavericks lost (bastards!), it was still a great experience.

When you're watching sports at home, big playoff game or not, your yelling at the screen or claps are usually heard by no one else. At the bar, it's a whole different story. You're not clapping alone, and you're not the only one yelling at the screen to "get the damn rebounds!" There are 30 other just-as-rabid fans screaming and clapping with you. And then there's the smartass yelling "crybaby!" or "awwwww!" at just the right times to get everyone else in the bar laughing.

Last week we were at the same bar when the Mavs beat the Phoenix Suns to take the Western Conference title. The bar was even more packed that it was last night, the screaming and cheering was louder, and I think everyone was just a little bit more tipsy. What made the night, though, was when the final buzzer stopped ringing the staff at the bar turned on the jukebox (full blast) with "We are the Champions" by Queen. This made everyone even more elated and we all sang along. The next track: "Deep in the Heart of Texas." Perfect. I don't think a single person left the bar without a huge smile on their face.

Win or lose, that's the way to watch a sports game.

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My Real Space

nobody@vox.com(billturner) — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 11:49:43 -0400

My work space changes from day to day, and I like that. Since I've started working freelance, I can basically pick where I want to work.

In the mornings it's usually at the local coffee shop Gachet.

My morning office

After lunch I'll sometimes sit at a desk at one of the offices I do work for.

My (sometimes) afternoon office

I like it. :)

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