tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79708893015185020062024-03-18T23:58:24.016-05:00World's Best Burgerprint, politics, pop culture... served up hot.Loreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03848832271956234554noreply@blogger.comBlogger283125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-26768646676946134382010-04-21T18:45:00.004-05:002010-04-21T18:54:43.542-05:00Go West, Young MittA new WBB post every six weeks or so is probably not going to be enough to hold your interest, but I know that for many of our die-hard readers, this blog is <em>the </em>go-to site for unvarnished Mitt Romney (2012!) news and notes. So after a long-ass hiatus, we're back to share the latest Mitt bon mot.<br /><br />A well-placed source, known in some quarters as the Associated Press, reports that our cherished <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/04/mitt-romney-now-a-californian.html">once-and-future presidential hopeful has moved out to schmancy La Jolla, California</a>.<br /><br />On behalf of the WBB Los Angeles Bureau, welcome to Southern California, Mitt!Your escalator operatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12670322465530328359noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-56630777699001234902010-02-10T12:35:00.001-05:002010-02-10T12:37:40.732-05:0021st century conundrumIf Twitter is down, where am I supposed to go to bitch and moan about Twitter being down?Your escalator operatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12670322465530328359noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-47149628014870947992010-01-21T19:49:00.005-05:002010-01-21T20:27:35.788-05:00King meFor some reason, there's an article on Yahoo! Travel today about the <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-31267274">World's Most Beautiful Castles</a>. Since you wanted to know, my immediate reactions were these:<br /><ol><li>This is the perfect travel piece for the depths of the Great Recession! Thanks, Yahoo!! (And, by the way, since Yahoo! comes with its own exclamation mark, I assume that's the proper style for when it appears at the end of an exclamation, right?) </li><li>Damn, I'm really looking forward to Yahoo! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Travel's</span> article about the World's Ugliest Castles. </li></ol><p>I don't really care much about castles unless they're <a href="http://www.whitecastle.com/">white and serve small hamburgers in cardboard sleeves</a>. But I read a few parts of the story anyway. And I'm glad I did, because I learned about Bavaria's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Newuschwanstein</span> Castle.<br /><br />The good folks at Newuschwanstein must be very proud indeed, because the writer claims that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Neuschwanstein</span> was "a major inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland." Which I think is like saying that Monet was "a major inspiration for <a href="http://www.thomaskinkade.com/magi/servlet/com.asucon.ebiz.home.web.tk.HomeServlet">Thomas <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kinkade</span>: Painter of Light</a>."</p>Your escalator operatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12670322465530328359noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-23861845405198447562010-01-20T18:39:00.000-05:002010-01-20T18:39:03.340-05:00My new favorite Web site<a href="http://mittromneycentral.com/">Here it is</a>! Don't think I don't have an RSS feed set up for this bad boy looking for goodies!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-47475878219306257352010-01-14T15:59:00.004-05:002010-01-14T16:32:53.314-05:00My favorite trend story is back!It seems only appropriate that the first week back at WBB one of my all-time favorite trend stories would re-emerge: the story of the poor person/service worker/person generally not of "significant means" who found a crap-ton of money (or an equally valuable item) and--AGAINST ALL ODDS--actually did the right thing and returned it.<span id="fullpost"><br />I first blogged about this exciting and mind-blowing phenomenon <a href="http://worldsbestburger.blogspot.com/2008/01/nonsense-in-new-year.html">two years ago</a> and again <a href="http://worldsbestburger.blogspot.com/2008/03/yeah-happy-monday.html">later that year</a>. This time, it's a Bangladeshi cabbie in NYC<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8455897.stm"> who found $21,000 in his cab </a>and returned it to the rightful owner. This is, of course, exciting stuff. Because 99 percent of cabbies would probably just go on a spending spree with the ill-gotten loot, buying fur coats and fancy cigars, and hitting Atlantic City all mobster-style, am I right? Well, no. Probably not. Like any economic class of people or profession, most would probably return it and a few would probably try to get away with taking it and spending it. I<a href="http://worldsbestburger.blogspot.com/2008/03/yeah-happy-monday.html"> laid out my my beefs with this type of story more thoroughly in this post from March 2008.</a> <br /></span><br />Anyway, my point remains the same. Why don't we hear about lawyers or magazine editors or office workers or any other "white collar" employees finding a boatload of money and returning it? I'm sure it happens. My guess is because there's a silent-but-implied idea lurking in these stories that education or money translates into having a superior sense of morals or ethics. (Although I'm not sure the money argument even really works here...I imagine cab drivers, particularly in NYC, that are good at what they do earn a pretty decent wage.) So yes, while it's a heartwarming story (and I'm glad whoever thought it was a smart idea to ride around town with $21,000 in cash got their money back), I'm not really sure it's wise to propagate the concept that a cabbie or McDonald's worker returning what he or she has found is the exception--and not the rule.Loreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03848832271956234554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-83373360740011278112010-01-11T21:02:00.000-05:002010-01-11T21:02:25.076-05:00My robot girlfriend<a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10432597-1.html">Meet Roxxxy</a>. She's just your girl next door, except that she's a bizarre robot sex toy.. er... companion for lonely men with a lot of money.<br />
<br />
From the CNET article: <span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #353535; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Depending on the personality you choose--"Wild Wendy" or "Frigid Farrah" for instance--Roxxxy may purr a metallic, "That gets me hot!" after you introduce a topic like soccer."</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
Um, OK. Now, let's get past the whole programming a robot girlfriend to talk dirty and wax poetic on Manchester United for a moment... let's imagine what happens when Roxxxy's "boyfriend" meets a real, live, human woman and brings her home. Only to find his mistress in the closet.<br />
<br />
What do you think real life woman would do?<br />
<br />
A. Run. Quickly.<br />
<br />
B. Shrug her shoulders and say "more fun at the party"<br />
<br />
C. Oh silly blogger, no woman would end up in a home belonging to a woman who owns Roxxxy<br />
<br />
I think this actually disturbed me more than finding out about Sarah Palin getting a gig with Fox News.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-15107924523036911452010-01-08T18:06:00.005-05:002010-01-08T18:50:55.431-05:00Almost (too) famousIn the past six weeks, Tiger Woods has seen several of his corporate partners end their endorsement contracts with him (AT&T), pull their Tiger-related products (Gatorade) or kill Tiger-focused ad campaigns (Tag Heuer). In their carefully worded news releases, the companies generally opted for language like "no longer the right representative" for our company (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Accenture</span>).<br /><br />Obviously, in marketing-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ese</span>, that Accenture quote translates pretty clearly into "apparently slept with about 428 cocktail waitresses and future porn stars, which wasn't exactly what we had in mind for our highest paid endorser." I get that.<br /><br />What I'm wondering is: What exactly do the good folks at the St. John apparel company mean when they explain that <a href="http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/a-line/angelina-jolie-replaced-in-ad-campaign/337/?nc">they're scrapping their Angelina Jolie ads</a> because the actress "has overshadowed the brand"?<br /><p>Because it's not like Jolie was a little-known up-and-comer when they signed her <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKHQ8VMU7lw">back in 2007</a>. She was already Mrs. Pitt and a tabloid fixture - nay, tabloid hall-of-f<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">amer</span>. And, at least according to my marketing textbook, massive, consistent and overwhelmingly positive media exposure isn't <em>usually </em>the kind of thing that compels companies to drop celebrity spokespeople, who were, after all, hired for their ability to generate exposure.</p><p>I don't want to start any rumors, but maybe they're getting ahead of the curve in case the world soon discovers that ongoing Angelina-Tiger relationship. <span style="font-size:0;"></p></span>Your escalator operatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12670322465530328359noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-27304750069776466772010-01-06T08:50:00.022-05:002010-01-06T08:50:00.134-05:00If Gandalf coached the Bengals for this week's gameAs I was watching Sunday night's painful Bengals loss to the Jets -- a game best characterized as a good ol' fashioned ass whooping -- I was forced to avert my eyes from the embarrassment and watch the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King on TNT. I would turn back to the Bengals game and shake my head in shame during commercials until the 3rd Quarter, when I couldn't watch any longer and focused my full attention on Frodo. This lead to an inspirational conversations with <a href="http://twitter.com/armonde/status/7369721466">@armonde</a> on Twitter, which lead me to ask, "how would Gandalf coach the Bengals this week?"<br />
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<span id="fullpost"><ol><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4on3BH1xHZw/S0P0h_zUyZI/AAAAAAAAAJs/d65cl6wy2Dw/s1600-h/gandalf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4on3BH1xHZw/S0P0h_zUyZI/AAAAAAAAAJs/d65cl6wy2Dw/s200/gandalf.jpg" /></a>
<li>First, as indicated in the tweet above, <b>Gandalf supports a running game</b>. In the mines of Moria when Gandalf forbade the Balrog from crossing the bridge, he made it clear: "You shall not pass!" The great white wizard would never encourage Frodo to recklessly pass the ring to Sam in the face of a sizeable Orc offensive line. Slow and steady wins the race in Gandalf's book, and he knows that if you depend on your most reliable guys, they'll come through for you.</li>
<li><b>Gandalf doesn't suffer fools on defense</b>. Remember at the walls of Minas Tirith, when he was waving around his staff and telling the soldiers to get their asses back to the wall and not let anyone through. Or, when he knew some unspeakable monster was about to break down the gates, but he told the defenders they would stand their ground regardless? Yeah, Bengals, you need to do that. For serious. </li>
<li><b>Gandalf supports trick plays</b>. Remember when he cleverly smuggled his staff into the palace in The Two Towers to remove the curse from Theoden, King of Rohan? Bengals, Gandalf would tell you to use trick plays to "draw out the Jets defense, like poison from a wound!" And, those of us watching the game on the teevee, we'd enjoy that too. God knows, we've suffered enough from Bengals shenanigans in 2010.</li>
</ol><div>Using Gandalf's strategies, I think the Bengals could have a good shot at victory. And that is necessary, because I can't handle another game like Sunday's. Worst case scenario, I'll check to see if Harry Potter is on ABC Family.<br />
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<i>Awesome photo above found on www.sodahead.com. Seriously, and awesome photo.</i><br />
</div></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-89334707321273261962010-01-05T18:07:00.004-05:002010-01-05T18:14:49.183-05:00New Year, New View?I more or less quit making New Year's resolutions a long time ago.* Mostly because I like to spend the week from Christmas to New Year's sleeping as much as humanly possible, and the task of formulating actual goals and objectives for the new year just seems like another big suck on time that should be reserved for napping. Plus, I consider myself a pretty pragmatic person; I'm not one to aim for something that's not likely to come to pass. You don't really feel that <span style="font-style:italic;">wooosh</span> of success when the goal you've achieved is getting your hair cut more than twice a year. <br /><br /><span id="fullpost"><br />Nevertheless, at some point right before or after a nap over the past week, I considered a New Year's resolution involving my intake of television. But there is, of course, a problem: I can't decide if I should resolve to watch more television or less television this year.<br /><br />If you're one of the five or six readers of WBB, you've either come here for an update on the whereabouts of Joe Torres of <span style="font-style:italic;">Hey Dude! </span>fame or you know me well enough to know that I work 40+ hours a week and I’m a part-time law student. Strangely, that schedule wouldn't seem to leave much time for television. But I still manage to watch probably 12-15 hours of original programming each week. This is made possible by waking up at 6 a.m. every morning (including most weekends) and the strategic use of lunch breaks. My current TV intake is actually less television than I was watching a year ago…as my responsibilities at school and work ramped up, the volume of television I could consume weekly scaled back. A formerly <span style="font-style:italic;">devout fan of <span style="font-style:italic;">The Hills</span>, I no longer watch <span style="font-style:italic;">any</span> reality TV. (Although I'm hearing pretty great things about this </span>Tool Academy show). I really enjoyed watching Fringe during the first half of the first season, but once I missed a couple of episodes, I felt I was too lost to catch up again. I've heard <span style="font-style:italic;">Curb Your Enthusiasm</span> is amazing, but I've just never made time to watch. <br /><br />But, if I shaved back a couple of hours of television I'm currently watching, imagine the time I could be using for other things--reading, napping, watching movies. Unfortunately, I can't even begin to think of what I would cut, and I discovered two new shows--<span style="font-style:italic;">The Good Wife</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Better off Ted</span>--to love over the break. <br /><br />Suggestions, folks? What are your must-watch shows? And should I cut back my TV intake in favor of having a more well-rounded life?** <br /><br />*Yep, I'm pretty much just going to skip acknowledging that this is my first post in well over a year.<br />** The only right answer to this question is "no." <br /></span>Loreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03848832271956234554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-59861470718689104712010-01-05T14:58:00.004-05:002010-01-11T12:58:32.005-05:00On spending and savingThis is my very first WBB post (kind of a dream come true for me), so please be gentle.<br /><br />Two quick consumerism-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ish</span> thoughts for you:<br /><br />1) <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_japan_giant_tuna_sold">This seems like as inane a way as any to waste about $177 thou</a>. If you ever see me shelling out six figures for something that doesn't have a doorbell, four tires or a lido deck, please feel free to slap me on the head with a fish - it doesn't even have to be a tuna.<br /><br />2) I've figured out a great way to save money on a Weber grill. Follow these instructions and see if they work for you:<br /><ul><li>Go to your nearest Home Depot and proceed directly to the "special services" counter.</li><li>Get in line behind a 70-year-old dude who keeps changing his mind about how many 50-pound bags of sand he wants to buy. And then talks it over with his wife. And changes his mind some more. For like 35 minutes.</li><li>Have a young woman stand in line behind you. Be sure she's in a rush so that when the 70-year-old dude takes 35 minutes to order his sand, the woman asks to speak with a store manager and then - when the store manager decides not to come to her rescue - she yells that Home Depot has <span style="font-style: italic;">lost her business! </span>and storms out of the store.</li><li>Proceed to the counter and smile politely as the clerk - without prompting - offers you a 10 percent discount on your grill and accessories as a thank-you for your patience. (On Weber's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Weber-4411001-Spirit-E-210-Propane/dp/B001H1GWSA">entry-level propane grill</a>, that's about a $40 savings.)</li><li>Order the grill and request Home Depot's free grill assembly service. Plan to pick up the assembled grill the next day.</li><li>Show up the next day and find out that the grill has not been assembled.</li><li>Smile politely as the clerk - again without prompting - offers to refund another $20 to your credit card for the inconvenience. And then, for some reason, actually refunds $21.95.</li></ul>Six simple steps and more than $60 in savings. Think of it as my new year's gift to you.Your escalator operatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12670322465530328359noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-7049384575768435812010-01-02T18:15:00.000-05:002010-01-02T18:15:32.086-05:00We're backSo, WBB has been on hiatus for well over a year, but we've decided it's time to bring this delightful gift to blogging back. I have no idea how often we'll update, or what we'll talk about, but we've added an awesome new contributor -- <a href="http://sorryfortheconvenience.blogspot.com/">one escalator operator</a>.<br />
<br />
So here's to 2010 and the awakening of a great beast.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-26511997779504072192008-12-30T22:14:00.002-05:002008-12-30T22:19:21.282-05:00Blagojamess FTW!<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span>, so clearly I've been doing a crap job of posting to World's Best Burger. I think once the Romney campaign died, so did my will to blog. After all, now that I have the president I wanted, who will I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">mercilessly</span> make fun of in 2009. <div><br /></div><div>Anyway, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Blogojevich</span> is a possibility (you know, I'm not sure if I spelled that right, and I don't care).</div><div><br /></div><div>What kind of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">dumb ass</span> -- accused of trying to sell a Senate seat -- then goes on to appoint someone to that Senate seat. Regardless of how great the guy appointed is, the whole thing is tainted. Mother Theresa would be tainted by a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Blogojappointment</span>. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to say taint again: taint. taint. taint. taint. It's a terrible word, and the best one out there to describe this situation. </div><div><br /></div><div>Good luck getting this appointment through the Senate confirmation process. </div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-974738174958561142008-11-23T17:50:00.002-05:002008-11-23T18:05:07.648-05:00A Novel IdeaAs you've likely noticed, by the severe lack of blogging happening here at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">WBB</span>, we've got a lot of stuff going on these days in our offline lives. Loree is in law school and working full time. I'm working full time, teaching and participating in FAR too many extracurricular activities. And, in my case, I got so burned out on the election so early that I haven't had much to say.<br /><br />Anyway, Jon and I were taking a walk and discussing the plot of the novel I will write to make us millionaires this afternoon, and I figured it would be worth while to open up this novel writing concept to the full <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">WBB</span> crew. So, without further ado -- here's my novel idea -- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dillinger"><span style="font-style: italic;">The John Dillinger Fan Club</span></a> -- after the jump.<br /><span id="fullpost"><br />So, now you're thinking... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">WTF</span> Laura, why John Dillinger? Well, dear friends, John Dillinger was a bad ass during the depression, as I learned by watching the History Channel on my Saturday night. And surely he deserves a fan club of 12-year-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">olds</span> who plot a bank heist in Sioux South Dakota in 1935.<br /><br />Jon though, being the person he is, tells me that while this sounds like a great story, it will not make us millions, nor will it produce a summer box office smash. Therefore, the following elements have been added:<br /></span><ul><li>The kids don't live in 1935 -- they live in 2035 -- and they're called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Crypto</span> Kids who hack banks and give money to the poor in a twisted version of John Dillinger meets Robin Hood.<br /></li><li>They have a "dude" in Jakarta (because all good novels and movies made for TV have a dude in Jakarta)</li><li>The kids have a vendetta against Lehman Bros. because it turns out that the original Lehman Bros were the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">descendants</span> of John Dillinger's love child. And John Dillinger wouldn't be as big of dick head as Lehman Bros has been to the world.<br /></li></ul>So, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Crypto</span> Kids in the John Dillinger Fan Club are apparently going to funnel money through a dude in Jakarta stolen from Lehman Bros and give the money in $1 increments to everyone in the world via electronic transfer.<br /><br />So much for my period piece. Please add on to this amazing plot that will soon make me millions. I promise to dedicate the movie to all of you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-66797716128599785352008-11-11T19:44:00.002-05:002008-11-11T19:46:13.634-05:00Oh Sarah (To the tune of "Oh Sheila")<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><object height="350" width="425"><param value="http://youtube.com/v/locRDFcIuiY" name="movie"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://youtube.com/v/locRDFcIuiY" height="350" width="425"></embed></object></p><p>Seriously, Sarah Palin -- can't you just go quietly and graciously into the night instead of continuing to embarass yourself and humanity on this "media tour" of yours? Please?<br /><br />This song is for you. Although a version that actually says "Oh Sarah" would be nice, I just think we need an excuse to listen to the sounds of Ready for the World.<br /></p></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-51170226864578728282008-11-03T10:39:00.008-05:002008-11-04T07:13:08.502-05:00Free Stuff on Election DayYou know, if there are two things I love, it's delicious, free snackies and ...uh...performing my civic duty. <br /><br />But, clearly, my civic duty doesn't stop at voting. I'd be remiss to WBB's 5-6 readers if I didn't provide a quick roundup of free eats and drinks up for grabs tomorrow. (UPDATED on Nov. 4 to include more food and non-food related freebies and discounts...see below.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Starbucks.</span> Go in on Nov. 4, tell 'em you voted, and snag a free tall coffee.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ben & Jerrys.</span> Stop by between 5 and 8 p.m. and get a free scoop of ice cream. This <a href="http://www.benjerry.com/features/i_voted/">nifty link</a> can give you the nearest participating scoop shop. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Krispy Kreme.</span> <a href="http://current.newsweek.com/budgettravel/2008/10/free_krispy_kreme_donuts_on_el.html">Free donuts</a>. Patriotic donuts. That would probably taste delicious if they actually have a location near you. <br /><br />UPDATES!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Chick-Fil-A.</span> Bring your "I voted" sticker to one of hundreds of Chick-Fil-A restaurants participating in this promotion to snag a free chicken sandwich. Mmm. (Not all locations are participating, so you might want to call your local one first to check it out.) <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Shane's Rib Shack. </span> The chain (mostly located in the Southeast) is offering free "Vote America" meals to voters, which include chicken tenders, fries and a 20 oz. soda. (Thanks to WBB reader <a href="http://kellyfiresheets.blogspot.com/">Kelly</a> for the tip!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wilco download. </span> No sticker required. Just pledge to vote and <a href="http://wilcoworld.net/vote/index.php/">download "I Shall Be Released,"</a> written by Bob Dylan and featuring Fleet Foxes. (Thanks, <a href="http://starksy.tumblr.com/">Greg</a>!)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Hey, Cincinnati readers, a local discount!</span> It's not free, but it's good enough. Shake It Records in Northside is <a href="http://www.buycincy.com/2008/11/shake-it-voting-promotion-and.html">offering 10 percent off</a> if you sport your voting sticker. (Thanks to <a href="http://me-unplugged.com/">Stef</a> in the comments for giving us the heads up!)<br /><br /> <br /><br />Know of any more? Let us know in the comments!Loreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03848832271956234554noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-16338245976055813072008-10-31T08:36:00.002-05:002008-10-31T08:39:28.398-05:00Happy Halloween!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vXRJp6lyxMuC2xnBvpiVpZWFW1SMmyPxfkL8rJFB7q-OUiEuvcWNBbyIjalkH4wy2hjSyT36iXdRGCBQKnVkwX-1RzKDj0g47zWi1DfVUvg1gtZJlkDdhTxcIWyVdrTvSTf1o_qJTgQ/s1600-h/cnn.png"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 112px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vXRJp6lyxMuC2xnBvpiVpZWFW1SMmyPxfkL8rJFB7q-OUiEuvcWNBbyIjalkH4wy2hjSyT36iXdRGCBQKnVkwX-1RzKDj0g47zWi1DfVUvg1gtZJlkDdhTxcIWyVdrTvSTf1o_qJTgQ/s200/cnn.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263311649264972386" /></a><br /><br />Courtesy of CNN, and one of the most depressing grouping of lead stories, ever. (Click to enlarge, cause for some reason I can't seem to make pictures post the size I saved them as.)Loreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03848832271956234554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-65886691116461397072008-10-23T20:45:00.002-05:002008-10-23T20:51:12.652-05:00When did Cracker Jacks start to suck?This is probably the most important question you'll ponder today. Why has Cracker Jacks decided to only populate its classic American snack with stupid ass prizes. I want my damn temporary tattoo or reflective sticker. All you've given me lately is a weird factoid sheet about George Washington and a pencil topper. And by pencil topper, I mean a piece of paper with a hole at the top and the bottom.<br /><br />You know the country is in bad shape when Cracker Jacks starts the downward slide. Of course, I just had my first box in about 10 years last week, so I could be a little slow on realizing the demise of the product... but seriously, it's shocking.<br /><br />I'd listen if a candidate brought this up. Could make me change my vote.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-57753282727634447442008-10-20T20:07:00.003-05:002008-10-20T20:12:40.201-05:00Hey Russia, buy me a battleground state ad!Have you seen the nutty rumors about the McCain campaign asking for money from Russia to fund TV adds? And Russia declined, making a point to mock the campaign for asking for money after being critical of the country's handling of the Georgia situation? <div><br /></div><div>It all seems really strange, and I'm not seeing much mainstream media coverage of this. <a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/McCain_camp_hits_up_Russian_ambassador.html?showall">Here's a breakdown from Politico. </a>They say they're verifying it, and if this is true, I don't understand why more people aren't picking up on it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The 112 comments on this post as of 9 p.m. on Monday are pretty entertaining.</div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-12803932372592734902008-10-20T10:37:00.001-05:002008-10-20T10:38:44.223-05:00The Important QuestionWondering when someone is finally going to ask the candidates..."What's on your DVR?"Loreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03848832271956234554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-90553631208874590992008-10-10T15:36:00.000-05:002008-10-10T15:37:00.231-05:00Loving <a href="http://www.radaronline.com/features/2008/10/mad_men_guide_jon_hamm_christina_hendricks_january_jones_amc_01.php">Radar's guide to Mad Men. </a>Loreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03848832271956234554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-11429238917458890442008-10-09T10:43:00.002-05:002008-10-09T10:48:36.844-05:00Long time no blog, folks. I suck. <br /><br />However, I have somehow managed to continue to feed my monster TV habit despite being busier than I've ever been in my life. <br /><br />A few random thoughts:<br /><br />-Very excited that Pushing Daisies is back. <br /><br />-Can't get into Heroes this season. I think it kind of blows.<br /><br />-Still find Boston Legal both fantastical and funny, but it's always the one thing left on my DVR that I just can't make time to watch when I get too busy.<br /><br />-Greek is the best show on right now targeted at people 10 years younger than I. Yes, even better than Gossip Girl, which I still unabashedly love for the campiness factor.<br /><br />-Last weekend, while friends were in town, we discovered Parking Wars on A&E. If you're not familiar, it's pretty much what it sounds like... a reality show that follows the Philly PPA as they boot, ticket and tow around the city. It's both terribly boring and terrifically awesome.Loreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03848832271956234554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-70320902450080387082008-09-16T20:36:00.002-05:002008-09-16T20:51:19.728-05:00Foreclosing on the voteDon't know if you've heard about the <a href="http://www.michiganmessenger.com/4076/lose-your-house-lose-your-vote">Michigan GOP's attempt to disenfranchise voters </a>in Macomb County who are on a foreclosure list, but it makes me certain that any party that would fight to eliminate voters -- their rights, their duty as American citizens -- will never, ever receive my vote. Period.<br /><br />In fact, every day, as I hear more lies, exaggeration, tired arguments, and evil attack ads, I think -- what will I do if this party wins the presidency again? I seriously don't know. This situation boggles my mind.<br /><br />I've been pondering a move to Canada -- I joke, but only slightly, because Jon and I have discussed migrating to Vancouver before. We've discussed it, not to escape the jacked politics or financial turmoil here, but because it seems like a cool place in proximity to lots of biking, hiking and skiing. But now, the fact that it's not here in the United States is becoming more and more appealing.<br /><br />Besides, if I move to Vancouver, LUSH beauty products will be a local product, and I don't have to feel guilty about loving them deeply because they'll only be shipped across town and not across the country. Remember -- I have that pesky commitment to reducing my carbon footprint. Local products always win.<br /><br />Annnnnnnnyyyyyyywaaaaaaaaay, I digress. This tactic is wrong, designed to specifically target African-American voters who traditionally vote democrat.<br /><br />This campaign season has gotten so ugly that learning the words to "Oh Canada" doesn't seem like a bad idea. A girl has to practice the potential new country's anthem to see if it's a fit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-18869729561292900272008-09-10T22:51:00.005-05:002008-09-10T22:59:03.096-05:00Anyone watching "Fringe"?Yeah, it's all right. I'm going to give it a few more episodes, anyway. The pilot was kind of enh, but I do like Joshua Jackson (Pacey!!!!). Plus, I'm a major J.J. Abrams fan (sure, everyone knows about the phenomenon that is "Lost," but he also created that groundbreaking cultural touchstone "Felicity"). Also, I clearly am willing to watch as much TV as I can humanly handle, so there's that, too. <br /><br />But one great reason to tune in to "Fringe"? Lance Reddick is dreeeeaaaaammmmy. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkaRMJgyENTqFlr5kXFcROI2Tf9Z0ztMT7lwBbkHcJI5D9NodhYmfX8UbylV6omQk7-2LWYtJUKsmH3OpcQX8f3tQhsHalI0agftU4e8DwLJTiGKyNxdp6fVDlrATRT9Au91Rd8l9VuY/s1600-h/lance+1"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkaRMJgyENTqFlr5kXFcROI2Tf9Z0ztMT7lwBbkHcJI5D9NodhYmfX8UbylV6omQk7-2LWYtJUKsmH3OpcQX8f3tQhsHalI0agftU4e8DwLJTiGKyNxdp6fVDlrATRT9Au91Rd8l9VuY/s200/lance+1" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244607470709013026" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JQyPUB6yAiqLNKCPhAFO4eAFdkyRhzbl_yxUVKcDANmHcdm4myr4FP0bBTujO-9PCcQgJzo2f1rOGNATKbujMXq4wCoAksfJAtIVi2101CmXnq7er8YpUsDh5mGgZrwynoUtoJgMBbY/s1600-h/lance+2"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JQyPUB6yAiqLNKCPhAFO4eAFdkyRhzbl_yxUVKcDANmHcdm4myr4FP0bBTujO-9PCcQgJzo2f1rOGNATKbujMXq4wCoAksfJAtIVi2101CmXnq7er8YpUsDh5mGgZrwynoUtoJgMBbY/s200/lance+2" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244607614016193922" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwI5P7lySBShJ6DZtF3n482hLP9xRly8ALM2ii30EjL-bIfD4kVBPOhY4nfL21PhJOT8aA5EnEDWhmJG3hZmQF7csGimezT86lhx3k2tZEMZ5Ey1iyAY8gJyROxU5D5GA9pLp192GDMr4/s1600-h/lance+3"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwI5P7lySBShJ6DZtF3n482hLP9xRly8ALM2ii30EjL-bIfD4kVBPOhY4nfL21PhJOT8aA5EnEDWhmJG3hZmQF7csGimezT86lhx3k2tZEMZ5Ey1iyAY8gJyROxU5D5GA9pLp192GDMr4/s200/lance+3" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244607972154121762" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVoWZ9FZ13K62qUX1f31oTooOB7JJtmTueekGni_ECq7-p4lqBArg0ssC_UoBcft3pCYlN_Sgx7lxpIDuig3hKUskPOl4U3Qzvqcj2VAO2KC1YYkjxMzWuhiXqpStcK2lDTd8LuLT3aM/s1600-h/lance+4"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVoWZ9FZ13K62qUX1f31oTooOB7JJtmTueekGni_ECq7-p4lqBArg0ssC_UoBcft3pCYlN_Sgx7lxpIDuig3hKUskPOl4U3Qzvqcj2VAO2KC1YYkjxMzWuhiXqpStcK2lDTd8LuLT3aM/s200/lance+4" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244608163252906082" /></a>Loreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03848832271956234554noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-68718848476087665642008-09-10T22:36:00.003-05:002008-09-10T22:46:40.927-05:00More thoughts on the new "90210"...So, I caught last night's episode of "90210" and I'm still digging it. Still not up to the status of appointment television, necessarily, but pretty good. Of course, the healthy dose of a Kelly Taylor storyline, complete with Drunk! Mean! Mom!, was helpful. (Interesting sidenote: The actress that plays Kelly's mom had to take a <a href="http://www.nj.com/entertainment/celebrities/index.ssf/2008/09/from_90210_to_the_pulpit_kelly.html">brief break from her day job at the pulpit</a> to come back and play Sloshy McBoozerton.) <br /><br />The teens are still a little enh. The lead actress is all right, but a little too bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for me. And it's hard to watch the guy who plays her bro, Tristan Wilds, do anything this soap-lite after his superb performance as Michael in "The Wire."<br /><br />Also, I kind of expect the teen set to be engaging in a bit more, uh, debauchery. I mean, we're two episodes in, and all we've dealt with is some cheating (at least it's among both the kids AND the adults) and one flimsy drug problem (but it's just the annoying theater girl, so I'm not really invested her struggle). More drama! More turmoil! More reasons for parents to not want teens to watch, please! Don't these kids have tons o' money at their disposal? Surely they can get in more trouble than this.<br /><br />Also, where was Boozy Grandma last night? Jessica Walters is the best (see any episode of "Arrested Development" for reference), and I hope the show uses her to their full advantage.Loreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03848832271956234554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970889301518502006.post-6359361296394367522008-09-09T18:59:00.003-05:002008-09-09T19:02:42.285-05:00Sarah Palin and the EnvironmentThis is the last time I go on a tirade about Sarah Palin, for at least a week. Check out my post on her environmental stances at <a href="http://laurascarbonfootprint.wordpress.com/">Laura's Carbon Footprint</a>.<br /><br />Now, to watch the new version of 90210 so I can comment intelligently when Loree writes about it later.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1