Results, Poll #26, Technology.

These results were posted a bit later than normal, let's jump right in:

> 1 person (7%) chose "better than ever" - Maybe you have some tips for everyone or had a bad case of agoraphobia?
> 10 people (71%) chose "meh, about the same" - I'm with everyone here... though somewhat leaning to the next choice. I also had a major error this week, I don't think I voted. Maybe something else was on my mind, possibly, maybe?
> 3 people (21%) chose "so much worse now" - Again, some days I'm leaning towards this choice too. Wouldn't it be nice just to see everyone you like in person? And this is coming from someone that tends to his own blog.
> 0 people (0%, duh) chose "i'm converting to orthodox judaism" - Now, this might have looked like a funny choice (though maybe not too funny according to the vote total), but seriously, think about it. I've lived in many semi-Jewish neighborhoods, where every sabbath you see some walking to and from temple or shopping without cars. They also can choose to not read or listen to most mainstream media. Do you think they're getting into car accidents after being distracted on the cellphone - I don't think so. Do they simply Facebook all their family and friends, I don't think so. They see their immediate and extended family and friends, probably on a weekly basis. Of course, converting for a non-Jewish person would be kind of extreme, but so is carpal tunnel syndrome due to playing too much video games.

Was that soapboxy? Well, get over it.

A thing I found in MKE.

I don't know what this is, but it looks pretty cool and because it's shiny, I was attracted to it.
Technically, I think it's just sculpture. It has some engraved words on the side of it, probably an explanation, but soooo many of them that I didn't want to read all of it. The best part is that this is only about 5 minutes from my place, so I can see it almost anytime I want. Yay for me. I suppose little kids, or someone like me, would want to climb all over it... but then get yelled at by some "adult" for defacing art. Lame.

Dumbest Vanity Plate Ever?

I didn't think the plates could get much worse after "BAADBOY", but I should never underestimate the American public. How's this for silly, odd, and downright confusing vanity plate madness?

First off, if my name was George, I'd be embarrassed, pissed, or a mix of emotions that would rival gorging myself on Cakesters. Second, does this car belong to a man, woman, or someone like Pat ["...a guy or a girl, a he or a she, who's that? it's pat"]. And finally, what in the world would push someone to fill out the vanity form with their first name, or a derivation there of? I mean, honestly, is that the best you could come up with as you stared at the form!?! "Hmmmm, I'm laying out an extra $100, so I think it should be meaningful... I know, "GEORGEE". That's it! That's the one!!! Thank the Lord it fits on the plate too, phew!"

Yikes. It would have been rejected by the WI Vanity Plate Review Board, that's for sure.

Have a little Hart.

Disclaimer: this is NOT a Cubs vs. Brewers post... I'm going to let the teams settle that at the end of September.

This is however a post of, IMO, bad form. Upon hearing that Brewers' outfielder Corey Hart was voted onto the All-Star team, his teammates decided to shower him with beer during his press conference. Not a bad idea, until you see who he's holding on his lap.

> http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6371f_corey-hart_latino

I know there's been some news coverage of this shower, but Corey has commented that, "I went and got her a popsicle, and she was great.". Hmmm, sounds like a line every dad uses when his wife is pissed at him. Then again, the press conference was a surprise to Corey and the teammates didn't know his 2 year old daughter would be in there either.
> http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080711&content_id=3114110&vkey=allstar2008&fext=.jsp

Discuss, Poll #26, Technology.

Again, a spot for discussion comments.

Also, feel free to check out this post on the topic, hopefully AFTER you've voted.

Results, Poll #25, TV.

I've heard interesting names for the TV, like "idiot box", "boob tube", etc. These are somewhat derisive names that have come about, I suspect, only with the last couple generations that have become "couch potatoes" (another derogatory name) in front of the TV all day long. I mean, who could miss an episode of He-Man, GI Joe, or someone getting slimed on Double Dare. "When I was a kid"... we were generally only allowed one half hour of TV during the day (for all of us, not per kid), prime time during the school week from 7-bedtime (which was about 8:30PM as a middle schooler), some Saturday morning shows before choretime, and maybe a late night on the weekends (though not SNL when I wasn't yet a teenager). All of this plays a role into me watching more TV now as an "adult" - what did everyone else vote:

> 12 people(75%) chose that they watch more TV now then than as a kid - good news for local cable companies and I suspect a good reason why we now have some "Super Stations" on the dial. But, it is the best way for me to see the Cubs' games on WGN.
> 4 people (25%) chose that they watch less TV now than as a kid - that's good news... unless you used to have your mom serve your meals to you in front of Growing Pains and now, simply by the fact that you have to work for a living, you can't watch as much.

No one voted for "about the same" or "don't own a TV". I guess that goes to show how much inroads in the idiot box has made in a few short generations.

Thanks for voting and new poll and discussion up now. I gotta go catch the Tour coverage...

Flight of the Poofey Hair.

On the recommendation of a friend, I netflixed and watched the first 6 episodes of Flight of the Conchords the other day. If you haven't seen it, or to refresh your memeory, in one of the episodes Bret (which always sounds like "Brit") talks about construcitng his "hair helmet". This is a bicycle helmet that looks just like a poofey head of hair. You get to see it in the episode and it does look realistic. Of course, this is all b/c they live in trendy NYC (probably Park Slope or something) and won't be cool if they are seen wearing a helmet on their vintage Schwinns.

After watching the shows, I went to my favorite daytime haunt, Alterra (on the Lake). There, I found this man:

I thought he was wearing his own, very well done, hair helmet... but I was mistaken. It's simply one of the finest, poofey hair, semi-mullets I've ever seen. I think he ordered a smoothie too. Figures.