"Lock the doors and close the blinds -- we're going for a ride..."

Dear Mindsay,

So long. And thanks for all the fish.

Love,
Shiny


(This has been Shiny's Take-Out.)

It's National Talk Like a Pirate Day  somebody's birthday today!

Look -- I went through this last year. If you know who it is, just go to her blog (Yes. It's a her.) and leave her some birthday wishes and cheer.  Your only hint is that she's the most awesomest person on Mindsay in the whole wide world.

Happy Birthday, Mystery Blogger! We love you!

www.dayofsilence.org

Hi all.

Thanks to all of you for the wonderful birthday wishes. It's been a long day -- with travel, errands, cooking, etc. And since we were out of town for Passover, I haven't been glued to the computer as much as I usually am.

But this time around I will respond to each and every one of you. It just might take some time.

Thanks again!

-- S

So, Shiny — how did  you become a vegetarian?

Well, it was the summer of 1989. I was a rising senior in high school. I was about to embark on a teen trip across the country associated with the Jewish youth group with which I was involved. By that time I had tried being a vegetarian before — in fact, my family didn’t really eat that much meat anyway. But I didn’t consider myself a vegetarian at that time.

And then I met Robin.

Robin was a kid on my trip. Beautiful. Stunning. She seemed so grown up for someone who was a year younger than me. And so smart. So friendly. She and I shared a love for the musical Chess which was written by members of Abba and which spawned that One Night In Bangkok song. I was smitten.

Robin was a vegetarian.

Look, I thought: Robin’s smart. She must know what she’s doing. I’m practically a vegetarian anyway! Meat has never been such a huge staple for me. Besides — it’s only just about a step further from keeping kosher, so it’s not a total lifestyle change. And it would mean that Robin and I would have that in common! There was my “in!”

So I became a vegetarian in June of 1989. And I let her know about it. She smiled. We were both vegetarians. I was sure this meant that we would be together.

We weren’t.

She was nice enough not to explicitly say “let’s just be friends,” but it was obvious. Yet I stayed a vegetarian.

The kicker? In October I will have been married to my wife, an avid meat-eater, for ten years. Yet I’m still holding to my vegetarian ways nineteen years after meeting Robin.

Odd, huh?

My hair is getting long. I haven't had a haircut since September as (a) I'm lucky enough to have a job which isn't making me cut my hair; (b) I'm lucky enough to have a spouse who isn't making me cut my hair; and (c) I'm looking forward to donating it to "Locks of Love" sometime in the next several months.  The way I see it, I have a window of opportunity which is closing rather fast: only time will tell before I start going gray, or bald, or both.  Might as well do this while I can, right?

The picture below is mostly for myclette who happens to have a thing for white guys with long hair. The picture was taken after Av's bath -- which seems to always end up with more water splashing on me than on him -- go figure.



... and there you go.

... I bring you Seth's Bar Mitzvah.  1993 was a good year for the family...

Two days ago socKs showed me something online that has had my brain in a tizzy. I’m usually pretty good at guessing a song by snippets of song lyrics (and especially by a snippet of the music). There would be no doubt that having all of the lyrics for the entire song in front of me would make it a whole lot easier! Right?

Well...

Here’s the deal: You’re presented with the lyrics to a popular song. Butall of the words appear in alphabetical order. And each word appears once — no matter how many times it’s sung in the song. For some reason, this drove me wild. Some of them were easy to spot; some of them took me quite a while. You can look at that quiz, cleverly titled “And Great Lyrics Quiz Rock Roll The.”

I decided to do my own with songs (mostly) from the ’80s, ’90s and the current decade. Some of the ones I chose are quite easy. Some of them require some thought.

Good luck!

1.

a across age alive alone and answers anything at be boy but can’t ‘cept course daddy day deserve didn’t do dyin’ for glad got have hey him home huh I I’m if is just know little look man’s nothin’ now of oh question ready real remember room said see she sittin’ slowly so something son sorry stare still story talked that the there thirteen this thought to uh very walks was we well were what where while who wrong yeah you you’re young your

2.

against agony all amputee an and are around been bit body bored boring breeding but can’t cause clearer cloning coming commit crazy cretins curves cut damn digging does doesn’t don’t even ever everybody’s evil feeding feel feels fine fingertips flagpole for forget found get god had have head hear hell holes hospital hot hurt I I’d I’m if in into irony it it’s just kill killing legs like little live looking machines me memories met mind mine mirror moles my naughty nerves never no not now of off oh one only own paranoia people pierce publish put rage rottenness run runnin’ salutes say see sick sin snoring so sounds stupid sublime swear that the them then they they’re this time to told tongue trivial turn tv underground up visions voices wanna was well when who with world you you’re your zines

3.

a after air alone and are at babe baby back be beach boys brown but by cadillac can combed crazy days deadhead did don’t down dream drivin’ ‘em empty everyone feel for forever forget get go goes gone gonna got hair happened have head home house how I I’m if in inside it just knew know lake let little look love made me my never nights nobody not now of on our out pulled radio reach real remember road said saw scream see shinin’ should show skin slicked slow smilin’ sticker still streets strong summer summer’s sun sunglasses tell that the those though thought to today top understand voice walkin’ was wayfarers what will wonder you you’re your

4.

a all an and another asking away baby back be because becomes before blues body but can’t cause comes could devotion don’t door down emotion every everybody faith floor foolish for from games give giving go got gotta guess has have heart help hold I I’ll I’m I’ve if it just know like love loverboy man maybe me mean more my need nice not notion ocean of off on pick play please reconsider reconsidered river rules say saying showing some someone something stay strong takes that the them think this throw tied time to too touch twice up wait well when who without word would yeah yesterday you you’re your

5.

a all America’s an and another apart are around at away baby back be beat been believe blind breathe broken but buy can can’t capital captain case chair chamber charity cigarette city city’s court crime doin’ down eat end everybody’s fame far for fortune gamble game gas general girls go gonna good gotta grass green hard have hazardous he he’s heart here home how I I’d I’ll I’m I’ve in is it it’s jester just keep know like line livin’ losin’ me million mind must my now of oh or paradise pay please pretty pushin’ quite rags remember riches said say says see seen so somethin’ start strapped street surgeon take tell that’s the their they time times to torn tough treat turn under urchin want when where who why with won’t ya yeah you your

6.

a all am and any apologies at be become big burdensome can’t captivity ’cause clear comparison dear destiny do don’t drive exactly exposed eyes fear for forcing freak girl good guess had hand have here hide hold I I’d I’m I’ve in is it it’s just kind know late let little living look lucky makes making many me moment my myself night no not numb of off oh ol’ out outside petite pink pretty prototype rather reasons ribbon rights rule run sight sit so some stand stare step succumbed surprise take that that’s the their there’s they things think this those thumb to Tweedle-dum typical up well what what’s where with won’t world worrisome you you’ll your

7.

a aeroplanes afraid alone alternatives an and as at automotive aux baffled Bangs Bernstein birds birthday bleed bloodletting book-burning boom breathing Brezhnev bright Bruce burn but by candle caught cavalier cheesecake churn clatter clear combat coming common continental cropped crush crushed decline divide do don’t down dreamt drift dummy earthquake end escalate every eye fear feed feel feeling fight, fine fire flight food for foreign furies games get government great grunt had heart heel height hire hour hurricane hurry I in incinerate is it it’ll it’s jellybean knives know ladder left Lenny Leonard Leonid Lester lies light line listen locking look low me means motive mountains neck needs night no not o’clock of off offer other overflow own party patriotic playing population pretty psyched rapture renegade reporters representing return, revered right save serve serves seven sit site six slam slash snakes solutions some speak stand starts steer step symbiotic team tethered that that’s the then this time to tournament towers trumped TV uh-oh uniforming vitriolic votive watch we west wire with world you your yourself

8.

a able about alive an and are as away baby back be bear bed best both bug but can ’cause close cross deny did die died dinner does down duplicity eloquently else’s enough every excellent eyes face fade fair feel for forget fuck gave go gonna happy hate have her here hold hope how I I’m in is it it’s joke know laid left like look love made make me mess middle mother Mr. my nails name no not nothing of older on open oughta peaceful perverted quickly quite really remind replaced scratch seem she she’d should slap someone soon speak still sure that the theater things thinking thought ’till time to told until version very want was wasn’t we well went when wide wish would you you you’d you’re your

9.

a about all alone am an angels as at away believe blood bridge cause city companion could cry day deeds did don’t downtown drew drive enough ever feel forgot friend gave get good hard have her hills I I’m in is it’s kisses knows least lie life like live lonely love loves me my never nobody not now of on only out partner place sees she she’s some sometimes streets take that the there there’s through to together under walk want way we where who windy worry

10.

a ah all always and awake away be book but can cheeks complain day do don’t dry escape for gather gonna great have hey I I’d I’ll I’m insane is it it’s just keep know life like made me my no not of oh plain point pour pretty puddles rain read really rips sane say sleep so some someone speak start stay tea that the there there’s think to today two understand view wake want watchin’ we’re when why with ya yeah you

11.

a about ah all Amsterdam and and anything are as at back barrio be beautiful believe believes big black black blue Bob bottle bought bright but buy can cats ‘cause color colors come coming conversation cut dance dancer dances dancin’ different don’t down Dylan each everybody fairy father favorite felt flamenco for funky future girl going gonna got gray guitar happy haired he help her how huh I I’m if in into is Jones just knew know la lights lion little lonely look looking loves man Maria me meaningful more morning Mr. my myself never new no of oh other paint pass perfect Picasso picture play plays reasons red right see sha she she’s show silence smiling so some somebody someone something son Spanish spotlight standing stare staring stars stereo strikes stumbling suddenly symbolic tales television tell that that’s the there’s think this through to uh up very video wanna want wants was we we’re well when while who why will wish wishes with women would yeah yellow yesterday you

12.

a alive all am and are awake away back be burn but car churches come complete days don’t doorway drive emptiness eyes eyes façade fills for from fruitless get go grand hard heart heat I in inside instincts keep keeps light like look lost love me moment much my noise of off oh our out pain pass place pride reach resolution return run searches see slipping so sometimes soon survival that the they this thousand time tired to touch want wasted way when whichever will with without working you your

13.

a afternoon all and baby be bed behind big blankets body bound ‘bout break bubblegum but candy crawling damn deep discover discovering do ‘em every face falls find for frustrate go good got hair hand head hit hurts I I’ll I’ve if in inch is it know leave left let like lips look lose love make me might mile mine my never of one pair pillowcase plans porcelain room sea shape skin so something sometimes swimming take tell the there’s thing this though to tongue towards two want way we’ll we’ve when where while without wonder wonderland you you’re your

14.

a about achin’ afternoon air all although always and angry anime Aquaman aren’t arms as at babes back backswing bad be because been Bert better big Birchmount blame boom both brain break burns bust but can can’t cartoon cause chalet chicken chickity China Chinese clubs cocked come could couldn’t crazy dangerous dans days did dish do don’t dropped drumstick fake fault feel films find finest fish five flavours flying Ford forgiven frantic frying funeral funny get getting gonna got gotta grow guaranteed guy hard Harrison has have head help history hits hold home hoodwink hope hot how I I’d I’m I’ve if in irons is it it’ll it’s just Kaempfert’s kind knees know Kurosawa la laughed laughs LeAnn lights like living looked looking losing mad maison make man’s match me mean mind moment moon my never no not now nubs of off okay on one pan realized rhymes Rimes Robbie room rug said sailor Samurai satisfy say saying see set shake shirt show side sides sign since sit sleeve smile smiled smoking snickers so soon sorry stadium still sting stinkin’ stop stops summon sushi Swiss tackled take taking tantric tell tendency that the then they’d thing think this though thought three threw through tickin’ til’ tiny to together too touched try tryin’ tune two understand value vanilla vertigo wait waiver wassabi watch watchin’ we we’re wear week well were what when who will with wits wrong X-Files yesterday you you’d you’ll you’re your

15.

a above all and another at baby bad be but can card care change cream credit cruel curious diamonds do don’t dove dream fair fame feel feeling first found from gets girl’s glad go good harder hawk help Hmmm hold home in is it it it’s just keeps know life like little love mad make makes man might money more need next night no nothin’ of one power rich ride right ‘round sad save say sing sometimes steel strong stronger sudden take than that that’s the they thing this till time to tougher train weep what when white with won’t world wrong yeah you you’ll you’ve your

16.

a addiction after ain’t all alright an and angels around as black boy but by call certain comes company cross don’t down ever everything eyes family from gives gonna hair has her I in is it keeps know little lock lover make me means meet mentions met name neck never night no none not nothing now of oh orphan out pain pain’s paints pocket pulls says seen shades she she’ll she’s smile someone talks tell that the there’s they those tight to wears when word yeah yes yet you

17.

a abuse act ah all am an and are as at behind can ‘cause chance come control cry dance doing don’t dress ‘em everybody everybody’s everything’ll everything’s far feet find for friends from go gonna got hands hats I if imbecile is it it’s leave life like long look lose mine neat never night no nobody of oh one our out place pole poor real removed right rude safety said say so surprise takin’ the they they’re this to totally victory want we we’re we’ve well when where will with work world yeah yes you young your

18.

tequila

19.

a after alone am and apartment around as at back balled before brick broke buy by call can’t car cause Charlotte Christmas clothes coast cold couch dad dark day down drive driving drownin’ dying ever feeling find fine flowers for found freezing gifts got has have headed her home I I’m in is it it’s know lot lying me mom moment more name not now nowhere numb of off on out pace parking seat see sell seven she she’s showed six sleeping slowly smell some someone son stairs tell than that the then they they’re thirty throw time tired to told truth up us walk was we we’re weeks went world yeah you you’re

20.

a about ain’t all always and anger ask asking away being better brace bringing burden but by can clues concerned do don’t down ease enough ever everything few fine fool gives go going grace have higher I I’m I’ve Instead is it it’s just know lastless leave lies listen love me mean mine more my no of one out problems prose purple pushing questions realize realized relative replies say seemingly seems self shoot so spent stop talk tell telling than the these things think think this through time times to unbelievable us way what when why with world you you’d you’re you’ve your yourself

21.

a about ain’t and as barrio be better breath but calling cause change cool could crying else emotion enough every everyone feel for forget from get give good got groove Harlem hear heart hot I I’ll if in inches it it’s kind leave let’s life lift like Lisa lovin’ make man me melt midday Mona mood moon muñequita my name ocean of on one or out radio real reason rhythm round said same seven shame slow smooth so soft Spanish stay step suit sun tell that that’s the thing this to turning under up well whisper word words world would you you’re your

Hey! Radio show! Tonight!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/shiny

Shiny Snogs Too Much -- The All - British Show!

9:00pm EDT / 6:00pm PDT

Join co-presenter cas and me as we discuss all things British in our outrageously absurd fake British accents!  You can participate as well in the on-line chat (easy registration required) or by calling in LIVE to the show!



Hope to see you there!

The radio show is back!  We'll be doing another installment of "Shiny Talks Too Much" this MONDAY EVENING, March 24, at 9:00pm EDT.

This week -- the theme is "Shiny Snogs Too Much."  What is snogging? It's the British term for... well, something or other.  Not entirely sure, actually. All I know is that it's one of those things they say in the U.K.  And this show will be an All British Show! That's right -- we'll be celebrating all things from across the pond with our outrageous fake British accents and our fish and chips in hand.

As always - you can call in to the show live -- if you do, however, you need to pretend to be British as well -- whether it's your own fake British accent or some other content that is related to the U.K.  Whether it's Benny Hill, or Cricket, or Kylie Minogue Tracy Ullman, or Torchwood -- this will be the "brilliant" place where you can be part of the show!  (The number to call is in New York, USA -- charges may apply when calling from across the Atlantic.)

My special guest for the evening will be cas -- a true native of England! (Or at least one of the colonies once held by the British Monarchy several years back.) Whether you call in or just participate in the on-line chat, it should be a wonderful time -- shagtastic and crumpet-alicious!

Oh -- and if you want to listen to our last show -- it's here:

Okay, all. I'm sleepy and exhausted and will be getting to bed really soon. I'll post more tomorrow. Promise.

But before I do: Tonight began the Jewish holiday of Purim, a day which chronicles the events as written in the Biblical Book (Scroll) of Esther The synopsis: About 2500 years ago the Persian King Achashverosh, overcome with impulse, drunkenness and horniness, banished his queen (Vashti) for not participating in Half-Nekkid Thursday in front of his friends. He produces a reality show to find the most beautiful woman in the land to be his new queen -- and it turns out to be a Jewish chick named Esther. Her uncle, a bloke called Mordechai, tells her to keep the Jewish thing a secret. Meanwhile, The King's #2 guy is a pompous ass called "Haman." He has a run-in with Mordechai one day and, because Mordechai refuses to bow down to him, he sets a decree to kill all the Jews on, drawn by lottery, the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar (today). There's more of a story to it, but the climax is that Esther reveals her true identity to the king and pleads to spare the life of the Jews, and Haman and his family were hung on a tree instead.

So -- as you can surmise it's a great holiday for the kiddies.

It's as close as one can get to a Jewish Halloween: kids (and adults) dress up in costumes. I'll post pictures of myself and the kid in our homemade costumes. His was far better than mine: he was Buzz Lightyear in a costume designed and sewn by the lovely socKs. I was the "Can you hear me now? Good!"guy from the Verizon wireless commercials.

It's also a holiday where it's traditional to get extremely drunk -- prescribed to the extent that one not be able to distinguish good from evil (more literally, distinguish between the evil Haman and the hero, Mordechai). I'm zonked after ... oh, zero to drink this evening. I'm getting old...

Two videos if you're interested -- both are raps. The first one was animated by Ben Baruch, who created the Shabot6000 online cartoon. Great stuff. the second one is new this year and... just make sure to watch the first one, k?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

“We’re going out to dinner with Aunt Jen!”

Our son was excited the other night that she had come into town from Atlanta. We’re not entirely clear what was more exciting: the notion of seeing “Aunt Jen,” socKs’s college flatmate who has known him since birth, or the notion that he would be eating quesadilla and french fries at a fun restaurant. Either way, it was a nice evening sunset drive in the car. The sunroof was open, the Foo Fighters were a crankin’, and we were off.

Until we got to the traffic light at the end of our development. The Suburban in front of us proceeded at the green light. And was immediately t-boned by the ass-clown running the red light to his left. It was probably a collision at less than 15 miles an hour, and it was a Suburban, after all. But that didn’t stop us from hearing the screech and that fantastic crunch.

I crept alongside the car that had been hit (the right side, not the collision side) and rolled down my window to ask if the driver and passenger were okay. (They were.) And then we kept on driving while talking about what happened, me trying to explain the gravity of the situation, and the five-year old not knowing exactly what transpired except that it reminded him of Chick Hicks bashing the other cars on the race for the Piston Cup.

So I tried the best I could with some talking points:

* I stopped and talked to the people in the car to make sure they were okay and to help if I could.

* Accidents happen now and again - just when you least expect.

* Contrary to what he initially believed, both cars didn’t have a green light. One of them had a red and wasn’t

paying attention.

* I’m glad that everyone was okay.

* I’m glad that it wasn’t our car. (Because I was hungry. I’m such as ass…)

* Both his mom and I have been in car accidents, some of them serious, and we were very lucky to be okay.

* PAY ATTENTION IN THE ROAD!

* If someone isn’t okay, get help by calling 911.

That last one was his suggestion — he’s learned about 911. But I realized something: Does he really know how to dial 911? I’ve taken inventory of the phones in our house and — well, here’s what he would have to do:

* upstairs bedroom princess phone: listen to dial tone, press “9″ “1″ “1.”

* kitchen cordless phone: climb up on a stool, reach the countertop, knock the phone off the wall, press “9″ “1″ “1″ and then the gray picture of the telephone.

* downstairs cordless phone: jump on the sofa, get the phone, see if the LCD display is lit up. If it is, great. If not, put it back in the cradle, remove it again, and see if it lights up. Then dial “9″ “1″ “1″ and press the dial button. If you hear three short beeps, put it in the cradle and try it again. Then, if the connection is staticky, press the “ch.” button several times to select a good channel with less interference. Do not approach the wireless router in the next room over or else you’ll hear a “thudthudthudthudthud” sound which will be really annoying.

* Our Nextels: Luckily they’re pretty much the same: make sure you’re outside or at the top level of the house. Extend the antenna. Flip it open. Dial “9″ “1″ “1″ and press the green telephone handset button. On my phone only: if you can’t hear anything, race around the house attempting to find my bluetooth headset. Strap it around the ear. Look neo-cosmo-yuppie and call for help. The E911 feature should pinpoint where you are except for the times that it doesn’t.

* My work Blackberry: remove from its case. Press the jog-dial twice. Press the black button at the top, dial “9″ “1″ “1″ and, instead of pressing the phone handset button at the top, either press the return key, or press the jog dial button twice. Same rules apply if my bluetooth is synced up to that phone.

* Skype: jiggle the trackball on the desktop computer. Type in my username and password, being sure to choose a new “strong” password every thirty day. Search for the green circle with the checkmark in it in the system tray. Right-click and open the application. Press the tab with the appropriate keypad. Type “9″ “1″ “1″ and press the call button. If you play your cards right, the call will go through…

… unless we’ve run out of Skype credits. In that case, click on the link to buy more credit, which will automatically open Firefox. Choose that yes, you want Firefox to remain your default browser and, no, you don’t want to be asked again. Click the login button, and then log in with my username and password. Click on “unlimited calling” for a duration of three months. Follow the menu options to purchase, and then follow the menu trail to purchase with PayPal, using a totally different username/password combination. Wait for the email confirmation that the credit has been added, close down Skype, re-open Skype, wait for Skype to upgrade itself, choose to reboot the computer later (after all - you’re dealing with an emergency!) and dial 911.

What should we do? I was thinking of doing a dry run of some sort with an unplugged phone. Hell, plugged would be more effective — but I’m not quite sure the police/fire/rescue folks would agree…

Anyway, the quesadilla was yummy.

Yes -- it's a meme. Kind of. But I didn't steal it from anyone on Mindsay! Instead, I went to the rest of the blogosphere and found something quite unique at another blog -- avitable.com . (He stole it from someone else, so I assume this is okay.)

Premise: There are 20 questions below where Shiny interviews... well, Shiny. The answers to each of them are somehow related to a movie, television show, or popular song. Your mission: Determine what it is. Keep in mind that when you reply you'll be seeing everyone else's answers, so don't peek until you're ready to do so. Also -- put a piece of electrical tape on your monitor to cover the "Latest Comment" window. Forever.

Ready? Here we go...

1. Tell me about your parents.  What do you feel were some of the challenges in living with them?

It felt like I was alone in a world so cold. Perhaps I was too demanding of them, but my father always seemed too bold, and my mother was never satisfied. We always screamed at each other.

2. And what about your older brother?  Did you two get along well?

I always have to cover for him. I prefer the company of my twin sister and my little brother, Buster.

3. What kind of musical performances do you enjoy?

I like bands that wear business suits. I like watching them on TV.

4. How did you know that your wife, socKs, was "the one?"

You know, I've dated a whole bunch of fine looking women. But she brought me lasagna at work. Most everyone else just cheated on me.

5. You have a kid, right? What was your reaction when you two found out you were with child?

She actually wasn't sure if she was pregnant at first -- but ultimately it was easy to tell: her nipples was real brown.

6. Where did you put his crib when he came home from the hospital?

In the center of the room. Not in the corner.

7. What kind of vehicle do you drive?

An old vintage Cadillac. With a Grateful Dead decal stuck on it.

8. Have you had any car trouble lately?

I have.  Turns out that there was a banana stuck up my tailpipe.

9. How do you feel about organ donation?

I'm all for it. When I die, I'm donating my eyes to Stevie Wonder.

10.  What kind of food do you enjoy? What can't you stand?

I enjoy pecan pie.   But not paprikash. Too much pepper...

11.  Do you play a musical instrument?

I'm in a Police cover-band. We do weddings...

12.  No. I mean before this current gig. Didn't you have a musical career before this?

It's kind of embarrassing, but I was a pop star back in Canada where I performed at shopping malls.

13. What do you feel is the best attribute of women in general?

Their willingness to do the dishes, clean up my room, do the laundry, the bathroom, etc.  

14. Do you subscribe to any pornographic websites?

I do. One site.  It's called "Perfect Ten."  I like it because it doesn't sound overtly sexual. It could be a bowling site.

15. Shiny, are you homophobic? Do you have something against gay people?

Not at all! Actually, some of my best friends are gay! Take, for instance, Mark "Cutback" Davis and Bob "Jungle Vet" Gerard. Those guys are fags!

16. What did you order for dinner last night?

Four fried chickens. And a coke. And some dry, white toast.

17. In 1992 you became quite ill. Did they ever determine what it was?

Whatever it was, it wasn't lupus.

18. Do you ever blog anonymously? How would I know it's you?

I guess it's the purple prose that always gives me away...

19. Do you like collecting models / miniatures?

I have a model of Stonehenge which is 18" high.

20. What would you say if you caught me stealing from you?

I'd tell you to run and hide. Because I'd want my people to find you, and rest assured I wouldn't turn you over to the police. So my advice to you again would be this: Run and hide. That's all I would ask.

Hey --

First and foremost: thanks to all of you who made this past week's "Shiny Talks Too Much" internet radio show a huge success.  You can listen to it at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/shiny . A special thanks to Adam who was a great guest.  Thanks -- I hope we can do this again sometime!

And speaking of doing it again sometime: I'd like to do another show during the upcoming week.  And I'd love to have a special guest alongside whom I can interview.  Is that someone special someone from Mindsay? If so -- what would that person like to talk about?  If it's you, please respond at let me know and we can work something out.

Hope everyone had as good a time as I did!

"What day is today?"

Happy Big Purple Frogs in Tiny Red Hats Day!

I had a boss ten years ago. Great fellow. Let's call him Ed.

Ed was slightly of a different generation from me. While i was this twentysomething, single Gen-Xer, Ed was in his mid-30s -- married and with a kid. I was tech savvy for the time. Ed wasn't.  And that was okay.

I remember one unique thing Ed would say during meetings or conversations -- we both worked in the university community and email was starting to run rampant. However, the most common mode of communication was still the phone.  And since we were dealing with students on the most part (most of whom did not yet have cel phones), we would often leave lots of voicemail.

But Ed would consistently not call it voicemail.  For him, it was all about answering machines.  Older answering machines, not the digital type.  So if he had missed someone on the phone he would "leave a message on her tape."

And this always made me smile. Welcome to the 1990s, Ed!  Voicemail has far outrun the world of cassette tape based answering machines!

I was thinking about this the other day when I had a conversation with socKs about some policy issues regarding the high school youth group kids with whom we volunteer.  We were talking about appropriate behavior within a group programmed setting. One of the examples I gave described a kid, in high school, listening to his Walkman in a time and place not appropriate to do so.

socKs stopped me. "Walkman?"

I paused.  I had turned into Ed.

And then I corrected myself and moved into a new era of technology.  "I'm sorry. I meant Discman."