The Powers Of Charisma

Happy Belated Birthday, Charisma Carpenter!

I was all set to celebrate Charisma last week on the actual day, July 23rd, but then late-breaking news intervened.

Ms. Carpenter represents some of my favorite things, such as Alliteration: both in her Christian names and her nom du Wheedon, Cordelia Chase, and phonetically as least as Kendall Casablancas from Veronica Mars.

I think the best way to celebrate her is to take a second-look at some of her under-valued work. The horrible joke at the end of this here clip from Boy Meets World actually made me laugh out loud and almost spit coffee all over my new fancypants keyboard.

Scarecrow & Dr. Bones

Amber talks about BONES all the time over at her blog. Once, at Awesome Club in DC, we watched it, but I think we were both drunk from beer floats and I didn't remember it so good. Also, Amber fell asleep with the cat ears on.

I recently have had the opportunity to watch all of Season 2 in about a week, and I can tell you, I sure like it.

It's like the Forensic Anthropologist version of Scarecrow & Mrs. King. See, Booth is like Scarecrow: a government agent who is a toughie and gets the bad guys. Bones is like Mrs. King, the civilian who helps him by tripping the bad guys or running them down in her station wagon, except also with Science.

One thing I like for sure is how Booth always wears funny tees. In this scene, he's inexplicably wearing a Guys & Dolls t-shirt. Luck be a Lady, Booth!


In another scene, he & Bones are undercover as boyfriend and girlfriend in Las Vegas. This at least explains these costumes.



















All in all, I say a hearty re-visit of the Scarecrow & Mrs. King saga.

Dangers Mice

What's the plural of Danger Mouse?

Today is the 30th birthday of that one Danger Mouse, from Gnarls Barkley.

But remember the other one?

Grande Naughttes

Amber let us know a few weeks back about Starbucks' over-extension and store closings.

They've now posted to their official website the stores closing (snuck in an internal plural there, I did). As a public service message, here are the ones in Manhattan.

* 400 Madison Ave (@48th)
* 1600 Broadway (@ 49th)
* 46th & 5th Ave
* Madison & 44th
* Macy's 5th Floor

The interesting thing? They're all within a mile of my apartment. Is it my fault for not visiting often enough to enjoy the dialled-up local pastries?

Kath & Kim & Unforgiveable

This is really one of the worst travesties I have ever seen.

I mean, I like the US version of The Office better than the British one, and most people like the British version of Queer as Folk better than the American, but really, ain't nobody should do Kath & Kim but the Australians.

Wonder Birthday!

We all know Amber is a huge fan of Wonder Woman, and 57 years ago today, the Lord gave us Lynda Carter, so this is cause for celebration.
I'd like to shake the hand of the person who posted this clip of Lynda Carter having knives thrown at her, because it reminded my grey cells of the wonder of Circus Of The Stars.





It's a good thing it doesn't take acting talent to survive knife throws!

R.I.P., Golden One

I think the best way to honor Estelle Getty's memory is to remember her priceless mid-1980s workout video.



We'll miss you, Sophia.

Catbird Seat

I finally got my pictures back from the drugstore of Zach's visit a short while back.

I like remembering how in the mornings he would lurk behind my laptop, waiting for me to do anything interesting. I don't think he found blogging to be a very entertaining activity for himself.
Apparently, I was so dull he passed out. Lil' camper.
Good times, buddy!

Holy Art!

Who doesn't love Art?

On Saturday my parents and I went to the Cloisters. Many hours later on the mysteriously express yet local A train, we arrived.

My favorite art was these stained glass apes, who are clearly working of great import. I have no idea what.


My mom's favorite was this Christ-In-A-Box. We did not see the hand crank.


My dad's favorite was this knot in a tree that seemed to resemble him, particularly when he adorned it with his sunglasses.


Family! Art! Win-Win.

You Brought Her, You Doc Horr

Somehow while busy being offended by The New Yorker and deciding to vote for McCain, I missed the other chatter of the blogopshere - Joss Wheedon's Dr. Horrible.

Dr. Horrible is a collection of lovely little superhero singalong vignettes (my favorite things!), timed perfectly so you can watch them while you eat your morning cereal. There's several Buffy alums on board, plus everyone's favorite former TV doctor, Neal Patrick Harris.

Like Mother, Like Son

It's a well-known fact that I wish I could add "hyphen-The Rock-Johnson" to the end of my family name.

My mom, it turns out, wants to become Mrs. Tom Brady. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

Go Pats!

Purr-Master General

Sarah G sent me this nice video of Winston, whom I'm thinking about flying to Canada to collect.

The aural rewards alone would be worth it. Listen to him go!

Miss Jackson If You're Elton

Happy Birthday, Miss Millie Jackson! I've always liked Millie Jackson, mostly for her concept albums of cheating and loving, like the imaginatively titled Caught Up and Still Caught Up. Today, on her birthday, I have been reminded of her stellar 1985 duet with Sir Elton John, "Act Of War."



Really, with Sir Elton, the fun never stops.

Shoppers Of The World Unite

It's fun to go shopping with friends. Therefore, it's something I try to do often.

A few weeks ago, Amber and I rented a car and drove to the Woodbury Commons. We bought lots of stuff. I bought new dungarees, shirts, sneakers and a skillet. At one point I was so pooped that I lied to Amber and told her I don't rock Adidas, but it was a mistake.

One of the best parts was the snacks, and another part was the new friends we met. We'll miss you, Dino & Buzz!
Even more recently, David and I took the L train to the M train to BJ's Wholesale Club in "Middle Village, Queens." It was surprisingly fast to get there, and the 60 Day Free Membership Card I received in the mail allowed me to buy lots of stuff for cheap. David and I weren't so sure how average New Yorkers would buy some of this bulk stuff to fit in our tiny apartments, but it sure was fun to think about.Fun times!

Cats Say The Darndest Things

I mean, really, what did we do before there were websites of kitty cat pictures and funny sayings? These are some of my favorites from the past month or so.




Thank you, Internet, thank you.

Homing Parrot

Yosuke sure is one smart parrot.

I'm wondering if Zach can learn his name & address.

Lost parrot returned to owners after reciting name, address
Associated Press
May 21, 2008 at 5:14 AM EDT
TOKYO — When Yosuke the parrot flew out of his cage and got lost, he did exactly what he had been taught — recite his name and address to a stranger willing to help.

Police rescued the African grey parrot two weeks ago from a neighbour's roof in the city of Nagareyama, near Tokyo. After spending a night at the station, he was transferred to a nearby veterinary hospital while police searched for clues, local policeman Shinjiro Uemura said.

He kept mum with the cops, but began chatting after a few days with the vet.
“I'm Mr. Yosuke Nakamura,” the bird told the veterinarian, according to Mr. Uemura. The parrot also provided his full home address, down to the street number, and even entertained the hospital staff by singing songs.

We checked the address, and what do you know, a Nakamura family really lived there. So we told them we've found Yosuke,” Mr. Uemura said.

The Nakamura family told police they had been teaching the bird its name and address for about two years.

But Yosuke apparently wasn't keen on opening up to police officials.

“I tried to be friendly and talked to him, but he completely ignored me,” Mr. Uemura said.

Miss (Birthday) World

Happy Birthday, Courtney Love!


Remember in March 2004 when she came through NYC and showed her piche in Taco Bell and threw a mikestand at Shane's head?

Remember when she interrupted Madonna's interview with Kurt Loder on MTV? This is the best I can find of that night on the YouTube.

Der Hochschulemusikal

I've been bored to tears lately by all the op-ed pages and their "1968 this, 1968 that." So it's the 40th anniversary of everyone being dirty hippies. What else is new?
Well, something else happened in 1968, and that was Heißer Sommer, the East German "High School Musical." The movie stars the equivalents of Zac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens, and is about a bunch of boys and girls on their way to the Baltic Sea for summer lovin', and der hijinks they enjoy along the way.

There's a love triangle between two of the boys & one girl, which involves reciting Goethe to each other late night in a barn, and several lessons about not violating the spirit of the collective and exercising individual freedoms. Communism + Pop Songs = Fun Times!

Anyway, here they are singing & dancing about hitchhiking, which apparently was a fun thing to do back in the day. The dance moves are particularly inspiring.




Heisser Sommer, wie wonderbar!

Happy Meals

Two things I like a lot are Food and Friends. This is good, because Amber has signed up for 70lbs of CSA Farm Share Vegetables, which we're going to eat between now and the end of summer.

Anyway, we all eat things besides vegetables.

Amber's favorite treat is Crab Pretzels.

Kevin & Diana eat cheesesteaks like there was no tomorrow. Or no Phillie tomorrow.


When I go to California, Sarah and I sometimes go camping and eat Hot Dogs.


Doug and I love going to the park and eating Kettle Corn.

Bon Appetit!

Hot Dog!

I think the Hot Dog is one of the world's greatest meals, on top of being Very Patriotic. I'm very proud that one of the most attractive pictures of me ever was taken whilst consuming a hot dog.

I learned from the internet that 7-11 is America's "number-one retailer of fresh-grilled hot dogs," selling 100 million a year. I also learned that Mickey Mouse's first spoken words were "Hot dog, hot dog." The internet is great.

I once went to the Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, which I found to be gross. I rarely exceed two dogs in one sitting, and my preferred condiments are mustard & relish.

Happy Fourth Of July!

Le Chat Ennui

Sometimes, the Frenchies get it right. Everyone is a little Henri some days.

More Songs About Buildings

I run into David Byrne all the time.

I've seen him at several shows, once on New Year's Day riding his bike in Austin, once he ruined a perfectly good evening I was having with Miranda July by doing a PowerPoint, and once Amber and I accidentally snuck into a concert of his.

Recently he opened up his "Playing The Building" art project. DB took an old piano and stuck a bunch of wires in the back and then connected them all over the Battery Maritime Building. When you push the keys, the building makes noise.

I found it interesting, but for the most part it was little kids banging on the keys and the building clanking all around me.

The best part? It was free, and passed the time while waiting for the ferry to Governor's Island.

Thanks for the free art, David!

Marmoset There'd Be Days Like This

One great place to find Twins is in Porn.

Another is at the zoo!

Here's some cutie baby marmoset twins at the Bronx Zoo.

Pygmy Marmoset Twins at the Bronx Zoo!
Uploaded by wcsmedia

Maybe this will help cheer Amber up, since she can't keep food up or down. Feel better, Sister!