Today's entirely random email

The following message was sent to all employees from our COO. I still don't know why -- no one here is Korean, and we don't subscribe to the Korean paper. For some reason I couldn't help but laugh uncontrollably when I read it.

There was an ad in the Korean Newspaper regarding someone needing someone to speak English and Korean. If you are familiar with this please contact the person below. He is interested in the position.

Peter Cho
443-XXX-XXXX

(phone number omitted to protect the innocent)

quote of the day

"I had my no sex with Asians rule but then one day you walk into Sharper Image and there's Kwan."

ummmmm...

My Funny Friend Mike

This is hilarious.

Floors!

Sheesh, from baby to little girl

Those Stupid Dumb-o-crats!

Apparently I can claim a tiny bit of credit for this video. It's part of an online contest run by the Republican House committee to rip on the "Democratic congress."This was submitted to YouTube as a normal entry. Don't expect it'll make the finals but by the looks of things, there was a total of just 7 videos submitted. Mwuhahahaha.

Me me me!

Big Chair!

Alcatraz!

Bro!

New haircut!

Sqqquuiiirrrmm... cringggge...

A fall day in NJ

Waiting for the train to NYC

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Gary, these guys escaped

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Aww yeah shrimp dip

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Who doesn't spend Thanksgiving on Alcatraz?

Happy Thanksgiving!

A callback

My dad was telling me about a woman panhandler with highlights! I told him that you had one too, CK!

Happy Thanksgiving, Grannies!

Pre-Thanksgiving YouTube Randomness

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Sea lions

Isn't hair-metal hilarious?

My favorite comment of the month:

"Schwoo!"

Not to be confused with:

see margot at the wedding

that is all.

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Fam road trip from san fran to sacramento. I know youre all jealous!

Progress

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Fall in la

holy crap

This e-mail was sent out by the John Edwards for President campaign today:

Yesterday, in Spain, the world's leading climate scientists warned that our planet will suffer "abrupt and irreversible" damage from climate change if we do not take action immediately.

Yesterday, in Los Angeles, a coalition of environmental and progressive organizations held a presidential campaign forum on global warming.

All of the Democratic and Republican candidates were invited to attend. Only three cared enough to show up: John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich and Hillary Clinton. It was John who dominated the forum with his bold ideas for dealing with climate change.

Take a few moments to watch the video and listen to what he had to say:

http://johnedwards.com/r/44538/434322/

Here's what two of the bloggers covering the forum had to say. From Devilstower reporting for Daily Kos:

"John Edwards hit the ground running -- almost literally. He tore into the subject at a pace that made me breathless just listening to him, and he was more than willing than the other candidates to make definitive statements. He hearkened back to Kennedy, and made a call for national sacrifice. Edwards also seemed the best informed on the latest UN report."

And from Todd Beeton at MyDD:

"Edwards was in his element at this forum. This forum actually gave him the perfect opportunity to expand on his calls for an end to lobbyist influence and for unequivocal bold leadership -- 'no half measures.' This forum pretty much crystallized the primary difference between Clinton and Edwards. The choice couldn't be more clear."

http://johnedwards.com/r/44539/434322/

John Edwards believes that the threat from global warming demands urgent action. That's why he's led the debate by being the first Democratic candidate to call for an 80% reduction in carbon emissions and why he has made stopping global warming a centerpiece of his campaign.

Progress is being blocked and thwarted by oil and gas companies spending millions of dollars and deploying hundreds of lobbyists in Washington to make sure America stays addicted to foreign oil and fossil fuels. It's time to fix the broken political system in Washington that bends to corporate power and feeds off its money.

If we're going to do that, then John needs your support today. With just 47 days until the Iowa caucuses, we need to make sure voters in the critical early states hear John's bold ideas on climate change and global warming.

Please take a moment to make a contribution to our campaign -- and then forward this e-mail to your friends and ask them to support John as he takes on these vested interests.

Sincerely,

--David Bonior
National Campaign Manager, John Edwards for President

The irony is that I'm leaning Clinton. But the fact is, the differences were stark. Clinton: a call for pragmatism and incremental change and Edwards: a call for an undoing of the status quo and for a pretty radical and immediate transformation of the way Washington works.

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Classic fox news

brilliant takedown of big media

Shhhh! Keep it on the down low.

Todd -- Sorry to burst your bubble, but my offer's better than yours (and it is military, so I'm convinced of its legitimacy). It is kind of like Three Kings.

FROM: SERGEANT GILES BRIGHT.
Camp MXP-512 Third Infantry Division Unit (T.I.D.U),
Abul Uruj, Baghdad, Iraq.

I am Sergeant Giles Bright, a native of the United Kingdom. But a citizen and resident of the US.I am a soldier of the America troop currently serving in the third infantry division Unit in Iraq?

I am currently in Kuwait on duty break. My partner Darren D. Braswell,36, of Riverdale, Ga. Darren D. Braswell died Jan. 7 near Tal Afar, Iraq, when the UH-60 Black hawk helicopter in which he was a passenger crashed. Braswell worked For the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, We secretly moved some abandoned cash in a mansion belonging to the former president, Saddam Hussein and the total cash is US$20,200,000.00 (TwentyMillion two hundred thousand dollars).

As I write this letter to you, this box is here with me in cash as I secretly moved it out of Iraq to safe place. You do not have to be afraid of anything as no one else knows about this and everything is safe. I would be pleased and grateful to you if you could assist us in receiving this box for us on your behalf as I will be heading back soon to camp in Iraq to join my colleagues. Of course, I shall compensate you with an attractive percent of the total funds for your role/efforts. We have limited time now, kindly get back to me immediately.

Moving the funds out of here is not going to be much of a problem as arrangements are being made towards that. All I want from you is your trust and assurance that if the box containing the funds is in your possession, you will follow my instruction when making expenses. Please get back to me with your full name and contact phone number (cell phone, preferable) without delay and let's negotiate terms.

Your response will determine our subsequent correspondence.

You can read more on this website for more informations and explanations:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2988455.stm?

Yours in Service.
SERGEANT GILES BRIGHT

Paint! Cabinets!

ahh sweet sweet YouTube

UPDATE: I've learned that the ending of this, I think probably from the gopher on, was added on by Adult Swim. And the original context of my finding this clip is political actually -- the way Democrats in the Senate are standing up to Bush is like the gopher building a moat to stop a bear. It's a bit of a strained analogy but it cracks me up.

I get e-mails, part deux

I'm rich, I tells ya, rich!

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
DIRECTORATE OF CONTRACT PAYMENT
BLOCK 1002 PMB
TINUBU SQUARE,
LAGOS-NIGERIA
TEL: 234-1-4825382.
CABLES: CENBANK
TELEGRAM: CENBANK


FINAL RELEASE OF YOUR CONTRACT PAYMENT#:MAV/NNPC/FGN/MIN


Attn: Beneficiary,

We officially notify you that your name was forwarded
to us by the Federal Ministry of works and house as one
of their contractors who are to be paid this month and your
payment have been verified, the sum of Three Million Five
Hundred Thousand Dollar ($3,500,000.00) reflected in our
system and valid for immediate remittances to you by wire
transfer into your nominated bank account or delivered to
your nominated contact address by CBN diplomats as all the
procedures are in progress.


Your payment has been clarified by the legal
department of CBN therefore specify your mode of payment
as stated bellow.

(A)For International Certified Bank Draft Mode of Payment
Provide the following:

1) Your Full Name.
2) Your Contact Address.
3) Your Cell Phone Number / Fax#.
4) A copy of your identity or drivers license. (optional)
5) Your age/occupation.

(B)For Immediate Bank-to-Bank Telegraphic Wire Transfer
Mode of Payment provides the following:

1) Your Full Name.
2) The Name of Your Bank.
3) Your Account number and Routing number
4) A copy of your identity or drivers license(optional)
5) Your Phone Number/Fax#.
6)Your age/occupation.

As soon as these in formations are received from you,
It would be forwarded to the Remittance Department for the
immediate release of your payment base on your chosen mode
of payment. For further clarification call 234-1-482-583 or contact us
via E-mail

Thanks for the good attention.

Best regards,

Dr. Tunde Lemo
The Deputy Governor
{Central Bank of Nigeria}

I'll get right on that, Guv'nuh.

Pics of new kitchen

Where they at, CK? Include us in the process and then leave us hanging? Sheesh.

another capsule movie review

I've been on a bit of a movie jag lately. the latest is Redacted and, well, let's just say the film should have been.

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Beowulf, baby!

Norweigan tall ship in Baltimore

I don't think I want this job of repainting the anchor while dangling over the Inner Harbor.

And why exactly am I working today?

As today is a Federal, State and City holiday, why exactly is my office open?

Can't we all just get along?

Any chance I'm going to be able to see this show Saturday week? At least Young Frankenstein's not on strike too. We're due to see that in January.

cracked. me. up.

@ the moving pictures

I'm awaiting the start of Michael Clayton.

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Cara and me at Golden Nugget pool. Tally is Cara up, Lauren down.

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Fish tank at Nugget pool.

Progress.

Sorry to turn 3PG into a renovation blog....

Really?

If I say, "holy crap, where's the integrity when you serve apps on the picket line?" am I 'insightful social commentator' or 'party-line-loving corporate drone'?

Worse!

Another take on Heroes

Maria Farrell at Crooked Timber seems to think Season 2 is "finally hitting its stride" but offers mostly criticisms of the season thus far. It's actually a very funny recap, in addition to being, in my mind, fairly accurate.

The stories in Season I took a while to get moving, but the buddy pairs of Hiro and Ando, and Nathan and Peter were the beating fraternal hearts of the whole enterprise. Season II started off with these couples broken up, possibly forever. The Gay Dads, Mohinder and Parker should have been played for gags, but their creepy little daughter made that tricky. If Interview with a Vampire taught us anything, it’s that a little girl with a head full of adult teeth are downright sinister.

Meanwhile, Hiro was poncing around under cherry trees in medieval Japan while Ando minded the keiretsu. Peter was blown into a million pieces over New York and Nathan grew an unflattering beard to show how unhappy he was about that. The writers forgot the golden rule of buddydom; the hotness of two guys is far greater than the sum of their individual hotness.

That said, I don’t think a single episode in Season II has gone by without a completely gratuitous shot of a shirtless Peter. For which I am extremely grateful, albeit a bit concerned that Milo Ventimiglia has clearly spent the whole summer lifting weights to the point where he no longer has a discernible neck. He was absent for the first couple of episodes before turning up in the studio backlot known as “Cork”.

Henry’s already pointed out how lame the actors’ Irish accents were, but the lack of research and the bogus plot details were just as jarring. Like the security goons who chase robbers while firing guns at them. Anyone who’s being paying even a little attention to international news in the last 10 years knows that getting the guns out of paramilitaries’ hands has been a bit of a big deal. Do they think we let rent-a-cops run around with pop guns? Even the police in Ireland don’t carry guns, except for a few in the Special Branch. And then there was the rain. Apparently, someone told the props people that it rains a lot in Ireland. It does, just not the tropical torrents they kept pouring down the windows. Anyway, in this week’s episode, Peter mislaid the whiny ‘Irish’ Caitlin in a plague-ridden 2008. I hope she catches it.

My other hopes for this series; Claire ditches her sinister little boytoy, West; Nikki does us all a favour and permanently joins DL (though not before getting it on with Nathan one more time), the ineffectual Mohinder properly joins the dark side because he’s got nothing better to do, Sylar cuts his losses with the tedious Mexicans, that silly blonde girl becomes a real villain and not just a brat, and Adam; lots more of Adam. He was a pleasant distraction while riffing on Paul Bettany’s role in A Knight’s Tale, but he is deliciously hard done by as a 500 year old villain. (“Villayn!”) Oh, and I’d like Nathan to get a haircut and grab back his mojo.

In short; more plot, less characters, less shirts.

I get e-mails

Ummm, huh?

Dear beloved friend,

I am glad to inform you that I have successfully concluded the transaction,the money has been transferred to London. It is done through the assistant of your country man Mr. Howard who is a London base business man. Currently I am in London with him , my wife and children.

In appreciate of your assistance I have mapped out as a compensation and wrote on your favour a Draft worth of US$1,500,000.00. (One Million,Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) I left the Draft with my secretary Mr Franklin Obadi on my departure to London. I would like you therefore,to contact him on the below info so that he can mail it to you.

Name:Mr Franklin Obadi.
Email:(franklin_obadi01@yahoo.fr)

However,I did not forget you because you are the source of my success, you made me what I am now though you are not there to complete this project with me but I gave all the credit and thanks to you. I know it is not your fault or rather your wish to back up on me and the transaction,I understand it is simply because of what you must have heard about my continent and her business opportunities. Actually there are still good ones for example myself.

Regards,
Mike Ogwugwu.

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Nice presentation. Those are curved spoons.

Watch out Grannies, here I come

Thu Feb 21
Depart Baltimore(BWI) at 08:40 AM
Arrive in Los Angeles(LAX) at 12:45 PM

Sun Feb 24
Depart Los Angeles(LAX) at 01:15 PM
Arrive in Baltimore(BWI) at 10:00 PM

Jeremy Is Available For Weddings...

Here's his wedding photography site. Pretty sweet, so please spread it far and wide if you know anyone getting hitched.

Really?

So, about that whole commander in chief thing...?

WGA Strike

Check out United Hollywood and Joss Whedon's blog for more.

sayings I want to bring back

My personal favorite is "And how!" but today someone e-mailed this to me and it's definitely a close second:

I think someone is giving me the business.

cutest. pumpkin. ever.

grannies sing

Heroes has...

Sadly, the show has gone from hero to zero.

Kitchen apocalypse!

Q-Tips

I was listening to NPR recently and heard a story about a woman who decided to adjust her life so as to create as little trash as possible and any trash she did create, ie that could not be recycled or composted, she had to carry around with her at all times. The host of the show read a question that had been e-mailed in from a listener wondering with horror if it meant that she wasn't using Q-Tips to clean her ears (she indeed was not although she normally did,) the assumption on the part of the listener being that everyone uses them and not to would be downright unsanitary. So I was curious, how prevalent is it? Do the grannies use them? Personally, I don't and don't recall ever having used them as an adult. While I couldn't find any polling data on Q-Tip use, I did find this post at WebMD that indicates that Q-Tip use can actually be bad for you so maybe I'm onto something.

While excess, hard, or obstructive earwax can be problematic, most earwax (cerumen) is infinitely more beneficial. It is a normal, protective coating for the sensitive skin of the ear canal. A canal coated with ear wax will repel water and help prevent external ear infections. When you dig it out like some demented gold miner, you leave your ear very vulnerable. [...]

Chronic Q-tip use creates dryness in the sensitive ear canal. Dry skin itches. People with itchy ears use Q-tips (and other found objects) to scratch them. The scratching causes itching. Do you see the cycle here? Eventually, the damaged skin will break down and crack, allowing opportunistic bacteria or yucky fungus to invade. Congratulations. You have caused otitis externa, also known as Swimmer's Ear.

He also notes that the Q-Tip box itself warns:

"Q-Tips cotton swabs have more cotton at the tip* than any other swab, making them the safest, softest and gentlest tool you can use for family care. They also provide the ultimate precision, making them the perfect tool for uses outside your ear."

What say the grannies?

My Kiva loans

A counter-argument.

Sorry, TB, but I liked it alot. I had some minor issues, but in general found it really compelling.

Dirty Trick Initiative

I get mail from the California Republican Party.

My Kiva Bizzes

sigh

My "Can't freakin wait until January 20, 2009" (or something to that effect) bumper magnet was stolen off my car last night. It was bound to happen, it is just a magnet after all. I think by the Pep Boys guy who did my oil change. I wonder if the guy stole it because he wanted it or in protest. I hope the former.

Leaving Tampa

Awaiting departure

We're going to Cozumel for a 4 day cruise.

kiva.org

Do y'all know about this organization? It allows you to participate in microlending to third-world entrepreneurs. Bill Clinton's been talking them up. Very cool.