Foo' Tang

My reactions to this* (via The Morning News), by instance of viewing:

1st: Laughter

2nd: Laughter

3rd: Initially suppressed but ultimately overpowering laughter

4th: Head-down-on-desk-and-almost-drooling laughter

5th: What can only be classified as "uncontrollable cackling"

6th: Concern that I'm laughing too hard.

7th: Favorite part: the secondary attempt at recovery, resulting in the subtler, off-camera comedy

8th: New favorite part: the tough, "'Sup?" head snap at the very beginning.

9th: A wistful understanding that, as with life, this link will disappear before I know it. The future washes over me, aided by time-lapse imagery of the seasons. Leaves fall. Snow flies. The "oregonstate.edu/~blackd/castin.mov" link eventually dies under the crushing traffic of hungry viewings like my own.* Or perhaps "Blackd" graduates from, or otherwise leaves, Oregon State. I forget this movie and the delightful Saturday morning it provided. I never clearly learn this guy's name: John? Rod? Deflected by this mishap from his burgeoning action-star career, JohnRod continues to finish his communications degree. He nabs an internship at a huge advertising agency. It leads to a solid job with a direct-mail marketer. By age 45, JohnRod thinks more about 3-digit ZIP presorts than he ever imagined a person could. Over the cup of mediocre coffee in the office kitchen, he remembers that long-ago day in front of the video camera. If only I'd been less cocky, he thinks. If only I'd spent less time looking tough for the camera, and more time concentrating on my motion, I'd have completed that flip. I'd have been noticed in that student film. Who knows where I'd be now? He dumps another packet of Equal into the bitter coffee and tries not to think of it. I'm married, I've got a great kid, and I'm successful. At that, I've done a hell of a lot more than my father ever managed. I'm doing a lot.

10th: Softer cackling.

Today's FOCR:
"No Time," The Guess Who, Canned Wheat

[ Don't have iTunes? There must have been a hole in the net.]

*Yep. Links since updated.

Now Bend Over and Proofread Harass

What's the term for deciding where to break a line of text, moving subsequent words down to the next line? I'll tell you why I ask.

The renewal sticker for our Illinois license plate was affixed to a card bearing this instruction:

STICKER INSTRUCTIONS
-----------------------------------------
PLACE THIS VALIDATED DECAL ON YOUR REAR
LICENSE PLATE

Somebody in the Secretary of State's office sure earned their pay, making me laugh so hard after I figured out what I did wrong.

So he or she should have no problem loaning me $78 for a new sticker... right?

Today's FOCR:
"Stick It," Great White, Great White

[ Don't have iTunes? Why must you struggle? You only make the knots tighter...]

This One Goes out to Bourbon



Today's FOCR:
"New Orleans Is Sinking," The Tragically Hip, Up to Here

Confidential to MBK: Sure, I'll do requests.

Nouveaucab


indignorance: a callow outrage.

Fox News reacted to the documentary with characteristic indignorance.

comatoast: a severely inebriated tribute.

The wedding was ruined by spicy revelations in the brother-in-law's comatoast.

Today's FOCR: "Don't Believe a Word," Thin Lizzy, Johnny the Fox

[Don't have iTunes? Oh, fine. But why on Earth not?]