I'm Marriage Material.

134 As a 1930s husband, I am Very Superior Take the test!

It's nice to know that I'd make a suitable provider and head-of-household just in case the world should be unexpectedly shunted back in time to the 1930s. Just for the hell of it, I took the wife test, too...

56 As a 1930s wife, I am Average Take the test!

Guess I should've learned to cook.

In other news, I've tweaked the layout here a bit and added some links to the blog roll. You like?

The "Holmes on Homes" Drinking Game.

Can I just tell you how much I love watching "Holmes on Homes"? For those of you not in the know, the show is a Canadian production that features general contractor Mike Holmes fixing the messes left behind by bad contractors and showing how to, in his catchphrase, "make it right." It airs in the U.S. on the Discovery Home Channel. You can hop on over to Wikipedia to get the full story. (I've posted some clips over at my other blog to give you a taste.)

It's hard to say why I love the show so much, since Mike doesn't necessarily have the type of personality you'd expect to carry a show like this. But it's fun for me in a way that goes beyond my usual fascination with home repair -- especially in the later seasons, which feature more of Mike's supporting cast of workers and subcontractors.

So, in the best internet tradition, I'd like to celebrate my love for the show by writing a drinking game. (I have to insert the usual disclaimer here: Don't be doing this with alcohol if you're under the legal drinking age. And stay out of the pokey, kids!)

The "Holmes on Homes" Drinking Game (v.1.0)
Take one drink every time:
• Mike says any of the following words or phrases: "minimum code," "unacceptable," "weeping tile," "keep smiling," "vapor barrier," "gut it," "it's all coming down"
• Anybody besides Mike says "make it right."
• Anybody says "eh," "aboot," or anything else blatantly Canadian.
• Mike punches a hole in the drywall with his bare hands
• Mold is found in the house
• The homeowners didn't know they needed a permit
• The homeowners give Mike a gift. (Take another drink if it wasn't made by their kids.)
• The female homeowner gives Mike a hug. (Finish your drink if the male homeowner does this.)
• Mike gives Pinky a private tutorial in how to do something.
• Frank the electrician gets genuinely angry over the bad wiring he finds. (Feel free to take extra drinks for longer rants.)
• Mike explains why wood shouldn't touch concrete.
• Mike or one of the build crew says they want to stay and live in the house.
• Mike holds a baby or small child.
• Mike installs a whole-house surge protector.

Take two drinks every time:
• Mike feels his manhood threatened by using one of Pinky's tools.
• It's somebody's first day on the crew.
• The family pet wanders into the work area.
• The case is so bad that law enforcement has to get involved.
• Mike takes a field trip away from the job site.
• Somebody busts Mike Jr.'s chops.
• Somebody other than Craig (or his employees) is shown painting.
• There is a celebrity guest star, or clips from another television show.

Take a sip every time:
• The episode title contains a bad pun.
• Shawn tries to be a comedian. (Finish your drink if he's actually funny.)
• Mike finds a live wire that shouldn't be live. (Finish your drink if this results in a shower of sparks.)

Finish your drink if:
• Pinky isn't wearing something pink.
• Mike tries to sing.

The Lightning Round (Warning: This is only recommended for serious alcoholics, or those wishing to die of severe alcohol poisoning.):
• Take a drink for each hidden junction box that's uncovered.

(This drinking game is, of course, a work in progress. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments.)

Cookin' MCs Like a Pound of Bacon.

Ice Ice Bacon.

Black MFin' Flag!

They were one of the greatest bands of all time. You shall know them by their hair.


(click to enlarge)

[via WFMU's Beware of the Blog.]

Capfest Update.

The big Labor Day '08 Capfest is coming! Details over at the L.A. Capfest 2008 blog.

A Visit With McG.

Never mind us awkward goofs, just pay attention to the guy in the middle:



That's George McGovern, former presidential candidate (he's the one who got the raw end of Watergate), former senator (among his legislative achievements was the school lunch program) and current U.N. global ambassador for world hunger. We got to meet him yesterday for a sit-down Q&A with a small group of faculty and student journalists. An amazing man, and still going strong at 86 years old.

Baseball's Back!

Yes, pitchers and catcher report today, marking the official start of spring training. What better time for all of us to put those Congressional hearings behind us, and for me to make my bold (and probably wrong) predictions for the coming season. Here are my predicted final standings, along with the occasional random comment:

NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
3. Colorado Rockies
4. San Diego Padres
5. San Francisco Giants

Frankly, those top three positions will probably be interchangable, with that trio fighting it out until the last weekend. San Diego's additions this winter tended toward the old and questionable (Jim Edmonds, Randy Wolf, Olmedo Saenz) and will likely be disappointing despite their fearsome pitching. And the Giants just have to many pieces to pick up yet.

NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. St. Louis Cardinals
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

Still the weakest division in baseball. The Cubs should walk away with this one easily.

NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. New York Mets
3. Atlanta Braves
4. Washington Nationals
5. Florida Marlins

Despite the splashy addition of Johan Santana, I just don't see the Mets having the heart to overtake the Phillies. Meanwhile, the Marlins should put up strong competition for the worst team in the majors.

NL Wild Card: New York Mets

NLDS: Dodgers over Mets, Cubs over Phillies
NLCS: Cubs over Dodgers

AL West:
1. Anaheim Angels not of Los Angeles
2. Seattle Mariners
3. Oakland Athletics
4. Texas Rangers

The Mariners made some smart moves this offseason -- look for them to make this a close race with the Angels. The A's and Rangers... eh, not so much.

AL Central
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Kansas City Royals

The Tigers look like a juggernaut in the making. Beware. Meanwhile, the Royals have quietly been making some meaningful improvements. It won't be enough to pull them out of the cellar in their division, but look for them to have a better record this year and no longer find themselves in the coversation about the worst team in baseball.

AL East
1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Baltimore Orioles

Ugh. My least favorite division in baseball. But still, look for some history to be made here this year -- the Yankees missing the playoffs for the first time since 1994 (expect come poor decision making by the junior Steinbrenners) and the Rays making their first-ever finish out of last place. Tampa Bay has some very impressive young studs and although they're inexperienced, they'll still be able to easily top the trainwreck that is the Orioles.

AL Wild Card: Cleveland Indians

ALDS: Tigers over Angels, Red Sox over Indians
ALCS: Tigers over Red Sox

World Series: Tigers over Cubs in 5

I tried to approach these selections objectively and not let my heart be my guide (otherwise my beloved Dodgers would be walking away with the title). Yet somehow I wound up with the 2008 World Series being a rematch of the 1908 fall classic. That much karma (along with Ryan Dempster's preseason prediction) should be enough to make Cubs fans' collective heads explode, but unfortunately for them, I don't see it turning out the same way as last time. Wait 'til next century, guys.

(However, this does give my a chance to plug a really great book I recently read: "Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History" by Cait Murphy. I consider it a must-read for anyone who loves baseball, but it has a lot to offer non-fans as well, particularly the eye-opening look at just how different life was in America 100 years ago.)

Time to play ball!

An Update? Ye Gods!

Apparently there's been some clamor for me to update this dusty ol' blog. So what's new with me? Well, I'm still working at the same old job, although occasionally (especially on days like today) wondering why I put up with it. Mary Ann's looking for a new job since her current one blows big donkey chunks. Sarah is 4 now, likes to draw pictures of anatomically correct people and insists on watching "Frasier" every night before going to bed. Hunter is 2-and-a-half and when you ask him his name, he answers "Batman."

So that's my lovely family.

Truth is, I don't update this place too often (outside of the infrequent meme) because I'm just not one to talk about myself that much. This blog was started mostly for me to post about non-personal topics, but I just don't find the time anymore. Especially since I'm spending all that energy on two other blogs, Desuko Movie Spot and DesukoTube. Check 'em out for more doses of me.

Someday I'll be able to live a life of leisure and professional blogging, but until then don't expect a whole lot of frequent updating here.

So what's new with you guys?

Photo Dump.

Here are some images I've come across lately, where are all awesome in one way or another...

Quotables.

"Dadaism is the strategem by which the artist can impart to the citizen something of the inner unrest which prevents the artist himself from being lulled to sleep by custom and routine. By means of external stimuli, he can compensate for the citizen's lack of inner urgency and vitality and shake him into new life."
-- Udo Rusker, 1920

"The essential thing is not to become inured. For habits are deadly. Even if it is for the hundredth time, you must encounter each thing as if you have never known it before. This is next to impossible, I realize, but it is an absolute rule."
-- Ivan Chtcheglov

"No matter how you look at it, we'll never get out of this alive."
-- Jean-Michel Mension

"He who fucks nuns will later join the church."
-- The Clash, "Death or Glory"

Hooray for Hump Day!

marriedtothesea.com

This is Turning Into a Meme Blog.

42%

Book Quiz.

You're Siddhartha!

by Hermann Hesse

You simply don't know what to believe, but you're willing to try
anything once. Western values, Eastern values, hedonism and minimalism, you've spent
some time in every camp. But you still don't have any idea what camp you belong in.
This makes you an individualist of the highest order, but also really lonely. It's
time to chill out under a tree. And realize that at least you believe in
ferries.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Eep!

60%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

[via Occasional Fish]

Faith of the Heart.

My daughter knows all the words to the "Star Trek: Enterprise" theme song and will sing it in its entirety, over and over -- often unprompted.

On the one hand, my kids are freakin' awesome. But on the other, it's one of the most stupidest songs. Ever. Plus, it's from "Enterprise," the worst Trek series. Ever.

So, you win some and you lose some.

Annual Hall of Fame Speculation.

With the enshrinement today of Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. in the baseball Hall of Fame comes the urge to forecast into the future and guess which current MLB players will eventually join them. So, allow me to be presumptuous enough to do just that. I've tried to be as complete as possible, breaking down the players into three categories (ignoring the ones who will never, ever have any chance of making it).

For the moment, I'm going to ignore all the steroid speculation. With the state of public opinion on the issue changing every year, it's too hard to get a fix on what the BBWA voters will think of any particular player a few years down the road.

The Automatics
These guys have already done all they need to do to deserve to be in the Hall. Right now, they're just playing out the last few years of their careers:
Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Tom Glavine, Ken Griffey Jr., Trevor Hoffman, Randy Johnson, Jeff Kent, Greg Maddux, Mike Piazza, Mariano Rivera, John Smoltz, Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas

The Next Wave
Project their current level of production out just a few more years and (barring catastrophic injury or meteor strike or anything like that), they too will be among the Automatics:
Carlos Delgado, Vladimir Guerrero, Roy Halladay, Todd Helton, Derek Jeter, Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Pudge Rodriguez, Johann Santana, Gary Sheffield, Alfonso Soriano, Ichiro Suzuki, Jim Thome

The Wannabes
Sure, they're among the best of their era, but they just don't have enough to push them over the hump and should remain stuck in Steve Garvey-ville (or, Jim Kaat-ville if they're pitchers):
Garret Anderson, Carlos Beltran, Johnny Damon, J.D. Drew, Adam Dunn, Jim Edmonds, Julio Franco, Eric Gagne, Nomar Garciaparra, Troy Glaus, Luis Gonzalez, Torii Hunter, Kenny Lofton, Magglio Ordonez, Roy Oswalt, Andy Pettite, Scott Rolen, Curt Schilling, Omar Vizquel, Billy Wagner, David Wells, Carlos Zambrano, Barry Zito

The Young Guns
Could these youngsters eventually make it? Only time will tell. If they're still producing in 10 years like they are now, look for them in the one of the above three categories:
Erik Bedard, Lance Berkman, Miguel Cabrera, Carl Crawford, Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, Matt Holliday, Ryan Howard, Scott Kazmir, Russell Martin, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Jake Peavy, Brad Penny, J.J. Putz, Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes, C.C. Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Grady Sizemore, Mark Texiera, Chase Utley, Justin Verlander, Brandon Webb, Dontrelle Willis, David Wright, Chris Young (the pitcher), Ryan Zimmerman

That's a lot of names. And yet, I have the feeling there's someone I'm missing...

Milestone Trifle.

This is officially the 100th post since I moved Idle Musings over to Blogger. So, uh, "go me!" I suppose. If I was as on-the-ball about blogging about my personal life as I am about keeping up my other blogs, this would probably be the 1,000th post or something. But still, it is what it is.

Having said all that, it seems like there should be something more to say here, no matter how insignificant. So with that in mind (along with the fact that "The Simpsons Movie" opens today) I offer you this, my avatar from the movie's web site.

Not bad, given the somewhat limited options available. The Simpsonizer is out there, too, but I don't have any good pictures to feed into it right now.

Truth be told, I'm not all that fired up to see the movie. I like the show well enough, but I haven't watched it in years and my life doesn't really feel incomplete without it. Maybe I'll eventually watch it on video. Maybe.

A New Blog in the Family (and Some Good Reads).

While I may be on an extended vacation, I haven't been entirely idle. Check out DesukoTube -- daily, if possible.

Also, I've been spending a lot of time over at the uber-groovy Good Reads. Come on by, sign up and friend me, why doncha?

What I'm Reading.

As usual, in lieu of actual substantive content, I'm giving you a list of links. These are new-ish-to-me blogs that I've been spending quality time with lately. Hopefully you'll enjoy them, too...

Uni Watch: Dissection of the fascinating minutiae of sports uniforms and equipment, led by Paul Lukas of "Beer Frame" fame.

Qomics for Queers: Daily snark of comics page standards. Not as prolific as the Comics Curmudgeon, but pretty good and with a homo-normative slant.

Joe Mathlete Explains Today's Marmaduke: I always knew something was up with that bastard.

Judge a Book By Its Over: The abysmal world of cheap paperbacks gets the snark it deserves.

Monkeys for Helping: The Internet regurgitates its detritus all over your monitor. You've been warned.

Ha, Ha! You're Pwned, Strunk & White!

Your English Skills:

Grammar: 100% Spelling: 100% Punctuation: 80% Vocabulary: 80%

Does Your English Cut the Mustard?