My Life in Hit Singles.

Meme time.... This one's stolen from Fred, who stole it from someone else, etc., etc. Here are the rules:

Go here and see what was on the top of the charts on the day you were born and every birthday thereafter. Learn just how astrologically-musically lame your life has been. If you want, add in your own favorite Hot 100 hit single of that year, wishing that your birthday had been cool enough to have that song be #1.

1971: "My Sweet Lord/Isn't It a Pity" by George Harrison
Favorite: Oh, so many good ones here. Besides "My Sweet Lord," there's "Knock Three Times" by Tony Orlando and Dawn, "Me and Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin, "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" by the Temptations, "Brown Sugar" by the Rolling Stones, "Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves" by Cher, "Theme From Shaft" by Isaac Hayes, "Family Affair" by Sly & the Family Stone....

1972: "Brand New Key" by Melanie
Favorite: Again, so many to list. In fact, I think I like just about everything on the list. I'll go with "Without You" by Harry Nilsson, with the caveat that that's subject to change.

1973: "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon
Favorite: Man, '70s hit radio ruled. Tough to narrow down, so I'm going with a tie between "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight & the Pips and "Frankenstein" by the Edgar Winter Group.

1974: "The Joker" by the Steve Miller Band
Favorite: Too many to choose! "Seasons in the Sun" by Terry Jacks, "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" by John Lennon and "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas.

1975: "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" by Elton John
Favorite: Holy shit, there are a lot of different songs here. It's like there was a different one every week. Talk about a fickle listening public. Anyway, despite the fact that I love almost all of them and a lot of them have nostalgic associations for me, I'm going with "Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell, which to me might be the most perfect pop song ever written.

1976: "Convoy" by C.W. McCall. Yee-haw!
Favorite: "Afternoon Delight" by the Starland Vocal Band. (What? You wanna make something of it? Just be thankful I didn't pick "Disco Duck.")

1977: "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.
Favorite: What? No Sex Pistols? Sheesh. In that case, I'm going with "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" by Meco.

1978: "How Deep Is Your Love" by the Bee Gees
Favorite: Seriously, this was the year of the Gibb brothers. Either the Bee Gees or Andy Gibb had the #1 song for something like seven months straight. But I choose "Kiss You All Over" by Exile.

1979: "Too Much Heaven" by the Bee Gees
Favorite: Still so many to choose from. Man, if it weren't for the fact that the no one had Internet access, I wish I could live back in the '70s. My choices: "Pop Muzik" by M, "Babe" by Styx, "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward and "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes.

1980: "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes (still hanging around!)
Favorite: Rupert Holmes again, "It's Still Rock 'n' Roll to Me" by Billy Joel, "Magic" by Olivia Newton-John and "Sailing" by Christopher Cross.

1981: "(Just Like) Starting Over" by John Lennon
Favorite: "(Just Like) Starting Over" by John Lennon, "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes and "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" by Sheena Easton.

1982: "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John
Favorite: "Centerfold" by the J. Geils Band

1983: "Maneater" by Hall & Oates
Favorite: "Down Under" by Men at Work and "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler.

1984: "Say Say Say" by Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney
Favorite: "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club and "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince & the Revolution.

1985: "Like a Virgin" by Madonna
Favorite: "Like a Virgin," "Power of Love" by Huey Lewis & the News and "Careless Whisper" by Wham!

1986: "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie
Favorite: "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco, "Invisible Touch" by Genesis and "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel.

1987: "Walk Like an Egyptian" by the Bangles
Favorite: "Walk Like an Egyptian," "At This Moment" by Billy Vera & the Beaters (I'm such a nerd I still remember watching the episode of "Family Ties" that launched this when it first aired) and "With or Without You" by U2.

1988: "So Emotional" by Whitney Houston
Favorite: This is actually the first year on this list where I hate more of the songs than I like. Is this a common experience for the rest of you, to feel like this about popular music at the time you start college, or it is just that things started to suck in 1988? Or a little a both? Anyway, I still really like "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns 'N' Roses.

1989: "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison
Favorite: "She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals, "Batdance" by Prince and "Like a Prayer" by Madonna.

1990: "Another Day in Paradise" by Phil Collins
Favorite: "Vogue" by Madonna and "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor.

1991: "Justify My Love" by Madonna
Favorite: "Justify My Love," "Unbelievable" by EMF and "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" by PM Dawn.

1992: "Black or White" by Michael Jackson
Favorite: "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot

1993: "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston
Favorite: Can I take a mulligan on this one? Sheesh.

1994: "Hero" by Mariah Carey
Favorite: "Stay (I Miss You)" by Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories and "Here Comes the Hotstepper" by Ini Kamoze.

1995: "On Bended Knee" by Boyz II Men
Favorite: "Take a Bow" by Madonna, "This is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan and "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio.

1996: "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men. (More proof that Billboard was trying to kill me in the '90s. Really now, why would these two need to team up for a song. Why? It's 12 years later and I still haven't gotten over the trauma.)
Favorite: God help me, it's "Macarena" by Los Del Rio.

1997: "Un-break My Heart" by Toni Braxton
Favorite: Is there another year with less variety among the #1's? You can count the different songs on one hand. But I'd still like "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, regardless.

1998: "Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle in the Wind 1997" by Elton John
Favorite: "Gettin' Jiggy With It" by Will Smith, I guess. <*shrug*>

1999: "I'm Your Angel" by R. Kelly & Celine Dion. (Christ, it's 1996 all over again.)
Favorite: None of the above.

2000: "Smooth" by Santana & Rob Thomas
Favorite: "Music" by Madonna

2001: "Independent Women Part 1" by Destiny's Child
Favorite: "Ms. Jackson" by Outkast, "Butterfly" by Crazy Town, "Family Affair" by Mary J. Blige and "Lady Marmalade."

2002: "How You Remind Me" by Nickelback
Favorite: "Lose Yourself" by Eminem and "Hot in Herre" by Nelly.

2003: "Lose Yourself" by Eminem
Favorite: The return appearance of "Lose Yourself," along with "In Da Club" by 50 Cent and "Hey Ya!" by Outkast.

2004: The unstoppable "Hey Ya!"
Favorite: "Hey Ya!" and "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg & Pharrell.

2005: "Let Me Love You" by Mario
Favorite: "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani and "Golddigger" by Kanye West & Jamie Foxx.

2006: "Don't Forget About Us" by Mariah Carey
Favorite: "London Bridge" by Fergie

2007: "Irreplaceable" by Beyoncé
Favorite: "Umbrella" by Rhianna feat. Jay-Z and "Stronger" by Kanye West.

2008: "Low" by Flo-Rida feat. T-Pain
Favorite: "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry and (I suppose) "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay.

Two final thoughts...

1) There's way too much Mariah Carey on that list for my liking. Am I going to be plagued by her latest singles every birthday for the rest of my life?

2) It's funny looking back and picking favorite songs from some of those years. If you had asked me the same question then, you probably would've gotten completely different answers.

More Bloggy Diversions.

It's been a while, so I figured I'd share some of my new favorite blogs with you...

• Passive-Agressive Notes
Those annoying little uptight notes your coworkers or roommates like to leave you can be an art form in themselves. This site gives them the proper appreciation they deserve, along with one of the most outright hilarious comment sections you'll ever see.
• It's Lovely! I'll Take It!
Snarky musings on the best of the worst of real estate listing photos.
• Cake Wrecks
More of the same, but this time taking aim at the professional cake industry.
• Strange Maps
People will create odd or badly designed maps for any occasion. This blog takes a more scholarly approach to deconstructing them, with lots of interesting historical tidbits along the way.
• Photoshop Disasters
When graphic design goes horribly wrong.
• Wrong Side of the Art
An encyclopedic collection of trashy exploitation movie posters.
• i am neurotic
Anonymous posters share their strange neuroses and compulsions. You are not alone.

And also, a couple of addictingly fun Flash games:
• GlueFO
• Mad Virus

Clearing Out the Junk Drawer.

So I'm looking around in my Blogger account and I find this image of Rusty from the Mark Trail comic strip. I had saved it in a blank draft post almost a year ago. Why? I don't know now. Maybe I had intended to post something about it, or maybe I just liked the image. I have no idea anymore what this was originally intended for, but if you do, please let me know. Speculation is welcome in the comments. Here you go. Enjoy.

And just to make sure this post isn't a complete waste, let me share one more thing with you. Recon over at Monkeys for Helping had a rather unfortunate TOS kerfuffle with Flickr recently. It sucks mightily, but it has resulted in one of the greatest customer complaint letters ever. Enjoy that as well.

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.