Leslie's Omnibus

Rubber-Necking

 CB: [T]he main thing I feel bad for, it gives every black and white person who is racist a platform to vent their ignorance. 
That's the thing that bothers me the most because I watched this trial closely and I watch all these people are television talking about it. A lot of people have a hidden agenda. You know, they want their racist views, whether they are white or black --
MB: The bias comes out.
CB: The bias, it definitely comes out. It was a bad situation, we all lost.
Who gave this incredibly insightful interview?  Check it out in the comments...
Leslie

Derailment

I have had this blasted song ping-ponging around between my ears for over 24 hours:


... but finally, thanks to Jim Henson's Little Red Book's post today, I have an old familiar ear worm to torture me...


Quite frankly, I'm not sure which one is perkier... or more annoying.
Leslie

On the Radio

One of my favorite artists is in a bad way:


I'm going to love him forever.


And you?
Leslie

Road Conditions

Looks like it'll be smoother sailing ahead for the Cubs, as they're getting rid of the dead weight.  Carlos Marmol and Ian Stewart -- buh-bye!


Yahoo!
Leslie

On the Radio

Before the Hawks game, I got a little ear worm:


And you know what?  The Hawks did

Yes, I did the happy dance.
Leslie

In Memoriam

One of my personal favorite blues/R&B artists, Bobby "Blue" Bland, has passed away:


He left the world a richer place thanks to his music.
Leslie

Rubber-Necking

Stumbled across this little educational video...


Yep.  That's pretty much the look on my face after a few seconds of narration. 

Want more?


Cool.  Gross.  Hysterical.


If those didn't get at least one full-fledged belly laugh out of you, you're not my kind of people.
Leslie

In The Rear View Mirror

Saw this shortly before Father's Day, and thought I'd share with those of you who are missing your father today as much as I miss mine:



The most memorable dance I ever had with my dad?  Get your hankies out...



Yes, we both sniffled and smiled our way through the entire thing.

Miss you, Daddy!
Leslie

In The Rear View Mirror

Another icon of my disco days has passed on:



Boogie on, Mr. O'Day.  Boogie on!
Leslie

Busman's Holiday

A friend and I are headed to Nashville for Memorial Day weekend.  Do you have any tips for great places to sight-see, eat, drink and hear great music (other than the obvious Ryman, Grand Ole Opry and Bluebird)?

Leslie

TGI... E???



I had not a clue that Ender's Game was being made into a movie.  (I just had a nerd-gasm of earth-shattering proportion...)
Leslie

Book Your Ticket


I just started reading Cryptonomicon, and as a result I have a terrible ear worm:



I haven't thought about that little ditty since childhood, but one of the main characters in this book is named Bobby Shaftoe -- hence the tune in my head that just won't go away...
Leslie

Lover's Lane

Too sweetly funny not to share:

Leslie

The Great Wheel Turns

The leader of a body-snatching ring responsible for stealing the bones of veteran broadcaster Alistair Cooke is dying of bone cancer, his lawyer has been revealed.  
Michael Mastromarino, who made millions of dollars by illicitly harvesting skin and bones from corpses, was given his last rites two weeks ago in a New York state prison.  
Bone cancer has spread through the 49-year-old former dentist's entire body. 
Karma -- It's a beautiful thing.
Leslie

Quick Stops

With a review as snarky as this:
"Reading the book is like peering through the windows of a big dolls' house and catching glimpses of lots of well-crafted, ill-assorted, flickeringly lighted interiors. The effect is superficially attractive but unsatisfying." 
... I might just have to read the damned thing The Rule of the Clan myself to see just how truly bad it is!
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I could have (and probably should have) written this article:  "Leggings aren't pants.  They're superior."  Given the weather this winter, I'm an avid fan.
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Giggles...



And more giggles...


_____

A gazillion totally cool uses for WD-40.
Leslie

Accident Report

Have you seen the story about the idiot poor sap young fool who didn't measure his rope before swinging down off Corona Arch in Utah?


I know it's sad.  I feel terrible for his family.  And at the same time, I can't stop myself from comparing him to...



I just know I'm going to burn in hell for this.
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Update:  And if I do go straight to hell, I'll be in good company.  Heh.
Leslie

That's a Big 10-4

My pal from the Northwoods and I have had an interesting email conversation today, risen from this John Hawkins post on what does and does not embody manliness and resulting in my pal's post here. But the whole email string was truly entertaining, and I share with you here the "she said/he said":

To:  MPFTN: 
Subject:  Why are you not... 

... writing your own column for PJ Media? You could run rings around this guy: 

http://pjmedia.com/lifestyle/2013/03/21/5-ways-to-forfeit-your-man-card/?singlepage=true 


To:  Omnibus Driver: 
I never come up with ideas such as the basic conceit behind the article. They just don't occur to me. But I agree that the guy could use better reasons than the implied: Because that's what men do. Real – adult – men have articulable reasons. "I like it" might be reason enough, but "It's ICKY!" probably isn't, unless the icky thing is DWTS or a movie in which men, in tight pants, tapdance. He who does not, at least occasionally, change his own oil is almost certainly useless. 
Pardon me while I sign up for a welding class. 

To:  MPFTN


It takes a real man to do succeed at DWTS, actually.  That is one hell of a physically demanding slog, and it takes nads of titanium to put on those costumes and compete in front of a live audience.  Honestly, from a woman's point of view there's nothing hotter than a guy who likes to dance, knows what he's doing, and can confidently make any girl instantly feel like a princess on a dance floor.  ("Splash," on the other hand, raises the "ICK" factor to new heights.  Or "Skating With The Stars."  Or any "Real Housewives Of" franchise.  Or "The Bachelor," fer cripes sake.)


Not every real man has to be mechanically inclined, but should have at least one manly talent at which he excels. (BTW -- it takes a real man to know when to ask for directions or where to find and when to call in an expert, as far as I'm concerned.) 

In any case, I don't understand the ridiculous and obvious examples Hawkins used. Surely there's a much murkier area where a guy certainly isn't in the extreme but also might have trouble completing his "man card" application? That's the group that my girlfriends and I wish would get a clue...  

To: Omnibus Driver
According to biographer James Parton (no relation to Dolly, so far as I know), Thomas Jefferson was "a gentleman of thirty-two who could calculate an eclipse, tie an artery, plan an edifice, try a cause, break a horse, dance a minuet, and play the violin." Too bad he couldn't also balance an account. (The minuet bit is a bit French for my taste, but it was the refined dance of the day and the outfits were merely formal, à la mode, so I won't protest too loudly.)  
Men may dance in casual clothes or tuxedos, with or without the rose (watch the prick!), and the ability to twirl-and-dip convincingly is not to be disparaged. But the tight and frilly Euro-weenie outfits are best left to Euro-weenies, who shall be scorned and reminded of the number of wars we had to fight for them in the twentieth century, and I don't think it was coincidence. The tight Castilian dancing outfit is permissible only on Castilian persons, gored bulls optional but guitars and castanets required. 
I've said this before, but it bears repeating: Women frequently do but should not confuse Prince Charming with a knight in shining armor. Knights in shining armor tend to watch football on their off-hours, drink beer, belch, growl at the dog, and throw their underwear on the floor, but charming princes tend to prefer the company of other charming princes, if you understand. 

To:  MPFTN

I'm in full agreement... with the caveat that maturity in females (emotional, not age chronological, that is) tends cause the tint in the rose-colored glasses to fade. Thank Jeebus. And for those of us former princesses who've decided to be queens of our own destinies/finances/happiness -- who says WE don't occasionally watch football in our off-hours, drink beer, belch, growl at the cat and throw our underwear on the floor? (At least when we're home alone and not expecting company.) 



Heh.
Leslie

In the Rear-View Mirror

Seeing this article on women who disguised themselves as men in order to fight in the Civil War brought this old chestnut from Peter Paul & Mary:



_____

Lyrics:

The Cruel War is raging, Johnny has to fight
I want to be with him from morning to night.
I want to be with him, it grieves my heart so,
Won't you let me go with you?
No, my love, no. 

Tomorrow is Sunday, Monday is the day
That your Captain will call you and you must obey.
Your captain will call you it grieves my heart so,
Won't you let me go with you?
No, my love, no. 

I'll tie back my hair, men's clothing I'll put on,
I'll pass as your comrade, as we march along.
I'll pass as your comrade, no one will ever know.
Won't you let me go with you?
No, my love, no. 

Oh Johnny, oh Johnny, I fear you are unkind
I love you far better than all of mankind.
I love you far better than words can e're express
Won't you let me go with you?
Yes, my love, yes. 

Yes, My Love, Yes.
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I learned this at camp, and there was an additional verse (I have no clue where this came from):

The Cruel War is over and Johnny has come home,
But his head's bowed in sorrow, for he walks alone.
She died in the battle and no one will ever know.
Won't you let me go with you?
No, my love, no.

Leslie

Sing Along

In a sad book centered a little British girl dying of cancer was a reference to "Ging Gang Goolie."  Of course, I had to look it up:



Since I'm now stuck with an ear worm from hell, I thought I'd share it with you.
Leslie

Pull Over

Put down your drink before clicking on the arrow:



Giggle of the day?  You bet!
Leslie

Car Pooling

Here's a little ear worm for a friend who can't shake one of his:



(You're welcome!)
Leslie

In the Rear View Mirror

Thanks to my least favorite morning drive guy, I've had the most depressing ear worm ever... all damned day:



Even more depressing?  I was around for this one back in the day when it first came out, and it hasn't improved over time.
Leslie

Roadside Diner

With the big football game (that you can't mention by name without a license from the NFL) right around, thought I'd share this cholesterol bomb of a list of recipes from Thrillist (Why, yes, I do subscribe to a site aimed primarily at men.  You got a problem with that?) for your snacking pleasure.  With recipes like Nacho Daddy's Lasagna and Cheesy Buffalo Pigskin Tots... your arteries may be screaming for mercy, but your taste buds and tummy will thank you!
Leslie

Road Conditions

How cold is it in Chicago?

Cold enough that I might just have to try this and see if it works:



Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
Leslie

Whoa, Nelly!

What happens when I get half way to the train station and realize I've left both my phone AND my Kindle* sitting at home... and I have NOTHING to read?



Yes, indeedy.
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*Love, love, LOVE my Kindle Paperwhite.  Much lighter in weight, adjustable brightness, easy-to-use finger swiping, readable in any light and without the other apps I wasn't using anyway on my Kindle Fire.  If you just want an e-reader, this is absolutely the one for you.
Leslie