July 2006 Archives

Probably two of my favorite images. My understanding is that the first picture was taken in our home just after Mom was able to bring me home for the first time. Mom also had this great, swinging bamboo chair that, as a wee-one, I loved more than any playground swing. She would read to me there sometimes, too. I think this was taken just before my 4th or 5th Easter. These are images of my Mom doing what I truly believe made her the happiest -- being a mother. I am thankful for these reminders today.

I just want to say that my cat, Holly, is a champ. I had her "groomed" (i.e. shaved) yesterday and now she now looks a bit like a rat. I'm like the parent who makes their child wear the most ridiculous outfit ever and all the other kids laugh and make-fun. Fortunately, there are no other felines to mock and ridicule. I crack-up every time I see her, but I am glad to relieve some of that excess weight and hopefully help her cool off a bit this summer. I put up some pictures on my flickr page and you should check them out. Seriously. It's a guaranteed laugh.

My buddy, Richie, recorded this documentary of sorts, "Wal-Mart Idol", back in February of this year. He has now made it public on his MySpace page and made it available to the throngs of surfers pawing their way through the Google video archives. If you happen to be a Google Video junkie and have your very own Google Video Player, click here for a direct link to the .gvp file. If not, join the masses and view it through Google Video. In short, this 16 minute film documents a morning in the life of a select few Pennsylvanians who have made their way to the Bloomsburg Wallie-World to croon for fellow shoppers with an accompanying karaoke machine. The contestants must all pay a $5 entry fee and are singing for, first prize, $50 and a karaoke machine, second prize, $25 and third prize, just the karaoke machine. Given there were enough entrants, it appears everyone who participated paid for those cash prizes. An interesting move on the mega company's part -- a fund-raising technique usually reserved for the occasional recreational sports team or youth group. Except for one somewhat-official looking employee, the rest of the Wal-Mart staff seem surprisingly affectless to the idea of someone videotaping their store. Perhaps it was because of the event, thinking Richie an excited friend of one of the contestants, but for some reason I find it slightly odd. I suppose I feel this way because it's a Wal-Mart. I almost expect to see Homeland Security goons dressed as civilians, ready to pounce any potential gatherer-and-spreader of information. At any rate it makes me want to buy a camcorder and film all the things I do, everywhere I go. The contestants themselves are very interesting, in particular those who chose to speak with Richie. Same goes for the sorority girls doing their community service. Want to know what's wrong with America? "Community Service" now means hanging out at your local Wal-Mart, apparently. Anyway, I've never actually seen an episode of American Idol, so I can't make fun comparisons or talk about what a jerk-face that Simon Cowell seems to be. I must say I'm a bit torn on this one. Knowing Richie, this teeters on cruel (sorry, bud), but at the same time, the incredulousness of this event is exactly why it needed to be documented in some form or fashion. The singing at the end is a nice touch and don't even try to deny it, Rich -- you bought that Fillet-O-Fish with the prize money and sang about it later back at home on you brand-spankin'-new karaoke machine.