Mariah Carey Has Lost Weight For Easter

Saber Rattling

In my lifetime, I don't think I've ever seen more vocal threats than those coming from Iran these days. From threatening the annihilation of Israel, testing super torpedoes, to staging a made-for-TV-broadcast this week that they are on their way to creating a nuclear weapon. And today comes news they are threatening the U.S. of consequences if we take actions to prevent Iran's nuclear proliferation. Scary stuff.

About As Cultured As I Get

After reading a recommendation on D Magazines's blog, I went to a play last night. "Closer" was being presented in a very small warehouse like theater in Irving (I expected a 300 seat theater, but it ended up being 35 chairs). Despite the humble settings, the play, just like the movie, was great.

It's Good Friday

My office is closed, and I'm being lazy. For some reason that makes me feel guilty.

Simply Too Young

There is a great story today in the DMN of a 17 year old Rowlett kid who signed a baseball contract with the Colorado Rockies that would have given him a $460,000 signing bonus. Last summer he reports to their minor league club in Idaho. After three days (which included a bus trip to Utah and a stop for lunch at Albertson's), he said "screw it" and walked away. He never received a dime of the $460,000. Now he can't play for any college because he technically became a professional when he signed the contract.

Discuss Among Yourselves

From the Dallas Morning News today: My 4-year-old son has two settings: on and off. When he's on, he's nonstop, full of energy, 100 percent devoted to his task, a constant whirl of motion. When he's off, which isn't often, he's either falling asleep, sleeping or waking up. My husband and I love that he's so invested in his life. But to be honest, we're sometimes exhausted. Our lives would be easier if he mellowed out when we wanted him to – at restaurants, during worship services, on plane trips. A surefire way to calm him would be with a teaspoon of Benadryl. We've given him the appropriate dose of the antihistamine to battle allergies probably a dozen times in his life. The pink liquid not only stops his runny nose; it knocks him out and gives his body a chance to rest and recover from what ails him. We've never given Benadryl to him when he doesn't have a runny nose, watery eyes or isn't sneezing. But would there be any harm if we occasionally gave him a dose just to calm him? Full story here.

Teenagers Are Writing For The AP

So I see this headline: "Police: Teen's Kidnapping Story a Hoax". Looks like an interesting AP story so I scan it. As expected, it is about a girl that dissappeared and then lied about where she had been. But this paragraph made me laugh: "Kelsey was missing for about 15 hours before turning up at a stranger's home in her small southeast Kansas town. She said she had clobbered her assailant and was able to escape." Clobbered? [Edit: Yeah, I guess it's possible the girl used the actual term "clobbered" but normally it would be in quotes if that were there case. It's funnier to think thats just the word the reporter used. I choose to believe that.]

The Death Psychic

I just found out how I was going to die: "A deranged homeless man climbs over the dividing wall of a department store dressing room and strangles you to death with a clothes hanger. " Nice. You can find out your own fate: Link.

Channel 8's New Girl

Erin Hawksworth, 25, is the new sports reporter for WFAA. I've discovered that she has a myspace account that the Belo suits would probably not approve of. But me loves me some Erin Hawksworth.

Sweeeeeet

Grocery Shopping Observations

- I always grab the milk at the very back of the rack since I think it is fresher - I use the same logic for chips since I think those at the back are less likely to be crumbled - I think there is some rule about the freshest bread, but I don't know what it is - I hate how liquids are heavy (milk, cokes, juice) - I check out the shopping cart wheels within the first few feet because I'm not going up and down aisles with a wobbly wheel - I am amused by the mom who wants to beat her screaming child but exercises restraint because its a public place - I always use the self check out line because I don't want to interact with another human being - There are always "family sized" containers but no "single guy" containers - How many ways can they trick up corn? - When I see someone with a huge basket of groceries, I'm concerned about whether that person is stressed about how much it will cost (and I look at her face to see if I can get a hint) - I wonder who decides what the thermostat will be set at - Cereal and chips are ridiculously expensive and I always wonder if it's because all of the expense is shipping. - I'm embarrassed to buy toilet paper - When did the option of "paper or plastic" end? (Which contradicts the self check out line comment above) - I walk by sugar cookies and wish they didn't have so much fat in them - And I check the fat grams of every new item I see and inevitably put the item back because of the disappointing high number - I always return my shopping cart to the proper place in the parking lot - I always want to read the National Enquirer while I'm waiting to get checked out - I have never asked the butcher to get a particular kind of meat - When I pick up a vegetable, I really wonder what field it was grown in - I get depressed during grocery shopping

The Ice Harvest

I watched this movie based upon the recommendation of a guy who hangs out at the courthouse and prosecutes people for fun. The Plot: A lawyer and his buddy embezzle a trainload of cash from a mafia type client. Why Is "Ice" in The Title?: Because the entire movie is based upon one night when it is raining as the temperature meets 32 degrees and drops. (That's my best explanation) Actors: A very entertaining John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton Flashback: It is directed by Harold Ramis (see Stripes and Ghostbusters). [Edit: Ramis' name was corrected from my original stupid typing of "John Ramos"] To Look For: Double crossing and triple double crossing. Nudity: A little Violence: Above average Best scene: A very uncomfortable Christmas Eve Dinner Rating: Yeah, check it out.

Kenny Rogers

The singer has been everywhere lately looking ....well....odd. Here is an explanation (with before and after pictures).

Our System Is Soooo Confusing

From the Star-Telegram: "FORT WORTH -- Death Row inmate Steven Kenneth Staley, convicted for killing the manager of a Steak and Ale nearly 17 years ago, should be physically forced to take anti-psychotic medication -- an order that, in essence, could make Staley competent enough to be executed -- a judge ruled Tuesday." At least he looks crazy.

TxDOT Thought

The stop light at 377 and 114 in Roanoke is not the result of good planning.

The oddest . . .

. . . jewelry.

Time Waste

Be a guy in a suit who crashes through ice walls. Here.

Kill All The Lawyers

Forget about the McDonald's hot coffee judgment, this is the most amazing verdict I've ever heard of. (And I predict this story becomes national news over the next two days). If Southwest Airlines locked her in a basement for a year, I would understand it. Otherwise, where do I line up to be racially profiled?