tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30595292012-01-16T10:28:30.199-08:00mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.comBlogger341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-39845006248780816522008-08-03T12:23:00.000-07:002008-08-03T12:29:23.741-07:00

Read this story and try to keep your composure. I dare you.Unfortunately, it seems like there are way more people like the birth mother than there are like the adoptive family.

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-33159273291842092952008-06-29T15:58:00.000-07:002008-06-29T17:32:09.974-07:00

My first green light on my alltime favorite site!Thanks, too, to Farker whamdangler for turning me on to "Ah Leah." I don't remember that one, but I love it now.

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-36639840277455590482008-04-14T18:14:00.000-07:002008-04-14T18:32:44.501-07:00

Two movies, both with "Once in their titles...Once Were Warriors is a tale of domestic strife in New Zealand. I've seen few movies in the recent past that had as much impact as this one. A few months ago I read a thread on my favorite website, Fark, where readers were invited to list the movies that were so gross or unpleasant that they wished never to see them again. Of course I made a list

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-18110663152867698862008-04-01T18:11:00.001-07:002008-04-01T18:14:38.704-07:00

The question, of course, is which old boss?

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-39456390140806832382008-01-20T19:04:00.000-08:002008-01-20T19:11:18.938-08:00

Some guy named David Armand miming to "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia. He's hilarious, and isn't she a good sport, showing up halfway through it?YouTube pet peeve: Why can't their links be more descriptive of the videos' content? You can't tell what you are going to see until you load it and play it.

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-29846468225813776312007-10-10T18:51:00.000-07:002008-04-13T10:28:08.181-07:00

http://xkcd.com/150/Cereal for dinner anyone?

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-26858889865131379892007-07-23T18:18:00.000-07:002007-07-23T18:35:26.653-07:00

We spent the weekend with friends on the southern Oregon coast, and we took a side trip to the oh-so-cheesy Trees of Mystery in northern California on Saturday. One of the features of this tourist trap is a seven-minute trip in a cable tram thingie up to the top of a large hill. While we were waiting for our turn I overheard snippets of conversation between two couples behind us. One was from

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-21257478434399887102007-04-14T13:20:00.000-07:002007-04-14T13:22:55.519-07:00

I hope this site is blocked at work. I find it insanely addictive. Don't say I didn't warn you!

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-73991781810239178572007-03-30T18:12:00.000-07:002007-03-30T18:17:44.149-07:00

cavecanum.comSee if you can guess which-- if any-- are mine...Oh, and there's cryptonomic, too. Same idea, but not as robust.Enjoy!

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-35018401334914021012007-03-17T14:40:00.000-07:002007-03-18T13:30:28.999-07:00

I went to the local retailer (who shall remain nameless, but its name rhymes with "Rite Aid") yesterday during my lunch hour. One of the things I needed was a box of matches. After searching the store, I finally located them behind the counter with the tobacco products. A little inconvenient, but OK, it's their merchandising decision. I finished my shopping and returned to that counter to ask for

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-26401519897915414672007-03-04T13:36:00.000-08:002007-03-04T14:01:47.568-08:00

"George Bush doesn't care about black people." -- Kanye West, in the wake of Hurricane KatrinaI make no secret of my contempt for President* Bush. He's a lying, conniving war criminal, and perhaps the worst President in the history of the United States. His actions in the world arena have damaged our country for decades to come.However, I never felt he was a racist. I always felt his

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-87822184049358330362006-12-31T16:10:00.000-08:002006-12-31T16:39:06.914-08:00

On this final day of 2006, I was looking over our Netflix rental history, trying to decide what was the best thing I saw this year. Ultimately, I decided it was The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio. I put it in the queue based solely on the presence of Julieanne Moore, whom I adore. Happily, it was an excellent movie regardless of her fine work.A close second was The Notorious Bettie Page.

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-43449952681524264862006-11-14T18:32:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:50:16.824-08:00

I've said that a lot this past 12 years-- ever since the 1994 elections and the Republicans' "Contract With America" (which of course turned out to mean Contract On America). After last week's elections, there's really only one thing to say to these country-ruiners:Suck it, bitches!You got what you deserve.One site I frequent pointed out that, among all the contested House, Senate and Governor's

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1148345408866807562006-05-22T17:43:00.000-07:002006-11-14T18:28:58.827-08:00

We were passing Parrish Middle School during the commute tonight. I was doing about 20 MPH-- the speed limit in front of schools in Oregon, and you just flew by me. I barely had time to make out all the anti-choice bumper stickers that festooned your car. I'd bet you were doing close to 40 MPH as you carelessly barrelled past the school. I guess your concern for children stops as soon as they

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1144881525503956712006-04-12T15:35:00.000-07:002006-11-14T18:28:58.623-08:00

I’m in my mid-40s. For the last few years I have sensed something missing from my life. I have never been able to quite put my finger on the problem. My life just seems a little less than satisfying.I was raised Roman Catholic. I went to parochial school the first six years, then to CCD through high school. Towards the end of my senior year I started to question the whole church thing and I

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1143405871088701462006-03-26T12:40:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:58.399-08:00

Movie night last night was "Capote." Phillip Seymour Hoffman? A+. The movie itself? I give it a C. I thought it a little slow and plodding, though perhaps that was by design. (Could be the film was made to mirror the personality of its subject. Or maybe not.)It was nicely made and had a real feel for its time and places. There are few things more distracting to me than period pieces that have no

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1143234850804078072006-03-24T13:01:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:58.203-08:00

A tourist wanders into a back-alley antique shop in San Francisco's Chinatown. Picking through the objects on display he discovers a detailed, life- sized bronze sculpture of a rat. The sculpture is so interesting and unique that he picks it up and asks the shop owner what it costs."Twelve dollars for the rat, sir," says the shop owner, "and a thousand dollars more for the story behind it.""You

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1142198710500545702006-03-12T12:40:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:57.983-08:00

We watched "Walk the Line" last night. I had been looking forward to it ever since I first heard about it. I'm not much into country music, but have become quite interested in Johnny Cash's life and career-- especially later in his life. It all started the first time I saw his video for "Hurt." That little piece of film caught my attention immediately, and after it was over I said to the wife

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1142042580519022652006-03-10T17:58:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:57.832-08:00

Agreed. But it's nothing that can't be cured by his resignation, accompanied by an apology for making the United States an international embarassment.

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1141597840833630572006-03-05T13:52:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:57.653-08:00

It's Oscar night again, and as a big movie fan, I can't help but get caught up in it just a little. It's a guilty pleasure as I find art as competition an absurd concept. But the event celebrates film as art and I can get behind that idea. Plus I like ogling the women in their finery.We haven't seen most of the major "contenders" yet. I don't like seeing movies in the theater, so am always

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1138852580248009782006-02-01T19:38:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:57.536-08:00

A man walks into his bedroom with a sheep under his arm and says, "This is the pig I have sex with whenever you have a headache."From the bed his wife says, "I think you'll find that's a sheep, you idiot."He replies, "And I think you'll find I wasn't talking to you."

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1138842555663043212006-02-01T17:01:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:57.385-08:00

Thanks to my good-- no, great friend for the new scarf. It is very warm and comfortable and, most importantly, not itchy at all!Bonus: It smells like her! For now, anyway...

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1138136724586102902006-01-24T13:00:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:57.262-08:00

Some made me laugh, some (OK, most) made my blood boil...http://buffalobeast.com/91/50.htmEnjoy!

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1137542125397275432006-01-17T15:24:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:57.131-08:00

The Supreme Court delivered a nice smackdown to Bush and his empire of evil today, basically telling them to keep their slimy mitts off Oregon's assisted suicide law. As soon as I saw the headlines, I knew it was only a matter of time before some empty-headed administration dimwit would dust off the phrase "culture of life." Sure enough, from an AP article on the internets:"White House press

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1136766284128056782006-01-08T16:18:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:56.908-08:00

The wife is after me to add "Brokeback Mountain" to our Netflix list. I am still on the fence about it. While I am certainly open-minded and supportive of our gay brothers and sisters, I am somewhat suspicious about the motives of those film critics that are falling all over themselves praising this movie. Is it really that good, or is it political correctness run amok? Gene Shalit (not

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1136154057581638442006-01-01T14:17:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:56.670-08:00

Thanks to our good friends for a most enjoyable and entertaining New Year's eve last night. We stayed up all the way until 9:30! No one parties like we do!

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1136153740976431802006-01-01T14:01:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:56.449-08:00

The wife and her little friend are fond of playing the "Either / Or" game. They'll pose a question such as, "Who would you rather go to bed with, Donald Trump or Al Sharpton?" I take great delight in shutting them down with answers such as, "Yes" or "I sure would." You'd think they would learn to stop trying to drag me into it after about oh, say, the hundredth time, but nope. They continue with

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1135981784200054852005-12-30T14:27:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:56.215-08:00

HA, HA! OK 17, OR 14 HA, HA!I'm not much of a sports fan, but I do love it when UO loses. Saturdays during football season I root for two teams-- Oregon State and whoever is playing Oregon.I don't have anything against UO, per se. I just resent the local media creating the expectation that, just because we live in this state, we all need to fall down on our knees and worship the Ducks.

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1135816784166697392005-12-28T16:24:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:55.980-08:00

Seen that footage of Bush trying to exit a news conference only to be stymied by a locked door? It cracks me up every time they show it! I love how he mugs up a look of mock horror, then goes into full stand down mode, waiting for his handlers to rescue him. You just know he's been rehearsed repeatedly about what to do in situations like this. "George, you just stand there and Karl will

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1135815537946565172005-12-28T15:56:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:55.811-08:00

Not that Christmas means anything to me except a paid day off, but it is still a lousy time of year to get sick. The wife and I came down with nasty colds the weekend of the 17-18th, and it's still hanging on. For me, it's just a bunch of coughing, especially in the evenings. Otherwise I am feeling OK.We were supposed to do the holiday thing with our Moms, but due to illness we canceled going up

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1134346277323486892005-12-11T15:48:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:55.667-08:00

Ever notice the symbol "E/I" in the top left corner of certain TV programs? This is to indicate that programming directed at kids supposedly meets FCC requirements that the material is educational and/or instructional.I was channel surfing yesterday and noticed the "E/I" displayed on one of the religion channels. That a station feeding on ignorance and superstition is allowed to proclaim their

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1133936018772793502005-12-06T22:05:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:55.522-08:00

"Miss Jean Louise? Stand up! Your father's passing."Has there ever been a finer moment in American films than this scene from "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-1133914394053191862005-12-06T16:10:00.000-08:002006-11-14T18:28:55.331-08:00

I opened this Blogger account in June 2001 and promptly forgot about it. The wife and her friends have been experimenting with blogs of their own, so I thought I would see what happened when I tried to get back into this. I was somewhat surprised that the account is still alive after four years of inactivity.

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059529.post-41453252001-06-19T13:42:00.000-07:002006-11-14T18:28:54.504-08:00

First post

mjnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327004909032706253noreply@blogger.com3