Stupid Machine

I'm talking about my French Press. It's not even really a machine, when you compare it to the other machine, the Coffee Maker. But since my coffee maker broke, I have to use it. I don't always make the best coffee with it, although this week the coffee has been good and I am getting much better at it. At least until today. Today I actually had to DILUTE my coffee. I poured the water over the grounds, and then I forgot about it. I usually let the coffee steep for 4-5 minutes. Today, I forgot for 25 minutes. Yeah. Pretty strong cup a joe, that. And do you want to know what distracted me? NCIS marathon!

The end of an era.

Goodbye Marlene, goodbye John. Or are you Roman? Is this really happening, or do I just have amnesia? Anyway you slice it, Days of Our Lives will never be the same.

Daily Lansbury

The famous Bill Macy, Bea Arthur's husband on Maude, also has a Lansbury connection, of course! He guest stared on two episodes of Murder, She Wrote! He played Uncle Ben Mayberry on the episode "Something Borrowed, Someone Blue," and Myron Kinkaid on the episode "Corned Beef and Carnage." Good time!

Daily Golden Girls

Caricature of Bea Arthur as Maude, and Bill Macy, who played her husband. This is the late 70s right?

Coffee Talk!

So, what should we talk about today? The ranch covered bacon cupcake? That I am watching a new NCIS and will soon be posting about it? That Michael Jackson might be too sick to travel to London to testify in a suit claiming he owes an Arab sheik $7 million? You know, I'd actually like to talk about this last one. Why does he owe this person so much money? Why in the world does Michael Jackson have such expensive dealings with an Arab Sheik? I don't know any of the answers, and I have to go now because I can't concentrate on NCIS enough if I think about Michael Jackson.

Daily Lansbury

Um, is Angela Lansbury an author who has written about the art of toasting and speech making? Maybe. Can't tell. I mean, her name is there, but I just have no time to look into it right now. I feel like if your name was Angela Lansbury, but you were not THAT Angela Lansbury, you would call yourself Angela P. Lansbury or something. Anyway, go see her possible book here.

Daily Golden Girls

I am talking to my mother over the weekend and what do I find out? Betty white is a recurring character on Boston Legal! Apparently she is hilarious, as I am sure we all could have guessed. Here is the basic breakdown of her character, Catherine Piper:

Catherine Piper has appeared in more episodes than any other recurring character. She has been, at various times, a hostile witness, Alan Shore's assistant, the firm's sandwich lady, and, on several occasions, a client in need of legal assistance.

More here.

When do we get too old for this?

I mean, I realize that we were all born too old for this, but when does Heidi get too old? Even her name suggests that she will be youthful, or at least think that she is, forever. And yes, she looks lovely...except...the fact that you can't see her belly button is freaking me out and making me think she is an alien.

Yes, yes, yes.

First things first, go and read the NYTimes article that Dave sent to me, "No Mystery: Ratings Heat Up for NCIS." Excellent! Doing better than ever in its 6th season. The article gives many reasons for the popularity of the show, like the fact that it emphasizes "the camaraderie of a quirky band of investigators," and that it is one of "rare shows that effectively combines drama and humor and it hasn’t lost a step creatively." They did not credit DiNozzo being the funniest thing on TV after Bea Arthur as a reason for the success, but I think that they are saving that for a follow up article. Anyway, we all already knew that NCIS is hot hot hot and sweet sweet sweet. But apparently everyone else is knowing it now too! The critics better get on board here, or risk being seen as hopelessly elitist and stupid (by me). Doesn't crap like Friends win Emmy's? NCIS is funnier than Friends, and it is a drama. For reals yo. Thanks for sending me this article Dave! Also, I am sorry that I have not been posting as much lately, but I am just so busy right now. Don't worry, I have a ton to say!

Twins Day!

It must have been Homecoming week at their highschool, and yesterday was Twins Day! They have been coordinating their outfit for weeks. Seriously, Jennifer Aniston is one of the most boring dressers that has ever been. Aren't they embarrassed to be going out in his and hers versions of practically the same jacket? All that leather and all those zippers. It's the zippers that really get me. He wears his shiny one zipped so that we can tell them apart, which is sweet.

Mutany!

I refuse to even read this, Mariah! My ducking bots love me! They want only the best for me! Although it does sometimes seem like they are trying smother me at night when they lay on my face...

Saddest Headline of the Week

"Nebraska parents rush to leave kids before law changes."

Nebraska's safe haven law, which is only months old, allows parents to leave children at hospitals if it would be unsafe for the children to stay with them/they are unable to care for them. The law does not specify an age, so it has been interpreted to mean anyone under 18. Nebraska is rushing to change the law, since half the children left have been teenagers. And apparently parents are rushing to dump their kids, before the law changes. This is unbearably sad. But buck up! The law will change soon and then those poor kids will not be abandoned at a hospital, they will stay with freaky lazy weirdos.

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If you'd like to comment on this photo, you can do that here!

LOLCATS!

Daily Lansbury

I was looking at Lansbury on youtube, and I found this video titled "Ethan Hawke Disses Angela Lansbury at the Tony's." I was like what? So I watch it and sure enough, there the bastard goes, dissing Lansbury. But then I found a shorter version of the same video, and this one is entitled "Ethan Hawke: A Douche at the 2007 Tony's." Perfect.

Daily Golden Girls

Let's go through the pics that they have used for each of the seasons of the GG's on DVD. And today let's ask ourselves: WHY did they use that pic for Bea Arthur? This woman is an actress, and has taken plenty of pictures over the years, and yet they just have to use one where she looks like a bloated granny trying to give someone the eye.

Is facebook trying to start something?

Jeffrey is on facebook now and was creating his profile yesterday. Under relationship status he put me down as his girlfriend. So I get this email from facebook, and the subject is "Jeffrey G said that you two are in a relationship..." Kind of like taunting me? I'm sorry but does that not sound like pure 8th grade? With the "Jeffrey said" and the "..." Maybe I am just making this up, but I feel like facebook is trying to start some shit with me. It's already been broughten, that's what I have to say to facebook.

Beard Lovin

Molly! Do not tell Ben to shave his beard, and do not buy him this if it will encourage beard shaving! I love beards!

Sweet, sweet, sweet.

Totally excellent NCIS. THAT DIRTY DOUBLE CROSSING AGENT LEE IS BACK! I have been awaiting her return, wondering every day what that country-betraying freak is up to! I think that I just actually was talking to Mister Jeff about this. I knew she would be back but I didn't think it would happen so soon. Ok, I have to get back to the show.

Added: Number one, this was like the best episode of the year! DiNozzo did a little interrogating, and he brought the pain for sure. Number two, Gibbs is beginning to suspect Agent Lee! In fact, he more than suspects her! He's knows what the duck is up, but he is being cagey about it, waiting for the pieces to fall into place and then he will pounce!

Schickelgruber

In my family we call this type of mustachio the "Schickelgruber!" It is a Hitler mustache basically. I thought that the type of mustache was literally called the schickelgruber (Hitler's father's last name), but I realize now that my family is just a freak. Also, I realize that Clooney is not rocking the traditional schickelgruber, because of the triangulated sides, but just work with me here. I want to talk schickelgruber!

And I'm hopeful that this will be my new life!

From the NYTimes:

Right now a lot of public defenders are starting to stand up and say, ‘No more: We can’t ethically handle this many cases,’ ” said David J. Carroll, director of research for the National Legal Aid and Defender Association.

The Miami-Dade case, which is being closely watched across the country, was appealed by the state, which says that defender offices must share the burden of falling revenues. On Friday, the Florida Supreme Court sent the case to an appellate court for a ruling. If the judge’s decision is upheld, it will force courts here to draw lawyers from a smaller state office and contract with private lawyers to represent defendants, at greater expense.

But such lawsuits are just the most overt sign of the burdens that lead harried lawyers in Michigan to talk openly about “McJustice” and in New York to make dark jokes about the plea bargain “assembly line.”

He doesn't vote?

Many of you know that I think that Keith Olbermann is basically a dumb box. In the days of my youth I liked how he was yelly and screamy, sort of like the liberal Rush Limbaugh. But really he is part of the problem, and most everything he does annoys me. And today I find out he doesn't vote? It's "symbolic"? This new bit of information helps me distill what my problem with Olbermann is: he's a child. I just want to shake him and say, "Whine more stupid baby!" But he probably has people to keep me away.

M.I.A. the diva

This is me posting about Gawker posting about M.I.A.s concert rider, which The Smoking Gun got. Does she seem like kind of a diva? Maybe. What I don't understand is, why does she even like those Ferrero Rochier things? I do not like them, because you think that they are going to be so rich and decadent but they are not! And if you remember the commercial, they show a hazelnut or whatever being dropped into and enveloped by chocolate, but the hazelnut looks like a piece of garlic! Now, I love garlic and imagine it would be good covered in chocolate. I can at least say that I would eat it. But still the garlic commercial was weird.

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Reuters/Chris Helgren

Daily Lansbury

Let's learn a little something about Lansbury's husband today. Peter Shaw was actaully her second husband, as she was married once before although she was just 19 and the marriage only lasted for a year. She was married to Shaw for like 54 years or something, until he passed away. Here is his little bio:

Peter Shaw, born Peter Pullen, (June 24, 1918 - January 22, 2003) was an actor/producer and the longtime husband of actress Angela Lansbury. Born in Reading, England, he began his career in front of the screen following World War II, and later found success as a studio executive at MGM. Shaw served in the British army during the second World War. He was signed to an MGM contract by the Charles Feldman Agency in the late '40s. MGM Studios was where the handsome actor met his future wife, Angela Lansbury, and after marrying the actress on August 12, 1949; Shaw apprenticed with agent Paul Small, leading to an executive position at the studio and later a career with the William Morris Agency, where he represented such luminaries as Katharine Hepburn and Robert Mitchum. Returning to MGM as head of production in 1964 and then re-joining the William Morris Agency as an international business manager, Shaw launched Corymore Productions in 1987, and it was at Universal Studios that he and his two sons produced Lansbury's Murder, She Wrote, in addition to numerous other made-for-television features. Plagued by failing health in his later years, Peter Shaw died of heart failure in his Los Angeles home in January 2003. He was 84.

Daily Golden Girls

I love the Golden Girls. I could probably watch all day at least 5 days a week if there were enough episodes. I don't mind seeing the same ones over and over again either. But there is one thing I don't like, and that is the flash back episodes! There are too many of them and they are not as good! I don't know why this is. I just hate the contrived way they sit around the table and talk about one subject and then play clips from previous shows that have to do with whatever subject they are talking about. It's boring and weird, and even though the clips are from previous shows, it just doesn't have the same pacing as a real episode. So there you go. There is something I don't like about the Golden Girls, and I just thought I would share that. I feel better.

On the loose

So I am sitting here minding my own business, thinking of Thanksgiving and how much I love that holiday. Not a thought of Christmas in my mind. But then! Out of the blue I hear the pitter patter of little hooves on my roof, and I run to the window and what do I see? Christmas bots on the loose! Spunky Claus and Jake the Elf! They came down my chimeny and asked if they could hang out for a while. Mrs. Claus was being sort of a nag and they had to get away and watch the Packer game in peace without her constant yammering. I took one look at their glowing demon eyes and said they could stay. Let's just hope they get back in time for Christmas, or no one is getting any toys!

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Angry Santa Bot! I think he's mad because he knows that you've been naughty this year. He's disappointed in you.

Campus Security is great

I read this story on Mariah's blog:

Whoa! I bet that has paid off in the end… I wonder if they think those who rent Requiem for a Dream are shooting up, or those who watch Spun are cooking up some meth? People are so picky about the herb!

peterwknox:
shutupinternet:
Last night we rented Half Baked from the front office of our dorm. When you rent a movie from the dorm you have to sign your name and write down your room number in case you keep it past the due date.
As we were about a quarter into the movie we get a knock on our door and hear the soothing sound of the campus security officers outside. They came in and told us that they smelled weed from outside of our room. Our room is on the third floor, by the way. They just got word that we rented Half Baked and thought it would be an easy way to catch kids smoking weed. Too bad neither my roommates or I smoke. After they walked into the room and sniffed, they realized that they were dead wrong and left.
Welcome to Colorado
Wow. What a great use of their time. I’m sure, however, that this trap has paid off for them before but this sounds like an awesome “Letter to the Editor”.

Ha! Those dumb sons of guns sure are dumb. Tried to get all trixie and it backfired! I love it.

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Those crazy Brits! Don't they know that it's not even Thanksgiving yet? Alright, so they don't have my fave holiday over there. It is kind of nice to see Santas on those little scooters.

What is the meaning of this?

So I thought that there was supposed to be this big Dr. Pepper add campaign with famous "doctors" telling us to drink Dr. Pepper all slow like, to bring out the flavor. I was promised Dr. Frasier Crane! But I have not seen hide nor hair of him on the TV. I mean excpet for the 4 times a day his show is on in reruns. But whatever, my point is, they start the add campaign out with Dr. J, fine, I can accept that. But where the hell is Dr. Crane? In these terrifying economic times I need a name I can trust telling me what products to buy and at what pace to drink them. He's a doctor for God's sake. Anyway, someone get to the bottom of this for me, please. I would but I don't think I could handle it very calmly right now.

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Daily Lansbury

While we are on the subject of pictures, I kind of love this one. Our little Lansbury looks all grown up. She also looks like if this picture was in color, she'd be glowing orange.

Daily Golden Girls

Why is this the first picture that pops up when I google "Betty White pictures"?

Sorry if this blog entry sucks.

I don't feel like blogging but I am doing it anyway because I don't feel like doing anything, so I figure I can;t use it as an excuse. If I let myself slide on this, the next thing you know I will not be getting out of bed in the morning, and drinking wine and smoking cigarettes in the bathtub all night. The reason I am so depressed is that Jeffrey's car broke. Like, the wheel fell off. The car. It is not going to be cheap. But I look on the bright side- at least he wasn't hurt, because we don't have health insurance and medical debt is the number one reason private individuals file for bankruptcy! So we dodged a bullet there. There are numerous other reasons that I am pissed today, but I will just leave you with that little tidbit and go back to my happy (angry) place so that I don;t make you uncomfortable. Won;t that be nice. J/K, I feel great and happy to be alive. (I feel like I have to add that or God will punish me for Gripey Gretel).

Favorite Headline!

Sarah Palin 'did not know Africa was a continent,' say aides.

Daily Lansbury

This is a sad Lansbury story! Apparently her dog just up and walked away one day because he was upset that she had left town to do a play! Tragic. She doesn't want another dog because of the heartache! You can and should read about the sad events here. Keep your chin up, Lansbury!

Daily Golden Girls

Um, is this the weirdest picture of the Golden Girls ever? This has the same set up as their standard pic --the 4 women in sort of a diamond shape set up, solid pastel color background, etc.-- but yet it's the freak version. Why does Dorothy look so angry? And why is Sophia wearing sun glasses? That's what really freaking me out. She'n not just wearing them, either, she looking down her nose over them. Weird!

Think happy thoughts...

...and keep your fingers crossed!

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Part of the series "Movement" by Georgia. See the others here.

Daily Lansbury

Today, let's learn about Angela Lansbury's grandfather, the politician George Lansbury. He was a member of the Labor party, and also a pacifist. There is a lot of info about him here, at his Biography from Answers.com page. Here is some of my favorite trivia about him:

After numerous unsuccessful candidatures Lansbury was eventually elected for Bow and Bromley in 1910. But he resigned his seat in 1912, in protest at the imprisonment of suffragettes. In 1913 he was imprisoned after a speech at a suffrage meeting. Out of parliament (until 1922) he was active in local government in Poplar (London) and was again imprisoned, for "Poplarism" — refusing to collect local rates from the unemployed.

A lifelong pacifist, he had defended conscientious objectors during World War I, and in 1935 he resigned as party leader over the issue of League of Nations sanctions against Italy, a move he thought would lead to war. He advocated unilateral disarmament by Great Britain during the 1930s, and in 1937 visited Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini in an attempt to avoid war.

There is lots more there. He was clearly a principled and intelligent man, but of course we expected that, since he is part of the gene pool that spawned Lansbury!

Daily Golden Girls

Blanche is very upset about something that has just happened to her, and has been telling Sophia about it, looking for comfort and advice.

Sophia: Blanche, a terrible thing has happened to you. But when life does something like this, there are a couple of things you got to remember. You got your health, right?

Blanche: Yeah.

Sophia: You can still walk, can't you?

Blanche: That's true.

Sophia: Great, go get me a glass of water.

Happy Birthday Maggi!

Well our little Maggi has turned one year older! Not today, actually, but close enough. 27 is a very important year in a young girls life, as you well know. If I could wish one birthday wish for Maggi, I hope that this is the year that she starts watching NCIS! Tonight we are going to dinner to celebrate the occassion! Happy Birthday freak!

Ducking Sweet NCIS

Great freaky-serial-killer-who-kills-people-and-posts-the-vids-online NCIS! It is always fun times with that crew. They had to decipher clues and rush against the clock to figure things out before the killer struck again! And they totally did. Well, the killer had struck a couple times, but as Gibbs (I) always says, you can;t make an omlet without cracking some eggs. And that is true.

All in all great effort, but there is still something unhealthy looking about Abby! I want a dietician to look into her habits or something. Also! Next week's NCIS looks great. DiNozzo is going to be doing the interrogation, and you know that wacky Tony will deliver the goods.

Last but not least, Jackie gets a gold star for starting to watch this rad show. The rest of you get 10 demerits!

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Image via Filmmagic

Thanks Cate!

More Halloween fun!

There were lots of great looking Trick or Treaters out in our neighborhood on Friday night! Here is Chloe, her mom, and a friend getting some candy from Mister Jeff. That is one excellent Little Red Riding Hood cape!

And then there was Maggi. She isnot interested in candy, what she wants is your brain! Here is Maggi being a zombie with me and Jackie just being ourselves.

Then we decided to switch things up: Jackie and I would give zombie faces while Maggi smiled pretty. Um, yeah. Tell me if the next picture is not SO MUCH CREEPIER than the first. At first you're like, oh look, it's Maggi smiling like a pretty pretty princess! Then you are like, Oh wait, it's Maggi looking like a demented clown. Nice job with the makeup Keith!

And last but not least here is John Wilkes Booth and Raybraham Lincoln! Is that Aaron Rodgers in the background?

My Favorite Halloweenie!

She works out.

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Daily Lansbury

This is a song by the band Wrathdead, described as a "Spanish crossover thrash/punk band." The song is called "Song for Angela Lansbury," and the band dedicated it to Lansbury:

This song is dedicated to the one and only great actress Angela Brigid Lansbury, the Jessica Fletcher character of the American television series "Murder, She Wrote"...Keep on rockin', Angela!

Daily Golden Girls

Thanks Aunt Candy!