Welcome to ToTG!



October 16, 2012

Generally Speaking






If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.
 - George S. Patton 












Image courtesy of

mucro

mucro mu·cro [myoo-kroh] noun, plural mu·cro·nes  [myoo-kroh-neez]
Botany, Zoology
a short point projecting abruptly, as at the end of a leaf.

I've seen a lot of people posting in forums who must have a mucro on top of their heads.

Toilet Talk

From the toilet archives:


I was barely sitting down when I heard a voice from the other stall saying “Hi, how are you?”

I am not the type to start a conversation in the men’s restroom but I don’t know what got into me, so I answered, somewhat embarrassed, “Doing just fine!”

And the other guy says “So what are you up to?”

What kind of question is that?  At that point, I am just trying to get out as fast as I can when I hear another question, “Can I come over?”

Ok, this question is just too weird for me but i figured I could just be polite and end the conversation. I tell him, “No… I am little busy right now!!!”

Then I hear the guy say nervously:

“Listen, I will have to call you back. There’s an idiot in the other stall who keeps answering all my questions!!!


October 15, 2012

If You Want Blood - AC/DC

(You've Got It)



Note: noticed the video had been taken down, so it was replaced with this version. Not as good, sorry 'bout that.

October 14, 2012

crasis

crasis cra·sis [krey-sis] noun,
plural cra·ses  [-seez] Archaic .

composition; constitution; makeup.

Some people have crass, crazy & creepy crasis.

Over Easy, Please

And keep the coffee coming, thanks!

You Are a Hearty Breakfast
You are down to earth and mild mannered. You don't tend to make a fuss.

You can be a bit stubborn at times. You know what you like, and you don't tend to change your mind.

You like to stay in your comfort zone. You don't really like surprises or change much.


You aren't complacent... you're just practical. Why mess with what works? 

Halley's Comet Debris

I'm looking forward to Oct. 21st and the Orionid Meteor Shower.


Atari Arcade






Remember Atari?















Celebrate Atari's 4th Anniversary and play Asteroids, Centipede, Lunar Lander, Missile Command, Pong and others at the Atari Arcade.

Atari Arcade

October 13, 2012

REQUEST

From the spam folder:

alhajishettimamohammedbulama1@yahoo.com.ph

REQUEST

to undisclosed recipients

My name is Alhaji Shettima Mohammed Bulama, the est. managing director of the Bank of the North Nig.Plc. I am contacting you in a benevolent spirit; and with utmost confidence and trust to enable us provide a solution to a money transfer of $18 Million to your account. Do get back to me for more details.

Best Regards,
Alhaji Shettima Mohammed Bulama.

"benevolent spirit"??? I'd say that's about right, especially seeing as how there's not a ghost of a chance of anyone getting a dime of that $18 million.

Evil Woman - ELO


October 12, 2012

Spittin' Mad

Did you know the horned lizard (or "horny toad") defends itself by squirting blood from its eyes?



We've got some horny toad posts. (with pictures, if you don't like to read!)

October 11, 2012

anacoluthon

anacoluthon \an-uh-kuh-LOO-thon\ , noun:

1. A construction involving a break in grammatical sequence, as It makes me so—I just get angry.

2. An instance of anacoluthia.


I'd like to take the spammers who hit this blog every now and then and cut their - off and then feed the  - to the - hogs.

October 10, 2012

The Weight - The Band

Dedicated to myself, because I just got a big load off my mind and back.


October 9, 2012

catachresis

catachresis cat·a·chre·sis [kat-uh-kree-sis]

noun

misuse or strained use of words, as in a mixed metaphor, occurring either in error or for rhetorical effect.

I don't understand why people mix their metaphors.

I mean...it's not exactly rocket surgery, is it?

Let 'er Rip!

From the Photobucket archives.

Yakety Yak

You Love to Talk About Current Events
You are an admitted news and political junkie. You pride yourself on knowing what's going on in the world.

You prefer to talk with people who are equally up on current events. You think there are a lot of important things to discuss.

You get bored easily, and you prefer to always be discussing new things with your friends. You feel like it's easy to get in a conversation rut.


You are the type most likely to bring up new and interesting topics of conversation. You always have something fascinating to talk about.
 
Yakety Yak - The Coasters


A Big Difference

Here lately my spam folder has been deluged with more of what I call "wanna hook up?" scam emails.  I've been deleting them because they're basically all the same and don't have photos with them as have the others I've posted here on my blog.  It's a lot easier to poke fun at them when there's a (fake) face behind the (fake) name.

That said, I happened to open this one up instead of deleting it; here's what it said:

Simona Viola fwuinbhcpr@wellfs.com

Meow honey,

I saw your photo in the social network and realized that we live in the same town.

How about spending a couple of hot weekends together and having fun without any needless questions? ;-)

(URL removed)

With kisses,
Simona Viola
-----------------
Simona Viola have sent you this message via Private Network.

If you would like to stop receiving notifications from our members,please go here.
(URL removed)

All unsubscribe requests are handled promptly.

or write to:

233Main Street #234
Isla-Colon
Bocasdel-Toro, Republic of Panama


I'm not going to write her back, but if I did it would be something like this:

Dear Simona,

In the first place, I don't belong to any social networks besides Facebook and Twitter...and I don't even check my Twitter account.

What's up with the "meow honey" salutation?  I like cats, but if I'm scratched by one around here, I can always put a little alcohol on the wound.  You'd probably give me something penicillin couldn't cure.  Is that supposed to be some sort of veiled reference to what you're offering me?   I guess so, what with wanting to spend a "couple of hot weekends together".  There'd have to be a question or two I'm sure, such as "How much do you charge?" and "Did you see my specially made condom I brought?  You know, the one made from a truck tire inner tube."

Also, the last I checked, the town I lived in was in the Panhandle of Texas, not in Central America.   Panama, huh?  I thought ships entered the canal, not you.

Sorry, Simona, I think I'll have to pass.  I might be stupid when sizing up women, but I know Shinola from Viola.

October 8, 2012

Potent Patriotic Potables

Did you know the music for The Star-Spangled Banner was originally used for a British drinking song? The song combines Francis Scott Key's poem "Defense of Fort McHenry" and the tune "To Anacreon in Heaven".

 

October 6, 2012

Gog Bless Us All

This was one of the replies to a post on Facebook about a neighbor's condition;  she recently had heart surgery and was in critical condition, with her kidneys not functioning.   I was glad to see that she's doing much better, but I had to laugh when I saw this.

(I cropped out the poster's name and photo)


I think I would have deleted the post and posted again or at least used the "Edit" feature. Oh well, her heart was in the right place and her sentiments were good, if not her spelling.

hirtellous

hirtellous hir·tel·lous [hur-tel-uhs]

adjective

minutely hirsute.

"minutely hirsute". That describes me, to a "T".  I don't have a lot of hair on my head or anywhere else, for that matter.  I saw a gray hair on my chest the other day and pulled it out...and diminished my chest hair by a third when I did.

I may start using 'hirtellous" as a nickname in forums.

October 5, 2012

Heavy Metal

Did you know "heavy metal" was once used exclusively by the military to indicate something that was heavily fortified by tanks and guns? In 1968, a journalist for Cream magazine used this expression to describe a performance of the band MC5 from Detroit. Soon the same magazine was using the term for many other bands of that era, and it caught on in the broader community.

List of heavy metal bands

I could post any video from any band on that list, but why not use a tune that's ABOUT heavy metal?

Heavy Metal - Sammy Hagar

agita

agita \AJ-i-tuh\ , noun:

1. Agitation; anxiety.
2. Heartburn; indigestion.

Nothing a glass of bicarb wouldn't cure...with a Xanax dissolved into it.

Add a little tequila to it and you'd have an Agitarita.

October 3, 2012

Right On!

I love the smell of incense in the morning.

You are a Hippie
You are a total hippie. While you may not wear Birkenstocks or smell of incense, you have the soul of a hippie.

You don't trust authority, and you do as you please. You're willing to take a stand, even when what you believe isn't popular.

You like to experiment with ideas, lifestyles, and different subcultures.


You always gravitate toward what's radical and subversive. Normal, mainstream culture doesn't really resonate with you. 

groovy

groovy adjective \ˈgrü-vē\

1. marvelous, wonderful, excellent

2. hip, trendy


I thought several posts about "groovy" would be...

Feeling Groovy - Simon & Garfunkel


A Groovy Kind Of Love -The Mindbenders


World Human Population


Candidate Match Game

Candidate Match Game II

Play USA TODAY's Candidate Match Game II to find out which candidate -- Barack Obama or Mitt Romney -- you agree with most on the key issues of the day. And as you take the quiz, learn more about their positions on the issues.



As you select your answers, the graphic slides more to the candidate whose views are most like your own. As I answered the questions, I was surprised to see the percentage ebb and flow from one candidate to the other. In the end, however, my score was 76% in favor of Romney.

Still, I thought that the real outcome of the test should have been the likenesses morphing into a single image. That's what politics has become, after all...two sides of the same coin:  a plugged nickel.

Candidate Match Game II

October 2, 2012

No More of That

Since the NFL regular season started, I was predicting the winners each week and except for last week, was doing fairly well.  I've decided to discontinue it. 

Why? Well, it wasn't creating much interest.  I understand I don't have a lot of visitors to this blog and I'm fine w/ that, but I did hope that I'd get a few hits/comments on the posts.   That's not the main reason, though.

After last night's debacle - the Dallas/Chicago game - my heart's not in it.  I'll always be a Cowboys fan, but I never have enjoyed watching the games when Dallas played poorly.  I turned the channel shortly after the second half started and then drifted off to sleep.  I refuse to let how a football team does affect my life...and esp. my sleep.

I'm also done with frequenting the Cowboy websites and reading the comments.  I'm sick of the constant criticisms from people who know little or nothing about the game.  I'm tired of reading comments such as "Fire Garrett!" "Romo needs to go!" "Jerry Jones knows nothing about football!"

In the first place, Garrett is a good coach but to expect him to be mistake-free is short-sighted and an ignorant way of thinking.   I like his "RKG" approach and think he needs another couple of years to put his stamp on the team.  If he hasn't taken the team to the playoffs in five years at the helm, then perhaps he should be let go, but not until then.  People have no patience and expect wins right away.  That's not realistic.

People also show their lack of knowledge about football in blaming Romo for the losses.  Last time I checked, there were ten other players on the offensive side of the ball, plus a defense that has blown some of the leads the offense and Romo had in games.  Sure, he's made some egregious errors, but I bet there are a dozen NFL teams which would love to have Tony Romo as their QB. 

Lastly, I get angry at Jones too, but it IS his team and with his two + decades of owning the team, he has to have soaked up some football smarts via osmosis if in no other way.  In fact, I imagine he's probably forgotten more about football than most of the whiny pukes on msg. boards will ever know.   JJ's worst fault is being too loyal to certain players as well as handing out overpriced contracts to under-performing athletes.

October 1, 2012

Moneytalks - AC/DC

The True Me

Yeah, right.


The True You Values Harmony

You want your girlfriend or boyfriend to be more relaxed, calm, and composed.

With respect to money, you spend as little as possible.

You think good luck doesn't exist - reality is built on practicalities.

The hidden side of your personality tends to be satisfied to care for things with a minimal amount of effort.

You have a tendency to overdo things, but basically you value your friendships highly.

When it comes to finding a romantic partner, you base your search on information from your friends. 



Not a Big Star

Note: I've decided to name each post in the "Did You Know?" series differently. I got to thinking that it would be hard to differentiate between all the posts named "Did You Know?"

Duh.  Too bad I didn't know that from the first.


Did you know?






Tom Hanks has an asteroid named after him?












Hanks has had a lifelong fascination with space exploration: As a child, he wanted to be an astronaut; he played a real-life one in Apollo 13; he co-produced the miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, as well as the IMAX feature Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon in 3D. Heck, he's even on the the National Space Society Board of Directors. So to honor Hanks' commitment, the International Astronomical Union named an asteroid "12818 tomhanks" in 1996.

Image courtesy of Caricature Zone

October Trivia Quiz Begins!

New trivia tournament begins!

Play the ToTG Trivia Tournament and test your trivia knowledge against the smartest readers of this blog!

(well, there's me, too)





Easy to do: register, then sign-in and play the quiz. The categories change from day-to-day and are the most difficult the site has to offer.  Hurry as fast as you can through it, though, because the longer you take, the less points you get on the total.

ToTG Trivia Tournament

September 30, 2012

Did You Know?

That the polar bear is practically invisible to infrared? That's because a bear's (outward) body temperature is the same as the snow, with only their eyes, nose and breath visible to infrared vision.

September 28, 2012

This Study is Nuts

I guess this is why single men don't live as long as married guys.

If it had been up to my ex-wife, she would have had mine in the divorce settlement.

Men without testicles might live longer

Rockaria! - ELO

I feel like posting a little more Electric Light Orchestra.

This is a cool tune;  the references to the classical composers plus the following little snippets of their famous songs makes it unique.

Google Alerts

A few years ago, I discovered a very useful feature of Google, the Google Alerts. With it, I can keep up with the topics that interest me, such as specific news items, articles about Hank Skinner or anytime this blog is mentioned or linked to. (very rare).

Some webmasters also use the service to check for plagiarism or backlinks to articles they've written.  Companies can use it to see what others are saying about their products, especially useful when someone is unjustly smearing their reputation.

You can configure the results to show up in your reader feed or delivered to your email inbox.

From the site:

Monitor the Web for interesting new content

Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your queries.

Enter a search query you wish to monitor. You will see a preview of the type of results you'll receive. Some handy uses of Google Alerts include:

    *monitoring a developing news story
    *keeping current on a competitor or industry
    *getting the latest on a celebrity or event
    *keeping tabs on your favorite sports teams



Google Alerts

September 27, 2012

Results Are Roughly Right

Not sure about being a visionary and I'm fairly competitive, but the rest is correct.

You Are a Mixed Berry Smoothie

You are a visionary. You have big ideas for the future.

You are not competitive in the least.
 

There's plenty of room at the top.

You value solitude. Some of your best ideas and creations come out of alone time.


You do not like crowds. You find them to be both overwhelming and draining.

Money Orgami

25 Extremely Cool Examples Of Money Origami































I always think of Brad when I see origami. RIP Binky

I used to like to take two dollar bills and make an origami ring from them and leave them as a tip.  Before you think I'm a cheapskate, let me add: I seldom eat out except for the rare breakfast, so that wasn't a bad tip for a $7-8 meal. I don't even eat breakfast much these days, other than fixing myself a bowl of steel-cut oatmeal.  I have to avoid hash browns, biscuits and gravy. -sigh-

palter

From our Word of the Day module


palter pal·ter [pawl-ter]

verb (used without object)

1. to talk or act insincerely or deceitfully; lie or use trickery.
2. to bargain with; haggle.
3. to act carelessly; trifle.


That would describe just about anything coming out of a politician's mouth.

September 26, 2012

Stairway to Heaven - Led Zepplin

That "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zepplin didn't make the charts until 2007, when it was made available as a digital download? It was part of the album known as IV4. It never made the charts because it was never released as a single.

September 25, 2012

Did You Know?

That Ray Kroc (the founder of McDonald's) and Walt Disney both served in the same ambulance unit in WWI?

(and before someone calls me on it, Kroc didn't build the first McDonald's restaurant, but he founded the huge company that it is today)

This is the first post in what I hope to be at least a weekly affair. It may be several times a week or more sporadic than once/week. (my friends and regular readers know how much of a procrastinator I am.) I'm going to post only that trivia that surprised me when I learned it and think that it might surprise you as well.

Besides, if ToTG is going to be one of the most trivial blogs on the 'net, we might as well have some more trivia, huh?

A World Without Love - Peter & Gordon


September 24, 2012

Newsola

Color coded by category, Newsola shows the top news stories from around the world at a glance with a treemap visualization using Google News

(click for larger view)


http://www.newsola.com/

More Than One Thing In Common

The ship Titanic and my love life have more than one thing in common, but the main similarity is that they're both in the depths.  (and they both never completed the voyage) My romantic endeavors aren't anywhere near as close to being successful as the movie.  In fact, my love life is more like "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!". 

On second thought, that might not be fair to that particular movie. (It wasn't THAT bad)  Instead, you can take your pick.

Your Love Life is Like Titanic
"Promise me you'll survive. That you won't give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless."

You think that you only really have one true love in your life. And that you better do anything and everything to be with that person.


You tend to be very nostalgic about past loves that didn't work out. There are many secret feelings that you keep to yourself.

Your love style: Deep and emotional

Your Hollywood Ending Will Be: Bittersweet

Cast Away End Scene

The end scene from "Cast Away", filmed near by.

Other posts about the movie. (and posts about the posts!)

September 22, 2012

Glory Days

I was moving some files last night and found this little snippet I had created from the digital copy of our 8-man championship game. It was very near the first of the game and we had just thrown an interception. In the first few seconds of the video, you can see me help make the tackle on the guy who had intercepted it. (I don't know why I can't get that little bit off;  I will have to plead ignorance of video editing - this was one of my first attempts)

Besides ticking me off with us losing the ball, I felt as though the momentum of the game might change if they made a big play after the turnover and I was determined to make one of my own.

Here's a screen shot with the arrow pointing towards me. (so you can make out which one I am in the old, grainy video)






















As you'll be able to see, I shucked off a block, then had to take a wide angle to the ball carrier. I wasn't expecting him to be slowed up, plus I had to curve even more on my pursuit in order to dodge one of my own men. I started to hold up for an instant because I thought he was down, then saw he wasn't going to be stopped, so I laid the wood on him.

I know you're probably thinking I'm living in the past and that maybe you've seen a lot better players and both would be true, particularly the latter, but I DID make a great play and help to lift my teammate's spirits. My dad later told me the sound of the collision was like a shotgun blast and that he could "feel the hit' from where he was sitting in the stands.

Anyway, here's about eight seconds of my "glory days".


September 21, 2012

Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealers Wheel


Like My Heart

Your Name is Black

Your name tells people that you are serious and sophisticated. Your name makes you seem like a total mystery.

You are elegant and a bit apart from everyone else. You are much more formal than those around you.

People see you as smart and together. You also come off as a bit eccentric, and others respect that you are different from them.

You can adapt well to most situations, but you never feel like you truly fit in anywhere.