Friday, September 30, 2005

No Headline News?

Some last minute stuff came up and I won't have headlines tonight. I'll be late getting in.

However, I'd like to ask you to submit your own Headline News in the comments. Or visit one of the Headline News Crew for more Headline News sources and inspiration:



They ought to have some funny headlines there. Or maybe one of the regular guests will surprise us all with some. Hint, hint.

Covered Dish Supper: 9/30/2005

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Lunch: 9/30/2005



Try one of these specials with your lunch:




Breakfast: 9/30/2005

Try one of these specials with your breakfast:

DSL!

Well, it took a little bit, but here at Castle Basil we now have DSL. It took longer than I would have expected to get everything set up, but it eventually happened.

BellSouth took the order on Monday. And Bianca helped complete the order after Michelle and I were disconnected. The disconnection glitch was a bad sign, but Bianca got everything completed and was quite helpful with the setup. She said the modem would arrive Monday (10/3).

When the modem arrived 5 days early (Wednesday night, actually) I was excited and began the installation.

Then, glitches happened. It turns out one glitch was the phone jack I had installed. Okay, I didn't install it, but I did have to adjust the wiring on it, since it was set for to default to the second line of a two-line setup (which we no longer have). And, after swapping the wires, the jack worked when I plugged the phone in. But when I plugged the modem in, I must have not secured the connection.

Unfortunately, I didn't discover that until Thursday evening. Fortunately, I discovered it, and not a BellSouth technician. So, let's keep that our little secret.

Still, there was a problem with the modem. But the lady from BellSouth Fast Access was able to help me access it for reset (no, there were no instructions on how to do this in the box the modem came in). And I wish I had written down here name, because she was quite helpful and I'd like to thank her. I will thank Cornelius, who I contacted earlier in the day during a break at work. He confirmed that DSL was completely set up, so I wasn't wasting my time.

Anyway, once that happened, there was one little thing about the router I have that needed to be adjusted. And, it seemed, I couldn't follow the instructions on the PDF file to make that change. But Misty at Motorola support was eager to help and when the first thing she offered didn't work, she jumped right in to troubleshooting mode and after a little bit, the problem was discovered, the router settings were changed, and everything was set.

It turns out that sometimes this router doesn't always reconnect to the modem when changes are made. I ran into that later last night when I did something else that I needed to do. Now, that last step wasn't necessary to get back online, but it's something that I needed to do for a project I have in the future. Maybe more on that later. Maybe.

Anyway, all the the sales and tech support people at BellSouth (Michelle, Bianca, Cornelius, and the lady whose name I didn't write down) were very helpful, as was Misty from Motorola.

But there's one more person I'd like to thank: vw bug of One Happy Dog Speaks.

I was able to get some advice from her regarding the setup process. And there's one thing in particular that she shared with me that made the process work.

When I set up the DSL modem, I had to directly connect to the laptop via cable. Which is fine. But once the modem made the connection, it was looking for a machine with my laptop's MAC address.

When I did the original setup on the cable modem (the service we've dropped) I ran into the same problem, and the cable tech reset the signal on his end for it to work with the router.

But, vw bug of One Happy Dog Speaks told me that she was able to change her router settings so that it emulated her PC's MAC address. And I was able to do the same thing on mine. And that really made the final piece easy.

So, thank you, vw bug. Thank you very much.

And, if you want to thank her for me, too, keep in mind that she's the first blogger to take questions in the Blog Interviews. Go to her site and thank her for me, would you? And, if you have a question for her, go to the Blog Interviews page and submit a question. Remember, questions for her close at midnight tonight. And the interview will be posted next Saturday (10/8).

Thursday, September 29, 2005

Headline News: 9/29/2005

If you're reading this, it's because the DSL installation is STILL not going well. Which means that I still don't have Internet access, and I can't check the headlines.

Here's what I'd like to suggest.

Submit your own Headline News in the comments. Or visit one of the Headline News Crew for more Headline News sources and inspiration:



They ought to have some funny headlines there.

And maybe, just maybe, I'll have my Internet connection back tomorrow.

Supper: 9/29/2005

If you're reading this, it's because of the DSL installation not going well and I still don't have Internet access and can't peruse my blogroll.

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Lunch: 9/29/2005

If you're reading this, it's because of the DSL installation not going well and I still don't have Internet access and can't peruse my blogroll.

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Breakfast: 9/29/2005

If you're reading this, it's because of the DSL installation not going well and I don't have Internet access and can't peruse my blogroll.

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Changing ISPs

We're getting DSL. The modem arrived Wednesday evening and I'm jumping into the installation.

Now, we've not suffered through dial-up all this time. We've been using the Internet connection through the cable company. It's not a large cable company like Mediacom or Comcast or such. It's a small company. But their high-speed Intenet connection works.

Why the change?

Well, we used BellSouth dial-up for a bit. We'd tried AT&T, MCI, MSN, AOL, Mindspring (now Earthlink), and others. Some worked fine. Some didn't. But BellSouth worked great. For a dial-up service.

And the only reason we switched was because high-speed became available through the cable company. If it hadn't, I suspect we'd still be with BellSouth. But it did come available, and it was the only high-speed access available. So we switched.

Now, the cable connection has been pretty good. It's fast. It's pretty reliable. But the big difference is, it's not always there. Sometimes the cable goes out. And when it does, we call the cable company.

On the phone.

On the phone from BellSouth.

The people who now also offer high-speed Internet service.

So, we're going to try BellSouth DSL.

Don't know how long it might take to set up, if all goes right. And certainly no idea if issues pop up.

So, let's hope it all goes well and I don't suffer Internet withdrawal. I'm hard enough to deal with when I get me recommended daily allowance of Internet. Keep the wife in your thoughts.

Headline News: 9/28/2005

From ABC News:
Iron Age Woman's Skeleton Found in Denmark
Couldn't remember where she left it

From CNN:
Kids' food pyramid launched
To dock with Space Station on Saturday

From CNN:
Minefields keep penguins safe
Keeps Glenn Reynolds away

From CNN:
Group: Millions not getting food stamps
Most have jobs

From CNN:
Mouse grounds plane for 13 hours
Pilot Sylvester T. Cat says of baby kangaroo: "Big! Mouse! Huge! Mouse! Big!"

From CNN:
Boat people reach U.S. after 16 years
Ginger, Mary Ann, Professor finally end three-hour tour

From CNN:
Colombia to offer one-hour divorces
Perfect for the three-day marriage

From CNN:
Morgue boss: 'These are horrible times'
Normally, it's a fun job

Via Confederate Yankee
From Med Page Today:
Manufacturer Warns of Potential Birth Defects with Paxil
Yeah, but I just don't care...

Covered Dish Supper: 9/28/2005

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Lunch: 9/28/2005


Try one of these specials with your lunch:



Breakfast: 9/28/2005

Try one of these specials with your breakfast:

Questions For Bloggers

White Trash WednesdaysLooks like Basil has gone and started up the Blogger Interviews again. And I got me some thoughts on that.First of all, the Blogger Interviews ain't even his idea. He stole that idea from someone else. It was Jennifer from Jennifer's History And Stuff that was doing this. For some reason, the stopped and Basil didn't even have the decency to ask her about it. No, he just upped and started this.

But it ain't his idea. Just like the Headline News. He stole that from Frank J. over at IMAO. But Basil hasn't had an original thought in his life.

Next, and most importanly, he hasn't asked any of my favorite bloggers to be interviewed.

Well, I got me some questions for my favorite bloggers:

Beulah Mae:

  • What did you study at Auburn?

  • Where were you when they caught that building on fire during the Georgia game a couple of years ago?

  • Who needs a makeover more: Amber Frey? Or Hillary Clinton?


Sadie Lou:

  • Which would you rather be: A Juggie from the Man Show? Senator from Lousiana?

  • Cuffs or Velvet Rope?


Feisty Republican Whore:

  • California or New York?

  • What's the best thing you've ever put in your mouth?


Preston Taylor Holmes:

  • So, like, do you have a first name? Or just last names?

  • Wal-Mart or Dollar General? And why?


Now, I'm sure you'd have a question or two for some of your favorites. Why don't you pick one and go ask them something:

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Headline News: 9/27/2005

From Associated Press:
ABC, CBS Lead First Week of New TV Season
The effect of Dan Rather's and Peter Jennings's departures is shown

From Web India 123:
In L.A., immigrants bypass English
Striving to be like the governor

From ABC News:
Google to Remove Boast About Index Size
Claims size doesn't matter, but how you use what you have; Mrs. Google unimpressed

From ABC News:
Top al-Qaida Member in Iraq Killed
18th 'number two man' killed this month

From ABC News:
Sen. Byrd to Run for Record Ninth Term
Still has three buildings in West Virginia not named for him

From ABC News:
Cuffed Man Jumps in River, Then Swims Back
Understanding of the principal of buoyancy became suddenly clear

From ABC News:
Singapore: Bull Semen Improved China Ties
Does nothing for the Moo Goo Gai Pan

From ABC News:
China, U.S. to Monitor Panda Sex Lives
Wants to try panda semen in the Moo Goo Gai Pan

From ABC News:
Reindeer Injures Old Couple in Finland
Police on lookout for "Rangifer Tarandus with shiny, red nose" last seen flying north

From ABC News:
Purported al-Qaida Newscast Makes Debut
Dan Rather finds work

Supper: 9/27/2005

Try one of these specials with your supper:

Picnic Lunch: 9/27/2005

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Breakfast: 9/27/2005

Try one of these specials with your breakfast:

Monday, September 26, 2005

Blog Housekeeping

There is a little problem with that I didn't foresee with the Blog Interviews.

A whole lot of people have signed up.

Now, why is that a problem? Well, you see I was planning on doing one a week. But if we stay on that schedule, we have enough people scheduled for the next eight months! That means that we're covered until the first of June, 2006!

So, let me tell you what I'm thinking. Maybe two a week?

Now, this first week, it will be vw bug of One Happy Dog Speaks, all by herself. But I'm thinking seriously about asking the others to move up on the schedule and have two a week. Maybe a guy blogger on Saturday and a girl blogger on Sunday. How does that sound?

Well, whatever we do, we'll have figured out real soon. But remember, we're taking questions for vw bug of One Happy Dog Speaks now through Friday. Go here and submit your questions.

Oh, and thanks for the response to the new layout and color scheme. So far, reaction has been positive to the colors. Some have noticed some functionality not working just right, and I've tried to get them all fixed. If you run across anything that doesn't seem to work right, just let me know.

Thanks again, everyone, for your help.

And be sure to head to the Blog Interview page and ask your questions for vw bug of One Happy Dog Speaks.

Headline News: 9/26/2005

From ABC News:
Patriots-Steelers Couple to Marry in Nov.
First openly gay couple in professional football since the 1969 New York Jets

From ABC News:
Sheehan Arrested During Anti-War Protest
Charged with impersonating a mother

From ABC News:
Miracle Puppy Swallows Knife and Survives
Owner claims: "That's one sharp dog!"

From ABC News:
Lessons from the Dust Bowl for Hurricane Survivors
Lesson: "Beware of having your image used by publicity-seeking photographers and becoming a cliche for movies based on emotion and not fact"

From ABC News:
Second Reuters cameraman in Iraq held without charge
Pentagon: "We're always happy to do this for free"

From ABC News:
New Polish Government to Make Demands
Wants jokes to stop now

From ABC News:
Colombian Town Gets Much-Needed Medicine
Only town in Columbia without easy access to drugs

From ABC News:
US to provide atomic fuel to stop weapons spread
Forest Service will put out fires with gasoline effective 2006

From ABC News:
Some Patients See Short Cut to a New Heart
Cut just to left of sternum

From ABC News:
Estrogen Not Effective After Menopause
Most men want to know what's effective during menopause

Covered Dish Supper: 9/26/2005

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Lunch: 9/26/2005

Try one of these specials with your lunch:

Breakfast: 9/26/2005


Try one of these specials with your breakfast:



Sunday, September 25, 2005

A Coat Of Paint, Rearranging The Furniture …

If you've been here before, you might notice a slight change to the appearance of this little blog. The colors are different, things have been arranged a little different, and some behind-the-scenes code has been changed.

The hope is that this little blog looks and peforms better. We'll see if that's the case.

Now, I heard someone ask "Why did you make those changes?"

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Blogroll me!

The cat's away, so this marsupial's gonna play!

Over at my place I'm harping, again, on Chris Bowers' post I'm not going to blogroll you. There the question is raised, what's that value of a blogroll anyway? Here's my take:
I watch my traffic and I agree with Chris that my site in your blogroll isn't going to drive any traffic to me. But I do believe that it does something else that's legitimate and good.

It's a marker of acceptance by someone somewhere that welcomes me to the blogosphere. It's a sign of affinity and kinship and reaching out. It's an indicator of respect and acknowledgement. It's a digital nod that I appreciate.

And yes, sometimes it's nothing. But it's part of the ritual and practice of blogging that I've come to understand. I like it. And I think it's worthy of respect.
What do you think?

Weekend Comment/TrackBacks

Having to attend some meetings and other travel this weekend. The standard complement of Guest Bloggers are, of course, welcome to drop by.

In the meantime, though, we're having an open Comment Party and Open TrackBack post. You know the deal:

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Friday, September 23, 2005

Let's Get Ready To Rumble!!!!!

Ready To RumbleWhen we decided to try the Blog Interviews over here at this little blog (without even so much as a courtesy call to Jennifer), we did not expect the response that has occurred. At once, we are surprised, pleased, scared, excited, and afraid.

It's a little different here than Jennifer's interviews. No anonymous questions here. For now, at least.

However, we're ready to start this thing!

First blogger to face the questions is: vw bug from One Happy Dog Speaks.

If you have a question to submit, click the link here or go to the list and click the link there. You can ask any question of any blogger on the list, but we're wanting to focus on vw bug from One Happy Dog Speaks.

Submit your question between now September 30. That's one week. The interview will appear here a week after that (October 8). Ask whatever you like. Remember: there is no guarantee of anonymity.

We're asking that you use the submission link because it makes it easier for me to keep track of them. And everyone knows, it's all about making things easier for me, right? Good.

We're looking forward to this!

Headline News 2005-09-23

From ABC News:
Shanghai Bans Chinese Internet Slang Terms
Slang Shanghaied

From ABC News:
Goodyear sees run-flat tires as key
How to fit them in pocket only obstacle remaining

From ABC News:
Voice Over Internet Both Simple, Complex
Will allow Senators to vote for a bill before they vote against it

From ABC News:
Menopause Years Especially Tough for Execs
Difficult for their wives, too

From ABC News:
Coppola to End 8-Year Absence From Movies
Was upset no one realized he was absent

From ABC News:
Actress Says JetBlue Landing Was 'Surreal'
Charo, Vern Troyer land plane

From BBC:
Vatican 'to ban new gay priests'
Old gay priests still allowed

From ABC News:
Johnson death reignites abolition debate
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) still opposes abolition of slavery

From Guardian Unlimited:
UK Police Arrest Man Under Anti-Terror Law
How man got under law is uncertain

From CBS News:
Photo IDs Threaten Voting Reform
Requiring proof of eligibility dooms Democratic voters

Covered Dish Supper: 9/23/2005

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Lunch: 9/23/2005

Try one of these specials with your lunch:

Breakfast: 9/23/2005

Try one of these specials with your breakfast:

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Evil Glenn's Final Post

A Filthy LieSo Harvey wants to know about Evil Glenn's final post, does he? Well, to be honest, he asked "What would Instapundit's final post look like?"

Probably something sort of lame. And irritating.

You know. Something like this.

Headline News 2005-09-22

From ABC News:
Wrong Man Paid Scott Peterson's Ex-Girlfriend Child Support
Bush blamed

From ABC News:
'Catholic Woodstock' Activists Want Pope to Allow Condom Use
Warn 'Don't drink the brown Holy Water'

From ABC News:
Bush Asks Abdullah for Mideast Peace Help
Wrestler threatens to body-slam Hamas leaders

From ABC News:
Katrina Rescue Team Saves Abandoned Embryos
Now they can become aborted babies

From ABC News:
Barbra Streisand Looks Back on 25 Years
Babs: The Idiot Years

From Reuters:
Love explains Abu Ghraib abuse pictures: lawyer
Tough love

From Arutz Sheva:
Bush Praises Wiesenthal
Hurt that Wiesenthal didn't offer so much as a thank you

From New York Times:
Vatican to Tighten Rules on Admitting Gay Men to the Priesthood
Pedophiles still welcome

From Newtown Bee:
Police Investigate Bizarre Chicken Theft
Why bizarre chicken stolen still a mystery

From Reuters:
Most newer schizophrenia drugs no better: study
Yes they are. No they aren't. Yes they are. No, they aren't.

Carnival Of Comedy Turns 21

Carnival of ComedyWelcome to the Carnival of Comedy! It's a special edition, as the Carnival turns 21 today. Well, it's the 21st edition of the Carnival, and that only happens once. Unless I double-post. But I won't. I promise. Too much funny makes you wet your pants, and I don't want to have to clean that up.

Now, you'll want to read this one carefully because SpaceMonkey will not let me host again. You see, my instructions are to split them up into three categories:

  • Real Funny
  • Sorta Funny
  • Not That Funny


Let's make SpaceMonkey mad and ignore him! Bwah-ha-ha-ha!

You see, that's payback to Mr. SpaceMonkey. Seems he gave me the keys to the Carnival of the Lame Posts. Yes, all the submissions are getting trashed today. We've lumped them all together in a fourth category: Stuff Worthy Of Being Made Fun Of.

Grandma's Covered Dish Party

This might be the only one of these today. It's one of those busy, busy days. And preparing the Carnival of Comedy (including last-minute, but funny, entries) and getting all of Grandma's pictures up, meant not much time to peruse this morning. So...

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Grandma's 92nd Birthday

Today is my grandmother's birthday. Grandma (everybody calls her "Grandma") is 92.

For the last few years, the family has celebrated Grandma's birthday on a weekend, usually the weekend nearest to her birthday, unless there is a conflict with an FSU game. (Don't get me started about that!)

Anyway, the big party is this weekend. But the wife and I went last weekend. We had a surprise for her.

Now, this is related to all that. You'll see how in a minute.

You've seen this picture, right? The one at the top of this little blog:



Well, that's cropped from this picture:



It was taken at this event:



The 50th anniversary of my great-grandparents, Grandma's mother and father ("Ma" and "Pa").

See the greenery behind Ma and Pa? It's on the stairs. And the stairs are in their house.

And that ties in to our surprise for Grandma this past weekend.

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Headline News 2005-09-21

From ABC News:
Judge Orders Tattoo Ink Health Warnings
Warning to be tattooed on customers

From ABC News:
British Group Wants Debate on Leap Seconds
Global terrorism, famine, poverty not important enough to debate

From ABC News:
Condoms Are Named for Clinton, Lewinsky
Hillary thinks plan 'sucks'

From ABC News:
Saddam Lawyers Don't Recognize Trial Date
Uncertain when Junetember 33rd is

From ABC News:
Head of Mexican Police's Copter Missing
Arms, legs found

From ABC News:
WWII Grave Found at U.S. Base in Germany
Discovery may prove theory that Americans died in Germany from 1941-1945

From ABC News:
Indian Ruins Show Signs of Ancient Tsunami
Bush blamed

From ABC News:
Nelly to Make Reality TV Show
Will star in 'Who Wants To Save A No-Talent Bum's Career?'

From ABC News:
Tyra Banks Proves Breasts Are Real on TV
Ron Jeremy to star in sequel

From ABC News:
Katrina Raises Voters' Doubts About Bush
President won't seek third term

Covered Dish Supper: 9/21/2005

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Lunch: 9/21/2005

Try one of these specials with your lunch:

  • Kender loses a family member.

  • Acidman (Gut Rumbles) finds another reason to ban SUVs.

  • Is It Just Me? watching Rita.

  • Jennifer has written an unwritten essay.

  • JRB Technology finds another way around Microsoft's Software Validation.

  • InstaPundit updates Porkbusters.

  • Tom (Hamstermotor) just won't quit reading letters to the newpaper.

  • Hubris isn't happy with the direction of the Nancy Drew movie.

  • Bill (INDC Journal) is still sleeping. But rolled over and mumbled.

Breakfast: 9/21/2005

Try one of these specials with your breakfast:

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

My Home Town

White Trash WednesdaysWhile Basil takes the day off, let me tell you a little bit about my home town. I come up in South East Georgia. Some of what you see on TV and in the movies about small town Georgia is true. Some of it ain't. I'm here to keep you straight on the facts.

Headline News 2005-09-20

From Reuters:
Rita strengthens and moves into US Gulf
Rudner is rested, ready to perform comedy routine on cruise ship

From Reuters:
Senate Democratic leader opposes Roberts
Reid scheduled to argue with a tree this weekend

From Reuters:
New York skyscrapers dim lights to save birds
Employees working in dark, tripping over furniture

From Reuters:
U.S. gasoline price falls record 16.9 cents-Govt
Now only $2/gallon higher than it should be

From Reuters:
Lions kill 20 peasants in Ethiopia
Kiwanis injure dozens

From Reuters:
Afghans count votes as al Qaeda rejects poll "farce"
Al Qaeda to send Warren Christopher to oversee count

From ABC News:
Sugar Bowl to Be Moved From Superdome
Alternative was to rename it the 'Toilet Bowl'

From ABC News:
Topless Women Take on Nudity Law
Calls lawmakers 'boobs'

From ABC News:
Hinckley's Therapists Say He's Normal
Compared to Howard Dean, he is

From ABC News:
Peace Activist Sheehan Hurt at Rally
Strained her credibility

No flies on Chinese as Beijing toilet trains for Games
-it's a crappy job but someone has to do it *

Covered Dish Supper: 9/20/2005

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Lunch: 9/20/2005

Try one of these specials with your lunch:

Breakfast: 9/20/2005

Try one of these specials with your breakfast:

Monday, September 19, 2005

HUNGER STRIKE!


Precision Guided HumorWhen Harvey called, I wasn't prepared for what he asked.

"Hey, basil," Harvey said, "I know you heard about the hunger stike at Gitmo, right?"

I had read something about it.

"Well, I can't put my finger on it, but something doesn't seem right," he said.

I asked what he meant.

"That's hard to say," he replied. "The terrorists have said they want to draw attention to their plight, but something ... I don't know. It just doesn't add up. Can you check into it for me?"

I said I would. And I did.

And Harvey was right. The reason the terrorists were not eating was a purely selfish one: They had gained weight since they arrived at Guantanamo Bay and wanted to get back into their old outfits.

Carnival Of Comedy Is Coming

Carnival of ComedyThis week's Carnival of Comedy will be ... here!

Yes, we're hosting the Carnival of Comedy. And boy have we bit off more than we can chew this time.

But the good news is, there'll be funny stuff here. So, even if I suck, the stuff that's submitted will be ... well ... funny. That's why it's called the Carnival of Comedy.

So, there will be an extra-special post on Thursday, celebrating the Carnival.

So, get your sausage dogs, your candy apples, and ... oh, wait. Wrong kind of Carnival.

Heck, load up on the junk food anyway. We'll have a blast!

To submit your post to the Carnival of Comedy, use the Carnival Submission Form from Conservative Cat.

Headline News 2005-09-19

From ABC News:
School Athlete Has Bear for a Playmate
And a moose for a Penthouse Pet

From ABC News:
US oks emergency oil loan for Total
Loan for Rice Krispies still pending

From ABC News:
Kerry, Edwards Blast Bush Over Katrina
Claim they had a plan to stop hurricanes in the Atlantic

From CNN:
Schools turn attention to the Constitution
Eager to study document before judge outlaws it

From CNN:
Britney gives birth to baby boy
Just the latest male to spend time inside her

From CNN:
Aquarium dolphin rescue begins
Aquaman finally useful

From WDIV:
Man charged after urinating on woman
And boy, is she pissed!

From CNN:
Iran gathers allies in nuclear row
Uncertain how many countries will sign the 'Want To Get Caught In The Fallout' Treaty

From Reuters:
No Rice at U.N. dinner on women's rights
But lots of Kool-Aid

From The Courier-Mail:
Bush thanks OPEC for extra oil
Wants to know where to deliver the blood

Covered Dish Supper: 9/19/2005

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Lunch: 9/19/2005

Try one of these specials with your lunch:

Breakfast: 9/19/2005

Try one of these specials with your breakfast:

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Eliminating Poverty

Homespun BloggersThis week's Homespun Blogger Symposium (number XXXIII) asks the question:
How do "we" eliminate the "deep, persistent poverty having roots in
racial discrimination" such as we've seen in the Gulf Coast region over
the past three weeks?
Let me tell you what I think a large part of the problem is. People only seeing it over the last three weeks. I got news for you, Charlie: Poverty ain't nothing new. It's there every day. We just choose not to see it. Or, if we see it, we ignore it. So, if we don't see it or pay attention to it, then it doesn't exist. Until it's thrown at us on the 24-hour "news" channels.

But we do have poverty around us. It's nothing new. And it'll be around for a long time:
The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. Matthew 26:11 (New International Version)
That doesn't mean we shouldn't do something about it. But that piece of Scripture does teach us that we should prioritize what we do. Just throwing money at something doesn't solve every problem. But I think we should try to do what we can.

What I don't like about the question is the part about "poverty having roots in
racial discrimination." That's an awfully general statement, isn't it?

Now, I'm not saying there's no such thing as racial discrimination. So don't go get stupid and such. I'm saying that lots of people make such generalizations without knowing anything except what someone told them.

Several years ago, when I was stationed at Ft. Belvoir for training, I went to Washington with some other soldiers to sight-see and such. One of the places we went to was the National Museum of American History (commonly called the American History Museum). At the time, there was a display about Black life in the early 20th century, including those that moved up North from the conditions in the South.

The exhibit had items from everyday life in the typical Southern Black family from that time period. There were, of course, little cards that told about the items on display. But I told the other soldiers that were with me about such items as the number 3 wash tubs, the wash boards, the wood-burning stoves, and such.

At first, they thought I had studied the Black Experience. But I haven't.

Instead, as a child, I saw my mother wash my (and my sisters') clothes in a wash tub on a wash board. And I had eaten many meals cooked on a wood-burning stove.

So, based on the Smithsonian exihibit, I had apparently lived part of the Black Experience. Not bad for a White boy, huh?

My point is that being poor isn't something that's limited to Blacks in the South. There are poor Blacks and poor Whites. And whether Black or White, we must make the best of what we have at the time, striving always to improve our situation. Sometimes, we succeed. Sometimes we don't. But waiting on someone to do it for me just makes it worse.

My problem with this weeks question is the premise:

  • Poverty is caused by racial discrimination. In fact, while it contributes, it doesn't cause.

  • Only seeing it for the last three weeks. Where have you been for the last 300 years?

  • "We" need to eliminate it. That usually means those not in poverty need to do something about it, relieving those in poverty from responsibility to do anything about it. And that's wrong. And won't work.


We can't eliminate poverty, whatever the cause. But we can help. And by "we" I'm referring to all of us: those in poverty and those who are better off.

We need to take responsibility for ourselves and our situation. And we need to help others in their situation as we are able and as they are willing to work on their situation.

Together, we can do anything.

Headline News 2005-09-18

Running the risk of falling flat by repeating something successful from the previous day. I'm out of town this weekend, returning sometime tonight. And, hoping to repeat the success of last night's "Self Service Headline News," I'm again asking you to supply headlines and silly/funny/clever/amusing/interesting comments to go along with them.

Eyes On The Ball News and Shoot a Liberal contributed Headline News posts, and that's much appreciated. If you inspiration for your Headline News, check those out.

Leave your Headlines in the comments, or if post Headlines on your blog, link to this post and send a TrackBack.

We'll be back with our own Headlines tomorrow night. But, for tonight, enjoy the ones that are being submitted by readers or other bloggers. I know I'll be checking them out and enjoying them.

Sunday Picnic: 2005-09-18

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Blog Interview Response

Wow! All I can say is "Wow!"

It's a weekend and blog traffic is, naturally, down from weekdays. And I thought that, by next weekend, I'd have two or three blogs agreeing to be inteviewed.

In less than 24 hours, nine have agreed. That's three times as many in one-seventh the time.

You guys are awesome. And, you've put me on the spot.

You see, quite honestly, I figured it would take a week (or longer) to get my initial target of five blogs lined up. And I figured I'd throw myself in the mix to bring it up to five or six if necessary. And I figured I'd have at least a week before I began scheduling interviews and taking questions. So, you've caught me with my pants down, so to speak.

But, hey, that's what life in the blogosphere is all about.

So, here's what we'll do. I have posted a list of the blogs, the blogger's name, and a link to ask questions of the blogger. I'll be keeping that list updated as we go along, so the date of the interview will be listed, also. The idea is a page that's updated with the most recent and accurate information regarding that blogger interview.

Oh, and the planned Sunday post was about the Catfish. Yes, the season ended a couple of weeks back, but I was going to have a final 2005 season wrap-up with some personal notes about the Catfish, as a team, as an organization, and as individuals. But, hey, maybe next weekend.

This weekend, you've just surprised me with the response to the Blog Interview query. So, if you have a question for a blogger, check the Blog Interview List for the link to submit your questions.

Oh, and we're still building a pool of blogs to be interviewed. If you have a blog and consent to be interviewed, use this e-mail link: basil.interviews-at-gmail.com

And, thanks.

The Blog Interviews

NOTE: This page has expired. The Blog Interviews information can be found on the following pages:
Here is the list of bloggers that have agreed to be interviewed. They are in order of acceptance, not necessarily in order of interview. The date of the interview will be scheduled based upon the following, in this order:
  • The schedule of the blogger
  • The number of questions for the blogger
  • The order of interview acceptance
  • Random chance
To send your question(s) to a blogger, use the link next to the blogger's name in the table below.

Note: Don't ask anything you don't want the whole world to know that you asked. Your name may be shared during the interview.

Updated: 3/19/2006

Upcoming

We're still building a pool of bloggers to be interviewed. If you consent to be interviewed, use this e-mail link: basil.interviews@gmail.com

Check back often for the most up-to-date information.

Headline News 2005-09-17

Something a little different today. YOU supply the Headline News. You see, I'm out of town this weekend. I'll tell you all about it when I get back. Maybe.

Anyway, this whole Headline News thing started last December when Frank J. of IMAO asked readers to supply headlines and silly/funny/clever/amusing/interesting comments to go along with them.

In honor of Frank J. and ... his ... uh ... just because he's a heckuva fellow, I'm asking you to do the same.

If you need something to get you started, here's one that The Man of GOP and the City offered.
From AP:
Roberts Sidesteps Meaty Issues for Now
Akins is rolling in his grave

Leave your Headlines in the comments. Unless you decide to post some Headline News on your blog. If you do, link to this post and send a TrackBack.

Saturday Picnic: 9/17/2005

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Friday, September 16, 2005

Blog Interviews

No, this isn't a blog tip or anything. And it's not like I'm sitting around doing nothing (blogging semi-regularly on three or four blogs at the moment). But there's something I enjoyed that I miss: The Blog Interview.

Jennifer was doing them at one time. But hasn't since May. Others have on occasion tried this. So we thought we'd give it a try here.

Here's the plan:

  • We'll start with opening things up to bloggers that will consent to be interviewed.

  • Once we have a small pool of interviewees, we'll open up the lines for questions.

  • After we have a sufficient pool of questions, we'll conduct and post the interview.


Now, isn't that a simple enough plan? This ought to go well. Or blow up in my face. We'll see which.

At first, we'll only be interviewing bloggers that contact us. But I'd like to encourage bloggers to contact us. I need help getting this started, so anyone who would agree if asked, please go ahead and consider this my asking you.

If you consent to be interviewed, either leave a comment or use this e-mail link: basil.interviews@gmail.com

I hope we can get a sufficient pool this week and can open up for questions by next weekend.

Gosh, I hope this goes well.

Headline News 2005-09-16

From ABC News:
Plague-Infected Mice Missing From N.J. Lab
Pinky, Brain to seek medical help before trying to take over the world

From ABC News:
As Water Recedes, There Will Likely Be a Second Wave of Suffering
New wave of celebrities eager to enter New Orleans

From ABC News:
Publicity Makes New Vonnegut Book a Hit
No talent necessary

From Reuters:
Delta to miss pensions
Employees to miss pensions more

From The Age:
Bush call for more liberal trade welcomed in UN
President wants to trade U.S. liberals for European liberals

From Reuters:
Sheep star in online reality show
New series on Fox: When New Zealanders attack

From ABC News:
Man Breaks 'Couch Potato' Record
I've been supplanted

From ABC News:
Many boys say they're likely to get someone pregnant
Most suspect it's a girl they'll get pregnant

From ABC News:
Zellweger Explains Legal Terms of Breakup
He thought she was Reese Witherspoon, she thought he was Keith Urban

From ABC News:
Chan, Brosnan eager to take on new movie image
To appear together in 'The Has-Beens'

Covered Dish Supper: 9/16/2005

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Lunch: 9/16/2005

Try one of these specials with your lunch:

Breakfast: 9/16/2005

Try one of these specials with your breakfast:

Thursday, September 15, 2005

About Evil Glenn

A Filthy LieLast weekend, I got this e-mail from Harvey over at the Alliance:
TO: alliance.list@alliance.of.free.blogs.com
FROM: harvey@alliance.of.free.blogs.com
SUBJECT: Evil Glenn's® "About Me" Page

Instapundit has been the #1 blog in the Ecosystem since more or less
the beginning of time, but what do we REALLY know about the
blogosphere's Dark Overlord®? Sure, there's a crappy little "About Me" page that hasn't been updated in over 3 years, but it's a little short on detail.

DEFINITELY overdue for an update.

Your Assignment this week is to answer the question:

What vital information is missing from Instapundit's "About Me" page?


Well, it seems that word about our assignment leaked out. Seems that Evil Glenn Reynolds® has updated his "About Me" page. Check it out here.

Headline News 2005-09-15

From Reuters:
Most US teens have had oral sex: survey
Most parents think report sucks

From Reuters:
Talabani: Iraq ready to replace some foreign troops
Will be easier to protect Bin Laden with U.S. troops gone

From Reuters:
Saudi women to get first taste of polls
Saudi men anxious to get their pole tasted

From Reuters:
Man gets prison in Cameron Diaz topless photo case
Will find out what it's like to have his privacy violated

From Reuters:
Huge firework blast rattles Mexican town
Bush blamed

From ABC News:
Katrina Called Most Destructive U.S. Storm
Galveston residents disagree

From Reuters:
US high court nominee: 'I'm not an ideologue'
Kennedy, Biden, Bush complain of Roberts using big words

From Reuters:
US House, Senate pass hurricane tax bills
How to collect taxes from hurricanes still uncertain

From ABC News:
Japanese Probe Pulls Alongside Asteroid
Moons it, drives away

From Reuters:
FBI warns about fake Katrina charity Web sites
Fake news sites still OK

Covered Dish Supper: 9/15/2005

If you have an interesting post that you'd like to share, please leave a TrackBack to that post, and please link to this post so that others can enjoy the fun. If you need help with TrackBacks, Harvey of Bad Example has an excellent primer here, or check out my post about TrackBacks here. If your blog can't generate TrackBacks, use either the form here or here.

Lunch: 9/15/2005

Try one of these specials with your breakfast:

Breakfast: 9/15/2005

Try one of these specials with your breakfast:

Flagging Guest Posts

Blog Tips BasilThis is a new one that I implemented here on my little blog ... today! I've been working on it for a while, but just got the solution within the last 24 hours. And, son-of-a-gun, it works! And I just have to share it.

This tip is for those bloggers that have guest bloggers. That's becoming more and more prevalent. And, if you have a primary author (say, for example, you), but have occasional posts by others, you might want folks to easily know who wrote it.

There are a couple of ways to do that.

One is to have the author listed at the top of the post. That way, when someone starts reading, they immediately see who wrote it. And, some blogs do just that.

However, it's most common to have post information listed at the bottom of the post. Blogger, for example, by default, has its templates set up to show the author at the bottom of the post, along with the date/time of the post and the comments link. TypePad (and most MovableType) templates do the same.

Now, it's always possible to move the author information to the top. While that's not standard, it's certainly done. Some even move all the information (date/time, comments, TrackBacks, etc) to the top. IMAO does this, for instance.

But, like I said, most blog templates have all that information at the bottom.

Now, you might ask, is this really a big deal? Well, yeah, it can be. From an ego standpoint of the guest blogger, for instance. If someone takes the time to agree to post for you, they should certainly receive credit for their work.

At this little blog, from time to time a guest blogger will post. And I want them to get credit for their work. More than once, I received credit for someone else's writing. So, to avoid such a situation, it's important to me that guest bloggers receive proper credit for their work.

But, I also want the author information to appear at the bottom of the post with the rest of the traditional information.

So, I could have the author's name appear at the top of the post, just under the title, in addition to appearing at the bottom. But, I only wanted that to happen for guest bloggers. For posts I wrote, I didn't want my byline to be at the top and bottom of the post, just at the bottom with the standard information.

How do you accomplish this? It's actually easier than you might think. But it involves CSS.

The general idea is to modify your template to add code that displays the author name at the top of the post. Then wrap it in a style that causes the code to be hidden if the author is you.

Now to the details.