I have something sudden and important to announce. I’m in the mood for creaky chicken.
spike
I Feel Stupid
Checking email obsessively lowers your I.Q. It would be nice to receive an email with some positive news. I’d like to stop checking.
Sweet Smell Of…
… sweet, apparently. At least for some time yesterday. Here’s a clip of the article if it’s inaccessible:
An unseen, sweet-smelling cloud drifted through parts of Manhattan last night. Arturo Padilla walked through it and declared that it was awesome. […] Mr. Padilla was not alone. Reports of the syrupy cloud poured in from across Manhattan after 9 p.m. Some feared that it was something sinister.
There were so many calls that the city’s Office of Emergency Management coordinated efforts with the Police and Fire Departments, the Coast Guard and the City Department of Environmental Protection to look into it.
By 11 p. m., the search had turned up nothing harmful, according to tests of the air. Reports continued to come in from as far north as 112th Street shortly before midnight. In Lower Manhattan, where the smell had begun to fade, it was back, stronger than before, by 1 a.m.
“We are continuing to sample the air throughout the affected area to make sure there’s nothing hazardous,” said Jarrod Bernstein, an emergency management spokesman. “What the actual cause of the smell is, we really don’t know.”
Hitchcock
I’m watching The Man Who Knew Too Much (great flick, great freakin’ flick) which I have never seen before — either version. The scene where they arrive at the Albert Hall, the big bill is of course Bernard Hermann (who wrote the wonderful music for the movie) conducting the London Symphony Orchestra.
Then there’s a long scene of just the orchestra playing… twelve minutes of no dialogue! Just shots of the various characters involved in the plot and the orchestra (with Bernard Hermann conducting, natürlich) and the soloist and (huge) choir. No dialogue.
And one of the best ending lines of any movie.
Greek
We’ve crossed the Greek threshold — welcome Tropical Storm Alpha. The storm has killed 8 people so far.
Everything Leads To Disaster
This graphic was created by FEMA. It’s true. Anyway, as you can see Disaster is a vicious cycle where risk reduction, prevention and preparedness all continually lead to Disaster. Perhaps a graphic designer was unwittingly wise about the current administration…
What’s The Point
I don’t know about this. Sirius Radio is going to begin offering an All Bruce Springsteen radio station. I thought that’s what Q104.3 already is. Eh, all I listen to lately are WXPN, WNYC (NPR) and my CDs, except when other people who might prefer something else are in the car.
Exterminate…
Build your own Dalek. Speaking of metallic mechanized menaces, M-D, I still have the second DVD of Season One for you; you never told me when you wanted me to drop it off.
Now everyone knows I have bootlegs of the new Dr. Who series.
Dictionary Fake-Out
I’d like to report on the habit for dictionaries including fake words in order to dissuade competitors from stealing definitions, but I’m afraid I’m going to exhibit my esquivalience instead.
Pumpkintastic
Even though it was a little cold and windy, the weather yesterday was much better than how it’s been lately. Amy and I joined Jen, Matt, Sarah and Tanya for a variety of cider-related foods and pumpkin activities. We visited Hacklebarney Farms and ended up at Jen’s place for the ritual carving of faces into the vegetables. You can see a photo of some of the results.
Jen’s apartment is great, and I’m a bit jealous. My apartment, on the other hand… well the maintenance guys working on the plumbing next door over the weekend and now my bathroom sink is leaking. The water destroyed a bunch of stuff kept in the cabinets underneath.