Yep, still alive.

We (Sock Monkey and I) just updated all our links here.  Sock Monkey hates bad links...  All of them are good now, so check them out...

AND

Sock Monkey wants everybody to know about Penn Jillette's new book SOCK! 

(Description ripped from Amazon.com)

Penn Jillette (the speaking half of the Penn & Teller magician/comedy team) has created the most distinctive narrator to come along in fiction in many years: a sock monkey called Dickie.

The sock monkey belongs to a New York City police diver who discovers the body of an old lover in the murky waters of the Hudson River and sets off with her best friend to find her killer.

The story of their quest swerves and veers, takes off into philosophical riffs, occasionally stops to tell a side story, and references a treasure trove of 1970s and 1980s pop culture.

Click on SOCK for more info!

Why haven't I blogged in almost 2 weeks, you ask? Illness? Computer crash? Earthquake? Fire, pestilence, or other various Biblical disasters?

Nope. None of the above, yet my blog absence was just as impacting as any of these... You see, I've been held hostage by my new home theater's "simple" hook-up config. Yep. It's true. "Simple," I learned the hard way, becomes relative when it comes to these beasts.   But, after a week, I've been released from the tangle of wires and cables with so-NOT-obvious connections, and everything works, except I still can't record from TV on my VCR. But this story is another blog...

This entry is reserved for THE BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER...

Coincident to the home theater kidnapping incident, was my birthday. Oh sure, I got some nice stuff, the flowers, the cards, the cake, etc., but it's always the unexpected that floats my boat   (an impossibility, if you ask the gift-givers that know me -- I always know what's in the box)...

 This year, however, I got the ultimate gift, the uber gift, the all encompassing (it's the thought that counts + handmade/unique + surprise) gift...  

My very own Sock Monkey!

I've never understood the "why" of the attraction of Sock Monkey. After all, Sock Monkey is weird, kinda creepy -- the creepier, the better, yet loveable. All I know about is Sock Monkey's powerful hypnotic effect on us all. Sock Monkey belongs in the same class as clowns, I think, except clowns aren't too loveable -- weird and creepy, but not loveable. Maybe Sock Monkey is in the same genus or family as clowns, but a separate class, for sure.

Anyhow, my Sock Monkey rules!

It was love at first sight... Underneath his distinctive doo rag, he grinned real wide and stared right at me with his big, black eyes with one looooong eyelash... I knew he liked me.

But Sock Monkey was telling me more... I looked closer... And then it hit me...  

Sock Monkey is the spitting image of Deion Sanders!!!  

Then I understood... Sock Monkey likes  me   AND   Deion Sanders!

Immediately, I asked Sock Monkey to pose for photos with Deion, and he quietly complied...

 The Sock Monkey-Deion Sanders Photo Collection came out so well, I decided to put together several photo packages for you to choose from and download...

Get yours today!

(click on thumbnails for full-size images) 

Photo Pak #1 - Popular Pak - 8 minis
(share with friends and family - also handy as postage stamps)

Photo Pak #2 - Economy Pak - 2 wallets + 4 minis
(some to keep & some to share)

Photo Pak #3 - Bonus Pak - 2 wallets + 1 small portrait
(recommended)

Photo Pak #4 - Personal Pak - 2 large wallets
(sized to perfectly fit As Seen on TV Magic Wallet) 

Photo Pak #5 - Premium Pak - 1 large portrait
(suitable for framing/display)

Sock Monkey Links:  (links will open in a new window)

Where did Sock Monkey come from?
Origin theory of Sock Monkey

How Sock Monkey saved the world
Y2K and Sock Monkey

The many moods of Sock Monkey
Sock Monkey expresses in photos

Get Sock Monkey (eBay)
NOTE: You will NOT find any Sock Monkey resembling Deion Sanders anywhere -- mine's the only one

Make your own Sock Monkey (eBay)
You can make your own Sock Monkey -- any way you like

Little Disclaimer - After a pal of mine pointed out certain non-PC elements of this blog, please note that my intent nor Sock Monkey's intent is not meant to be construed as malicious toward anyone, except clowns, of course.  

Woohoo!! 

SIG's V for Vendetta page is back, all you Alan Moore fans! 

Hit that link above and check it out!  AND...  Don't forget to leave Veedback!! 

 One caution, though...  Make sure your browser is frames-friendly. 

NOTE: V for Vendetta: Myth Wrestling Its Messages is a collaborative work.   Article by EFPLFP +  Page design by SIG.

P.S.  I just noticed SIG is parsed as Special Interest Group -- heh heh -- I guess that parse could apply to SIG...    

I miss Kurt...  

First it was the demise of Webmonkey, and now we'll have no more David Coursey at ZDNet AnchorDesk (CNET). 

I'm not prepared for this.

Just so you get the idea, I'm as far from being a computer geek as one can get.  In fact, one of my pet peeves IS computer geeks. 

Let me explain...  Over the years, while trying to learn about hardware, software, coding, site design, and, in general, just how to do a few things and understand enough to get by, I've concluded that computer geeks are missing a critical tool... a tool that bridges the gap between me and them... they lack communication skills.  

It's become a standing joke around here that to understand anything from the "experts" it requires several readings on the subject (any subject -- you name it -- from hardware to HTML), then -- and here's the essential element -- that bloated, tech jargon-loaded information requires at least 2 days rumination in order to cull the real, usable stuff from that high-minded, esoteric crap.     Actually, I've gotten pretty good at it, and it's mostly due to the clear, succinct writing that Webmonkey and David Coursey presented.

It started like this...

When I wanted to learn how to build HTML tables, for instance, I looked around on the net, bought a book (so NOT recommended), and, after wading through that muck, I decided it was all waaay too complicated for me.  Word of mouth suggested I try Webmonkey.  I had nothing, absolutely nothing, to lose, so I checked the Monkey out.  What I found was the regular guy's Utopia...  I came to rely on what Webmonkey was known for, the straight-forward descriptions, examples, and easy to understand methods of explanation. 

I found the same type of welcome information when I discovered Coursey's articles via CNET.  When I bought a CD burner, a digital camera, a scanner, a monitor, an mp3 player, etc.,  I relied on AnchorDesk's information to a great extent. 

I particularly liked the idea that Coursey didn't delve too far into the tech end of things, maintaining a sort of ignorance like the rest of us non-geeks so he could fairly report on products' ease of use, applications, etc. -- just as if we ourselves had tried to use these products.  I didn't always agree with Coursey, but his information always proved valuable for my purposes.  Coursey and the commentary posted by readers in his TalkBack section always put me on the right track for any information I needed. 

It led to this...

Whenever I found information at Webmonkey or AnchorDesk, I checked it against other sources, and I never found either Webmonkey or AnchorDesk information to be incorrect or misleading.  In fact, Webmonkey and AnchorDesk became my Rosetta Stone in transliterating geekspeak.   

Once I had the basic understanding of a product or process (thank you WM and AD), I found it was easier to extract the necessary information from the "experts."  So, after a while, I could approach a subject from either side -- I could take the clear-cut  path, WM/AD to "expert," or I could take the more hazardous path, "expert" to WM/AD -- and still end up with what I needed.

The rest of the internet, as far as getting to what I need to know about these subjects, remains a giant vortex to me...  It's like going to Microsoft and searching the Knowledge Base -- Beware All Ye Who Enter Here...

So...

Here I am, left alone, with no Webmonkey or AnchorDesk.  

Luckily, Bravenet (another staple that I rely on and love) seems to be filling the hole that Webmonkey left, and I'm grateful for that.  After all, I've got to learn CSS coding just to keep up... 

And, AnchorDesk tells me they're filling Coursey's spot with several new writers...  I can use all the help I can get, so bring on the writers... But just remember one thing, AnchorDesk -- no "experts," please........

AnchorDesk: Coursey's Farewell Article

AnchorDesk: Passing the Torch

David Coursey Consulting, Inc. (Coursey's site)

Webmonkey, RIP: 1996 – 2004 (Wired News)

Webmonkey

Our car was burgled last night...

Well, it was an attempted break-in anyway.  The lock on the passenger side was completely knocked out.  I guess it's down inside the door.  There's just a black hole where the lock used to be.  The idiots left their fingerprints all over the passenger side window where they tried to pry it open too.  The lock on the driver's side is jammed -- we can't open either door from the outside.  Good thing we have a hatchback.  I had to open the car from the back end and crawl inside to open the doors.

Nothing was taken -- they couldn't get in...

We can't figure out WHY anybody would WANT to break into our car anyhow.  It's an old, crappy 1994 Geo Metro that tops out at about 45 mph -- AND -- it doesn't even have a radio!  I guess the criminal mind leaves something to be desired... 

The nice, lady cop that came over and dusted for fingerprints told us we were 1 of 4 auto burglaries last night.  We were lucky, she told us...  One car had $7,000 worth of stereo equipment ripped out of the trunk (where it's supposed to be kept for security), and one car had about half the screwdriver the burglars were using to break the locks stuck in its door.

 We don't carry comprehensive insurance on the old, beat-up Geo, so we have to pay for the repairs ourselves. 

But...  The nice, lady cop referred us to a locksmith who'd helped her out once when she needed to change her own car lock (her ex-boyfriend had a key to her car ).

So...  Now we crawl into the Geo from the rear until we get new locks, but...  ya know what...  Ours was the only car out of the 4 that the idiots didn't get into, so, yep, I guess we are lucky.    Geos rock!

Everybody, including me, claims NOT to watch TV.  We're all liars there.  We know it, but we quietly accept this small, moral shortcoming from each other.

Apparently, everybody but me has a satellite, TiVO, digital cable, HBO, Cinemax, etc., etc., etc.  Me?    I do not live in a Bright House.   I have crappy, basic cable -- and I believe this makes me less of a liar about not watching TV (have you checked the basic cable selections lately? ).

What I really wonder... is just WHAT all us liars are watching in secret.

I can tell you, if you're not into 24 hour talking (yelling) heads or infomercials or metrosexual programming, basic cable selections are narrowed down to really slim pickings.  Comedy Central is about the only channel I can stomach -- with the exception of Crank Yankers -- and, last season, I got hooked on Dave Chappelle's Show.

Dave's show is somewhat of an anomaly for basic cable.  Each segment is as clever as the next, filled with limitless variety, and consistently original.  I can't explain it, and I fully expected Dave's first season to be his last, fading away as most TV shows worth watching always do.  Dave must have struck some kind of sweet deal with CC (or vice versa). 

Now, Dave's second season on CC has become the nemesis to my lie.  I freely admit watching and recommend his show to everybody.  Thanks a lot, Dave, you blew my cover!   

My segment picks: "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories"  

   

  Note to CC: Don't lose Dave Chappelle.  Does Disney without Pixar mean anything to you?

Dave Links:

IMDb (filmography, photo gallery)

Dave Chappelle: Actor & Stand Up Comedian (nice fan site-videos, pics, info, more)

Dave Chappelle Equals Funny (interview nd)

Comedy Central: Chappelle's Show (videos, pics, quiz, etc.)

Did you know you can look up your college profs on line?

Heh heh heh...  Yep.  Students are posting "ratings" of their professors all over the net. 

I wish I'd had this bit of insight when I was in school, and I'm certain I would have posted a few remarks...

Most of my profs are retired (or dead, I think), but a few were there, and, apparently, not much has changed since I was in their classes...

One still blows off anything to do with teaching, has yet to give any tests, and, for over 30 years, still maintains his rep for an easy A.

Another has attempted to build a web page.  If I liked him, I'd e-mail him and help him fix that up...  but I don't like him.

I also located a prof I thought was fired.  Turns out he's going at it just like he used to...  Still hitting on female students, thinking he's a stud...

Check yours out here:  RateMyProfessors.com

Brett Favre for President...