Pixie League, week 2 of caring about the NFL

I'm in a football pool at work. I couldn't care less about football but I enjoy making picks using my own criteria. And no, I don't base my picks on colors or logos. Jenni does but she's a designer and has the cred to do this.

We nicknamed the pool the Pixie League due to a mis-hear on the part another pooler. "Picks league" does sound a lot like "Pixie League."

The first week I didn't get my picks in on time. I wasn't thinking and thus thought my picks had to be in by 5 p.m. on Sunday. But I'm an American, conscious and do know that Sunday afternoon is full of football. I was ridiculed, rightly, for this.

Week two pick criteria is below. I was in the top 3. I sincerely hope that that unnerves those who are taking this seriously.

• Pittsburgh vs. Tennessee -- Pittsburgh. For a number of factors but it boiled down to MONEY magazine's top cities list. Pennsylvania has two cities in the top 100. Tennessee has just one.
  
• Miami vs. Minnesota -- Miami. On the pick form Miami is abbreviated MIA which is the abbreviation for the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. The idea that the MIA (arts one) would play against the MN Vikings delighted me to no end. Also, I can't stand the Vikings. Pay for your own stupid stadium!
• Arizona vs. Atlanta -- Two friends live in Atlanta. And I really like the city. It's quite beautiful. In Arizona it's hot, it's a desert landscape (not too cozy).
• Baltimore vs. Cincinnati -- Cincinnati. The football league overlord wrote Cincinnati as Cincy. I chose it despite this black mark on the city. We were on a family trip in D.C. and in traffic. A woman pulled up next to us, crying, and asked, "Do you know how to get to Baltimore?" Also, there was a huge oil spill in Cincinnati in the 1970s. Marathon Oil handled it so well that no one remembers it. Unlike the Exxon Valdez fiasco. Both companies' actions are frequently used as ueber-examples in crisis communication courses.
  
• Kansas City vs. Cleveland -- Cleveland. Our weather in MN is becoming like that of Kansas City. And that is not a good thing. Granted, it's not their fault. I do give in to one 'girlie' pick this week and it's Cleveland. In the 1980s their quarterback was Brian Sipe. Easy on the eyes.
  
• Chicago vs. Dallas -- Chicago. It would be tough for any city to win against Chicago. Museums, great walking city, friends Paul & David used to live there, great eats. Dallas is in Texas. Their separatist state of mind is a mystery to me.
  
• Philadelphia vs. Detroit -- Detroit. Detroit is the city with the big reputation here. One the one hand its nickname is Detroilet. On the other, Jude's husband, Bill, is from there. So it can't be all bad.
• Buffalo vs. Green Bay -- Green Bay. I love that the team is owned by their fans. And one of our student workers is from there. And he's a spectacular writer.
  
• Tampa vs. Carolina -- Tampa. Whenever I think of Florida I think of the northern part. There it's scrubby and blah. No deciduous trees and I get a bit fidgety. However, Tampa does have Busch Gardens. It was close though. Charleston is one lovely city.
  
• Seattle vs. Denver -- Seattle. This was a toughie. Two of my favorite people in the world have lived in either Denver or Seattle. Seattle does have the advantage for its culture. And, it is the home of the first Trader Joe's I visited. Took a taxi across town to a go to a grocery store.
  
• St. Louis vs. Oakland -- Oakland. I didn't have strong feelings, or facts, on this one. I picked Oakland because of its proximity to San Francisco. And St. Louis has the hot, humid weather that now seems to be our lot in Minnesota.
• Houston vs. Washington -- Houston. I'm taking a politically correct stance on this one. Even though it means choosing a Texas team. The Redskins is just a terrible name.
• New England vs. NY Jets -- New England. New England contains Boston. New York is neighbor to Newark, NJ.
  
• Jacksonville vs. San Diego -- San Diego. Again, Florida just doesn't do it for me. San Diego has a great zoo. Although we did lose my brother, Steve, there when he was 5 years old.
  
• NY Giants vs. Indianapolis -- NY Giants. Although NY is in proximity to Newark, Indiana includes the city of Gary. Enough said.
  
• New Orleans vs. San Francisco -- New Orleans. Although the crime rate is higher and the summers can be oppressive, New Orleans still wins based on its architecture and Cafe du Monde. And the city could really use another break.

Thursday treat with pants

Thanks to bedeviant.com for the recommendation. This is the silliest song and I love it. Apparently it's availalbe as a ringtone. That sounds like a very good idea!

Maria -- quit whining!

Today's Note from the Universe is a good kick in the pants for me. I've been whining a lot lately. That's annoying and I want to switch back to "glass half full" thinking.

You know, almost anything you feel you "have to" do, like cleaning and washing, can become a chore, even a drudgery; while those things that remain optional, like Disney World and Twister, can seem far more inviting, even fun.

So, Maria, as you go down the path of life, particularly when it seems you must force yourself through the motions, it just may help if you pause and give thought to the countless souls who'd give most anything for the option of even your "chores."

Life... it can sometimes be like one of those really, really "good problems," huh?

More than good prices: steepandcheap.com

I'm not usually in the market for things on the steepandcheap.com e-mails. But I still read them. Every day. The latest deal on climbing or camping equipment -- or whatever -- is accompanied by a clever commentary about something unrelated. Today's commentary:

I met a guy last weekend who talked a lot about martial arts. Wouldn't drop the topic. It started to weird me out a bit, but I smiled through it. He said that martial arts trains you to get in tune with your senses. During training, he'd close his eyes and hold his arm against his partner, and then the guy would ask him which leg he moved, and he'd know -- based on his senses. He argued that when you meet someone, you get an impression and know if you like them -- this is based on senses, we've just been trained to repress them. His martial arts was helping him tune them back in. The entire time I sat there nodding and thinking, "Man, what are you getting from me right now, because I think you're insane." Perhaps in time, his martial arts skills will tell him these things.

Michael Vick's dog now doing therapy

Dogs are so good for the soul. And snaps to people who help dogs find the perfect jobs!





Thank you, thank you, thank you to these great people!

Dogs of 9/11

Dogs -- unconditional love in action.

Creative thinking via John Oliver

Another reason to love the mind of John Oliver. I've watched this probably 100s of times. It's still funny.

The second day of John Oliver video. Oh dear. I'm becoming a stalker.

Jokes.com
John Oliver - Creative Thinking
comedians.comedycentral.com
Big Lake A New Comedy from Will Ferrell and Adam McKay It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Monday treat: bad things to say on a first date

From Mock the Week (BBC), things you should avoid saying on a first date. From the brilliant Hugh Dennis (also of The Now Show). Bonus points if you guess the reference.

"My dating history? Divorced, beheaded, died... divorced, beheaded, survived."

Another treat. John Oliver from The Bugle on Bob Geldof's hair and owls. Glad to see that Bob still has an interesting coiffure. (BTW, now you can only access The Bugle via iTunes.)

10 days seems crazy fast, but...

One of the sweetest love stories via StoryCorps.

Hello, bug friend

I found this cute little guy while tending the flowers.

Online gaming can change the world!

This is one of the most inspiring TED talks I've heard. The whole idea of online gaming was irrelevant to me. Not anymore! Goes to show that positive change can come from the most unexpected places!

Cute=happy

Who can't use a bit of day-brightening cuteness? And what's cuter than a hedgehog eating a carrot or a puppy and a duckling palling around? (Thanks to NTEN for the links!)




Duckling And Puppy - The best bloopers are a click away

Food 2.0

The word "Web 2.0" makes me crazy. As a colleague said, "I've found that people who talk about 'Web 2.0' have no idea what it is."

This is clever however. Per Rory Sutherland, the photo at right is food 2.0 -- food you order and share with others.

Shopping for Dad made easier

The header on today's e-letter from the Onion.

Sometimes the pet videos are really good

This is just the sweetest. The dog reminds me sooo much of Pele. I couldn't resist.

2012 The Crapture

Oh Toothpaste how I love you so.


www.toothpastefordinner.com

People watching at Caribou

I'm at Caribou this afternoon. Working. It forces me to focus. That isn't to say I'm not a little distracted by people watching now and again.

There's a woman in here who has constantly been on the phone (she has puffy hair so I can't tell if she has an ear thingie) for a couple of hours. Or, she's talking to herself. Every half hour or so she goes outside for a smoke. There are three empty Caribou cups and an empty soda bottle on her table. She's not reading, writing or working on a laptop. Pretty much what all the people in here are doing. There's got to be a story there but I don't think I'll ask.

More than "I like that font!"

Very cool article in Fast Company about how to choose the best typeface. Follow this handy-dandy flowchart! (Link to a readable flowchart in the article.)

This is kind of indicative of my week

This is kind of indicative of my week. Except for the substance abuse. Or the goofy hair. The crazy eyes? Yes.

A different take on Earth Day

Special today at the Onion store. I'd like to work at the Onion but I don't think I'm near clever enough.

Signs of Spring. Hooray!

My favorite signs of Spring. Best appreciated on a dog walk!

Smell: grilling. Particularly the smell of lighter fluid.

Sound: kitchen noises. The windows are open and as we walk around the neighborhood I hear clinking dishes and silverware. Just the normal noises but I love them.

What's better than Spring? Nothing I can think of.

No excuse for panflutes

A t-shirt design from Sharing Machine (by the creator of the Toothpaste for Dinner). Many other strange t-shirts on Sharing Machine. I cannot express how much I love this.

I highly recommend following Toothpaste for Dinner on Twitter. A sample:

MY SISTER SAID IF I GET ONE HUNDRED FANS SHE WILL NAME HER BABY SOMETHING REGULAR

Not quite as funny as Badbanana but no slouch in the funny department.

Why I love John Oliver

John Oliver delivering the funniest story I've heard in months. Nice to hear that he doesn't use all of his good material on The Bugle.

Jokes.com
John Oliver - Creative Thinking
comedians.comedycentral.com
Joke of the Day Stand-Up Comedy Free Online Games

Morning meals

Posting second-hand content is rather lame but oh well. This one reminds me of my brother, Mike. In reference to brunch says, "Finally! A meal between breakfast and lunch."


www.toothpastefordinner.com

Internal sunblock

I just love Toothpaste for Dinner. Such a strange look at the world.


www.toothpastefordinner.com

Two Questions from Dan Pink

This is a great, thought-provoking look at what you're doing with your life. Boils it down quite simply. Only two questions!

Dan Pink is brilliant! His book, A Whole New Mind is one of my all-time favorites.

Two questions that can change your life from Daniel Pink on Vimeo.

Another great video by Pink. About motivation, presented at TED.

Priorities

I love this.

Diving: pass auf!

I love good signage graphics.

Happy handbells

Love this video of extravagant Salvation Army bell ringing. I hope it helped fill the coffers!

Group projects. Shudder.

toothpastefordinner.com

View larger

I love Goetz Alsmann

I love Goetz Alsmann's CD, Winterwunderwelt (Winter Wonderland). It's a combination of Christmas songs you know and traditional German Christmas songs. Done up in lounge-singer style. Here's Lass Uns Froh und Munter Sein. (Let's Be Happy and Cheerful)


Many, many thanks to Julia for posting an Alsmann song on her blog last year. I was hooked. Immediately!

Fisch im Netz

Nice toe-tapping turn for a dreary November day. Fisch im Netz by Herbert Groenemeyer. A great song to belt out while driving!

Poetess Palin

Sarah Palin's Tweets are actually free verse. Who knew?

Classical Cello and Led Zeppelin

Amazingly gorgeous! Cellist Maya Beieser playing Kashmir by Led Zeppelin. Hear the song and a short interview on PRI's The World Global Hit.

Fun with Bach

The Jacques Louissier Trio playing Bach's Gavotte in D Major. In jazz style. Their Brandenburg Concertos CD is excellent!

Thursday morning funnies

From the Oct. 30 edition of The Bugle podcast:

• In reference to Nick Griffin and the British National Party (right wing)
  History does point rather strongly to the idea that right-wing nationalism generally ends in tears. And, quite a lot of tears.

• Cheerleading was voted #3 in the world's top activities by Gender Stereotyping Monthly.

Errant Dog

Great song by Ben Folds, "Errant Dog." Some of the material may offend sensitive ears. If you are such an individual, or if you are in a cube, give it a pass.

Van Full of Anvils

Another very clever song from rathergood.com. There are kittens!

PigSpigot greetings

Wildly funny and often inappropriate user-developed cards at PigSpigot.

ECards and TweetCards are free. Old-school paper are $3.99.

Learning a foreign language as an adult

This hits a little too close to home. From Coming Home Crazy: An Alphabet of China Essays by Bill Holm. (A very good book from a superb writer.)

When you begin learning a language or try to use a new one, your adult power and resourcefulness slip away, and you sound to yourself, and to others, like a drooling child or an idiot. In a new language, you are first a baby, then a little child; then, if you work hard, a badly educated teenager with a low IQ.

Marketing schmarketing

This makes fun of me and my professional comrades. I like to think that this doesn't pertain to what I do. This makes me snort with laughter.

Thanks to Moe for sending!

First crack at a canvas

I painted this a while back to fill a space above an armoire. I used a pattern from Cressida Bell. It was the first time I painted on a canvas. It was quite fun and very rewarding. The pattern is in a funky style I hadn't previously tried.

Artsy Craftsy

I'm working on a picture that will hang over a couple of bookcases. I didn't find something just right so I thought, "Right, I'll make something myself."

I'm using as inspiration a Mischung (mixture) of a pattern from Jocasta Innes, my painting hero, and a piece I saw in Switzerland. It's meant to be a little rough, a little primitive. Here it is in its very early stage.

Painting gives me such joy!

Sept. 11 -- part 2

An addition to my earlier post about Sept. 11. I drive by this fire station on my way home from work. So many firefighters died that day. Both of my brothers are firefighters. These photographs give me the shivers.

Sept. 11 -- a very bad day

Sept. 11 is black memory for the U.S. This bad-day karma hovers over Chile, too. On this day in 1973, a coup, led by Augusto Pinochet, overthrew democratically elected Salvador Allende (Marxist). During Pinochet's dictatorship, Chile's human rights record was despicable. Thousands were murdered, tortured and 'disappeared.'

From the BBC's this day in history:

1973: President overthrown in Chile coup
President Salvador Allende of Chile, the world's first democratically-elected Marxist head of state, has died in a revolt led by army leaders.

One report says the 64-year-old leader committed suicide rather than surrender to the commanders of the armed forces and the paramilitary police.

Pinochet's obituary. Amnesty International's report on Pinochet.

New MacBook

New & improved!

Dog wisdom

Today's Note from the Universe. This one is especially lovely!

Do you know why dogs are so quick to wag their tails and cats are so quick to purr? Even the ones that have been lonely, abused, and betrayed?

Because, as is true of all animals, they were instilled with the distant awareness that no matter what the world shows them, they're still deeply loved and needed, that their presence alone has made a difference, and that in just the shake of a leg, seemingly without reason or rhyme, everything can FANTASTICALLY change for the better.

As is true of all people, except sometimes they tend to forget.

Purrfectly,
The Universe

Oh yeah, they also instinctively believe in miracles.

The Uncle Sam Interviews: Helen Thomas

Uncle Sam, from Funny or Die, interviews veteran reporter Helen Thomas. I love this very much.

The Uncle Sam Interviews: Helen Thomas - watch more funny videos

Unfortunately for Obama, there are no backsies

His hair is already going white. And he isn't even a year in. And who could blame the guy? (There may be an advertisement at the beginning of the video.)


White House Reveals Obama Is Bipolar, Has Entered Depressive Phase

Uter full of chocolate

The video on this isn't great but you get the gist. Contains one of the best Simpsons lines ever. From Uter, the German kid. If you know German you may also watch this scene in German.



Don't make me run! I'm full of chocolate!

Squashable battery

The squashable battery that fits pretty much any device

Have you ever been in desperate need of an AAA battery (your TV remote control is running out of power) and all you can find in your house are AAs or some other incompatible size of battery? Three designers claim to have the solution.

Posted using ShareThis

Very cool device via wired.co.uk

Knowledge, lovely knowledge

Lovely Note from The Universe!

I don't recommend asking for what you can have, or even for what you can give, nearly as much as I recommend asking for what else you can know.

Because there is always more you can know and knowing it will radically increase all you can have and give.

www.tut.com

The Count from Sesame Street

This is twisted and wrong. I like it very much.

Friday sillies

This is very silly but it made me smile on this loooong Friday afternoon.

Why I love John Hodgman

John Hodgman is one of the funniest people on the planet. He spoke at this year's White House Radio and Television Correspondents' Dinner. His biting, dry wit is beautiful. He refers to Mr. Obama as the first geek President and says, "it's an exciting time to be a nerd." He isn't quite sure what to think of the President's liking of sports, however. When he learned that Mr. Obama was attentive to the March Madness brackets, Hodgman "presumed ... it was some sort of obscure punctuation. I thought he was a typeface nerd. My kind of people." Rather, it's "some sort of sporty flowchart that I don't understand."

Speaking for the assembled, Hodgman says, "We are geeks. We are defined by our passions and enthusiasms but also by our open mindedness. Now is not the time for purity tests."

Flieder!

After a few years dormant, the lilacs in front of my house are blooming. They look beautiful and smell heavenly! The wonderful fragrance floats in the open window. Yet another reason to love spring!

Patriotic Dots

Everthing is jumping on the patriot bandwagon. Including candies. These look rather nasty. But hey, if you eat them you are showing that you are pro America. If you eat the regular kind I guess you're siding with the terrorists.

Welcome to downtown

Downtown Minneapolis looks like it's been bombed. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that people were trapped by the roving bands of street constructioneers. Got in in the morning and couldn't get out in the afternoon.

Changing, again

Although I like the last blog layout, there were some drawbacks. So here I am with a new template. I'll try to stick with it for awhile.

Thank you Bugle, and Mr. West

I love the Hugo Chavez news on The Bugle. Just when you think it couldn't get better, it does. The Bugle now also includes Delonte West updates.

I am not a sports lover so I had not heard of Mr. West, a basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers. But thanks to the brilliant Bugle podcast, I have been introduced to the word stylings of Mr. West. He appears at 0:30.

Pyro fun

I think that Blue Rhino, "Spark Something Fun," is making itself a little to alluring to pyromaniacs.

My high school chemistry lab partner was a pyromaniac. He even tried to light the asbestos ring on fire.

Bug on garage

I saw this on the garage and almost smashed it. Look at those wings! They look like peacock feathers. I'm glad I didn't kill it.

Not your stereotypical rock star

I love this Intel ad. Nerd rock star!

Lovely light

The sun is going down and a rainstorm just passed. Lots of shadows and warm light that only comes after rain. One of my favorite types of light.

Well you're not living with me

This ad came in one of those coupon packs you get in the mail. You can do whatever you want lady, but your crabbiness is not living with me.

Cheeky Monkey

Dinner at Cheeky Monkey yesterday. (On Selby near the cathedral.) Quite a tasty treat! Very interesting but non-pretentious menu. The brownies are fabulous and almost the size of your skull.

Happy Birthday Sophie!

Silly, sweet Sophie turns 10 today!

Hints on using Facebook

I love this old-school take on how to use Facebook.

Where's the track?

This is in the hallway at work. It's on a big something or other that looks like a big flat panel. Maybe it's one of those toy race tracks.

Food pig (Pele eating)

My nephew Cale and I timed Pele. He eats in 20 seconds. I think there is no chewing involved. He's like a vacuum.

I bought a little camera

I bought a little camera to keep in my purse. I often see things that are pretty, odd or stupid and want to capture them. For example, I really like the shadows these plants make. There's something about morning shadows that delights me to no end.

The plants are right outside our office suite.

View from my home desk chair

This is the view from my home desk chair. I barely sit down and Pele's in the air and into my lap. 

Sophie the dictator

From the back, Sophie reminds me of the photos you see of dictators addressing their adoring crowds from a balcony high above. All hail Sophie the benevolent dictator!

Signs of spring

The bushes in front of my house are beginning to bloom. Hurray! I love how trees and bushes look all green and fuzzy this time of year.

Sunday follies

With two of my nieces today. This card came up in the Uno Attack game. I thought it meant that you have to swap teeth with the person next to you. I guess it means you need to swap cards.

Katy said she was going to draw a clown for me. I said that was OK as long as it wasn't a scary clown. Nice listening, Katy.

3 Ds and 6Ds

From this week's The Bugle podcast. It's sick but I enjoy it very much.

3 Ds of violence:

• dismantle
• demolish
• detonate

I sent these to EclectChick and she added three more:

• Dismember
• Decapitate
• D-exsanguinate

I love the Ira

I love Ira Glass, host of "This American Life." So smart. So funny. And that laugh. So nerdy and charming. This is a great interview on "The Colbert Report" last week.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Ira Glass
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Gay Marriage Commercial

I went to the show referenced in the interview. It was great! (It runs on radio the weekend of May 2-3.)

Going to see a radio seems like a strange thing to do. But it's such fun. I've seen numerous public radio shows live. Paid for tickets to see public radio shows live. I am just that kind of geek. I've never seen "Prairie Home Companion" live. It would be fun but I'm afraid it would be bluegrass night. That's the kind of music that plays non-stop in my version of hell.

Lovelies from the Walker

I bought these at a silent auction last week. They are from the shop at the Walker so of course they are lovely and a bit on the funky side.

"One to count on"

Friday's Pioneer Press had a great editorial about the Obama's dog, Bo, "One to count on." According to the writer there's been a lot of skuttlebutt (I love that word) about how Bo isn't a rescue dog. There are so many dogs in shelters waiting for homes. Never mind that Malia Obama has allergies that dramatically narrowed the possibilities.

The writer poo-poos the critics and focuses on Bo's role in the family.

His job is to provide unpredictable doggie high jinks for the first family, to put up with whatever silly hats Malia and Sasha try to get him to wear, and to be ready, 24-7, to present a loving, at times slobbering dog face to whichever Obama should need it at that moment.

It's fun to see the family playing with Bo on the lawn. And it's comforting to know that the president and his family have this source of unconditional love and laughter during these particularly trying times.

Mmmm... brunch

A lovely brunch today with the Hs. Eggs with a bit of avocado and Salsa Lisa. [eyes rolling back in head with delight] Homemade and colorful!

Police chase

From the Urban Dictionary:

parade maker

(n). A driver and/or car that goes consistently under the speed limit, causing a backup of 20+ cars, creating frustration and your ability to be where you want to be on time.

Why don't the police hand out tickets for this?

Misc. funny things from my nieces

I was talking to my niece Tori and had one of my frequent, I-can't-remember-what-I-was-going-to-say moments. She replied in a deep, gruff voice, "Think woman, think!"

My niece Katy, while walking by Pele whose tail was wagging, said "Hey, watch where you put that thing."

When her dog Billy got away from her on her walk, Tori ran after him and tackled him in the snow.

We have also adopted new names: Bertie (Tori), Cyril (Katy) and Gussy (me).

Lucidity souffle

Kelsey forwarded this wonderful nasty from Entertainment Weekly on a contestant and judge on American Idol.

Kara ran off the rails and handed her flaming caboose to Paula, whose lucidity souffle further collapsed thanks to some nonsense about "where beauty develops."

What kind of cupcake are you?

Fun quiz on bettycrocker.com. I'm a Red Velvet Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Sweet things, big dreams and a happy-go-lucky spirit. All are represented in Red Velvet Cupcakes; all are reasons these are the ones for you. Keep them to yourself or share with friends.

There's an awful lot of red food coloring! The old-school red food coloring made my brother Mike go batty.

Happy Easter everyone!

Nasty things courtesy of The Bugle

The Bugle is tied for first in my favorite podcasts list. (The other is the BBC News Quiz.) The hosts are well read, extremely clever and sometimes quite nasty. I love them.

I'm that kind of geek that writes down funny things I hear to share with others and perhaps use in day-to-day conversation. Three particularly nasties from recent shows: 

• [An event] sucked me into a hellmouth.
• Another base camp on the mountain of stupid.
• [Person's name] and reality have basically had a divorce.

And from another place:

• Supercollider of stupid Charlie Pierce on Only a Game
  
  

IRA flashback

Looking at the movie reviews this morning I flashed back to reading the newspaper while waiting in the car at my brother's elementary school. The story holding my attention was about Bobby Sands' hunger strike. Sands was in the IRA and in prison for possession of firearms.

"Hunger" is out today in Minneapolis/St. Paul. (I can't not be coincidence that it opens on Good Friday in honor of the Good Friday Agreement.) It's the story of the last six weeks of Sands' hunger strike in 1981. The movie looks compelling and horrifying. One that will leave my head full of questions that don't have immediate answers. (My favorite type of movie.)

If you're interested in the Troubles, Michael Collins and In the Name of the Father are both excellent, based-on-a-true-story glimpses into the madness and desperation in Northern Ireland. They help you understand a bit of the motivation for violence and will push you to empathize, painfully, with those brutalized on both sides. 

On a related note, take a look Chuck and Peg Hoffman's brilliant work with art and reconciliation in places like Northern Ireland. I heard them speak a couple of years ago. Their stories gave me goosebumps.

I love you Strong Bad

I was reminded of Homestar Runner and Strong Bad e-mails. Strong Bad is so horrible he's fabulous. 

Jesus People Movie

This looks painfully funny. The best line in the trailer: "People don't think we know how to have fun. Those people are liberals."

Spring sing-a-long

Spring is here. A perfect time for this little ditty by the talented and twisted Tom Lehrer.

April baby, defined

From the Urban Dictionary. I'm going to start using this ad nauseam.

April 1: april baby

A term coined by lil wayne, meaning a fool. "He's an april baby for thinking he could ever get with someone like her."

Who's the next Minnesota senator?

The election was in November. It's now April and the state of Minnesota still lacks a second senator. Norm Coleman and Al Franken are fighting over votes in the courts. So how can we settle it?

Dogs, cats and diplomats

The G20 Summit starts on Thursday. Lots of chatter about whether it will be successful. It's definitely unwieldy. 20 countries agreeing on something?

I think that tense sessions like this should include animals. I'm serious! I look at my goofy dogs and think, "How could you stay belligerent or cranky if you've just been playing with Sophie or Pele? Who doesn't melt at a puppy or kitten?" What if before a negotiation everyone sat down on the floor and played with some animals? I can't help but think that it would help the situation. It would humanize it. Bring in a little joy and laughter.

I tell the dogs that they would be a helpful and fun addition to like G20, peace talks, etc. But I'd have to come with them. 

Check out the very cool live blog and map on the Telegraph site. 

Loney, Dear

The Current always serves up great music that's new to me. I heard this one today by Loney, Dear (Emil Svanängen). Simply lovely!

How did he get in the tree?

From the TODAY show, video about a puppy who got stuck in a tree.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

And another treat for a cloudy day: Father Guido Sarducci on the Five-Minute University. Oh how I love Fr. Sarducci!

Calm down!

Louis C.K. on Conan O'Brien. We have it great but all we do is complain. We're all such babies.

Strand-up comedy

From today's Urban Dictionary e-mail:

Strand-up comedy
The way one's hair can look first thing in the morning, sticking straight up in all directions. When Bob woke up this morning, his hair looked like a strand-up comedy.

Monday sillies: with kittens!

To brighten your Monday morning. From the goofies at rathergood.com