Irony

Thanks to digg.com

Such wonderful things surround you, right here on the ocean floor

In a few weeks, I will have my PADI open water certification. Vanessa will have her "rescue diver" certification at the same time, meaning that when I mess up and need to be saved she will be officially capable of dragging my sorry butt out of the water.

I LOVE diving. It's amazing, and I haven't even really "done it" yet. I could get very passionate about this ...sport? Activity? Avocation? Hobby? eh...

In a few days, a threshold will be crossed... the meeting of the parents.

Not my meeting her parents or her meeting mine - that happened long ago. No, this is the time when the parents meet each other. The collision of two worlds. I was about to make a really geeky reference to a similar situation, but I won't.

Those of you who would get it can already come up with those on your own.

But like a poor marksman, you KEEP... MISSING...the TARGET!

I was just reminded of another "anniversary" which is somewhat similar to the one I acknowledged in a recent entry. The link takes you to a reference, not the thing itself.

"How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life, wouldn't you say?"

Call me, call me for some overtime

This is funny. My friend Steve Arlen sent a bulletin announcing you could have ringtones featuring... HIM! Now, I have no illusion that anyone would be desperate for the existence of these, but using the same site that he did, I played with a few, so...



and



and on a more intense note



I might make some funny ones later. Ciao.

Of no particular importance

Some random blather and then a heartwarming internet video...

Today on the radio I heard some announcer discussing the fact that after some horrible loss to the Titans, the Buffalo Bills have never been to the playoffs. This is what I find highly amusing about a lot of sports culture, and a lot of conspiracy theory. It's what I call a manufactured coincidence, and in sports -not only, but especially - these things are blown to ridiculously epic proportions.

You see, the commentator made it sound like the team was still depressed from this horrible loss to the Titans. Those poor guys just can't wholeheartedly take the field, apparently, because they lost a game to Tennessee in NINETEEN NINETY-NINE. Most of the roster isn't even on the team anymore.

I have a different theory, and I think it holds more water. I think the Bills haven't been to the playoffs since 1999 because they hated the Star Wars prequels. Think about it. THE PHANTOM MENACE came out in 1999, shortly after their "astounding" defeat. They were depressed, even months later, even though despite their loss they're still ridiculously paid professional athletes. They go to the movie, it's awful, and... there go the next three seasons. ATTACK OF THE CLONES kills the next three. Right now, we're still riding out the consequences of the team's group viewing of REVENGE OF THE SITH.

You could make a case that the team has been so wrapped up reading the Harry Potter books since 1999 they haven't been able to focus completely. Thank goodness for fans of the team that the final book will be out shortly. Here's hoping the shocking finale won't ruin another year for Buffalo!

Manufactured coincidence.

I have long held that things like that and "The Superman Curse" are silly, even though I have a strong belief in the supernatural. Well, let's call that a really really open mind about a belief in the supernatural. My favorite manufactured coincidence is my own theory involving THE GONE WITH THE WIND curse...

Do you realize that only one of the major cast members of GONE WITH THE WIND still survives? Nearly everyone involved with the production of that landmark motion picture is dead. There's something sinister about that film, you see. An actor by the name of Robert Gleckler died during the filming, and since then... one by one... members of the cast and production team have passed away. Coincidence? I think not.