I gave the photographer their phone number and told them they needed a wedding photographer, and they confirmed a few months later he did their wedding, and what a good job he did, thanking me for recommending him. So yeah. If they walk past me without speaking/acknowledging, I say "you're welcome" loud enough for them to hear. And since I'm posting, might as well unload some more. Driving (jeez, I could fill up a thread just on driving), waiting behind someone at an intersection to turn right, and a vehicle coming from the right makes a left turn - crossing the lane the driver I'm behind is waiting to turn into - and the driver in front of me doesn't take that opportunity to turn right. That may sound confusing, but if a car has enough time to turn left across oncoming traffic - which results in that car literally blocking the lane the waiting driver is attempting to turn right into - there is no conceivable reason for that driver not to turn right while shielded by the other car turning left across that lane of traffic. Any oncoming traffic would literally have to crash through the car turning left before it could be a threat to the car turning right. OK, I went ahead and made a diagram - actually where it most recently took place this morning. I'm in Car #1 (blue), behind Car #2 (red) who is waiting to turn right. If Car #3 (green) is able to turn left ACROSS oncoming traffic (Car #4) safely, then there is no justification for Car #2 NOT to make their right turn, as they would be completely shielded from oncoming traffic (Car #4) by Car #3. Drives me crazy (pun not really intended, but applicable).

Kind of similar... A friend of a friend who is a professional photographer asked for referrals, promising $50 referral reward for any jobs he takes. As the manager of a print shop at the time, I had a customer inquire about a photographer for a wedding. I gave him their name and number, and sure enough, some time later they returned, and mentioned he did a good job - so I know he took the job I referred to him. Of course, he never called me back or offered the $50 referral reward. Needless to say, he'll never receive another call from me, either.

Enjoyed this, though it was surprisingly long - right at 3 hours. Lots of cursing, drugs and sex. And for a nice throwback, I watched this for the umpteenth time. It really never gets old.

In case you haven't yet experienced the sheer joy of Sophie -

I hate to use the phrase Rest In Peace, but Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church is finally dead. I think his gravesite should become a kind of Mecca for the LGBT community to visit and have sex at. And even if you're not gay, just to come by and take a leak on his headstone would be equally deserving. Of course, I'm goofing. Let the hate die with him is my position. In his case, I imagine it's more like Rest In Flames.

Hopefully, May 9 at Center Stage Theater - Ghost B.C.

Great album! Saw this tour twice. I so less-than-3 Workin' Them Angels.

Just got turned on to this yesterday. Year Zero by Ghost B.C. from Sweden. This song is live, and an excellent performance to see as well as hear. This looks like a band I would love to see live. Checking their tour schedule now.

OK, I haven't had cable in a while, so maybe this isn't new to everyone, but it's new to me. ---> LOL <--- Seriously, this is the most epic commercial I've seen in quite some time.

I really thought I wanted to see this. But now that I've seen it, I'm thoroughly underwhelmed. I was under the impression it was a comedy, but there was very little to be had. And this is an odd thread to get political in, but that was my biggest take from the whole movie. Yes, Woody Allen rips and shreds the socialite Haves, exposing their shallow, vacuous lives for all to see. But the part I really found offensive was his portrayal of the regular people, the Have-nots, and what it exposes about Woody Allen and the Hollywood elitists. Jasmine's sister Sally Hawkins, her boyfriend Bobby Cannavale, and Louis CK were all portrayed as regular folks with a good heart (for the most part), yet basically were functional morons who were so unsophisticated and unintelligent simpletons that all they did was work, drink and fuck. Their conversations were that of teenagers in adult bodies, shallow and pointless. I found it beyond annoying that these Hollywood elitists' (of whom Woody is part of the royalty) idea of regular folk, the 99% if you will, are unaware, minimally educated Johnny Punchclocks. They functioned on pure emotion, with very little intelligence displayed. I would guess Mr. Allen views this movie as an homage to the people who have to work for a living while excoriating those 1%ers who profit from unbridled greed and criminal recklessness with OPM (other people's money). Instead, it's both a slap in the face to, and a blatant expose' of Woody and Friends' true perspective of what they no doubt consider the unwashed masses. Don't get me wrong, it's very well-acted, and somewhat touching. Andrew Dice Clay comes off - surprisingly - as one of the most honest and likeable characters of all. But overall, I found the implicit snobbery a little too much to overcome.

Watched quite a few movies since I've last posted. Amelie - Wanted to see this for a long time, worth the wait. The character descriptions and traits were hilarious. Nebraska - I enjoyed it, but it wasn't as funny as I thought it was supposed to be. Free Birds - Good stuff, very funny. Last Vegas - Meh. A few laughs, but falls into the category of a lot of recent movies trying to succeed on the established reputations of the actors. Dallas Buyers Club - Great movie, though not many surprises. RIPD - Much funnier than I expected, and (IMO) undeserving of the Ripping Off Men In Black rap it received. Captain Phillips - Intensely exciting, one of the best movies I've seen in a while. Ender's Game - Very disappointing after being such a big fan of the novel. As often happens, too much story to fit into 2 hours.

Damn, I really liked him. A genuinely funny guy. RIP

16GB iPhone 4 running on Straight Talk - $45 per month unlimited talk/text/data. And by unlimited, it's 2.5 GB of data at normal 3G speed (or 4G/LTE if your phone supports it), but once you exceed that 2.5 GB, you're throttled down to EDGE network speed, which is useless for all but the most rudimentary data tasks (email, etc.) I've had my iPhone 4 for a few years now, and I'm really ready to move up to at least a 5, or hopefully a 5S. And also like to have a minimum 32GB, but preferably a 64GB phone, so I have plenty of room for music and movies. I couldn't imagine going back to a non-smartphone, they are simply too necessary.

What an awesome song and awesome message! They used this song on the soundtrack for End of Watch, an outstanding movie.

He will Whip It no more. Devo Guitarist Bob Casale dead at 61. God, I feel so old. http://www.tmz.com/2014/02/18/devo-guitarist-bob-casale-dead-whip-it/

Massive, brutal ice storm - at least for our area. 37,000 without power in Georgia so far, and probably just as many - if not more - across the river in South Carolina. Power went out for about an hour and a half, but back on now. Charging every iPhone, tablet and laptop we have in case it goes back out, LOL. 2 very large limbs have cracked and fallen from our trees. Work cancelled today and tomorrow, and I had already taken off Friday for Valentine's Day with Mrs. O. Add to that Monday is President's Day, and I don't go back to work until next Tuesday - a 6 day break! Major w00t-age.

Personal experience always intensifies feelings on a subject for sure. And while his persona and image may not reflect narcissism, his actions surely did. I just posted a link in another thread to an article written and published literally at the same time news of his death broke, and while it was scathing, it made very legitimate points, the most important being the following - This is a father who had a son born in 2003, a daughter in 2006 and another daughter in 2008, and abused narcotics and did heroin in spite of those responsibilities that are properly assumed by moral and rational people to be not just his obligation, but a sacred trust. This certainly isn't kind, but it's true, nonetheless. That is a significant time period - 11 years - to make the necessary changes in your life to assume the responsibility inherent in raising children. Unless it just isn't as important to you as the drug. Again, RIP to a life cut short, full of promise and potential as well as accomplishments. I'm certainly not a hater, I enjoyed him in many movies, most recently I discovered him in The Talented Mr. Ripley, where, ironically, he played - unsurprisingly quite convincingly, as with so many of his roles - the very type of hedonistic, narcissistic elitist that he now appears to possibly have actually been.

I don't really understand this sentiment. We all die. He was a victim of his own appetites. I could understand this sentiment for an innocent victim of violence of some sort. But he obviously obtained 49 bags of heroin and got busy. So he got what he deserved. Not much different than if he played Russian Roulette and put a bullet through his head. Certainly I don't feel he deserved to die, but he definitely got what he deserved. It's sad and people feel a loss for a talented actor. Who knows what demons drove him to such excess. But it's not always that, either. Sometimes it's just plain narcissism. People gain popularity, and the wealth that comes with it and become hedonists. Who knows? One thing's for sure - heroin is no joke. Once it sinks its hooks in, it's a proven killer.

Pete Seeger, Songwriter and Champion of Folk Music, Dies at 94 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/arts/music/pete-seeger-songwriter-and-champion-of-folk-music-dies-at-94.html?_r=1

If this French Bulldog wasn't neutered before, he technically is now. Notice the cat never actually touches him a single time.

2014 Tour dates set! Here's hoping they add some East coast/Southern dates. http://audioinkradio.com/2014/01/tool-2014-tour-dates/

Russell Johnson, The Professor on Gilligan's Island One of the funniest jokes I ever heard was how The Professor could build almost ANYTHING out of bamboo - a bicycle, a telescope, even a record player. It seems the only thing this genius couldn't figure out how to build out of bamboo was a boat! RIP Professor. http://www.tmz.com/2014/01/16/professor-gilligans-island-died-dead-russell-johnson/

I literally LOL'd. That is pure gold.