Pretty cool song and I like Weezer… but the video on youtube is just amazing. If you spend a lot of time on youtube, like me, that is. It’s a veritable cornicopia of collective youtube memes. My head was reeling after watching it. So, what did I do? I proceeded to track down the references in an attempt to create a taxonomy of memes, of sorts, pertaining to this video. Then I made a playlist of them all.

Even though I covered a lot of them, I probably missed a couple dozen or so. Around 3 minutes into the video, they all start to mish-mash together, you know? Also, I noticed that some of the videos that were referenced to in “Pork and Beans” had been deleted from youtube. Coincidence?

Things I know I missed: dancing baby, the guy chopping things with his hand, will it blend, etc. You get the point, though.

The good news is it looks like Watchmen will be released as scheduled. The dispute has been settled.

In other news, I’m moving in a little over a month, so that’s been keeping me busy to some extent.

If you are lucky and live in certain select locations across the globe, you might have recently noticed large numbers of men and women, dressed like Santa, ascending upon your city. Do not be alarmed. This is SantaCon. Sure, there may be a little drinking involved or maybe even bowling, but these folks are in it for fun. You know? Have a good time, spread holiday cheer, and all that sort of thing.

It all started about 23 years ago, depending on when you read this, when members of the San Francisco lodge of the Cacophony Society staged the First Annual SantaCon in 1994. Armed with machetes and bottles of whiskey, these brave adventures set forth in their Santa suits with one thing in mind… show the world that Santa exists and that Christmas can be celebrated without all that commercialism bullshit that exists today. Okay, maybe that’s two things. Anyway, it was all down hill from there as you might have noticed from the police reports, bar tabs, and so on.

I haven’t, personally, had the good fortune to witness or be a part of this glorious occasion. One of these days, I’m going to gather the funds, dust off the old Santa suit, and jump into the writhing thrall.

Until then, I can live vicariously through you. So, if you’re in the area of a SantaCon, take a lot of photos and send them to me or something.

More coverage as this story progresses.

Brought to you by Gballz.com… the leader in custom made juggling balls.

By the way, leave a pepperment stick for old St. Nick hangin’ on the Christmas tree. Just be careful, though… last I heard, he’ll be coming down the chimney.

It’s the Holiday Season!

]]> http://robertusmagnus.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/dont-forget-to-hang-up-your-sock/feed/ 0 robertusmagnus Holiday Balls http://robertusmagnus.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/the-fine-world-of-pens/ http://robertusmagnus.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/the-fine-world-of-pens/#comments Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:29:18 +0000 Robertus Magnus http://robertusmagnus.wordpress.com/?p=16 ]]> Monteverde, Waterman, Mont Blanc… if you are familiar with these brand names, then you, my friend, have been indoctrinated into the world of “fine pens.” We’re not talking about that nice pen you “borrowed” from someone and “forgot” to give back because it writes so smoothly. You like that pen, don’t you?

No, actually, this is about “fine pens.” The crème de la crème of writing instruments. These are icons of writing culture.

Think about it… next time you’re at the check-out and you ask the cashier for a pen to write a check or sign a credit card slip… think about how awesome it would be to whip out your Mont Blanc Meisterstuck Classique™ and say, “this one only set me back $345. Money well spent, I say!”

The cool thing is, you can pick up the refills for your pen at your local office supply store for about five or so bucks. While you’re there, take pride in the fact that your pen costs more than most people make in a week. People with children, even.

Or you could pick up a really sweet pack of 4 Bic pens for about the same price.

Me? I prefer Sharpies, myself.

But here is where it all takes a dangerous turn. If you are the least bit sqeemish, I recommend that you go away now. I, for one, am struggling as it is.

Behold! The winner of the 2008 Velveeta Casserole Challenge.

Doesn’t it look yummy? If you look at it long enough, it’s almost as if the shrimp and broccoli are writhing on the plate with the egg noodles in all that cheesy goodness.

When I first learned about this dish, it helped me realize two primal fears I’ve been suppressing… namely my fear of shrimp and my fear of broccoli mixed with shrimp. I’m almost certain that this is the sort of thing H.P. Lovecraft had in mind when he was dreaming up that whole Cthulhu Mythos concept.

Why do I fear shrimp? Other than the fact that they come from the sea, it’s the “vein” that bothers me. People try to sugar-coat it by calling it a “vein” and they talk about “de-veining” shrimp, but it’s not a “vein,” at all. It’s a “poop chute.” I was always under the impression that a vein carried blood but, in the case of shrimp, it’s a part of their digestive system. I mean, shrimp aren’t even vertebrates, so how can they have “veins?”

So, just remember… the next time you eat a big heaping helping of shrimp that hasn’t been “de-veined,” well you’re probably eating what those shrimp ate when they had their last meal.

Thanks, Blogadilla…

The Recipe… (and I wasn’t aware I could buy Cream of Shrimp from Campbell’s… now I have a new fear.)

1 pound uncooked, deveined shrimp
4 cups of fresh broccoli florets
12 oz bag of Egg Noodles
9 oz Sour Cream
16 oz Kraft VELVEETA (half of the big 32oz box)
1 can Campbell’s Cream of Shrimp

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Cook egg noodles according to package directions
2. Drain and toss in broccoli & shrimp. Pour into 13×9 casserole dish
3. In a saucepan, add VELVEETA, cream of shrimp, and sour cream until melted
4. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour on top of noodle mixture and bake at 350° for 25 minutes

Here’s the video…

Much better…

But, still… you have to stop and wonder about what was actually going on. This probably smelled newsworthy, at first. At least, Fox News picked up on it. Too bad it didn’t turn out that way.

As for the guy with the shaky cell phone video goes… I have to say, what a coward! As an American, I find this embarrassing. I thought the whole idea of Freedom and Democracy was somehow linked to some past notion of true courage and the strength to stand up!  Indomitable Will, Truth, and Justice!

Here we have massive FAIL! “I have a camera phone, which is not a weapon… in case you didn’t notice.”

Todays lesson:

True, This! —
Beneath the rule of men entirely great,
The pen is mightier than the sword. Behold
The arch-enchanters wand! — itself a nothing! —
But taking sorcery from the master-hand
To paralyse the Cæsars, and to strike
The loud earth breathless! — Take away the sword —
States can be saved without it!

Courtesy of Edward Bulwer-Lytton.