July 2011
53 posts
“You gotta sometimes question, well, in some cases, criminal acts perpetrated by...”
– Paul McMullan, a former editor at News of the World, quoted in the New Yorker
“Too Drunk to Dream,” the Magnetic...
This weekend I’m heading up to Madeline Island, in Lake Superior, for my family’s annual vacation. In her latest trip-planning e-mail, my mom included this photo of my niece and nephew on the ferry to the island last year. Here I am, at my nephew’s age, on the same ferry.
When I was on the Island last year, I wrote about our family tradition for a post on the Daily...
Dana: "Can I call you back in an hour? I'm watching 'The Bachelorette.' Is that embarrassing?"
Me: "Well, you're talking to a guy who just posted video of himself talking with Jordin Sparks on three different social networks."
Stars Come Out in St. Paul for Starkey Foundation... →
Video proof of my brush with stardom on Sunday in St. Paul: if you watch closely, you can see me hovering at the right of the frame, talking with Gary Busey and Jordin Sparks.
thatswhatcristahsaid asked: Can I just say that you better have a really good reason for not getting rid of Oklahoma already?
MollsSheWrote: I just saw on Facebook that this... →
molls:
I saw he got married and it really bummed me out because even though I know I probably live a way cooler life than he ever will or ever thought I would, I just think it’s really unfair that some people are allowed to breathe without you. That’s maybe the greatest tragedy in life, beside like, unexpected deaths.
“I attached a few Kodaks taken with my cell phone.”
– E-mail from Uncle Bill, whose technological prowess moves more quickly than his vocabulary.
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Leaving Vegas Lounge at 2 AM after a round of...
Becky: Is there a SuperAmerica anywhere around here? I could eat a Tornado.
Jason: Did you say Lush is open 'til 3 AM?
Becky: No, it closes at 2.
Jason: Are any bars in Minnesota open past 2 AM?
Me: No. And I don't think there are any SuperAmericas around here.
Becky: Too bad. I would have gone.
Jason: You would have gone to Lush?
Becky: No, I would have gone to get a Tornado.
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Before I was born, my parents owned a small...
Mom: Hello, Twin City Title.
Bank: I'm calling from TCF Bank and I have a human resources question regarding a mortgage application by Jim and Jean Gabler. Can you confirm that they both work at your company?
Mom: Yes, that's correct.
Bank: Do you have any concerns about a married couple working together?
Mom: Oh, it's not a problem. They work in different departments.
“One of the things you learn as a college president is that if an undergraduate...”
– Former Harvard president Larry Summers, confirming that the depiction of his attitude towards the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network was correct. Note the candor, which was not a quality that helped Summers win charm points as a university president. I wrote about my sorta-close encounters with...
the things and the stuff: Stupid Things I... →
How about sugar packets from restaurants? I didn’t collect those, but my sister did, and somehow that always made perfect sense to me. (Her collection is still preserved in our parents’ attic.)
kel4000:
Marcus Michalik’s recent Tangential post about the things he collected as a kid really brought me back. Here’s what I wasted my childhood collecting:
Pogs This one is a given for...
Dad: Wow, it's really raining! Are there tornado warnings?
Me: There were sirens.
Dad: And you didn't check the weather?
Me: No.
Dad: [noise I've never heard before]
Conversations While the Taco Bell Guy Tries to Get...
Taco Bell Guy: [looking at my check card] What do they charge you for this?
Me: Huh?
Taco Bell Guy: I just got charged $11.
Taco Bell Manager: They don't charge for check cards.
Taco Bell Guy: Then why'd I get charged a charge?
Conversations While the Taco Bell Guy Tries to Get...
Taco Bell Guy: [looking at my check card] Is your middle name William?
Me: Yes.
Taco Bell Guy: I guessed right!
Boudoir Writing Session
One of my friends just posted pictures from a “boudoir photo session” she sat for. I thought I’d try a “boudoir writing session.” This is as far as I got.
That’s right—I’m writing in my boudoir. My bed is right there. I can see it. The morning light is shining through the oak leaves and dancing sexily on the floor.
What do I do in my boudoir? I blog. I...
1 tag
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Avril Lavigne featuring Lil Mama,...
Today I wrote a post about memory that ended with a reference to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, then wrote a post about how great Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is, then went back and watched Eternal Sunshine again and proceeded to write a post about how great that movie is.
If you didn’t believe me before when I said I have a thing for women with crazy-colored hair, I’ll bet...
The #evil that lurks in the tweets of men (and...
My friend Jay Boller just issued this tweet:
I wondered what else gets tagged #evil on Twitter. Now I know.
Sweet new iPhone app: GIF Shop
We’re using it to make photos for our Tangential writers page.
Becky’s is a little more cheerful:
Just another day at my two jobs
Today in the Twin Cities Daily Planet: Celebrating Somali Independence Day in Minneapolis.
Today in The Tangential: Visual tips for getting laid.
Fierce Female Vocalists
You may have noticed that, though my all-time favorite musician is Bob Dylan, in general I like female vocalists. Here’s a playlist I’ve been getting lots of mileage from this summer. I’ve noted the songs’ years of release, because I’m a nerd and I like knowing these things.
BRAIDS, “Lammicken” (2011)
Those Darlins, “Be Your Bro” (2011)
Ear...
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Oxford comma dropped by University of Oxford PR... →
FUCK THAT SHIT
motherjones:
Are you outraged? Elated? Meh?
