|
Americans are Americans, no matter what genre you put them in.
Aviary RSS
Blogrolololol
Archives
Spam isn't a vegetable.
|
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Sue me and donate the proceeds or something. Labels: America, Holiday Magic, Tribute
Friday, September 18, 2009
Mary Travers, an icon of the protest-with-flowers-and-guitars movement, died two days ago. And there is one song I put on repeat all day yesterday, and you can guess: it's not about white doves sailing and times a-changing: "Puff the Magic Dragon" is about--besides the obvious--nostalgia. More specifically, the death of childhood, growing up and remembering playing on Cherry Lane. This is exactly what America is about. America is nostalgic. Everyone these days is having parties themed by decade, writing books about small towns and small-town politicians, and referencing old toy commercials. They even just released a video game about The Beatles. Why is such a young country stuck in a fleeting past? Britain has been the same empire for a thousand years with only a few minor coups, civil wars, and political beheadings, so they have a right to be nostalgic. Us? We're barely over 200, and we're already calling the new democracies "whippersnappers," even though they, just like us, only like a good roadside fireworks show. After the Soviets gave up and the walls tumbled nearly two decades ago, weren't we supposed to bring about a New World Order, sans Hulk Hogan? America, why are we so stuck in the past? It's because they don't make cartoons like this anymore: Labels: America, History, Midwestern Values, Music, Mythology, Tribute
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Is MTV putting on Thriller (with an undead Michael Jackson) a little too soon? Yes, I won't pretend that I cared that much about him in life. Not a big King of Pop fan. But as a comedian, losing a punching bag, I say, lay down and take a rest. For once, you won't hear the media screaming at you. (Sorry for the broken image in the link... I'm currently trying to get up a working photo again. Six-year-old link.) Labels: Tribute
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
So, Michael Jordan is in the Hall of Fame. The guy in the article gets this right: it's one big duh, first ballot, landslide victory, man-of-the-hour. Olympic gold, championship gold, hubcap gold... Michael Jordan has had it all and is the best: the best there ever was, the best there ever will be. As a Chicagoan, this makes me tear up... maybe even more as a Cubs fan. (Yes, I am that pessimistic this early on. Give my heart a rest.) But, most importantly, Mike, this means no more comebacks, no? From the Tribune: "I don't like being up here for the Hall of Fame because at that time your basketball career is completely over," Jordan said. "I was hoping this day would be 20 more years, or actually go in when I'm dead and gone." And even then, there's reanimation for the kind of money Mike has.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Another friend has left on her flying wagon trail west--Andy's sister, Margaret, who likes drawing pictures of things that move, and thus needed to go to Hollywood. Someday I'll make it out to L.A., where the taxes aren't so high, no matter how much they complain about a "sunshine tax" out there. Did you know Californians think there's a sunshine tax? That they pay extra for the chance to live in the eternal western sunset? Try paying extra for the overcast days and bad weather, including the lovable slush storm we had today. Instead of having a tax, having a surcharge on your phone bill. Which, by the way, is taxable. And you Californians thought YOU had the creative people. Oh, and good luck out there, Magz.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
He's flying the coop... heading west like Fievel, they say (more like how I say). Friend of the Blog and Andy, Chris Edwards, is going to be a star. At least that's what he says. And Andy. And, begum, I believe it when those two finally agree on something. Just kidding, you two. Californie-way's a good fit for a man like Chris. Even a whole family of Chrises (not that I'm implying anything about his personal life). Andy promises me we'll go that way someday, too. He promises it'll be a better life, but I'd go only t'sitesee and spit on a few stars (not just the ones in the sidewalk, I mean). Californie-way calls to the best a' us in ev'ry gen'ration. An' there ain't many better. Congrats an' enjoy it, Chris. Maybe me and Andy'll join ya. For a better life, down tha' dusty road an' away from tha'dusty bowl. (Pack 'er up an' move fer Manifest Dest'ny, righ', Andy? An' don' worry: there ain't no spacific accent I were intendin'... Southern? Steinbeckian? West Side?) ("Spacific" pun intended.) Labels: Language, Midwestern Values, Travel, Tribute
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Or, well, born today, 200 years ago. But I was trying to play on a cliche, which doesn't work as well after I reread it. And I should edit it, but it's one of those things I can't bring myself to because it sounds cool and you still get the picture. Google is celebrating, in ways only they can. Scientific American is celebrating, with a podcast (how else?). And the finches are celebrating because, by gum, they were PART of the HMS Beagle voyage, and they deserve the celebrity status. I celebrate because Charlie's the poster boy for science and dinosaurs, the latter of which is the coolest thing ever to exist on Earth (I'M A RAPTOR! RAR!) and the former being the proof for that coolest thing ever. And I like any proof, unless it involves bisecting lines and supplemental angles. That kind of proof is less cool. Labels: Science/Technology, Tribute
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
It's two days late due to me not paying attention to the wires, but congrats to Windows, Microsoft, and the Alt-Tab key combination (which wasn't invented for another decade, I believe! Remember: young or old, hip or not, we are all PCs. Now, where's that iPod I ordered in the mail? As a further note: we end this somberly, mourning the passing of Microsoft Windows Write (see the box label). The bright side of things is that Paint is still going strong, and hasn't aged or updated itself a day! Labels: Science/Technology, Tribute
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
I'm fully back from vacation, which was one day, plus another two days' vacation from my brain.  That totem is pretty dirty, even by my blog's standards. P.S. Thanks, veterans. You're pretty rad people. Labels: Housecleaning, Tribute
Friday, October 31, 2008
After 96 years of fighting for the working man's message, here's one for you: Rest in peace, Mr. Terkel. Next to you, no body builder, lifeguard, or slutty fireman could be considered a Stud. I'll leave the rest to the Tribune, the Sun-Times, Roger Ebert, and then the oft-quoted Studs Terkel himself: "Curiosity did not kill this cat." Labels: Tribute
Saturday, September 27, 2008
"The History of Bolivia" A poem by Richard Brautigan Reprinted from this website. "Butch didn't die in Bolivia. He came home to Utah-- I saw him after he got back. The Sundance Kid was killed in Bolivia and it grieved Butch to leave him there." Next, to reprint that when Robert Redford dies. Labels: Tribute
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The last September 11th with George Bush as President! Ever! ... ... ... ...he doesn't have a son, does he?
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
It really WILL never be the same this time. Rest in Peace(s), Don LaFontaine. Labels: Tribute
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Why so poor? Besides the fact that he died, there's this little in-game in-joke that I made at his expense:  My name for the black sorcerer from Diablo I. Even I feel bad about that one (now). Labels: Tribute
Monday, June 23, 2008
While usually trying to skip the very audible buzzes coming from the rest of the media (and instead listen for the more inane buzzes coming from icanhascheezburger and the dumber news sites), I have to pay tribute to a fallen warrior of my kind. No, he was not feathered, but he was pony-tailed. I made it no secret that I thought Mr. George Carlin had gone off the deep end into ranting rather than comedy (which is funny when you read some interviews with him, where he says that sticking to the "funniness" is the most important part, but that's besides the point!). He spent more of his last decade before the lights went out attacking God than making fun of Him. However, George Carlin was, is, and forever will be a genius of delivery, a giant of cleverness, and a conductor of magical trains. Good luck up there on the rooftop, sir!
Friday, May 30, 2008
I totally forgot to give a shout-out to Harvey Korman yesterday on the blog. So here's the shout-out today: REST IN PEACE! Seriously. All the straightmen and second bananas in the world mourn.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
The other icon of currently something-rotten Berwyn, Svengoolie, paid tribute to the Spindle yesterday. However, some reports are saying that parts or possibly all of the Spindle could be put back together in a slightly different location. It won't be the same, but seriously? Close enough. Labels: Tribute
Sunday, May 04, 2008
It's sad, you know? I hadn't gotten to drive by it with "Bohemian Rhapsody" cranked for at LEAST two months. Labels: Tribute
They stole it. Cermak Plaza, the city of Berwyn (where was the landmark status?), whoever else involved. They stole it. Friday night/Saturday morning, they took an item of immense value down, piece by piece, tore it out like my heart, Wayne's World be damned. My dad once told me that the blue car, the third one from the top, was where our old car went. Never mind that it wasn't the right model: I was four. I STILL don't know cars. I think it was a Dodge. But this is my touching tribute to the sculpture that defined my neck of the woods. Berwyn, Forest Park, North Riverside... what else DID we have? A panther sighting? Okay, that was an obscure, ancient reference, even by my standards. Anyway, I wanted to say goodbye, Spindle. You were the tallest thing for miles. And you will stand taller every time you think of you. Labels: Tribute |
Like the Aviary?
Try Dave Barry Dave's Blog Dave's Site Dave's Columns
Chicago
Humor
Gaming
Sports
Technology
Politics
Informational
Completely Different |
