Category Archives: Uncategorized

September 11, 2014

Thursday, September 11, 2014 – Patriot’s Day

Tuesday, September 11, 2001 at 8:46:30 AM – American Airlines Flight 11 hits the North Tower of the Twin Towers. or Tower One of The World Trade Center.

The inscription at the bottom of the picture reads: “At the time of their completion in 1973 the “Twin Towers” were the tallest buildings in the world. The North Tower, World Trade Center One, was 1,368 feet tall. The South Tower, World Trade Center Two, was 1,362 feet tall. The Twin Towers were destroyed in the terrorists’ attacks on September 11, 2001.”

I took this photograph on July 22, 1986. The last of the five World Trade Center Buildings was completed that year.

Twin Towers (800x532)

With the Hudson River in background. Probably taken from atop the Empire State Building.

Blue towers scene (2) - Copy (800x526)

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Listed below are ten sets of famous lines from one of the funniest movies in the world. Your task is to determine at which line you know this movie. For example, if you guess it at number one, you are a member of the cult following and recite scenes by memory. If you still do not know by number 10, you need to see this movie. Extra credit if you can name the actor who said the lines.

  1. PUT THE CANDLE BACK!
  2. WERE WOLF! WHERE WOLF? THERE WOLF!
  3. MY WHAT BIG KNOCKERS? VHY SANK YOU DOCTOR.
  4. VOULD YOU LIKE SOME VARM MILK? SOME OVALTINE?
  5. ABBY SOMETHING. ABBY NORMAL.
  6. WHAT HUMP?
  7. SEDAGIVE?!?? SEDAGIVE?!??
  8. TAFFITA, DAHLING. TAFFTA. NO TONGUE
  9. YOU LITTLE ZIPPER NECK, YOU!
  10. OH SWEET MYSTERY OF LIFE I THINK I FOUND YOU…

Even though Hollywood thinks Blazing Saddles is his best work, I think Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks is better. This month marks the 40TH Anniversary of the movie.  It took many takes to capture a scenes because of the laughter among the actors and crew.  It took 32 takes to shoot the scene where Madeline Kahn arrives at the castle and Marty Feldman falls in love with her and then tries to bit the head off of her fox fur.  Brooks finally bought 100 white handkerchiefs for the crew to stuff into their mouths to not laugh. The actors finally held it together and Brooks turned around to find a sea of white handkerchiefs.  Funny moments. He was my BOYFRIEND!!!

So here’s to Young Frankenstein for turning 40.  THAT’s Frankensteen!

  1. Teri Garr/Gene Wilder
  2. Marty Feldman/Gene Wilder/Marty Feldman
  3. Gene Wilder/Teri Garr
  4. Cloris Leachman
  5. Marty Feldman
  6. Marty Feldman
  7. Gene Wilder
  8. Madeline Kahn
  9. Madeline Kahn
  10. Madeline Kahn

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Academic Tuesday

A Comparative Analysis of Television and Cable Communication Systems of Major Collegiate Institutions during the Annual Autumnal Football Season

Today, students, we are going to compare The Longhorn Network (LHN) with the SEC Network (SEC). Let’s begin.

LHN

SEC

Has One (1) Channel

Has a subchannel for no extra cost

Can watch One Game

Can watch two SEC games

Can watch ONE team and the opponent

Can watch many teams and opponents

Only has ONE school so one team

Has 14 schools so 14 teams

Lost Kaylee Hartung

Has Kaylee Hartung

Have to watch Iowa State and Kansas

Do not have to watch Iowa State or Kansas

Limited programming

24/7 programming

Does not have Brent Musberger

Have to listen to Brent Musberger

Does not have Paul Finebaum

Who is Paul Finebaum?

Fights with providers over money

Plays on many providers

Makes millions of dollars

Makes many millions of dollars

Plays 2005 National Championship over and over

Makes multiple national championships from past five years

Does not share profits of network

Shares the profits of network so everybody benefits

LOOSING TEAM

WINNING TEAMS

 

Monday, September 8, 2014

Monday, September 8, 2014

College Football – Week Two

This week in college football was the David and Goliath of conferences. It is when smaller colleges and universities get to play with big colleges and universities. It is also known as the major Fundraising Weekend for the Athletic Department for the smaller schools. So my awards today are:

Most points scored with a whopping 73 – it is a tie between Clemson and Texas A&M. Second place goes to Baylor with 70.

Largest margin of victory – It is Texas A&M for 70 to 3 over Lamar. The game began after two hour and ten minute delays when 180 lighten strikes were recorded. But never fear the First Lady of Aggieland was prepared.

Reveille in the Rain

The Almost Blew award in the Big 12 goes to Kansas State for having to come from behind to beat Iowa State. Why does the Big 12 even play a school with a weather pattern for a mascot? I always think Iowa State is USC. There must be some kind of copyright infringement for one of them.

For Being Able to Play with the Big Boys – it is a tie between McNeese who gave Nebraska a run for the cornfields and UTSA for hanging tough with Arizona until the bitter 1:02 seconds left in the game. You better be ready Oklahoma State. Those Texas boys can play.

Ugly Uniforms, including Helmets – It is Oregon, who else? But you did knock out Michigan State, so wear whatever you want.

The Patsy Cline – I Fall to Pieces Award– It is The University Texas. And it is not going to get any easier. And It Keeps Right on a Hurting…

The Best Team of the Week Award goes to – Virginia Tech for upsetting the previously #8 ranked, THE Ohio State University. And we do the Hokey Pokey as the Aggies rise in the polls to number seven.

The Way to Hang Tough Award – goes to Sam Houston State, Lamar, Toledo, Northwestern and all of the smaller schools who lost the game on the first play or the first series, but stayed until the time ran off the clock.

First Yell 2014

First Yell 2014

First Yell

Friday, September 5, 2014 – Late

Friday, September 5, 2014

My apologies for being late.  Tonight is First Yell and Midnight Yell Practice so I had to take a long nap in order to stay awake.  First Yell 2014 is a relatively new tradition that features a concert in Reed Arena prior to Midnight Yell. This year it is booked as Texas Dance Hall Legends. Performing are: Johnny Bush, Gary P. Nunn, Joe Ely, Roger Creager and Max Stallings. Well, I think I have spent enough time in Texas dance halls to have a feel for the environment. My beer does not cost $5.00 a bottle or can or whatever container it has to be in to meet rules and regulations of the TABC. This event begins at 8:00 followed by Midnight Yell Practice. Actually I am not attending either event. I do not have a date nor do I have a cigarette lighter to attend Midnight Yell. I wonder if cell phones have replaced lighters. For the uninformed and/or uninitiated, at Midnight Yell Practices when they turn the lights off, you are supposed to kiss your date or hold the lighter or cell phone above your head to show that you are not with anyone.You do this until the lights come back on. I can do this at home too..The fact that Midnight Yell Practice averages 30,000 in attendance has nothing to do with the fact I am not leaving my house. Nor will I be attending the game in the newly renovated Kyle Field because that is three times Yell Practice attendance.  However, should any of you plan on attending know that with the new design there are THREE women’s bathrooms to each ONE men’s bathroom. There had to be a woman on the planning committee.  The other item new to Kyle Field concessions is a fried hot dog.  I am suspicious of that. I hope there are enough bathrooms.  Gig’Em.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Good Morning, Class.  Our vocabulary word for the day is “trill.” By the end of this paragraph you should be able to give the origin of the word; the definition; it’s classification as a part of speech; plus the new usage of the term. And finally, as your higher order thinking skill, you must be able to use the word in a sentence. 

The origin of the word lies in a rap song.  It is a hybrid or combination of the words “truth” and “real.” Wouldn’t that be “treal?” Perhaps it is the accent. Besides what is a hybrid word? Isn’t that just a word you made up? The word can be used as a noun or an adjective. It is used both as a proper noun and to describe the skills and attributes of the proper noun. It cannot be used as an adverb, because that would be trilly. That is a new hybrid word for tried, but silly.

The new usage of the term is that it is the adopted nickname of Kenny Hill. Rather than Kenny Football, the Texas A&M quarterback has chosen Kenny Trill. Or Kenny Truth and Real.  Let’s hope so.

And for your higher order thinking skill our sentence is:  Kenny Trill will lead his team to BTHO Lamar.

I hope you paid special attention to today’s lesson.  It could be on the test!

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Last Saturday as I was cleaning, I looked out my beveled glass pane in my front door just in time to see the Jehovah Witnesses walking around down street. Now don’t get me wrong. I respect a belief system that has a major tenet that includes “Thou will have many doors slammed in your face.” Nevertheless, I ran to the back of house and hid safely in the study. These four women resembled Sister Wives. You know – long, ugly print dress that was originally designated for furniture, big hair and very ugly shoes. Turns out it was neither the Jehovah Witnesses nor the Mormons, but rather the Pentecosts. They left a small calling card at my front door. Here’s what I’m thinking. Should solicitors for any purpose ring your door bell, I have developed a few strategies. This first one is tested, tried and true. Open the door wearing shorts, a T-Shirt, Birkenstocks and your motorcycle helmet. The second one, not attempted, but should work theoretically. Open the door wearing only a towel. On your head. Before they can recover, jump alongside one of them and take a selfie from the waist up. Under no circumstances should you invite them in for dinner. However, inviting them in is tested, tried and true too. Just ask my sister.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

There was once a governor named Rick Perry,

Whose presidential aspirations were scary,

But he got indicted for power abuse,

Which is just another way of saying “Oops.”

All because of a DA named Rosemary.

 

Monday, September 1, 2014

Monday, Labor Day, September 1, 2014

Happy Labor Day

My friend, Cecil, has been on a three week cruise. I thought I would update him on anything important that took place while he was gone. The categories are in order of importance.

NCAA Football – Division I – Week I

College football season kicked off last weekend. My Monday morning awards for my teams or teams that influence my teams are:
Oklahoma State – The Cowboys win the “Way to scare the Indians” Award. It was fun to see the No. 1 team running for their lives.
Baylor – The Bears looked good and win the “Beautiful, new stadium” Award. Long night for SMU. Hope Petty is OK.
Auburn, Georgia, Alabama and LSU – You share the “Poo Poo Undies” Award for scaring your fans and not winning until the second half or the fourth quarter.
Texas – Glad you got a Strong win. Of course, it was North Texas who should be playing SMU. I predict Ash will be hurt before Big 12 play begins.
Texas A&M – the strongest looking team in college football. And that is not a subjective opinion. Check ESPN. Why is SMU even on the Aggie schedule?

The World
These ISIS terrorists continue to terrorize the world. These terrorist are so mean, they have been kicked out of Al Qaida.

National/Texas Politics

There is movement for a Cruz/Perry or Perry/Cruz ticket for president. I do not know who is behind such a movement, but I now believe in Zombies, because these people obviously have no brains.

And the Tweet Heard ‘Round the Twitter sphere. Captain Hairspray sent a tweet this morning with the mug shot of the Austin, DA, Rosemary Lindberg, with the caption “Drunkest Democrat in Texas.” He then retracted the tweet and said he did not know how that happened. If you do not know how to tweet, then don’t play on Twitter. The attribute of Twitter is that it is INSTANT. Even if you retract the tweet within seconds, it has already hit the Twitter sphere, or in this case the proverbial fan, and somebody’s phone dinged or beeped and you were busted. Even if Captain Hairspray did not send the tweet, it still presents a problem. If he did not do it, then somebody near enough to hijack his phone did. I think it might have been better to say, “The Democrats did it and hacked my Twitter account,” rather than “I don’t know what happened,” which is just another way of saying “Oops.” Here’s What I’m Thinking – I think you should just come back to Texas and figure out exactly what the indictments against you are. You are not indicted for bribery. And I am not a lawyer either.