Chris Rodell's Blog, page 54
July 14, 2016
My new business cards!
(591 words)
Two weeks after reading a convincing story about the irrelevance of business cards and what do I do?
I go out and spend $168.89 on new business cards.
I suppose that means I should have in the space where the rest of the stodgy traditionalists list the occupation put “CHIEF BONEHEAD.”
I earn the sobriquet because I had printed, not one, but two distinct brands. One for
Two weeks after reading a convincing story about the irrelevance of business cards and what do I do?
I go out and spend $168.89 on new business cards.
I suppose that means I should have in the space where the rest of the stodgy traditionalists list the occupation put “CHIEF BONEHEAD.”
I earn the sobriquet because I had printed, not one, but two distinct brands. One for
July 13, 2016
The incredible true story of how I became superhero Elasta Bladder (from '13)
(735 words)
Alfred Hitchcock said the length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder. Interesting perspective from a filmmaker whose last name concludes with a vulgarity involving an essential component of male urination.
Of course, he made the statement about 30 years prior to the introduction of the pause button that rendered his point mostly moot.
Alfred Hitchcock said the length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder. Interesting perspective from a filmmaker whose last name concludes with a vulgarity involving an essential component of male urination.
Of course, he made the statement about 30 years prior to the introduction of the pause button that rendered his point mostly moot.
July 12, 2016
Brace yourself: Earth running out of sand!
(591 words)
It’s not easy being a “big picture” guy with a measly 38-inch TV, but I manage. I fret over trends, long-term consequences and hidden dangers far from the front pages that report over so many daily panics.
I worry about all the elemental stuff that’s disappearing before our very eyes: the ozone layer, fresh drinking water, the rain forests and watchable Hollywood movies for
It’s not easy being a “big picture” guy with a measly 38-inch TV, but I manage. I fret over trends, long-term consequences and hidden dangers far from the front pages that report over so many daily panics.
I worry about all the elemental stuff that’s disappearing before our very eyes: the ozone layer, fresh drinking water, the rain forests and watchable Hollywood movies for
July 11, 2016
The Pond is for sale again (this is not a re-run)
(746 words)
It was one-year ago I wrote what I consider one of my sunniest-in-the-face-of-adversity posts of all time.
I’d just been evicted — Evicted! Me! — from my long-time office above my favorite bar (look closely and you'll see me waving out the window above). The legal maneuver was necessitated by the sale of The Pond, the landmark Latrobe tavern that had been run by three
It was one-year ago I wrote what I consider one of my sunniest-in-the-face-of-adversity posts of all time.
I’d just been evicted — Evicted! Me! — from my long-time office above my favorite bar (look closely and you'll see me waving out the window above). The legal maneuver was necessitated by the sale of The Pond, the landmark Latrobe tavern that had been run by three
July 8, 2016
Chillin' in Reynoldsville; yesterday's talk
(746 words)
I’m no longer surprised when one of my talks is a big success.
I am, however, becoming increasingly surprised I’m not booked each and every day now through 2020. That’s how well it’s going.
Take yesterday.
I was the speaker for about 60 friendlies at a fundraiser for the Reynoldsville Public Library, nestled between Punxsutawney and Dubois where my Mom was raised and
I’m no longer surprised when one of my talks is a big success.
I am, however, becoming increasingly surprised I’m not booked each and every day now through 2020. That’s how well it’s going.
Take yesterday.
I was the speaker for about 60 friendlies at a fundraiser for the Reynoldsville Public Library, nestled between Punxsutawney and Dubois where my Mom was raised and
Random thoughts on race, "Three Dog Night" song "Black and White (From '14)
I played “Black and White” by Three Dog Night as soon as I got to my office today. It’s a good song, by a band that really doesn’t get their due as far as being tuneful craftsman.
The song reached No. 1 in 1972 when many euphorically believed we were on the verge of an era when race issues no longer mattered.
It was written, I learned, in 1954 by David I. Arkin and Earl Robinson to
The song reached No. 1 in 1972 when many euphorically believed we were on the verge of an era when race issues no longer mattered.
It was written, I learned, in 1954 by David I. Arkin and Earl Robinson to
July 7, 2016
I pranked the trash man today (from '10)
I guess it all starts with me wanting to be a garbage man. Some would say I achieved that goal from 1992-2000 when I worked for National Enquirer, a job that required sifting through the occasional trash bin.
But I’m not talking about a journalistic trash man.
I’m talking about the real thing.
As a boy, I’d thrill every time the big truck with the burly men hanging off the back came
But I’m not talking about a journalistic trash man.
I’m talking about the real thing.
As a boy, I’d thrill every time the big truck with the burly men hanging off the back came
July 6, 2016
"You've got (junk) mail!" An investigation into OUR e-mails
(547 words)
Frothing political commentators, both right and left, are missing what is to me the most surprising aspect of the FBI investigation of Hillary’s 30,000 e-mails.
She in four years received just 30,000 e-mails?
I bet I get that many when I duck downstairs for a quick beer.
The FBI is coming under right-wing criticism for not indicting Clinton. I think the FBI should be
Frothing political commentators, both right and left, are missing what is to me the most surprising aspect of the FBI investigation of Hillary’s 30,000 e-mails.
She in four years received just 30,000 e-mails?
I bet I get that many when I duck downstairs for a quick beer.
The FBI is coming under right-wing criticism for not indicting Clinton. I think the FBI should be
July 5, 2016
Fourth parades need old Vietnam War protesters
(700 words)
We were about 90 minutes into the grand Latrobe Fourth of July parade when I was struck by an idea I know is bound to be controversial.
I can’t help it. The mind tends to wander when it’s watching more than 200 redundant firetrucks crawl by at 2 mph.
What, I was thinking, could we as a community do to add promotional zip to the parade?
Sure, a county-wide arson spree
We were about 90 minutes into the grand Latrobe Fourth of July parade when I was struck by an idea I know is bound to be controversial.
I can’t help it. The mind tends to wander when it’s watching more than 200 redundant firetrucks crawl by at 2 mph.
What, I was thinking, could we as a community do to add promotional zip to the parade?
Sure, a county-wide arson spree
July 3, 2016
The prisons we construct around ourselves (from '12)
It was 24 years ago this weekend I quit my last job and began shacking up with Val. I last wrote about it in '12. Still feel the same so it's today's re-run.
I thought about commemorating the 20-year anniversary of my doing mostly nothing by doing more nothing, but that seemed too obviously redundant.
This weekend marked 20 years since I quit the last salaried job I ever had.
I thought about commemorating the 20-year anniversary of my doing mostly nothing by doing more nothing, but that seemed too obviously redundant.
This weekend marked 20 years since I quit the last salaried job I ever had.
