Chris Rodell's Blog, page 67
December 27, 2015
RRS: C'mon, America! Let's all sing the national anthem!
It’s very pleasing to me when some old post finds a surprise audience. That’s what happened this week with this one from August ’12. Someone stumbled on this one about how proud I am to sing the national anthem and referred it to friends. Then they referred it to friends who referred it to friends and so on. It became one of the best-read stories of the month. So, naturally, I wanted to
December 23, 2015
War, Miss Universe & offbeat beauty pageants
(670 words)
Unlike the vast majority of knee-jerk bloggers, I wanted to wait a couple days before commenting on the Miss Universe now-you-see-it/now-you-don’t crowning.
I wanted to see if the nations of Philippines or Columbia declared war.
I didn’t think this was unrealistic.
I’ve never known the world to be more rife with what you could call silly killings.
People get killed in
Unlike the vast majority of knee-jerk bloggers, I wanted to wait a couple days before commenting on the Miss Universe now-you-see-it/now-you-don’t crowning.
I wanted to see if the nations of Philippines or Columbia declared war.
I didn’t think this was unrealistic.
I’ve never known the world to be more rife with what you could call silly killings.
People get killed in
December 22, 2015
I'm (not) dreaming of a tan Christmas
(743 words)
Unless we’re in for a sudden cold snap, it looks like for the first time in 10 years I won’t have a beard by at least New Year’s Day.
Shaving is a nuisance for me so it’s rare I do it more than once every three days.
Except in a typical winter. Then I don’t shave at all.
I remember a lordly economics professor of mine back in Athens who used to boast of his habit of every
Unless we’re in for a sudden cold snap, it looks like for the first time in 10 years I won’t have a beard by at least New Year’s Day.
Shaving is a nuisance for me so it’s rare I do it more than once every three days.
Except in a typical winter. Then I don’t shave at all.
I remember a lordly economics professor of mine back in Athens who used to boast of his habit of every
December 21, 2015
A Christmas re-run on office party butt scanning
I woke up thinking I was going to write about the Miss Universe humiliation, but couldn't get a feel for it. So I thought I'd instead re-run this '13 one about office party butt scanning. Consider it a warning.
(710 words)
I was further chagrined that moments after I announced the cancellation of my Pond office Christmas party, Dave expressed a nifty idea that would have made it really
(710 words)
I was further chagrined that moments after I announced the cancellation of my Pond office Christmas party, Dave expressed a nifty idea that would have made it really
December 18, 2015
A mishmash of Holiday & news related items
• I hate it when I post just three times in one week, but I enjoy it when I wake up and don’t feel any nonsensical obligation to post. So today’s a compromise item post. Scan at your leisure ‘cause that’s how I’m writing ‘em.
• I might be the only person in the world who is chagrined Martin Shkreli is under arrest. I was hoping we could kick him around a little longer. I have a compelling
• I might be the only person in the world who is chagrined Martin Shkreli is under arrest. I was hoping we could kick him around a little longer. I have a compelling
December 17, 2015
My strange date to the whale movie
(815 words)
When I heard the movie was being released, I got super excited. I marked the date on the calendar and told my wife to get her costume ready.
“Star Wars?”
Nope.
Sure, we’ll see it, but I’m baffled by the multitudes who are treating “Star Wars” like it’s “Resurrection II,” a can’t-miss blockbuster starring, I guess, Christian Bale — if casting guy named Christian to play
When I heard the movie was being released, I got super excited. I marked the date on the calendar and told my wife to get her costume ready.
“Star Wars?”
Nope.
Sure, we’ll see it, but I’m baffled by the multitudes who are treating “Star Wars” like it’s “Resurrection II,” a can’t-miss blockbuster starring, I guess, Christian Bale — if casting guy named Christian to play
December 14, 2015
Seeing "Wonderful Life" a national obligation
(652 words)
It is my patriotic conviction no one in America should be allowed to see “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” until everyone can prove they’ve seen “It’s A Wonderful Life.
It’s that important to our national well-being.
I’m dumbfounded over how many people haven’t seen our most essential Christmas classic.
It is, I guess, understandable for younger generations. They’re subjected
It is my patriotic conviction no one in America should be allowed to see “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” until everyone can prove they’ve seen “It’s A Wonderful Life.
It’s that important to our national well-being.
I’m dumbfounded over how many people haven’t seen our most essential Christmas classic.
It is, I guess, understandable for younger generations. They’re subjected
December 11, 2015
A heartwarming tale of Christmas woe; a holiday tradition
I’ve been doing this blog thing long enough that some readers make traditional requests. This one is perennial. It’s about what was one of the worst days of my life. If my telling it again makes people happy and brings them some Christmas cheer, then it was all worth it. I mean that.
I re-tell it now because the instigating event will be enjoyed again tonight and I want to make sure the
I re-tell it now because the instigating event will be enjoyed again tonight and I want to make sure the
December 10, 2015
Shouldn't 2016 be 2,016? Thoughts on commas
(541 words)
I wonder if back in the year 999 AD there were hysterical arguments about whether or not the then-modern world was going to collapse because they were adding another digit to the year.
Remember, there was a similar ruckus in 1999 when we were warned our computers were going to haywire because they weren’t programmed to handle the preceding 2.
It was the Y2K bug, that year’s
I wonder if back in the year 999 AD there were hysterical arguments about whether or not the then-modern world was going to collapse because they were adding another digit to the year.
Remember, there was a similar ruckus in 1999 when we were warned our computers were going to haywire because they weren’t programmed to handle the preceding 2.
It was the Y2K bug, that year’s
December 9, 2015
Me by the numbers: A numeric fact sheet
(874 words)
I’ve lived in 13 residences in 5 towns (Pittsburgh/Athens, Ohio/Nashville/Greensburg and Latrobe) over my 52 years.
I was tallying the number of places I’ve lived in the hopes it might lead to a decent post. Then I thought, gee, if I write about the number of places I’ve lived then sticklers are going to want to know the number of cars I’ve owned, the number of songs in my
I’ve lived in 13 residences in 5 towns (Pittsburgh/Athens, Ohio/Nashville/Greensburg and Latrobe) over my 52 years.
I was tallying the number of places I’ve lived in the hopes it might lead to a decent post. Then I thought, gee, if I write about the number of places I’ve lived then sticklers are going to want to know the number of cars I’ve owned, the number of songs in my
