Chris Rodell's Blog, page 76
July 29, 2015
Killing the Mockingbird: Harper Lee, Rupert, MacLean, Dylan & Peck
(799 word)
I’ve had a number of people ask me if I’m going to read Harper Lee’s newly released 1957 novel “Go Set a Watchman.”
I will not.
Reading belatedly that Atticus Finch hates blacks would have the same effect on me as watching a newly released “Lone Ranger” program and seeing the Masked Man say his horse Silver sucks.
Lee, 89, is now the author of books that will be
I’ve had a number of people ask me if I’m going to read Harper Lee’s newly released 1957 novel “Go Set a Watchman.”
I will not.
Reading belatedly that Atticus Finch hates blacks would have the same effect on me as watching a newly released “Lone Ranger” program and seeing the Masked Man say his horse Silver sucks.
Lee, 89, is now the author of books that will be
July 28, 2015
Our summer of aliens & Earth's future
(628 words)
I tend to judge all illegal immigrants by how their being here will improve my culinary options so I’m fine with Mexicans.
And Thai, Japanese, French, Chinese, Italian and some of the South American nations I have trouble telling apart.
Really, I’d be fine if we’d slam the door shut on the English, Swedes and Germans — all lands of my ancestors — because they bring
I tend to judge all illegal immigrants by how their being here will improve my culinary options so I’m fine with Mexicans.
And Thai, Japanese, French, Chinese, Italian and some of the South American nations I have trouble telling apart.
Really, I’d be fine if we’d slam the door shut on the English, Swedes and Germans — all lands of my ancestors — because they bring
July 27, 2015
Conspiracy theories about Kecksburg UFO & parade
(779 words)
In a week where Stephen Hawking vowed to spend $100 million to detect aliens and Donald Trump counter-vowed to spend twice that much preventing them from crossing our Southern border, Val and I marched in a parade celebrating the little green kind that make Trump’s border jumpers look like simple pikers.
It was the 50th anniversary celebration of the Kecksburg UFO incident!
In a week where Stephen Hawking vowed to spend $100 million to detect aliens and Donald Trump counter-vowed to spend twice that much preventing them from crossing our Southern border, Val and I marched in a parade celebrating the little green kind that make Trump’s border jumpers look like simple pikers.
It was the 50th anniversary celebration of the Kecksburg UFO incident!
July 26, 2015
Re-run Sunday: Happy Birthday, Mick Jagger!
Happy 72nd Birthday, Mick Jagger! I wrote this in ’12 after he’d appeared on SNL. He was, of course, mesmerizing. We’ve never had a more compelling performer. Here are some of the justifying reasons . . .
This is bound to be controversial, but I’d rather watch Mick Jagger stand still and read “The Cat and The Hat” than look at most supermodels naked.
The calculus changes if the
This is bound to be controversial, but I’d rather watch Mick Jagger stand still and read “The Cat and The Hat” than look at most supermodels naked.
The calculus changes if the
July 24, 2015
Computers ruining simple cash transactions
(725 words)
Momentarily forgetting where I was, I wondered if the man staring so intently at the computer screen was coordinating a manned space flight to the distant Red Planet.
His furrowed-brow calculations seemed so painstaking.
Or maybe he was immersed in his daily hardcore.
Then it hit me, I wasn’t in Mission Control. I was in one of the local tire stores waiting for the
Momentarily forgetting where I was, I wondered if the man staring so intently at the computer screen was coordinating a manned space flight to the distant Red Planet.
His furrowed-brow calculations seemed so painstaking.
Or maybe he was immersed in his daily hardcore.
Then it hit me, I wasn’t in Mission Control. I was in one of the local tire stores waiting for the
July 21, 2015
Fanning vs. shark: We need a rematch!
(639 words)
Crafty producers have finally divined a way to make televised surf competitions more compelling than the Super Bowl.
Just add shark.
I wonder if they got the idea from Katy Perry’s Super Bowl performance, the one where the infamous “Left Shark” nearly stole the show.
A shark at a world surf competition in South Africa nearly one-upped the Perry shark.
It nearly
Crafty producers have finally divined a way to make televised surf competitions more compelling than the Super Bowl.
Just add shark.
I wonder if they got the idea from Katy Perry’s Super Bowl performance, the one where the infamous “Left Shark” nearly stole the show.
A shark at a world surf competition in South Africa nearly one-upped the Perry shark.
It nearly
July 19, 2015
Re-Run Sunday: On chicken fingers, breasts & nipples
This was from last July and my quest has yet to end. I’m still seeking my first plate of tasty chicken nipples. Once again, we’re having chicken breasts, but no nipples. What happens to all the chicken nipples? I’m dying to know.
Enjoy your Sunday!
(725 words)
I always make a point anytime we’re out at some family restaurant to ask the waitress if she has chicken fingers. The answer is
Enjoy your Sunday!
(725 words)
I always make a point anytime we’re out at some family restaurant to ask the waitress if she has chicken fingers. The answer is
July 17, 2015
My new office!
(1096 words)
The critical criteria for selecting a new office space were two: Would it allow opportunities for fun? And would it be a good place to fend off the marauding zombie hordes?
Because you just never know.
So my office search loosely paralleled the plot from the uproarious 2004 zombie Brit flick, “Shaun of the Dead.”
See, I’m not at all like the fancy writers, and by
The critical criteria for selecting a new office space were two: Would it allow opportunities for fun? And would it be a good place to fend off the marauding zombie hordes?
Because you just never know.
So my office search loosely paralleled the plot from the uproarious 2004 zombie Brit flick, “Shaun of the Dead.”
See, I’m not at all like the fancy writers, and by
July 15, 2015
My Social Security number exposed: identity at risk
(659 words)
It wasn’t the kind of thing a spouse usually writes on what was clearly an envelope containing a paycheck.
“This could be bad.”
But the reason she wrote that was because what was on the address wasn’t the kind of thing you usually see included on envelopes.
It was my social security number.
It was a paycheck from a London publisher.
My invoice is standard
It wasn’t the kind of thing a spouse usually writes on what was clearly an envelope containing a paycheck.
“This could be bad.”
But the reason she wrote that was because what was on the address wasn’t the kind of thing you usually see included on envelopes.
It was my social security number.
It was a paycheck from a London publisher.
My invoice is standard
July 14, 2015
The story of my webbed toes & other human deformities
(868 words)
I’m lately finding it irresistible to tell professional people I have webbed toes.
It started a few months ago in Pittsburgh. I was at some travel summit with people who promote and service the city tourist industry.
I was at a table with about a dozen friendly folks. We were taking turns introducing ourselves.
I mentioned I was from Latrobe. One woman asked if I knew
I’m lately finding it irresistible to tell professional people I have webbed toes.
It started a few months ago in Pittsburgh. I was at some travel summit with people who promote and service the city tourist industry.
I was at a table with about a dozen friendly folks. We were taking turns introducing ourselves.
I mentioned I was from Latrobe. One woman asked if I knew
