A Little G in a Big D

Hi all. Nothing much to say, really, but there are some pretty big changes coming at my paper that no doubt will give me plenty of blogging fodder. In the meantime, enjoy the following …

So, one of the more annoying things our black cat, Cato, does is insist (yes, insist) on joining me in the … uhhh … well, bathroom … while I … uhhh … do my morning business. He’ll literally beat on the door (usually opening it) or just cause a ruckus outside if he’s not let in. Since Michelle is usually gone at this point in the morning, I just leave the door open so he can come and go as he pleases. I’m not sure why he wants to be in there — loneliness, curiosity, a fascination with the last stage of digestion — but I’ve grown used to his company; and I find it better for all involved if I keep him busy, too, instead of letting him rub back and forth on my legs … or sniff the toilet bowl … yes, he has really done that. Anyway, doesn’t take much — a discarding toilet paper roll, floss, whatever. He’s happy, I’m happy.

Michelle is getting ready to put new mirrors up in the bathrooms, so there were a few tools around there this morning. Notably, there was a laser level thingie. Now I’ve been told before that cats LOVE laser pointers, but as I don’t own one, I’d never tried … up until this morning. Let me tell you, it was a hoot. Decided to make a little movie when I got back from the gym, since he was so animated earlier. You’ll need to download Quicktime, which you can do here.

Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, I give you “Cato vs. the Evil Laser”

That will teach me to play with cats while barefoot.

- g -

Not a whole lot going on around here to report, sadly — but I guess no news is good news, as my brother often says. I’ll have more on the goings on in Mid-MO soon (as soon as something happens around here); in the meantime, I offer the following …

Apparently, deep within the bowels of the Internet, a hearty debate races: who would win in a fight, a pirate, or a ninja? Seriously, this is, like, a big debate amongst the Cyberspace Dork Illuminati.

So, I ask, who better to review a movie about pirates (this month’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, specifically), than THE ninja authority — The Ninja over at AskANinja.com.

Check out the review here — it’s seriously one of the funnier things I’ve seen in a while. Granted, I can never pass up a good ninja (or a pirate, for that matter), but the black pajamas and quick reflexes aside, this is just a great review — I’d rather see 100 of these than read one more boring review from that annoying guy at the Chicago Sun-Times.

To make this even better, All Things Considered from NPR actually played an edited version of this review on their Friday edition — no sh*t!! I thought I’d died and gone to heaven when they made a segue into the clip; there’s something truly magical (in a “life is funny” sense, of course) about hearing Robert Siegel use the word “ninja” in his broadcast.

And speaking of pinko-liberal, bleeding-heart public radio …

About two weeks ago, Public Radio International’s This American Life played one of my all-time, favorite pieces of theirs — “Deal of a Lifetime.” You can read more about the piece here. You can also listen to it by clicking on the blue speaker icon next to the title to listen to the piece; or you can click here. Either way, it will start a streaming MP3 file, so you’ll need some sort of player for that. Like any good, snobby Mac person, I recommend iTunes.

Anyway, the piece in question isn’t until Act Three, so you’ll have to wait about 20 or so minutes to get to it. Sorry. But, Acts One and Two are also worth a listen — very funny. Besides, “Deal of a Lifetime” is totally worth the wait — a touching, funny, very human story, the kind of reportage that makes me want to quit the toilet-paper publishing business, sell my camera gear and buy a mic and recorder. There’s just something about radio that lends itself to some really candid, deep storytelling. Sigh …

That’s all. Take care, and talk to you all soon.

- g –