I'm sick and tired of microwaved and undercooked bacon when I eat out.
After a brief consultation with my son during an evening walk, I've decided I should retire from the 8-5 job and open a bacon place. My son offered some name suggestions for the place but I preferred my own. It shall be known as The Baconarium.
The Baconarium's only product will be fryed bacon and it will be fried in an iron skillet. There will be plenty of bacon choices. There will be, of course, thick slab or thin sliced bacon and there will be hickory smoked, maple cured, peppered, and mesquite smoked bacon and some of my bacon will be extra salty. I would like to offer bacon with a rind but probably will not for liability reasons. I'm not sure what would be the cost of liability insurance for The Baconarium but I'm pretty sure the Dental Damage Due to Rind Coverage would be substantial.
The drive-thru speaker will be a pink plastic pig's head and I'm thinking it might be good to locate near a sno-cone stand. You know how after eating something sweet you like something salty? My mouth actually waters when I imagine eating a cherry sno-cone and then having a nice crisp, salty slice of bacon. Mmmm. The drive-thru line should move pretty quickly so it would be convenvient to whip in and grab a 4-pack of bacon before moving on to the burger joint where one could top their Whopper with some REAL bacon.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Friday, May 19, 2006
MP3 Time Machine
What word describes two things so different as 1930's music on an MP3 player? I know some of the local blogging wordsmiths have just the perfect word and I'd like to know what is it.
On my MP3 player I have several songs by Leadbelly. Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter was born in 1888 on Jeter Plantation near Mooringsport, La., not far from the Texas border and recorded songs in the 1930's and 1940's while in prison. He was a large, nasty man, and served several sentences for assault and murder. He was good with a harmonica, an accordian, piano, guitar and a knife. He also liked liquor and women but seemed to not care much about the truth yet the man sang with the emotion of tough experience that is not heard much in music anymore. I find his music powerful and entertaining.
Most of Leadbelly's songs were traditional folk songs and can't be traced back to particular authors but most people have heard some of the songs he recorded. The song Leadbelly recorded as "In New Orleans" became famous when it was recorded by The Animals in 1993 as "The House of The Rising Sun". "Goodnight Irene" and "The Midnight Special" were also made popular by more contemporary artists.
Leadbelly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" is presented as in the Public Domain and can be downloaded from here: http://www.publicdomain4u.com/index.html
I find Leadbelly and his music fascinating and find his music on my MP3 player ___________ . If only I had the word.
On my MP3 player I have several songs by Leadbelly. Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter was born in 1888 on Jeter Plantation near Mooringsport, La., not far from the Texas border and recorded songs in the 1930's and 1940's while in prison. He was a large, nasty man, and served several sentences for assault and murder. He was good with a harmonica, an accordian, piano, guitar and a knife. He also liked liquor and women but seemed to not care much about the truth yet the man sang with the emotion of tough experience that is not heard much in music anymore. I find his music powerful and entertaining.
Most of Leadbelly's songs were traditional folk songs and can't be traced back to particular authors but most people have heard some of the songs he recorded. The song Leadbelly recorded as "In New Orleans" became famous when it was recorded by The Animals in 1993 as "The House of The Rising Sun". "Goodnight Irene" and "The Midnight Special" were also made popular by more contemporary artists.
Leadbelly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" is presented as in the Public Domain and can be downloaded from here: http://www.publicdomain4u.com/index.html
I find Leadbelly and his music fascinating and find his music on my MP3 player ___________ . If only I had the word.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Git a Rope! (Response to Texas Ranch House)
Wow, the Texas Ranch House series on PBS has generated a lot of debate and virulence! The show, which ran for 8 hours, May 1st through 4th, split viewers into Cowboys vs. Ranch Owners camps with very few on the Ranch Owners (the Bill Cooke family) team.
I agree the Cookes came across as pretty unlikable but most viewers were really upset with the way the show was presented. Many seemed to think the show should have been more historically accurate but I thought the producers of TRH made it pretty clear that the objective was to see how modern, 21st century people would perform in 1867 circumstances - not a presentation of how life really was back then. The participants were to use only the resources of the time and wear period clothing and were told to be themselves. They were not given scripts but they were given little books explaining a bit how things were done in 1867 just to help use some of the training they received in a two-week "boot camp" before being placed on location. The result was more reality TV than history but I found the show interesting nonetheless.
The Cooke family became pretty unlikeable by the end of the show (for the way they treated their hired help), but I came away with the impression the Cookes really are good people and I was impressed by the enthusiasm and perseverance shown by the three daughters. The Cookes just aren't well-suited to West Texas ranching with 19th century limitations, in my opinion. And I'm glad Bill is not my employer.
If you watched the show and are interested in comments made by viewers and participants, you'll find plenty of reading at the following sites:
Texas Ranch House Yahoo eGroup
where you'll find comments from the show participants under the usernames "genealogyorbust" (Mrs. Cooke), "slickchick2236" (Vienna Cooke) "Henry B. Crawford" (a consultant to the show), "msf2103" (Maura). Search the messages using a username to single out just those comments.
TRH forum at Televisionwithoutpity forums (95+ pages)
Search for Jarred's comments by looking for the username "wannabecowboy"
The PBS Ombudsman Column
There are many viewer comments here to PBS and a response from show executive William R. Grant
If you read all the comments in these three sites and still want more, you should seek professional help. My own appointment is at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
I agree the Cookes came across as pretty unlikable but most viewers were really upset with the way the show was presented. Many seemed to think the show should have been more historically accurate but I thought the producers of TRH made it pretty clear that the objective was to see how modern, 21st century people would perform in 1867 circumstances - not a presentation of how life really was back then. The participants were to use only the resources of the time and wear period clothing and were told to be themselves. They were not given scripts but they were given little books explaining a bit how things were done in 1867 just to help use some of the training they received in a two-week "boot camp" before being placed on location. The result was more reality TV than history but I found the show interesting nonetheless.
The Cooke family became pretty unlikeable by the end of the show (for the way they treated their hired help), but I came away with the impression the Cookes really are good people and I was impressed by the enthusiasm and perseverance shown by the three daughters. The Cookes just aren't well-suited to West Texas ranching with 19th century limitations, in my opinion. And I'm glad Bill is not my employer.
If you watched the show and are interested in comments made by viewers and participants, you'll find plenty of reading at the following sites:
Texas Ranch House Yahoo eGroup
where you'll find comments from the show participants under the usernames "genealogyorbust" (Mrs. Cooke), "slickchick2236" (Vienna Cooke) "Henry B. Crawford" (a consultant to the show), "msf2103" (Maura). Search the messages using a username to single out just those comments.
TRH forum at Televisionwithoutpity forums (95+ pages)
Search for Jarred's comments by looking for the username "wannabecowboy"
The PBS Ombudsman Column
There are many viewer comments here to PBS and a response from show executive William R. Grant
If you read all the comments in these three sites and still want more, you should seek professional help. My own appointment is at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
KWWT-WB30 and CW Update
As I mentioned in a previous entry, the WB (Warner Bros.) network will be combined with UPN (United Paramount Network) this September to become the CW (CBS-Warner) network. Currently KOSA-CBS in Odessa is also the local UPN affiliate and KWWT Channel 30 is the WB affiliate.
Today I talked with a person at KWWT and learned a bit more about their future. KWWT, transmitting from the Gardendale area, is looking forward to becoming the CW affiliate and hopes to move in to new offices soon. The person I spoke with was unable to give me a date but, since they will be required by the FCC to be digital by February 2009, we can hope their digital broadcast plans include HDTV as soon as possible.
KWWT broadcasts the WB over-the-air on channel 30 and can be found on Cox Cable channel 14, and on channel 5 on CableOne channel and on Grande.
Today I talked with a person at KWWT and learned a bit more about their future. KWWT, transmitting from the Gardendale area, is looking forward to becoming the CW affiliate and hopes to move in to new offices soon. The person I spoke with was unable to give me a date but, since they will be required by the FCC to be digital by February 2009, we can hope their digital broadcast plans include HDTV as soon as possible.
KWWT broadcasts the WB over-the-air on channel 30 and can be found on Cox Cable channel 14, and on channel 5 on CableOne channel and on Grande.
KPEJ-FOX24 HDTV update
I received confirmation today that KPEJ, the local FOX affiliate, still plans to get their High Definition TV signal on the air in mid-June. (KPEJ is already broadcasting digital, Standard Definition, on digital UHF channel 23.1) The transmitter is installed and wired but antenna installation was delayed until the tower could be strengthened. KPEJ will be broadcasting a 720p signal.
KPEJ will be the fourth station in the Permin Basin to broadcast High Definition, following KOSA-CBS7, KPBT-PBS13 and KWES-NBC9. KMID-ABC2 last reported that they will not be broadcasting HDTV until a new tower is built sometime in 2007.
KPEJ will be the fourth station in the Permin Basin to broadcast High Definition, following KOSA-CBS7, KPBT-PBS13 and KWES-NBC9. KMID-ABC2 last reported that they will not be broadcasting HDTV until a new tower is built sometime in 2007.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Cox to Offer Tivo Software on their DVRs?
Cox cable has been sending selected customers a request to complete a survey about their service. The interesting part of this survey is the implication that Cox may soon offer Tivo software on their Digital Video Recorders (DVRs). You really have to believe me when I tell you the Tivo experience is the best thing since Oreos and milk. And the software used on current cable company DVRs is pure evil. Have any of you local Cox subscribers seen this survey?
05/09/06
Well, of course, this entry becomes pointless locally because Cox has sold the Midland franchise to Cebridge. Actually, the entry was pointless long before today because the sale had been announced months ago. And to further prove my incompetence, my good friend Poor Old Bill of Cox cable had told me of the sale and his retaining his job a couple months ago. I plead senility. Thanks to The Fire Ant Gazette for the reminder.
Cebridge does already have the Midland service area and channel listings online so you Cox subscribers might want to check it out to see what, if anything, will change in the lineup.
05/09/06
Well, of course, this entry becomes pointless locally because Cox has sold the Midland franchise to Cebridge. Actually, the entry was pointless long before today because the sale had been announced months ago. And to further prove my incompetence, my good friend Poor Old Bill of Cox cable had told me of the sale and his retaining his job a couple months ago. I plead senility. Thanks to The Fire Ant Gazette for the reminder.
Cebridge does already have the Midland service area and channel listings online so you Cox subscribers might want to check it out to see what, if anything, will change in the lineup.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Let's Get Spacey
I did a little time-travelling the past few days with 500 of my geeky friends at the Texas Star Party at Ft. Davis. It's good to let millions-of-years-old photons strike your eyeballs once in awhile as you contemplate the vastness of the universe and are reminded how insignificant (at least size-wise) our pale blue dot is. We also enjoyed some great views of comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 that's currently in the news, and our old favorites Jupiter and Saturn. Saturn is positioned in the sky very well for early evening viewing right now so if you've never seen Saturn in a telescope, you're in luck.
Astronomy Day is next Saturday (May 6th) and the local astronomy club, West Texas Astronomers, will be hosting a public star party that evening. The star party will be held at 9 p.m. in Haley Park behind the Blakemore Planetarium. Weather permitting, you will see Saturn and its rings and the view is guaranteed to knock your socks off if you've never seen it before.
If you have any interest at all in astronomy, consider stopping by the Barnes & Noble bookstore Saturday where members of the West Texas Astronomers will have displays, some safe solar viewing viewing through telescopes outside, and will be glad to answer questions from from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Then meet them at Haley Park after sunset for those neat telescopic views. Click on the News & Events title at the WTA website for more information.
It's better than watching TV!
Astronomy Day is next Saturday (May 6th) and the local astronomy club, West Texas Astronomers, will be hosting a public star party that evening. The star party will be held at 9 p.m. in Haley Park behind the Blakemore Planetarium. Weather permitting, you will see Saturn and its rings and the view is guaranteed to knock your socks off if you've never seen it before.
If you have any interest at all in astronomy, consider stopping by the Barnes & Noble bookstore Saturday where members of the West Texas Astronomers will have displays, some safe solar viewing viewing through telescopes outside, and will be glad to answer questions from from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Then meet them at Haley Park after sunset for those neat telescopic views. Click on the News & Events title at the WTA website for more information.
It's better than watching TV!
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