Jersey’s Best Hot Dogs

If I had to choose to eat one kind of food for the rest of my life, what would it be?

That is so easy… cheeseburgers.  But if I could only have two choices, the next would be hot dogs.  I just learned that Max's is a darn satisfying option for one's 'dog needs.

As I surfed the web looking for an official site for Max's, I came across another neat find.  It's called HollyEats.  It is written by Holly Moore, a semi-famous Philadephian restaurateur and critic who shares my philosophy that diners, truck stops, and dive-bars can consistently serve up some of the best junk food there is.  He also has sections for Carolina BBQ (way different from the Texan and Northern style), New England, and Philly. 

There is a section for cheap Las Vegas foods, which I imagine could potentially be a survival guide for those less-fortunate gamblers who Lady Luck did not only not smile upon but wined them, dined them, spent all their money and left them broke in the gutter.

Correction on Stuck In Traffic

Really dumb mistake.  I worried so much about other things for the blog that I accidentally put down the wrong number.  The correct number for Stuck in Traffic is 206-337-1898… NOT 209.  Please call, leave a message and we will put it up asap!

Stuck In Traffic- Podcast Site

While sitting around the NJLA convention, as we Librarian-gang members do, my friends and I came up with a podcast site which we are hoping great things for.

It is called "Stuck In Traffic" and here's how it works.  When you are on a commute and feeling stressed from running late, broken air conditioner, or having to watch some idiot in front of you make a right turn from the far left lane,  call 206-337-1898 and vent away into the answering machine.  When you are done, the message will automatically be posted onto the site so that others can listen and commiserate with your woes.

It is in the testing phase for success, but I think many people in New Jersey, New York, L.A., Boston, and other densely populated regions could find some good therapy in this site.

The best/worst horror film ever made?

I know some people would argue Beast of Yucca Flats is tops(for the bottom of the barrel, that is).  Forgettable? Yes.  In fact, so much so that you can find several variations on the title for this film as no one seems to remember it.  Although, I do have to give them the extra-special-mad-props for their tagline, "Commies made him an atomic mutant!"

Doom Asylum falls under a more entertaining type of terrible though.  I can remember when my friends and I sat down in high school to watch this film (my friend Sean and I made it a goal to watch every film in the video store that had the word "dead" in the title… we succeeded).  We spent hours rewinding and pausing the tape to admire the complete lack effort and detail put for in the special effects. 

  Bad acting and bad writing that combine for hilarious results.  In fact, some lines are quite memorable due to their inanity.  Fifteen years since we first saw this film, my friends and I can still be heard screaming "The People United" on very cold and inebriating nights.

Anyone else care to share their input?

Off to the NJLA

Over the next two days, I will be at the NJLA Conference in Long Branch, New Jersey.  I'm excited as I am one of the co-hosts for the Information Technologies Podcasting booth.  I hope my allergies clear up before then.  If not, listen for the nasally guy with a semi-Midwestern accent…. that's me.

Back to a Simpler Time…

Nobody really knows themselves until they spend a night alone in the woods.  Sleeping bag, water, some fruit, pencil and paper…. nothing else. 

Ten years ago, I worked at a camp in the Pocono Mountains.  The only comforts I brought with me were a small stereo and an acoustic guitar.  Other than that, it was work and books while being confined to a dilapidated cabin in the middle of nowhere; the mice used to run on me while I was asleep.

If I were to make a list of all the 'comforts' in my living room right now it would readlike this:  TV, DVDs, DVD player, VCR (y'know, in case the DVD player breaks down), mp3 player, computer, two guitars, a bass, digital camera & printer, and recording system.

Somehow, this is progress.

Don't get me wrong, I love technology.  I am lost without my computer or cellphone.  The mp3 player is a godsend for my music and audio-book needs.  However, when I see all this stuff sitting around me and think of how much busier life has gotten, I can't help but pine for the days in the Mountains.  Days when I woke up, walked trails and sang songs in the middle of nowhere.

Back in the days when I didn't even have a telephone.

Make Your Own Comic Books

I've known about this for awhile and can't believe I didn't spread the word sooner.  Planetwide Comics has a great comic book creator program.  It allows you to use drawings from their own template or to use your own digital photos, scanned drawings and images in order to create the comic book you always wanted to make (admit it… you do!).

And it is also quite cheap.  Education and public institutions can buy the programs for $10 less than the listed price! 

The Research Process- Excellent Resource

The Cambridge Rindge & Latin School has a great website for a systematic approach to doing research.  Content writer, Holly Samuels, includes "tip sheets" at the bottom of most pages and a rationale as to why each step is necessary.  She also provides links to other websites/resources which may help students (such as the link to Citation Maker at the bottom of her works cited page).  It is endorsed by other educational sites such as Homework Spot, Education World, and Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators.

Definitely check out this site.

Politics- The Musical!

I have an idea for a musical, a satire on politics.  The founding fathers sit around and talk about democracy and how to win in politics.  Every song in it will be sung to the tune of either a nursery rhyme or a children's song because, let's face it, politicians are pretty juvenile when it comes down to it.

 The only exception for the songs will be when the founding fathers sing about freedom and pursuit of happiness… that needs to be sung as a gospel for ironic and very sad reasons.

(Sung to the tune of She'll be comin' round the mountain)

 "Oh when your opponent's smarter than you, fling some mud!

When you haven't got an answer, fling some mud!

It doesn't matter what you're saying,

just the message your conveyin'

which doesn't matter if the others full of muuud!"

Photoshop Fans

Worth 1000 is a photoshoppers dreamsite.  They host many contests in which photobuffs are challenged to use their creativity and skill in order to make lifelike modified photos of impossible things (Famous People into anime, corporate logos on bugs, etc.).  There is some incredible artwork done here.

Definitely worth a look for anyone.