Wmcmanus

ALERTS TO THREATS IN 2013 EUROPE From JOHN CLEESE The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent events in Syria and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada. The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years. The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France 's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides." The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose." Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels .. The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy. Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be right, Mate." Two more escalation levels remain: "Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!" and "The barbie is cancelled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of the last final escalation level. Regards, John Cleese , British writer, actor and tall person And as a final thought - Greece is collapsing, the Iranians are getting aggressive, and Rome is in disarray. Welcome back to 430 BC. Life is too short...

Setting your password: Sorry that password has expired- you must register a new one. Did anyone discover that password and hack my computer? No, but your password has expired- you must get a new one. Why then do I need a new one as that one seems to be working pretty good? Well, you must get a new one as they automatically expire every 30 days. Can I use the old one and just re-register it? No, you must get a new one. I don't want a new one as that is one more thing for me to remember. Sorry, you must get a new one. OK, roses. Sorry you must use more letters. OK, pretty roses No good, you must use at least one numerical space. OK, 1 pretty rose Sorry, you cannot use blank spaces. OK, 1prettyrose Sorry, you must use additional spaces. OK, 1fuckingprettyrose Sorry, you must use at least one capital letter. OK, 1FUCKINGprettyrose Sorry, you cannot use more than one capital letter in a row. OK, 1FUCKINGprettyroseshovedupyourassifyoudon'tgivemeaccess Rightfuckingnow Sorry, you cannot use that password as it is already being used

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Sopranos complete series on DVD. Amazon gold box deal of the day. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006CR2OOA/ref=xs_gb_A3GC2BPT64NDBI?pf_rd_p=441937901&pf_rd_s=right-1&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=20&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0MD6WB8GRXXXYEF7QPKV Seasons 2-5 still aren't out on BluRay, and for this kind of thing I don't see BluRay as that big of a deal anyway. It's not like I'll watch it over and over. I've seen most of the series already anyway (years ago). $105 seems good. Was about $170 when I checked recently.

Happy birthday, Tyll. I had to do a double take on this pic. My first reaction was Malcolm McDowell, and I mean that in the best possible way, you crazy fuck!

Really sorry for your loss, Mike.

Good post.

Have a good one, Tom!

The music world has just lost another good one. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/08/06/209493274/george-duke-legendary-jazz-keyboardist-dies

That's Hal Smith, the voice of many cartoon characters for Hanna Barbera. He was perhaps best known as Otis the drunk on The Andy Griffith Show.

Feel bad now... I once called a pilot a "glorified bus driver" when he cut in front of me and a bunch of other people to get his precious Cinnabon at the Charlotte airport. Apparently he was running late, and felt that his uniform was license to do whatever the fuck he wanted to do. Pilot's View: Airbus A380 approach and landing at San Francisco. http://www.wimp.com/approachlanding/

It really was good writing though, and somewhat innovative in its time. One of the first long running sitcoms that spoke to social issues. Andy Griffith, All in the Family, I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Abbott & Costello, Carol Burnett, etc., were all pure comedies. Well, arguably Andy Griffith attempted to do a little more, but it too rated well in both polls. Sort of a forerunner to Cheers, Taxi, Frasier, Friends, and even Seinfeld in some ways just in terms of the closeness of Mary's circle of friends.

Three Stooges missing from both lists. Not that there was a lot of brilliant writing... but still a landmark series in the history of television, even though just a series of disconnected "shorts".

I'm on the second season of Six Feet Under. Kind of odd in a number of ways, but obviously intentionally so, which then serves to limit the effectiveness of those oddities But I'm drawn to several characters and thus quite liking the show overall.

Jealous of Leon Russell's hair. Obviously not a bleacher.

It really does suck these days. That article made me want to puke.

You can't help but to get the sense that he knew how to treat a woman. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRuOQ9HfNfc WIth Leon Russell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0q8tq4RF8E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtJrOz-urWA

Really sad news today. http://www.whereseric.com/eric-clapton-news/303-jj-cale-dead-heart-attack I've always been a huge fan, and I can't exactly explain why. I have all of his albums and have seen him several times live. He was everything he was and nothing more. He didn't have to play the usual games of the music industry because he was never in any rush to get anywhere. He was an authentic musician. No pretense whatsoever. Didn't seem to have anything to prove. First time I saw him was in a small venue at an old theatre in Kansas CIty in the winter of '96 when I lived in town. Couldn't believe it. Just opened the paper one day, and said, "Shit! I can't believe I've never seen him yet!" He was on that night so it was a quick decision and I was instantly pumped. He came out by himself for the first set dressed in jeans, didn't bother to introduce himself, just sat on a stool and started strummin' for quite a while, then eventually he started to sing (long, long intro). Everything free and easy. He was in no hurry. He did three or four easily recognizable tunes, but I noticed that I was pretty much the only one singing along. After a while he asked for requests, and I was in the second row yelling them out one after another. There couldn't have been 300 people in the house. So after think my third request or so he said something like, "Glad someone still listens to those old records." It was the most gentle, sort of self-depreciating and at the same time nonchalant, as if to say "I'm Ok with myself" kind of statement. Everyone chuckled and then he kind of chuckled to himself. Then he asked, "Anyone in the back? Something you wanna hear?" At that point he got a couple of other requests, and from that point forward started to tell stories about each song, when it was written, what it was about, and the audience began to "get him." After a quick break, he came back for another set with a drummer, a guy on bass, and another rhythm guy. That was about it. Not a whole lot splashier than him sitting there by himself, but they did Cocaine, After Midnight, Call Me The Breeze, Cajun Moon, etc., and things sort of picked up a bit, but it never got much past second gear. Wouldn't have been his style. RIP, JJ Cale. You were one of my first and truest music heros.

Exactly. Brutal reality of the world he lived in. Nobody is above the game.