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Monthly Archives: February 2004

Hittin’ the Road Again

24-Feb-04

I won’t be posting for the next few days. I’m wrapping things up here in DC and will be heading back down to Beaufort, SC on Thursday. I’ll be there until Monday, when I’m off to Oregon, to visit my Dad, and then to Seattle, where I’ll meet up with Jill A. before heading to […]

Elmore Leonard’s 10 Rules for Writers…

24-Feb-04

…is an article worth reading. My favorite is Leonard’s summation:
If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. Or, if proper usage gets in the way, it may have to go. I can’t allow what we learned in English composition to disrupt the sound and rhythm of the narrative. It’s my attempt to remain invisible, […]

The Best Onion Piece I’ve Read in a Long Time…

23-Feb-04

…is Gillette CEO James M. Kilts’s reflections on a new strategy for a five-blade razor. Hilarious.

“Movieoke”

23-Feb-04

Jordan M writes:
Newley - have you heard about this? Movieoke? CNNjust did a story on it, so I looked it up online and found this article from Feb.13:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=4354663
The concept isn’t that new (Rocky Horror Picture Show is basically the same thing), but that story on CNN was pretty damn funny. […]

The Affiliations that Bind Us

23-Feb-04

MediaChest.com: “Borrow items from friends instead of renting; Meet new friends that like the same books, cds, dvds, and games that you like; Start building your own shared collection of media; Keep track of what you own; Make lists of stuff you want; Coordinate activities with friends.”
I remember reading something a while back about the […]

Addendum to My List of Ridiculous Business Concepts: A Cookbook about Eggs

23-Feb-04

Here’s another idea to add to my list of silly business ideas: a cookbook about eggs. Only eggs–not omelettes, not souffles, not quiches. Just eggs. Fried eggs, scrambled eggs, soft boiled eggs, you name it.
It’d include all sorts of techniques: thoughts on what to add to scambled eggs (I prefer half and half and […]

More on Taiwan

20-Feb-04

Here’re some more info on Taiwan, which I’ll soon be calling home:
News–BBC: “Taiwan’s President Chen Shui-bian has pledged not to declare independence from China if he is re-elected. His decision to call a referendum on security issues and whether or not talks should be restarted with Beijing has angered the mainland. …China regards Taiwan as […]

My New Nom de Plume: Gordon Shumway

19-Feb-04

This cracks me up. In reading the comments to this post on Reason’s Hit & Run, I noticed that someone wrote something and signed it “Gordon Shumway.” Gordon Shumway, in case you’d forgotten, is ALF’s official name.
From now on, when I don’t feel like explaining or spelling out my real name (reservations, etc.), I’m […]

A Font of Good Business Ideas I Most Certainly am Not

18-Feb-04

As Linus Pauling said, “The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.”
Because I think they’re ridiculous and funny and get a kick out of talking about ‘em, here’re some business concepts that occasionally flit in and out of my head like manic little hummingbirds. Some of these may–Got […]

Protests in Ecuador: Heating Up

18-Feb-04

QUITO, Ecuador (AP): “Riot police firing tear gas clashed with hundreds of Indian protesters Tuesday, leaving at least 17 people injured in the second day of demonstrations demanding more roads and better education for isolated Andean communities…”

Ecuador’s Gutierrez: The Next Andean Prez to Fall?

17-Feb-04

I’ve been saying it for a while–and Latin American commentator Al Giordano has been saying it for even longer: Ecuadorian president Lucio Gutierrez’s days may well be numbered.
Lucio’s a populist who got elected because he told the country’s poor indigenous voters that he’d help ‘em out. He hasn’t. They’re mad. And now there’re some […]

A Few Items

16-Feb-04

–I saw The Autumn Defense, headed by Wilco bassist John Stirratt, at Iota last night. The music was good. And Iota, as always, is such an excellent little venue.
–BBC: “Inmates at a prison in Ecuador have taken more than 100 people hostage to press their demands for speedier trials and better living conditions.”
–Jesus H. Christ. […]

My Newest Ecuadorian News Round-Up…

13-Feb-04

…which covers two violent attacks on high-profile leaders, illegal roses, frustrated oil companies, and aging soccer star Rene Higuita’s debut at latitude zero, is over at Southern Exposure.
Oh, and from the Small World News department: Miguel Centellas, who also writes for Southern Exposure and maintains an excellent blog from Bolivia, ran into my brother Mechum […]

Back from Beaufort and Bloggin’ Again

11-Feb-04

I’m back and I’m blogging, baby. Aren’t you glad?
Here’s what I’ve been up to since I last posted: Jill A. was here in DC visting me and Lindsey L. last week. Then Jill and I went down to my adopted hometown of Beaufort, South Carolina, last weekend. Among other things, we ate and we ate […]