Addiction

Hi...
My name is Mitch... and I am an addict.
Not to drugs (though, hey - what happens when a group of people experiment with pharmacutical grade narcotics is up to them and their conscience). Not to alcohol.. no...really. Ok - those are just stories. No, I never saw those photos - Oh, nevermind!

I am addicted to Lost.
For those of you who have never seen this show, or who have elected not to watch it - please follow this link to something more your speed: http://www.polkaweb.com/

Ok - for the rest of us - I cannot believe the raw, awesome power and evil that this show possesses! The writers and producers of this show toy with us like Dante-inspired puppet-masters!
The complex and rich storylines are accentuated by a cool locale, and the occassional bursts of religious or political analogy, fun technology and of course, mangos.

The show has even spawned a revolution in cross-promotion and viral marketing. The websites out on the net covering the fictional airlines, bands, restaurants, etc - all linking back into the story line. Stunning.
Plus, the cottage industry of websites devoted to Lost, analyzing the show, its characters, etc - its a cultural revolution. Its the Blair Witch Project without all the nauseating camera bouncing.

I'm an addict, and I am proud.

For those of you seeking additional information:
www.thetailsection.com
http://www.losthatch.com/episode_facts.aspx?eid=46
www.spoilerfix.com
www.thefuselage.com
www.lost-tv.com
www.lost-media.com

The Numbers Are Baffling

Ok - I would like to introduce you to Lisa Lynette Clark: http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/03/15/child.groom.ap/index.html

Ms. Clark has the distinction of being number one in 2006 - the first story noted with a child-groom and an older woman.
I don't know about all of you, but the closest some of us got to women, in our early teens - CERTAINLY closest to older, "more experienced" women, were some misplaced catalogs for lingerie, or the squiggly, suggestive lines of scrambled "adult" television, like "ON TV." Of course, the advent of the mankind's highest social and technological achievement, the internet, makes this moot.

NOW, however, its apparently open season on younger men. The fine folks of TheSmokingGun.com have done the public service of tracking 3,496 teachers nabbed for sex with underage students in 2005. Those kids that are getting home schooled just don't know what they're missing.

We're talking about a LOT of folks! Meet: Sandra Geisel (no relation to Dr. Seuss: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0803052teach1.html; Amber Kay Marshall http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0810052teach1.html; Kristen Margriff http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0811051kristen1.html; and of course, the name that started it all - Mary Kay Letournea (getting married!) http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0214051maryk1.html

Madness!

THE Anthem

Once...
In every generation... There is one. A song. An anthem, if you will. The kind of call to arms that stirs men's souls. That the good parent teaches their children. That the establishment fears because it has the power to incite, to provoke, to inspire.

THIS is the sirens' call:
http://cdbaby.com/mp3lofi/fastanddirty-04.m3u

You will thank me for it. It is known by: 15 Stout Midgets

You have been warned.

Noose or Fashion Accessory

Greetings All,
It is truly a sad state of affairs, both for perception of my work generally, and I suppose fashion, generally, when I can start a ruthless parade of rumors at my office, simply by looking like I have something to do.

Had to do a deposition prep today, which involved actual lawyer stuff - so, in an attempt to justify my meager salary and title, we break out the slacks, jacket and... wait for it... yes, an actual necktie.

You would think I showed up at work in a top hat and tails with a parade of showgirls behind me!

Let's see - Funeral, job interview, and traffic court were a few of the choice suggestions...

Now, on most days, its not like I am wearing a hula skirt and orange traffic vest to work. Always collared shirts. Always dress shoes. The occassional nice pair of jeans, otherwise khakis or such.
Its gotta be the tie that skews this.

Either that, or I HAVE to step up my game....

Workin For The Man

So, its been a couple days between posts.

I wish that I could attribute this to a drunken, post-mardi gras bender that involved several states and potentially international borders, a black cadillac eldorado and a suitcase full of mone. But no - it was because lately I have had to sell out to ... the Man.

Mind you - I think we can agree that free time is lovely - You get to fill one's schedule with booze, torrid stories of lust from daytime television, and even the occassional trip to the gym (see previous posts). However, in order to do all these things, I find that you need money. And, unless you've made it the old fashioned way (by waiting for those close relatives who have it to die), or the new-fashioned way (an INCREDIBLY high end copier), you generally have to go slave away somewhere to get it.

So, rather than posting something pithy and insightful - I am going back to work now. Hopefully, more insights to follow!

Mardi Gras Madness!!

Let me go on record here - New Orleans needed Mardi Gras.
This is an open letter to all those who said that the resources of the city would be better spent cleaning debris over these 10 days, or other such community-improving work.
I say - Alcohol, beads, flashing, music, parades and gumbo are exactly what that city needed!

First off - there's the tourism. Its a town that thrives on tourism, more than almost any city in the nation. Make the city fun again, people will come, and spend money that you can use to fix things.

Second - there's the tradition. You don't get to hit "reset" and pretend that you haven't screwed with traditions going back to 1900. Sure - they're traditions that involve throwing beads at people, drinking till you're blind and then eating a bunch of fried food - but some of that represents the backbone of this country.

Third - there's the fun. That's right. Sometimes, when you're working too hard, you need a little fun to keep your perspective. Go out, have some drinks, enjoy life a little. Sure you end up with a hangover - but you also get some really good stories out of it, and it makes going back to work just a LITTLE bit better - even if its just so you can go rest up.

Again - Alcohol. Good food. Good Music. Flashing. Maybe more cities need some Mardi Gras. Start some today!