Larry Craig Super Tuber

Super Tuber is a great snack that uses one of my favorite vegetables: The Idaho Potato. Of course, I suppose any type of potato could be used, but I cannot guarantee that a Super Tuber made with anything but a true Idaho potato would taste as good. Sincerely, Larry E. Craig, United States Senator



Ingredients
1 hot dog, cook's choice
1 Idaho baking potato, 7 to 10 ounces
Mustard for dipping, any style
Other condiments as desired such as cheese sauce, sour cream, chili, chives, bacon pieces or black olives.
Wash and dry potato. Rub with shortening or butter. With an apple corer or small knife, core out the potato center (end to end). Push hot dog through the center. Bake until potato is cooked through.

To Microwave: Place on microwave safe plate; cover loosely (to avoid splatters). Microwave on high about 4 minutes per potato until fork tender.

To Bake in Conventional Oven: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake for approximately one hour or until potato is fork tender.

To Barbecue: Wrap in aluminum foil and place above medium hot coals, turning at least once during cooking. Cook until potato is fork tender.

Serving Suggestions: Allow potato to cool slightly. Eat as a finger food, dipping in your favorite hot dog condiments (mustard is my favorite).

Suzanne Craig

Hey kiddies.

I'm looking for income as my source just dried up.

Anybody looking to hire me?

I'm really fuckin' charming!

GI Johnny

New Art Zealous Idiocrats. (there has got to be a way to shorten that)

A grainy video of four masked vandals running through an art gallery in Sweden, smashing sexually explicit photographs with crowbars and axes to the strain of thundering death-metal music, was posted on YouTube Friday night.

This was no joke or acting stunt. It was what actually happened on a quiet Friday afternoon in Lund, a small university town in southern Sweden where “The History of Sex,” an exhibition of photographs by the New York artist Andres Serrano, had opened two weeks earlier.

Around 3:30, half an hour before closing, four vandals wearing black masks stormed into a space known as the Kulturen Gallery while shouting in Swedish, “We don’t support this,” plus an expletive. They pushed visitors aside, entered a darkened room where some of the photographs were displayed and began smashing the glass protecting the photographs and then hacking away at the prints.

The bumpy video, evidently shot with a hand-held camera by someone who ran into the gallery with the attackers, intersperses images of the Serrano photographs with lettered commentary in Swedish like “This is art?” before showing the vandals at work.

No guards were on duty in the gallery, said Viveca Ohlsson, the show’s curator, although security videos captured much of the incident.

“There was one woman who works at the gallery who tried to stop them until she saw the axes and crowbars,” Ms. Ohlsson said. “These men are dangerous.”

By the time the masked men had finished, half the show — seven 50-by-60-inch photographs, worth some $200,000 over all — had been destroyed. The men left behind leaflets reading, “Against decadence and for a healthier culture.” The fliers listed no name or organization.

W.A. says it's ok to booze it up.

Bedazzled finds a winner. (Click Here)

Some songs


you think you don't know

until you hear them

again



for the first time



all over again.

And you don't like them as much

as you did


when you were a stupid kid


drinking.

Durian

Durian fruit contains a high amount of sugar, vitamin C, potassium, and the serotoninergic amino acid tryptophan, and is a good source of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. It is recommended as a good source of raw fats by several raw food advocates, while others classify it as a high-glycemic or high-fat food, recommending to minimise its consumption.
In Malaysia, a decoction of the leaves and roots used to be prescribed as an antipyretic. The leaf juice is applied on the head of a fever patient. The most complete description of the medicinal use of the durian as remedies for fevers is a Malay prescription, collected by Burkill and Haniff in 1930. It instructs the reader to boil the roots of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis with the roots of Durio zibethinus, Nephelium longan, Nephelium mutabile and Artocarpus integrifolia, and drink the decoction or use it as a poultice.
In 1920s, Durian Fruit Products, Inc., of New York City launched a product called "Dur-India" as a health food supplement, selling at US$9 for a dozen bottles, each containing 63 tablets. The tablets allegedly contained durian and a species of the genus Allium from India and vitamin E. The company promoted the supplement saying that they provide "more concentrated healthful energy in food form than any other product the world affords".
Discover Magazine reported an incident where a woman ate a durian and ended up critically ill from potassium overdose.

Writing in 1856, the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace provides a much-quoted description of the flavour of the durian:
“ The five cells are silky-white within, and are filled with a mass of firm, cream-coloured pulp, containing about three seeds each. This pulp is the eatable part, and its consistence and flavour are indescribable. A rich custard highly flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but there are occasional wafts of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, sherry-wine, and other incongruous dishes. Then there is a rich glutinous smoothness in the pulp which nothing else possesses, but which adds to its delicacy. It is neither acid nor sweet nor juicy; yet it wants neither of these qualities, for it is in itself perfect. It produces no nausea or other bad effect, and the more you eat of it the less you feel inclined to stop. In fact, to eat Durians is a new sensation worth a voyage to the East to experience. ... as producing a food of the most exquisite flavour it is unsurpassed.”
Wallace cautions that "the smell of the ripe fruit is certainly at first disagreeable"; more recent descriptions by westerners can be more graphic. Travel and food writer Richard Sterling says:
“ ... its odor is best described as pig-shit, turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock. It can be smelled from yards away. Despite its great local popularity, the raw fruit is forbidden from some establishments such as hotels, subways and airports, including public transportation in Southeast Asia.

What a shocker. It sucks?

Paramount and DreamWorks had expected more from "The Heartbreak Kid," which reteamed Stiller with Peter and Bobby Farrelly. The trio collaborated on 1998's smash "There's Something About Mary."

The studios had gotten positive reaction from audiences at advance screenings, but reviews for "The Heartbreak Kid" came in much harsher than expected, said DreamWorks spokesman Chip Sullivan.

"We were surprised," Sullivan said. "The reviews hurt us. We love the movie. We've seen it play great. But I think reviews do matter on an R-rated movie."

An update of the 1972 comedy written by Neil Simon and directed by Elaine May, "The Heartbreak Kid" stars Stiller as a man who marries an incompatible bride, then meets the perfect woman on his honeymoon.


Really. Surprised? It was based on a Neil Simon 1972 Screenplay. Where can you go from there? No teenager wants to see that. It was dead the moment the deal was signed. This is just another example of why Dreamworks and Paramount should have never become bedfellows. Neil Simon cannot be remade. The moral values he infused into his writing are of his time, perhaps even his parents time. They mean nothing to a contemporary viewer. If fact, I'm pretty sure, It bores them silly.
This is amazing because they seemed to have realized test screenings mean nothing. In this world the world that Neil Simon does not live in, the world of reality... and "reality", it is almost impossible to get an honest answer from anyone. God forbid they had a camera in on the screening and they asked questions from the test group. NO ONE says the truth in front of a camera. Even if they suspect a camera is on them and they don't see it... the truth stays hidden. Market research for films has to stop. Remaking Neil Simon garbage has to stop.

Majestic Butterhorn Update

Click on the title of this post to check out the Disney action yesterday

Eagle Rock Music Fest

The local burb Eaglerock had its music festival this weekend. It was actually very fun.

Just a taste of Turkish E.T.

Geek

If you enjoyed the last post chances are you'll remember this ad.

Part 8 of 9 Turkish Star Trek. Please Enjoy.

This is the part where Kirk fights Spock for no reason then a woman turns into McCoy and a Wino shows up. Then they get attacked by the Robotic Diaper man. Then the Robotic Diaper man gets instantly cloned a gazillion times and they all attack Kirk, Spock and the Wino.

Why I remember when you could get a single scoop of ice cream for .05 and...

My name is Gavin Elster and I approve this meesage

Yep. I'm actually saying this is a good product.

Go figure.



Ya hear that Sony? I'm saying those TVs you make don't suck!
Since this is the first positive thing I've said about them I expect my quote to be in every print ad for this monitor.

My official endorsement is:

"Finally, a Sony product that will last more than two years."

Send me my free TV now. You have my address.

Augustine Volcano

Augustine Volcano Alaska.
A storybook cone that looms 4,134 feet from Lower Cook Inlet on the horizon near Homer, Seldovia and Anchor Point - has blown its top five times in the past half century, most recently in January 2006.

This time, a series of tiny earthquakes began trembling within the massif beneath the summit, possibly suggesting that a blob of viscous magma was wrenching and oozing through solid rock.

On Sept. 22, AVO (Alaska Vocanic Observatory) raised the aviation warning code to yellow and issued an advisory to the general public.

"The current earthquakes are small, generally less than magnitude 1.0, and are located at shallow depth beneath the volcano's summit," the observatory said in its original message. "While significant, the current earthquake activity is much less energetic than that which immediately preceeded the explosive eruptions in January 2006."

But Augustine continues to grumble, and AVO has issued additional statements every day since.

Located 180 miles southeast of Anchorage and 75 miles southwest of Homer, Augustine out rumbles its much larger cousins in the Cook Inlet volcano family, sometimes blasting clouds of ash eight miles high.

"Historically, Augustine is the most active volcano in the Cook Inlet region with significant eruptions in 1812, 1883, 1935, 1963-64, 1976, 1986, and 2006," AVO writes. "These eruptions were primarily explosive events that produced volcanic ash clouds (to 30,000-40,000 feet above sea level), ash fall, pyroclasic flows, and and lava domes or flows. During the 1883 eruption, a large avalanche on the north flank of the volcano flowed into Cook Inlet and may have initiated a tsunami observed at Nanwalek, about 90 km to the east."

Including those major blows, Augustine has erupted at least 17 times since 1812, including the latest that began in 2005. The last eruptive period launched in the fall of 2005 and ended in March of 2006.

And now it wakes again. (Or not.) Since Sept. 22, the volcano has been trembling with small earthquakes, occasionally punctuating its tossing and turning with bursts of activity. Monitoring the seismic heartbeat of a volcano is one way that volcanologists track the movement of magma and gas deep within.

"Shallow, low-level seismic activity continues," AVO wrote on Oct. 4. "Web camera and satellite images of the volcano are cloudy today."

Sometimes the volcano will slip back into deep slumber without blowing its top or burbling lava down its flanks. Stay tuned.

Click the title of this post to see live webcams of this volcano.

Friday Trivia: Dick Van Dyke

Currently dating Michelle Triola. Yes that Michelle Triola formerly Marvin. The "girlfriend" of Lee Marvin who tried to sue Lee for half of what he was worth because she lived with him for six years.

Is a CGI enthusiast who appears at trade shows to showcase his own CGI projects.

Has admitted to having no memory of filming Mary Poppins due a drinking problem he had at the time.

Test you parenting skills.

I failed.

Sesame street produces "Why can't Daddy be normal"

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization that produces the hit kids' show, is working on a DVD that will be distributed to military families. It's designed to help injured veterans talk about their disabilities with their children.

Gary E. Knell, president and CEO of Sesame Workshop, said some of those veterans and their families are looking for help from Sesame Street because the workshop produced a popular DVD last year aimed at helping military families discuss the strain of deployments.

More than a million children have parents who are in the military and have been deployed in the last six years. And roughly 18,000 military personnel in Iraq or Afghanistan have been wounded or injured seriously enough to be evacuated.

In the new production, Rosita, a fluffy blue mop-headed muppet, is upset because her father has returned home in a wheelchair. Rosita angrily refers to the wheelchair as "that thing" and reminisces about the days when she could dance to salsa music and kick a ball with her dad.

With encouragement from Elmo, Rosita musters the nerve to talk with her parents about how she is feeling.

"Sometimes I feel a little sad, because things are so different now," Rosita says during a family outing to the park. "I wish your legs were OK, Papi, and I wish you didn't have to go to the doctor so much. And I just wish things could go back to the way they were!"

Rosita's father tells her that although he may have changed, his love for her hasn't. And he persuades her to hop on the back of his wheelchair so the two can try a new kind of dancing.

Fence 2

So It looks like I cannot post that video of the woman beating me with a fencepost.
Sorry.

Its the most wonderful time of the year.

Tombstones are up.

It's coming together. Slowly.

Mr. Bean's All Day Balls of Fury

Mr. Bean's All Day Balls of Fury, originally uploaded by monkeytime.

Now thats a movie!

Halloween Shoot em up! --- I wanna see it!
Sing "Tuesday Wednesday Dragon Wars" to the HAPPY DAYS theme and you know where I'm goin with that. Primetime comedy gold!

Hmm maybe its your face that needs work?

They all look like goofy canadian T.V. versions of actors.

A. left Mcgreggor Wan Kenobi.
B. right Woody Harrelson.
C. right and left Stephan Merchant.
D. right David McCallum

Some light on the Pluto clip

A castmember sheds some light on the Pluto video clip.

'This event happened last year - that Pluto is no longer working with us. The kid being chased was rough-housing with Pluto before the camera rolled, and he did not kick Pluto at all. Pluto gave chase, and the kid started to wildly run. Pluto ran as well, which is not allowed, so that's strike one. The kid being chased started to REALLY get scared, and was screaming in earnest trying to get away. Pluto did not fully understand this. The woman who ran up and grabbed Pluto's arm was the child's mother. She demanded that he stop chasing her son, as it was no longer a game.

Pluto was angry that the woman had yanked his arm, and pulled back from her. That was strike two - he did not stop when a guest became in contact. He stepped off the curb and fell down. The woman did not push him, as he was already on the edge. However, he thought she HAD pushed him, and stood up with his paws in front of his face to show he was done. The guests in front of the camera were concerned, asking what happened, and Pluto pointed to the woman, "saying" she'd pushed him. The host then came over at this time to talk to the woman and find out the whole story. This Pluto was a very self-sufficent Pluto, who neither wanted nor needed a Host with him when he did his sets.

The falling down was strike three. However, the day in question was an exception. That Pluto decided to quit, citing that he was tired of the crowds and guests and stress it caused. The host in question was not at fault, as the host was told not to worry about Pluto and tended to the other characters. Pluto, however, took things too far on a hot day, with huge crowds, and a rowdy kid with a protective mom. The end.'

Update:
A tip from an Anonymous person claims they THOUGHT this was the Pluto that quit but were wrong. This person does indeed still work in the Magic Kingdom.

The Thick Plottens.

Firefly update 2

Here is a quick video of the firefly light I constructed over the weekend. It's dark I know but at least you can see the action of the light.


Youtube is not the best way to show off this light but... its easy.

People seriously pay $200.00 bucks just for that.

It does not look that impressive in this clip. Its totally self contained and the movement is all on its own. It can be placed anywhere and does not need to be plugged in.

Neighborhood set 3. Free-Range Monkey

At the corner of Glendale Blvd. and Glenoaks Blvd is this mystery building.


It used to be a HOW'S market ( A Hughes Market) Then it was a Whole Foods for about a second. Now it is ZONE.
There is nothing on-line or on the building to indicate what kind of place this is.
I have determined from the sign that it is an indoor crossbow monkey hunting center. A place where you can nab your own delicious free-range monkey with your own crossbow or one you can rent from the front desk. MMMmmm Monkey!

Presenting: Mr Jerkface with special guest star Mrs. Jerkface!

So pie day was thwarted by the simple fact that the pie place has not opened up as scheduled. Rats love pie so they must still be there eating away at all the yummy pies within.
Emma Peel and I returned to the ol' standby, Bob's Big Boy.
It was a nice pie break in the middle of a hot day.
As we left Emma noticed a dog in a Lexus. Now if you live in Southern California you know this to be fatal to dogs. This ugly yappy little droolbucket was not going to last an hour in that car as the sun was creeping across the trunk to the rear window.
I had the manager make an announcment and no one came to claim the dog. So I called the police. They were there in about 30 minutes. They took the inside temp of the car and determined it was too hot for the dog. She had the manager make one more announcment this time he said animal control was at the car and wanted to speak to the owner of the Lexus. Well it seems that was enough to have this ol' bastard drop his piefork and see if any damage was done to his car.

This is the car of an asshole.


This is his license-plate number.


This is his dog that will suffer more at the hands of a dottering old fool.


This is the fool.

He was cited.

Before the "dog police" left, the asshole scooped up the dog, threw him back into the car, closed the door and walked away.
He locked the dog back in the car again! Click the above picture to enlarge the image. You have to see how he threw the dog back in! He was leaning down to stay out of the view of the animal control cop sitting in the white van.

He goes and gets his wife and makes sure her half of a BIG BOY combo is safe before returning to the car.

She actually opened the door and said to the dog " Oh theres my baby. Are you all right? Whats going on ohhhhhh yeah."

They never gave the dog any water.

Oh and while the asshole was getting his ticket a car drove by and threw a firecraker at the old man and the cop.
This is the car that threw the firecracker.
Notice the Fire Department license frame? Shoulda called the cops on him too!

Neighborhood set 2. Sylvia Wood Harp Center

The local hot spot is Saliva Wood's Harp Haven.

At the local harp store there are only two holidays: (according to the window paintings that change twice a year.)
4th of July and Christmas.

This is the Christmas/Jewish Xmas window. If you look to the right you can see Jesus/Moses, on a rock, playing a harp.
After new years day it becomes Uncle Sam, on a rock, playing a harp. Uncle Sam is usually on the rock playing to the stature of liberty with a giant flag behind them. I'm sure its the same damn guy who paints the windows year after year. The windows are god awful.

If you need a harp or harp accessories this is the place.

Next up I'll show you the curious building across the street.

Neighborhood set 1. The church.

I thought I'd showcase some points of intrest in my neighborhood over the next month.
The first thing I want to share with you are the creepy lifesize statues on the "front lawn" of the local God Prison.



"Hey you!
Yes You! Ya need some help?
Ya seem like a fella who is down on his luck.
A guy who could never catch a break. A guy who has the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Thats the kinda guy you look like ta' me... but whadda I know, eh?
You seem depressed, low, sad and confused. Perhaps things didn't go as planned? "







"No.
No they didn't"








"Well I'm here for you. I've been sent to show you the way. Pick up your flowerpots and your stick thing and shuffle off that way. I'm talking to you... Hey Hey buddy I'm talkin' to you...Eyes up here!
I've got tai-chi class here in 15 minutes and I have to have this area clear."



Remember kids:
No matter how far you stray there is always a kind soul to point you in the right direction.





I have a hard time driving by this church and not saying (in my best Luke Skywalker to a submerged R2D2 voice)
"Jesus... That way."

Shoes.

Not to make light of a horrible situation going on in Burma I have to point out something.


If you are anywhere in the world that you feel a riot or mass murder can happen please wear shoes and not flip flops.

If you need to run shoes help you do that.

Flip flops slow you down and can cause you to get shot or trampled.
This is why I wear shoes. You will never find me in Downtown Los Angeles, Disneyland or Fox wearing flip flops. Too dangerous.

PLEASE WEAR SHOES!