MUSINGS
Remember back in the day -- like the '80s and early '90s -- when Mel Gibson was cool? Yeah, me too. But still, he never disappoints, as you can see from the video below (make sure to watch the entire thing). I wonder if his PR people are on suicide watch.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTwuQBOLYdU
In honor of today's announcement of Apple's new product (I still think iSlate has a nicer ring to it), I figured it was only fitting to bring you your Freaky Friday Fun one day early because if you don't see it here, you're apt to see it somewhere else (if you haven't seen it already). First though, my thoughts on the iPad: not overly impressed. Basically it's a jumbo iPod touch. Okay, that's great, but for some reason I thought it was going to be an eReader first and foremost ... or maybe that was just wishful thinking. The idea of the eReader, of course, is to present a product that will not strain a reader's eyes, like -- oh I don't know -- looking at a computer monitor. Which the iPad basically is. Not that I'm saying I'm not interested in checking it out once it makes its eventual appearance at my local Apple Store, but I haven't placed a preorder just yet.
An upside, though, is that it would be great for viewing graphic novels and other comics, so there's that to consider.
Anyway, over a decade ago Mad TV did a spoof on what they called -- yep, you guessed it -- the iPad. Enjoy.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsjU0K8QPhs
For this week's installment of Freaky Friday Fun, an eight-year-old kid is stuck on TSA's terror watch list. Who knows, maybe Homeland Security knows something the kid's parents don't ...
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PH7713V8dM
Hope everyone has a great weekend. I know I will, as I'm just one more chapter away from completing this new novel. Then it's on to yet another project. Tune in Monday, where there will be details of a new exciting contest in which you -- yes, you -- could win some cool stuff.
I'm sure by now you're aware about the terrible destruction in Haiti, just as I'm sure you're aware that Pat Robertson is a douchbag. If you haven't heard his latest nonsense, you're lucky. As usual, he gives Christians a bad name. Anyway, if you want to help donate to relief funds for Haiti, Roxane Gay recommends donating to the International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. Or if you'd like something a bit more than a warm fuzzy feeling by donating, for the next couple weeks PANK will donate all proceeds to the two charities by direct sales of its magazine and Aaron Burch's chapbook.
Now for your Freaky Friday Fun video clip. Yes, the man, the myth, the legend. The one and only. Ladies and gentleman, Mr. Pat Robertson giving you the finger!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8GTAkWpmOw
So my New Year's post is a bit late, but as you saw from the previous entry, I had a good excuse. Anyway, my thoughts on New Year's resolutions should be no shock to anyone who's familiar with this blog: What's the point? Why wait an entire year to make resolutions that won't last more than a month or two? If you fail in your resolution, start again next week, or next month. Don't use it as an excuse to be lazy and just say to yourself: I'll try again next year. I'm being a bit hardheaded about it, yes, but the truth is New Year's resolutions are nothing more than goals. We all should have goals. Without goals, there would be no reason to live. But, as Joe Konrath constantly points out, it's important to have realistic goals. Meaning I won't make one of my goals I'm going to sell a novel this year, because I have no control over whether or not that happens. I've come close a couple of times to selling a novel, but as they always say, close does not win the race. So yes, an eventual goal is to sell a novel, but how does that happen? Why, by writing one! That is, after all, within my control. I'm finishing up a new novel now (on the home stretch), so my realistic goal for this year is to at least write another novel. That's easy enough. Could I shoot for two? Maybe, but I have some other projects in mind right now that I don't want to overburden myself with wishful thinking.
So ... yeah, that's about that. If you haven't seen it yet, Barry Graham posted a slew of resolutions over at the Dogzplot blog. You'll find my little entry at the very end.
Finally, a number of writers do a Friday Flash Fiction kind of thing on their blogs. I applaud them for their consistency and dedication. Me, I'm just too lazy to do that, so every Friday this year I think I'll post some bizarre video from the week (or a bizarre video that I've come across). Call it Freaky Friday Fun ... or not. I'll post a new video every Friday until either I become bored with it or ... well, until I become bored with it. Because let's face it -- there will always be some bizarro news happening in the world. Here's the first one in case you haven't seen it yet. A woman goes berserko at McDonald's. Apparently she had an issue with a bad burger. At least that's the official word. Personally, I think she got a crappy toy in her Happy Meal and wanted to switch it and they said no. (Don't adjust your volume; there is no sound.) Enjoy.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mse98l9iBMo
