This place about to blow

I know hurricanes are nothing to sneeze at (achoo), but does anyone else think the networks and the Weather Channel are milking this storm for all it's worth? Frankly, some of the coverage is a bit morbid. It's like the forecasters and reporters want this to be a really bad storm, so they have several days worth of news (and devastation) to prattle on about. Of course, if we don't have power, we can't watch the news, but that's another story.

We here at J-TWO-O Central are taking the usual precautions: stocking up on water and batteries/flashlights and candles and basic foodstuffs and making sure our various devices are fully charged by Sunday morning.

So what are you (i.e., those of you who live along the I-95 corridor) doing to prepare for the big blow? And where do you think this sucker is going to make landfall? Leave me a comment.

P.S. What's next, fire? (We already had earth(quake), now wind.)

UPDATE 1: Went to the supermarket early this morning -- and could not believe how empty some of the shelves were. I was lucky to get a gallon of 1% milk! And forget about tuna fish and peanut butter. And the lines! Fortunately, the liquor store was calmer and well stocked, and I was able to find a six-pack of the spouse's current fave beer, Palm, as well as some Chimay Grand Reserve. The spouse is heading out to get propane for the grill later -- and a flat of seltzer.

UPDATED 8/28: Lost power around 1:45 a.m. this morning, even though it was barely raining and the wind wasn't blowing that hard at the time. Most of our town and the surrounding small, tree-filled towns are without power. No estimate as to when power will be restored. Fortunately, we have plenty of propane and water and creativity. The spouse was going to make bread, but now we're going to make pizzas on the gas grill for dinner. When the kid said she was bored, I told her we could always read Bible verses aloud and play board games. Haven't seen her since. Pray for power!

UPDATED 8/31: Day 4 without power -- or running water! And let me just say, reading by candlelight has lost it's romance (even though I've been reading historical romance novels -- just seemed appropriate). And school will not open until after Labor Day -- a week late (actually 8 days late)! And my small business has taken a major hit. But, it could be worse! At least it's not raining in our living room this time!

UPDATED 9/3: Got power back last night. Am now playing catch-up with work. Will probably post something later this weekend.

Screw Calm and Get Angry

Hate when people tell you "Just relax!"? Have no patience to meditate? Politics and the economy make you want to scream (or worse)? Forget Stay Calm and Carry On. You need Screw Calm and Get Angry.

















Described as "the motivational mantra for the realists of the world," Screw Calm and Get Angry is filled with pithy epithets, such as this little political gem:

"Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule—and both commonly succeed, and are right." -- H. L. Mencken

Am looking forward to reading the rest. That is, as soon as I calm down and go buy the book.

Dog as art*?

Excuse me sir, How much is that (French bull)doggie in the window?

The artist did a fantastic job. So lifelike! The French bulldog actually appears to be breathing! (Click on the photo to get a larger view. Then click the back arrow to return to the post.)






















I call zees masterpiece "Dog Days of Summer." Eez very realistic, non?

(A woman passing by wondered whether the dog's name was "Art.")

*Alternate title: Let sleeping dogs lie... in art gallery windows.

The mother of all cat videos (literally)

It's the ultimate cat video -- about cat videos.

Elvis tribute (favorite Elvis song clips)

It was 34 years ago today that Elvis Aaron Presley suddenly died. And to mark the 34th anniversary of his death, I wanted to share three of my favorite Elvis Presley video song clips.

First up, "Bossa Nova Baby," from Fun in Acapulco:



Dig those crazy moves!

Next, the classic "Viva Las Vegas," from Viva Las Vegas:



Showgirls!

And then there is this classic scene and eponymous song from Clambake, which I love not so much because of the song (which was typical Elvis movie drivel) but because of the awesome bikini dancers:



Did people really throw parties like this back in the 1960s?

Got a favorite Elvis song? Let me know via the comments.

Gone hog wild

I love pigs (even the male chauvinist kind). So you can imagine my delight when the spouse and I came across a family of adorable piglets in a nearby hamlet, on our way back from a recent bike trip. (The spouse's reaction to the petite porkers? "Mmm... bacon!")

This first picture I call "Pork Butts," though the spouse likes "Everybody in the Pool!"






















This next one I've titled "Hamming It Up," though "Snorf!" would also work.






















Next up, "Nom nom nom nom." (Wish I had taken a video of the piglets grunting and pushing each other out of the way to obtain prime position. So cute!)















And finally we have "Bacon at rest." (All that eating and shoving and grunting wears a piglet out. Though I can only imagine how tired the piglets' mother, a thousand-pound sow from the looks of her, felt nursing eight greedy little piggies!)

World's scariest roller-coaster ride? The Stock Market

In July, Travel + Leisure magazine ranked the World's Scariest Roller Coasters. However, they left out what most Americans (at least in August) would likely agree was by far the world's scariest roller-coaster ride, the stock market.

Seriously, the Intimidator 305 (voted Best Coaster of 2010 by Amusement Today) has got nothing on the Standard & Poor's rating agency when it comes to intimidation.

Oh, and in case you're not an investor in the market and want to know what the past week has felt like to those of us who are, check out this short video clip a passenger riding the El Toro roller coaster took:



(I think Six Flags Great Adventure should consider changing the name from El Toro -- the Bull -- to El Oso, the Bear.)

Any guesses as to what the market will do tomorrow?

UPDATED: Well, we ended the week on the upside -- which probably means we're goin' down on Monday. Brace yourselves, people. And speaking of Standard & Poor's, I enjoyed this recent post over on Rumproast, which quotes an S&P senior director saying who is responsible for the downgrade.