So far, off to a good start.

Take the pledge!

https://www.anticorruptionpledgetracker.com/

The time is now.

Words words words...

Summertime summertime sum sum summertime...

Yum.

Is this something?

Someone else's life

I just received a copy of an email that a friend wrote to his relatives regarding Christmas gift suggestions for his family. It is an amazing window into someone else's life. (Names have been deleted to protect the affected parties...and in hopes of not giving away any gift surprises)

----------------

From: [Family unit representative]
To: [Relatives]
Date: November 17, 2008
Subject: X-mas

[Toddler son] is growing. He needs clothes perpetually. His belly is growing faster then his body so go wide. Seriously you may want to by a +1 size. IE 2T not 1T.

I like computers: theres a game that just came out called Fallout 3. Would love that. I also am tapped out on iTunes.

[Wife], you need to axe her. She likes house stuff the most. We just got new computer desks, new bedroom blinds and were finishing our kitchen table top. That might give idears. She likes iTunes as well.

We may be buying [pre-teen daughter] a new [surprise] for xmas. That might help you. She's also growing like a weed and always likes clothes for school.

[Four year old son]: no weapons, no pointy things, no caffine, nothing that can be used as a weapon or tool to damage a person or another object. No more plastic shit. Nothing electric, nothing that gets hot or even warm, nothing that needs a battery, nothing that winds up with a spring and can be launched at someone, nothing with a hook or the ability to snag something else, nothing that stains, can be stained or may absorb stains, like blood, nothing corrosive, nothing with rubber bands, no live animals, no dead animals or dead animal parts, nothing that attaches to a tongue or eyelid, nothing that may impede his rapid transportation to the bathroom, no bathroom toys that make bubbles or soap or noises, nothing that makes any sounds at all, especially if it needs batteries and he enjoys the sound, no items that can dig dirt, turn dirt, trow dirt, push or pull dirt or transport dirt from outside to inside, nothing that fits in my shoe god dammit, no water squirting, absolutely no vhs tapes (refer to weapons clause above), nothing that can be thrown with enough mass to hurt [toddler son], none of those hands on a stick things that grasp shit, and no peanuts of course. He likes trains.

Maurice

Maurice has passed on and is now monitoring The Collective from beyond. If you end up not being able to find Cable, Maus or Frog, check with him first.

Two great tastes that just taste weird together...

Scarlett Johansson has come out with a Tom Waits cover album. Now, I love the Tom Waits, and I love the Scarlett Johansson...but I'm not sure about these tracks...


    [imeem removed the tracks]


...maybe they'll grow on me. [not likely]

My initial [and continued] impressions are:

The "Anywhere I lay My Head" track really sounds like an attempt at getting on a This Mortal Coil release. [...and not a very strong attempt.]

"I Don't Want to Grow Up" sounds like she's singing to some Leonard Cohen music I have not heard before. And let's be honest...while we may love the Leonard Cohen...it's his lyrics that keep us coming back. [If this sounds appealing to you, stick with listening to Leonard Cohen]

"I Wish I Was in New Orleans" sounds like she is singing while turning a jack-in-the-box....and it could pop at any minute. [...and I keep wishing it would.]

The Jury is still out...we'll have to hear the rest... [Nope. This could have been really cool, but it's not. It could have been very creative, but it's not. After hearing her version of "Falling Down" somewhere it became clear: this could have been something I would have bought and enjoyed intensely, but it's not.]

Democrats smile bright blue in Phoenix, Arizona

Huffington Post’s Fundrace 2008 graphics show that even while outnumbered and surrounded by a sea of red, Democratic contributors put a cheery blue smiley face right next to Scottsdale, AZ.

Back road fishing.

For Tonya's birthday, we got her all geared up with fishing supplies. Rod, reel, line, hooks, bobbers, sinkers, worms, the whole deal. (Have you seen this PowerBait® stuff?)

Saturday comes along and we have plans to drive a couple of hours to some killer secret trout fishing holes a serious angler friend of mine was kind enough to tell us about. We hop into the Jeep with Molly and we hit the road. Guess what!? Molly gets car sick! Molly gets car sick a lot. We made it less than thirty minutes away from the house and it was clear this trip was over...at least with Molly.

Take Two - Sunday - Tonya's Birthday.

We're on the road again. This time Molly is home happily sleeping. We decide on trying our fishing luck at a set of much closer lakes. After deciding to avoid Bartlett Lake where all of the speed boats, jet skis, and general non-sense was heading, we took a left and headed for Horseshoe Lake. There are some really cool camping sights along the Verde River that is dammed up to make these lakes. In our exploring we found ourselves off of the map and driving some unnamed tiny back road where I was glad to have my 4x4.

We must have been in the right place because after forty-five minutes of seeing no sign of anyone along the big road, the small road, and the I'm-not-sure-this-is-a-good-idea road, we reach the bank of the Verde River and come across several sets of people with the same idea in mind.

We set up and put bait to water.

As it seems we were the last to arrive, the fishing spots with nice shade trees were occupied. Our's was a bit sunny early in the afternoon, but the tailgate of the Jeep came to the rescue.

Several hours pass by. We try the PowerBait®. We try the worms. We try the chicken livers (yes). All with no success; not even a nibble. Things were getting grim. We ran out of beer. I feared that Tonya would have no birthday victory over the fish. If it weren't for the aerial acrobatics of the half dozen huge turkey vultures (gotta love the T.V.) that seemed to have found something on the other bank, we may have given up.

But then out of the blue (or into the muddy brown as was this case) Tonya's bobber disappeared. It was an actual fish; just as planned; it's really happening!

Tonya lands a channel catfish!

Is it just me, or is the catfish smiling for the photo too?

Being the true conservationist that she is, Tonya returned the catfish to the river and continued her round of alternating exclamations: "Holy crap!" and "I caught a fish!"

Further hours passed, the T.V. moved on and I learned the hard way why they call it "fishing" instead of "catching". But what a great time! We had a breeze blowing across the Verde River on a fantastic early fall day. I got to relax and watch a bobber bob with my beautiful and triumphant wife while the shadows stretched out and the sun dipped low behind us.

Maybe next time I'll catch a fish...maybe I won't...but I don't think it will matter at all.

We met the new neighbor!

Last night, Molly ran off and introduced herself to our newest neighbor. To our surprise, this neighbor didn't act very neighborly. He hissed (and maybe spit) at poor Molly shocking us all. In any case, I figured I'd put up a few videos of what we have to live with here in our corner of the desert.

He's coming right at me!!

Traveling the poolside

For a reference of size, that skimmer cover he walks over is 10" in diameter.

Whisper - don't let him hear you.

This one is my favorite, just for Tonya's comment.


What I think we are dealing with here is a Mexican Blonde (or Desert Blonde) Tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes)

They say they are venomous but it is not dangerous to humans, and this species can make good pets...you up for it?

Frida on Frida...an intensive study.

My name is Molly!

New Puppy!

The swans say hello to Collin & Tonya

Yesterday...the rains came

Frida

Ripple.com - Great idea; wish it wasn't just Australian