tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14798439011012890812024-03-14T07:25:46.928-04:00You Lost Me...A Blog. Hopefully, not what you're expecting...MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-77400749661758724852010-09-12T21:44:00.002-04:002010-09-12T21:46:01.780-04:00I'm Baaaaaaack!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblIYksLwJXBII_ZG_fyo5SGxjAYAfKZlJ5oVXXvfq8pv5767ET1TR4R88xu6SGTdgnmGZxJZb5WP6zOlp2XNMyAX063an7u5MmrQgA651J8IKx5m1gBYNLezOBc_xQK5tJ6RIYgVi3Xe_/s1600/Boobery+Rich.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblIYksLwJXBII_ZG_fyo5SGxjAYAfKZlJ5oVXXvfq8pv5767ET1TR4R88xu6SGTdgnmGZxJZb5WP6zOlp2XNMyAX063an7u5MmrQgA651J8IKx5m1gBYNLezOBc_xQK5tJ6RIYgVi3Xe_/s320/Boobery+Rich.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516208236497391682" /></a><br />And so is this!!!<div><br /></div><div>I'll be posting soon. It's been too long...</div><div><br /></div><div>-MiddleMan</div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-46317750568550817882009-08-09T01:24:00.001-04:002009-08-10T22:03:27.361-04:00Serial Sunday Slipping Again...Between working from home and Facebook I forgot to do this week, dammit!<div><br /></div><div>Many apologies...</div><div><br /></div><div>MiddleMan</div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-57298017236506441372009-08-06T23:45:00.003-04:002009-08-06T23:49:44.472-04:00Schadenfreude!From the Skepchick site:<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size:10px;"><h2 style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://skepchick.org/blog/?p=8694#comments">Ben Stein Gets Canned From The New York Times!</a></span></span></span></h2><div><br /></div><div>Glee!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">M</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">d</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">d</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">l</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">M</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">n</span></div></span></div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-72178852393129038522009-08-06T00:36:00.001-04:002009-08-06T00:43:07.674-04:00Late Wednesday Wedding...Two words...<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.ksweddings.com/aidra_ernest/">Geek Wedding.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Just trust me and watch...</div><div><br /></div><div>MiddleMan</div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-27047150914044024572009-08-04T20:53:00.003-04:002009-08-04T22:03:24.446-04:00Did You Know...?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">An oldie, but a goodie from </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; line-height: 28px; font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/xplanevisualthinking"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">xplanevisualthinking</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">:</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Did You Know 2.0</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial;font-size:10px;"><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pMcfrLYDm2U&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pMcfrLYDm2U&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></span></div><div><br /></div><div>If this doesn't make you think, then you're probably the type that looks for porn on YouTube...</div><div><br /></div><div>MiddleMan</div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-70316980002097233082009-08-03T22:55:00.005-04:002009-08-04T22:02:52.590-04:00Retro Monday... Age of Steam!<div>One of my favorite new obsessions is the genre of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk">Steampunk</a>. I love the old Victorian look, combined with the mad dreams of Jules Verne and H.G.Wells, combined with the adventure of all of the writers of that time, as well as the romance.<div><br /></div><div>It's such a romantic thing, I decided to dress up as a Steampunk "gentleman inventor" for my Halloween wedding:</div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCD6mkgMlpjHwXlCM3qDd0XCtBv9UbAum7ics_HA7_zOxScuN-N9KaNXHBShCSrCFEWio7bsFdtjP_mDlZzLvStx9FoEK9ADuESgV8dlqfWcyCE7ATtbaBvUekLUTIJbLgUEhVZPIDFGt-/s1600-h/Dork+and+bride..jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCD6mkgMlpjHwXlCM3qDd0XCtBv9UbAum7ics_HA7_zOxScuN-N9KaNXHBShCSrCFEWio7bsFdtjP_mDlZzLvStx9FoEK9ADuESgV8dlqfWcyCE7ATtbaBvUekLUTIJbLgUEhVZPIDFGt-/s320/Dork+and+bride..jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365942994415378226" /></a><br /><div>Yes, that dork is me. The beautiful princess is the Mid-Wife. Be jealous.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm trying to work on some other genre items for this coming Halloween, but I haven't finished them yet. I will post when I do.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime if you're interested in some Steampunk livin', check these site out:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.steampunk.republika.pl/arch/opedia.html">http://www.steampunk.republika.pl/arch/opedia.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.steampunk.republika.pl/arch/opedia.html"></a><a href="http://brassgoggles.co.uk/blog/">http://brassgoggles.co.uk/blog/</a> - I swear I didn't steal<a href="http://brassgoggles.co.uk/blog/200907/steampunkd"> this post</a> from there. Honestly.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.thesteampunkhome.blogspot.com/">http://www.thesteampunkhome.blogspot.com/</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.thesteampunkhome.blogspot.com/"></a>Plus some costume and parts sites:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/gentlemans.php">http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/gentlemans.php</a> - Where I got my suit, top hat and spats.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&rlz=1C1GGLS_enUS313US313&q=steampunk+goggles&revid=1782218826&ei=Oqp3SrskgaW2B6rA2ZYJ&resnum=0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=E6t3SuK6Jp2Ctgfa1dGWCQ&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=11">Goggles</a> - You can't work in the Aether without your goggles!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.clockworkcouture.com/">http://www.clockworkcouture.com/</a> - Lady's things.</div><div><br /></div><div>More in another post,</div><div><br /></div><div>MiddleMan<br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-66754948020640409342009-08-02T21:16:00.006-04:002009-08-04T22:02:11.086-04:00Serial Sunday Part 6...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Finally starting to figure out a schedule and where this thing is going...</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Enjoy!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">___________________________________</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:13px;"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> You Lost Me...</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A serial story</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">By </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">MiddleMan</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Part Six</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The corner drugstore was not much different when he spent long afternoons standing around when he was younger. He remembered not having too much of a reason to be standing in front of this store aside from being where most of his friends hung out. It was also owned by the Bitch's family.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He looked around and at his watch. It showed 6:23. He was torn between feeling bad at cutting his visit with Linda on the pretense of needing more rest and kicking himself for being so damn curious as to what the Bitch wanted to talk about. Hell, he needed to get away from the craziness that Linda was going on about. She had </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">definitely</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> threw him for a loop by letting all of her dreams of going to college go out the window for no better reason than... Well, she really didn't have a real reason, if he thought about it...<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Crap, I bet she left," he said into the air. The Bitch was crazy as well, but not the kind he found himself hanging out if he could help it. He started to remember the girl he used to know, but he couldn't get past the abrupt change she went through all of a sudden when they were younger.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A sound came from the alley behind the store, stopping any train of thought. He walked towards it and was </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">surprised</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> by the sudden appearance of the Bitch. "Hey!" he gasped, "Where did you come from?"<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She gave him a look of disbelief, "Uh, from the side entrance, Stupid." Again, he forgot that she would have the keys.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He was about to defend his intelligence when she grabbed his arm and said, "Come on! Let's get inside so we can talk!" He followed with the reluctance of a </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">chastised</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> dog on a leash.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The side door led into the storage area behind the shop.The lights were still on, so he managed to miss tripping on the empty boxes left to be broken up for recycling. The place had a claustrophobic effect on him, with the shelves of medicine so close together to save space. He stifled a sneeze as dust was blown into his face as he knocked an old box of alcohol wipes in trying to avoid it. If the Bitch wanted to do something crazy to him, this would be the best place to do it, he thought to himself. He wouldn't make it to the door before...<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And then she did the crazy thing...<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She stopped suddenly, in front of him, spun around, grabbed his arms and kissed him so quick on the lips he worried that she might have chipped a tooth!<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"What the hell, Carrie!?!" He pushed her away and felt his mouth for any blood he was sure she was trying to feed off from him.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"NOTHING!!!" She screamed,"Nothing! That was weird!"<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Really!?!" He rubbed his lip, "I would've called it fucking crazy! Bloody bonkers! </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ANYTHING but </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">weird</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">!"</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She gave him the same dismissive look she'd given him many times before. "No, I meant that kiss had nothing to it! It was like we had nothing between us."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He started to speak, but found himself stuck trying to figure out what he was mad at. "Were... Were you </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">expecting</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> something?"<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Now it was her turn to stop and think about what to say. She looked at him, then at her feet, finally looking back up to meet his eyes. "Well, uh, the other night. I mean that kiss... There was something different about it..." Her words dropped off as she looked down at her hands. Craig hoped that she wasn't going to cry.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Look, Carr," again, he went to the old nickname, "If you had wanted to talk to me about that, you didn't have to drag me across town to play 'Seven minutes in Heaven' in your father's store."<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She looked up with a combination of anger and indignation. "Don't be an arrogant ass! I mean, the last time we kissed, it was like it was... All right, or something like that." She acted like she was trying to conceal something in her actions as she said that last part. "But this time, it was like kissing just for kissing sake."<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Still feeling his sore lip, Craig found himself feeling sorry for her oily little boyfriend. Using that last thought, he </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">decided</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> to change the subject, "Where's your 'other half'?"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Oh, yeah," She looked like now she was coming back to reality, "I think I know where he is. That's why I need you to help me. There are more things going on around here. Mr. Pearson attacking you and Jeffery missing are both a part of it."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He found himself biting his already sore lip upon hearing that last part. "What? What do need me to do?"<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"I need you to borrow a car," said the Bitch as plainly as you please, "We need to make a road trip."<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Craig grabbed his much-abused head. This was not good...<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">_________________________________________</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">More next week...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Later,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">MiddleMan</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">PS - Hit the "publish post" button before going to bed.</span></b></span></div></span></div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-52591052175066653932009-08-02T15:18:00.007-04:002009-08-02T22:35:58.941-04:00Steampunk'd...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdg1lVlBTf5jXGIodwpZkH-HqFIkpKt3ZqJzowVfkWK_l7Eby9743Rord23509aT48-fzWWO3f_0LSEQKhX6aCj9JKNlIRHq5UJCtraCJBRq4JearBdebpHqceVfBh20deZA_QJhece7Ea/s1600-h/Steampunked!.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 377px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdg1lVlBTf5jXGIodwpZkH-HqFIkpKt3ZqJzowVfkWK_l7Eby9743Rord23509aT48-fzWWO3f_0LSEQKhX6aCj9JKNlIRHq5UJCtraCJBRq4JearBdebpHqceVfBh20deZA_QJhece7Ea/s400/Steampunked!.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365449343156918034" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TjKRm-JnVNtQKibOUmWAyJENvq6r7UQG7035vZ89VpNHDj8AKfpu72-_G-cKStHjlTVpNYC-SsRxw5Qk8tkKX-K-bGJ0XRuJjlOvExalA3jvW2iS86ccK1eWz11LuBO4-cLA4Q3xfn97/s1600-h/Steampunked!.gif"></a>From the comic strip <a href="http://wondermark.com/">Wondermark</a>...<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></div><span><span>Not the way it's <a href="http://steampunkworkshop.com/">usually</a> done, but cool nonetheless..<br />Later,<br />MiddleMan</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span><span></span></span><br /></span></div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-7097059766611423202009-08-01T23:29:00.004-04:002009-08-02T22:36:32.170-04:00Solidarity Saturday, Part 2...Yep, the goons tried it again...<div><br /></div><div>Seems that the video Peter Sinclair (from the blog <a href="http://greenfyre.wordpress.com/">GreenFyre's</a>) did debunking Anthony Watts of <a href="http://wattsupwiththat.com/">Watt's Up With That</a> was flagged and deleted by You Tube.</div><div><br /></div><div>Guess why?</div><div><br /></div><div>Yep, Anthony Watts put in a copyright infringement claim to You Tube. <a href="http://middleman-is-lost.blogspot.com/2009/06/solidarity-saturday.html">This has been done before, as we've seen.</a> Well, this time, You Tube had the video in question put before experts in US copyright issues, and guess what? </div><div><br /></div><div>The video's back...</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial;font-size:10px;"><object width="580" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/P_0-gX7aUKk&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/P_0-gX7aUKk&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="580" height="360"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:10px;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Now, I'm no big fan of both Climate Change Deniers and their detractors, but you don't pull this kind of childish bullshit! If you feel that you're being poorly represented, post back! </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, if you're caught lying, fess up. Don't be a jackass. It's that simple...</div><div><br /></div><div>Really,</div><div><br /></div><div>MiddleMan<br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:10px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:10px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-4373504705834980762009-07-31T23:32:00.003-04:002009-08-02T22:34:12.432-04:00Have you hugged your SysAdmin today?<div>That was today.... <i>Sniff...</i></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.sysadminday.com/">http://www.sysadminday.com/</a><div><br /></div><div>No cards... No flowers... No one loves me... <i>Boo-hoo-ho!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Wait a second... I'm an anti-social troll... I forgot! I don't care!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's some pretty music...</div><div><br /></div><div><object width="480" height="392" data="http://flash.revver.com/player/1.0/player.swf?mediaId=5580&affiliate=103634" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="revver558012490979303432954"><param name="Movie" value="http://flash.revver.com/player/1.0/player.swf?mediaId=5580&affiliate=103634"><param name="FlashVars" value="allowFullScreen=true"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://flash.revver.com/player/1.0/player.swf?mediaId=5580&affiliate=103634" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="allowFullScreen=true" allowfullscreen="true" height="392" width="480"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div><div>Later,</div><div><br /></div><div>MiddleMan</div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-79656242081746243582009-07-29T20:56:00.005-04:002009-07-31T23:53:17.984-04:00Wedenday's Work Woes...Due to a nasty stomach flu I left work early yesterday and worked from home today.<div><br /></div><div>The Mid-Wife was concerned that they might be upset that I took the day when the head manager is out on vacation. I told her not to worry, they knew I was sick yesterday, and I told them about staying home as early as I could. Everything should be fine,</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, she was right. They were upset... But not because I called out sick.</div><div><br /></div><div>It started when the second-in-command sent me an email to call him.</div><div><br /></div><div>"How are you feeling?" he asked, "I see you doing work, but I thought you were going to try and come in today?"</div><div><br /></div><div>"I'm OK, but I didn't get enough sleep last night from being sick, so I changed my mind. I tried contacting you sooner, but you were out."</div><div><br /></div><div>"So you think it's the flu? Not food poisoning?"</div><div><br /></div><div>That was a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">weird</span> question, I thought. I didn't mention food poisoning. "No, my wife was in contact with someone at her job who came down with the stomach flu. So, I think that's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">probably</span> what did me in. Also, I had a bout of food poisoning a month ago, and I got sick right after I ate the bad food. The first time I got sick now was late at night when I was sleeping. My wife ate the same thing as me for dinner, and she's fine."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Oh, are you sure?"</div><div><br /></div><div>Again, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">weird</span>. "Yeah, why do you ask?"</div><div><br /></div><div>"Well, if it's the flu, the corporation is asking us to let them know of anyone who comes down with it. <a href="http://middleman-is-lost.blogspot.com/2009/06/oink-i-think.html">Because of the Swine Flu epidemic</a>."</div><div><br /></div><div>So that's why I was working from home today with "food poisoning".</div><div><br /></div><div>Later,</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">MiddleMan</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-66557591798204542482009-07-27T23:09:00.003-04:002009-08-02T22:37:03.398-04:00Quick! Nematodes got feet!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVuoVJ_MMIlB7sWH7TsYMlWEF3wlD-bd9GpE1TvA0_jwoVcHC0afg6bv6WUiWMuU3F7gKnMDNpEAq2ERJks4MWN1CXgFaGRCDN20d6gpDm6Vkx1yfbniKatFGnW_7aTLH8dimUMw9dNJ9/s1600-h/Worm+footwear..jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVuoVJ_MMIlB7sWH7TsYMlWEF3wlD-bd9GpE1TvA0_jwoVcHC0afg6bv6WUiWMuU3F7gKnMDNpEAq2ERJks4MWN1CXgFaGRCDN20d6gpDm6Vkx1yfbniKatFGnW_7aTLH8dimUMw9dNJ9/s400/Worm+footwear..jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363342978685504594" /></a><br />Just had to share this...<div><br /></div><div>MiddleMan</div><div><br /></div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-65243427812450333372009-07-27T21:12:00.010-04:002009-08-02T22:37:40.652-04:00Retro Monday... Purple Prose and Violet Rays<div style="text-align: center;">This is a late post in honor of the Lord of Tech, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla">Nikola Tesla</a>, who's birthday was only a few weeks ago.</div><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span><span></span></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisj3sLfxjvvnyqik_q-DA3F368KXhF8kv5tQtAEc89iZZcayHgYYYOeTajddch44DtQy25ayVrcFzoCRrDUpuklmPTdGpFNsKRd_f8kIiZz0AyVXZBEPYZrCbXiW6SHmGvXDJvMV22rQQB/s320/Twain+and+Tesla.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363319994077356114" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">That's him at left behind a very reserved-seeming <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain">Samuel Clemens</a>. (More on this gentleman another time.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I know the usual thing to do in this situation is to make fun of the silly tech pawned of as his "secret discoveries", but I want to make something clear...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Without him we might not have:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current">AC power transmission.</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_motor">Efficient electric motors.</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_communication">And he invented the radio.</a> (Sorry, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guglielmo_Marconi">Marconi</a>.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So when people go on about his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive-compulsive_disorder">manias</a>, "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_ray">death rays</a>", <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionocraft">ioncraft</a>, or his beliefs in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics">eugenics</a>; it just serves to dilute all the wonders this man brought to us.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But, even I have to wonder what people were thinking about when portable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_coil">tesla coils</a> were used in the creation of <a href="http://www.museumofquackery.com/devices/uv.htm">Voilet Rays</a>. More <a href="http://www.electrotherapymuseum.com/Articles/VioletRayMisconceptions.htm">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5yI6L91vNkii1plkZ1a64OS8Vg5oLdRSHv40a4DKi4DhdZYKHD7mARw5bYhigKH_c_q1FZgswI2Mx_bawDDhlC6EGglVyBdeexGA4_nvO5GIeeVdEYzITTBQBwaST4mz_n-8JM8ZVubS/s320/violet-ray-set-102.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363336354021448290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now aside from this <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Renulife-Violet-Ray-Quack-Medical-Device-Generator-1926_W0QQitemZ220456233273QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3354372939&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_1450wt_939">old set</a> I found on Ebay, I bet you're thinking no one still looks to buy these things for anything other than a curiousity, right?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Wrong. (Why do I do this to myself? I know where this is going...)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.electroherbalism.com/Bioelectronics/Tesla/VioletRay.htm">http://www.electroherbalism.com/Bioelectronics/Tesla/VioletRay.htm</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.beautifulonraw.com/Holistic_Device_Violet_Ray.html">http://www.beautifulonraw.com/Holistic_Device_Violet_Ray.html</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course Cacye had to be involved in this: <a href="http://www.cayce.com/vray.htm">http://www.cayce.com/vray.htm</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sigh...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It could be worse, they could be selling useless orgone gener...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.orgoneenergy.org/orgone-energy-generators">http://www.orgoneenergy.org/orgone-energy-generators</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">THAT IS IT! I'm building a rocket to Mars! See you all later!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Goodbye and goodnight,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">MiddleMan</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-31038658070639350012009-07-26T19:59:00.006-04:002009-08-02T22:35:40.913-04:00Serial Sunday Part 5<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; font-size:13px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Finally getting things back under control. Life is good, the Mid-Wife and I are checking out houses now, being that we've been talking seriously about raising a family.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yeah, even I'm surprised at that one.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Also, I've been extremely fortunate to get back in touch with one of my oldest friends, Joe and his wife Toni-Ann, who I haven't seen in more than ten years. Between what hasn't changed and was has, taking time to catch up has been a big breath of fresh air. I'd be remiss not to mention that one of the biggest changes has been their two sweet, adorable kids, Victoria and Vincent, both of whom are quickly becoming part of my small group of favorite people on the planet. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A very small group, maybe, but important none-the-less. ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Let's get back to the story...</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">____________________________________________</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You Lost Me...</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A serial story</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">By </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">MiddleMan</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Part Five</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Craig felt like the world was screaming at him all at once, his head was in a spin and nothing could help him now...<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Carrie! We haven't seen you here for years!"<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Except his mother.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Oh, come in dear!" his mother pleaded with the Bitch, "How's your mom? Craig's girlfriend Linda is here as well!"<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Or, maybe not...<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Oh, Detective! I didn't see you there. You come in as well, can I get you something to drink?"<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"No, I think maybe Craig needs some more time to heal." </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dakins</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> replied. His big hand </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">grasped</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Craig's hand before he could react, and pressed a </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">business</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> card into it. "Call me when you get the time, OK?" He turned his large frame to the Bitch and handed another one to her, "You look like you may need this, too."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Uh, sure, huh, thanks," she said while still trying to avoid </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Craig's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> stare. "I think I should leave, too," she said to Craig's mother.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Nonsense! Come in! Why, you haven't come around here since you and Craig were little!"<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This was true. He and Carrie had been good friends when they were younger. She was the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">neighborhood</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> tomboy and was the best "</span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">bottlecaps</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">" player. Unfortunately, Craig couldn't see that young girl he once knew, just the Bitch she became.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Mom? Can you give us a minute?" he deplored to his mother, "She, uh, just wants to ask me something quick."<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">His mother looked a little disappointed, "OK, but don't forget Linda." She walked away leaving a faint smell of developer in her wake.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Craig screwed up his nerve and looked at Carrie. "Are you crazy, Bit...," he caught himself before finishing, "I mean, Carr?" He surprised himself by using his old nickname for her.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"No. I mean maybe. I don't know," she looked more stunned than he was by the name, "Look, </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">somethings</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> going on around here and I think it's affecting us and everybody else!"<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Craig took a step back and looked at her. She seemed serious, but he hadn't seen that look in some time, so he wasn't sure. "Are you talking about the party? Look, that was... I don't know! I don't want to talk about it now!"<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Talk about what? Oh, that. Look, that may be part of it or not, but I'm not concerned about that," She said more rational than Craig would've given her credit for. "Meet me later at the </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">corner</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> drug store downtown, if you don't want to talk here. I'll be there until six."<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He wanted to tell her off, but she turned around and strode away with a determination better left alone. He rubbed his head and tried to understand what just happened. Was something really going on, or was the world just going crazy?<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Uh, what was she doing here?"<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Linda's voice snapped him back into reality with a cold feeling in his </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">stomach</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. "She's crazy, nothing new, Hon," he turned to face her and was met with a stare that would've frozen a bull in it's tracks, "She's, uh, looking for her oily boyfriend or something. I told her I didn't know anything."<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She looked at him like she didn't believe a thing that came out of his mouth, but she just said, "Fine. Let's get back to what we were talking about, right?"<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">They spent the rest of the afternoon talking about colleges and why it suddenly wasn't a good idea for her to go anymore. She said that maybe he was right, maybe she needed to take time off to "find herself". She recently came to the decision that all of her planning for college may have been crazy, and there was something else waiting for her.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Craig tried to understand where she was coming from, but this was so different from what she was normally that he found himself confused. All he could say was that maybe she should think about it, maybe she was just letting her fears get the best of her. All this did was make her mad that he didn't understand where she was coming from.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Also, his constantly checking the time didn't help...<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">___________________________________</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Finally, another one done! More soon, staring to make multiple post ahead of time.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Later,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">MiddleMan</span></span></span></div></span>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-36426100613443985652009-07-19T22:41:00.003-04:002009-07-19T22:51:22.409-04:00Sunday, so sue me...Worked most of the weekend and had my brother-in-law's birthday today so no serial. Sorry.<div><br /></div><div>But, I've been meaning to share this little ditty for a while; one of the first music videos I ever saw:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-size:10px;"><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xUHKJ5n_SMw&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xUHKJ5n_SMw&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div>Later,</div><div><br /></div><div>MiddleMan</div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-71686819924714025552009-07-15T20:28:00.003-04:002009-08-04T22:12:05.918-04:00I should be insulted...I mean, I'm half-Italian myself. But this is too funny:<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial;font-size:10px;"><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UhHhXukovMU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UhHhXukovMU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Who doesn't love a smoking super-hero?</div><div><br /></div><div>Later,</div><div><br /></div><div>MiddleMan</div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-54117949232947005342009-07-12T19:43:00.004-04:002009-07-12T23:28:53.084-04:00Serial Sunday, Part 4......Finally!<div><br /></div><div>_______________________________________________</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; font-size:13px;"><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">You Lost Me...</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">A serial story</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">By MiddleMan</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Part Four</span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Getting home after yesterday's events was thankfully quiet and relaxed, aside from his mother making a side comment about underage drinking and that she was glad that things weren't worse. She must have been saving these for when she was sure that Craig would be a receptive captive audience. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In his room, in the darkness, he contemplated the past events like a puzzle that had no border pieces and no box top to refer to. He knew that nothing that happened had a rational connection, but he couldn't shake the sensation that he should be seeing something else. That sensation was to last until he fell to sleep.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A few hours later he was awoken to the fact that his bed was occupied by an obstacle that occupied the space between his feet. Assuming it was the cat, he made an effort to flip it off of the bed with his foot, but found that the weight was much more than feline mass. He opened his eyes to find his sister staring at him.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"Ah good, you're not dead," she said as she pushed his foot away from her leg, "Linda's here."<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>He rubbed his eyes with the back of his fingers, and blinked at her, "Why didn't you just call me or shake me awake?"<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"Didn't know what would happen," she shrugged, "What if you sat up to quickly and your brains fell out of your nose? Mom probably would've made me clean it up."<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Craig laughed at this absurdity, "Aww, I think my little sister is concerned about her big brother." He made cooing sounds as he sat up and lunged to hug her. As he expected, she dodged the attempt while screaming, "FREAK! Just get up and get downstairs so Linda can see you!" She slammed the door on her way out.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Changing out of his shorts into his jeans and t-shirt, he strained to remember what Linda had said the day before. He knew that she wanted to talk to him, but couldn't exactly remember what her mood was. He hoped that she had forgotten as well.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>He didn't believe it for one minute, but one could hope.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>As he got downstairs he saw Linda on the couch, nervously flipping through his mom's photography magazines. "Hey, Love. You wanted to see me?" he asked as his feet neared the last few steps.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>She dropped the magazine she had in her hands and stood up, tripping as she tried to make it over the coffee table in one action. "Oh, I'm sooo sorry that you got hurt because of me!" she apologized as she righted herself. He put his hands around her when he got to where she stood, "What are you talking about? You didn't cause someone to attack me."<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Her blue eyes were wet with tears as she hugged back, "No, if I hadn't made you rush over because of my doubts, you never would have gotten into that at all!"<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Craig couldn't help looking at the celling when she said that. She did find out about him and the Bitch, and now she was going to let him have it.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"Look, it not what you think..." he started.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"No, it isn't," Linda interrupted, "It's worse. I don't know what I want to do."<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"We can get through this. Really, Love, it's just a stupid mistake."<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"That's right!" she cried, "I mean, why am I looking into colleges anyway?"<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Craig was taken aback by this; Linda did nothing but go on about going to college for all of the time they had been going out. Even chiding him about his choice of "taking time out to find himself" when they had their occasional tiffs. This wasn't like her at all.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Before he could clear this up in his head, they were interrupted by a knock at the door.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Craig excused himself and walked over to the door. He opened it to find Detective Dakins standing off to the side of the porch. "Sorry to interrupt, but I was hoping to have a talk with you if you were up to it," the detective's deep voice rumbled.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"This really isn't a good time. Can it wait?"<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"Well normally I'd say yes, but a couple of things have come up. First: we found your bike and some of Mr. Pearson's stuff next to it a mile from where you were attacked. Also: there's something else you might want to know about..."<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Craig tried to suppress a groan, "What else?"<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The dark-suited man moved to the other side of the porch, revealing a familiar red-headed figure trying not to look up at Craig.<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"She's been waiting outside your house for half an hour," the deep voice informed, "You know her?"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Craig felt his headache coming back with a vengeance...<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;">_____________________</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;">Ok, getting back on track. Will post more soon...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;">Later,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:16px;">MiddleMan</span></span></div></span></div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-68452261492337483002009-07-10T23:08:00.001-04:002009-07-10T23:10:13.093-04:00Friday Fun...Something to give a lift to the sour feelings of late:<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KbDV1afDSn0&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KbDV1afDSn0&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Hug a Geek today!</div><div><br /></div><div>Later,</div><div><br /></div><div>MiddleMan</div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-89677737822312139792009-07-07T23:51:00.002-04:002009-07-08T00:06:12.328-04:00Wedendays Woe...I did something stupid today...<div><br /></div><div>I put something in my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Facebook</span> that I should have known was going to cause a issue with people.</div><div><br /></div><div>I put in an anti-Jenny <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">McCarthy</span> post.</div><div><br /></div><div>I forgot that my cousin has a child that has been diagnosed with autism.</div><div><br /></div><div>Needless to say, that did not go over well.</div><div><br /></div><div>The bad thing is that I forgot that it's hard to argue a point with someone so close to home.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nothing I said was taken in the context with which it was meant. It was taken personally by my cousin and her husband. They saw it as if I was belitting their knowledge of the subject. They said that I was being one-sided, when I was just pointing out that things aren't always what they seem at face value. </div><div><br /></div><div>In short, they got offended. This wasn't what I intended, and I'm kicking myself for it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to take it as a learning experience; people take things personally when it's their issue, and you can't try to be rational about it to them. You just end up looking like a jerk.</div><div><br /></div><div>Especially with family...</div><div><br /></div><div>Later,</div><div><br /></div><div>MiddleMan</div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-3453848826436383532009-07-05T22:09:00.003-04:002009-08-04T22:11:12.702-04:00Sunday Serial, not again....OK, between the weekend of the 4th of July and getting on Facebook and reuniting with old friends I have been very busy MiddleMan.<div><br /></div><div>So I'm missing another week. </div><div><br /></div><div>I need to get more organized and write more here if I'm going to get in some more practice. In the meantime, I will redouble efforts to get my act together and finish what I start.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's hope I don't let anything get in my way this time...</div><div><br /></div><div>Later,</div><div><br /></div><div>MiddleMan</div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-74318189930591449282009-07-05T21:21:00.003-04:002009-07-05T21:24:01.302-04:00More video from a fine man......Literally.<div><br /></div><div>Richard P. Feynman, without bongos:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AU8PId_6xec&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AU8PId_6xec&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object></span></div><div><br /></div><div>And, Richard P. Feynman with bongos:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HKTSaezB4p8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HKTSaezB4p8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object></span></div><div><br /></div><div>More to come soon...</div><div><br /></div><div>MiddleMan</div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-58429743577672250542009-07-05T21:13:00.002-04:002009-07-05T21:13:58.597-04:00Making up for lost time...I wish I'd seen this earlier...<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YYQKDqjCEBQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YYQKDqjCEBQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">E</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">n</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">j</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">y</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">M</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ddleMan</span></span></span></div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-1108832852345477882009-07-01T20:13:00.003-04:002009-07-01T20:48:26.995-04:00Just because I can...<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px; font-family:-webkit-sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screamin'_Jay_Hawkins">Screamin' Jay Hawkins!</a></span></b></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:10px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:48px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:-webkit-sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; white-space: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; white-space: pre; font-family:Arial;font-size:10px;"><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7kGPhpvqtOc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7kGPhpvqtOc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object></span></b></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:-webkit-sans-serif;font-size:7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:48px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Try and resist the spell...</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:10px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">L</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">r</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">M</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">d</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">d</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">l</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">m</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">n</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:10px;"><br /></span></span></div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-37815309690382139162009-06-29T22:23:00.004-04:002009-07-01T20:10:16.170-04:00How Green is Your...<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophyll">Chlorophyll</a>...<div><br /></div><div>Suck in some air around you. Go ahead, get a lungful or two.</div><div><br /></div><div>Practically all of the oxygen you're breathing in has been created as a waste product by plants using chlorophyll in photosynthesis to create food. Chlorophyll is nature's own solar power collector.</div><div><br /></div><div>So really, something so natural and necessary to your life, you wouldn't be surprised to find out it can do more amazing things, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>During the fifties people discovered chorophyll's power to deoderize everything. From <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Chlorophyll-and-Bad-Breath&id=247079">bad breath</a>, to foot odor, <a href="http://www.old-time.com/commercials/1950's/Ennds.htm">even the rest of your body</a>; there was a powder, soap or foam to make use of chlorophyll's amazing properties.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is until "The Journal of the American Medical Association" made note of the fact that mountain goats lived excusively on a chlorophyll-rich diet.</div><div><br /></div><div>You ever smell a goat? Ever get close enough for a whiff of billy-goat breath?</div><div><br /></div><div>Needless to say, after that, the fad disappeared.</div><div><br /></div><div>Or did it?</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.nutritional-supplements-health-guide.com/chlorophyll-benefits.html">NOPE.</a> <a href="http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/chlorophyll.html">NOPE.</a> <a href="http://www.puritan.com/chlorophyll-598?afid=27&safid=Google&scid=6831&cm_mmc=Google-_-Food_Chlorophyll-_-chlorophyll-_-Phrase+Ad_3050797801|-|100000000000000067651&cm_guid=1-_-100000000000000067651-_-3050797801&gclid=CK-_q96EsZsCFQyF7QodQ3BTPQ">NOPE.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>What the...? "...<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;">chlorophyll is chemically similar in composition to that of human blood, except that the central atom in chlorophyll is magnesium,..." </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Are they nuts? Chlorophyll is an electron <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_transport_chain">donator</a>; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemoglobin">Hemoglobin</a> is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heme#Function">oxygen transporter</a>! They don't even work the same!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">For crying out loud...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Woo-woo science - 1; my faith in humanity - 0</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Later...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">MiddleMan</span></div>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1479843901101289081.post-3329816851545775222009-06-28T20:10:00.003-04:002009-06-28T22:04:31.007-04:00Serial Sunday Part None...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; "><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">I am sooooo sunbuuuuurned, and due to the wife's birthday I had no time to work on today's episode. I will make this up either during the week or double up next Sunday.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Sorry for the delay...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">MiddleMan</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div></span>MiddleManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00421201596781769827noreply@blogger.com0