Thou Shalt Not Be Boxed: April 2005 Archives

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April 29, 2005

Cards '05

My personalized Cardinals tanks from neighborhoodies.com have arrived. At first, I thought they were too small, but luckily, I am mistaken. But they definitely "fit."

Go Cards.

Posted by nikl at 10:09 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

April 28, 2005

Hudson all the Way

So, I think I've decided that I'm going to collect jerseys of MLB players with the last name Hudson. Right now, there are three - Tim Hudson - Braves, Luke Hudson - Reds, and Orlando Hudson - Bluejays.

Maybe, eventually, after they've all been traded around, I'll have a jersey from each team, all with my name on them.

I know. I need a hobby. But that's just the thing. How could I possibly be inspired to pick up yet ANOTHER???

Posted by nikl at 05:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Oh, How I Wish This Were A Link To the Onion

CBS News | Alabama Bill Targets Gay Authors | April 27, 2005�16:30:18

Posted by nikl at 01:44 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Maybe Another Thing I Miss About NYC

Dunkin Donuts on every corner.

While I didn't have it every day, I could have if I'd wanted to. And once every few weeks when it was time to treat myself, I COULD.

Posted by nikl at 10:09 AM | Comments (0)

Viva La Mexico

Cinco De Mayo is a mere week away. GET EXCITED. If you don't know the Cinco De Mayo song, learn it. BE READY.

I am reminded of this b/c last night Nichol and I went to Ole! Morales Taco's in downtown Alton.

Yes, I said downtown Alton. And do not be fooled people, Ole! is not to be messed with. Good juke box, friendly owners/staff, GOOD REAL FRESH CHEAP mexican food - and excellent margaritas of all shapes, sizes and prices. I plan to park myself there ASAP after work on May 5th.

Posted by nikl at 09:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 27, 2005

Texas Bans Gay Foster Parents

Rear Window Ethics: Texas Bans Gay Foster Parents

I definitely don't think it should be a LAW, but I do think that home variables should be taken into account in foster situations. Adoption - loving, caring, stable home - period. It's a lifelong commitment, and any home variables that the child learns to live with/embrace are for a lifetime and become part of the fabric of who they become.

But in foster situations, the kids have often come from a stressful and/or emotionally difficult situation and will only be in the foster home temporarily. To put them in a home completely foreign from anything they've ever known, and/or a home that in itself adds a level of emotional tension could be a problem. I mean this for ANY situation - a white kid put in a black home, vice versa, a kid put in a home where he doesn't speak the language - certain variables compound an already awful, scarring situation. And no, I'm NOT talking about choosing a wife beater and a prostitute over a double income stable and loving gay couple - wife beaters and prostitutes should never be foster parents - period. And I'm not saying no home versus an alternative lifestyle home - a loving home is better than no home in every situation. I'm just saying I think that the foster home make-up is a viable consideration.

But to single our alternative lifestyle parents and make a law, THAT I disagree with 100%. That I think pulls focus away from the above, that each child, each situation, should be treated individually, and there may be a situation where an alternative lifestyle home is exactly what is needed. While they are at it should outlaw foster parents who smoke, foster parents who eat MacDonald's more than 3 times a week, and foster parents who like cheese.

And I know I'm speaking in broad terms b/c in reality the system doesn't always allow for each situation to be treated individualy, and the choices are not always on the table.

It's also unfortunate that most people don't see being gay and smoking as variables to be equally considered. Though they aren't b/c smoking is negative and sexuality is just sexuality. So I suppose I should say being gay and being asain. And _don't_ they take race into account when placing children?

Posted by nikl at 01:44 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Wal-Mart Dating

Lord. Help. Us. All.

Lookin' for a cheap date? Try Wal-Mart.

Posted by nikl at 01:39 PM | Comments (0)

April 26, 2005

Get Up Off That Thing

Adliterate: PVRs - less talk and more action

A good ACTION oriented article on how advertising might survive DVRs - and it's really back to basics stuff that should be applied always.

Posted by nikl at 04:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Ryan Adams

I only know who Ryan Adams is b/c during my musician phase, I "dated" - and I use the term really really really loosely - a guy who played with his band for a while. While I don't like all of his music, and I haven't really listened to what I do like enough to have it really grab me, I was really impressed with a. his versatility as a musician, b. the amount of music he churns out, and c. his website/use of the web.

So every once and a while when I come upon his name, I'll go check out his website to see what's up. He - or his marketing folks, which I doubt, b/c when was the last time marketing folks a. got what needed to be done, b. got funded, c. did it all in time for it not to be already moot - has launched 3 different websites since I've been checking in (let's see... that would be... late Fall of '03), and they aren't chump change. They've all been full out flash, and while the features available have changed (within the life of a single design as well as from design to design), the sites always take advantage of the medium.

You. Go. Ryan. Or Ryan's People. Or Ryan's friend who does this for nothing b/c he recognizes that it's mad cool.

Check out the latest iteration here.

Posted by nikl at 11:55 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Guess What People, It's Been DONE

< mounts soapbox >

When I saw the AA campaign Why You Fly campaign a few months ago, I thought, it's about time. Some online strategy group somewhere finally sold this idea through.

I always get a little irritated when something I've personally been involved in pitching for at least 8 years is touted as "groundbreaking" - b/c clearly, come on people, it's at least 8 years old. The real story is "Client Finally Gets The Balls to Fund and Pay For New Idea!" Which is fine, b/c we all understand that delimma, but please, can we please just call a spade a spade?

The fallout on this stuff is that the point gets missed. Because someone did it, everyone else jumps to do it, and it becomes an overused, done, over and finished device that everyone's doing.

The point is not the device, the point is the content. For how many years and in how many ways have we rediscovered over and over again that on the web, content is king. Yes, everyone can have a website. Yes, everyone can have a blog. Yes, everyone can write in about their story using "x" product. But if you aren't drawing people in with a compelling story, and you aren't delivering a compelling message or interacting with them in a compelling way once they get there, and the information stored isn't leveraged in a compelling way, then guess what? Thanks for the internet barf. Thanks. so. much.

< /mounts soapbox >

Posted by nikl at 11:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 25, 2005

Baseball Weekend 2

It was cold. But the sun was warm. My chin is still insane. The mexican hat game was hat #3 all weekend. Photos here.

Posted by nikl at 11:08 AM | Comments (0)

April 22, 2005

More Reasons Apple RULZ

brand new: do it yourself

Posted by nikl at 03:15 PM | Comments (0)

April 21, 2005

Interview!

Another one courtest of OrdinaryWhirled

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."

2. I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions.

3. You will post the answers to the questions (and the questions themselves) on your Blog.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. (or a separate post, but not too long after. Be honest here, people!)

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Here goes:
1. What do you miss most about NYC (outside of your friends there)?
I miss Penang, Rosa's Place and Yum Yum Bankok.

2. What is your all-time favorite album/CD?
That's a good one... hmmm... I'm going to have to go ahead and go with the movie soundtrack to The Wiz. Hands down. All others are mere phases. I can always go back to that one.

3. Are you moving to Belleville?
These things remain to be seen, but I could see it...

4. When and how and why did you start using the phrase "_________________ (my heartbeat)"
Mr. Perry Hampton is responsible for this. In high school, (when we were on the phone on 5-way for HOURS at a time) when someone would say something we couldn't deal with, or ridiculous, or really friggin' funny, Perry would say "bye. click. uhhhhhhhhhhhhh." As though you were getting a dial tone. But he didn't really hang up - get it? When you were actually in the same room with the person, we would sometimes say bye. click. uuuuuuuuuh, but soon that wasn't enough. And one day we started "dying" of laughter, or shock, or denail. Literally, we would lose all body control and fall on the floor. When IM and e-mail took over, there needed to be a way to write this. So it's either accomplished by "you just killed me," "I'm dead," "dead," or "________________________________."

5. What's your favorite SatC episode?
I'm going to have to go with the episode where Carrie breaks up with Aidan. I was going through a little break-up of my own at the time, and whether it was good direction/acting or just timing, the presentation of something that just should be so perfect and right, but just isn't really came through on that episode for me. You can come up with reasons for the ticket buying public, but no one really understands the way you understand that it's just. Not. Right.

Posted by nikl at 02:54 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Travellin' Man (or Woman)

From OrdinaryWhirled.

Bold the states you've been to, underline the states you've lived in, and italicize the state you're in now...

Does driving through count "being there"? I didn't include those. And does a 6 week summer camp count as "living there"? I didn't include MI either.

Posted by nikl at 02:28 PM | Comments (5)

April 19, 2005

Whistlin' Dixie?

In this Southern Dialect Quiz, somehow I'm "56% (Dixie). Barely into the Dixie category."

But still in the Dixie category? I guess my southern roots really do hold on tight... Too bad they didn't have a question about Play Cousins.

Posted by nikl at 12:30 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

April 14, 2005

Not for the Easily Disgusted

Once I moved to NYC and fast food was much less conveniently available, a. I started spending much much more on food, and b. I ate fast food about once a year, and c. when I did, my body would reject it before I'd even finished eating it.

Since moving back to StL, fast food is clearly a little more available. I've gone through a few stages:

Stage 1: Must avoid! Don't even LOOK! Keep up your old habits!

Stage 2: On hangover mornings, McDonalds is not only a totally acceptable breakfast, it's a necessity.

Stage 3: Once a month won't kill me.

Stage 4: Once a week won't kill me.

Stage 5: Everyone does it, and they aren't all dead. I can eat it when I want

Stage 6: (the height) Fast food 5 meals in a row

Stage 7: (recovery from stage 6) Taking a longer route to avoid even seeing a fast food sign is a good idea (albeit impossible)

Stage 8: Not even tempted for an entire month straight

Stage 9: (today) I've been eating really well, lost 5 lbs. Taco Bell won't kill me, and it will keep me from craving it later, and keep my body from expecting good stuff.

Stage 10: (15 minutes after Stage 9) We've returned to the rejection stage.

Hallelujiah!

Posted by nikl at 01:37 PM | Comments (1)

Anthony Hamilton

If you have yet to discover the magic of Anthony Hamilton , do it now. I tell you, this man's voice - BUTTAH. "Better Days" just came up on the "I'm a Little Bit Soul" mix I made for my office (accompanied by "I'm a Little Bit Rock n Roll", "I'm a Little Bit Hip Hop", "I'm a Little Bit Funky" and soon to be followed up by "I'm a Little Bit Country", "I'm a Little Bit Old School" and "I'm a Little Bit Pop.") and it never fails. Whenever I hear the first few measures of that song I just need to get down. And I mean with vocal emphasis and everything.

Damn.

Posted by nikl at 12:11 PM | Comments (0)

Please go to Google

And type in "baby mama parody"

HA HA HA HA

You don't even need the quotes.

Posted by nikl at 11:43 AM | Comments (0)

Country Boy

I have been trying to track this song down since before Xmas (I think). I heard it on some late night mix show, and I knew I must have it.

And now I do. And it kills me. Especially the Dobro in the background. KILLING ME.

Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you, Country Boy

Posted by nikl at 10:54 AM | Comments (0)

April 13, 2005

Double Dutch Bus

Y98FM Retro Cafe just played Double Dutch Bus (not on iTunes, dammit - at least not the original version). I don't think I've EVER heard that song on the radio. LOVE IT.

Gimmie a "HO" if you got your funky bus fare
"HO!" "HO!" "HO!"

Double Dutch Bus comin' down the street
It's movin' real fast so don't you shuffle your feet (ch-ka-chahhh)
Get on the bus, pay your fare
And tell the driver that you're goin' to a Double Dutch affair

Fe Fi Fo Fum
Well I'll be darned, here it comes
Double Dutch Bus is on the street
You better get off the curb - move your feet

Bus fare, trans pass
That's the way my money lasts
I got no car, to get around
When I go to work I gotta go downtown

No I missed my train, that's a darn shame
When I'm runnin' late no sleeps to blame
If you gotta wife, you know I'm right
You gotta special man, then I understand

Uptown, dowtown everybody's gettin' down
Say uptown! Say downtown! - welllll

Ok. that's enough. You must find the song and listen to it now. Best. Song. Ever. EVER.

And now they are playing Celebration. Hell YES.

Posted by nikl at 12:35 PM | Comments (1)

A Night on the Town

Last night we went to dinner and a movie. How we've dated for two months and are just now going to dinner and a movie is beyond either of us, but there it is.

We went to 1111 Mississippi. Now, we were both excited to go. Cameron because he hadn't been, and me because I'd been for lunch and was anxious to try dinner. The atmosphere is great. Jazz music, modern design, open kitchen, good service. They have a great wine selection I would definitely go back just for the bar scene. The meal, however, not so great. My stomach is definitely still recovering a bit from the greasiness of my steak. And Cameron's potatoes were undercooked. By the end of my meal I was nauseous. We were supposed to have our dinner club there this Saturday, but we're glad that we couldn't get a reservation and are instead going to Big Sky Cafe - b/c who wants to be nauseous on a Saturday night?

Then we went to see The Ballad of Jack and Rose. Which was well made, and interesting enough, but then not very interesting at all really. It moved pretty slowly. But the characters were interesting, if not a little predictable and pat.

Posted by nikl at 12:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 11, 2005

iPods are for Everyone

Even GWB knows how cool they are.

Link courtesy of Mike Halbrook.

Posted by nikl at 10:25 AM | Comments (0)

Me and My Chin

In looking at the soon to be traditional Ballpark Self Portrait Series: Weekend 1, I hereby warn you that as the season goes on, despite the Nacho stand and TWO, count 'em TWO beer stands right outside our seat location, you will see my second chin make less and less of an appearance as the season goes on.

No, really. I do declare. Dammit.

Posted by nikl at 10:04 AM | Comments (0)

April 10, 2005

Um.

It's 11:44pm, and my cat just pawed my bare butt.

I could list the things wrong with this, but I will just leave it at that.

Posted by nikl at 11:44 PM | Comments (0)

Sunday Too

Cards 4, Phillies 14

It's a good thing that we really enjoy chillin' at the ballpark, b/c the playing? Not so good so far.

Photos from the rest of the weekend

Posted by nikl at 08:50 PM | Comments (0)

April 09, 2005

Saturday Game

Cards 4, Phillies 10

We're wondering what the player's theme songs are. B/c they play so little so loud, that you so can't tell.

Also, I remain fascinated by the street drinking in StL. Everywhere between parking and the stadium there are street bars. I mean, they are connected to real bars, but they are literally stands in the middle of the sidewalk where they sell beer. Craziness.

Posted by nikl at 08:48 PM | Comments (0)

April 08, 2005

Opening Day!

Cards 6, Phillies 5

Posted by nikl at 08:44 PM | Comments (0)

April 07, 2005

You Go Girl

My girl Maya Azucena

a. has a fly new website. While you are there, see if you can get the music player to play the Set You Free remix. For those who know the song and for those who've never heard it, it ROCKS. THE CASBAH.

b. will be back in St. Louis for a show on May 1st or 8th at The Vault - stay tuned!

c. has been picked up by iTunes! Download her album so they take notice and decide to feature her and all that good stuff :) If you just want to download a song or two, some common favorites are "My All", "Do You Really Wanna Party" and "Too Much."

Whoo Hoo!

Posted by nikl at 03:33 PM | Comments (2)

Why Do I Feel Guilty?

Why do I feel slightly guilty for liking Will Smith's new album . In true Nicole fashion, I haven't listened to the whole album all the way through (b/c I always listen on shuffle play), but when I was deciding to buy the whole thing, ALL of the clips I listened to got my booty shakin'. Yesterday, the song Ms. Holy Roller had me floored, and reminded me why I should NOT feel guilty liking Will's new album, which is b/c the boy is smart and has balls. The song is dedicated to a specific person (though if it's her real name or not we may never know), and he basically proceeds to tell her off about the fact that suddenly, after 35 years, she "found" Jesus in a way that includes her telling everyone else they are going to hell. And how dammit, we need to all wake up and get a clue before we are such a splintered world that we all spend our free time killing each other "in the name of the Lord."

Go Will. Get Jiggy With It.

Posted by nikl at 03:12 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Super Vlad Follow-up

Thank goodness for the three game series. Last night I was able to capture Super Vlad in all its wrongness.

Does this man know what he's wearing? Did he really approve this? Whose idea was this? WHY IS THIS ALLOWED?

Posted by nikl at 11:55 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

April 06, 2005

Super Vlad

Granted, on his first at bat of the season (maybe even the first pitch?), Vladimir Guerrero did hit a homer, but not even that excused the RIDICULOUS graphic that the FSNWest folks created of him. I've scoured the net, and surprisingly can't find it. It was him, standing straight on, holding the bat, only instead of his uniform, he had been dressed (by photoshop IMO) in a superman outfit complete with a cape. And instead of "S" there was a "V". And the title card said SUPER VLAD. And it was WRONG WRONG WRONG.

Posted by nikl at 10:23 AM | Comments (0)

April 05, 2005

Love It

My favorite thing my boyfriend wrote this week:

From the doors at the Post-Dispatch to the media entrance in the Dome requires 1,086 paces, including jaywalking and cutting diagonally across streets and parking lots. It was another 1,086 - plus a few more, times two - after getting to the Dome and realizing the required media credential was in the car at the Post-Dispatch parking lot.

Full column

Posted by nikl at 12:32 PM | Comments (0)

April 01, 2005

Miss Wheelchair Loses Title for Standing

No words.

Posted by nikl at 02:39 PM | Comments (0)