SwanShadow Gives Thanks: Electric Boogaloo
As the sights and sounds of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade billow from the television, and as the enticing aromas of roast turkey and its various accoutrements filter in from the kitchen, I pause to honor a long-standing annual tradition here at SSTOL. Herewith, an alphabetical sampling of that for which I am grateful on this Thanksgiving Day 2006. (Yes, my Canadian friends, I'm aware that you all did this a month ago. Indulge your southern neighbors for a moment, won't you?)
A cappella. No instrument creates more expressive music than the unadulterated human voice. My chorus, Voices in Harmony, helps remind me of this every Tuesday night. (Incidentally, if you'd like a rousing dose of vocal excitement to kick your Christmas season into high gear, and you happen to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, join us for our holiday show at Flint Center in Cupertino on Saturday, December 2.)
Blogger Beta. As you may have noticed in recent days, I'm now able to categorize my posts. Of course, Blogger waited until I had written over 1,100 posts before they released this functionality. So far, I've categorized about one-third of the backlog. The benefit to you, friend reader, makes the effort worthwhile.
Commissioned art. Thanks to all of the talented artists who added custom creations to my comic art collection this year: Ron Lim, Ale Garza, Rags Morales, Charles Hall, Michael Dooney, Al Rio, Roy Cover, Ron Adrian, Anthony Carpenter, Buzz, James Taylor, Lan Medina, Darick Robertson, Luke McDonnell, and the redoubtable Bob Almond.
DVD Verdict. Still the Internet's finest resource for reviews of films and TV shows on DVD. Site owners Mike Jackson and Michael Stailey keep breathing new life into the venerable site.
eBay. Whatever "It" is, you'll find "It" on eBay.
52. DC Comics' weekly blockbuster is the highlight of my comic shop visit every Wednesday.
Google. Quite simply, the most valuable tool in cyberspace. Yes, they've gone all corporate now, but the important thing is -- the darn thing works.
Heavy Metal. The one movie I throw in my DVD player every few weeks, just to be reminded of how much fun it is.
Internet Movie Database. Next to Google, I love IMDb best. When you absolutely, positively need to know who appeared in or worked on a movie or TV show you're watching, and you need to know now.
Jeopardy! Still adding seconds to my fifteen minutes of fame, more than eighteen years later.
KJ and KM, my girls. A better wife and daughter, no man deserves.
Las Vegas Advisor. The definitive locus for all things Vegas, their Question of the Day teaches me something I didn't know about my second-favorite city every day of the week.
Michael the waiter at JK's. Whenever I walk into my favorite lunchtime hangout, Michael always has my Diet Coke ready.
Notepad. Perhaps the simplest program on my computer, yet one I rely on more than almost any other.
Olfactory sense. Smells evoke memories that life would be lessened without.
Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits. We finally got a franchise in my home town. Love that chicken! (The red beans and rice, and the fried crawfish with Boss Sauce, aren't half bad, either.)
Quarterflash. I heard "Harden My Heart" on the local classic rock station just the other day. I wonder what Rindy Ross is doing these days.
Rachael Ray. Because a woman who can prepare a complete repast in 30 minutes and eat three meals in any city in the world for under $40 is my kind of woman.
"Save the Cheerleader, Save the World." Until 24 returns in January, Heroes is consistently the most compelling hour on television.
TV with MeeVee. A fun and informative TV blog that helps me get in touch with my inner couch potato. Plus, they have a terrific copy editor... if I do say so myself.
United States Postal Service. Say what you will, it's still one of the world's great bargains. Donnie, the clerk in our local post office, greets every customer with a cheery "Good morning!" no matter what time of day it is.
Vixen. I was thrilled when Mari McCabe, one of comics' first African-American superheroines, made the revamped roster of Justice League of America this year. I predict she'll be making a special appearance for Comic Art Friday tomorrow.
World Series of Poker. One of these days, I'm going to play in the Main Event.
Xerographic technology. If we couldn't photocopy stuff, life would be a lot more complicated.
YouTube. The online repository of more funny, interesting, and just plain bizarre videos than you can shake a mouse at.
Zamfir, Master of the Pan Flute. Because someone, somewhere, ought to be thankful for Zamfir, Master of the Pan Flute. Today, I am that someone. You blow, Zamfir.
Whatever your blessings may include this day, friend reader, I hope you are genuinely and expressively grateful for each and every one. Thank you for stopping by here, and for continuing to open the Pandora's box of my mind. May you and yours have a pleasant, peaceful, and tryphophan-bombarded Thanksgiving.
(If you're interested in discovering what some of my fellow bloggers are thankful for, check out the sharefest at The Art of Getting By.)
A cappella. No instrument creates more expressive music than the unadulterated human voice. My chorus, Voices in Harmony, helps remind me of this every Tuesday night. (Incidentally, if you'd like a rousing dose of vocal excitement to kick your Christmas season into high gear, and you happen to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, join us for our holiday show at Flint Center in Cupertino on Saturday, December 2.)
Blogger Beta. As you may have noticed in recent days, I'm now able to categorize my posts. Of course, Blogger waited until I had written over 1,100 posts before they released this functionality. So far, I've categorized about one-third of the backlog. The benefit to you, friend reader, makes the effort worthwhile.
Commissioned art. Thanks to all of the talented artists who added custom creations to my comic art collection this year: Ron Lim, Ale Garza, Rags Morales, Charles Hall, Michael Dooney, Al Rio, Roy Cover, Ron Adrian, Anthony Carpenter, Buzz, James Taylor, Lan Medina, Darick Robertson, Luke McDonnell, and the redoubtable Bob Almond.
DVD Verdict. Still the Internet's finest resource for reviews of films and TV shows on DVD. Site owners Mike Jackson and Michael Stailey keep breathing new life into the venerable site.
eBay. Whatever "It" is, you'll find "It" on eBay.
52. DC Comics' weekly blockbuster is the highlight of my comic shop visit every Wednesday.
Google. Quite simply, the most valuable tool in cyberspace. Yes, they've gone all corporate now, but the important thing is -- the darn thing works.
Heavy Metal. The one movie I throw in my DVD player every few weeks, just to be reminded of how much fun it is.
Internet Movie Database. Next to Google, I love IMDb best. When you absolutely, positively need to know who appeared in or worked on a movie or TV show you're watching, and you need to know now.
Jeopardy! Still adding seconds to my fifteen minutes of fame, more than eighteen years later.
KJ and KM, my girls. A better wife and daughter, no man deserves.
Las Vegas Advisor. The definitive locus for all things Vegas, their Question of the Day teaches me something I didn't know about my second-favorite city every day of the week.
Michael the waiter at JK's. Whenever I walk into my favorite lunchtime hangout, Michael always has my Diet Coke ready.
Notepad. Perhaps the simplest program on my computer, yet one I rely on more than almost any other.
Olfactory sense. Smells evoke memories that life would be lessened without.
Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits. We finally got a franchise in my home town. Love that chicken! (The red beans and rice, and the fried crawfish with Boss Sauce, aren't half bad, either.)
Quarterflash. I heard "Harden My Heart" on the local classic rock station just the other day. I wonder what Rindy Ross is doing these days.
Rachael Ray. Because a woman who can prepare a complete repast in 30 minutes and eat three meals in any city in the world for under $40 is my kind of woman.
"Save the Cheerleader, Save the World." Until 24 returns in January, Heroes is consistently the most compelling hour on television.
TV with MeeVee. A fun and informative TV blog that helps me get in touch with my inner couch potato. Plus, they have a terrific copy editor... if I do say so myself.
United States Postal Service. Say what you will, it's still one of the world's great bargains. Donnie, the clerk in our local post office, greets every customer with a cheery "Good morning!" no matter what time of day it is.
Vixen. I was thrilled when Mari McCabe, one of comics' first African-American superheroines, made the revamped roster of Justice League of America this year. I predict she'll be making a special appearance for Comic Art Friday tomorrow.
World Series of Poker. One of these days, I'm going to play in the Main Event.
Xerographic technology. If we couldn't photocopy stuff, life would be a lot more complicated.
YouTube. The online repository of more funny, interesting, and just plain bizarre videos than you can shake a mouse at.
Zamfir, Master of the Pan Flute. Because someone, somewhere, ought to be thankful for Zamfir, Master of the Pan Flute. Today, I am that someone. You blow, Zamfir.
Whatever your blessings may include this day, friend reader, I hope you are genuinely and expressively grateful for each and every one. Thank you for stopping by here, and for continuing to open the Pandora's box of my mind. May you and yours have a pleasant, peaceful, and tryphophan-bombarded Thanksgiving.
(If you're interested in discovering what some of my fellow bloggers are thankful for, check out the sharefest at The Art of Getting By.)
Labels: Aimless Riffing, Listology, Reminiscing, Thanksgiving
SwanShadow was randomly pounding the keyboard at 10:41 AM
4 insisted on sticking two cents in:
I can't decide to praise you for Quarterflash or condemn you for Rachael Ray.
Since it is a holiday, it shall be praise.
I lurvs me some Quarterflash, including their third album, which no one knows about.
I think the still tour small venues, maybe in the Northwest where I think they're from, but I could be wrong.
Ahh this list is just perfectly eclectic. Of course coming from Mr. Swan Shadow, I wouldnt expect anything less.
Happy Thanksgiving!:)
Heroes rocks and Rachel Ray is hot.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Re: Google and Yes, they've gone all corporate now
Yeah, it's more corporate in some ways than when I started, but any company where I can get drafted as in-house Star Trek expert, have a meeting with Marketing that starts with me saying "OK, this is going to sound really dumb, and it is really dumb, but we need to use something other than 'Trekkie' in our writing", and then sent to Las Vegas to rep Google at a Star Trek convention really isn't anywhere near "all corporate".
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