Only the little dogs pay taxes December 4, 2007
Posted by argotnavis in Humor, News.Tags: craziness, dogs
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I came across this story in the news this morning. The story itself is ridiculous, as is probably standard for stories involving dogs inheriting fortunes. I mean, I'm not sure how I'd feel as her brother, knowing she gave her dog more of her money than me. Or, for that matter, one of her grandchildren, who, combined, got less than the dog. And then, apparently someone has been writing the dog death threats. A dog has received 20 death threats. Who is writing these? I mean, how much time do you have to have on your hands before writing death threats to a dog seems like a good idea? I'm really curious, because I have a lot, and I haven't hit that point yet. Then, the dog went into hiding. I hope they're making wigs for dogs now, too. Wait! I think I found her! My favorite thing about the story, though, is the second paragraph after the lead. “It says the tiny bitch was whisked away under an assumed name after receiving about 20 threats.” I assume that's as opposed to the big bitch?
Of hot dogs, hechshers and hexakosioihexekontahexaphobes December 3, 2007
Posted by argotnavis in Food, Life.Tags: annoyances, Boston, dogs, hot dogs
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Many people are, I'm sure, aware of the problems of quantity that sometimes face purchasers of hot dogs. Eaters of Hebrew National hot dogs, for example, get seven dogs, but in order to match most other brands of hot dog, the buns are only sold in packages of eight. Or so I thought. Last time I bought hot dogs, I decided to go with New England-style buns, since I'm in New England and all. For those of you who aren't familiar with them, picture a cross between a normal hot dog bun and a folded slice of white bread, and you've pretty much got it. Unlike a normal hot dog bun, these are also quite likely to contain lobster rather than a hot dog, but lobster isn't usually in my price range, even here. Back to the point. When I purchased said buns, I didn't check to see exactly how many of them the package contained, probably because I assumed there would be eight. Well, I've made an ass of the both of us. Apparently, Shaw's New England hot dog buns come in packages of six. Why wouldn't they? Luckily, you only have to buy four packages of buns and three packages of dogs to wind up with an equal number of both. Of course, that's still more hot dogs than I tend to eat. Oh well, at least it isn't three six-packs of buns.
Adventures in continuity October 5, 2007
Posted by argotnavis in Cars, Humor, TV/Movies.Tags: continuity, Dan, dogs, Scooby-Doo
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First, a short history lesson. The original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? series aired from about 1969 until 1972. In 2002, a new series with roughly the same premise, What's New, Scooby-Doo?, began its run. This leaves about 30 years between the end of the first series and the beginning of this one, which takes place in the present day (see Velma's “wireless internet connection”). I'm not totally sure whether the gang has actually aged 30 years, as they seem to have in many of the movies, but here's my complaint:
In an episode of the show that I saw today, Fred takes the Mystery Machine in for a tune-up, and it starts acting weird. During their attempt to figure out why their van is driving itself around town without them, the gang learns that the Mystery Machine was originally the tour bus for a vaguely Partridge Family-style band called the Mystery Kids. The Kids aren't very popular these days, but their mother is pushing for a comeback. Now, the Mystery Kids are all roughly around high school age (one is trying out for the tennis team). This means they probably used the Mystery Machine 10 years ago, at most. And yet, the gang have had the Mystery Machine for over 30 years.
I actually have my own theory about this, though. The writers of this new Scooby-Doo series remember the mind-numbingly awful Scooby-Doo series involving Scooby's nephew Scrappy-Doo (e.g. Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo and The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo — which was somewhat redeemed by the Vincent Price appearances — among others). I think this may be an attempt by the writers to retcon Scrappy out of the Scooby-Doo universe. Rather than admitting to the existence of those series, the writers simply insist that the years 1973-2001 simply do not exist in the Scooby-Doo universe. Simple. This even lets them keep a lot of the newer movies, since those take place at some indeterminate point in the future where the gang has purchased a change of clothes and some of them even hold steady jobs (I think Daphne is a reporter, the most common profession of red-headed cartoon women). If I'm right, then this episode really does make sense after all.
(Also, dig my not-at-all-ripped-off-from-Dan links.)
