Archive for February, 2004

Five songs I loved in college that I’d really like to hear Jimmy Scott cover

Thursday, February 26th, 2004
  1. Unsatisfied - The Replacements
  2. There’s a Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths
  3. Ever Fallen in Love? - The Buzzcocks
  4. True Faith - New Order
  5. Couldn’t I Just Tell You? - Todd Rundgren

Five things I learned from watching Under the Tuscan Sun without sound on the in-flight movie

Thursday, February 26th, 2004
  1. Unattractive people are colorful and goodhearted
  2. Almost everyone in Tuscany is an aging character actor with a funny hat
  3. Italian men like watching women dance in fountains
  4. Tuscan birthing rooms have unscreened windows with extraordinary views
  5. The local police will give you rides on their little scooter bikes provided that you’re Diane Lane in a skirt

Five things that probably aren’t working as well as you think

Wednesday, February 25th, 2004
  1. The fanny pack
  2. The fake English accent
  3. The doo rag
  4. That black light illuminating the under-carriage of your ‘81 Tercel
  5. The hair plugs

Five more proposed pieces of legislation supported by Mr. Bush

Wednesday, February 25th, 2004
  1. Protection of Words Fewer than Three Syllables Act
  2. Bill to make the “High Five” the US’s official greeting
  3. National ‘Everybody Wears Jeans’ Day (March 14th)
  4. The “Pretty Girls Shouldn’t Act All Stuck Up” Amendment
  5. Presidential proclamation that “California Must Apologize to Jesus (and It Has to Sound Like They Really Mean It)”

Five things my Mom and I particularly like to do together

Saturday, February 21st, 2004
  1. Eat big steaks
  2. Watch David Letterman
  3. Look at old photos
  4. Listen to Brian Eno (ambient period only, please)
  5. Talk about how my dead stepfather sucked

Five favorite public radio names

Friday, February 20th, 2004
  1. Mandalit Del Barco
  2. Lakshmi Singh
  3. Snigdha Prakash
  4. Russ Ringsak
  5. Robin Gianattassio-Malle

Five things that a portly, scowling, fortyish, white-trash mother needs the teenaged cashier at the Home Depot in Holiday, Florida to understand right now

Thursday, February 19th, 2004
  1. She has had a very long day and does not need a whole lot of lip from anybody
  2. Her daughter is facing a completely unfair suspension from her junior high
  3. She can very easily take her business somewhere else right this minute
  4. This is the third time she’s had to come in this week about this and she really can’t talk about it any more
  5. She does not appreciate being treated like this, thank you very much

Five sightings around town (New Port Richey, Florida; February, 2004)

Thursday, February 19th, 2004
  1. “Participate in Operation Prayer Shield” (bumper sticker on a minivan at Publix)
  2. “God made Adam and Eve–not Adam and Steve” (church billboard near Grandma’s house)
  3. “Welcome to America: Now Speak English!” (bumper sticker on a pickup at the Texaco)
  4. “NO FITTING ROOMS: In an effort to keep the cost low, we do not provide fitting rooms.” (WalMart Supercenter, men’s room door)
  5. “Please stand at least ten feet away from this door because sometimes it opens unexpectedly and you might get hurt” (Mom’s hip doctor’s office’s waiting room)

Five terrible fake secrets about U.S. presidents

Sunday, February 15th, 2004
  1. Jimmy Carter invented the “Pop ‘n Lock” breakdancing move when he was in the navy
  2. Warren G. Harding once stabbed a hobo on a dare
  3. Thomas Jefferson traded Dolly Madison three mules and a quill pen for an erotically charged lapdance
  4. Calvin Coolidge never finished his dessert
  5. James K. Polk liked it rough

Five unfortunate Valentine’s Day gifts

Saturday, February 14th, 2004
  1. “Bumfights” video
  2. Genital warts
  3. Monster Manual
  4. Deal-a-Meal™
  5. Restraining order

Five terrible fake names for an aging bluesman

Saturday, February 14th, 2004
  1. Bobby Joe “King” Crimson
  2. “Meshuggah” Hyram Rafelson
  3. “Syphilitc” Robbie
  4. Blind “Blindie” McBlindieblind
  5. Cantankerous Wilbur (no. 2)

Five things that have gotten more complicated than I’d really like

Saturday, February 14th, 2004
  1. Toothbrushes
  2. Athletic shoes
  3. Ordering coffee
  4. Getting out of jury duty
  5. Young men’s haircuts

Five things I’ve carried in the watch pocket of my Levi’s

Saturday, February 14th, 2004
  1. Locker key (1981)
  2. Video game tokens/Quarters (1983)
  3. Jim Dunlop 1mm guitar pick (1988)
  4. Ephedrine (1991)
  5. Imodium (2001)