Puggling

Newt Gingrich's Boat Is Sinking

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:27:00 +0000

Newt Gingrich is in debt. A lot of debt. His campaign has raised $2.1 million and so far he is still one million dollars in the hole. He has said that he hoped that America would be as debt free as he was. As Jon Stewart of the Daily Show pointed out, per capita the U.S. debt amounts to approximately $45,000. Newt has twenty-two times that rate of debt. Good going Newtie.

Newt's 2.1 million dollars raised in the second quarter doesn't look that bad considering Rick Santorum only half a million dollars. However, Newt's campaign imploded in Q2 with much of his upper campaign staff resigning so we don't know when in the second quarter that money was donated. Also, I did not find out how much was reserved for the general election so that could really put another dent in his numbers. I expect that Newt will be out soon since he will likely not do too well in the Iowa Straw Poll.

Stephen Colbert on Michele Bachmann's John Wayne Gacy Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Last night's Colbert Report ripped Michele Bachmann and her (actually understandable) gaffe of confusing (actor and tough guy) John Wayne with (clown and serial killer) John Wayne Gacy.

The Colbert Report
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Michele Bachmann Inadvertantly Claims to Have the Spirit of John Wayne...Gacy

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:51:00 +0000

Gaffe prone Michele Bachmann is at it again. Yesterday she stated that she has the same spirit of a fellow native of Waterloo, Iowa, John Wayne. Unfortunately for her, it was the wrong John Wayne. It was serial killer John Wayne Gacy. While John Wayne the actor represents patriotism and rugged individualism he was actually a racist alcoholic who also was a draft-dodger. John Wayne Gacy was a serial killing clown who hid the bodies of his victims in his crawl space. Oops. Over at Salon.com there is a handy guide to telling the two John Waynes apart.

Dear Newt Gingrich: We Quit Too, Sincerely Your Hopes for Being President

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:00:00 +0000

Newt Gingrich was a dead candidate walking weeks ago when most of his senior staff quit en masse. Now his fundraising director and another top financial aide have departed as well. The campaign is trying desparately to keep a positive face, but seeing as how Gingrich has little buzz and most of the headlines are surrounding Romney, T-Paw and now Jon Huntsman, the death blow may be looming when the campaign fundraising numbers are released at the end of the month. Gingrich is a rotting zombified corpse which is now facing a really angry Bruce Campbell.

The Boomstick is the only thing paying attention to Newt.

Newt's campaign has stated that it will step up its efforts in Iowa and Newt will deliver a speech on inefficiencies in the EPA. Real winner there Newt. There are two big stories going on today, jobs and the economy. Unless you plan on releasing dick pics, stick with those topics and how your grand vision will help get our country back on track. Actually don't. That appears to be a winning strategy and I don't think you can handle that.

Oh God, Michele Bachmann Is Running for President. Lord Help Us All.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:28:00 +0000

Monday at the New Hampshire Republican presidential debate, Michele Bachmann announced that she is officially running for president. She rivals Sarah Palin for inane statements and generally dumbs down society as a whole. If she wins, she will have her hands on the nuclear launch codes. Scary shit. Here is a quick list of some of her greatest hits:

"Michael Steele! You be da man! You be da man!" - Ms Bachmann's attempt at being "hip."
"I find it interesting that it was back in the 1970s that the swine flu broke out then under another Democrat president, Jimmy Carter. I'm not blaming this on President Obama, I just think it's an interesting coincidence." - Bachmann trying to imply that Democrats cause swine flu?
"Carbon dioxide is portrayed as harmful. But there isn't even one study that can be produced that shows that carbon dioxide is a harmful gas." - She's not into "science."
"We will talk a little bit about what has transpired in the last 18 months and would we count what has transpired into turning our country into a nation of slaves." - Nor is she familiar with the 13th Amendment of the Constitution which expressly outlawed slavery and indentured servitude.
"There are hundreds and hundreds of scientists, many of them holding Nobel Prizes, who believe in intelligent design." - This is the one where she just pulls it out of her ass.
"I wish the American media would take a great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out: Are they pro-America or anti-America?" - McCarthyism 2.0

The truly scary thing about her appearance at the debate in New Hampshire is that people actually said she did well.

Newt Gingrich's Campaign Manager Quits...

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:38:00 +0000

News just broke that Newt Gingrich's campaign manager has just quit his post. Along with campaign manager Rob Johnson, key staffers in early primary states Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have all fled Gingrich's campaign. Newt's campaign has hit a lot of rocky patches recently and this is another nail in the coffin.

Pictured: Sinking ship.

Newt probably sealed this deal when he decided to take a two week vacay just weeks after he announced he was running for president. This vacation was assuredly well needed since Newt has confessed that in the past the pressure of his political life led him to cheat on his wife. Well, running for president definitely is stressful so Newt probably was close to cheating on wife number three so he decided to take a break. Naturally, we could expect that he would probably work a three day work week if elected.

Bad Things Happen in the Bicycle Lane

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:09:00 +0000

NYC bicyclist Casey Neistat was ticketed and fined $50 for riding his bike outside of the bicycle lane. The officer told him to ALWAYS ride in the bike lane. He then showed how treacherous it is to ride in the bike lane. (via http://www.neatorama.com/)

Sarah Palin's Paul Revere Meets Stephen Colbert

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:50:00 +0000

Stephen Colbert jumped on the story of Sarah Palin's fuzzy history last night. Her crazy version of Paul Revere as a gun toting Benedict Arnold is shown to be entirely possible by Mr. Colbert. While she has insisted that she was not wrong Stephen comes through and demonstrates that Paul Revere could have done just what Sarah Palin said.

The Colbert Report
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Sarah Palin's Paul Revere: Batshit Crazy

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:43:00 +0000

Over the weekend, our favorite half governor Sarah Palin severely botched the story of Paul Revere's Midnight Ride. She didn't get the actual story or even the poem's story right. Here is what she said, verbatim:

He who warned the British that they weren't going to be taking away our arms by ringing those bells and making sure as he's riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be secure and we were going to be free.

The only things she got right were: 1. There was a man named Paul Revere. 2. There was a horse involved. According to her, Paul Revere basically did a Revolutionary War style drive by on New England. He went all Yosemite Sam on a sleeping populace and oh by the way, warned the wrong side.

Pictured: Paul "Benedict Arnold" Revere

Now, technically they were ALL British at that time, but that's giving her way too much credit considering she thinks the Revolutionary War was about gun control and security. There were no efforts to put bans on assault rifles and your average hand gun was the size of loaf of bread. As far as security, the British military was the baddest force on the planet at that point in time. 9/11 wasn't going to happen for another 225 years. People's biggest security problem was bad drinking water.

Loading a previous save wasn't invented until 1847.

All this came from a "gotcha question" which was something to the effect of "what have you seen today and where are you headed?" But don't fret, in true Palin fashion, she has already insisted that she was right.

The Republican 2012 Primary: Rag Tag Bunch of Misfits.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Tue, 31 May 2011 18:08:00 +0000

With recent news of Indiana governor Mitch Daniels deciding not to run for president, the potential Republican field of candidates for 2012 is an interesting bunch. Most of the potential candidates have not officially declared that they are running (Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, Ron Paul and Herman Cain are the biggest names that have offically declared). Running for president requires drinking a potion of ambition, hubris, narcicism and just a dash of wanting what's best for the country.

Side effects: Ignoring your own crippling lack of likeability & dry mouth.

Since most of these people believe that they can win the nomination of their party, they also believe they can beat Barack Obama. I'm here to bring them down to earth and remind them of why they are unelectable.

Newt Gingrich: Former Speaker of the House from Georgia.

Excused his affair with his now wife on 'pressure' while applying for the most pressure filled job in the world.
Reportedly told his first wife he wanted a divorce while she was in the hospital.

Tim Pawlenty: Former governor of Minnesota.

Who?
He is really, really boring. Like Ben Stein boring.

Ron Paul: Representative from Texas

He's old.
Actually has "ideas" and "ideals." Both of which do not mix with politics.

Herman Cain: Former CEO of Godfather's Pizza.

A black Republican?!?!
See above.

Michelle Bachman: Representative from Minnesota.

Will split the Minnesota vote with T-Paw.
She's bat shit crazy.

Sarah Palin: Half term governor of Alaska, former VP candidate.

Fued with Katie Couric has consumed her efforts for the past three years.
No time to devote any time to improving on her negatives because she is still reading "all of the magazines."

Mitt Romney: Former governor of Massachusetts.

His health care plan in Massachusetts is what Obamacare is modeled after.
That should be enough to kill his chances in the Republican primary. Really.

Rudy Guilianni: Former mayor of NYC.

9/11 was 10 years ago.
He's a decade behind the times.

In Dinner for Schmucks, We're the Schmucks

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:42:00 +0000


Can you spot the schmuck?

On Sunday evening, I had the unfortunate experience of seeing Dinner For Schmucks. It is a wholly predictable plot where the characters have no depth and throughout most of the film the "jokes" are merely cringe inducing moments involving an over the top Steve Carrell. I spent most of the movie just feeling bad for Carrell's character and angry at Paul Rudd for being a tool.

On top of it all, the audience doesn't really get a chance to connect with any endearing character with the possible exception of the eccentric artist Kieran, played by Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords fame, who gives the film its only few funny moments.

This movie is based on a French film, Le dîner de cons ("Dinner for Dolts"), which probably was a far superior film if only because the American version is so bad. Do yourself a favor and slam your head against a wall if you want to see this film.

What Happened in Inception: Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:01:00 +0000

After another day of pondering about what happened in Inception, we're going to dive in a bit more into the film. Not since The Matrix have we seen a film that questions what is real and what exactly is reality. While The Matrix was much more explicit about this point, Inception is much more subtle, and confusing. Once again, this contains spoilers so if you haven't seen the film *SPOILER ALERT*.

This clue is fake.

Throughout the film we never know exactly where reality begins and where it ends. We are given clues as to what is real and what is not, but we can never fully trust these clues. Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) uses a totem (a top which he spins to see whether or not it stops) to determine if where he is in reality or a dream. However in a key sequence with Ariadne (Ellen Page) Cobb explains that he should never let anyone else know exactly how her totem feels so that it can't be faked. It is implied that the totem does actually say whether or not one is in a dream, but it only shows whether or not you are in control of your dream. If it is your head that is populating the dreamspace, then you know how this object should behave, otherwise the object is coming from someone else's head.

In case that isn't enough to convince you that this clue is meaningless to determine dream vs. reality, as I discussed in the previous post, the totem isn't even Cobb's, it is his wife Mal's (Marion Cotillard). We see Cobb take it inside limbo. This could even mean that every time we see the top, it is definitely a dream as the object was taken from inside a dream.

Anyway, as Mal said in the film, you must take a leap of faith that your world is either a dream or reality and in Inception, you also must take a leap of faith on what is a dream and what is reality.

What the Hell Happened in Inception?

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:36:00 +0000

First of all, Inception is an excellent movie. Go see it. Now. I'll wait. It is about a team of people, led by Leonardo DiCaprio, who can extract information from people while they are dreaming. From there the plot is very complex and deserves a very big *SPOILER ALERT* for those who haven't seen the film.

Okay, so what actually happened? At the end of the film was he awake or dreaming? Here are some thoughts on what happened.

1. Cobb was dreaming at the end of the film. This seems to be a fairly accepted consensus by those who have seen the film. The big reason is that the children have not aged and they are wearing the exact same clothes. They are also in the same positions that they are in the other instances we see them in. Also, the top (which may or may not be relevant - I'll explain later) does not stop spinning. We see it wobble, but right before the final cut, it straightens up.

2. Cobb's wife did kill herself. We can use Cobb's wife as a dream indicator. Whenever we see his wife, we know for sure Cobb is dreaming. We never see her during "reality." Ever. Since Cobb messed with her internal workings by planting the idea that her world was not real, she could never escape from thinking that she was in a dream which haunts Cobb's unconscious.

3. Cobb's totem is not the top. We see in Cobb's explanation of what happened to his wife that the top was her totem. Since it was not his, he does not know what is real and what isn't. He needs Ariadne to guide him out of the dream labyrinth. She convinces him to let go of his wife and ultimately forces him to let her go by shooting her inside of Cobb's limbo.

4. The whole thing could be a dream. Or not. It depends on where you want to draw the line. Since Cobb's totem is not the top, he does not know for sure if he is awake or not. The viewer is left to make that distinction. I personally choose to believe that the mission was real (unless there is some convincing argument otherwise) and that Cobb just did not really wake up but made a world where he could be happy.

Leave a note and express your opinion!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: No, It's Not a Tramp Stamp.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:49:00 +0000

I recently read Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, over a long weekend and it is well deserved of the hype. Titled "Men Who Hate Women" in its original Swedish, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo slowly draws the reader into a world of intrigue and murder.

We open with Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative reporter on the financial industry. Blomkvist is a highly principled man who takes his role as financial watchdog very seriously and he has very complicated personal relationships with women. In short he is definitely a womanize. While the world of finance is certainly not the most glamorous one, Larsson makes Blomkvist's world captivating. The second protagonist, Lisbeth, is the namesake of the book. She is a different sort of woman who is a ward of the state, however she is also an expert private investigator.

The first 150 pages or so lays the groundwork for the heart of the story which revolves around the powerful and mysterious Vanger family. At times the relationships of the Vanger family are confusing, but helpfully Larsson has included a family tree at the front of the book in order to help out the reader, but after a while, this becomes unnecessary. As the tale develops, there are a multitude of twists and turns that are surprising as well as shocking. I highly recommend this engrossing thriller.

22 TV Themes in 7 Minutes

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:02:00 +0000

These guys perform 22 TV theme songs in 7 minutes. They hit a lot of good shows so just watch and you'll find out. If you don't know the song, they were kind and put the show's name right there on the screen.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Ireland! Guinness! Sheep!

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:29:00 +0000

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I'll be taking you on an armchair trip to Ireland. Ireland is a beautiful country located just west of Great Britain. As far as one could tell, the dental care in Ireland has not been affected by this proximity.

Tito, the Nissan Note

We will begin our trip in Shannon, where much of the air traffic from the west arrives. The Shannon airport is small in comparison to other airports, but it serves its purpose. For this tour we will be driving a Nissan Note, code named "Tito," which is a manual transmission four-seater compact (and the driver sits on the right). As we land, there is a light, but constant drizzle which is typical of Ireland.

The Rock, site of a Nick Cage/Sean Connery flick.

Our trek will lead us south towards Cashel, a small town which is the location of a famous, and ancient castle, the Rock of Cashel. The Rock was also a cathedral which was the seat of power for the church in the area. At one point, one of the bishops of Cashel was the bishop of both the Catholic and Anglican Churches. The Irish were certainly pioneers in one stop shopping.

Cashel also likes to claim one of Ireland's most famous natural resources, Guinness. While the official lore of Guinness states that it was invented in 1759 by Arthur Guinness. The local Cashelians attribute the murky brew to Arthur's father, who resided in Cashel when he burned one batch of barley when making a batch of stout.

Kinsale

We continue from Cashel down towards the lovely seaside town of Kinsale. This quaint village is picturesque and classically Irish. A good plan for Kinsale is taking a walking tour throughout the town and enjoying the history which happened here. For example, Kinsale was the site of a Spanish invasion of Ireland as well as the site of the official investigation into the sinking of the Lusitania.

The Dingle Peninsula

From Kinsale, we head northwest to the Dingle Peninsula. The Dingle Peninsula is home to rolling green hills full of sheep as well as small villages which consist of only one church and four pubs. Travel guru Rick Steves has said that the Dingle Peninsula is his favorite place out of every trip he has ever taken.

The town of Dingle is a tourist mecca where the town feels open and cozy at the same time. Fishing is still a major source of income in Dingle and the harbor is always home to boats of all kinds. Fresh seafood is a staple here and in the evenings you can always find a warm pub and good company.

Fungie the Dolphin

The harbor in Dingle is also home to Fungie (Fun-jee) a bottle nose dolphin. He first arrived in 1984 and liked Dingle so much he decided to stay. He rarely leaves the bay and is often seen swimming and playing near the tourist boats dedicated to seeing him.

Kilkenny

Next, we move east to the center of southern Ireland to the town of Kilkenny. Kilkenny is home to a large castle and many churches. If shopping is for you, Kilkenny has a large shopping district as well as good restaurants. Like most of the towns in Ireland, walking is easy and driving is not. In Ireland, the road signs are not like in the States where there is some warning when there is a turn ahead, but in Ireland unless you turn where the sign is, you are horribly lost immediately. Also, the street signs are rarely visible from the road making navigating difficult.

Finally we make our way to Dublin, the capital of Ireland. Dublin is a large city, by Irish standards, and also has its historic sections where tourists like to go. The main downtown area is near Trinity College, one of the oldest higher education establishments in the world. There is a fascinating tour of Trinity College put on by students of the college to help pay for their expenses.

Also inside of Trinity College is the Book of Kells (or actually the Page of Kells since only one page at a time is on display) which is a magnificent book written over 1000 years ago and beautifully illustrated. There were no photos allowed inside so here is a great shot of the outside of the building it resides in.

Dublin is also home to the Guinness brewery where Arthur Guinness had the buisiness savvy to sign a 9000 year lease and lock in those low prices. The Guinness brewery is a massive complex that takes up multiple city blocks and makes thousands of tons of the beer each year.

Also, pouring a pint of Guinness is a four step process: 1. Inspect the glass. It must be clean. 2. Hold the glass at a 45 degree angle and pull the tap toward you and fill the glass until it is nearly at the top. 3. Set the pint down to let it rest. Once the pint has rested and let the head develop it's time for the fourth step. 4. Holding the glass level, push the tap away from you to fill the pint to the top. Finally the unofficial fifth step: enjoy!

Dublin Castle is also worth a look see and if you have time, the inside is surely interesting as well. As far as night life in Dublin, the Temple Bar district is an area where you can find many different pubs with traditional Irish music as well as pubs with a more modern appeal. However, it is a touristy area so be prepared to run in to lots of Americans.

After a lot of touring (and let's be honest, drinking) if you need a place to just relax, you can make your way to St. Stephen's Green, a beautiful public park near the Grafton Street area of Dublin. Also there is a lot of shopping near there for those that are interested.

Finally, for some much needed time to appreciate the history of Ireland, we arrive at Kilmainham Gaol. This prison serves as a reminder of the struggle for independence of Ireland and many of the people who fought for Ireland ended up here. It has also appeared in movies such as Michael Collins.

I hope you have enjoyed this armchair tour of Ireland and if you enjoyed that, take a look at the tour of Lisbon!

Dabbling in Photography: Episode 2

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:37:00 +0000

A while back I walked around Columbus (or as it's sometimes called C-bus, or simply the 'Bus) and took some photos of the buildings. I still don't know a whole lot about taking pictures so if they are blurry or something, blame incompetence.


The arch outside the library.

Lots of shadow, perhaps a different time of day would work better.

First Christian Church has a halo, kind of.

Many a perp ends up here...

An alleyway in downtown.

Adventures in Lisbon

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:12:00 +0000

Lisbon at dusk

Lisbon is an amazing city with loads of history and incredible sights. Ancient Lisbon was originally built by native peoples on two hills overlooking a sheltered bay leading the Tagus River out to the Atlantic. Lisbon became a trading port with the Phoenicians and Greeks and it Greek it was known as Olissipo. Later, in Roman times, Lisbon was part of the Carthaginian empire and after the defeat of Hannibal in the Punic Wars, the Iberian Peninsula became a Roman Territory. After the fall of Rome, the Iberian Peninsula was invaded by Germanic tribes and controlled Lisbon until the Moors invaded in 711 from North Africa. In 1147, the Moors were expelled from Lisbon and it was returned to Christian rule. In the Middle Ages, Portugal began to explore and in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries Lisbon was a major center for the Age of Discovery expeditions. As a premier nautical power and pioneer in the world Portugal and Lisbon were the beneficiaries of this exploration and much of Lisbon's art and architecture reflects this golden age of the Renaissance.

Baixa

Rua Augusta looking onto the Praça do Commercio

Throughout its history, Lisbon grew outward from into many different districts, the oldest of which is the district of Baixa, which means "low area," situated in between the two original hills. The tour of the Baixa district begins with Lisbon's main walking avenue, Rua Augusta. It is a wide, rolling avenue with street vendors selling various items from sunglasses to leather to flowers and it directs foot traffic into the Praça do Commercio. The buildings on this street are young for Lisbon, some only about 200 years old. Along with shops and a few restaurants there are apartments and hostels along this street and one of the best is Traveller's House.

King Jose I (horse's name unknown)

Adjoining Rua Augusta is the Praça do Commercio, a grand square overlooking the bay. The main tourist office of Lisbon is located here in the square and Lisboa Cards can be purchased for transportation and discounts in some shops. This square was the home of the royal palace until the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 destroyed it. In the middle of the square is a statue of King Jose I measuring 14 meters tall. The king is decked out in his full emperor's mantle and he is looking out towards the sea. Currently there are plans to renovate the square to make it more pedestrian friendly and place an Age of Discovery museum there.

Santa Justa Elevator off of Rua Augusta

Walking back north along Rua Augusta, there is the Santa Justa Elevator which has been compared to the Eiffel Tower and is built in a similar steel frame style. In fact, it was designed by Raoul de Mesnier du Ponsard, an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel. This elevator connects Baixa, the lowest point in the city, to Bairro Alto, the highest. Originally, this elevator was powered by steam and it rises 45 meters into the air. Today, tourists can climb a spiral staircase and from the top of the tower they are rewarded with spectacular views of Lisbon and the bay.

Alfama

San Francisco's got nothing on Lisbon

From Baixa, taking Tram Number 37 east up one of the two hills Lisbon is built on, we arrive in the next district of Lisbon, Alfama. This area was originally settled by the Romans and Visigoths and the name Alfama comes from the Arabic spoken by the Moors, alhama, which refers to the hot springs in area. In the 15th century it was an important Jewish quarter. Alfama is built on dense bedrock and therefore was fortunate enough to survive the Great Lisbon Earthquake in 1755 and still maintains its medieval character. Many of the residents in the Alfama are older and grew up in the area which gives it a great feel of community. There are small cafes where the traditional folk music, fado, is still sung with enthusiasm. From narrow alleyways to numerous churches, Alfama is a very interesting area.

Sé de Lisboa

While still riding the 37 tram, the Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa) appears immediately in front of the train. Built on top of an old mosque, one of the oldest buildings in Lisbon dates from 1150. This cathedral more resembles a medieval fortress, but inside it is Romanesque and sheds any impression of the militaristic facade. In the cloisters, which date to the 14th century, excavations discovered Roman and Visigoth remains as well as part of the old wall of the mosque which once stood here.

Man, look at those crenellations!

From the top of Lisbon

Can you spot the lion?

Continuing up the hill (either on the tram or not) we arrive at St. George's Castle (Castelo de São Jorge). Some parts of this castle date from the 6th century and were originally fortified by Romans. Later it served as a Moorish palace until it was captured by Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques in 1147. In the earthquake of 1755, the castle fared quite well only sustaining minor damage so much of the original edifice is still there.From the crenellated walls you can see the entire ancient city and even make out the Santa Justa Elevator to the west. The original Roman influence is still apparent inside the castle with grand arches hinting at aqueducts.

Walking northeast, we continue to the Feira da Ladra which translates to "Theives Market" and it is essentially Lisbon's flea market with all sorts of items being bought and sold. The sellers here are excellent bargainers so be sure to never take the original asking price! For anyone looking for a neat souvenir, this is the place to go and even if you are not looking to buy, it is worth the walk to check it out.

Looks like it should be a church

After checking out the Feira da Ladra, heading down the hill toward the water, there is a massive white dome which is the National Pantheon. This is a monument to famous Portuguese such as Vasco da Gama (although his body is not there, we'll get to that later). While serving to honor the (famous) dead, this building is also a nice way to cool off in the summer heat as its stone construction and high dome makes for excellent insulation.

Spikes: Artistic or Defensive?

After visiting the National Pantheon, we stroll back towards the Baixa district and encounter one of the most interesting private houses in all of Lisbon, the Casa dos Bicos which means "House of Spikes." It was once a 16th century palace and it has over 1000 spikes adorning its front. Unfortunately, the interior is not open to the public.

Continuing back through Baixa (and possibly up the Santa Justa Elevator), we come to our next district in Old Lisbon.

Bairro Alto & Chiado

A restaurant in Bairro Alto

Bairro Alto has been called the cultural heart of Lisbon and this Bohemian neighborhood dates to the 16th century. It is full of Fado houses, restaurants, shops and bars and it is the location of some of Lisbon's best night life. In 2005, it was rated as the ninth most prestigious areas in the world behind places like 5th Avenue, New York and Champs Elysees in Paris.

Carmo Church

One of the most interesting places in all of Lisbon is the ruins of the Carmo Convent and Church. To get a feel for the full power of the Great Lisbon Earthquake, this archeological site is a gateway to the past. The congregation was here in mass when the magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck. The roof of the church caved in and is now gone and much of the interior is in shambles, but the visitors can still imagine what this Gothic church must have looked like before the disaster.

Also in Bairro Alto, is the Sao Roque Church which boasts one of the plainest exteriors and most magnificent interiors. Built in the 18th century it is a superb example of Baroque style. Inside there is artwork made of gold, silver, ivory, and lapis lazuli. There are even extremely detailed mosaics which initially appear to be paintings, but look close and you'll see the tiny pieces.

After a quick stop Bairro Alto & Chiado, we take the 15 tram out to our final area in Lisbon.

Belem

The Belem district contains some of the grandest monuments and buildings in all of Lisbon. Belem has grand parks and gardens as well as a mixture of modern and Renaissance buildings which blend the past and present.

Interior of the Jeronimos Monastery

Jeronimos Monastery

After stepping off the 15 tram, visitors are immediately drawn to the Jeronimos Monastery. A World Heritage site, this excellent example of the wealth and power exhibited by the Portuguese empire at its height during the Age of Discovery. Built in 1502 to commemorate Vasco da Gama's successful voyage, it was initially inhabited by monks of the Order of Saint Jerome. Inside the monastery, rests the body of Vasco da Gama (I told you we'd get there). The monastery is by far one of the most amazing buildings in Lisbon and the interior matches in the exterior in detail.

Belem Tower

Also in Belem is the Belem Tower, a Renaissance era guard tower for the port. Built in 1515, its architect had previously designed defenses in Morocco so the towers are in the Moorish style. The tower is also decorated in a nautical theme with ropes and anchors serving as artistic touches.


Look for this bakery, you won't regret it

Perhaps the best part of Belem is the Antiga Confeitaria de Belem. This bakery has been making the special custard tarts, pasteis de Belem, since 1841. The recipe is known only to three monks who guard the secret closely. As one local said, "when one dies, it is like electing a pope." These pastries are reason enough alone to make the trip to Belem. The bakery usually has a long line of tourists and locals alike ordering these delectable treats.

These are just some of the sites that Lisbon has to offer, there are many, many more that are well worth exploring. This brief trip can easily be completed in two days and merely hits a few of the highlights. Here are a few more pictures of Lisbon to play us out.

An example of tile that Lisbon is famous for.

Rua Augusta at dusk.

Vasco da Gama, or what's left of him.

Cops on Segways...

Down the winding streets of the Alfama.

Why Is Everything Always Set in New York or L.A.?

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:12:00 +0000

The Chicago River at night, perfect for TV

Chicago is the "Second City," but on television, it is definitely behind New York and Los Angeles. But I wanted to know just how far behind, so I looked up the current television lineup for all the network shows and determined their settings (I did not count reality shows, news programs, or game shows). Many shows locations are unknown, such as The Simpsons, but others do have a setting. What I found out was somewhat startling: Chicago tied for dead last in the number of shows set at a location. Here is the location list from most to least:

Los Angeles/California: 11 [90210, Brothers and Sisters, FlashForward, Melrose Place, NCIS: Los Angeles, Numb3rs, Private Practice, The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, The Mentalist, Trauma]
New York/New Jersery: 9 [Mercy, 30 Rock, Castle, CSI: NY, Gossip Girl, How I Met Your Mother, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, House]
Virginia/D.C. : 4 [Bones, NCIS, The Cleveland Show, The Vampire Diaries]
Miami/Florida: 3 [Cougar Town, CSI: Miami, Miami Medical]
Pennsylvania: 3 [Cold Case, Three Rivers, The Office]
Indiana: 2 [Parks and Recreation, The Middle]
Chicago: 1 [The Good Wife]
The Rest Where a Location is Known: 11

To me, this was very surprising as Chicago is the third largest city in the United States as well as having previously had a fair number of shows set there (Perfect Strangers, Family Matters, Chicago Hope, ER, etc). What was perhaps the most startling to me was that Indiana had two shows set there. Granted they are both in fictional towns, but come on, the Hoosier state rarely gets any TV love so I'm counting this.

Remember When Phil Hartman Played Regan on SNL? Me Neither.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:35:00 +0000

Those guys on Funny or Die managed to pull of a reunion of the last six presidents even though two are dead. Listen for a cameo voice over by Ron Howard for extra points!

Funny or Die's Presidential Reunion from Will Ferrell

Adventures in Photography: Messing Around Without Knowing What I'm Doing

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:28:00 +0000

Recently, I've been dabbling in photography and I realized a couple of things when looking at the photos I've taken: 1. I don't know what I'm doing and 2. The Puggle is a predominant theme.


Disapproving Puggle...

Puggle in the sun

Colts pride!

Bounding in the snow

Funny ears

Ok Go.... Watch This Video

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:41:00 +0000

You may already know the band Ok Go for their one take video on the treadmills, but this one is far more impressive. The timing involved for their Rube Goldberg machine is amazing and that alone makes the video worth watching (it also helps that it is a good song). If you are curious about how this was made you can check out Wired for details.

Cool Video of Tokyo at Night

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:17:00 +0000

tokyoglow-low from Nathan Johnston on Vimeo.

More TED Talks

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:26:00 +0000

As Puggling has posted before, TED puts on various presentations by famous (and not so famous) folk about very interesting topics, usually aimed at improving the world we live in. Here is one such talk by a former Microsoft guy who has a HUGE variety of interests. Topics range from penguin poo, to nuclear reactors to T. Rex bones. Enjoy!

For a more serious topic on what needs to be done. Bill Gates (you may have heard of him) gives a presentation on energy usage.

Too Fat to Fly? Yes, Fatty Deluxe, Yes.

noreply@blogger.com (Brian) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:58:00 +0000

Many fliers have had this same experience. You arrive at your seat only to find that half of it is taken over by a person who is best described as "rotund." What can you do? You paid for a whole seat and only get half and the other half is taken up by mounds of Crisco. Well, the debate over what to do with fat fliers has been mainly focused on the rights of the tubbo in question and there are two sides to this story. Yes, it does suck that a person is too big to be in one seat, but the person in the seat next to them is equally, if not more, inconvenienced by the offending bulge.
Admitted fat guy and flier, Kevin Smith (who also is a director of funny films like Clerks and Mallrats and un-funny films like Jersey Girl), was recently kicked off a Southwest flight for being too fat. This case highlights some of the complexities of this issue. Smith claimed he could get the armrests of the seat down which means that he could fit in the seat. This is an acceptable method of determining who is too big to fly and who can get their tons of fun on the plane. If you can get the armrests down, you don't impede on the other passengers. This is actually a serious issue. Overloading an airplane can mean difficulties in take-off and landing and seriously hamper fuel efficiency. As American waistlines have expanded, airlines have noticed that they use significantly more fuel. So, how to know if you're too fat to fly? Here is a simple list that will let you know:

You have been featured on a newscast, but they only showed you below the neck.
Your choice of fashion is consistently in the "muumuu" category.
You use one of those Jazzy scooters at Walmart and you are not handicapped.
You regard a flight of stairs as "daunting."
You have had multiple diabetes scares.

If you fit one or more of these above, you need to purchase two (or more) adjacent seats on an airplane and probably warn the pilot to really put the pedal to the metal on take-off because you Shamu, are a fat ass.