Blahg

2 May 2010

After ripping on the National Geographic channel for a sloppy show about the Nasca Lines, I have to give them props for a great show about the recent activity at Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland.

Unlike the much-hyped Nasca show, the dryly titled Iceland Volcano Eruption seemed to pop on the air unannounced. Or maybe I've tuned out Nat Geo too much lately. The vast majority of the news coverage centered on the ash's impact on air travel. A big story that was missing was the impact on the people living in Iceland.

This show has some incredible footage of the volcano's activity, farms covered in soot, and farmers resolute in staying put. It was a truly other-worldly environment they had to contend with, one engulfed in all sorts of naturally-made collateral damage.

It's a highly recommended piece of television.

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2 May 2010

It's amazing what a little sunshine can do for the energy level. After completing a number of chores yesterday afternoon, including the first mow of the season and spring fertilizing, I earned a break at the Tilted Kilt. A couple pints of Guinness, a BBQ bacon cheeseburger.

After fueling up at the Kilt, I strolled down to a nationally-recognized drug store chain to pick up some calcium tablets for my mom. I inadvertently walked down the candy aisle and caught a glimpse of one of the confection industry's finest creations: Mike and Ike, a well-documented Mattopian weakness. And now there are even more flavors: Italian Ice and Lemonade Blends.

I had to pick up a couple boxes to try 'em out.

At the check out, I was stunned to find out the Mike and Ikes were on sale. The Berry Blast and Lemonade Blends enjoyed a ten cent discount. But the Italian Ice was slashed down to only 42 cents!

With that revelation, I stepped out on the corner of 16th and Stout and cracked open the Italian Ice in order to ascertain if the purchase of additional boxes was in order.

It was Saturday evening, a glimmer of spring was in the air. Kids were out in prom gowns and suits. There was a festive vibe on the 16th Street Mall.

And there was also some sort of incident going down; there were a couple kids (in decidedly non-prom attire) talking to police.

Fine. I have work to do: Is the Italian Ice any good?

Then the kids were told to sit, straight-legged on the pedestrian way between the mall shuttle lanes. And two more kids were brought into the fold and told to do likewise. Then I noticed a Homeland Security van.

Maybe this was something serious. But no civilians were told to clear the area.

I continued my analysis of the delictability of the Mike and Ikes.

Shortly, the entire situation with the kids was defused. After some fist bumps and half hugs between the officers and the kids, the youngsters were let go. Well, at least two of them. With a bit of sugar shock setting in, I didn't notice the fate of the first two individuals. Maybe they were put in the van. I don't know.

With all back to normal on the mall, I was able to focus more intently on the issue at hand. I did indeed need to seize the opportunity and went in for more Mike and Ikes.

Turns out the Italian Ice wasn't on deep discount. The register was using some sort of complex algorithm in calculating the price (to wit: 1*1/1.29 - 3/3.00). Once back at Matt Manor, I was able to make sense of the receipt: Buy four for $4.

Just had to share.

Then the news broke about the bomb scare in Times Square.

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