Cerebrate Good Times

This is one of those subjects I usually avoid because it seems like so many other people talk about it, but here we go. I enjoy a good horror movie. I think it's like vigorous physical exercise—tough while it's happening, but there's a rush of endorphins when it's over and you survived. I often discuss with people the concept of "scary" horror movies vs. movies that are just gross or trying to shock people. And a friend and I were considering whether PG-13 horrors might actually be more frightening because they have to rely more on atmosphere and implied violence rather than blood and gore. So we started making a list of "scary" PG-13 movies vs. R-rated movies. And that led to us listing movies that are great and fun, but not necessarily really scary. Anyway, this is far from an exhaustive list, but it's what we were thinking. PG-13 The Ring —Still probably the scariest movie to me at the time I saw it. The original Japanese version didn...

The Robot Devil Ron Swanson Richard Sharpe John Dortmunder Montgomery Burns Malcolm Reynolds Harry Dresden Who are yours?

We all go a little crazy eating the same thing for lunch every day, or the millionth time they play that one song on the radio. Except sometimes we don’t. Why is it that some things can provide us with enjoyment for years and years, while others don’t? I have no idea. But here are a few of my perpetual enjoyments. Listening to They Might Be Giants Root beer floats Watching old episodes of Red Dwarf Telling that joke about the duck and the grapes Bowling on the Wii What are yours?

Our kitchen chairs: Malaysia Fingernail clippers: Korea Running shoes: Vietnam Frying pan: France Screwdriver: Taiwan Every other object in the house: China

I mentioned a long time ago that I like to learn a variety of things, even if I never stick with any one thing long enough to become a master. Seriously, who has 10,000 hours to devote to one skill when life has so much variety to experience? Anyway, I'm okay with just learning the basics of a lot of things. Here's a running list of skills I want to develop. Singing (I'm okay in a group, but it would be nice to really be able to sing well.) Painting (Who doesn't want to make happy trees?) Glass blowing (I have no idea why, but I think this would be awesome.) Basic computer programming (I enjoyed learning some basic HTML in school and think it would be fun to know more.) Flying (in a plane, not by flapping my arms or falling off a cliff) Cutting hair (I have a secret desire to be able to cut my own) Basic carpentry I'm sure there are more, but this is what I could think of off the top of my head. What about you?

(in no particular order) Caramello Milky Way Kit Kat U-no Almond Joy What about you?

Have you ever been yelled at by a customer or client? If not, congratulations—you're probably the jerk doing the yelling. I think there are a few jobs that we should each have to do at some point in our lives in order to be less of a jerk: Janitor Server at a restaurant Customer service by phone What else?

Kites (Sam's grandpa bought several fancy kites, but none of them would fly. We bought a $2 one at K-Mart, and it works great.) Hot dogs (Honestly, I prefer the $.88 packages over the expensive all-beef ones.) Cereal (Some kinds, like Malt-O-Meal's cinnamon toasters, are better than their expensive counterparts.) What am I forgetting?

Never eating the little dried anchovies that they serve as a side dish in Korea Memorizing the theme song to Duck Tales Keeping the stray kittens we found when I was a kid Being a nerd in school Skipping my own college graduation ceremony Tasting pineapple for the first time Buying that three-piece suit for $40 Knowing nothing about American Idol What about you?

A street hockey ball A tube of super glue A ball of rubber bands A travel alarm clock A lighter for the gas grill A roll of duct tape Two watches with dead batteries A basket of light bulbs

• Buy someone a pet milk snake, then later secretly switch it out with a coral snake. • Feed them ostensibly fat-free food over (that is actually full of fat) over the course of decades. • Secure for them a high-paying job as an executive. Later, drive the company to financial ruin, then give them a tour of the roof. • Periodically rub poison oak on their clothes. Over the course of multiple exposures, sensitivity increases. Eventually, they might become sensitive enough to die. • Lace the edges of every book in their house with poison. Eventually they'll probably get a paper cut.

I'm all for getting a good deal, and I believe most items potentially have a longer life than we give them, so shopping for second-hand items is often a great idea. There are, however, certain items that it's probably better to get new: fire extinguisher underwear airbag dentures casket Anything else?

Moron club The KKK Crafts store Museum of earwax sculpture Jail Snake handlers' meeting

In N Out HDTV Hybrid cars Diet Coke Musicals Convertibles (It had been a while since I potentially offended any of you. So, who wants to argue, and what do you want to add?)

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