grungegate

About 20 years ago, the New York Times decided to let its readers in on the world of Grunge music. They wrote an article about it, and called up Sub Pop Records in Seattle, the origin of most grunge music to add some "what these kids are saying" flair to their article. Unfortunately, when the author of the article called, they were put through to Megan Jasper, who had some fun at their expence. Too bad the New York Times didn't do any fact-checking...

"LEXICON OF GRUNGE: BREAKING THE CODE

All subcultures speak in code; grunge is no exception. Megan Jasper, a 25-year-old sales representative at Caroline Records in Seattle, provided this lexicon of grunge speak, coming soon to a high school or mall near you:

WACK SLACKS: Old ripped jeans

FUZZ: Heavy wool sweaters

PLATS: Platform shoes

KICKERS: Heavy boots

SWINGIN' ON THE FLIPPITY-FLOP: Hanging out

BOUND-AND-HAGGED: Staying home on Friday or Saturday night

SCORE: Great

HARSH REALM: Bummer

COB NOBBLER: Loser

DISH: Desirable guy

BLOATED, BIG BAG OF BLOATATION: Drunk

LAMESTAIN: Uncool person

TOM-TOM CLUB: Uncool outsiders

ROCK ON: A happy goodby"

The original New York Times article can be found here. I haven't read it all, because it was so lame and the writer was such a cob nobbler. You should let me know how good/bad it is if you can actually get through it.

And here is the npr website, where I first heard of this article. It was on their show "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!" and it is absolutely hilarious. Please, please listen if you can get a moment. It's the "Not my job" segment.

Thank you!

Today, the last customer that I waited on was a man who spoke almost no english at all. I have to say that I was completely embarrassed that the little spanish I've retained over the many, many years. Nothing made much sense, on either side, and I'm sure I said something like "I can wants another like this?"

I seemed to have the worst luck with Spanish teachers growing up. The one I had in high school taught me nothing, and the professor I had in college taught me...well, next to nothing. Specifically, we were not taught the everyday words that I needed today. However, I must have picked something up because I was able to help that customer using phrases like "I'm sorry my spanish is so awful."

To my teachers: thank you so much for all your help. I'm sure being able to accurately ask where the big kitchen is, tell him I have one sister, or tell him that the color of my crayon was indeed red would've been helpful and made his day a bit better, had it come up in our conversation.

Oh well.

Something odd

This week at work, it was Caitlin week. I swear, every other person had a kid named Caitlin, or was named Caitlin, or was yelling at their kid (named Caitlin) to stay in line or to not touch that. It was rather annoying because I kept jerking my head around trying to figure out why everyone was yelling at me.

the end.

Wii

Well, the Wii Fit is out there now, and it is very very exciting. Watch this video to look at what this little white thing you stand on can do for you.

(I know I've posted this video before, but I wanted to watch it again, so I'm making you all watch it, too.)

Fun places to spend time

More Punny Signs here

Yay.


And my all-time favorite blog ever...

Garfield Minus Garfield.

"Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life? Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let’s laugh and learn with him on a journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness in a quiet American suburb."

Pink Martini

I recently got the opportunity to hear one of my favorite bands ever, Pink Martini. I saw them at the Crystal Ballroom, and it was marvelous! This was my third time seeing them live, but I think this was my favorite concert. There was no seating, and my friends and I ended up standing directly in front of the stage. Everyone was singing and dancing, and it was so enjoyable.

Here's on of their songs, hang on little tomato, with a really lovely trombone solo to start it out. I wish it was from the concert I went to, but it isn't. Oh well. Enjoy!

New Potter Puppet Pals

"The Vortex"

New Blog Yay!

One of the things I have to do for my job is to work a checkout station like they do at a grocery store. It is quite the adventure, but there are a few things that get on my nerves. Now, I know that it is so easy to tell people how to raise their kids, especially because I don't have any and I don't know what it's like, but it seems that there are a few things parents do that really really bug me. Some of them are:

The "let's make you happy and hold this toy while we're in the store that we have NO INTENTION of buying for you, so that when we reach the checkout, you scream and cry and make the employees hate life." COME ON PEOPLE!! You give them something they want and then you take it away and are surprised when they're unhappy.

The "I'm going to buy you this toy, but you have to let go of it for 2 seconds so they can ring it up and we can buy it...oh, why are you screaming when I make you let go of it?" Now this one happens with pretty much ever other person with a kid. I'm not saying don't buy them toys, but my parent's policy was "if you throw a tantrum over it, I'm not going to give it to you, even if I wanted you to have it." Not that hard.

The "I'll give you anything you want and let you run around the store with very little or no supervision, and then I'll wonder why you don't listen to me." Oh? You want a thomas the tank engine? Ok! Oh what's that? You want 80 bags of goldfish crackers? Of course! Now, wait here while I sign for the card...no, over here by me. Please don't touch that. I'm sorry, we have to go now. Please stop crying, don't throw that, please be quiet...you get the picture.

Of course there are kids who are really tired and unhappy, and the babies who get fussy, and the parents who are doing a good job and everything, this rant is not about them. This rant is about those three groups of people that I want to whack upside the head and yell "DUH!"



On another note, I have been watching some funniest home videos compilations on youtube, and totally loving them! I have to admit now I have this irrational fear of falling down while someone films it so that in 20 years, bored college kids watch it and laugh...weird, right?

I have also been enjoying watching NCIS. I would totally let Mark Harmon interrogate me whenever he wanted/needed to!