An interesting article on everyone’s favorite search engine, as seen today on “Sunday Morning” on CBS…

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/25/sunday/main608672.shtml

For whatever reason, I became the Bellevue Leader punching bag this week, as far as phone calls go. I bet I received at least five of ’em this week. People call to complain about what the newspaper isn’t doing; it’s not often that people call to say what they enjoy. It’s frustrating, really, and makes me believe my work isn’t worth anything, or that my writing sucks. I’d like to believe the opposite, obviously, but it’s hard to do so with negative energy floating about.

I’ve found that people feel much safer unloading their criticisms over the phone, where I can’t see them. It gives them a sense a power, especially for those people who are strangers to me. They don’t know ANYTHING about me, but they assume I’m bad at my job and make poor decisions — and they have no problem detailing their beefs.

Whatever.

Curt Meyer, a friend of mine from college, recently sent me the following email, disguised as an interested eBay buyer. I haven’t spoken with Curt for a few months, so forgive me if I didn’t know at first the email was from him. Boy, is my face red.

If I suck helium from a balloon and then speak into the Belkin Voice Recorder for iPod, is there any way to shift the pitch so my voice sounds normal?

Thank you.

It hasn’t been updated for two years, but here’s an online publication Curt edited: http://www.bulkhead.org/

Two days without an update, eh? I’m a slacker, I know that. Shit. Here’s some stuff…

(1) Last night’s Death Cab for Cutie show was really, really, really amazing. They’re a fantastic band to watch live. They played for nearly 90 minutes, which included an encore. Nice stuff, you Seattle boys. Well done. Ben Kweller was OK, but he played too long. Most of his songs sound the same, so after about 30 minutes, I was ready for Death Cab. I saw bits and pieces of +/- and what I saw was good. I might need to check them out more. I saw a bunch a friends, too, which is always nice. It was REALLY hot inside Sokol, a sure sign of spring. That, and all the punk-ass kids who turned out for Ben Kweller, swearing up a storm and smoking their cigarettes. I could’ve done without the masses of teenagers, but such is life.

(2) Ron (my boss) and Dave (my dad) both gave me shit about my new haircut. Yeah, whatever. It’s shorter than usual, I know, but that’s what a haircut is about, right? Am I wrong? I think it looks sassy. (Yes, I used the word “sassy” in a post. So there.)

(3) My dad is town from Denver through Sunday. He’ll do some work on my car and my house. We’ll also squeeze in a trip to El Aguila, a good Mexican restaurant here in Omaha, Saturday night. Yummy.

(4) I’m now less than two months away to visiting my sister in California. Woo hoo!

(5) Tomorrow, I’m going over to my friend Tony’s house. He and his wife bought a house a few months ago. Tony also appeared on Wheel of Fortune recently; his episode airs tomorrow night at 6:30, which is another reason for the get-together. Go OG San!

(6) I could go for a big slab of chocolate cake and a tall class of milk. Too bad I don’t have either.

http://www.themorningnews.org/archives/albums/the_elected_me_first.php

Bring it on :-)

I went to bed last night shortly after 9, and awoke sometime after 6 this morning — without waking up during the night. I’ve never been good at math, but I believe that’s nine hours of sleep. I feel fantastic. After putting the paper together on Mondays, I typically sleep rather well. My brain is tired after writing stories, cut lines and headlines.

Today, I’m getting my hair cut. It needs it, too. Shaggy McShaggy am I.

It’s like chocolate cake for your ears: http://www.somafm.com

When asked about his exercise regimen in the March 14 issue of The New York Times Magazine, Rufus Wainwright replied: “Occasionally I’ll go to abs class and look ridiculous. But mostly I get my exercise from walking — which doesn’t do a damn thing.”

“I love you, Rufus!”

Because more music is almost always a good thing: http://www.shaggy-money.flywheelsites.com/mp3list.html

Want to trade tracks? I’ve got 2,634 that says you do.

Tonight, it’s drinks (champagne, perhaps?) at the Homy Inn, one of my Top 5 Favorite Omaha Bars. Bottoms up.