Tuesday, February 24, 2004

"Tomacco" Plants and Other Nonsense!

It's a classic case of life imitating art this week as News of the Weird reports that a scientist in Oregon has tried to create a "Tomacco" plant (A hybrid of a tobacco plant and a tomato plant) after seeing it done by Homer Simpson on The Simpsons. Ah, the sources of inspiration. And to think modern scientists are using Homer Simpson as a muse!
Now before you rush out to your local nursery and try to purchase one, a study showed that only the plant itself, not the actual fruit, contains nicotine.
Also, yours truly has had his 15 minutes of fame this week in Metro Weekly, under the photos taken at Apex (P & 22nd St. NW) on College Night! Truth be told, this is the second time I have appeared in the pages of Metro Weekly. What can I say, they have good taste!

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

The End of Dean

We all figured it would happen sooner or later, especially after the primaries started going sour. Howard Dean announced today he is dropping out of the race for the Democratic party nomination. At first I was devastated, but no, not so much any more. It was bound to happen.
But why did he sink like the Titanic is the question. Was it that yell he gave out?
"YEAAHHHHH!"
I should note here that I am a resident of the District (I live on Massachusetts Ave NW...the good end, not the ghetto). And yes, back in the so-called "advisory" primary that preceeded New Hampshire's (in other words, it didn't count) I voted for Howard Dean. It was the only primary that Dean won. Go figure.
What will happen to this country without Dean? And without Astro Turf? Yes, the makers of Astro Turf are declaring bankruptcy.
Thus far the week has been slow in the weird kind of stories I like to comment on, but we shall see what happenens. And in the meantime, if you, dear reader, have any bizarre headlines you'd like to bring to my attention, please email me at aratliff@gmu.edu

Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Tertiary Post

John Kerry spoke at GMU yesterday! Actually, John Edwards was on campus as well, both speaking at Dewberry Hall in the Johnson Center. Read about it at George Mason's student newspaper, The Broadside.
I'm a Howard Dean man myself. Seeing how he is loosing quickly, though, I figure Kerry is the next best thing, though far from my first choice. As one professor said, Kerry is "an animated stiff!" Flashbacks to Al Gore, anybody?
Also this week was the Westminster Dog Show. And?
I have a dog myself, a beautiful Boxer puppy. But people who are overly-obsessed about their pets genuinely scare me, and these dog shows show just how far some lonely (and I imagine sex-lifeless) people will go, living vicariously through their dogs. I love my dog, but she does not run my life! I could tell some funny stories about a certain ex who worshipped their dog, and some of the craziness that ensued when the dog got more preferential treatment than I did. But I figure that person may be reading, as will my classmates and my professor! E-mail me if you want the dirt. (aratliff@gmu.edu)

Friday, February 06, 2004

My Second Post...

"And on the second day God said..." Actually, I dont know what he said. But the point is, this is my second post. And now to see what's going on in the world of news...
I figure what better way to begin my glance at news headlines than the issue of Janet Jackson...and her breast!
Now, given the amount of sexuality in the media, I guess the only thing that really shocks me is the amount of hype over the whole Super-Bowl breast-baring incident! Seriously people, if you haven't seen a breast by now than maybe it's a good thing you did! In the meantime, Jackson has apologized to the people of this country for what was, she originally claimed, an "wardrobe malfunction." (riiiiiight...) She has been taken off the Grammy Awards. You can see a full story in an article on Washingtonpost.com.
Poor Janet. Actually I should the poor Jacksons, what with her brother Michael Jackson and his current legal drama! Honestly I don't have an opinion about whether he is guilty (this time) or not. In fact, I don't really even care. My prediction is it will be a repeat of the last time in which the boy in question gets a ton of money to forget about what may or may not have happened. And if you need further proof the Jackson clan is totally f#(&@% up, look no further than the career of sister LaToya Jackson (who just recently broke her toe by the way. Why does this stuff get reported in the first place? I guess someone out there cares.

Wednesday, February 04, 2004

My First Post

This is the beginning of my Blog. Much of this Blog will be concerned with my course Comm 361 that I am taking at George Mason University. Enjoy!