You Think, Therefore I Am

Eep. I have to say I'm deeply shocked and greatly honored. Walrilla has chosen me as one of the five "Thinking Bloggers" he reads.
I have to apologize to him for my lateness in responding. The rules (down at the bottom) state that I have to pick five of my own. It's tough. I want to pick bloggers that make me think, as most that I read do, as well as those who had not already been chosen by someone else. Whew... What to do, what to do...
Eliminated off the bat are Elisson, Eric, Jimbo, and Donny as they have aready recieved this honor.
Also out are SondraK, Kim DuToit and Rodger as they are big time and don't need me.

So, my choices are:

1. Kees Kennis: The wildlife photographs are beautiful. As a kid I was was a big fan of Peter Hathaway Capstick's books about big game in Africa. Kees also gives some insight into living on the dark continent from time to time.

2: Boudicca's Voice: Through choices I made (or had made for me) I never had a family of my own... Children to pass on wisdom to, or to gleen wisdom from... Some of her related conversations with her boys fill me with wonder.

3. Confabulation: It's not always fun and games over there, although there is plenty of that. Sometimes there is that thought filled invective, that makes me wish I had said that.

4. All I'm Saying Is...: Doc is a friend of mine and has been. He doesn't post often, but when he does... I wish he would post more, I miss his council as a friend, and his wisdom as an educator.

5. Bellerophonechimera: I'm not sure if I'm breaking the rules here or not, as this blog is no longer updated and hasn't been for a year and a half, but I don't care. I often go back through his archives, and am amazed at the writing and the language.

So, That's it. Those are the ones after the agonizing process.

The Rules:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.

Reel Lines (9)

Maj. Warden: [to Col. Green] Sir, it's most annoying. They say, in view of the time element, they don't think a few practice jumps would be worthwhile.

Major Shears: No?

Maj. Warden: No, they say if you make one jump, you've only got 50% chance of injury, two jumps, 80%, and three jumps, you're bound to catch a backache. The consensus of opinion is that the most sensible thing for Major Shears to do is to go ahead and jump, and hope for the best.

Major Shears: With or without a parachute?

Naked Lunch Specials V

Dumm... Da-ta-da-dummm... A long time ago... In a city deep in the heart of Texas... A quest was begun... Da-ta-da-dummm...

Unfortunately that quest was interrupted due to circumstances beyond control... That quest resumed this week with a trip to...

Exposé

Exposé Gentlemen's club is located on SoCo (that's South Congress Ave for all you unhip to the Austin scene). Like several of the other clubs I've reviewed, I'd never been before, so this was all new to me.

The Club and the parking is on a hill above S. Congress, and right down from St. Edward's University. I think they have valet available, but as any faithful reader would know I never use that anyhow. The lot is visable from the street, so you may not want to drive the company vehicle. I invited a couple of friends, but it was such short notice...

Up the steps and into the entrance hall and a second set of doors. Through those and there were a couple waitresses standing right there. I was told I could sit anywhere and a waitress would be right with me.

The layout is pretty simple. Facing from the doors, the bar is on the right wall, the stage and DJ booth are on the back wall, the VIP section was a step up to the left, and tables and chairs on the front wall. Always one to keep my back to the wall, I chose the front. The decor struck me as 1940's swanky. All oak and brass with alternating tinted and clear mirrored walls. Very clean, very cool. The music was not my taste, but it never is, and it wasn't too loud. There are a couple of smaller stages sprinkled around the floor, but they weren't in use at that time.

I sat and the waitress was right there... She had followed me to my seat... Nice. I ordered a Guinness and asked about the specials. $4.50 gets you a choice of country fried steak (with the option of a baked potato) or a half pound burger and fries (or optional onion rings). Feeling kind of laid back I ordered the burger and fries... No mayo, no pickle. My Guinness was there within minutes. I asked about the price of the Guinness (bottle): $4.75, we're on the right track. The burger was there before I drank a fourth of the beer. Fast, fast, fast.

The burger was excellent, big chunk of meat, lettuce, tomato, onion on a kaiser bun. It was thick and juicy... to the point that it was falling apart by the time I finished it. It was so big I had trouble eating the whole thing. The fries were crispy out, tender in. Strip joints always seem to have the best fries. I know that seems like a short review, but there's not much more to say. Good food, big portions.

After the meal, the manager, John, stopped by my table (as he does all tables) to check on my well being. He mentioned the Guinness, and we talked for a good while. In the interest of full disclosure, I told John what I was doing there, but I had already formed my opinion before I met him. We shared a pint, he introduced me to the chef, showed me the full menu and we talked about business and more. I will be going to their sister club Palazio in the future.

It was a great experience. The food was good. The club was nice. The price was right. I was out of there for $20 including tip for burger, fries and two beers.

On to the sliding scale...

Service: 10 (that girl was on the ball)

Food: 10 (and that's hard for a burger)

Atmosphere: 9 (nice place- enough said)

Value: 10 (two beers, and I was full and satisfied when I walked out the door)

Total: 9.75 (this was a deal, and a good one)

The next stop on the Naked Lunch Tour will be The Landing Strip over on the east side near (you guessed it) the airport.

If you have a club in your area you would like to review (Food only please, my mother reads this) send a write up to alphaknine@hotmail.com and I may post it. Or if you are in the Austin area and have a club you would like me to visit and review, or would like to join me for lunch, just place in comments.

Phone-y

I had this conversation today.

*ring*

Me: Thank you for calling (my place of business) This is (K-Nine) may I help you?

Thick Indian (slurpee not casino) Accent: Hello... Yes, My name is Jeff may I speak to the manager?

Me: Really?

Jeff?: Excuse me, sir?

Me: Really? Your name is Jeff?

Jeff?: Yes sir, may I speak to the...

Me: Jeff?

Jeff?: Yes sir, may I please...

Me: What's that short for?

Jeff?: Sir?

Me: What's Jeff short for?

Jeff?: I don't understand, sir.

Me: Jeff is usually a shortened version of a longer name. What is your "Jeff" short for?

Jeff?: Uh... Short for... Uh... It's just Jeff.

Me: Really? Is that really your name?

Jeff?: Uh, sir... I don't see where that makes...

Me: It makes a huge difference Jeff. If you can call me up out of the blue, and immediately lie to me about your name, as though it were the most normal thing in the world, what else will you lie to me about?

Jeff?: Sir... I am calling from (something to do with office depot and office supplies) may I speak to...

Me: I heard you. I am the manager. I just don't think I want to discuss my business with you. Have a great day.

*click*

First, I am not a big fan of outsourcing. I can understand it, but I don't really like it. To have someone call me from (obviously) another country (say India) and claim to be "Steve" or "Susie" or "Jeff" ticks me off. I despise the telemarketers anyway, but at least don't give me a name that is so obviously bullshit because you think I'll be less hostile to something familiar. Oh, and I think I'll go to Office Max from now on.

Tech Support

As most of you know I am East Carolina Pirate. I have been to the Blacksburg campus a few times to see ballgames. My heart goes out to all the victims and families and friends of the Virginia Tech tragedy. Once I get my thoughts together I'll write more, but this puts me in a little turmoil, as when I was at ECU one of my neighbors was shot to death at the corner of my front yard. I heard the gunshot and was one of the first on the scene. I was armed, but to late to help. I'll always regret that.

My buddy Doc sent me this. Nothing else needs to be said.

It is hard to put into words what happened at Virginia Tech yesterday, but I thought this summed it up pretty well...

Playing Dead

Our bloggy pal Eric has a small zombie phobia. Several of us like to tweak his nose about that from time to time. Sometimes he brings it on himself... Like today. He posted about this, so I just had to...

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have a zombie around to run errands and such. I know who I'd pick...

How can you go wrong with a Straight White Zombie?

Steal This

I see tons of yard signs around Austin that say "Support The Troops, Bring Them Home". Because of that I'm starting "Bloggers For Lasting Peace". I say support the troops by letting them finish the job. Give them the equipment, the numbers, the money, and the freedom from over scrutiny to win.

All you have to do to join is steal this logo (or make your own) put it on the sidebar of your blog and vote for government leadership that doesn't want to surrender and start learning the koran.

To bring the troops home without a victory is to re-enforce the enemy's notion that we can't win. If you don't support victory, you don't support the troops.

Sure, we want to go home. We want this war over with. The quickest way to get it over with is to go get the bastards who started it. The quicker they are whipped, the quicker we can go home. -Gen. George Patton