From the monthly archives:

October 2006

Feed Me

Okay, today’s post is just a bit of blog housekeeping … For those of you who are already on board with the whole RSS feed thing, please note that I will no longer update the funkybrownchick.blogspot.com site. That feed is now dead, so you’ll need to subscribe to the new feed if you still want updates. To do so in one quick step, scroll down on the panel to your right until you get to “subscribe” and then click the link that applies to you.

Now, for everyone else … and by “everyone else” I mean those of you who don’t have any idea what that previous paragraph just said :) … here’s what’s going on. If you would like to be automatically notified every time that I update the FUNKYBROWNCHICK, here’s how to do it in three easy steps … STEP ONE: Scroll down to the panel on the right and check to see if you already use any of the services listed under “subscribe” (e.g. Yahoo, Google/Gmail, Bloglines, MSN, etc.) STEP TWO: If you find one that you already use, great, just click it. STEP THREE: Follow the directions from there.

If you don’t use any of the services listed, this paragraph will walk you through the “what the hell is a feed?” stuff. Ready? Okay … Ahhhhh, feeds. Think of it as a relationship. A relationship between my website, you and a third party. (Ooh, look — a threesome!!!!) Basically, in order for my website to notify you about updates, you need to pick a feed reader, a messenger if you will. Most email services already have messengers built in. So, look for things like “RSS” or “FEED” on your current email program. To tell your messenger that you want him to notify you when I update, add my feed (http://funkybrownchick.com/feed). If you can’t subscribe to my site that way, you might want to look into using Bloglines or something like that.

Okay, so, that’s everything about my feed. Now, another bit of housekeeping: REDESIGN! There’s finally an internet connect at the new place, and I can now do a bit of tweaking on my site. Here are a few of the possible changes: “add a comment” link will move back to the bottom of the posts; there will be a new “email this post” link; I wanna use a brighter/bolder color palette; brand new header; and easier navigation for the archives pages. I’ll be working on FUNKYBROWNCHICK 2.0 sometine over the next week or two. I blog this site, but you guys are the ones who actually “use” it. So, if you have any feedback for me, shoot it to me via email or leave your suggestions in the comment section.

{ 7 folks got down with the Funky Brown }

A Story About Freddie

Okay, so, the other day, I’m scanning all the news sites when I notice that the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded. It was given to Muhammad Yunus and his bank for their efforts to spur along microcredit. I was in grad school when I first heard the history behind the Nobel Prize. I think it’s pretty cool. And, just in case you don’t know it (like I didn’t know it), I’ll share it with you. It’s short but sweet.

Freddie Nobel ( … his real name is Alfred, but I think Freddie sounds better … ) Where was I? Oh yeah, Freddie Nobel. Okay, so, Freddie is born in Sweden in the late 1800s, right? Well, he invents dynamite and other things that help people kill each other. And, before his death, the French (God love ‘em) are so distressed by his line of business that — when the accidently catch wind that he died (his brother did, not him) — they print an obituary for Alfred claiming that his legacy will be that he: “became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before.” Upon reading this, what does Freddie do? He decides that he doesn’t wanna go out like that; he wants his legacy to be a legacy of peace. So, in his will, he dedicates almost all of his estate to an organization that will recognize people for their efforts to promote the sciences, celebrate life, and spread peace in the world. Hence, every year, Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden awards the Nobel Prize. Pretty cool, huh?

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{ 10 folks got down with the Funky Brown }

HILARIOUS YouTube Video!

As many of you know, I’ve recently returned to watching television now that the new place automatically includes cable. So, like, the other day, I’m channel surfing, right? Well, I randomly stumble upon a show called Scare Tactics on the Sci-Fi channel. Have you seen this show before? It’s a hidden-video comedy show where people set people up and scare them. “Candid Camera” meets “Scream”. It’s hilarious … well, at least the particular episode that I saw was!!! Here’s the set up: a lab assistant gets tricked into thinking that there is a 1/2 human 1/2 rat mutant on the loose in the lab. It sounds completely unbelievable but, if you watch the backstory part of the video on YouTube, it’s more credible than it sounds. Anyway, watch the video below to see what happens when the lab guy finally discovers the “mutant”. And, don’t worry … this YouTube video isn’t like the last one. This time, the video scares the unwitting contestant, not the viewer. Watch it. It’s short, funny, and definitely worth the laugh.

{ 10 folks got down with the Funky Brown }

Steve, Don’t Eat It!

Everyone should have a friend like my friend Big D Girl. She’s witty, smart, cute and I always have a great time whenever I hang out with her. And, even though I’ve already done a post about bad food, I just have to do another one given what Big D just forwarded me. The Sneeze. Do you guys know this site? I’ve only perused it a bit so I don’t know the whole story, but the guy (Steve?) has this whole section called “Steve, Don’t Eat It!” and it’s HILARIOUS!!! Check him out. Oh, and, make sure you read the post about “prison wine”. It’s, um, something special.

{ 3 folks got down with the Funky Brown }

This One’s for You!

Given the wild success of yesterday’s post on Hillary Clinton, today I’ve decided to follow up with a discussion about California’s Nancy Pelosi. What? I’m kidding. Kidding!! Actually, instead, I thought we’d talk a little bit about … you. Yes, you. I just noticed that my last Reader Appreciation day was in all the way back in MAY!!! That was almost 5 months ago. Why didn’t anyone tell me?? Anyway, if you’re new to the FUNKYBROWNCHICK you may not know this but — every now and then — I post a reader-appreciation-kind-of-thing. I’m sure you’re busy people; you have plenty of other things that fill up your time … like work, job search, study, volunteer, rehearse / practice, hang out with friends, watch your child(ren), drink and other stuff. So, I just want to take a quick second or two to say thank you, again, to everyone who reads this blog.

Most of you are lurkers. Many of you are avid comment-leavers. A few of you have faithfully been reading along since damn near the beginning. And, I have met at least five of you in person. So, whatever your lot, heartfelt GRAZIE, MERCI BEAUCOUP, THANKS, XIE XIE, DANKE and all that good stuff! Oh, yeah, shit, I almost forgot … and A BIG FAT EXTRA SPECIAL (BELATED) THANKS goes to Mitch for the funny book and to Howard for donating a while ago. Hope that’s everyone. If I forgot anything or anyone, let me know. Have a great weekend, sweeties!

{ 3 folks got down with the Funky Brown }

Hillary for President?

Time goes by so quickly. I just realized tomorrow is New York state residents’ deadline to register to vote in the November 7 mid-term elections. I’m already registered to vote; but, as a few of you know, I’ve recently moved. And, as such, I need to update my voter registration information and obtain a new card. It’s a pain in the ass, but it’s worth it. So, if you haven’t already registered, please remember to do so before the deadline approaches, my sweet little pumpkins! New York’s deadline is October 13. If you don’t live in New York, you can check your state’s deadline by clicking here.

 

Hmmm … Who will get my vote? A proud Illinoisan, I was and still am a strong supporter of my homestate’s Barack Obama. (No, he’s not up for re-election this year … I just, you know, wanted everyone to know that I’m a fan of the man. A huge fan. Okay, so, now, moving right along… ) Now that I’m officially a New York resident, I can’t vote in Illinois elections anymore; therefore, when November 7 rolls around, I’ll be voting with New Yorkers. I haven’t made up my mind about everyone on the ballot yet, but I do know that I’m gonna vote Hillary Clinton for Senator. (Her challenger is Mr. “Chinaman’s Chance” John Spencer. I’ll be surprised if he wins but, you know, stranger things have happened.

So, this blog rarely touches on politics, but I do have any interesting “political” question for you: If Hillary Clinton wins her 2006 Senate re-election bid, do you think she will run for president in 2008? And, if she doesn’t run, do you think Barack Obama will?

{ 9 folks got down with the Funky Brown }

Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh My!

Rewind. Saturday night. Before the old man licked my arm. As I put on my makeup before leaving the house for the evening, I have no way of knowing that the rest night will turn out to be like a scene from Go or The Warriors. It all starts innocently enough. So, I’m hanging out at the H&M near Broadway & Prince when I receive the call. It’s “Big D Girl”. She and “Big T Boy” have just finished watching the movie “The Last King of Scotland” at the Sunshine Theater, and she wants to know if I’m still joining them for the party at Jay’s. Of course! I tell her that I’m on my way, and I’ll meet them on 2nd Ave near the train. Bro and Maria will be coming along as well. Easy enough, right?

It’s 9:30pm. And, as planned, Big D Girl, Big T Boy, Bro, Maria and I board the F train at 2nd Avenue and head out to Brooklyn for the party. So far, so good. But, then, we’re on the train for about 5 or 6 stops when we realize that we’re heading in the wrong direction. (SIDENOTE: If you’re not from New York City, you might not know this, but the subway (the MTA) turns into, shall we say, [insert air quotes] an “adventure” on the weekends. Trains run on different lines, they don’t show up, people get beat up … You name it, it happens. So, on this particular evening, the F train is running on the C train tracks. Got it? Okay.) So, after riding the F train (now the C train) 6 stops in the wrong direction, we decide to get off. But, I can’t get back on the train again right away. I’m hungry. So, we walk a tiny bit in a neighborhood that could appropriately be called, “The Ghetto”, and duck into a sandwich shop to get food. After that, we’re on our way again. We pay another fare, board the train again, and take it 7 stops in the direction from which we just came. (Minutes passed: 60. Train stops: 13.)

We eventually get off of the subway again, walk a bit, and board another subway to ride 4 stops south until we get off at Jay’s stop. But, we can’t go directly to Jay’s house because there’s a Dunkin Donuts in the way. Bro wants coffee. The rest of us want donuts. (SIDENOTE: I think this is right about the time that Big T Boy starts to lose it and he jokes: “What the hell is this? A scavenger hunt!?!?! Let’s just get there!!”)

So “get there” we do. Almost 2 hours after we initially left Manhattan, we arrive at Jay’s party in Brooklyn. Sheesh! The trip there was like a lions-and-tigers-and-bears-oh-my kind of experience. Do you have any stories to share about getting lost? Did you take the wrong subway, miss a turn on a highway, or drive a bit further down a road than you were supposed to? Use the comment section above to tell us about it.

{ 6 folks got down with the Funky Brown }

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