IE problems?

Does anyone else have trouble loading my blog in Internet Explorer? It seems to work fine in Firefox and Safari, but it's often slow in IE 7 and says it's loading with errors on the page. What's that all about?

Further reason why I prefer Firefox.

Colbert on canvas

Check out the latest (temporary) addition to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C...

The truth is still out there

Of all of the movies on my 2008 want-to-see list (I'll have to publish that one of these days) the one I'm most hesitant about is the "X-Files 2" (the official title still hasn't been announced).

I was a big fan of the TV show (a replica of Mulder’s “I Want to Believe” poster hung my office for years), although in my opinion it jumped the shark in 1998 when the first movie came out. The last episode, which aired in May 2002, was a huge disappointment.

The word is that the new movie will have nothing to do with the TV show's convoluted alien conspiracy mythology, which the first movie focused on. Instead, it will be a stand alone story more in the vein of the show's "monster of the week" episodes.

I think that's great since those episodes provided some of the show's best stories, while the conspiracy storyline was so overplayed.

However, I'm very curious to see how they resolve that disappointing ending, which had Mulder and Scully going on the run as fugitives and left little room (so it seemed) for sequel -- at least, not one with Mulder and Scully working for the FBI.

Anyway, with all of this said, here is the cool teaser poster for the movie.

Complusive confessor

Gov. Paterson, is there anything else we should know?

The final frontier

I like "Star Trek" as much as the next geek. But you've got to draw a line somewhere. And if you're getting buried in a Trek-themed casket, then I think you've gone waaaayy over that line!

A company called Eternal Image will soon offer the coffin designed to look like the photon torpedo used to jetison Spock's body into space in "Star Trek II." They'll also have a Trek inspired urn for those who go the cremation route.

This same company also offers Major League Baseball caskets.

Stupid pet trick

I found this on the EW PopWatch Blog, which stated teh following:

Filipino prisoners recreating Thriller, we see your King of Pop tribute and we raise you one...

Highlights at 11

I know I'm not the biggest March Madness fan, but I did enjoy these highlights...

Easter Bedlam

The first picture here shows just a fraction of the plethora of people who showed up at the YMCA today for the Easter Egg Hunt. It was a complete mad house!

A large section of the gym floor was covered with hay, with eggs hidden in the hay for little kids Thomas' age. Nolan went outside with the older kids to look for eggs hidden in woods.

There were also bouncy bounces inside and outside. Plus there was a mini-golf course and a petting zoo also in the gym and photos with the Easter Bunny in a separate room.

We made a point of going because Thomas won the "name the Easter Bunny" contest. He suggested the name "Eggster" for the giant bunny sitting in a basket in the lobby. So he got to bring the bunny and its basket full of goodies home.

There were so many people that we just found our eggs, collected Thomas' Easter basket prize and got out of there!

Go, Speed Racer, Go!

As much as I've been carrying on about "Indiana Jones," "Iron Man" and "The Dark Knight," the movie Nolan is really anxious to see is "Speed Racer."

He's never seen the old cartoon and knew next to nothing about the show. But once he saw the trailer, he was hooked. He thought it looked like his "Hot Wheels" video game brought to life (and I admit, it's on my want-to-see list too).

This past week there was a book fair at his school and he was quite excited to buy a "Speed Racer" book.

So far I've resisted the temptation to tell him who Racer X is. Why spoil the surprise? He'll enjoy discovering that on his own.

Baby, it's cold out there

Man it's cold out today! Cold and windy. Right now it's about 23 degrees -- 10 degrees with the wind chill.

Aren't you glad it's spring?

If you don't like the cold then you probably have me to blame. Last week I got a little antsy for the warm weather. I decided to tempt fate by zipping the fleece lining out of my jacket and putting the snow brush and ice scraper in the trunk.

That's what I get for jumping the gun!

The train is leaving the station

As I've mentioned before, from time-to-time there is a call for more family stuff on the blog. Perhaps I've been slacking off a bit in that department.

So to help remedy the situation, Kris -- a.k.a. ADKmom -- took it upon herself today to start up a new blog titled "All Aboard the Rooney Train." We'll both contribute to that blog, which will be strictly just family stuff. It's mainly intended for ou of town loved ones, but you're all welcome to check it out.

I'll still post some family stuff here too. But if you want the full dose -- like the story behind the picture of the cool dudes seen here -- then check out the new blog. For convenience, I've added a feed for it right on here on this page.

Sleepy Boy

I think I wound up like this a couple of times in college...

The Spitzer Special

Wow, what a crazy week this has been. As you might imagine, we've been slammed here at work, thanks to Gov. Spitzer, aka "Client-9."

At this point I'll spare you my thoughts, since they merely echo those of just about every other New Yorker.

However, I would like to mention that a co-worker pointed out a new item on the menu at Gershon's Deli in Schenectady. The No. 9 there is now the "Spitzer Special." It's a sandwcich containing (ahem) hard salami and tongue. The price? $4,300.

Crystal Skullalicious

It's a busy news day here in Albany. But there is always time to post something like this!

Check out this beautiful poster from the great Drew Struzan...

As if anyone really cares

I must admit, this update from The Onion Radio News makes all of us at "Off the Top of My Head" headquarters feel a little silly.

Metal mania

For someone who was never a huge Iron Man fan, I certainly do seem to be posting a lot about the new movie.

I don't think I own a single issue of "Iron Man." But I have enough other books that the character appears in. And although I never collected his own title, I certainly respect him as one of the core Marvel Comics characters.

Not to mention...this movie just looks so cool! It's easily No. 2 on my list of summer movies I really want to see (if you have to ask what No. 1 is, you obviously don't know me very well and must be new to this blog).

With all that said, take a look at the awesome new poster for the movie.

The pipes aren't calling

The owner of Foley's Pub and Restaurant across the street from the Empire State Building is taking a stand. Shaun Clancy is banning "Danny Boy" from his establishment for the entire month of March.

"It's overplayed, it's been ranked among the 25 most depressing songs of all time and it's more appropriate for a funeral than for a St. Patrick's Day celebration," Clancy told the Associated Press.

In fact, Foley's hosted a pre-St. Patrick's Day karaoke party on Tuesday and Clancy promised a free Guiness to anyone who sang any Irish song other than "Danny Boy."

On a slightly related note, a former favorite watering hole mine is about to be wiped off the Earth. Eamonn’s Loudon House will be demolished on March 12, just five days before the holiday that made it one of the most popular places in town every March 17.

Eamonn's was destoyed by a fire in 2005.

For the last three years, I've driven past the boarded up shell of the building every day on my way to and from work. As much as I enjoyed the place, it did slide downhill a bit toward the end and the burned out husk is an eyesore now. It will be good to put the place out of its misery.

You can read more about the demolition here and here and read a fitting tribute from friend and former Eamonn's waitress Sweetpea.

Who you gonna call?

Hillary Clinton asks, "Who do you want answering the phone in the White House at 3 a.m.?"



UPDATE: Here's another version endorsing an even better candidate...

The invincible movie trailer

It's shaping up to look likea great summer at the movies. Here's the newest "Iron Man" trailer...

Iron Man Exclusive Trailer

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