Why do bad things always happen around this time of year?

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, the news of the world currently is that two bombs were set off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, and at the time I’m writing this, three are confirmed dead as a result, and hundreds of people are injured and hospitalized.  Additionally, there is no clue to whom is responsible for the bombings, but it’s being perceived as a probably act of terrorism, and the scary thing is that it purportedly could have been worse, as there were claims that additional bombs were found undetonated, also along the race path.

Obviously, this is a horrible incident and leads to the path of thinking of whom in their right mind could perpetrate such a heinous act, why they would want to target innocents at a major gathering event.  I really do feel for those affected by this horrible incident, and I’m easily someone who really wishes the absolute worst on the person or persons responsible for the act, and wouldn’t mind hear of them being put to justice with some extreme prejudice.

But I could seemingly inappropriately change gears a little bit, I have to say that it’s really not that surprising that something so horrendous happened.  But it’s my brog, and I write what I want to.  Yes, it’s going to sound selfish, conceited and certainly making it about me, but if there was ever one occasion where I think I could be given just a little bit of leeway for doing so, it would be my birthday, which is just days away.  The bottom line is that as long as I’ve lived, there’s been this odd propensity for horrendous events to happen near or around my birthday.

And as far as I’m concerned, it’s kind of not fair, and it really upsets me.

Continue reading “Why do bad things always happen around this time of year?” →

I now possess a jar of legal moonshine

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

Over the weekend, some friends and I made a day-trip up to Gastonia, North Carolina, which is about thirty minutes south-ish from Charlotte.  It’s sort of an annual trip that we make so we can go to Mary Jo’s Cloth Store, typically to get fabrics and materials needed for Dragon*Con costumes.  Despite the fact that I don’t really need any substantial fabrics for what I plan on doing this year, I still committed to being driver.  Regardless, while on the way up I-85, a particular billboard had caught my eye.

LEGAL MOONSHINE AVAILABLE EXIT 19B

Moonshine?  As in the nuclear race fuel that farmers and rednecks made on their fuel that was usual like 200 proof and could get a human being drunk as easily as it could strip the paint off of an automobile?  And it was being sold legally?  Oh man, this I had to check out, and since I had the almighty power of being driver, everyone else was at my mercy to indulge in this crazy notion that I needed to acquire said legal moonshine for myself.

Continue reading “I now possess a jar of legal moonshine” →

Photos: The Color Run

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

The Color Run was pretty much everything I had expected it to be – non-competitive, more relaxing and recreational, fun, and messy as all hell.  It took place at Atlanta Motor Speedway, which to anyone who isn’t aware, is actually practically 50 miles south of the actual city.  But the 3.1 mile 5K course essentially was a gigantic circle around the parking lot of the track, with portals of people throwing and squirting colored, corn-starch based powder everywhere, which at the end made most people this grayish-greenish zombie color.

Regardless, it was a lot of fun, the weather couldn’t have possibly been any better on this particular day, and the fact that there was actual good company to spend it with made it all the best.  Even if we were all filthy and were blowing odd colored stuff from our noses for the rest of the weekend.

Oh yeah, it should be worth noting that I kept my camera out pretty much the whole time, uncovered.  As a result, it was obliterated with powder, and the resulting pictures have a lot of them hazy, dust-covered, or pretty grainy.  I did what I could, but only so much can overcome actual lens interference.

Continue reading “Photos: The Color Run” →

I don’t think I like this place anymore

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

I’ve seen this sign countless times in my life, but I never really thought about it until today. Visually, it’s essentially a can with a bite taken out it. A can. An aluminum one, I’m presuming, no less. There’s also a piece of paper or something behind it, but the focal point of it is still a can, with a bite taken out of it.

Who the hell would take a bite of a can? I don’t understand it. I also don’t understand how such a shoddy display of “art” is the de facto visual representation of attempting to discourage people from littering.

The message really being sent is “we understand that that aluminum can probably did not taste vey good in that massive bite you took, Mr. Sasquatch, but please don’t haphazardly toss it aside.”

But this was one of the fluffier thoughts going through my head this weekend. Otherwise, it’s been a fairly trying and difficult few days, and I can’t really sleep right now, because all I really feel is this gloomy disappointed feeling. Naturally, out of courtesy to those who wish to look/”borrow” pictures or see what lame attempts at humor I make next, I’ll keep the more emo-y words behind a courtesy jump, for all six of you that actually read what I write.

Continue reading “I don’t think I like this place anymore” →

Man, What A Stupid Commercial #011

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

Chevy is clearly trying to cash into the popularity that Mad Men has cultivated with the whole retro-theme with this commercial for the 2014 Impala. Nevermind the fact that the Impala now looks more like a Honda Accord or a Chevy Malibu than the boat-like muscle pussy wagon back in the 60s, it doesn’t stop Chevy from producing a spot that tries to throwback to older times, even if ultimately the car the “protagonist” drives around looks like it’s an econobox.

The funny thing is that if you were to watch this commercial without Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon being audible, this commercial could be portrayed in just about any other era, depending on which music was used.

Continue reading “Man, What A Stupid Commercial #011” →

Photos: Burgers and Boozy Shakes at Grindhouse

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

In honor of friends coming all the way down from Charlottesville to visit the ol’ ATL, a gathering of sorts, at Grindhouse Killer Burgers.  Where we chowed down on some tasty hamburgers, watched an old-ass flick from 1969 (Marooned, starring Gene Hackman), and where some of us indulged in some booze-induced milkshakes.  Also, a bucket filled with piss-water AKA Pabst Blue Ribbon.  It was ten bucks and the jew in me couldn’t resist the deal.

Tons of selfies and other goofy pictures after the jump.

Continue reading “Photos: Burgers and Boozy Shakes at Grindhouse” →

Man, What A Stupid Commercial #010

~ dannyhong ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis: in a game between the Heat and the Thunder, Kevin Durant is slashing through the lane, and is thinking about throwing down a boomshakalaka. Amidst his drive, Dwyane Wade breaks off his cover to challenge Durant, and when Durant takes off, he is met with a Mutombo-like rejection at the rim. Instantaneously, Kevin Durant snaps awake because IT WAS ALL JUST A DREAM.

But the dream was real enough to inspire Kevin Durant to embark on a Gatorade-sponsored training montage, where he does every single lift and exercise he possibly can do, while pounding Gatorade products in between.

Eventually, an actual Heat/Thunder game is taking place, and there’s two minutes left, and the Heat are up by two. Kevin Durant has the ball and is bringing it up the court, and is thinking about rectifying a dreamed reality. He cuts and slashes into the lane, and is thinking boomshakalaka. Dwyane Wade sees what’s going on, and breaks off his man, and goes to challenge Durant. Both men go up, but this time, all the Gatorade-sponsored training has paid off, and Kevin Durant takes Dwyane Wade to poster city.

But then Dwyane Wade snaps awake because THAT WAS JUST A DREAM TOO.

Continue reading “Man, What A Stupid Commercial #010” →