Vote for who gets to meet ‘Weird Al’

33 comments July 31st, 2008

I’ve picked some weirdos — er, I mean I’ve chosen some people who put their weirdness (or that of a relative) on display on my blog — to win tickets to see “Weird Al” Yankovic Aug. 10 at the MetroCentre in Rockford.

By the way, others around these parts are strange too. Check ‘em out in my  “Weird Al” category.

You’ll learn more about the three winners on this blog right after the voting ends and in the GO section Aug. 7.

E-mail backlash; what’s your take?

Add comment July 31st, 2008

Five years ago, I had my left ear pierced in a slightly different place than the original  hole, which had ripped and caused the earring in my left ear to hang lower than the one in my right ear. The culprit of the rip: the telephone, and years of the receiver pressed to my ear while taking notes over the phone for news stories.

E-mail has saved me from ripping my new hole, and I’m happy about that.

But e-mail is causing backlash. This LA Times story says that the need to attend to a constantly beeping in-box is creating anxiety in the workplace, adversely affecting the ability to focus, diminishing productivity and threatening family bonds.

Often, I find e-mail saves me time. I get written details about community events, so I don’t have to track down every fine point. And I write my bosses notes about what’s going on so they can catch up easily when they’re out of meetings. But I hate coming back to the office after a few days of vacation, only to have to clear hundreds of e-mails out of my box.

I try to manage the overload when I’m at my desk by immediately handling e-mails by killing them out, responding or making a note to myself to follow up.

What frustrates you about e-mail? Share your tips about how you handle e-mail.

Poll will be up soon so you can vote for who’ll meet ‘Weird Al’

4 comments July 30th, 2008

Updated 8:30 a.m. Thursday, July 31

IT’S ALMOST TIME TO VOTE ON WHO GETS TO MEET ‘WEIRD AL’

I’ll be putting the poll at the top of this post this morning, assuming you’ve been following this contest. Choose one of these three winners of two tickets to see “Weird Al” Yankovic Aug. 10 at the Rockford MetroCentre. The one who receives the most votes by 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 4, gets two passes to meet Yankovic.

****Rachel Manis, aka Avid Lebon, of Rockford, who makes a smiley face with her tongue

****Jacob Olson of Machesney Park, whose dad, Rob, makes parodies that rival Al’s

****Stephanie Bennett of Rockford, whose brother named his cat ‘Bruce,’ only to find out later it was a girl, but the name stuck

Read on to learn more about the winners and the contest.

I’ve picked some weirdos — er, I mean I’ve chosen some people who put their weirdness (or that of a relative) on display on my blog — to win tickets to see “Weird Al” Yankovic Aug. 10 at the MetroCentre in Rockford.

The winners of two tickets each to see Yankovic as a result of winning the What (and Who) is Weirder than Weird Al in the Rock River Valley contest. Tickets are courtesy of NiteLite Promotions.

Vote as often as you like.
By the way, others around these parts are strange, too. Check ’em out at my blog under the “Weird Al” category.
You’ll learn more about the three winners right after voting ends and in GO Aug. 7.

Rachel Manis, aka Avid Lebon

“Who’s weirder than Weird Al? Why Avid Lebon of course! Whether it be strange body tricks (including her unnatural flexibility, ability to twist her wrist a full 360°, or make a smiley face with her tongue), her eccentric attire (as she is often clad in cat ears and a tail), odd hobbies (including animating silly cartoons and talking to the dead via EVP), or her spontaneous fun-loving personality, Avid is definably one-of-a-kind. And it’s no wonder, considering she grew up with ‘Weird Al’ as her role model. He’s always been a positive influence. While other celebrities were teaching kids to wear makeup, starve themselves, or other detrimental habits to be liked, Weird Al showed them that it’s all about being original and yourself that matters. I really admire that.
Avid always has been different, and in the early part of her life thought it to be a flaw, but after finding out how Al used his uniqueness to his advantage, took that as inspiration. When I was younger, I use to try so hard to fit in. When I stopped trying to be like everyone else, I finally discovered myself. I’m not worried about what other people think anymore.”

A girl cat named ‘Bruce’ is Stephanie Bennett’s submission

“When my brother graduated from Auburn, his girlfriend brought him a new kitten as a present. Our mother was very against getting another cat after our last one died, but this time we had no choice. We couldn’t bring this kitten to a shelter! So we kept it. After a few days, I began bothering my brother about a name for it. ‘Jon!,’ I would say. ‘What are you going to name your cat?’ Finally, after days of me annoying the daylights out of him, he responded ‘Bruce.’ It was just fate when we brought Bruce to the vet and they said, ‘Well, you’re going to have to change Bruce’s name, because Bruce is a girl.’ We probably should have changed her name, but for the rest of her life, her name was Bruce.”

Dad of Jacob Olson takes on Johnny Cash

“My dad is weirder than Al. He makes parodies also. They’re usually about kids in the family being annoying. One is Johnny Cash’s ‘Folsom Prison Blues.’ He calls it ‘Olson Prison Blues.’ Here are some lyrics:
I hear the kids a comin’
They’re rollin’ round the bend
And I ain’t had no peace and quiet since
I don’t know when
I’m stuck at Olson Prison
And the kids keep ramblin’ on
Sometimes I wish I had
Some time alone.
My dad does many crazy and funny things, but I can’t squeeze it into 100 words or less.”

Cheers!

Add comment July 30th, 2008

Beer is back to a double-digit lead over wine as the favored drink, according to a Gallup poll.

Give attaboys or what’s-the-matter-with-yous to 39- to 50-year-olds.

‘Free lunch’ at Waterfront

Add comment July 25th, 2008

The first 25 people who enter each On the Waterfront festival gate on Saturday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31, will get $5 in food tickets for free. Gates open at 11:30 a.m.

Pay the man who set my Sunday afternoons on fire

Add comment July 24th, 2008

In the sad-but-true and I-can’t-believe-I’m-saying-a-$445,000-salary-ain’t-nearly-enough categories, I’m appalled that Devin Hester is being treated so poorly by the Bears.

(Detroit Free Press photo)

I  agree with Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti who says: “Did you say he’s making $445,000 this season? A mere $530,000 next year? That’s chump change in the market-value world of professional sports, an insult to his manhood.”

Hester was the reason last winter that I couldn’t wait for Sunday afternoons. How ’bout you?

Sayings to get us through tough times

2 comments July 23rd, 2008

This New York Times opinion piece talks about the culture of debt in America. To sum it up, we need to go back to a Culture of Thrift to right our economic struggles.

Anywho, the current high gas prices and mortgage and lending problems, fueled by our propensity to spend, could force us back into thrifty-thinking, or so the writing goes. You know the saying: “People don’t change when they see the light. They change when they feel the heat.”

What other sayings can help guide us out of our struggles? “Waste not, want not.” “A penny saved is a penny earned.” What else?

Danica and Milka’s pit fight

3 comments July 22nd, 2008

You’ve seen the towel-throwing footage, right? [kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/1LXDEPrIr9I" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

So, don’t you think the Roscoe native shows uncharacteristic restraint, even though it looks like she started it?

‘Wardrobe malfunction’ fine thrown out; no comments, please, just fyi

1 comment July 21st, 2008

A federal appeals court on Monday threw out a $550,000 indecency fine against CBS Corp. for the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show that ended with Janet Jackson’s breast-baring “wardrobe malfunction.”

Tell about strange things around here, win tickets/meet Weird Al

21 comments July 18th, 2008

Does your Aunt Nellie of Roscoe burp to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”?
Do you have a sock monkey that’s dressed like Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick?
Does your basement in Rockford look like a Japanese tea garden?
We’re looking for your brief stories/pictures/videos of strange things in the Rockford area for a Register Star contest: “What (and Who) Is Weirder than Weird Al in the Rock River Valley?”
Three winners will each get two tickets (value of $35.50 a ticket) to see Weird Al Yankovic, known for performing humorous parodies of popular songs. Yankovic will be at the Rockford MetroCentre Aug. 10.
One of the three winners also will get two passes to meet Yankovic at the show. Tickets are courtesy of NiteLite Promotions.
Here’s how to enter:
Write in this blog in the “add comment” space in 100 words or less about your weirder-than-Al person, place or thing in the Rock River Valley. You can identify yourself by name in your blog post, but you don’t have to. We will need to publish your name if you’re chosen a winner. (I get your e-mail address when you post, but it’s not part of the post that readers see.)
You may e-mail a photo that shows something weirder-than-Al to gbraun@rrstar.com. Tell in less than 100 words why the photo represents something weirder-than-Al. Photos need to be in jpg format.
Or you can e-mail me a video in mov format that’s less than a minute. You also could drop off a video on a disc at the Register Star, 99 E. State St. Put my name on it.
Submit your story/photo/video as soon as possible but before noon Monday, July 28.
I will choose the three submissions I like best and will post them here, where readers will vote for their favorite. The top vote-getter and guest get to meet Yankovic. Along with blog posts, stories about the three winners will run in GO July 31. And readers will learn a bit more about the winners (including the grand-prize winner) in GO Aug. 7.
For more information, go to metrocentre.com or weirdal.com.

THIS PHOTO WAS SUBMITTED BY ‘AVID LEBON’ a.k.a. Rachel Manis, of her making a smiley face with her tongue. See the post in the comments section about her submission.