Bluto's Rants and Raves

No Pants Day

Bluto — Tue, 02 May 2006 16:44:00 +0000

This Friday, Cinco de Mayo, is National No Pants Day!
While you're putting down your fourth shooter of tequila, polishing off a six pack of Dos Equis and chowing down on tacos, take off your pants. Damned if it isn't liberating and I pretty much guarantee the pleasure of enjoying a Mexican holiday with a bunch of predominantly non-Mexicans will with improve exponentially.
If you really want to have some fun, put on a big sombrero. The combination of the funny hat, no pants, and copius amounts of alcohol will be hard to beat.
If you'd like more info on the event follow the liks at the bottom of this article.
take care

-Bluto

NoPantsDay.com Most everything you need to know is here. (you'll even find pictures of Bluto celebrating NPD '05)

If you dare, drop your Drawers on Friday, PhillyBurbs.com

No Pants Day, Wikipedia.com

Cinco de Mayo

No Pants Day 2005 Pictures

Margaritas I recomend you stay away from anything with Jose Cuervo in it. It just isn't good. Try Sauza, or Orendain instead if you'd like something moderately priced.

Just in time for Easter: Cadburry Egg Cake!

Bluto — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 13:57:00 +0000

Cadburry Egg Cake Experiment
This is the diary of a guy who decided to make a cake by replacing ordinary eggs with Cadburry Eggs. Sounds like it could be delicious, doesn't it? Check it out. The dude may just be insane, but I thought it was good for a laugh.
take care

-Bluto

Birthday Thank You

Bluto — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 05:56:00 +0000

I'd like to say, "Thank you" to everyone who came to my 30th birthday party. In particular, those of you who had to travel long distances. Thank you, it really was fantastic to get together with all my friends.
An extra special thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Strike who babysat Kiera while the rest of us were off having fun.
I've posted some pics from the party. If you click on Adam's Birthday Pics you'll link to the site where the photos are posted. The new page isn't completely finished yet, so please forgive the raw appearance. Also, if you were at the party and have any more photos, please, send them to me. At the very least I'd like to see them, but I'd also like to post them on Brother Bluto.com.
Once again, thank you to everyone. I had a blast. I hope you all did as well, and I hope we can all get together again soon.
take care

-Bluto

My thoughts and prayers are with you

Bluto — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 15:22:00 +0000

This is a sad update to my last post. Last Sunday, two members of Charlie battery were killed, and three others injured, while on duty in Baghdad, Iraq. My thoughts and prayers go out the the families these men. They've made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

take care

-Bluto

Articles from the Argus Leader :

2 South Dakota guardsmen killed in Iraq

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051205/NEWS/51205015/1001/ARCHIVE

Two South Dakotans Killed in Iraq War

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051206/NEWS/512060311/1001/ARCHIVE

Charlie Company

Bluto — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 20:55:00 +0000

I'd like to say, "Thanks", to the men and women serving in the U.S. Armed forces who are currently putting themselves in harms way serving overseas. In particular, I'd like to thank Adam Haas and the other members of the 1/147th Charlie Battery who are currently serving in Iraq.
To learn about this fine group of people, and see some of their photos, I suggest you check out their website: Charlie Company.

Asshat drivers need to learn how to use blinkers. Also: red means STOP, you idiot.

Bluto — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 19:02:00 +0000

On my way back from lunch today I noticed a woman, driving a white Ford Taurus, not using her blinker. Sadly, this isn't an unusual occurnece but what I found surprising is she was using hand signals in place of her blinkers! Before she would make a turn she would point in the direction she intended to go. I was only able to see this as I was drivign directly behind her. Had I been on her passenger side, or I suspect more than one car length back, I would not have seen her hand gesture at all.

Simply astonishing. Why wouldn't she turn on her blinker? IS it broken? If so, get it fixed! Pointing doesn't do much good. Especially when it simply looks like you're flicking a cigarette out the window. Now, inthis woman's defense: she was at least making some attempt to signal her turn. Pathetic as that attempt may have been I suppose it is better than making no turn signal at all.

A bit of advice: turning your blinker on once you've already entered an intersection and started a turn is absolutely meaningless. Your're already turning, the reason the blinker is also know as a turn signal is because it supposed to be used to indicate your intent/desire to make a trun or change lanes.

If you're going to turn a corner, put your blinker on before you get to the corner so the people in in front of, behind, or next to you know what you are doing.
Need to change lanes? Turn on your blinker. Other drivers will see what you are trying to do and will be more likely to give you room to make the switch. And if they don't, at least you're not an asshole for cutting them off without any warning.

Sadly, the lack of blinker use seems to a problem regardless of where I drive. Lincolnites seem to have a real problem with running red lights. Especially on turn signals. I don't have time to fully get into my disgust for this habit right now, so I will simply say this, "If the left turn arrow is red, don't make the turn you fucking asshole." Red means STOP. Most people had that figured out before they were even able to read. keep running those lights and one of these days you're likely to get T-boned by somebody trying to obey the stoplight. That is all for now.

take care

-Bluto

Boobs for Bourbon Street

Bluto — Tue, 27 Sep 2005 21:12:00 +0000

Here is a wonderful chance to make a charitabel contribution and have some fun while doing it.

http://www.boobs4bourbonst.com/

take care

-Bluto

Talk like a pirate day. Arrrrgh.......

Bluto — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 15:30:00 +0000

Today is talk like a pirate day.

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/buzz.html
what's your pirate name? http://www.fidius.org/quiz/pirate/

If you go to subway for lunch, be sure to order your sandwich with extra chedaarrrrrrr.

take care

-Bluto

Oktoberfest

Bluto — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 16:10:00 +0000

Oktoberfest starts tomorrow at noon! Being rather proud of my German heritage, I am quite excited by this. The fact that I enjoy beer and sausages doesn't hurt any, either.

But just in case you din't know, Oktoberfest is more than just a bunch of drunk Germans walking around in lederhosen and staring at the the frauleins. It actually started as a festival to celebrate the wedding of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig's marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. If you'd like to learna littlee bit more about the history I suggestyoui check out die Weisn website.

Personally, I'm going to drink a couple beers and make some bratwurst from Buster's with homemade sauerkraut. Which remindss me. I tried a new recipe for sauerkraut and marinated pork loin last weekend. Though the pork was only OK, the sauerkraut turned out quite good (for store bought stuff anyway). It combined one can of kraut with 1/2 an apple about a 1/4 of an onion, 1/2 a beer, 6 ounces of apple juice concentrate, 1 tbls cider vinegar, and 1tblsp good mustard. Bring it all to a boil for a few minutes and then let it simmer to reduce the moisture. Quite tasty. I might even make some more this weekend.

And one of the great things about Oktoberfest is that it isn't over at sundown on Sunday night. It lasts until the first Sunday in October. So we have an excuse to enjoy ourselves every night between now and then. Sadly, there are no big carnivals here to celebrate with. I guess I'll just have to make do with what I've got.
Prossit!

take care

-Bluto

So called Martini bars

Bluto — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 16:57:00 +0000

I'd like to address the so called Martini Bars that seem to be popular right now. Am I the only person who find them a little offensive?

Don't get me wrong. I've got nothing against and honest martinin. But I think that some of the people who frequent these establisments have seen a few too many episodes of "Sex and the City."
Let me be more clear about my aggravation:

Apple Pucker and butterscotch schnapps do not a martini make!

A martini consists of gin and vermouth. Or vodka and vermouth. Dry vermouth is used almost exclusively, though one can also order a perfect martini which calls for equal parts of both sweet and dry vermouth.

Simply creating a sugary sweet mixed drink (or "girly drink" if youi will) and pouring it into a martini glass does not mean youi have a martini. It just means you have a screw driver in a martini glass.

Now, this isn't to say that all these new drinks are bad. Some are, some aren't. What they most certainly are not are martinis. And this is starting to give martinis a bad name. I was having a conversation with a bartender at my favorite watering hole recently and were discussing this very problem. She told me that earlier in the week a group of people had been come into the bar. One of them ordered a martini. Being and astute bartender, she was able to size up her customers and didn't believe that this individual was really a martini drinker.
She politely asked if there was naything else she could get for him. No. He wanted a martini.
So she made it, and brouht it over.
The customer took one sip and literally spit it out.
"What is this?", he said. "It tastes like pure alcohol!"

Well of course it did, you idiot. It's a martini. It is pure alcohol. this gentleman was simply ordering what he preceived to be a cool drink. He had no idea what he was really in for. Maybe he'd heard martinis are making a comeback and wanted to look cool. Who knows?

The same bartender also told me the story of the customer who said, "I want a very dry martini, with an extra shot of vermouth." That's like saying, "I want a decaf coffee with and extra shot of caffeinne." In the martini world dry means less vermouth. The dryer the martini, the less vermouth it has.

This kind of ineptitude really pisses me off. I'm sure I'll have more to say about it later, but for now I've gotten it off of my chest.

take care

-Bluto

NU is accepting students displaced by hurricane Katrina

Bluto — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 16:51:00 +0000

Here is a letter sent to faculty staff and students by President Miliken on 9/2/2005:

Dear Colleagues and Students:

We have all been saddened by the news of Hurricane Katrina and the stories of personal grief and tragedy that have emerged over the past several days. This devastating natural disaster has affected the lives of millions, and our hearts go out to them. I have received calls and e-mail messages from students, faculty and staff asking what they can do to help, and offering suggestions for university efforts. In the face of such an overwhelming situation, our initial gestures may seem small. In the long term, I know we will find ways to make more signifigant contributions to the recovery and rebuilding efforts that lie ahead.

I want to update you on some of the things the University of Nebraska community is doing to assist victims of the hurricane. First, thousands of college students in the Gulf Coast region -- includding many students from the Midwest -- havce seen their campuses closed indefinitely due to hurricane damage. We have opened the doors of our campuses to them.

For those students elegible for admission who are unable to return to their home campuses, we will immediately accept as many as we can at out compuses. Wel will allow them enroll this fall at in-state tuition rates, and provide assistance in quickly registering them for classes, finding housing and whatever additional help they need.

On Wednesday, we established an e-mail address (NUhelp@Nebraska.edu) and a 24-hour tool-free number (1-800-742-8800) to handle inquiries. Prospective students can also complete a brief form at www.nebraska.edu. We have provided this information to local and national news outlets and to the national higher education associations.

we have received many inquiries over the last two days, and our campuses are already working with the displaced students who wish to enroll at NU this fall. I want to commend the individuals on each campus who have taken on additional responsibilities and are providing timely, patient and professional assistance to these students. the reaction from students and parents with whom we have talked has been very positive.

There has been an enormous outpouring of support from faculty, students and staff on all of our campuses. Student and other groups are organizing fundraising efforts. Faculty and students are discussing service-learning programs involing on-site assistance. NU students, faculty and staff who have personal ties to the affected area have been encouraged to seek counseling and other assistance through existing university programs. We are also looking into providing space, to the extent available, to accomodate faculty from affected institutions.

Thank you in advance for your generous donations of time and assistance. I am grateful that the University of Nebraska can play a small role in prviding help to those affected by Hurrican Katrina.

James B. Milliken
President, University of Nebraska

This is a great way for NU to help suppoer the victims. I'm glad to see that we are helping out in any way possible. More information can be found at www.unl.edu

take care

-Bluto

Curtis has started posting

Bluto — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 16:13:00 +0000

Those of you who have been holding your breath in anticipation for Curtis' rants can finally exhale. He sent me his first entry yesterday and I was able to get it posted this morning. (time well spent instead of taking a smoke break!)
I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm looking forward to hearing what Curtis has to say on a regular basis. I'm also working on getting the voting that he asked for set up. so look for that in the near future.
take care

-Bluto

Hurricane Katrina Relief

Bluto — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 19:56:00 +0000

For those interested in helping to support victims of hurricane Katrina, here are several sites where you can make donations and get info:

http://writerscafe.net/donations.html#fark9

http://mystfire.net/katforum/index.php

http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate/

http://katrinahelp.blogspot.com/2005/08/request-to-firefighters-nationwide-to.html

http://www.fema.gov/press/2005/resources_katrina.shtm

I hate to have to say this, but if you do decide to donate through a website please be careful. Some asshats have already set up fake charities in an effort to capitalize on this trgedy. Several suspicious domains (last I checked the content had been changed, it looks like the owners are squatting on these domain names now) are listed here:

katrinahelp.com
katrinacleanup.com
katrinarelief.com

BBQ Septemebr 10th

Bluto — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 22:13:00 +0000

We are going to be hosting a BBQ on Saturday, September 10th.
Nothing too fancy, just some brats and burgers, lawn darts, mexican horseshoes, probably a few beers (I think I'll get a keg of Burning Skye). We plan to get started after Kiera's baptism, so I imagine we'll kick things off between noon and one o'clcok.
I know the Huskers are playing Wake Forest that night. Not sure if the game is going to be televised, but if it is we'll have it on. Also, Sunday the 12th is opening day for the NFL. Anyone who sticks around until then is welcome to join us for opening day festivities.
Hope to see you there.

take care

-Bluto

Dakota Days and ATO

Bluto — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 14:02:00 +0000

USD's Dakota Days are coming up in about two months. The dates are October 7-9. We're going to be having a small ATO reunion that Saturday. The parade starts at 10 am. Right now the plan is to meet in front of Chalky's @ 9 West Main St. Chalky's has breakfast burritos and the best bloody mary bar in Vermillion.

We can get together, see some old friends, catch up, and have a few beverages. Afterwards, we can go to the game, try to grab a bite to eat somewhere, or do whatever we want. It will really depend on how many people show up.

I know there will be a number of people in Sioux Falls that day for Kory Lindersmith's ('94) wedding. It won't be too difficult for you to jump down to Vermillion for a few hours to catch up with your brothers.

If anyone has ideas for any other activities that day, let me know, I'll see what we can get put together. I hope to see all of you there.

take care

-Bluto

Quotations

Bluto — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 16:20:00 +0000

I've recently started to add quotes to the front page of Brother Bluto.com. Nothing very special, necessarlily. Just little nuggets of wisdon that I find enjoyable. So far, we've been treated to the knowledge of Sir Winston Churchill and Ernest Hemingway.
I don't always have time to go looking for these qoutes, though. So, if you have anything you'd like to see posted let me know. I'm not going to promise that everything submitted will make the site, but everyone has a chance.
take care

-Bluto

Those dirty bastards at Graham's

Bluto — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 16:04:00 +0000

So I took the wife's car in to the Graham Tire on 14th St. because it needed an oil change and I wanted them to check the front brake pads. They come back with a list of things that they recomend be done that is longer than my arm. I say, "Listen, I don't need every fluid in the car changed. What's it going to be to get the oil changed and the break work done?"
They come back and tell me that with the wife's employee discount (she works for ITI) the total is going to be about $455, because I only have 10% of the pads left in the front and less than 60% in the rear. Also, that I need new drums and rotors and bunch of other suspicious shit.
So, I say "I don't think I need to pay almost $500 for what should simply be some brake pads. Just charge me for the oil change and the brake inspection and I'll be on my way." Now, on the big sign behind the counter that lists prices for certain services a brake instection is listed @ $19.95. They charged me $29.95, but at that point I wasn't going to argue, I just wanted to get the hell out of there. I get in my car, go home and call T.O. Hass on 12th and South.
I tell them that I know I need brake pads in the front, I've already been told by a mechaninc that I'm down to about 10% of my pads, but the that I thought the guy was a crook and I wasn't going to let him do any work on the car. Can they fit me in the next day and how much will it cost? The gentelman, on the was verey concerned that it hadn't been another T.O. Hass location that I had a problem with. when I assured him it wasn't, he told me it would be about $110 for the brakes, plus a service charge. If there wasn't anything else that needed to be done. I could bring the car in the next afternoon.
So, the next day I bring in the car, drop it off, and explain what's going on. He tells me he'll get it up on the rack and take look. When do I need to have the car back? "I'd like to have it by 5 if possible", i say. "No problem" he assures me.
About an hour later my phone rings. I see that it's the mechanic calling, so I answer it, dreading the possibility that it is still going to cost a couple hundred bucks to get this thing fixed. "I just got yoru car of the rack", he says. "You've got about 60% of youir pads in the front and 70% in the rear. You don't need any brake work. You can come and pick your car up. No charge."
Needless to say, I was quite happy with this news. The staff at T.O. Hass were verey polite and helpfil in other ways, but I don't need to go into all of that here. From here on out they have my business, and my gratitude. My advice to you: Stay the away from those scheisters at Graham Tire. Those dirty bastards will sell you a bill of goods in the blink of an eye.

take care

-Bluto