tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90327629472623199512024-03-13T20:48:57.350-07:00My Little ThoughtsCome on in... the water's fine! Also, you might chuckle and/or think a little...Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-90809595713119781652009-11-17T06:55:00.000-08:002011-11-26T12:16:17.237-08:00I've MOVEDThat's right, sports fans. I'm moving to a new location. Not that Blogger hasn't been good for me. Just that I've got my own domain, so might as well make use of it. So further posts will be at http://michaelbrentcollings.com/blog2.html and BOY are they gonna be good.Bookmark accordingly, and see you there!Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-79840912841829542332009-10-29T09:27:00.000-07:002009-10-29T10:07:20.924-07:00Taking the Swine Flu Shot is MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE SWINE FLU!!!It's true.I got a shot the other day. To avoid the swine flu. They made us fill out some forms that said there might be a "small chance" of side effects. "But hey," I said, "it's the government, right? And they protect us, right?"This prompted several odd looks in my direction, since I was apparently talking to myself. I'm constantly surprised how often I get that look.Anywho, I went up and Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-58453813148711944592009-09-08T11:03:00.000-07:002009-09-08T11:25:37.830-07:00The Presidential IndoctrinationOkay, I know... when I heard that some people were saying that President Obama was trying to indoctrinate people, I had the same reaction everyone else had: "What the heck? He's already President, why does he need to be a doctor, too?"Then I took a step back and realized that this wasn't about whether he wants to be the first African-American Doogie Howser, M.D. (yes, I know there have been Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-84349871919928800192009-09-04T08:45:00.000-07:002009-09-04T11:15:23.770-07:00The High Cost of Living... and Dying on the CheapIn an unusually somber tone, I am writing today about a visit that I made to the Museum of Tolerance.For those of you who don't know, the MOT is a museum in Los Angeles that is dedicated to the survivors and victims of the Holocaust of World War II. There are various exhibits about the effects of intolerance, some fairly nice interactive exhibits, and a number of films and room layouts designed Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-35858833305031513582009-08-26T11:10:00.001-07:002009-08-26T11:10:03.526-07:00Who IS Billy Jones: Building Buzz for an AudiobookFor those of you who have been following the blog and wondering about the Billy Jones stuff that always pops up to the left (and seriously, why haven't you clicked on it yet??), you might find the following interesting.Who IS Billy Jones: Building Buzz for an Audiobook - Books - BlogcriticsMichaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-56494225079049518982009-08-21T14:01:00.000-07:002009-08-21T14:31:17.365-07:00Two Great Acts That Taste Great Together... or Something Like ThatSo a bit more of a "personal" blog today. Just letting everyone I know know (ha, I said "know know) about a pair of acts that are totally different, and equally great.Act One: Cary Judd. His website is here.Who is he? Well: check this out and you'll have your answer. And if you didn't see that, then at least here's a picture:This guy is GOOD. Here's a list of his upcoming tour dates. CATCH Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-7118156158466436102009-08-19T05:57:00.001-07:002009-08-19T06:18:48.285-07:00To Die ForDriving to work today (yes, I do have a day job), I heard something both wonderful and appalling. What was it? you ask. Well, I'll tell you.There's a lady in a posh neighborhood who owes $1 million on her house (which is now probably worth only $42.50, thank you very much bad loan policies). And, surprise surprise, she doesn't have the wherewithal to make the payments.So she decides to sell anMichaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-46413095564211333422009-08-13T18:42:00.000-07:002009-08-13T19:02:02.775-07:00Thinking About IgnoranceThis one is in a bit more serious of a vein than usual. My apologies, but even the best of us gets serious sometimes. See, I can't even be serious without making a joke about it. Sad, really.Anywho, I recently went to the Self Realization Center in Malibu (that's the picture). For those of you who don't know what this place is, it's a really lovely place with a lake, full of koi, ducks, and swansMichaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-19909526167149983052009-08-11T07:29:00.000-07:002009-08-12T14:02:22.400-07:00World Peace Through Higher Gasoline ConsumptionI just heard on the radio and read on the net that Chevy is coming out with a new vehicle that will get a whopping 230 miles per gallon. And that's city-mileage, baby, so who knows what it can do on the freeway?Well, that depends on where you're at, I guess. If you live in Idaho, you'll probably get higher mileage - like infinity miles per gallon (I'm rounding); if you live in Los Angeles, where Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-52637587866631085822009-08-08T13:37:00.000-07:002009-08-09T19:28:44.678-07:00G.I. Jonesing – or – Why I Want to Bear Snake Eyes’ ChildrenI’ve already made it pretty clear that I don’t think every movie has to be smart to be brilliant. The last movie I talked about in that vein was Transformers 2, a movie produced by Hasbro, and one that I found loud, silly, almost plotless… and totally awesome.Well, folks, Hasbro is two for two this summer. I saw G.I. Joe last night, and when I went in I just wanted it to do one thing: I wanted itMichaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-28817529158396241692009-08-06T09:36:00.000-07:002009-08-06T09:56:52.723-07:00And Tat's all There is to itHeard an interesting piece on the news today about how tattoo removal is projected to become a multi-billion-a-year business in the US alone.I don’t see how that’s possible. I mean, all you have to do is wait for a while and the tattoo just wears off, right? In fact, usually when I get a tattoo, I forget to hold the cold washcloth on it long enough and then when I peel the paper back my “Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-18928027515506948932009-08-03T14:13:00.000-07:002009-08-03T14:14:07.306-07:00I Don't Know Anything About This, but I Know I Have Strong Feelings About itI was just listening to talk radio (endless fodder there for blog topics), and the commentator started ranting about the California budget process, which as near as I can tell involves a bunch of people cloistered in a room with some accountants, a stapler, lots of paper, and a Magic 8 Ball.The commentator's rant got my blood pressure up. "Hey," thought I (when I think, I always do it in olde Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-43335779707603397052009-07-31T16:41:00.001-07:002009-07-31T16:56:56.889-07:00WIIIIIIII.... isn't that the sound you make right before you want to get off the merry-go-round?This one is inspired by a Facebook comment I made in response to a buddy of mine.I won't go into the back and forth, but as a result of it I looked up the Wii.com website, to see what kind of stuff they offer.Did you know you can play Wii tennis? Wii yoga? Were you aware (or should I say, aWiire) that you can Wii jog, Wii ski, and even (or should I say, Wiiven) Wii bow-and-arrow?[Sidenote: Wii Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-53821788720391753862009-07-30T23:06:00.000-07:002009-07-30T23:07:08.317-07:00Who the heck IS Billy Jones?Curious???Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-74402610951682658022009-07-29T10:33:00.000-07:002009-07-29T10:39:46.897-07:00HOLY COMPUTER GENERATED GUACAMOLE!!!Shorter than most of my blogs, but I just had to share. I just saw the new trailer for TRON: Legacy. For those of you who don't know, TRON was a Disney movie that came out about 20 years ago, and was a huge flop... largely because audiences didn't like seeing a bunch of computer-generated images instead of "real" stuff on the screen.Oh, how we have changed.But in spite of not doing so well at Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-27053062179196116822009-07-27T15:32:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:35:08.175-07:00HARRY POTTER vs. CUJO vs... HAMLET??? (only on Pay Per View!)Just kidding. It's not only on PPV. It's right here, on My Little Thoughts, free of charge!So who would win?And what the heck do I mean by that title (not that my titles necessarily mean anything other than that I have suffered a massive overdose of Skittles and Dr. Pepper - a mean combo).What I mean is, I wonder who will be regarded as THE great English-speaking literary master of our age 500 Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-26868478948919924362009-07-25T11:24:00.000-07:002009-07-27T13:09:06.310-07:00FOR THOSE WHO SAY CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE LIKE IT'S A GOOD THINGThere are those who say children are the future. If so, I think it's because they're going to knock us off and TAKE the future. I have proof...If you're still not convinced, I know a guy who knows a guy who knows some child assassins (or "chassassins" as the pros call them) who will be happy to pay you a... visit...Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-54119190045182871132009-07-20T13:25:00.000-07:002009-08-04T14:41:13.884-07:00I Hate Movies, Especially Harry PotterThis is why movies are ruining our lives…I like movies. I really do. In fact, given my ‘druthers, I’d be out there writing, watching, or doing SOMETHING movie-related as often as possible.Of course, given my ‘druthers, I’d also be covered in solid gold iguanas (see earlier post if you don't get this... it actually means something). So see what that gets me.But anywho, to return to movies: I Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-69474011590476248622009-07-17T23:03:00.001-07:002009-07-27T13:09:35.391-07:00Character, shmaracterIt has been said that the true test of a man's character is what he does when he thinks no one is watching. Well, that may be true.It is also true, then, that the true test of a WOMAN's character is what she does after watching her man do what he does when he thinks no one is watching.Just a thought.Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-60651715360463902042009-07-17T15:02:00.000-07:002009-07-27T13:09:53.636-07:00It's all About the Lizards, Baby!As I was on my way to work today, I was listening to the radio and got the same swift-kick-in-the-gut feeling I get every time I hear that unemployment is still on the rise.I mean, sure, I have a job. And yes, it allows me to be filthy rich. Or at least mildly dirty and middle class. Or at the very least in need of a good scrubbing while keeping my head barely above water.But the point I’m Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-53451677026389239922009-07-13T16:02:00.000-07:002009-07-27T13:10:18.094-07:00I'm Too Sexy For Hi-Def...This blog owes everything to Big Porn.So I just wanted to acknowledge that fact, to give a shout out to all my naked homies and homie-ettes who make this possible. Thank you, naked people.Now, before you family-oriented, morally well-adjusted, god-fearing folk out there get ready to start sending me hate mail, let me explain… and then let me tell you something you might find a bit interesting.TheMichaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-90753997235475772932009-07-10T10:48:00.000-07:002009-07-27T13:10:29.916-07:00Talk Bad. Clubs Good.I think that language is the single-biggest impediment to human communication that has ever been invented.I mean, think of it. Take two spouses, for instance. One says, "I love you," to the other. That could mean a lot of things, based on tone, body language, and which direction the gun is being aimed. It could mean "I would do anything for you," or it could mean "you'll be late for work," orMichaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-77870701965137823322009-07-08T11:41:00.001-07:002009-07-27T13:10:43.859-07:00What's in a Name?Just a random thought: when my lovely wife became pregnant with our first child, we started talking, of course, baby names. She had a big list of possibilities. I only wanted one: I wanted the kid to be named “ə.”That way, when the kid started school, and the teacher looked at our kid and said, “How do you pronounce that?” I could teach our kid to put his/her hands on his/her arms, look vaguelyMichaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-58874578275521700902009-07-08T10:59:00.000-07:002009-07-27T13:10:53.722-07:00Death and Cartoons. We Know Drama...I’ve come to the conclusion that watching children’s television is like going to Disneyland: both of them make me want to put forks in my eyes and end the misery.At this point, you may be wondering why I don’t like Disneyland. But that’s another story, for another time (though I’ll give you a hint: my family was killed by a rogue Imagineer with a penchant for Imagineering death traps while Michaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032762947262319951.post-53818565242992589182009-07-04T16:23:00.000-07:002009-07-27T13:11:11.988-07:00Happy Birthday, USA<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 <![endif]--> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-marginMichaelbrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344816001990754384noreply@blogger.com4