Sara and I love to play Twister, but often we find we would like to play Twister when we’re the only ones around. This presents a problem because there is no one to operate the spinner.

Enter Lane Phillips. Sara and I approached him about making an automated Twister spinner, so we could just turn it on, set some kind of time delay, and play Twister with just 2 people.

Yesterday, after about 2 years of waiting (of which I’m guessing 10 minutes were spent on the actual work), he presented this.

The man is a genius. Long live Lane Phillips. May this invention bring him vast riches. And while you’re at lanephillips.net, check out Lane’s Guide to Quoting Monty Python.

I realize that if it’s clever blog titles you come here for, you probably find yourself regularly disappointed.

But anyway, the artists known as Mad Pakyderms had a show at the Meadowlark Cafe down at 16th and South (1624 South Street to be exact) Friday night. I just wanted to show off this beautiful print I picked up and plug the show. I’m pretty sure the work will be on display throughout the month.

This poster caught my eye as soon as I walked in. I loved it even more when I realized it was a show I’d actually been to.

This photo is a little unflattering, because the camera flash makes it look like the ink wasn’t printed very well and the perspective kind of warps it, but it’s an awesome image and I can’t wait to get it in a frame and hang it properly.

Concert posters really seem to have become a respected art form. I’m kind of late figuring that out, cos I’m not really that into it in general, but the stuff at this show is totally worth checking out.

In my neverending battle with Cingular’s coverage area, I’ve had to send in another phone in the hopes that the new one will do a better job of picking up the cellular signal.

I e-mailed myself the photos from the phone so they wouldn’t be lost forever (other than in the secret file folders of returned-phone warehouse workers), and now, for your enjoyment, here is a selection of PHOTOS FROM MY RETURNED LG WHATEVER.

1. The In-N-Out in Reading along I-5

From my two-week documentary jaunt in June, this was my first In-N-Out since my birthday of March of 2005 in San Diego. I had intended to eat there at lunchtime, but I was too slow getting down from Eugene, so I had to eat there for an early dinner. I then proceeded to eat at nothing but In-N-Out for the next five meals.

2. The last In-N-Out meal

This was my last taste of In-N-Out, less than 48 hours later. I had an early lunch driving through the easternmost In-N-Out on I-80 in Sparks, Nevada. Since it was my last meal there, I went for the 4×4. Here it is resting in my passenger seat as I got back onto I-80.

I didn’t want to eat a sandwich while getting on the interstate, as apparently that would disrupt my ability to drive safely. Meanwhile, I guess taking photos wasn’t a problem.

3. Times Square

Sara and I went to New York in July. I took this to send to my mom.

4. A church

I forget the name of this church, but it’s on 5th Avenue on about 50th street. Sara and I went to mass there the next morning, but this was on a walk around the neighborhood.

5. Sara caught the bouquet

From our friends Ryan and Amy’s wedding a few weeks ago.

6. Andrew vs Matt

After a post-bars croquet game in the greenspace north of the Union, friends Andrew and Matt decided to take their shirts off and fight.

I got quite a few more photos from the fight, but they’re not pretty.

7. Melany’s Halloween costume

This is my niece, Melany, in her Halloween costume from last fall.

Melany’s deliberate stomp reminded us of a penguin’s waddle, and thankfully, she wanted to fulfill the comparison by dressing as a penguin for Halloween.

8. Melany washing her hands

I taught Melany how to build up a lather with handsoap. She was absolutely thrilled by this discovery.

9. Melany and Miqaela with Sara

I’m not sure when this is from.

10. Crowne Plaza in Indianapolis

This is from the hotel I stayed at in Indianapolis, which was the converted train station downtown.

11. A tour of my old apartment

I moved out of Spaghetti Works last fall, and before closing the door one last time, I took a series of photos with the intention of assembling a panoramic view. That never happened.

and the little tiny bathroom

12. A funny sign I saw … somewhere

I can’t remember now where I was, but this was in a mens room.

In case that came out too light, it used to say “Wash hands after using the toilet,” but someone scratched out “using” so it says “Wash hands using the toilet.”

and finally

13. The Prids at The Crystal Ballroom, Portland OR

This was the first night in their opening slot for Built to Spill back in June.

Usually when I make a comment about the cartoonists on the Cagle.com cartoonists syndicate it’s to make some point about how the cartoonists are creating work that lacks any sort of insight, debatable point, or relevance.

Today is no different, but there’s an added bit of bite to the usual criticism of these smug thugs. If you check out the compilation of cartoons on the JonBenet Ramsey killing and John Mark Karr confession, you may note a handful of cartoons with a similar message:

Now that the “real” killer has stood up, the media’s unfair treatment of the Ramsey family is in full view.

The obvious irony here is that, in their haste to chastise those nasty reporters who’ve picked the Ramsey bones dry (I’m borrowing from several of their visual metaphors), they similarly rush in their conviction of a man who quite clearly was not the killer.

Way to go, guys.

In fairness, if you look through those seven pages of cartoons, there are two that actually attempt to make a point beyond the obvious rah-rah “The media sure is nasty!” point that everyone’s going to agree with. One was especially bold to the point where I’m surprised a paper ran it.