Halloween ... Brick Tamland Style

Brick Tamland here. Weatherman and heart of the Ch. 4 News team in San Diego.

Well me, my lamp and the rest of the Ch. 4 News team (Ron Burgundy, Champ Kind, and Veronica Corningstone) assembled for some Halloween hijinks and shinanigans this weekend. And I have to say that it was an instant success! We went live and on location. Good show everyone! Kudos to Eric (aka - 'Turbo' from American Gladitors) on the par-tay.

Also, want to give another 'shout out' (as the kids say) to my good friend Cory on his Friday Night-tastic Halloween party. Brick found himself attending that party solo from the Ch.4 Newsteam (as Brick sometimes has to do when he wanders away from the news desk). But, it was a kickin' party nonetheless! I can't remember the last time I've stayed up till 6AM in the morning like that. Not to mention that much of a hard liquor selection. Pretty crazy!

Well to all that shared in the Brick Tamland Halloween fun this weekend. I say thank you! Maybe next time you can all come to the "pants party" instead.

To view the pics from the Halloween 2006 adventure click here or here.

Ch. 4 News Team

(Champ Kind, Veronica Corningstone, Ron Burgundy, and Brick Tamland)

Gettin' jiggy with it

Mel (Mystic Mummy) and Corey (Champ Kind)

(Another pic - just for Mel)

Eric (Turbo the American Gladiator) and Liz (Mary Catherine Gallagher)

Pete (Paul Bunyan) and Anne (Babe the Blue Ox)

Me ... if I was in the Beastie Boys 'Sabotage' Music Video

AND .....

Vahn (as Kujo the Vampire Dog)

Take the Bus

This morning I easily had the worst commute of my life on my drive into work, and in hopes that typing it out and venting will calm me down, I’m sharing it with all of you. Enjoy!

The goal: A drive from Linden Hills/Lake Harriet to Downtown MPLS (Washington Ave. S & 10th St.) – A 20 min drive

The reality: A frustrating 45 min drive with more twists and turns than a M. Night Shyamalan film

So the drive into work starts out with getting to my car only to realize all the windows are frosted over. The first sign of what us Minnesotans get to look forward to for the next 5-6 months. A minor annoyance, but I get out the trusty old ice scraper and go to town.

Finally, ready to go and just as I’m about to pull out of my parking lot a S-L-O-W Bus first drives by, I pull out, and now I’m stuck behind a really slow Metro Transit Bus. Tick-Tock, buddy! Some of us have to get to work. Oh well, I quickly turn on KQ92 and listen to the Morning Show and after a couple of miles he pulls over to pick people up so I zoom past him.

Later on, I’m driving on Hennepin Ave. when out of NOWHERE a parked car on the side of the road pulls RIGHT OUT IN FRONT OF ME!!! I’m talking imminent doom is going to happen here folks, it was that close!! And all I think about is a little voice inside my head saying, “Is this lady serious?” I immediately slam on the brakes (with both feet) and lay on the horn skidding to a stop mere inches from her driver-side door. She gives me a look like she immediately pulled a dumb move and should have had an extra cup of coffee this morning. So now thinking that my life was going to end, but crisis narrowly averted, I’m back on the road and I’m shaking with anger slash shock. (Honestly, had we hit it would not have been good. Somebody call 911 cause we're taking a trip to the hospital!)

So I'm back on my way, and after every stoplight turning red on purpose on Hennepin Ave. I finally make my way into Downtown Minneapolis. Only for my situation to turn worse.

I’m finally downtown, only about a mile or two more to go. When ‘Johnny Impatient’ and his Lexus cuts me off so he can make it to the stoplight 1 second faster than everyone else. (Well Johnny? Was it worth it?) He then proceeds for the next 4-5 city blocks to weave in and out of my lane cutting people off and making them wish they carried guns to work. Well, I finally get around Captain Fantastic and turn right off of Hennepin Ave. onto Washington Ave. Only a half-mile to go!

What I did not realize is that today is the day they started construction on Washington Ave & 10th St. - Right in front of my building! After sitting in my car for 15 mins (not moving) trying to go 1 block. I decided to meander through the back alleys and other streets to get to my Agency parking lot quicker than the speed of backwards. Only to be blocked by a LRT Train and some really slow pedestrians. I should have faked sick and stayed home today.

Take the bus people, you’ll live longer!

Today's Random Observation

I just went to Arby's got back to work with my food and realized ... I FORGOT THE ARBY'S SAUCE!!! CRAP!!

Like many things in life we don't realize how precious and missed they truly are, until you don't have them. Kinda like Arby's Sauce.

Well, that wraps up this lame post.

A forward thinking government?

An article I just read made me do a double-take, and I was already looking at my computer monitor which made this pretty impressive.

In the land of the Far East, the government of Singapore has decided to be ‘cool’ for once and give back to its people. Singapore’s government over the next 2-3 years will be providing free WiFi access to most of the island. Just think of it! Instead of stealing your next door neighbor’s signal on your laptop, which goes in and out (very frustrating), you are all hooked up with your very own, very ‘legal’, WiFi signal anywhere you go, and it doesn’t cost you a dime. How cool is that?!?

And not only that but Singapore is also providing subsidies on computer purchases for low-income families. So now the poor can join the rest of the free world and download porn … err … surf the net; just like the rest of us. Crazy Carl and Stinky Sam you're day is close at hand!

What made me do a double-take here is I couldn’t believe that a government (any government) could be this forward thinking. Sure Singapore can give a beat down (canning) with the best of them for such minor offenses as graffiti and littering, but come on dude, FREE WIFI ACCESS!! Thus, making them the coolest government ever! Well, kind of.

Here’s the article. Behold the madness!

It's a miracle!!

Well I witnessed a miracle today. A deaf man suddenly was able to hear once again.

I was walking back from lunch outside (in downtown Minneapolis). Now I should first set the situation up, I met up with a good friend for lunch today and lost track of time so I was in a hurry to get back to work. Well I'm trying to speed walk (managing to hit every frigin' red light on the crosswalk. I'm finally getting close to work when all of the sudden a monetary-challenged African American (otherwise known as a 'bum') jumps right out in front of me and sticks a card in my face.

At first I was rather startled, but quickly surveyed Crazy Carl's situation and I looked down at the 3rd grade writing on the card (which looked to be done in orange crayon - just classy) and read the first three words, "I am deaf..." Immediately I knew this man was wanting nothing more than money, but I had no time. I said "Sorry, I'm late!" and stepped to the side and rushed past him. To which he yells out, "SHITHEAD!"

So it's at this point I stop and realize, he wasn't looking at my lips, I didn't make any hand movements to indicate that I didn't have change. This guy isn't deaf! So I turn around and yell, "Hey, you aren't deaf! It's a miracle!!" After that all I got was a heartfelt "screw you" and he kept on walking. So wherever you may be Crazy Carl you now have something better than money or all the gold in the world, the gift to hear!! Embrace the gift that has been bestowed upon you, my stinky brother!!!

Miracles can come true my brothers and sisters. And here is the proof.

BTW - If you somehow find yourself "monetary challenged", as this man did, and choose not to work and be a drain on society. Probably not a good idea to start cursing at the people you are looking to give you their hard earned money out of the goodness of their heart. When you do that, it makes us not want to give you the money, and more want to punch you in the face. Just a suggestion.

Everything is going to be OK.

I was randomly surfing the web today, and couldn't believe what I found.

Anyone remember the failed soda marketed by Coca-Cola in the summer of 1994 called, "OK" Soda? Well I sure do!! I loved the stuff, couldn't get enough of it. And I thought it's advertising was hilariously brilliant. Probably cause I have a pretty sarcastic (and sometimes warped) sense of humor. I even ended up calling the 1-800# a couple of times. Anyways, I had forgotten all about OK soda and its ability to control the minds of the youth in 1994, until the web and its world wide usless amount of knowledge refreshed my memory today. I'm still having flashbacks, and still bummed they discontinued it.

Well if you never got to taste this wonderful carbonated nectar known as OK Soda. Don't feel too left out. As it turns out it was only test marketed in a few areas in 1994, before it was discontinued.

If you ever get ambitious here is one of the so-called recipes for the drink:

1/4 orange soft drink
3/4 semi-flat Coca-Cola
a splash of Dr Pepper

To learn everything you'd ever want to know about OK Soda and way too much more. Just click yourself here.

And just remember...Everything is going to be OK.

Sports Talk

Why must we be mocked as sports fans in Minnesota? Okay as my friends are aware, I’m not a hardcore sports fan by ANY means. In fact, I choose the path of movies over sports any day. However, that recently all changed in the realm of baseball. Minnesota Twins baseball to be exact. You see I recently started working for the MN Twins (in a round about way) and co-currently got involved and supported the team this year. I was going to games, cheering the players on, and for the first time in my life ... memorized the line-up. Again, scary to those that know me.

So what happened this weekend when after a great season, all the struggles, injured players and against all odds the Twins made the playoffs? We lost right away to the Oakland Athletics. Didn't even win one playoff game. A team we had no trouble beating during the regular season, we lost to right away. I can’t help but feel let down and disappointed as a Twins fan. It feels like we really turned this year around and just fizzled at the end.

Oh well, I guess we can look back and enjoy the ride of the season that took place. It was exciting, milestones were set, awards achieved, and we did clinch the Central Division. So that's something at least. I guess we can just enjoy the ride this year and look to 2007.

Better luck next year Twins ...

CAPTION IT!

Bored? Well you must because you're here.

Well two of my friends (Pete, Mikey B) and I started up a new blog called: CAPTION IT! Check it out, one random picture will be posted everyday and then you leave your best headline or "caption" in the comments section. It's actually pretty funny, and it sucks a lot less than this blog ... so that's a nice step in the right direction.

CAPTION IT! Tell you friends and family to visit and start the revolution!