Google Image Search: Word & Picture #83

Today's Word:
"labor day holiday"
Today's Picture:


Yes! I feel just like this girl about the Labor Day holiday. I am stoked for a 3 day weekend. I have been laboring... I am excited to not have to labor on Monday. I am excited about the Master Pancake shows tomorrow night. I am stoked to spend some time with Megan this weekend.

Everyone have a safe & happy holiday. I will blog when I get back.

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Best of Austin List

Hi Friends and Family.

It is time for shameful begging on behalf of my friends & co-workers.

The Austin Chronicle holds their "Best of Austin" poll once a year. Now is that time. If you would be so kind, please vote for several of my friends & co-workers. You can vote here.

You only have until September 2nd, so please do this today!

PLEASE VOTE FOR THESE PEOPLE:
Comedy/Improv Troupe - Master Pancake Theater
Local Author/Poet - Owen Egerton
Composer - Brian Satterwhite
Dance Company - Little Stolen Moments
Bed and Breakfast - Carrington's Bluff
Comedian - Les McGehee
Movie Theatre - Alamo Drafthouse
Emergent Local Filmmaker - Kat Candler
Food Event - Alamo Drafthouse Bene-feasts

Here are nominations I would suggest you consider when filling-out your ballot:
New Building (Past Five Years) - City Hall
Public Space - City Hall
Public Art - Stevie Ray Vaughn statue
Austin Landmark - postcard in South Austin
Historic Site - Governor's Mansion (sympathy vote... I am not voting for the resident within)
Architectural Trend - outdoor eating & drinking spaces
Bathroom - Stephen F. Austin lobby bathroom, the Taj Mahal of downtown poopers
Billboard - postcard in South Austin
Sign - postcard in South Austin
Hotel - Hotel San Jose
Motel - Austin motel
Scenester/Mover and Shaker - Leslie
Museum - South Austin museum of popular culture
Visual Artist - Matthew Stuart
Actor/Actress - damnit, only one?! Leslie Langee and Lee Eddy... but there are so many good ones
Film Series - again, only one?! I love Terror Thursdays, Weird Wednesdays, Music Mondays, AFS Screenings... I can not pick one.
Karaoke - Austin Karaoke
Local Food Company - does Wheatsville Food Co-op count?
Business Dining - Roaring Fork
24-Hour/Late - Magnolia Cafe? Kerby Lane? I have no idea.
Drive-Through - Thunder Cloud subs outside the South Lamar Alamo
Restaurant When Someone Else Is Paying - any of them
Place to Take a First Date - I refuse to answer on the grounds that I am married.
Cheap Date - walk around town park
Outdoor Dining - Freddie's in South Austin
Intimate Dining - Jefferies, I guess? Maybe Vespaio?
Farmers' Market - Sunset Valley Farmers’ Market
Neighborhood Grocery - Fresh Plus
Sweets/Goodies - Whole Foods (awesome vegan chocolate ice cream)
Bar Staff - Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz
Bar Ambience - Draught Horse
Neighborhood/Dive Bar - Draught Horse
Beer on Tap - Gingerman
Cocktails/Cocktail Menu - Chuy's Texas Martini
Wine Selection - Vino Vino
Beer Selection - Gingerman
Beer/Wine Prices - Spec's
Best-Kept Secret - my house
Bookstore - Book People (unless Owen tells me different)
Clothes - no idea... ByGeorge?
Haircut - again, no idea, my hair is falling out.
Toys - Toy Joy
Restaurant - Trudy's
DVD Selection - tough choice between I Luv Video, Vulcan Video and Waterloo
Nature Day Trip - tubing
Texas Amusement Park - Schlitterbahn
Cheap Thrill - laughing
Summer Camp - Kat Candler's filmmaking class
Sports/Rec Program - dodge ball on the east side
Local Non-Chronicle Publication - Alamo Drafthouse guide
Music Station - KGSR & KOOP
Radio Music Deejay - John Erler, Mac Blake, Brian Satterwhite... you pick
Radio Talk/News Host - John Erler, Mac Blake, Brian Satterwhite... you pick
Local Blogger - Southpaw Jones
Local Blog - benbartley.blogspot.com
Local Team - Austin Toros
Annual Event - Fantastic Fest
Scenic View - top of the Frost Bank Building
Solitude/Quiet - my house
Place for a Picnic - Barton Springs
Bike Ride - town lake
Day Trip - Dry = Fredericksburg
Day Trip - Wet = tubing
Place to Tube = Comal River
Place to Camp = Pace Bend Park
Swimming Hole = Deep Eddy
Local Issue = condos on town lake
Elected Official = Will Wynn
City Official = Will Wynn
Council Member = = Brewster McCracken
Unsung Behind-the-Scenester = Tim League
Job = unemployed
Spa = Austin Day Spa
Car Wash = Genie
Veterinarian = Westlake Animal Hospital
Movers = Two Men and a Truck
Thrift Store = Goodwill
Car Dealership = Smart Car Dealership in Round Rock
Local Bookstore = Bookpeople
Computer Store = Frye's
Music Gear = Guitar Center
Record/CD Store = Waterloo
DVD Rental/Purchase = I Luv Video, Vulcan or Waterloo

If you see anyone I accidentally forgot to list, please put it in the comments. There is so much great stuff in Austin, it is often hard to pick one.

Google Image Search: Word & Picture #82

Today's Word:
"best movie ever"
Today's Picture:


Wow. I love it. I pulled it from this guy's blog.

Here is a direct quote from the blog:
"Why would it be the greatest movie ever made? Because I would cut all the bullshit and give people what they want: The Redskins, Wolverine, the little man from Willow, a naughty schoolgirl, and the alien from Contra."

Wow. I would pay $7 to see this. I would pay $10 just to read the screen play.

The only thing that would make it better if, instead of the Washington Redskins, he could use the Kansas City Chiefs.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!


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Google Image Search: Word & Picture #81

Today's Word:
"Silly"
Today's Picture:


I have been feeling pretty silly these days.

Megan is super funny. She cracks me up. While I wish I was the comedian, Megan is the REAL funny one in our family (and (sometimes) I am the therapist)... weird, eh?

I think hanging out with the Pancake guys has helped. I feel light. The shows have been tight. They have been sold out every night. It has been a ton of fun.

I am also working on some video projects... more on that later. Fun & funny videos.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

Google Image Search: Word & Picture #80

Today's Word:
"Jurassic Poop"
Today's Picture:


I am fascinated by this. I totally want to read this book. I also want to shake the hand of the person who thought of the name... after I watch this person wash that hand.

So I am getting ready to head downtown for the Master Pancake Jurassic Park show. Getting excited, but it looks like rain.

Also, I just found out that we were put in the big theater. A few people contacted me about trying to buy tickets to Saturday night's show... it was sold out as of Wednesday. Now the tickets are on sale again (because we changed theaters and are now in the big theater).

It is sure to sell-out quickly, so you can buy tickets here for Saturday's show.

Anyone who reads this blog, buys a ticket to Saturday's late show and yells, "Take Off Your Pants" in the introduction will be immediately escorted out of the theater.

Come see me think of something witty to say at this point in the movie (low hanging fruit).

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

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Google Image Search: Word & Picture #79

Today's Word:
"Tropic Thunder"

Today's Picture:


I saw Tropic Thunder tonight. Wow. I laughed myself silly. This was such a great movie. It has immediately moved into my top 5 of the year. Robert Downey, Jr... awesome. Ben Stiller... excellent. Jack Black... fantastic. Nick Nolte... great. But my favorite: Tom Cruise. I have not laughed so hard at a Tom Cruise movie ever. It was way funnier than Cocktail.

Seriously, go see this movie.

So far, I think these are my top 7 movie this year:
Iron Man
Batman - Dark Knight
Son of Rambow
Young@heart
Tropic Thunder
Pineapple Express
The Fall

I think that is about right. I can not remember everything I have seen this year. But that is the best I can do right now.

Congratulations on a great film, Ben Stiller.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

Google Image Search: Word & Picture #78

Today's Word:
"Unnecessary Sequels"
Today's Picture:


I am going to the Unnecessary Sequels event at the Alamo Ritz tonight at 9:30. Want to join me? Buy a ticket here.

You can see me on the big screen, shirtless... sounds like a great night to be at the Alamo.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

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Google Image Search: Word & Picture #77

Today's Word:
"funny remake"
Today's Picture:

Ah, yes, the always sensitive Dr. Dre, sharing his (fake) opinion on depression.

While that Prozac remake is indeed funny, the funniest remake I have seen in a while is Mac Blake's entry into the Alamo Drafthouse's Unnecessary Sequel filmmaking competition: Over The Top 2 - ARMageddon. Please watch it here. I make 2 brief cameos, see if you can find me.

Also, sign-up for the website, vote for the movie and leave positive comments on the Filmmaking Frenzy website.

This is, by far, the best Stallone remake ever. Way better than Rocky V... way way better than Rambo III.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

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Google Image Search: Word & Picture #76

Today's Word:
"AAA Baseball"
Today's Picture:

I am not 100% sure, but I believe this photo was taken at Tucson Electric Park, home of the Tucson Sidewinders. The Sidewinders are the AAA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tucson Electric Park was built after I left Tucson. Back when I lived in Tucson, I used to sub for the mascot of the Tucson Toros. I occasionally dressed-up like a big bull and ran around Hi Corbett Field during minor league baseball games. Tucson... summertime... mascot costume... not pretty. But I was in college, always on the hunt for beer money.

I went to a AAA baseball game last Monday. My company had its summer party at the Round Rock Express game in Round Rock, Texas. The AAA stadium is beautiful. They have all kinds of activities for kids. We had a blast. The Express won. I was able to get tickets for Megan, Joe, Kristin & I. Here are a picture of the four of us:


AAA baseball, one step from the show.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!


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Google Image Search: Word & Picture #75

Today's Word:
"suburbs"

Today's Picture:


I have spent very little of my life in the suburbs. I have almost always lived within the city limits. I guess Spicewood, Texas, (the lake house) counts as a suburb, right? I also lived in Desoto, Kansas, which has become a suburb of Kansas City... but that was in 1977-1980... so it has been a while. I house-sat for 1.5 months in Oro Valley, a suburb of Tucson. I think I was born in St. Louis, but I am not sure if I lived in the city itself or a suburb.

I suppose our current house, at one time, was a suburb of Austin. Now, with city expansion, it is becoming part of downtown... almost.

I have become very spoiled living in the city. Movies: 5 minute drive, Target: 5 blocks, Work: 7 minute drive, Grocery Store: 6 minute drive, Downtown: 11 minute drive (with no traffic). I am really lucky, especially with gas prices being what they are today.

Traffic is my enemy. I become irrational. I would much rather sit at a 3 minute red light than sit in 1 minute of stand-still highway traffic. I am weird, eh?

I had co-workers in town from San Jose. They were asking me if the traffic was bad. I answered, "yeah, it is horrible, sometimes it takes me as long as 20 minutes to get downtown." He started laughing. It took him 20 minutes to get out of his neighborhood and 1 hours 10 minutes to drive to work. Crazy, eh?

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

Google Image Search: Word & Picture #74

Today's Word:
"over-golded"

Today's Picture:


So I have been watching a bit of the Olympics. And because I have been watching the Olypmics, I have been seeing a bunch of Michael Phelps. That guy is all over my TV. He now has something like 4000 gold medals. It is no wonder the price of gold has risen so dramatically in the last decade... Michael Phelps has been taking it all. Seriously, I think they are just giving him medals to show-up now. It has become absurd.

So I was watching him last night and I thought to myself, "Michael Phelps is going to OG... or 'over-gold'". It reminded me of the 1980s classic comedy movie, "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka". I have not watched it since I was about 14, but I remember laughing my backside off at that movie. It was the first time I ever saw Chris Rock in anything. He was the rib joint customer who kept negotiating to get the price lower and lower. To this day, it still makes me laugh.

The movie was wildly politically incorrect. But it primarily made fun of race & poverty. So now the big controversy is about Ben Stiller's new movie: Tropic Thunder. I have not seen it, but I understand they use the word "retard" 17 times. For this, people have been demanding a re-cut or a re-edit of the movie. I have not seen the movie, so I can not say if I liked it... but I can say that the calls to re-edit something or re-dub something are absurd.

I do not have the stomach for the autopsy scenes in CSI Miami or any of the various crime shows (that Megan loves). So guess what I do: leave the room.

So there are groups of people who PAY 7.50 for a rated R movie and expect NOT to be offended. Isn't that the point of the R rating of a movie... that you may (and probably WILL) be offended? If it were rated G and they were using foul language, I would understand the indignation.

OK, that was my rant for the day.

In Summary: Michael Phelps is causing the price of gold to rise; I'm Gonna Git You Sucka was funny when I was 14; rated R movies are not for children... or uptight people.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

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Google Image Search: Word & Picture #73

Today's Word:
"Filmmaking Frenzy"
Today's Picture:


I am in short film-making mode again. I finished up the 3rd version of the Master Pancake - Jurassic Park sketch. This is my second attempt at green screening and my first attempt at using Adobe After Effects. I am much happier with my work this time. The first time was a sketch I did with Scott Chester called "Low Budget Celebrity Interview" where we edited-out Barbara Walters asking famous people questions to make it look like we were asking questions. It was a fun idea, but when we showed it at the Alamo, it bombed because the video and audio was out of sync. What a nightmare.

Nonetheless, I am much prouder of my second attempt at green screening. The Master Pancake stuff turned out great and I am very proud of it. Despite the fact we shot it on miniDV, it turned out great. Do you want to see my hand-work? Come to a Master Pancake show any weekend in August at the Alamo Drafthouse.

I have also been cast in Mac's Unnecessary Sequel Filmmaking Frenzy at the Alamo. I am playing a shirtless guy... a role for which I was born.

But the new video project I am excited about: the Alamo Drafthouse's newest Filmmaking Frenzy: a 30 second Fantastic Fest bumper. I am totally going to make one. I am stoked about the project. It will be crude and disturbing... right up my alley. It must involve a child under the age of 18. And it can only be 30 seconds long. Hell yes, this is going to be fun and funny.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

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Google Image Search: Word & Picture #72

Today's Word:
"pants don't fit"
Today's Picture:


Yup, that looks about right. I hate it when my pants don't fit.

Too tight is way worse than too loose in my opinion.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

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Google Image Search: Word & Picture #71

Today's Word:
"opening ceremonies"

Today's Picture:


8-8-08... check it out, the 8s are wild. If today's date was a hand in poker, I would move all-in.

Today is also a very, very special date because it is my sister Jodi's birthday. Jodi is my sister who lives & works in Milwaukee. I love her, I miss her. I wish I saw more of her. She is a brilliant & dear sister.

Jodi was born on August 8th... the year will be omitted... but she is younger than me. Jodi is also traveling to China to present a paper about something history-related. She is a presenter at a big conference out there.

That is an interesting connection because the Olympics are starting in China today. I think the opening ceremonies are happening about now.

It is nice that China is so excited about Jodi's visit they decided to host the olympics on her birthday. Now THAT is a present! I only got her a card... which I have yet to mail. I am a horrible brother... but China is a goooood brother\sister.

Nonetheless, Happy Birthday, Jodi!

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!


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Google Image Search: Word & Picture #70

Today's Word:
"arm wrestling movies"
Today's Picture:


Do you live in or near Austin?

Do you need something to do tonight?

Would you like to be an extra in a 5-minute movie for an Alamo Filmmaking competition?

Come join Mac Blake (from Mascot Wedding, Master Pancake, etc) guys at the Dirty Dog bar tonight, August 7th, around 7pm (map here).

Mac played Goose in my 5-minute version of Top Gun. If you want to watch him jump into Barton Springs and die in Owen's arms (every man's dreams), check out this video: Top Gun.

If you would like to see Mac's second place entry of Die Hard, then Shoot-The-Glass!

Dress like you are going to an arm-wrestling tournament... or better yet, dress like you are going to a tractor pull... or better yet, dress like you are going to take a girl from DeSoto, Kansas, to the Dairy Queen.

Dirty Dog, 7 PM, tonight, August 7th... be there. I will be there a little late, but I will be there.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

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Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!

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Still Recovering From the Weekend

Hello fans of the internet.

I am still recovering from a successful first show of Master Pancake's Jurassic Park. Wow, I had fun. If you live in Austin, please come see a show. I guarantee you will laugh yourself silly. We worked pretty hard getting the show together. Joe did a majority of the costuming, John and Lars did the leg work on the movie trimming and modifying and I created a video for the sketch. A lot of things really came together at the end. We had 2 shows on Saturday, both were sold-out, so that was fun. The crowd was loud and ready to laugh.

There were 2 near accidents on the way home from the Alamo Ritz. I saw a guy run-up on the concrete dividing wall on I-35. He hit the cement wall going about 75 MPH and the wall threw him right back into his lane. Hello, drunkard. I always wondered how the black tire marks got so high on the cement retaining dividers on the highway... now I know.

Life is pretty good. I have a bunch of fun things going on this week. Unneccessary Sequels filming, Master Pancake video stuff, watching movies.

Google Image Search: Word & Picture #68

Today's Word:
"diper dandy"

Today's Picture:


I searched on diaper dandy hoping that an image of Owen would come up. Alas, no. It was a picture of this diaper... it looks nothing like Owen. Owen made a music video... watch the entire thing... especially the end.

Rock This Potty @ Yahoo! Video

I don't know if it burns when Owen pees, but it definitely burns when Owen dances.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

The first person who names the person in this picture wins a hug from Ben!!!



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