Google Image Search: Word & Picture #143

Today's Word:
big winners

Today's Picture:


Balloons, a convenience store, florescent lights... clearly these people are getting ready to celebrate. What could they be celebrating?

How about these guys winning first place in the Alamo Drafthouse Pimp My TV filmmaking competition!

Hooray!

Their production of "The Joy of Painting" was a huge hit. It won first place in the film making competition. It blew everyone away and looked great on the big screen at the Alamo. People were laughing their collective asses off.

Nice work Mac, David, Long, Dave & Ximena.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

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

Since no one has answered the last 2, I am going to make this one a little easier.

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Google Image Search: Word & Picture #142

Today's Word:
bob ross tattoo

Today's Picture:

Hot damn, now that is a tat.

That is not the funniest Bob Ross thing ever.

This is.

After watching that bad-boy, create a user ID and give it 10 stars. Leave some nice comments.

Need ideas for your clever comments? How about this:

• Tell David Jara how much you love him.
• Insist on birthing Long Le's children.
• Express that Dave Youman's talent is greater than infinity.
• Tell Mac Blake that he is average... FOR AN ALL-POWERFUL GOD!!!
• It was much better than Cats. I loved it. It was much better than Cats.

Hooray.

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 #142

Today's Word:
"Happy Tree"

Today's Picture:

America loves Bob Ross. America loves happy trees.

My friends, Mac, David, Long, Dave, Owen & Ximena entered the Alamo Drafthouse's Filmmaking Frenzy called "Pimp My TV".

Hollywood has been pumping-out movies with a TV theme. They have made The Dukes of Hazzard, Get Smart, etc. For the "Pimp My TV" Filmmaking Frenzy, they were supposed to create a trailer for a TV show that should be made into a movie.

My friends created an AWESOME movie. I loved it. To view their entry, check-out this link. You will not be disappointed. It is fantastic. It is a great way to spend 5 minutes. I have watched it 3 times and laughed each time.

After you watch it, do 2 things:
#1) Join the Filmmaking Frenzy community by creating a user ID and password
#2) Give the video 10 stars

For those who prefer to receive instructions in pictures, I present the following...

First, join:


Second, give 10 stars:


... nice.

For those of you who joined to vote for my version of Top Guy, your user ID and password should still be valid from back then.

Now go vote for these people. They rock and are very funny. If you vote for them, I will come to your house and sing a song about your greatness (void where prohibited by state law).

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 #141

Today's Word:
Fun with Master Pancake

Today's Picture:

What are you doing tonight?

Nothing?

Great! Come see Master Pancake at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz. There are tickets still left for our mocking of The Matrix tonight. Before our last showing the The Matrix, the show sold out the Monday before the first show. Procrastinators rejoice! You still have time to buy tickets!!!

I hope you can make it. If you do, come say hello to me after the show.

Daily "Name This Person And Win!"

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 #140

Today's Word:
LOL Cats

Today's Picture:

I love the LOL Cat phenomenon.

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 #139

Today's Word:
like dogs and cats

Today's Picture:

Aaaawwwwwww... what a bunch of crap.

PugPuggy discovered a cat in our backyard the other day. There was no cuddling. There was barking. There was staring. There was back-arching. But there was no cuddling. In fact, this is what it looked like:

The cat was probably a little bigger than PugPuggy. I assume the cat belongs to a neighbor. But PugPuggy was defending her territory. She walked back and forth on the porch, barking at the cat. The cat never took her eye off of PugPuggy, but also never ran. They had a good 20-second stare-off.

PugPuggy, how did you feel about the cat?

I see, PugPuggy.

After about 20 seconds, the cat ran off over the fence. PugPuggy chased-after the cat, pretending she was the one who made the cat leave. But, truth be told, PugPuggy never bothered the cat. She only watched the cat. PugPuggy likes to watch.


The cat is one of many of PugPuggy's enemies. PugPuggy's list of enemies includes:

5) The Cat (not all cats, just ones who come in our backyard)
4) The doorbell
3) Trick-or-treat-ers
2) The Roomba
1) And PugPuggy's ultimate enemy: the Vacuum Cleaner


Something PugPuggy inwardly hates: getting dressed up in costumes. She does not bark. She is not agitated. She is just annoyed. For example, check-out the Valentine's Day garment that was lovingly made by Megan's mom for PugPuggy:

The face says it all.

In Summary: The Cat is PugPuggy's nemesis, my dog talks to me in my head, the vacuum is the source of all pug misery.

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 #138

Today's Word:
DO NOT WANT

Today's Picture:

PugPuggy is much more passive in her "Do Not Want" moments.

Here is a picture of PugPuggy doing her best "do not want" in a dinosaur costume.

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 #137

Today's Word:
Friday the 13th

Today's Picture:

Happy Friday the 13th, everyone.

I think the picture above is from Part 8? ... maybe, memory fails me.

Last night, I saw a special screening of the new Friday the 13th. The guy who plays Jason, Derek Mears, was at the screening. Les went to the movie with me. It turns out that Derek & Les know each other. Derek is a member of ComedySportz in Los Angeles. Derek performs with my friend Andre. Andre & I were members of the same class at ComedySportz Austin. He is my long-lost twin brother. Here is a picture of us together:

Yes, that was a few years ago. I was young back then.

Andre made a public access TV show of which I was a part. It was called TV Junkies. I think the episodes are still out there. Andre is a very talented & funny dude. I wish he was still in Austin, but if he is going to make it big, he needed to go to LA. I am happy for him... and I will get to say I knew him "back when".

Friday the 13th was exactly what I hoped for... fun and more fun. I had a blast at the movie. The movie itself is exactly what you want from a Friday the 13th movie. Derek is my new favorite Jason. Derek re-enacted a killing with Zach (from the Alamo). We missed the kill because one of the projectors blew... no big deal, that stuff happens. I sure wish it would have happened during Marley and Me, but oh well. Zach MC'ed the thing very nicely... he smoothed over the awkward situation like butter on roadkill. Yes, "butter on roadkill" is a compliment.

If you like the Friday the 13th genre of movies, you will like this one. Enjoy your time at Camp Crystal Lake. Go see it.

In Summary: Jason Voorhees is friends with Andre, I was young once, Zach is like butter on roadkill.

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 #136

Today's Word:
perfect chick flick

Today's Picture:

Really? Dirty Dancing is the perfect chick flick? Am I the only one who remembers the dirty doctor and the abortion that goes wrong? Does the perfect chick-flick involve a mid-twenties dance instructor of questionable character seducing an upwardly mobile teenager?

I carried a watermelon and its name is APPALLED!

In reality, I love Dirty Dancing. The hardest thing about being a guy and admitting you love Dirty Dancing: revoking your "Man-Card". Yet I put my masculinity on the line for anything made by "The Swaze". Roadhouse - love it. Red Dawn - love it, too. Point Break - bad ass. Grandview, U.S.A... ok, so I don't love everything PS did. But Patrick Swayze was a big part of my childhood.

This weekend, I am taking Megan to see a chick flick. It is Valentine's Day weekend, so I thought it appropriate. Right now, I am thinking My Bloody Valentine: 3-D.

I kid, I kid.

But I am going to see the new Friday the 13th movie tonight. Hooray for Camp Crystal Lake.

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 #135

Today's Word:
"suspended from high school"

Today's Picture:


The guy in this picture is Nate Bukaty:

Nate is an old high school friend. He is also one of my heroes. He is the only person who I knew as a child who did exactly what he wanted to do in life. Nate always wanted to be a sportscaster. I can remember Nate going to the Bob Costas camp while we were all at baseball, football or soccer camps.

When Nate was saying he wanted to be a sportcaster, I think I was saying I wanted to be a professional BMX biker. How did I end up with a computer job?

Nate now is a sportscaster. He is on a morning talk radio program in Kansas City. He does play-by-play for the University of Kansas football and women's basketball teams. He has also worked with the Kansas City Royals.

Nate & I went to Guerro's for dinner last night. It was good to catch up with him. I had forgotten that both Nate & I had been suspended from high school. I was suspended for throwing water-balloons at our homecoming parade. Nate was suspended for throwing a thumb-tack in class. There are long-versions of both of those stories that can only be told over a beer.

It was really good having a beer with Nate last night. It made me miss KCK.

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 #134

Today's Word:
megan gets an award

Today's Picture:

I don't know the Megan in this picture. I am not sure for what this Megan received an award.

But I know this Megan...

... she married me. Crazy, eh?

Megan received an award from the Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapists for her work on the board. She is returning as a board member next year. Hooray!

I think she should also win the following awards:
1) Stinkiest Husband Award
2) Most Valuable PugPuggy Parent (MVPP)
3) Healthy Cookie Maker of the Year

Have you never met Megan? She is the one covering her face while I perform the skit at the Master Pancake show.

In Summary: Megan won an award, I smell bad, Master Pancake's skit makes Megan blush

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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25 Things About Me

Yes, I caught the Facebook flu... 25 things about me. 99 times out of a 100, I will not do something like this. I figured since I did it, I may as well own it and publish it.

Here it is. Copied-and-pasted from Facebook.

25 random things about me:
1) I lived in Japan and worked for the Hiroshima Carp, a professional baseball team in Japan. I was the team's mascot... yes, mascot.

2) I was on the cover of Sports Illustrated... dressed up like a cat... again with the damn mascot thing. Thank you, 1997 Arizona Wildcat basketball team for the best sports memory of my life.

3) I was raised in a blind school... yes, a blind school.

4) I left high school half-way through my senior year because my parents moved. I like to say I was a "beauty school drop out"

5) I was unemployed and living in my parents basement in Louisville, Kentucky, when I met my wife... I was a huge catch. I am constantly amazed she married me. Jedi mind trick, I guess.

6) My number one goal in life has always been to be a dad. Weird, eh? Kids don't scare me.

7) I won tickets to see David Letterman. I took my sister, Jen. I was briefly on TV when Dave walked into the audience. I also won tickets to an Allman Brothers concert where I caught a drum stick. I took my friend, Juris. I won tickets to San Carlos, Mexico. I took my family. I win things.

8) I gave Bob Dole a noogie.

9) I have been to 6 out of 7 continents... and I have plans to make it 7 of 7. This from a guy who, at age 18, defiantly swore to his parents that he would never leave Kansas City, Kansas.

10) In Tokyo, I saw the emperor of Japan drive-by in a car when I was with my economics professor, Gary Libecap. That was the only time I have ever seen an emperor. He waved at us... it was surreal.

11) My favorite baseball player growing up was Jamie Quirk.

12) I drink more than I should, weigh more than I should and have more fun than anyone should.

13) I want to make a feature length movie this year.

14) I play piano... but not really well. I know sign language... but not really well. I speak Japanese... but not very well.

15) I was student body president of my high school.

16) I never wanted a dog. Megan wanted a dog. But now that I have a dog, I love my dog and can not imagine being without a dog.

17) My first car was an 83 Honda Civic hatchback that an unnamed sister & I got to 100+ miles per hour between Wichita and Kansas City on our way back from a high school leadership conference. Miraculously, I am still alive.

18) I was born in St. Louis, Missouri. I love it there.

19) In high school, my friend, Jason, had a CB radio that you could talk over the QuickTrip (gas station) PA system. It was the source of most of my fun in high school.

20) I saw the Grateful Dead in Las Vegas roughly 3 months before Jerry Garcia died... The Dave Matthews Band opened. I saw James Brown 6th months before he died.

21) Curse words are awesome.

22) I perform with a comedy troupe called Master Pancake at the Alamo Ritz in Austin, Texas... don't believe me, come to "The Matrix" show on February 6th or 7th.

23) I have 3 sisters, all of their names start with a J. I love them all equally.

24) Paul Rudd, Martyn Starr and Jonah Hill once rode in the back seat of my car. They were cool. Paul Rudd lived in Johnson County, Kansas. I lived in Wyandotte County, Kansas. Small world.

25) 5 days after I arrived in Japan, Hiroshima had a 6.9 earthquake. It scared the hell out of me. When it started, I thought I caused it. I thought I accidentally pushed a button that made the earth start shaking.

Google Image Search: Word & Picture #133

Today's Word:
"It's Friday!"

Today's Picture:

Hooray!

This is the last weekend of Master Pancake "The Matrix" shows. I am stoked about this run of shows. It was a last minute decision to do this one... and the video sketch required some late nights. But it has been a blast and totally worth it. Joe & John - "you alived me". Thank you.

Here is the most unflattering picture I could find of Joe and John. Neo wakes up from is in his goo-tube to find Morphius with him... covered in slime (thanks for posting the picture, John).

Damn, that show was fun.

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 #132

Today's Word:
Ben in Louisville

Today's Picture:

Nope, that is not me. I only play the cello on dry land.

Since my birthday, I have taken 2 trips to Louisville. The first was for Christmas. The second was a work-trip. Both trips were fun for their own reasons.

The family trip was fun because I got to see everyone. Mom, Dad, Jen, Jodi, Jess, Gar, John, Zach, Madison, Jackson, Grant, Megan... all under one roof. Good thing mom & dad have a basement. Here is a photo of the entire group:

After counting the people in this photo, I just realized we had almost the same number of people in the photo that the Brueggemann's had in their family. That is pretty good.

My dad works at the American Printing House for the Blind. He loves his job and he loves his co-workers. It is good to see him happy. Here is a photo of us at his work:


Megan, mom, dad and I went to Lynn's Paradise Cafe. That is where Megan & I had our first date.


We had fun:


We also hung out at Patrick's with Jess and Zach. We had a big long talk about the state of the world. I love these two people:


I love Louisville. It is a great & magical place. I am lucky I have family there to visit.

In Summary: Louisville is magical, my family is big, and Jess & Zach party at Patrick's.

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 #131

Today's Word:
Epic fail

Today's Picture:

... I will say nothing.

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 #130

Today's Word:
"green screen"

Today's Picture:


No, that is not me.

I love that the guy is holding his green screen in place with Raisin Bran boxes. Classic. Although this guy's setup may as well be ILM or Trouble Maker studios compared to the green screen I built.

Three weekends ago, I built a green screen in my garage. I bought a huge roll of green paper from Gear Rental in Austin. (Thank you, Kat & Chadwick) I removed some shelves from my garage and installed a roll of paper. The impetus behind this green screen was a sketch that I am doing with Master Pancake during "The Matrix" show.

I don't want to ruin the sketch for the people who have not yet seen the show, but here are a couple of pictures of Joe Parsons in 2 positions as he tries to cross a busy street during the sketch...

... and ...

... this is Joe's good side. Zing!

The first creation for Master Pancake turned out pretty well. Jason came up to me after the first show and said, "did you film that in your garage?" I said yes. He said, "yup, it sounded like it". Zing!

I would invite you to the last Master Pancake show, but all 4 shows were sold out within 24 hours of going on sale. This is our last weekend, too.

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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