Every time I think of the word 'extravaganza' lately, Jack's 'Nugga-bonza!' jumps into my head.
That said, Andy's Amazing Interweb Extravaganza continues today with a landmark post, very much in the attitude of Matt's October Fun Week.
With the end of spring fast approaching, I have come to realize that this year's summer may well become known as 'The Greatest Summer Ever.' While this is not yet an official title (and can't be until a retrospective look proves it so), there are a few reasons why the speculation has merit:
- A steady job, with a three-day weekend every week.
- The cheapness of charcoal, and the existence of the Backyard Barbeque Mecca (my house).
- Having a 'summer plan,' but without the clouds of invitable school hanging over the month of August.
- The Birthday Triforce, composed of Jared, The Grange, and Myself, which will enact a celebration spanning the entire month of July.
- My brother's PlayStation2 keeping me company on my lonely days at home.
- The 1968 Triumph TR-4A convertible that lurks in the recesses of the parents garage, awaiting to be brought to life again.
Adding further weight to this speculation is the approach of a good number of friends to the great Pacific Northwest:
- The possibility of brief visits from both Furst and Bobby Shay at various points, and the enticement of out-of-doors adventures with both.
- The introduction of 'Humorless' Joe Splinter on the gentle forests and calm waters of the Puget Sound.
- Lindsey
- The return of Jared Flood and Erik Bergset to the Tacoma bosom that has intellectually and socially succored them for many a year.
- And let's not forget Jack, who is heroically remaining behind to help defend Fort Nisqually against the onslaught of indian braves, set on destroying him after his recurring engagements with the wife of good Chief Runningfoot.
And who knows what other wonders the warm, summer breeze will carry with it. I think at least one thing can be counted on:
- The rampant use of dashed, and perhaps even bulleted, lists.
Having already participated in a "the summer of fun" (summer 2003), and looking forward to the "the summer of our lives" (2004), I can really appreciate the naming of summers.
Some people would be worried about using a superlative like greatest...because what if next year turns out to be better?...but the thing about that, is that greatness is different things to different people.
If next summer turns out to be better than "the greatest summer ever", you can just name it "the swellest summer ever" or "the summer by which to measure all other summers" or something else that's equally grand, with slightly different nomenclature, and it will never detract from the greatness of the "greatest summer ever".
By the way, if you want to have a list making contest, I'm completely on board.
Posted by: jankowski at April 26, 2004 3:19 PMI totally agree that naming summers can be an expressive, essential part of any year. I have named them as far back as 'The Summer of a Lifetime' way back in the summer of 1998.
And with the labels, it's true that 'greatest' does not signal the quality of the experience, nor the lasting effect that this summer may have on me. Imagine if I had not been to Flagstaff how different our very lives would be. Yet, you may already know that year's incarnation as the quite understated, 'Summer of Flagstaff'. This label in no way lessens the significance of that summer.
I applaud you, Matt, for your open-mindedness in this respect, and I hope that you experience a lifetime of labelled and qualified summers.
Also, here are a few of the list contest potentials that I can think of off the top of my head:
- An 'I would rather . .' list, composed of the various things I would rather do.
- A list celebrating people with speech impediments called the 'Lisp List'.
- A 'Battle of the Bat' list-debate, which would discuss the controversial Designated Hitter Rule.
- A list of 'The Greatest, Ever' in which the judging criteria would be arbitrarily designed by the judges beforehand, and the lists would be only as logical as the twisted mind of that person who forms it.
But Matt, I challenge you to find any single winner here. When we all make lists, isn't it so that we all win?
Posted by: andy at April 26, 2004 5:39 PMOne of my hobbies is to surf the net, and basically this is quite a splendid hobby.
Now, somehow I was able to get to this website by accident in pursuit of my hobby rights, and I must say the site is quite impressive. In a way, Im convinced the guy in the picture mounted on the default page, is the owner. Ok...its three of them but I believe he is the one in the middle.
I dont know the guy but I believe he is hardworking; the amount of time he invests in the site is evidenced in the site presentation and the issues discussed, generally his mettle shows all too well. I'd go to the extent of guessing his name: Andy it is? No matter.
But wait... hang on here? What class or category of subjects does this site belong? Educational? Student Project or Class work? Entertainment? Adults only? Overdue News? I think it is crucial to know this because in that way he will be able to identify his target audience as well as discuss topics that are relevant to that audience.
In addition, the issues discussed spread over a wide range of subjects. These require a schemata of subjects to be imposed on them to introduce an element of order to the site.
Although I have a serious conviction that visitors to this site are not more than the fingers of my right hand (which hand ungraciously has 7 fingers!), with a bit of 'directioning' (dont mind the word, it doesnt exist) and 'configuring' the site could easily outdo that of CNN in terms of the number of visitors!
Even though the creators of this site and I are strangers to each other, I believe such efforts as theirs should be supported. Therefore, Im extending my support with my expressed views above because I believe that what Andy "Who" is doing will in turn benefit mankind. I also encourage other 'visitors' to be equally supportive. Please Andy or anyone, accept my proposal without being too judgemental, because in doing what I have done, I run the risk of being labelled 'random and bizarre'. Easy there, easy.
Posted by: Bernard at May 3, 2004 6:07 AMPoint of Correction!
You cant be 'Joe' and 'humorless' at the same time. Lets say its a case of the words being mutually exclusive!
Therefore whoever said such a thing is being heretical, and ungracious to say the least!
Hey somebody! Is there a way of substituting the whole site with my picture? Well, its not much of a picture. Its a picture of a lion that had attacked me recently, but instead I attacked it......
Posted by: Bernard in Botswana, Africa at May 3, 2004 6:32 AM
Now that's an OFW pic if I ever saw one! NUGGABONZA!
Posted by: Jack at April 26, 2004 11:47 AM