The Weekend Graphs

It is the last Sunday of 2012. I hope you have enjoyed all the graphs I have unearthed for you this past year. Wishing you a safe and happy New Year!

Enjoy the last of the 2012 Weekend Graphs!


Ficklest of Drinks



Still better than Nicki Manaj



Black Lines




Some may not get the joke



Also, it's never Lupus!

Things You Can Find In Small Towns

Specialty Coffee - A Small Town Discovery

 

Of course seeing this in the local coffee shop while on vacation, I had to have it. Considering there were only about 8 different styles of coffee available I chose the proposed "high Octane" blend. I am drinking my second cup NOW. It has taken me ten minutes to type this out since I have a) misspelled virtually every word at least once, and b) I lost my train of thought a few times (including leaving out whole words). Had to get my niece to proofread.

Proof again that Zombies are here to stay!

Do I dare a third cup?

The Weekend In Black And White

In the spirit of the Christmas season this weeks B&W submission is the roaring fire of the Christmas fireplace. It feels "hotter" in color but turned out pretty cool in black and white. Final Friday of 2012 so Happy New Year!


Christmas Fire



It's pretty easy spending about a hundred shots when shooting fire...it is always changing

Linking to The Weekend In Black And White.

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Christmas Eve, Eve Weekend Graphs

The only thing to say is have a merry Christmas and enjoy these holiday graphs!

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Survivor Badge

Unveiling the stark and simple Survivor Badge for all Choose Your Own Apocalypse Participants. Grab it and display proudly.

Thanks to all of you who participated. Obviously this won't be an annual event so those who participated get this unique, once in a life time badge. If you take and didn't participate, the rest of us will form an angry hoard, come to your house, steal the supplies you didn't need for the Apocalypse, and burn your house. Please make sure you have beer for us.


Now on to my vacation, Christmas, and the New Years. Happy Holidays everyone!!

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Choose Your Own Apocalypse - This Is End!

The time has come to count down the final hours to the end of the Mayan Calendar. What will happen? Anything? Nothing?

Well this is your opportunity to share with everyone your take on the so-called End Of Days as this is purported to be. By some, anyway. Shannon and I welcome you to the Choose Your Own Apocalypse Blogfest! A once in a lifetime event.

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Wednesday - Garland, TX 2100 hrs 12.19.12

As I write this I am in the throes of what can only be termed "pre-apocalyptic panic". This post will constitute my 500th on this site. Fateful or fortunate, I don't know for sure. I do like round numbers and if things have to end I'll at least feel better about that...in some OCD-manic kind of way.

In addition to that, I am preparing for a post-apocalyptic (aka post-apoc) trip back to Ohio to visit family and celebrate Christmas. The last two or three days preparing for a trip are like ice water to the nuts...very tense. I have posted of this before and nothing has changed. I needed a verbal slap down when my wife got home from work just to get it together to work on this post. Practicing for  post-apoc food shortages, we have a meager meal of sausage and egg noodles. It gave me thoughts of crafting fake egg noodles out of some of my polyester shirts...to sell on the street after the "event". I quickly quash that idea as I realize those shirts will last longer than organic material so they will be worth more alive...so to speak.

The dogs offer a distraction as they always do...because they are truly idiots and know of no other way to act. In a way I wish I could be them until this day of disaster is over. Oblivious. Sniffing the carpet. Re-licking my empty dog bowl for the 20th time in the last hour, expecting there to be a nano-crumb. Then I realize both my dogs have been "fixed" so I quickly snap out of that nightmare. No democracy in a dogs life.

Today the wind was violent and southerly. Odd for this time of year even as the sky took on the look of metal being worked by a skilled blacksmith. The dents and pocks moving swiftly by and more taking their place. The weather looked ominous in many places of the country. Snow pounding Portland (Oregon, not Maine), the mid-west wrapped in a typhoon of blowing snow and freezing temperatures. Everything became the foreboding look of the 12.21.12 apocalypse. I had a quick, irrational desire to do something regrettable knowing the end of days would wipe the slate clean, but then I realized there are probably some wackos out there who will do exactly that between now and Friday. That thought made me want to hurry back in the fortress.

It is a fortress. You see, I do not live in a normal house or apartment. And have not for over thirty years. For the last twenty years I have occupied the fortress. For better or worse it is also where I work. A walk of less than forty yards takes me from home to occupation. No rain, snow, wind. Extremely hot during the summer and frigid during the coldest days of winter, but by and large a pretty comfortable walk. I am on the second floor, 2500 square feet, 3 bathrooms, 3 or 4 bedrooms (depending on how you want to count), a room roughly 15' x 30' we affectionately term the "dance floor" because, well, that's what we made it into years ago when we still hosted parties. Windows covered with what is known as "bus window" decals for business imaging. No one can see in or, unfortunately, out. Three entry doors all metal with serious deadbolt locks. Alarm and video monitoring of the entire 80,000 square foot building...inside and out. Exterior walls are 18" thick exposed aggregate concrete tilt-wall. It is a fortress.

I have often thought of the feasibility of defending this fortress and dreamed of tactical weaponry and defense posts, etc. Then came the Doomsday Preppers reality shows and I was all about wanting everything they had. I equated my situation and walked in their shoes as I watched the shows. I had the weapons. I had the massive stores of long-term foodstuffs. I had the booby-trapped perimeter. I was bugged in to stay. I had the high ground. I dreamed the apocalyptic dream with every show I watched. Acting on none of it.

Now as I type, suddenly the thunderstorm of the century is upon us. No gradual build up, but immediate hard rain and gale force winds. I am up and out the door as it sounds like nothing I have heard in the fortress before. The crescendo of sound as the rain pounds the roof is unnerving. Every light pole is wobbling as the wind tries to rip it from its base. Parked cars below are rocking back and forth in time to the ebb and flow of the wind. The sound of pounding rain on the roof makes it hard to concentrate. Makes it hard not to think...this is how the apocalypse is going to start. Pick off the low hanging fruit of life that do not live 20 feet about the ground.

Tonight I go to bed apprehensive of the next 48 hours. Do I get up and get ready for work? Do I worry about flying on Saturday? Do I spend all day tomorrow in Walmart? Am I a friggin lunatic?

-----------------------------------------

Thursday - Garland, TX  1800 hrs 12.20.12

My Mayan countdown calendar on the sidebar is now down to zero on the Days counter. Yes it is now HOURS before we find out what is to be the fate of all mankind. What a mesmerising thought when you just keep that one thing in your mind. Almost paralyzing in its overwhelming command of the brain. Synapses start retracing old acid memories and like snippets of a lifeline, odd parts of multiple ancient thoughts begin to assemble into bizarre new and stunningly familiar history. Waking up in what should be a pool of my own sweat, I am fully dry - sheets and skin. I now struggle to remember those thoughts that raced through my brain like a high-speed train and are now gone. What the hell had I dreamt? And why?

The rain has stayed with us throughout the day. Unobtrusive...slightly in the background but not panic causing. Everyone is glad for the rain as the drought has been withering the last several months and steady for a couple years now. I can't help but think this is too much rain too fast. The ground will never hold it all. I immediately thank myself for moving from Houston in the late 80's. Don't want to be a coastal dweller now. I survived Hurricane Alicia back in '83 and that was enough water violence for me for a lifetime. But now brief thoughts of Ike, Katrina, Sandy come to mind. Were these just recent trial runs for the Apocalypse?  I decide to venture out to Walmart to grab a few things. Hopefully this won't be a common thought with a wave of consumers thinking the same and I can get home before my wife does from her job. Are we still packing for the trip Saturday? Are we like mindless rodents who never know doom is upon them in the mousetrap? I think my mind should be a free and disembodied consciousness. That is my apocalyptic wish.

-------------------------------------------

Friday - Garland, TX 0800 hrs 12.21.12 [The end of the 5126 year Mayan long-count calendar]

Rain, rain go away keeps running through my mind even as the swells rise outside the fortress. Cars (with and without people in them) go floating down the LBJ Freeway River, the newly created river. Debris of all manner drifts by as the rain softly falls. No lightening. No thunder. Just stealthy rain. Like a stalking butler. (Always loved that lyric.) As always I think about what I should have done while now it is not possible to do it at all. But then all people were caught in a state of paralysis. Not knowing WHAT exactly to prepare for.

Stock piles of wood and drums of gas were of no use in this scenario. Boarding up windows or training for zombies or wild packs of starving humans, dogs and other animals was getting you nowhere today. Preparation, it appears, is a roll of the dice like so many things in life. That makes me feel no better as I know the supplies we have are not near enough to survive long. The dogs have more food than we do...and that suddenly brings thoughts to mind too horrible to consider.

The dogs are oblivious to their surroundings and my wife is softly crying and rocking back and forth on the living room floor. What to do first!!...screams the mental movie screen in my brain. And then a torrent of thoughts. As a problem solver all my career I am now overwhelmed with options and choices to consider. I need to relax and think...

Slowly the realization that this is it. This is the beginning of the second coming or something similar. Jars Of Clay singing their song Flood begins playing in my head and I quickly think of the iPod fully charged and ready to go. At least I'll have some music...for a while. Then I begin to domino my thoughts to what resources I do have. Candles. Weapons. Fortification options. Food. Oh God...drinking water!!! The one thing...and then I remember we have an Ozarka unit in the breakroom next door. Eight 5-gallon jugs full of fresh water there that I immediately bring to the fortress. Then I think about the drink machines down stairs with single serving water bottles...wait if there is water rising in the building and the electrical is out...shit, no way to end...being electrocuted. So I will hold on raiding those machine for now...and maybe forever. A future of "water, water everywhere and not a drop to drop" enters my head.

I snap my wife out her catatonic state and tell her we need to get busy. The dogs are now in the way and need to be in the back room until we get our bearings on this ordeal. We begin organizing our meager supplies on the kitchen counters and dining room table. Funny we have not looked outside for a while now. Ignorance IS bliss. I then think about opening the fire escape window and scraping off the decal of one half of a window but then catch myself and think...if I can see out than someone can see in. Better to not appear occupied but simply a huge vault of a building with no real value inside.

I remain quite calm and rerun the Preppers shows in my head trying to find one that fit this scenario. No matter, even if I did there was no advance preparation for this outcome so there would be no parallel to guide me. I think random thoughts of my wife not being able to get cigarettes or Dr Peppers and wonder how the withdrawals are going to go. As I usually think many moves ahead of most people so I decide not to mention these eventualities to her.

I finally, after what seems like hours (and I oddly realize I have not gotten a text or a phone call since yesterday), walk out on the mezzanine to look outside the upstairs glass door and survey the current situation. Sadly, I see mostly the tops of the higher buildings to the east. Then panic hits as I look down and see the beginning of water seeping under the glass door...25 feet above the ground. This is bad. Once the water is in there are only 18' to the roof of the building...and the rain still falls. I run over to the roof access ladder and scale the rungs to the hatch. Shoving the lever open, I climb out into the rain and onto the roof. Afforded a 360-degree view, the site is devastating.

The only way to survive is the rain stopping before it floods the apartment. We have to stay dry. The rain is still falling. If this is a 40-day 40-night redeux, we are screwed. While standing on the roof and the raining soaking me through...I begin to laugh hysterically. This is a double apocalypse!

I am in a real life Waterworld!!! And we all know what a bomb that was...

Thank you for reading and participating in the Choose Your Own Apocalypse Blogfest. I want to thank Shannon Lawrence at the Warrior Muse for the impetus to get this thing going. An Apocalyptic Survivor badge will be forthcoming for all participants.


Please enjoy this brief muscial interlude....

Today's Apocalypse Sign: A Blogger Day Of Silence

Today's Apocalypse Sign: I Am Calling A Double Shot End To This Year's Dead Pool

Just 4 more shopping days before the (potentially) last blogfest of our time. I recommend buying food and water...then weapons...then inviting me over!


------------------------------

The Celebrity Dead Pool


This year's event has concluded with a double shot:

Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii has passed away at the age of 88 of respiratory complications. He was mentioned in a post of mine last week which makes me feel a little weird.

Jack Hanlon the last surviving actor from the 1926 Buster Keaton silent movie "The General" and two 1927 "Our Gang" movies passed away at 96 in Las Vegas. I cannot even begin to imagine all the evolution of society he saw. Can you grasp being in a silent movie AND living in the age of Facebook?? And everything in between. Wow.

RIP Dan and Jack.

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Blogfest Reminder and The Weekend Graphs

Just a quick reminder about the Blogfest next Friday. Go here to sign up if you haven't already. Several people have emailed regarding the timing of this event but the Mayans set the date, not me! I know a few who have signed up already and are going to pre-post so if you can make it, we would all love to get your take on this...even if you will be busy that day and beyond. Visit where you can when you can.


Now to the meat of today...the Christmas Season Weekend graphs Part I. I myself will be on vacation from the 22nd (that's right, I'm survivin') through the 29th. I will have the graphs locked and loaded for next Sunday before I leave so you will have some holiday cheer (as long as the power doesn't go out like Revolution).

Today we are Chrismas holiday themed. I hope you enjoy. Oh yeah, one bonus graph for you recyclers.

Enjoy!!



I least I know where I am on this line when I start believing in Santa again...



You would have done the same thing, admit it!




Oh yes, the season of the 'Nog is upon us..ummm...ummm.ummm

Venn Diagram Of Deliciousness



The Dude abides...bring on the Caucasian Russian, man....



All of them see you while you're sleeping...




Bonus Post Apocalypse Graph

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Deja Vu 2012 Blogfest

Almost missed this one but luckily got in (maybe last again) in the nick of time. I chose to repost my least viewed A-Z Challenge post from April of this year. Strange that it was what most would consider a polarizing topic and yet garnered only 9 comments. I deemed it valuable enough information to give it a second life. Please consider seriously the topic before you.

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Originally publishing for the F post on the 2012 A-Z Challenge



The FDA

 

 

 

Does this symbol make you feel warm, fuzzy and reassured?

Does this one let you sleep at night knowing virtually everything you ingested today was deemed okay to do so by a government agency?

Is it reassuring that the FDA's process is redundant and thorough so no chance of any dangerous drug getting through to the public exists?

Yeah, me either.
Why has the FDA forced the cigarette industry to include all manner of warnings (graphic and otherwise) yet stopped short of banning smoking for carcinogenic poisoning of the public (including kids)?

And why do they approve only 3 methods legally allowed to be prescribed for the treatment of any form of cancer? They are: Surgery (traumatic and debilitating), Radiation (something that causes cancer to treat cancer? Is this Dr Suess medicine), Chemotherapy (see Radiation above).


MONEY

That is the answer. Big Pharma money, cancer research and oncology medicine money, money thrown at the FDA by the same companies that seek their approval. My God, in this economy, what kind of hit do you think the nation would take if all cigarettes, cigars, and pipes were declared illegal tomorrow? Add to that, what would happen if all-organic and natural cures for virtually every disease were allowed to be openly offered to every patient as a legitimate alternative to side-effect laden drugs and crippling treatments? The ripple effect of this being grants for research drying up, institutions of higher medical learning rendered unnecessary, etc.

Society as we know it in the USA would be in total chaos. The economy today would look like the biggest boom ever compared to the next few weeks. Worse yet, in an ironic twist of cruel fate, too many people would continue to live. We need a certain amount of death to occur as this planet grows a population out of control every year. Right? Soylent Green is people.

More sinister than that, what if THAT is the real reason behind the FDA? Seriously, a government agency that has the power to STOP gruesome smoking related deaths and they do nothing but make it a choice for the public. Yet this same agency will not allow a doctor to refer me to the Burzynski Clinic for proven cancer curing treatments. In fact this clinic has been targeted on numerous occasions for illegally prescribing unauthorized treatments. It is now "FDA approved" for Stage III clinical trials (must meet criteria). The criteria is "DND"...Damned Near Dead from radiation, surgery, or chemo first.

As my only politically opinion-laced post of the Challenge (I hope), I ask you to write your senator and congressman and plead with them to disband the FDA. For some of us, they have already killed family and loved ones in the name of greed and profit. If or when you receive any medical diagnosis of some seriousness, please do your homework and do not be talked into anything. That is the medical community's biggest weapon. Fear and urgency. Resist. Research. Nothing is going to kill you in two days.

Unless you give the doctors the chance.

Thanks for listening. On to G.

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Choose YOUR Apocalypse If You Dare

Well folks we are about down to it...the end of the 5000 year Mayan calendar. If you look over to your right you see my countdown calendar ticking down...down...down. Of course for those of you across the pond, unfortunately you'll be first to go!

In tribute to this day that we will only see once in our lifetime, my friend Shannon and I are co-hosting a blogfest of Apocalyptic proportions. It is...

Choose Your Own Apocalypse Blogfest

"Perhaps you've heard, or maybe not, but the world is ending Friday, December 21, 2012, or so say the Mayans (or at least the people who have decided this is what the Mayans had to say). How am I preparing? Why, by having a party! Come join Shannon, of The Warrior Muse, and myself for the Choose Your Own Apocalypse Blog Fest, next Friday, December 21, 2012.

 

 

Assuming the world doesn't end until later in the day, it should be quite the party!

You see, while many people think the world really is going to end on Friday, the 21st, most of them can't agree on HOW. Will it be an alien invasion? Zombies? Collision with a mighty meteor? The super flu? Solar flares? Oh my, there are so many ways the world could conceivably end, but what we want to know is how you, yes YOU, think it will happen.
 

The rules are simple:
 

1. Choose your apocalypse
 

2. Sign up on the linky below
 

3. Tell us how you prepared for your survival amongst everyone else's demise
 

4. Describe your apocalypse and how it's going down
 

5. Make sure the badge is displayed on your blog
 

6. Visit your fellow survivors and see how their world ended

Other than that, make it whatever you'd like!

We've only got a week before the world ends, so please help get the word out! "

 

  

Today's Apocalypse Sign: This Ones For Alex

Congrats Alex...you deserve all the credit and accolades you have received during this blogfest.

~~
Well, I have never been a first commenter on Alex's site. Maybe once but I'm not sure. Usually by the time I read the days post on Alex's blog at least hundred people have already commented. So for this blogfest I thought I would go for the gusto and try to be the Last entrant and poster.

Alex was one of my first followers and for that I will always be grateful. He is a loyal friend who never fails to comment on any of the drivel I have put out there over the last two years. To the point I feel bad when I miss one of his posts. He has commenting on a hundred blogs down to an art form of sincerity. The highest praise I can give for this is the simple statement that if Alex is the only one to comment on one of my posts, its been worth the time it took to write it.

Who is Alex? What does he look like? Who would play him in a movie?

I do not have the slightest clue, truth be told. I could be whimsical and comedic in my answers in my answers but today I don't feel like following the rules or being cavalier. I want to say just a few things totally not in the spirit of a "roast" type format. No ninja death here today!

Alex has created something literally from nothing. His site (like every other) started at ground zero. He chose to mold it into what it is today. A blog that is looked toward for help by struggling and underconfidant writers - aspiring and newly published. His ISWG weekly get-togethers have no doubt helped several writers with issues they once dealt with on their own or thought no one else was facing.

I suspect Alex looks different to each of his followers based on how he has helped them. Warrior. Cowboy. Cosbolt pilot, Yes, even truly a Ninja (how does he do his Santa-like visits to so many blogs?) I see him as a regular guy. One I would love to discuss/debate music, movies and good trivia with. And have maybe a drink or two.

I find his writing engaging and visual. Two musts for me. Both of his published books have captivated me and reeled me in like a fish. I can say honestly that I am waiting anxiously for his third book and hoping he is willing to continue writing after this trilogy is done. I certainly will read whatever he writes next. And thanks to Alex, I have discovered others I enjoy reading, Nancy, Stephen, Milo...to name a few.

Alex is one of the good guys. The fact he is endlessly supportive to so many, underscores that fact. The writers he features on his site surely benefit from the increased exposure. Giving back is his strong suit. Co-hosting the A-Z Challenge is one of his biggest give-backs on a huge stage. He takes the time to respond to all his commenters no matter how many. The personal touch. He inspired me to do the same.

In summary, even though he is by his own words "not a big fan of Led Zeppelin" (a flaw I rarely forgive in people who have any sense of music history) I can look past that and say, I am a better blogger, person, and internet presence because I have "met" him.

That is who he is.

Enjoy your blogfest Alex.

Now a treat from youtube...

Today's Apocalypse Sign: What's Next? And The Dead Pool Update

I have received several (alright 4) inquiries into what the future may hold for this here blog after the 21st of this month. Things like will there be a post on the 22nd? will your blog name change? do you wear boxers or briefs? Wha-what??? That might have been Robyn's question.

Anyway, I honestly only began thinking about that name change thing the last couple weeks. But in the end I feel there will still be enough uncertainty in the reading of the daily "tea leaves" so to speak, that I can find plenty to blather on about for years to come in regards to apocalyptic events. The Mayan references will have to go but there will certainly be something that I can replace it with. We shall see on that score

I am sure I will post on the 22nd (unless I choose option 4 on the party planners guide) as I will have to at least let you know that there was not a mini-Apocalypse that only struck where moi lives.

As far as the underwear question...I say let them eat pizza! More string cheese pleeeze!!

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DEAD POOL UPDATE

I have been watching the news but reluctant to pull the trigger on number three. There is really a lot of death to find if you go looking for it. Jenni Rivera died in a plane crash and even though she was apparently well known and really hot looking...in the end I have never really heard of her and I only considered her for number three since she is married to the baseball player with the coolest name...Esteban Loaiza. It just rolls off the tongue in a sing-song kind of way. But in the end I decided not to choose her. Now I am struggling to determine if I am indeed being too subjective and not just playing the cards as they fell. So if by some chance you actually drew her name from the hat...I guess you win. In the shallow end of the pool.

I also am keeping an eye on G.H.W. Bush who has been hospitalized...Senator Daniel Inouye 88, the 50-year Senator from Hawaii who is hospitalized. And even Freddy Muniz who, as young as he is, had a mini-stroke...at 28???

I am of the mind to let this thing percolate a little longer as this season of overindulgence has just begun and all options should be left open.

We have Larry Hagman as #1, Zig Ziglar as #2 and if you you have any candidates worthy of consideration that have passed on please bring them up.

By the way, I saw the Stones open for Monday Night Football tonight...don't bother picking any of them (unless maybe Bill Wyman) they aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Let's Get To It - Zombie Apocalypse

Many people think and wish for a Zombie Apocalypse (ZA). This is a curious fetish along the lines of being star-struck by a murderer in prison and then wanting to be with (or marry) them. Well, if this is your thing then we need to cover this possibility for 12.21.12.

Educate Yourself

Let's start with a primer for a pandemic caused ZA. (If you planned some Pandemic Pictionary from yesterday's post, give yourself bonus points). What better way to start than with an educational film.

This film was released on SyFy back in 2011 and took place in 2011. It is pandemic-based and zombies chase our heros to Catalina Island for refuge. How Ving Rhames does not go "down right medieval on their zombie asses" and save the world is to waste what he learned in Pulp Fiction. I have never seen this movie but I am sure it has loads of tips on what to do and not do in regards to ZA. {I have seen Zombieland and Woody gives some good tips too.}

Dress For The Kill

Next, you need to dress the part. You can get the latest zombie T-Shirts at where else...Zombie T-Shirts! One of my personal favorites is this beauty...

I also recommend some protective clothing and a good start would be...what else? attack dog training suit! Bonus is it protects your neck too.

We Must Protect This House!

Now you are ready for some home security. Here is a genius method you could take care of this weekend at your local Academy Sports store.

This would allow you to literally shoot zombies like fish in a barrel as they endlessly try to keep walking to get into your house. Be sure to keep your electric bill paid...you'll need plenty of juice!!

Zombie Blades

Weaponry is now in order. Let's start with blades...get as many as you can! Go to Zombie Tools and check out some of the badass blades you can buy today! Start with these beauties...

This is the Apokatana - must have.

The Mack Daddy-O is 42 inches and 4 pounds of Zombie stopping power

There are many other choices including smaller personal defense blades you will want to carry on your person at all times. Not cheap but these products will not break or let you down so go get ya some!

The Armory

Okay, last for today is the firepower you need to stop the brain bunglers from a safe distance. If you can't trust the validity of ask.com chiming in on the ZA who can you trust? Best Guns for the Zombie Apocalyse are right here for your evaluation. My first selection would be...

M16 with the M203 grenade launcher
For single or group kills

My next selection would be the Remington 870 shotgun with a sidesaddle for serious splattering power. A 45-cal and 357 for a personal sidearm, a Tommy gun with a 100-round drum and the coup de gras...the flame thrower!!

This should get you started on your way to self protection and getting your band of brothers ready to defend. What? You don't have a band of brothers?? Maybe that should have been at the very top of the list...well if you haven't made any friends you can count on, maybe your brain should be eaten.

How are you preparing?

More to come....

Today's Apocalypse Sign: The Countdown To The End

Today marks less than 12 days to the end of the Mayan Long Count Calendar. More specifically:

Today's Date:	Mon 10  Dec 2012
Today's Maya Date:	12 . 19 . 19 . 17 . 9
	4 Manik 10 Mac
11 days until 13.0.0.0.0

If you check out the link above, you will know what all that means...maybe.

So, what will relieve the headache you are bound to get trying to understand the detail of this calendar??

An End Of The World party, of course!!

Here are some options to consider when planning that special once-in-a-lifetime (literally) party:

1. World Wide End Of The World Party - You can organize your own party, join an existing party, or print a World End ticket for the party...all from this site. Cool video too. There is plenty of fun stuff to do on the Mayan calendar wheel. Check it out!

2. End Of The World Party Decorations - Here you can get everything you need for your own EOW party. From Mayan maraccas to necklaces and from torch cut-outs to Mayan party horns, you'll have everything you need. There are also party favors, party food list, and a party play list. One stop shopping! Of course they have all bases covered with a selection of I Survived The Mayan Calendar T-shirts. (Okay so I ordered one!!). You can also get this cool party sign for your yard!

3.  Doomsday Party 2012 - Here are four great party games for EOW party. My personal favorite...Pandemic Pictionary!! Right?

4. Apocalypse Drinking Game - Guaranteed to make you not care about (and maybe even hope for) the End Of The World.

5. Cruise to the End - For those of you looking to spend every last dime before the End, check out this cruise to where it all began...Mayan country. Sails from New Orleans to the Yucatan and Cozumel. Might as well be in the center of the biggest party on the planet!

And now a little upbeat ditty to get you in the mood...






And if the world is going to end, you can't go without hearing a little Tom Waits...



That's a young and hilarious Martin Mull (sans moustache).

Today's Apocalypse Sign: The Hanukkah Weekend Graphs

The festival of lights has kicked off the holiday season that sees Jewish overlap African overlap Christian Christmas celebrations. I personally cannot keep them all straight and since I only partake in one of them I guess I don't really have to. But whatever your party style is this December be safe and forgiving while you enjoy the weekend graphs! Twelve days left in the Mayan calendar!!


I think you have a pretty good crop to plow through today and I even included a bonus graph for you Tom Waits fans.

So wait no longer...the Festival of Graphs is here!

Enjoy....



What about nosebleed red???




The circles of life...so true



I'm a pepper, you're a pepper, wouldn't you like to be a pepper too!!



Ahhh...the good old days. This describes my 20's to a T!



It's the first thing you check upon entering the bathroom, people!!!





And for the beginning of Hanukkah, another Tom Waits graph!!  Again if you have never listened this still makes no sense...but it is very true!

Today's Apocalypse Sign: The Weekend In Black And White

A couple months ago I made my first trip to Jerry's World Theme Park  (aka Cowboys Stadium). All I was packing that day was my little Olympus Stylus Tough - 8010 point-and-shoot. It takes some decent pictures with some in camera effects. One I used several times that day was the "fish eye". This shot is a good one of this humogous monument to sports excess...from the top of the world!


Dallas Cowboys Football

Not a bad seat in the house!

Linking to The Weekend In Black In White

Today's Apocalypse Sign: Mayan Month Weekend Graphs

Hello my soon-to-be wassailers preparing for your holiday wassailing. Only time of year using that word twice in one sentence is alright. We have turned the calendar to the final month of the Mayan Long Count Calendar, the lead-in to the end as it were. 12.21.12 is a mere 19 days away and with it, all the uncertainty and speculation of what comes next. You know the freaks are about to start crawling out of the woodwork as well as those bent on making a profit off of the hype. I will strive to bring you what I can ferret out regarding this once in our lifetime event (one way or the other it WILL be that at least).

For now, I wish to share the findings of my search this week to amaze, entertain, and educate you in the ways of the world you may be unaware of.

To that end I present the first Weekend Graphs for December 2012.


Please enjoy!


For all my blogger friends from across the pond...this entry is for you!




If you have never heard a Tom Waits song this will make no sense...I recommend The Piano Has Been Drinking and my favorite TW tune...Pasties and A G-String.


Who doesn't like re-enacting the scene from Marathon Man...not safe at all.



I actually wake up at 4:55 and realize I can sleep til 5...not the same amazingness.


In case you felt really good about your Christmas shopping this year...