The Super Bowl Approaches

With a victory over the Packers, the Giants have cemented their Super Bowl seat, and no one could be more excited than Carl from ATHF.  And with that, we must now decide where we will be watching this glorious event.  The votes on the site / poll are split down the middle, but after last weekend in LA, most confirmed they would rather watch it in LA, as SB's TV situation is questionable, and the sheer number of participants living in LA is larger.  But this should be settled now so that preperations for Feb. 3rd can be made.  Kegs, streamers, and a server all need to be lined up so let's figure this out in the next day or two.  SB people, will you be watching the game?  Is it just you Baggs?  Is Wardrobe really going to be selling shoes instead of watching the game / commercials?  The poll is up on the right now, Persons can now be called by his Flapjackian name Minister of Art Design, unless anyone wants to petition for the addition of an ampersand in between Art Design.

Speak now or forever hold your peace

Dearest Ministers,

I regret to inform you all that yesterday afternoon I discovered a large crack and subsequent leak in the habitat of Louie and Nacho Frank.  After a long clean up and discussion, it has been decided to let the beloved IFS turtles run free.  Currently they reside in an ice chest in the Franklin house living room.

The plan is to take our beloved pets to Echo Park Lake tonight and set them free to live the rest of their days in a veritable paradise.  For those worried about setting pets into a semi-natural environment, and ruining a natural setting, don't worry.  As you can see in the attached photo Echo Park lake is enclosed by city streets and greater Los Angeles.  The turtles aren't going anywhere.  In addition to their new larger, more exciting retirement home the turtles will be getting much more UV radiation which they desperately need, and cannot receive in our sheltered apartment.  We have witnessed a number of larger healthy Red-Eared Slider turtles in and around the lake, which indicates the lake can either nurture the turtles to grow to a large size or at least sustain their normal size.
Although we are sad to see our reptilian friends go, we know this is probably the best thing for them.  The residents of the Franklin residence are also growing a little tired of the time and financial burden the little crap-factories have placed on their owners, however we wanted to give anyone the opportunity to adopt Louie and Nacho Frank.  We have everything they need except a tank.  If anyone wants to come forward and adopt the little guys "speak now or forever hold your peace".
If not, we will be making a ceremonial journey to Echo Park tonight to set them free in their own urban lake paradise.  Afterwards we will be eating some Tacos from a trailer in their memory just down the road in Echo Park.  If anyone is interested in adopting or joining in the goodbye let me know before Thursday night.

I love you all. 

Working hard

Technical Details:

Part of my job as the Director of Quality Control is to process GPS points collected in the field to check the Aerial Laser Survey data.  The Field Operations Specialist (Defense) mounts a survey grade GPS antenna on a vehicle, measures the antenna height and drives around the project area.  The resulting data is processed to a very high degree of accuracy (2-4cm) and compared with the Laser points collected in the aircraft to make sure they are accurate.  When the accuracy of the points is good, these charts show them in green.

Just imagine my satisfaction when i checked these GPS points and found they were all of very high quality and in the shape of a cock and balls.  I can just imagine the smile on Defense's face as he charted his path through the central valley, thinking of me in the office, sitting in my cubicle, processing GPS points, taking screen shots and making IFS posts.  Meanwhile the heavy pelican case for the GPS equipment sits atop the shattered sacred documents. A giant green shlong and a job well done sir.  The client will be pleased.

RIP Arnold

At 5:55pm today I discovered our beloved Arnold the Red-Eared Slider Turtle had expired.  He is survived by Louie and a few goldfish.  He died of natural causes and appeared peaceful, it was a good death.  Arnold will be remembered for his ability to eat multiple goldfish in one sitting, absorbing sun rays on Monkey Rock, and swimming incessantly into the tank glass.  Upon viewing this post, please take a moment from your busy day to remember Arnold and send a prayer his way in Turtle Heaven.  He willed sole possession of Monkey Rock to Louie.  Rest in Peace old boy.

The State of the Many Roles of Kurt Russell Address

In just two days, we will be uniting to form the MANY ROLES OF KURT RUSSELL.  For those of you who missed the first post, we will be uniting to form the MANY ROLES OF KURT RUSSELL at Amanda's house in Los Feliz this Saturday night.  Here's her address:

3424 Lambeth Street
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Here's a "Breakdown" of who's coming and which Kurt Russell they will be portraying:

- Minister of Media and Technology will be Jack Burton from "Big Trouble in Little China." 
- Minister of MOM will be Snake Plissken from "Escape from L.A."
- Minister of Competition will be solar explorer, Col. Jonathan 'Jack' O'Neil from "Stargate."
- Minister of Rousing will be Dean Proffitt from "Overboard."
- Minister of Interior Design will be Coach Herb Brooks from "Miracle."
- Minister of Letters will be Michael Zane from "3,000 Miles to Graceland."
- Minister of Defense will be McCabe from "Vanilla Sky."
- Future Minister and IFS blood relative Ryan Maughan will be Stephen 'Bull' McCaffrey from "Backdraft."
- Longtime Friend of IFS and forever welcome Guest Member Ben Persons will be Captain Ron from "Captain Ron."

That's nine Kurt Russells by my count, just shy of double digit Kurt Russells.  Now, I know that Health/Trade will be attending the party - so if he dresses up as a Kurt Russell, then we'll have ten Kurt Russells total.  Also, Philanthropy is attempting to shift his work schedule around so he can make it as well.  International Affairs, Maritime, Athletics and Shwayne, we haven't heard anything from you four so please comment on this post with your status.  Younger/Taller/Athleticer and Letters will be coming down from SB, and Media will be coming up from the OC, so finding a ride should not be a problem.  Also, here's some last minute costume suggestions that should be easy to throw together:

- As Jeff Taylor in "Breakdown," Kurt wears a Ralph Lauren polo tucked in to khakis, and cool sunglasses:

- Kurt wears a tux in "Executive Decision" and a black suit in Poseidon (granted, you'd have to jump in a shower for this one).
- Wyatt Earp - we still  need one.  Calls for a taller man with a strong mustache and a cowboy outfit, so I'm thinking Esteban.  Whoever takes this role, the all black getup would be the right way to do it.
- "Dark Blue" would be easy.  Black collared shirt, leather jacket, light blue jeans and black sneakers:

Anyways, just some ideas.  Like Competition commented earlier, this seems destined as Kurt Russell made a strong appearance on South Park last night.  I hope everyone can make it.  The more Russells the better. 

- Rousing

A Russell for Every Season

Ministers, it's time.  It's time to transform an exciting idea into a harrowing reality.  On October 27th, we will unite to become the MANY ROLES OF KURT RUSSELL.  Most of you know about this concept, and hopefully you are excited to be a part of it.  For those of you who are out of the Russell-loop (Shwayne), here's a few reasons why we will soon be uniting to become the MANY ROLES OF KURT RUSSELL:

1) Kurt is HANDSOME

2) Kurt is STRONG:

3) Kurt is NICE:

So, now that you know the WHO (KURT RUSSELL) and the WHY (ABOVE), here's the WHEN, the WHAT/WHERE and the HOW:

WHEN: October 27, 2007.  The Saturday evening before Halloween.
WHAT/WHERE: Halloween Party at Amanda's home in Los Feliz.  Call me for directions.
HOW:
1) Choose one of Kurt Russell's roles (some costume suggestions included as well): Stargate (buzz cut, army fatigues), Tombstone (strong mustache), Backdraft, Escape from New York (eye patch), Escape from LA (eye patch, surf board), Soldier, Captain Ron (hawaiin shirt, speedo), Breakdown, Poseidon (tuxedo, step in the shower), Big Trouble in Little China, 3,000 Miles to Graceland (Elvis costume and machine gun), Miracle, Death Proof, and many more - full listing and pictures here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000621/. 
2) This has to be an organized process, otherwise, we'd have 8 Captain Rons showing up to the party.  So, when you have selected your Kurt Russell role, please comment on this post with your name and your desired role.  This will be a first come, first serve basis; if someone has picked Captain Ron, then you CANNOT be Captain Ron.  Maybe you can be Stargate or Vanilla Sky instead.
3) Create your costume and wear it to the party.   All costumes will require strong hair (some of you have this, some of us will need wigs - modified mullet wigs should work).
4) Take pictures with the other Kurt Russells at the party.  These pictures will be very strong.

The more Kurt Russells, the better, so I hope that all of you can make it.  Please comment with your picks, and with any questions that you may have.  Hope to see you all there.

- Rousing

A Little Taste of Leisure

 

Outdoor Adventure Squad Update

This just in.... The mighty OAS is embarking on a new adventure.  Nicaragua. 
Defense and myself are flying down to Central America this Friday to meet up with the Rabbi of Leisure just in time to catch a new southern hemisphere swell next week.  The waves should be as tasty as the Nicaraguan pancakes.  We will be in the southwestern coastal area, blessed by constant offshore winds due to the massive inland Lake Nicaragua....Bra!
By the good grace of flapjack we shall return to our home in less than two weeks time, just in time for Caruthers High School Football season.  Go Blue Raiders!

Official Invitation: Peter Dante

For those ministers who were fortunate enough to be at an unnamed West LA watering hole Saturday night you may remember running into a certain Peter Dante.  Mr. Dante was told about the International Flapjack Society and expressed interest in possibly attending a meeting.

Let me be the first to say it would be an honor to have you Mr. Dante, and you are welcome to attend any meeting you wish.

To begin let me outline the International Flapjack Society (IFS) for the benefit of Mr. Dante.  The International Flapjack Society ...we do it every month. A group of twenty ministers gather each month to eat flapjacks and drink adolphi at a predetermined pancake house.  Although as our members have dispersed geographically across Southern California and the world, we all try and stay close by attending meetings which have taken on a quarterly schedule.  This website is our means of staying in contact with each other between meetings.

Our membership includes a diverse range of personalities and talents from aspiring professional Mexican Soccer players, Santa Barbara radio DJ, Law student, Airborne Laser Operator, High School Football Coach, International Wine sales person, to Fish Biologist.  We are all brought together by a common brotherhood and the desire to share each other's company and a good time.  Our meetings have taken place in such places as Las Vegas, Philly PA, Chico CA, and our breakfast staple the Turnpike IHOP in Santa Barbara, California.

The cross section of IFS members you met Saturday night is about half of our membership.  Please consider this an open invitation.  I will contact you about meeting times and locations.  We thank you for you interest in our organization.

Peter Dante's Personal Website
http://www.peterdante.com/

Photo Essay

As long as I live, I will never forget that day 21 years ago when I raised my hand and took the oath of citizenship. Do you know how proud I was? I was so proud that I walked around with an American flag around my shoulders all day long.
                                                                                                        -Arnold Schwarzenegger