Quite possibly the sexiest video ever filmed…with a touch of class.

Is it hot in here or is it just me?

Ladies and Gentlemen, after the jump: En Vogue is Giving Him Something He Can Feel

Proceed at your own risk »

I’m being asked to interview for this position in Reno:

Management Analyst III - Full-Time Position

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Management Analysts conduct a variety of studies, research and analysis of management and administrative areas such as budgeting and financial analysis; legislative analysis; management research; and statistical and informational analysis.

Management Analyst III’s perform technically complex assignments critical to agency operations; and make recommendations and assist in, or implement new or revised procedures and systems.

They also participate in the preparation, monitoring and maintenance of [this state agency] iennial budget and/or program budget(s) by estimating future expenditure levels based on historical data; making projections for future costs; research national data standards concerning performance indicators and outcome measures; communicate data requirements and prepare various data reports.

Other duties consist of conducting and/or assisting in conducting financial, statistical or investigative studies; compiling and analyzing data; preparing and presenting reports summarizing study results/conclusions; may make recommendations regarding policies, procedures, the agency’s position on issues or future course of action, and help with the development of new programs or services based upon study findings.

The incumbent will assist in the development of, and will regularly report on, analysis and trending for various statewide programs in [this state agency].

Special Qualifications:

The applicant must possess experience in creating reports from relational databases (Crystal Reports experience is preferred) and using Microsoft Office programs and graphical reporting using MS Excel.

Hmm…

I used to do all sort of statistical stuff for the college and this isn’t strictly a fiscal job (I ain’t money-trained).  And I do relational databases and even had beginning/advanced Crystal three years ago.  Nice raise, too.

On the other hand, it’s in Reno.

Waddya think?  Should I go for it?

Per Sean McAdam at ESPN.com

Chicago Cubs

Let’s see … The Red Sox ended their championship drought in ‘04; the crosstown White Sox finally won it all last October, ending an even longer run of futility … Wasn’t it obvious where this was headed?

What went wrong: These are the Cubs we’re talking about. What didn’t go wrong? Center fielder Juan Pierre started slowly and didn’t get above .250 for keeps until the last few days of June. First baseman Derrek Lee missed more than two months with a broken wrist and by the time he returned, the season was essentially a lost cause. The Cubs used 14 different starting pitchers, in part to cover for the injuries to Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, who combined for just 13 starts. And let us not forget the bullpen, which thanks to the poor work from the rotation (82 times, a Cubs starter has failed to get into the sixth inning) has been “overworked, big-time,'’ according to manager Dusty Baker.

What needs to be done: It seems certain that Wood will move on, as the Cubs can’t even think about exercising his $13.5 million option. That’s probably best for both sides. Meanwhile, the Cubs must hope and pray that Prior finally stays healthy and that Ramirez elects to stay. The NL Central isn’t very strong, but coming off a 100-loss season, the Cubs are a long, long way from being a factor in the division again.

I’m about ready to give up on them.  They get twenty more chances.

From News of the Weird:

You’ve heard of corrupt third-world prisons, of course, but Guatemala’s Pavon may be the corruptest. Cops and not-on-the-take guards hadn’t set foot in the place in 10 yrs (concerned only with controlling the outer perimeter), leaving inmates to set up restaurants, churches, homes, distilleries, and hard-drug labs, with internal gangs vying for control of the markets. Monday, 6,000 soldiers and cops took back the place.

The prisons in Carson (where I teach) have recently gone through mind-set changes: the administration is cracking down on inmate personal freedoms.  It wasn’t nearly as crazy as the above, but the predicted retribution from the prisoners on the staff hasn’t happened yet.  So far, so good.

The above image is a snapshot of the CNN main web page at about 12:45 PM PST on September 27, 2006.

As you read the headlines, ask yourself about the media’s and American public’s skewed obsession over unimportant things.  Why do we pander to and worship outsized egos and flash-in-the-pan celebrities when the second leading cause of death in children is firearms?  Not to mention our war in the Middle East.

Am I the only person that sees what’s wrong with the above?

This’ll put me in the doghouse for sure.

One picture after the jump.

Proceed at your own risk »

A great Steve Irwin tribute after the jump:

Proceed at your own risk »

On It’s Your Turn:

Yes, that does say June 2005 and I faced 49 worthy opponents on the way to the crown.

If you think my head is getting too big, it’s my first championship in something like two dozen tourneys.

While I’m here doing my Happy Dance, do ya think I need to get out more? :-)

Continuing the tradition of the PostCard of the Week, courtesy of PostSecret:

Proceed at your own risk »

If you watch enough movies and films over time, you like to think you can decipher the hidden messages behind the director’s symbology and use of sets and actors, but Men Without Hats stumped me on this 1982 video, their one claim to fame.

Maybe the problem starts with the song. Here’s the first set of lyrics:

We can dance if we want to
We can leave your friends behind
‘Cause your friends don’t dance and if they don’t dance
Well they’re no friends of mine
I say, we can go where we want to
A place where they will never find
And we can act like we come from out of this world
Leave the real one far behind
And we can dance

How does that translate to a medieval theme in the video (and the dancing girl with weird eyes)? Besides, if I had friends, I’m pretty sure they don’t dance, either.

Somebody on Wikipedia wrote:

Though music fans have often interpreted the song as a metaphor of nuclear war, a call for safe sex, and even a protest against club slamdancing bans, group member Stefan Doroschuk said in an online interview that “The Safety Dance” is about nonconformism and everyone’s ability to leave their friends behind and strike out on their own. The music video showed the band orchestrating a Morris dance, in a scene reminiscent of The Wicker Man.

Yeah, right, whatever. I remember thinking at one time that the video looked a lot like this Ron Howard-directed movie from 1988, both of which feature a long-haired hero and his tiny sidekick.

In any case, if this entry seems all over the place, it’s only because the video is, too. Get ready to start bouncing.

Ladies and Gentlemen, after the jump, The Safety Dance

Proceed at your own risk »