(Vimeo Link)

Photographer Rob Whitworth:

Ever since I first set foot in HCMC I have been captivated by the 
cities energy. Saigon is a city on the move unlike anything I have 
experienced before which I wanted to capture and share.

The Litter Box highly recommends full screen viewing here.

Apparently one of the Empire’s AT-AT walkers managed to escape with only a laser-blasted leg wound, and if the repairs go well, he should be back to terribly advised attack strategies in no time.

(YouTube Link)

(YouTube Link)

That is all for now.

This is an example of shit that happens in Portland every day, and why I adore it.

After some careful thinking, I’ve decided to  break these down into Do’s and Don’ts, as are universally accepted by all attendants, but I’d first like to include one particular to my station. You see, we’re the cheapest gas in Portland- pretty much hard to beat prices across the board. That means we get a lot of business. And that means Busy-Ness. Sometimes I will be out there, servicing the 8 pumps we have, across two islands, and dealing with various peccadilloes such as feisty car tanks, the aforementioned cans, and credit card wonkiness that can have me tied up in place for a moment or two. Please be patient, and wait it out.

So then, DO:

-Roll down your window, get off your phone, and turn your music down. I need to hear you speak when you place your fuel order.
-Pop open your fuel door, if you have one.
- Know your zip code if you’re using a credit or debit card.
-Tell me whether you’re paying by cash or card.- Inform me if you’re paying with a large cash bill, like a 50 or 100, before I start fueling.
-Ask for a cash receipt BEFORE I change your money.
-Smile. 

Finally in the DO column, know what side your gas tank is on, because most stations won’t pull their hoses around your car to reach it. If you’re in a new, borrowed, or rented vehicle -and it’s relatively new- check the fuel gauge. You’ll probably see a little arrow pointing left/right which will clue you in.

And now for the DON’T:

-Touch the pumps. It’s against the law, and it’s against some station’s policies even if you’re getting diesel.
-Get out of your vehicle and “supervise” the fueling. This is almost always done by men, and frankly, it almost always leads to the above.
-Ask me to put refined petroleum into anything other than an approved gas can. They usually come in red.
-Pull in to a slot facing another car. This will almost always result with negative consequences.
-Pay me in coins, unless you are getting less than $5.00 worth of gas.
- Ask me to round up, or “top off” your fill. Not only is it bad for the environment and the health of everyone, the new-fangled pumps actually suck a good portion of that excess back into the hose, so you’re not getting what you’re paying for.
-Park your vehicle at a pump, and go into the store before I get your order. Because then it takes twice as long to get your butt off the lot, doesn’t it?
- Pull in too close to the pumps. My hose has a reach of about six feet. Give me room to work.
-Pull in too far away from the pumps. Many people make the mistake of stopping when the pump display is at their window. That’s awesome for you, but not so much for the actual dispensation process when your tank is six feet away. Sure, I may be able to reach it, but your fuel door might get bent.
- Get impatient, loiter, or cause friction with other customers.
- Frown

And finally, the percentage of you out there who have locking gas caps, why must you have a plethora of other keys and assorted fobs? It really, really sucks for us.

Happy trails, and have an awesome trip to the pumps next time you’re in my Portland woods.

Everyone knows where Jack and Diane sucked on chili dogs, and if you’ve ever frequented a Tastee Freeze, or some kind of similar tiny establishment of non-fine dining, you were probably in a small town… just like John Cougar. Chuck Klosterman wrote:

Tastee Freezes are iconic structures in the rural Midwest, because they say something about your hometown; they irrefutably prove your community does not have enough of a population to sustain a Dairy Queen … or indoor seating.

When I would visit my Grandparents in Bernie, Missouri as a child, one of the highlights of the stay was when they would drive me to Malden (about 20 miles up the barren country roads) to get ice cream at the Dairy King, which was similar in scope and function as a typical Tastee Freeze. I still see other clones here and there around these parts, but they’re called other names. I wonder what kind of individual aspires to own and operate one of these businesses, and what the profit margin is.

(YouTube Link)

Photo: ABC

When the original Battlestar Galactica series captivated my attention in the late 1970s, my friends were all kinds of hot for Athena and Cassiopeia, while my Dad lost interest in the show after Serena (the lovely Jane Seymour) was killed off. But for me, infatuation was found in the fleeting glimpses of Flight Corporal Rigel’s announcements; I absolutely adored her then, and can honestly say I still have a crush on her. She comes across as someone who not only inspires the likes of Princess Leia on hairstyles, but someone who would actually have something to talk about on a date. Also: no competition from that player, Starbuck.

The actress who played her, Sarah Rush, was interviewed last year on Galactica.TV.

Can you talk about your audition for Battlestar Galactica?

Since I was under contract, they called in all the girls, all the contract players. I came in and was very serious about my craft. I still am. It’s not brain surgery, but I feel passionate about it. Though I now have more fun in doing it than I did back then.  When I was younger I was so very serious and committed. So I came in, I auditioned and there was Glen Larson and all these people and I had to say something like: “Red alert! Red Alert! 100 microns and closing, 99 microns and closing…”; something like that.

I sat in the middle on a chair with everybody around me and I used my fist as a microphone, said my lines and then looked at everybody. They all burst into laughter! I was so serious about it. We laughed and I got the job. It was wonderful and a blessing, even though my role was so small. I wished I could have been around more. You can imagine. I was just 22 years old and this show was so fantastic. I got to work with Terry Carter a lot and talked to him about acting. I don’t even know if he knows how important he was for me. He was so supportive. It was such a great cast and to me it was a blessing to be on the show.

Frakking adorable.