Tiny Mind Gazette

Irish Riviera Pub Brawl Postpones Annual Columbus Day Parade

Three long-time, blue-blooded members of the prestigious Speedwell Guild were held overnight in a Wapatusset holding cell following a skirmish outside Mr. O’Fooley's Irish Riviera Pub in the village Sunday night. Details are still unclear, but according to witnesses there were heated arguments concerning Invisibines® wind turbines on a disputed Pilgrim settlement and "something about Narraganset Beer."

Chief Liam O’Liam was brought to the scene (actually, he was already at the scene, sitting on his unofficial bar stool) and called in back-up to bring the situation under control.

Two members of the Bored Selectmen also happened to be at the scene (in their unofficial booth), and sprang to action to attempt to mediate. The Selectwoman tried to break up the fight, beginning yet another one of her "In the words of Rodney King..." speeches, but was pummelled with pickled eggs. In the end they all agreed to blame the Water Department.

The following morning, Chief O'Liam agreed to release the Speedwell Three, as they're now being called, but this was after the Bored Selectmen had already agreed to postponed the Columbus Day Parade.

This has been an unfortunate year for parades in Wapatusset. After last spring's debacle (see "St. Patrick’s Day Parade Postponed Over Potato-Throwing Protest March" and continued controversy over the MLK Day Diversity Parade, the town has agreed to form a citizen's commission to plan upcoming public celebrations. All interested should respond in the Comments section below.

Tiny Mind Gazette Horoscopes for September 2011

By Beau Donie | The Seer Without Peer

Virgo The Virgin (August 24 to September 22)—An excellent month to test your bravery. Sometime in the next 30 days, something will attack you in the basement. You will pee your pants. But stand your ground—wait until the fangs have sunk deeply into your flesh and then do a back flip. That should break its jaw. Run upstairs and call the animal control guy. (And while you’re at it, have him pick up a nice mocha latte on the way.)

Libra The Scales (September 23 to October 23)— The color orange will serve you well as the moon is in ascension. Cupid has you in his sights this month, but the little goofball let his arrows get rusty, so get a tetanus shot the second you see someone attractive.

Scorpio The Scorpion (duh!) (October 24 to November 21)—You will hear from an old relative during this time. Possibly a dead one. Get the secret handshake before showing off your jewelry.

Sagittarius The Archer (November 22 to December 21)—You’ll find appetites on the rise as the weather cools. Or is it the weather will raise as your appetite cools? The archipelago seems to be broken on our vacuumizer, so we will keep your informed of any imminent crises. Meanwhile, remember to hydrate. And hydrate to remember.

Capricorn The Mountain Goat (December 22 to January 19)—Bumper cars!! Go find them and drive them, but keep off major highways.

Minke The Whale (January 20 to February 19)—An especially good time to hunt for a special antique. Chances are she’s hiding in the attic. Lure her out with a trail of cheddar chunks.

Pisces The Fish (February 20 to March 20)—Oopsie! We meant to get this in last month’s horoscope, but are reprinting here as a public service: Hurricane Irene is coming and will probably make a mess in many local communities, Wapatusset among them. Prepare for big waves, heavy winds, and boats tearing away from moorings and such. Don’t leave little animals outside. Except the ones who already live outside.

Aries The Ram (March 21 to April 20)—Don’t wear socks with flip-flops this month. Lots of summer yet to go and you don’t want to overheat those cute little toesies. Put muffins in the toaster, but only toast the left side.

Gemini The Twins (May 21 to June 20)—Google yourself frequently during this period. Chances are good that people are starting horrible rumors about you, though most will be false. Rent a pair of those new interweb-trained dogs to hunt down the perpetrators. Report them to the authorities and Louie The Walnut, just to make it interesting.

Taurus The Bull (April 21 to May 20)—This month is a prime time for shipping things. Buy something and send it, even if only to yourself. Jupiter is in retrograde, though; so don’t send anything to Florida.

Cancer The Crab (June 21 to July 22)—This is a good month to rein in your entrepreneurial impulses. Hold off before announcing your dazzling new “app.” Others may not be so impressed when they see the strings hanging off of it. Go back to the drawing board and think more “digital.”

Leo The Lion (July 23 to August 23)—Dance as if no one was watching. Sing as if no one was listening. Spend a month alone in an isolated cabin way up in the mountains until you get this crazy crap out of your system.

Please send all your astrological queries to Beau Donie, c/o TinyMindGazette.com who will sift them through his psychic blender and bring them to a state of optimal advisoriness.

 

Wapatusset* 4th of July Parade: microMovie® by christopher harting

 

Wapatusset's annual 4th of July parade in under 2 minutes. Oh, and yes, you are seeing the fashionable footwear of renowned videographer, Christopher Harting.

*filmed in Plymouth MA, as a representation of the actual Wapatusset 4th of July Parade, which has sold it's naming rights to an undisclosed foreeign entity.

O-Say, Patriotic microMovie® by christopher harting

 

microMovie^® director christopher harting has released his latest work entitled: "O-Say". The entire piece lasts under 90 seconds. Who doesn't have an extra minute and a half to watch a full-length micromovie? for more of christopher's videos, visit: http://vimeo.com/user6158888 for more about christopher: http://www.christopherharting.com/

Tiny Mind Gazette Horoscopes for July 2011

By Beau Donie, Seer Extraordinaire, Font of Wisdom and Light, Midnight Avenger
(Guaranteed Accuracy Rate of, or Below 100%)

Cancer The Crab (June 21 to July 22) :: An excellent month for growth, though probably not for you.

Leo The Lion (July 23 to August 23) :: I see a great deal of money coming your way :: a veritable fortune…Oh wait, that’s a Brinks truck. Stay on the curb till they drive past. Count your toes.

Virgo The Virgin (August 24 to September 22) :: Scan the obituaries every day this month. If you see your name, this will not be a good period for you. Spend a lot of time lying down.

Libra The Scales (September 23 to October 23) :: One of your distant relatives will appear soon. Photocopy her driver’s license before letting her use your bathroom. Ask her if Uncle Zed actually built Yellowstone Park like the family legend says.

Scorpio The Scorpion (duh!) (October 24 to November 21) :: Good things for this water sign: Little Jimmy’s rash will finally clear up, but I wouldn’t share a milkshake with him. Or even a bus.

Sagittarius The Archer (November 22 to December 21) :: Put your diary on eBay. Chances are good that it will not only sell for a good price but you will also find a new use for bleu cheese.

Capricorn The Mountain Goat (December 22 to January 19) :: A great month to break old ties and start new ones. Greet strangers on the street, invite them in for lemonade, share your life’s most embarrassing moments, such as greeting strangers on the street because you read it online.

Aquarius The Water Carrier (January 20 to February 19) :: Look for new avenues of investment this month. We suggest sending lots of unmarked bills to Beau Donie, c/o Tiny Mind Gazette. It looks like a big payoff for someone whose advice you rely upon.

Pisces The Fish (February 20 to March 20) :: A tough month for this water sign. Watch your step every morning. Your front step. The brickwork seems a little loose. Probably not as loose as your mother, but still…

Aries The Ram (March 21 to April 20) :: An excellent month to change something you don’t like about yourself. Get a new hairstyle perhaps. Throw out any piece of your wardrobe with orange. Plunge your face into a roiling vat of french fries.

Taurus The Bull (April 21 to May 20) :: It looks like you’ll have to be patient just a little longer. The situation you’re anticipating will resolve in 2022.

Gemini The Twins (May 21 to June 20) :: An auspicious month when salad tends to watch people. Be sure to shave daily, be honest in all your dealings, and use extra dressing to keep it distracted.

Send all your astrological queries to Beau Donie, c/o Tiny Mind Gazette. They will be ignored in the order in which they are received.

10 Things your mother NEVER said.

1. Tonight is 'talk-with-your-mouth-full night.’ Everybody ready?
2. Finish your dessert or you won't get any vegetables.
3. How many times have I asked you to mess your room up? What are you some kind of neat freak?
4. Take that cleanly pressed collared shirt off and put on this ratty T-shirt, tonight is a special occasion!
5. Pour this cup of sugar on your Fruit Loops then run around the house like a maniac.
6. Please sit closer to the television. You need to strengthen your eyesight.
7. Change your clothes at least 5 times today so I can do some more laundry. I'll be waiting by the washer.
8. You need sit next to your brother in church today. Here’s some chewing gum and a Red Bull. Now I want to hear giggling!
9. Here’s a new BB gun, now go outside and have some fun!
10. For heaven’s sake, put that homework away. The TV’s not going to watch itself!

Partially based on material pilfered from Steve BonDurant’s Facebook page (May 25, 2011), including content provided by Julie Zapata, Lisa Coutermarsh Hall, and Phil Bliss.

 

Wapatusset’s Smallgreens prepares for onslaught of overheated, short-tempered and extremely sweaty concert-goers

With local temperatures approaching the 100º mark and the Middle School Spring Concert scheduled for this evening, Smallgreens Pharmacy is prepared for the worst. The Wapatusset police department received more than a few calls from disgruntled residents, who live in close proximity to the tchotchke filled, Muzak squawking, cookie-cutter chain store, complaining about the onslaught of tractor-trailer trucks delivering merchandise throughout the night.

Assistant store manager and customer-facing display inventory coordinator* Sully Rodriguez remarked: “When we learned that this year’s concert would be conducted under an H3 Alert,** we quickly sent an emergency request to HQ, requesting multiple shipments of personal fans, hand-held portable body misters, industrial-strength body spray, time-released antiperspirant, smelling salts, and extra-strength headache remedies.”

“Our pharmacy has stocked up on ACE Inhibitors, Beta Blockers and ALL forms of high blood pressure medicines.*** We have prepared for the worst!”

As a refresher, read about last year’s concert in our sister city of Winnetuxet, Wisconsin:
Record Nearly Shattered: World’s Longest School Concert

*One who stocks shelves
**Hazy, Hot, Humid
***Side effects may include: Fainting, slow or irregular heartbeat, fever and swollen ankles or feet

Is Your Body Ready for Swim Suit Weather? Take The Mysterious Dr. F's: 6 Question Test

“Do I look fat in these Comfort Top seersucker shorts?” and 6 other questions to ask yourself before unveiling your summer body to the world.

If you answer “yes” to three or more of the following questions, Dr. F advises you to think twice before exposing your flesh to the public—and frightening your children. (Stay tuned for unbiased advertorials on Dr. F’s new miracle detox formula and stretch mark cream.)

1. Do you have t-shirts that read:

So many buffets, so little time!

Make eating an official sport

My other home is a bakery truck

2. Does the GNC scale at the local mall taunt you and dare you to remember the last time you checked your weight? And....Once you take the bait and drop in 50 cents, does it give you an estimate of 600 days to get back to target weight....and your lotto numbers for Friday?

3. Does your sister ask “Are you pregnant?” (…and you are a guy).

4. Are you sick of paying for ladders that cost a buck for every pound after 200 lbs and dare you to use the ladder if you are over 300 lbs? (And have the Boy Scouts started a ladder climbing fundraiser for the over-300 crowd in your neighborhood?)

5. Are you limited to Wii Tennis because Wii Fit has a 300 lb weight limit?

6. Are you afraid of violating the Congressional Bridge Formula of 1975? Are you afraid of crossing bridges in your car loaded down with you and three friends? (According to Dr. F, any five-passenger vehicles are rated about 850 pounds, maxing out if their five occupants weigh more than 170 pounds each. Six 200-pounders would overload the seven-passenger Dodge Grand Caravan minivan.)

In the Danger Zone? Here’s some useful information:

Weight Loss Stories for inspiration
(Note that they blindfolded the first successful weight loser and fed the second guy's whole family to the shark and all he was left with six months later was an iPhone and a towel. They also made one guy write a weight loss haiku.)

Jump into the Weight Loss Phone Booth for Women

Or watch Weight Loss Time Lapse: 84 Days In 48 Seconds (below)

 

– by The Mysterious Dr. F.

Rapture Preparation Checklist: Don't let the end of the world ruin your weekend!

1. Weed-whack around religious yard ornaments
2. Remove all "archived" religious icons from attic or storage unit and distribute evenly throughout the home
3. Unplug the iron
4. Display Holy Bible or similar religious doctrines in prominent place, simultaneously removing any questionable or suggestive reading material
5. Spend at least 15 minutes brushing up on familiar hymns, chants, Bible verses
6. Contact cable company and cleanse your package of any networks/channels that contain "mature content"
7. Plan flameproof, rapture-appropriate outfit (sensible footwear encouraged)
8. Aggressively dab on sunscreen (every 15-20 minutes) to build up 2-3 inch layer of a skin protection
9. Purchase large-lensed, wraparound Foster Grant's with maximum glare-reducing lenses
10. Avoid foods with pork listed as a key ingredient
11. Consider flame retardant fanny-pack instead of traditional purse/satchel/handbag
12. Saturday morning t-shirt choice: OZZY or Jesus Saves? Hello?
13. Consider spending most of Saturday involved in church, temple, or mosque related activities
14. Cancel the newspaper and stop the mail
15. Brush up on the Ten Commandments (memorizing at least seven)
16. Delete cell phone call history
17. Honk for Jesus
18. Floss

TMG Travel Tips: A frequent flier’s rant on animal/passenger behavior (and other pet peeves)

Ethology 101: Flight etiquette Mother Nature forgot to imprint at birth

Avoid getting the ethologists and the animal behaviorists in one airport waiting lounge or they'll be debating whether flying manners are genetic impressions or a learned behavior.

Do economy-class travelers automatically know to find the largest allowable roll-aboard to Bogart as much overhead space, or does it take years of practice?

Does a new flyer automatically know to place their questionable carry-ons in all available seats in the waiting area or is it developed along with frequent flyer miles?

Do Canadian vacationers going south for the winter intuitively know to drop the seatback into your lap like some out of control Lazy-Boy or did they read “Annoying Flying tips for Dummies”?

Resident TMG Ethologist and Diamond Club Air Miles member Konrad Conrad weighed in on the controversy and points out the following imprinted spring break flying tips:

• Newly hatched goslings identify the first moving object they see as “mother”; you may also get called “mother------“ if you wake up from your mid-flight nap drooling on the shoulder of the biker in the aisle seat next to you.
• Positioning for seating zones is like Karl von Frisch’s “dance language of bees.” Keep an eye out for the gentleman with the fake-Gucci computer bag and the Chuck Taylors; he's making a bee line to be the first in front of you for Zone 4.
• The sound and impact of the wheels hitting the runway set in motion the “get out first” instinct. Beware the Japanese tourist boogie boarding down the aisle on his luggage immediately after landing!
• Chemoreception 101: Remember that pheromones are a mix of good smells and bad smells. Giving in to the instinct to get a window seat in mid-plane will avoid the mixed “aroma” of the rear galley, the lavatory, and Joe Johnson's feet in seat 39C.
• Just like the communication systems of the mighty eel, travelers instinctively sense when it is time start electrically mind-melding via cell even before the pilot announces it. Just make sure you don't press that wild condor call app by mistake! 

The next time you fly, just relax and let your inner seagull lead the way to a more enjoyable flight.

by the Mysterious Dr. F, world traveler, amateur scientist and cultural affairs attache