The Simpsons

The longest running TV comedy used to be my favorite show that I refused to miss every Sunday evening at 8:00pm. When FOX decided to begin airing reruns on weeknights, I thought it was the greatest things ever. At one point, I could watch four episodes every single day at 5:00, 5:30, 6:30, and 11:00. Boy, was I in heaven. Unfortunately, whether it's because my personal tastes have matured (probably not) or because the writers have run out of unique and creative ideas (more likely), The Simpsons has gradually shifted from an unhealthy obsession to just another TV show over the past few years. Part of it may also have to do with the fact that Tivo makes it so easy to automatically record something so that you don't have to schedule around a stupid TV show.

Anyway, if you haven't heard, the Feb. 20 episode of The Simpsons will include a regular character coming out of the closet and getting married in a same-sex marriage. This seems to me to be another "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" type of episode where the writers try to build suspense and spark discussions about the show instead of developing better scripts. While Mr. Smithers is the obvious choice, he's probably too obvious. This is just like the "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" episode, in which I knew it had to be somebody who would never be suspected like Maggie. Sure enough, Maggie it was. Supposedly some inside sources have leaked that Patty Bouvier, one of Marge's sisters, will fall for a local female golf pro and get married by Homer after he registers to become a minister online. Sadly, online sportsbooks will even allow you to bet online on who you think this character will be. Current odds from BetUS.com are:

• Patty -150
• Smithers +425
• Milhouse +800
• Selma +900
• Lenny +900
• Apu +1000
• Carl +1300
• Moe +1400
• Ned +1500
• Mr. Burns +1600
• Homer +2000

UPDATE: Well, it was Patty...although she ended up not getting married because she found out her fiancé was actually a man.

London

London pictures posted!

eBay

So I recently sold 2 LCD monitors on eBay that I didn't need: a 15" and a 17" widesreen. Some interesting questions I received during these auctions:

• "HELLO, WILL THAT SCREEN FIT TO ANY COMPUTER NAME?"
  Analysis: Hello, you're an idiot. You obviously know absolutely about computers and apparently think that it will help to cover up your ignorance by yelling. I could only assume that this bright individual was asking whether or not the monitor is compatible with any type of computer, so I of course responded that it would work with any computer that has a VGA connection. His response below:

• "ONE MORE QUESTION HOW DO I KNOW IF MY COMPUTER HAS THAT VGA CONNECTION"
  Analysis: Yep, very computer savvy just as I had suspected.

• "hi can i buy it out rite ? for about 200.00"
  Analysis: Yeah, I'm going to sell you a brand new 17" widescreen LCD TV for $200 when it sells for $550 online and the absolute cheapest it's selling for on eBay is $320. Nice try. (It ended up selling for $385 :-))

• "hi mike i got a ? ok i feel inlove when i seen this monitor ok and i bidded on one before this one how can i get out of that bid theres 2 days left to it yet I WANT THIS ONE WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO PLZZZZZZZZZZZ EMIAL ME ASAP PLZZZZZZ OK AT **email address removed** and tell me how to ok ty so vm bro..."
  Analysis: Ummm....yeah. Calm down buddy. You need to understand that periods, commas, and other punctuation marks assist in communicating to others (not to mention proper spelling and other grammar). So you want me to tell you how to retract a bid from another auction because you think you found something better? Sounds pretty sketchy to me, pal.

Where do these people come from, and why are they trying to buy nice computer equipment they don't even know how to use. I feel kind of bad selling these nice monitors if they're going to end up in the hands of people like this. Oh well...