Oh, sure, everyone has those bouncy castle things in their front yard. Yawn.

A few doors down, at a recently "renovated" home that features such drastic architecture that I'm certain every square inch of space permitted by zoning laws has been taken, they have a bouncy castle thing. This monstrous, ugly structure (which doesn't fit in at all with the rest of the neighborhood) could only be enhanced by having no fewer than two dozen kids.

Actually, the kids are all right with me: their squeals are delightful. What's out of the norm, though, is the six foot tall Easter Bunny supervising them, especially this week, one week after Easter. Also, it's been a justifiably somber weekend, as well. Not much call for celebrating.

What made the scene so remarkable was the mother. I imagine she'd been banished from the house to enjoy a smoke, and was talking with the Bunny. Or he, if it was a he inside there, with her. It would have been quite a picture, but I didn't have my camera with me.

And, less we think it stops there, on the front yard of the next house is a cheap-ass petting zoo. A small, knee-high enclosure containing several chickens, a black lamb, and a cute baby goat. Strolling nearby, a pony.

WIDIWAP

"Widdy-Wap" was one of my favorite answers at work when people would ask for something ridiculous. That may have counted toward my dismissal, especially when higher-ups requested something. It's an acronym, of course, and comes from here.

Oh, sure, everyone has those bouncy castle things in their front yard. Yawn.

A few doors down, at a recently "renovated" home that features such drastic architecture that I'm certain every square inch of space permitted by zoning laws has been taken, they have a bouncy castle thing. This monstrous, ugly structure (which doesn't fit in at all with the rest of the neighborhood) could only be enhanced by having no fewer than two dozen kids.

Actually, the kids are all right with me: their squeals are delightful. What's out of the norm, though, is the six foot tall Easter Bunny supervising them, especially this week, one week after Easter. Also, it's been a justifiably somber weekend, as well. Not much call for celebrating.

What made the scene so remarkable was the mother. I imagine she'd been banished from the house to enjoy a smoke, and was talking with the Bunny. Or he, if it was a he inside there, with her. It would have been quite a picture, but I didn't have my camera with me.

And, less we think it stops there, on the front yard of the next house is a cheap-ass petting zoo. A small, knee-high enclosure containing several chickens, a black lamb, and a cute baby goat. Strolling nearby, a pony.

WIDIWAP

"Widdy-Wap" was one of my favorite answers at work when people would ask for something ridiculous. That may have counted toward my dismissal, especially when higher-ups requested something. It's an acronym, of course, and comes from here.

Many people I've met proclaim themselves as "lapsed Catholics," but since I was never in that faith, I cannot. Still, I follow its activities with ... interest.

I can remember two "white smoke" rituals, each of which brought forth a John Paul. Now, a shiny new Pope will emerge, and I have no idea who it will be.

Here's a list of contenders.

Here, you can see the odds, but not everyone is listed. This site lists more, but you have to do some digging (current events, papacy, on the left).

I'm leaning toward a Latino, but I think it would be quite interesting if they chose an Arab. Not sure how many Arabs are Catholic or qualified, but that would be a balsy political move. I'd be given mad props for that one.

Many people I've met proclaim themselves as "lapsed Catholics," but since I was never in that faith, I cannot. Still, I follow its activities with ... interest.

I can remember two "white smoke" rituals, each of which brought forth a John Paul. Now, a shiny new Pope will emerge, and I have no idea who it will be.

Here's a list of contenders.

Here, you can see the odds, but not everyone is listed. This site lists more, but you have to do some digging (current events, papacy, on the left).

I'm leaning toward a Latino, but I think it would be quite interesting if they chose an Arab. Not sure how many Arabs are Catholic or qualified, but that would be a balsy political move. I'd be given mad props for that one.

We're just not smart enough to have a transmogrifyer yet. You know, one of those things that would let me trade places with the ailing Pope and give him a few more years.

That sad, and the outpouring of emotions is heartbreaking, I'm also saddened by the news people talking about the world's one billion Catholics expecting the "worst." Now, there's six billion people on this planet and, the occasional Assumption aside, I think we're all going to die. I'd hate to think that's the worst, especially since so many people have to suffer injustices, muggings, rape, and torture. I think those are far worse than death. I think living through pain is worse than dying.

We're just not smart enough to have a transmogrifyer yet. You know, one of those things that would let me trade places with the ailing Pope and give him a few more years.

That sad, and the outpouring of emotions is heartbreaking, I'm also saddened by the news people talking about the world's one billion Catholics expecting the "worst." Now, there's six billion people on this planet and, the occasional Assumption aside, I think we're all going to die. I'd hate to think that's the worst, especially since so many people have to suffer injustices, muggings, rape, and torture. I think those are far worse than death. I think living through pain is worse than dying.

I may be the last person to notice this, but it makes me as excited as can be.

Way back when, about ten years ago, I began seeing (and laughing at) TV ads that contained the web pages of the advertisers. I even started at one time a list of companies that had a web presence, although I seriously doubt that term was in vogue. I'd been on the Internet for awhile by then, but the Web was the new thing and getting all the ink.

Back then the entire Web address was frequently given, including the http://prefix. Nowadays, they usually mention no more than whatever.com.

That was okay. What started bugging me was that, along with the explosion of interest in the Internet, there grew legions of AOL users, and AOL decided it owned the Internet. For awhile there, it may have. The TV ads soon not only had to list the URL for their site, but -- horrors! -- their AOL "keyword." I guess they had some sort of jump thing, but I was never an AOL subscriber.

Later on, of course, the Netscape browser picked up this shortcut stuff and all you had to do was type in the relevant part of the address and it would add the http:// and the .com at the end, and I think that's pretty much all the AOL keyword address, too.

I hated AOL, but not with a passion. The good news now, and a testament to their declining popularity, is that hardly anyone gives you the AOL keyword any more.