Having fun with Google Translate

When it comes to languages, I speak three languages very fluently.ย  I speak American English, I speak Canadian English and I can speak Australian English.ย  That’s it, mate.ย  Good on ya, eh? Now there are online services out there that can translate websites from one language to another, and can translate your English websites into…

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More on the 27-pound weight loss…

Friday, February 4.ย  The day before I’m supposed to compete in Trivia Bowl 7, I’ve scheduled a doctor’s appointment to try to determine how I lost 27 pounds in what amounts to a month and a half.ย  Because my health insurance changed over from one provider to another, I’m meeting with a new doctor.ย  This…

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Ten French Rock and Pop Songs

One of the first followers to my Twitter account was Rob Madeo, he of the keyboardkrumbs.com blog.ย  He made a comment about how there was no decent French rock and roll music.ย  I postulated that yes, there was some very decent French pop and rock and R&B tracks out there.ย  The discussion continued. But I…

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Week 22 of the $2,500 Elbo Room Trivia Tournament

This is it, kiddiwinks.ย  The final week in the Elbo Room tournament, and while six teams – Stern Fans, Schooled, Street Academy, Sneaky Petes, the Flabbies and Just the Tips – are locked in for next week’s finals, this is the last week for five teams to snag the final two playoff spots.ย  So with…

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William Shakespeare, rock star!

What if I told you that in the 1970’s, William Shakespeare had two international pop music hits? Yeah, I’m getting that glassy stare from you.ย  I understand.ย  I’m used to it. Well, it’s true. Sort of. I’ll explain. In the 1960’s, singer John Cave was the lead vocalist for an Australian rock band called the…

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Hell hath frozen over…

I never thought I would ever consider this as part of my life. And I know I’m about five years behind the trend from everybody else… But I have officially reserved the name “chuckthewriter” on twitter. Yep.ย  Your man has finally joined the twitterverse. And the thought becomes… “Chuck, why did it take so long…

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One icon, one resturant, one nightspot – in one day

Here’s the scenario.ย  Someone’s coming to visit you from out of town.ย  They’re not from Albany, they’ve never been to the Capital District, they are visiting you and it’s the first time you’ve seen them in ages.ย  After the celebratory hugging at Albany International Airport, your guest says to you… “I’m glad to see you.ย …

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The day my editor got his skull fractured on the corner of Partridge and Yates Streets

No, no, not Michael Huber.ย  We want nothing bad to ever happen to Michael Huber.ย  Ever. Between 1995 and 1997, I wrote sports articles for a Capital District monthly sports newspaper, CD Sports.ย  At the time, I was working for the minor league hockey monthly paper Hockey Ink!, and I needed a more steady gig…

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Comic book characters never die… or flame out…

It’s been a long time since I collected comic books.ย  From about 1973 to maybe 1980, I would buy comic books with the same voracity as a junkie buys heroin.ย  Although I would purchase any of the superhero comics if I had enough money, my favorites were the Flash, Green Lantern and the Justice League…

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