From the archives....

Joshua Bowden Tate boldly secures the class presidency by vowing to shave all his hair off.

PSA

I am the last of a once proud race of Tate bachelors. I know the day is coming when I too shall fall but in the mean time I take pleasure in continuing to try and improve upon living alone...and I would like to share with you one of my "tips".
At the end of the day when you take off your socks, put them on your hands and take 90 seconds or so to dust. The socks should be slightly humid from the grossness of your feet and they were heading to the hamper anyway. I think you'll find the results above average and the savings in paper products over a year surprising.

And for all you sandal, croc-wearing Californians? A t-shirt works too.

Choosier Moms Choose BFZ

I went to the same institute of higher learning as Josh where I studied communications...and turning in my senior project was the last time I ever used it. But I have retained an interest in some aspects of the art up to and including watching the show Mad Men - and I am that rare soul that takes pleasure in watching commercials.

In this capacity I can't imagine a tougher gig than coming up with a campaign for a gas station. First of all the nation's discontent and open contempt for the ever-soaring price of fuel makes the actual purchase of gas a painful process that we all try to do as little as possible. Also, I am not loyal to any particular brand save the one that is A.) cheapest or B.) closest when I have to pee.

But hats off to Marathon. Their commercial, albeit briefly, makes me want to hit up a gas station and then hit the open road. An interesting tack to take, aligning patriotism and all things "feel good" with the purchase of gas. I'm not foolish enough to think there's a direct correlation but if faced with a Marathon on one side of the street and a Mobil on the other I'd give Marathon the contract, even with a penny or two downside, every time. It's a good commercial.

I don't have direct authority to grant a BFZ product endorsement but while Josh is away I will push that envelope.



(...gotta love the little girl swimming through the firelight)

And today's New England math lesson courtesy of the Rutland Herald...

The Road - Jack London (1907)

"Easy, pardner, easy," he warned me in a low voice. I looked at
him. His eyes met mine unwaveringly. He was a large man,
broad-shouldered and heavy-muscled; and his face was lazy,
phlegmatic, slothful, withal kindly, yet without passion, and quite
soulless — a dim soul, unmalicious, unmoral, bovine, and stubborn.
Just an animal he was, with no more than a faint flickering of
intelligence, a good-natured brute with the strength and mental
caliber of a gorilla. His hand pressed heavily upon me, and I knew
the weight of the muscles behind. I looked at the other brutes, two
of them unperturbed and incurious, and one of them that gloated
over the spectacle; and my reason came back to me, my muscles
relaxed, and I sank down in the grass...

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me begin by saying what a true pleasure it is to be guest-hosting my brother's blog while he is away with Sadie on vacation. I'm sure if you read this blog it is because you know Josh - so I imagine I need not wax on too much about what a great man he is. Josh has 3 brothers (and is father to 3 brothers interestingly enough) and I view it as one of my life's greatest honors and pleasures to count myself in that number.

I will endeavor to keep this "home" of Joshua's bummer-free, quasi-informative and perhaps with a bit of Green Mountain flavor. I'll be in the "milking room" if anyone needs me

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I GIVE YOU MY BROTHER, JOB TATE, WHO HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO GUEST-HOST THE BFZ THIS WEEK WHILE I'M AWAY.

So make yourself at home, Job. Mi Blog es su blog.

P.S. Don't forget to water the plants.

BREAKING NEWS!!!

My brother, Job Tate, has agreed to guest host the Bummer-Free Zone next week while Sarah and I are out of town celebrating our ten year anniversary in Monterey, CA. So don't worry, there'll be no interruption of service here at the BFZ, and I'll feel better knowing that someone is around to look after the place while I'm away.