Yank Blog

And now kids, it’s time for a little Random Al Search Result. Today’s page is a news article from the good ol’ days of December 2003…

Weird Al, fishmongers take over Courier

Karl Heminger must have a good sense of humor. After all, the president and publisher of the Courier, located Findlay, Ohio, recently adopted a workplace philosophy based on a fish market and supported a day in celebration of Weird Al Yankovic.

No, Heminger did not lose his wits. He simply wanted to encourage a more fun workplace for employees and customers alike.

On Sept. 29 [2003], the 23,000-circulation daily had its first annual Weird Al Day. The peculiar event was filled with a variety of goofy, spirit-lifting activities. Employees searched the building for pictures of Weird Al in the Find Weird Al contest. Other employees listened to classic Weird Al musical parodies like “Girls Just Want To Have Lunch,” “Like a Surgeon,” “Yoda” and many, many more. The day was highlighted with a Weird Al Look-A-Like contest. Employees took turns wearing a black wig and posing for pictures. Even Heminger donned the long, curly black-haired wig.

Although the fun-filled day might look like it lacked sensible logic, in actuality it was inspired by a highly regarded philosophy created by the world-famous Pike Street Fish Market in Seattle, Wash. [read more]

What a keen idea! Companies everywhere should adopt the philosophy of bringing more fun into the workplace. The article goes on to report that everybody is smiling more and paying more attention. And that’s just simply better for the managers, the employees, and the entire company in general.

Weird Al Star Fund has nine new and rare items up on eBay — a “UHF” poster, a twine ball souvenir hat, two rare Weird Al bumper stickers, and five rare out of print issues of the fanzine “The Midnight Star.”

To see these items and bid on them, click here.

Bid now! Bid often!

Some nice screen grabs from “UHF” of the Indiana Jones dream sequence. Check out the cool animation at the bottom of the page too!

I’m sad to report that not all went well, and Joel had to cancel the interview last minute. Joel still wants to talk to me about Weird Al Star Fund, so hopefully one day this interview will happen, but at this time, I have no idea when that may be.

If all goes well, this Friday at around 6:05 P.M. I’ll be interviewed by Joel Oriend, Host of The Sports Edge, on The Sports Stars Radio Network, regarding the Weird Al Star Fund.

If you’re in the NY area, you should be able to hear the show on AM 1230 WLFH, AM 1350 WRNY, AM 1480 WADR, AM 1550 WUTQ, or www.starsradionetwork.com

Ben Folds has some really nice things to say about Al in the MTV news article: “Ben Folds Salutes Elliott Smith, Hosts Weird Al On New LP“:

Instead, Folds embraces his un-hipness outside of the Internet. For instance, the only known collaborator on his new album, Songs for Silverman, is parody specialist “Weird Al” Yankovic, who harmonizes with Folds on the ballad “Time.”

“I love Al, but I know that doesn’t add credibility in the indie world to have Al Yankovic singing on backup vocals,” confessed Folds, who has been friends with Yankovic since the comedian directed his “Rockin’ the Suburbs” video. “I don’t give a sh–. He’s a great singer. I don’t collaborate with anyone for profile or cross-pollination marketing or whatever it is they call it. If I know someone that’s talented, whether they’re famous or not, then yeah.”

Ah, if only all music artists could be this cool. Anyway, check out the album Songs for Silverman for the song with Al.