Why is your domain name called cutthatout.com?
Well, It all started one day when my friend Chris asked me to help him think of cool domain names he could register. At the time I thought I would never own my own domain name, so I suggested one I had been sitting on - cutthatout.com. It originated from a Sesame Street Bert and Ernie skit I remember from childhood. It goes something like this...
(Bert gets all comfortable in bed and begins to snore)
E: Bert! Oh Bert! Ol' buddy Bert? Hey Bert..Where are ya Bert?
(sees Bert in bed)
Oh! Mmmm...You know it is just possible that my old buddy Bert is asleep.
For one thing, he's lying down, which he usually does when he is asleep.
For another thing his eyes are closed..yeah.
And for another thing, he's not answering me when I talk.
So old buddy Bert is probably asleep, but I will check just to make sure.
(pokes Bert)
Poke Poke Poke Poke Poke Poke Poke!
Note how I can poke old buddy Bert is the stomach and he doesn't complain.
Now when old buddy Bert is awake and I poke him in the stomach, he complains.
(sees Bert's arm)
Oh looky here. Note how floppy and soggy-like old buddy Bert's arm is.
When old buddy Bert is awake, he's not floppy and soggy like.
So, I am quite certain that old buddy Bert is very definitely asleep.
And....(Bert rolls over with eyes open) On the other hand...Now his eyes are open!
My old buddy Bert's eyes are usually open only when he is awake,
so he's probably awake, but I will check just to make sure.
Poke Poke Poke Poke Poke Poke Poke!
B: Now cut that out!
E: See, I was right he's awake!
B: Ernie!
E: Yeah?
B: Why did you wake me up?
E: Did I wake you up old buddy?
B: Yes you did!
E: See, I was right, first he was asleep and now he is awake.
B: Ernie, why'd you wake me up?
E: Uh...Oh!..uh...because I have something very important to tell you.
B: What's that?
E: Well, you see I just looked at the clock.
B: So?
E: It's time for your nap.
B: Ahhhhh!
E: Well, sleep tight. Mmmm..Mmmmmm
Transcribed by Don Murphy
Never mind the fact that Bert says "Now Cut That Out" in almost every sketch. This is the one that I remember from that time (well that and the one where Ernie has a banana in his ear). It should be noted that I blatantly stole the above transcription from Tiny Dancer's Sesame Street Lyrics Archive. Hope they don't mind too much.
Anyway, Chris liked it and registered it. As time went by he found that registering domain names was cheap (12 euro's [~$11.00 US] a year each via joker.com) and fun. After a bit he had registered lots of domain names and when I put my server on line (which he built up for me) he offered to let me use it. I thankfully accepted and that brings us up to date.
Oh ya, why is there a balloon Bert head taped to the computer? You see, the linux box that runs the servers is named Bert (for obvious reasons - see above story :). One day while we were shopping, my wife Amy saw the Bert balloon on a stick and we had to take it home with us. I figure it's a better label then some sharpie on making tape.