Yesterday, Theresa brought over some Bernie Bott's Every Flavor Beans made by Jelly Belly. (If you haven't read Harry Potter, you should be ashamed of yourself. Go read it and come back to this post once you've read it.) Needless to say they had a number of off color flavors like soap, dirt, earthworm (tastes like a mild form of dirt), etc.
In any case, we had fun dumping the lot on the table and sorting them into their different flavors based on the "flavor guide". We ate all of the standard flavors and sampled some of the less offensive exotic flavors. I think Theresa was going to die laughing when she asked me what I had just eaten and she got a luke-warm answer of "earwax".
In the end, we had a pile of "exotic" flavored beans, some of which border on disgusting. I got to thinking, this is a great prank. I've got nasty jelly beans...I know my sister keeps a stash of jelly beans at the office...why don't I mix the two and wait for chaos to ensue.
Here's the problem. I can't do it. I just cant bring myself to do it. I keep thinking of the looks on their faces when they eat a jelly bean that looks like it will taste like coconut but really tastes like sardines and it makes me laugh so hard. And still I can't bring myself to do it. I guess I'm just not evil enough.
PS Sparky's ghost cat has come back and now taunts him. She is evil enough.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Psycho-kitty Deluxe--part 2
So I was in a bit of a halloweeny mood before and thought you might enjoy a bit of creepy goodness along with the weird story of Sparky and his obsession with the cat outside.
Seriously, this cat is a little creepy. It only shows up at night and it is white, fluffy, and makes Sparky go absolutely crazy. It is like he's been given catnip spiked with speed.
There are about six or seven cats that periodically visit Sparky from the neighborhood. One is a mangy cat from Pennsylvania street who braves the busy street to say hello to S. Another is an orange Tabby who is super friendly and loves to make Sparky jealous by asking me to pet him on the way in the back door. Another is a long haired little guy who sits below the side window and stares up at S with the wisdom of an old owl. The white cat is the one that makes S go bonkers. More bonkers even than the squirrel.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Psycho-kitty Deluxe
On Halloween night, about two in the morning, the house is all quiet. I'm dead asleep.All of the sudden, I hear this pounding from the next room. Loud, aggressive pounding.
Startled, I walk to the next room and see the blinds to the front window are moving. I hear a faint hiss... Sparky is hissing quietly and pawing at the window. He was between the blinds and the window, going berserk at something outside.
Is it a burgler? Is it pumpkin smashers? Is someone digging a grave in my front yard?
I peek outside and a stark white cat is on my front porch. It is teasing Sparky. Watching him... like it is his conscience is outside the door... haunting him... Is this the ghost of a cat Sparky once wronged? Is this his long lost soul mate? Is this the Kitty cat devil or angel?
[to be continued...]
Monday, October 30, 2006
What's On TV
So you all know that I am a big Joss Whedon fan (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Firefly fame); you also know that Joss doesn't have anything on TV right now. We are waiting for him to get his Wonder Woman script into production, but who knows when that will be. Instead we are left with what is on TV now. So here's my rundown of what I think is at all worth watching on TV given my self imposed limits.
First, a short list of what not to watch. Any thing with news (AP stories will get you a lot further), anything with no characterization whatsoever (ie most Law and Order franchises), and anything with a talking head (Think for yourself and screw Hannity and Combes or whoever).
What to Watch or What I Watch
We know that Veronica Mars is one of Joss's favorites. And can you blame him! It is
a detective show where the dectective is a college age woman who's father is a PI. A modern day Nancy Drew with witty dialogue and a sexy star. (grr)
How I Met Your Mother.
A show about how Ted met his wife. We don't know who his wife is, which makes it more interesting to watch. The show has been compared to friends, but I think the show is funnier, the characters are more interesting and Barney is way more of a stud than Joey. Plus, I like red heads (Allyson Hannigan).
Lost.
God damnit. I got sucked into another JJ Abrams show.
Heros
The premise is what happens when ordinary people discover they have superhuman powers. The show has an arc that has sucked me in. The writers have kept the "worry line" alive and now we just have to wait to find out if they save the cheerleader do they really save the world. The best part of this show is that it has interesting characters. The Japanese suit who can bend the space time continuum; Ali Later's character who is, well, sexy, and has an evil or at least purely pragmatic alter ego; the artist who paints the future, but only when he's high on heroine; and the indian Doctor who is searching for his father's killer and seeking to walk in his father's intellectual footsteps.
Ok. So I also watch nip/tuck, but I only fast forward to the "good parts"!
More later. Let me know if I'm missing anything else.
First, a short list of what not to watch. Any thing with news (AP stories will get you a lot further), anything with no characterization whatsoever (ie most Law and Order franchises), and anything with a talking head (Think for yourself and screw Hannity and Combes or whoever).
What to Watch or What I Watch
We know that Veronica Mars is one of Joss's favorites. And can you blame him! It is
a detective show where the dectective is a college age woman who's father is a PI. A modern day Nancy Drew with witty dialogue and a sexy star. (grr)
How I Met Your Mother.
A show about how Ted met his wife. We don't know who his wife is, which makes it more interesting to watch. The show has been compared to friends, but I think the show is funnier, the characters are more interesting and Barney is way more of a stud than Joey. Plus, I like red heads (Allyson Hannigan).
Lost.
God damnit. I got sucked into another JJ Abrams show.
Heros
The premise is what happens when ordinary people discover they have superhuman powers. The show has an arc that has sucked me in. The writers have kept the "worry line" alive and now we just have to wait to find out if they save the cheerleader do they really save the world. The best part of this show is that it has interesting characters. The Japanese suit who can bend the space time continuum; Ali Later's character who is, well, sexy, and has an evil or at least purely pragmatic alter ego; the artist who paints the future, but only when he's high on heroine; and the indian Doctor who is searching for his father's killer and seeking to walk in his father's intellectual footsteps.
Ok. So I also watch nip/tuck, but I only fast forward to the "good parts"!
More later. Let me know if I'm missing anything else.
Friday, October 13, 2006
The Blog is dead; Long Live the Blog
So... I really haven't been a very consistent blogger. :(
But I have been steady Eddy on the Podcast. :) I've had loads of fun on it.
In any case, I wouldn't count on lots of new posts here, but I'll probably start posting a little more frequently.
In any case, here is something a little funny to whet your appetite.
It's called Neitzshe Family Circus. It pairs a Neitzsche quote with a Family Circus cartoon. Thanks to NoodleFood for this one.
link: http://www.losanjealous.com/nfc/
But I have been steady Eddy on the Podcast. :) I've had loads of fun on it.
In any case, I wouldn't count on lots of new posts here, but I'll probably start posting a little more frequently.
In any case, here is something a little funny to whet your appetite.
It's called Neitzshe Family Circus. It pairs a Neitzsche quote with a Family Circus cartoon. Thanks to NoodleFood for this one.
link: http://www.losanjealous.com/nfc/
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Into the black....
Well, not the black of space, but the black of silence on the blog....
So I've posted several podcasts...
I've been in Dallas for three weeks, Austin for two, and now Houston for one. Oh, yeah, and I ran out of gas at one stop.
Lots of show's eh. I even got my own theme song using my Nomme de Guerre (sp?).
Here's a link to fan created trailer to the sequal of serenity. Thanks to Whedonesque.
Oh, yeah... I got in a boating accident a few weeks ago. I'll post on that in a bit. The long and short of it is: don't race sail boats unless all of your crew mates can follow the skipper's instructions.
So I've posted several podcasts...
I've been in Dallas for three weeks, Austin for two, and now Houston for one. Oh, yeah, and I ran out of gas at one stop.
Lots of show's eh. I even got my own theme song using my Nomme de Guerre (sp?).
Here's a link to fan created trailer to the sequal of serenity. Thanks to Whedonesque.
Oh, yeah... I got in a boating accident a few weeks ago. I'll post on that in a bit. The long and short of it is: don't race sail boats unless all of your crew mates can follow the skipper's instructions.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Sail Log
Friday June 16, 2006
I showed up at CC Reservoir to rent one of the little boats. The park rangers weren't there---again, so I was about to go home. Fortunately, Bruce and Jeff were there. They were taking out one of Victoria Sailing School's J-boats and they invited me along.
The winds picked up. We heeled the boat. I got totally soaked. It was a great night of sailing.
Monday June 19, 2006
My crew bailed. YK was "sick". So I took one of the J-boats out myself. It is so much of a challenge to get one of those boat by yourself. It can be done, but it is a challenge... mostly intellectual. I managed it with only one little hitch. I did ram the dock a wee bit when I came in the first time. I fortunately wasn't going fast enough to do any damage.
So it's been a learning, fun, sailing week for me.
I showed up at CC Reservoir to rent one of the little boats. The park rangers weren't there---again, so I was about to go home. Fortunately, Bruce and Jeff were there. They were taking out one of Victoria Sailing School's J-boats and they invited me along.
The winds picked up. We heeled the boat. I got totally soaked. It was a great night of sailing.
Monday June 19, 2006
My crew bailed. YK was "sick". So I took one of the J-boats out myself. It is so much of a challenge to get one of those boat by yourself. It can be done, but it is a challenge... mostly intellectual. I managed it with only one little hitch. I did ram the dock a wee bit when I came in the first time. I fortunately wasn't going fast enough to do any damage.
So it's been a learning, fun, sailing week for me.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Traveling Juke Joint-Dallas Part 2
The Traveling Juke Joint 13, Dallas Part 2 just posted.
You can visit the site at: http://travelingjuke.libsyn.com/
or a direct link to the show is here.
You can visit the site at: http://travelingjuke.libsyn.com/
or a direct link to the show is here.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
$0.49 Breakfast
No shit. I paid 49 cents for breakfast. And not that crappy "continental" breakfast. Real breakfast... with eggs and hashbrowns.
I went up to Cripple Creek with TG to ride the narrow gauge railroad. It brought me back to my Disney days as a conductor on the steam trains. The big difference was the size of the trains and that these were coal burning instead of deisel.
Anyhow, we arrived early and were planning on breakfast. I didn't realize that Cripple Creek was a gambling town (slots only), so the casinos almost give away food to entice their clients to stick around. Damn good breakfast.
In a sense, it was like going back in time, when a dollar was worth something. It was marvelous. The total bill, with coffee and a side of green chili---$3.70. Awesome!
I wish I had categories on this blog like you do on wordpress... I'd definitely put it under "cheap bastard".
I went up to Cripple Creek with TG to ride the narrow gauge railroad. It brought me back to my Disney days as a conductor on the steam trains. The big difference was the size of the trains and that these were coal burning instead of deisel.
Anyhow, we arrived early and were planning on breakfast. I didn't realize that Cripple Creek was a gambling town (slots only), so the casinos almost give away food to entice their clients to stick around. Damn good breakfast.
In a sense, it was like going back in time, when a dollar was worth something. It was marvelous. The total bill, with coffee and a side of green chili---$3.70. Awesome!
I wish I had categories on this blog like you do on wordpress... I'd definitely put it under "cheap bastard".
Friday, May 26, 2006
Monday, May 22, 2006
Joss vs. Joss (or Buffy vs. Angel vs. Firefly)
Kim... you asked... so here it is...
This is the long awaited Joss v Joss post. I have to say that I love everything Joss has done for various reasons and I'm not choosing. It would be like choosing among Joss's children.
Lets start with the easy piece. What is the same? (I mean aside from the mastermind.)
Characterization. All three shows have great characters. They are all distinct and like nothing you've ever seen before. In Buffy, you have Buffy herself, Angel, Spike, Giles, Willow; In Angel, you have Fred, Gunn, the new-Wesley Windham Price, Lila, the new-Harmony, Cordelia, Conner. And Firefly has the captain, Zoe, Simon, River... None of the characters are rehashes of other characters. There is no cardboard here. They are all unique and they all grow over time.
The Big Bad or Good v. Evil. This is prominent in each of the shows. There is a definite good guy and bad guy. The characters struggle with moral issues. They have to deal with the consequences of their actions, both good and bad. There is no free lunch in the Wheedonverse.
Genre. Wheedon runs amok over all of the traditional lines of genre. Buffy is listed on Direct TV as: Drama/Horror/Comedy. Firefly was a scifi/western. What more can I say.
And most importantly.... writing! The writing on all of the shows is incredible. The writers in this show know how to turn a phrase in a way that is unique, clever. It makes you think. It makes connections you wouldn't. For evidence, see the quotes from my Buffy top 10. For the reasons, read Jane Espenson's blog. (Jane was one of the writers on Buffy).
So those are the glaring and obvious similarities. If I think of more, I'll post later. Part 2 will be on the differences.
PS There is enough room for the brown coats and the black coats in the Wheedonverse!
This is the long awaited Joss v Joss post. I have to say that I love everything Joss has done for various reasons and I'm not choosing. It would be like choosing among Joss's children.
Lets start with the easy piece. What is the same? (I mean aside from the mastermind.)
Characterization. All three shows have great characters. They are all distinct and like nothing you've ever seen before. In Buffy, you have Buffy herself, Angel, Spike, Giles, Willow; In Angel, you have Fred, Gunn, the new-Wesley Windham Price, Lila, the new-Harmony, Cordelia, Conner. And Firefly has the captain, Zoe, Simon, River... None of the characters are rehashes of other characters. There is no cardboard here. They are all unique and they all grow over time.
The Big Bad or Good v. Evil. This is prominent in each of the shows. There is a definite good guy and bad guy. The characters struggle with moral issues. They have to deal with the consequences of their actions, both good and bad. There is no free lunch in the Wheedonverse.
Genre. Wheedon runs amok over all of the traditional lines of genre. Buffy is listed on Direct TV as: Drama/Horror/Comedy. Firefly was a scifi/western. What more can I say.
And most importantly.... writing! The writing on all of the shows is incredible. The writers in this show know how to turn a phrase in a way that is unique, clever. It makes you think. It makes connections you wouldn't. For evidence, see the quotes from my Buffy top 10. For the reasons, read Jane Espenson's blog. (Jane was one of the writers on Buffy).
So those are the glaring and obvious similarities. If I think of more, I'll post later. Part 2 will be on the differences.
PS There is enough room for the brown coats and the black coats in the Wheedonverse!
Sunday, May 14, 2006
New Traveling Juke Joint
Click the title for the newest episode and get ready for the heat... we're in Phoenix this week!
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Sailing
With a name like HMS Lydia, you'd think that I'd post about sailing a little more...
well, I'm finally getting out on Saturday!!!
well, I'm finally getting out on Saturday!!!
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Monday, May 01, 2006
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
Saturday Sparky
Ok, I know it's Monday... but I've been pretty bad about this.
A new Traveling Juke Joint will be up tomorrow.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Two Firsts
Two firsts for me. The first time I was quoted AND the first time I was censored. I admit I deserved the second. I was out of line. In my defense I put in a spoiler alert. Check out the link here.
This is Ian's blog. He's a writer living in China. He is at his best when he writes reviews on movies and books. His commentary on Chinese culture is also very interesting.
This is Ian's blog. He's a writer living in China. He is at his best when he writes reviews on movies and books. His commentary on Chinese culture is also very interesting.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
True Confessions and News
Ok. So I've been gone for a bit. I have some news, but first I do have a confession...
I know I've mentioned that I've been hanging out with this podcast for a while. I know I told you it wasn't serious, but... this is really hard to say... I think I've fallen in love. The Traveling Juke Joint and I have been spending a lot of time together and I don't see that changing any time soon. I know you may be a little jealous, but I have to be honest about where my passions are.
Don't worry. I will still be spending some time with you, which leads me to my news.
THE BOATS ARE IN THE WATER!
The "Why Buy" J-boats are in the water at Cherry Creek so I'll be sailing soon. That means more sailing posts. More sailing reports. More fun and excitement.
More later... :)
PS You might just like the podcast too. Check it out here! If you like it vote at Podcast Alley!
I know I've mentioned that I've been hanging out with this podcast for a while. I know I told you it wasn't serious, but... this is really hard to say... I think I've fallen in love. The Traveling Juke Joint and I have been spending a lot of time together and I don't see that changing any time soon. I know you may be a little jealous, but I have to be honest about where my passions are.
Don't worry. I will still be spending some time with you, which leads me to my news.
THE BOATS ARE IN THE WATER!
The "Why Buy" J-boats are in the water at Cherry Creek so I'll be sailing soon. That means more sailing posts. More sailing reports. More fun and excitement.
More later... :)
PS You might just like the podcast too. Check it out here! If you like it vote at Podcast Alley!
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Occasional Quote:
"Nothing contributes so much to tranquilizing the mind as a steady purpose - a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye."
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Occasional Quote:
"One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half."
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Value Investing vs. Contrarian Investing
I said about six months ago that I would post on this.
Basically, I view value investing to be looking for bargain investments by using an objective valuation process. This requires an independent mind to do things different than the market and to use an objective process to value the investment.
Contrarian investing is simply investing in unpopular stocks.
In terms of people, value investing is the man who walks his own path, the people be damned. Think about Verdi, the opera composor, who lived with an unmarried woman in spite of the negative publicity, who ignored the public's contempt and praise, and lived his life.
Contrarian investing is the lone wolf. The man who does everything the opposite of what other people did, simply it is the opposite. I always think of the early punk rock bands who was "anti-establishment".
NoodleFood had a good post on the difference between these two things a few months ago. Diana was quoting Ranil Illesinghe. Here is the relevant litmus test that applies to both investors and people.
Basically, I view value investing to be looking for bargain investments by using an objective valuation process. This requires an independent mind to do things different than the market and to use an objective process to value the investment.
Contrarian investing is simply investing in unpopular stocks.
In terms of people, value investing is the man who walks his own path, the people be damned. Think about Verdi, the opera composor, who lived with an unmarried woman in spite of the negative publicity, who ignored the public's contempt and praise, and lived his life.
Contrarian investing is the lone wolf. The man who does everything the opposite of what other people did, simply it is the opposite. I always think of the early punk rock bands who was "anti-establishment".
NoodleFood had a good post on the difference between these two things a few months ago. Diana was quoting Ranil Illesinghe. Here is the relevant litmus test that applies to both investors and people.
I find that the best test to see whether or not someone is an individual is to ask the following question: If the mainstream acted in the same way that he acted, would he:
A. Stay the same OR
B. Do things differently?
If he chooses to stay the same, then he is a true individualist, because it does not matter how many people act LIKE you, as long as you are relying on nothing but your independent judgment. If they start being different for the sake of being different, then that person is the worst sort of coward -- the fashionable non-conformist.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Occasional Quote:
"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today."
I'm not entirely sure what to make of the above quote. There is a similar quote from Ayn Rand:
"Those who fight for the future live in it today."
I'm not entirely sure what to make of the above quote. There is a similar quote from Ayn Rand:
"Those who fight for the future live in it today."
Monday, March 27, 2006
Traveling Juke Joint
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Occasional Quote:
"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Friday, March 24, 2006
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Oops... I discovered Viagra
I didn't, but here is a list of 10 accidental discoveries. (|> GeekPress)
Coolest Blog Search to find HMS Lydia
One viewer found my blog from the google blogsearch for "violent sneeze". How cool is that!?!
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Occasional Quote:
"Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work."
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Drunk Driving Penalties
Apparently in Taiwan, you can either pay a fine for drunk driving or pay mahjong with the elderly. Which would you choose?
Happy Birthday Bach
He brought polyphonic baroque music to its culmination, creating masterful and vigorous works in almost every musical form known in his period.
Life
Born into a gifted family (see Bach, family), J. S. Bach was devoted to music from childhood. He was taught by his father and later by his brother Johann Christoph, and was a boy soprano in Lüneberg. His education was acquired largely through independent studies. He had an insatiable curiosity about music and sometimes walked great distances to hear the organists Johann Adam Reinken (at Hamburg) and Buxtehude (at Lübeck). In 1703 he became violinist in the private orchestra of the prince at Weimar but left within a year to become organist at Arnstadt.
Bach went to Mühlhausen as organist in 1707. There he married his cousin Maria Barbara Bach, who was to bear him seven children. In 1708 he was made court organist and chamber musician at Weimar, and in 1714 he became concert master. Prince Leopold of Anhalt engaged him as musical director at Köthen in 1717. Three years later his wife died, and in 1721 he married Anna Magdalena Wülken, a woman of considerable musical cultivation who eventually bore him 13 children. In 1723 he left Köthen to take the important post of music director of the church of St. Thomas, Leipzig, and of its choir school; he remained in Leipzig until his death.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Why HMS Lydia?
Paul from GeekPress asked me "Why HMS Lydia?"
I thought I'd recycle my posts about this and put them below. This more or less started as my captains blog for sailing, but it evloved. Kind of like the old quote: I used to be Snow White, but I drifted. Anyhow, now that summer is here, I'll probably start with a little more of the sailing bit.
So below are the posts:
Why HMS Lydia?
I don't have a good reason for naming the blog after one of Horatio Hornblower's first ships as captain. I just did. If you've never read Hornblower, you're in for a treat. Start with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower and follow his career from beginning to end.
and
More on HMS Lydia
Again, this was Hornblower's ship in "Beat to Quarters".
In this ship, Hornblower captured La Natividad, which was under Spanish domination. He surprised them and took the much larger ship without ever receiving a shot.
Unfortunately, he was required by orders to turn La Natividad over to a madman, with whom the British had allied themselves against Spain. Days later, Hornblower comes to find out that Spain and England are now allies.
Hornblower takes it upon himself, as his duty, to re-take La Natividad before she can sink a valuable Spanish cargo vessel.
The Lydia takes on the much larger Natividad in a fight to the death. At the end of the battle, Hornblower tows the Lydia across the becalmed sea into action. As the Lydia is towed, he has the men who dance the best jig compete for the top prize. Hornblower does this to keep the men's spirits high as they move slowly into action, but it cements his reputation as a man of iron nerves.
I thought I'd recycle my posts about this and put them below. This more or less started as my captains blog for sailing, but it evloved. Kind of like the old quote: I used to be Snow White, but I drifted. Anyhow, now that summer is here, I'll probably start with a little more of the sailing bit.
So below are the posts:
Why HMS Lydia?
I don't have a good reason for naming the blog after one of Horatio Hornblower's first ships as captain. I just did. If you've never read Hornblower, you're in for a treat. Start with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower and follow his career from beginning to end.
and
More on HMS Lydia
Again, this was Hornblower's ship in "Beat to Quarters".
In this ship, Hornblower captured La Natividad, which was under Spanish domination. He surprised them and took the much larger ship without ever receiving a shot.
Unfortunately, he was required by orders to turn La Natividad over to a madman, with whom the British had allied themselves against Spain. Days later, Hornblower comes to find out that Spain and England are now allies.
Hornblower takes it upon himself, as his duty, to re-take La Natividad before she can sink a valuable Spanish cargo vessel.
The Lydia takes on the much larger Natividad in a fight to the death. At the end of the battle, Hornblower tows the Lydia across the becalmed sea into action. As the Lydia is towed, he has the men who dance the best jig compete for the top prize. Hornblower does this to keep the men's spirits high as they move slowly into action, but it cements his reputation as a man of iron nerves.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
And now the post you've all been waiting for....
My interested in Podcasting moved from interest to enthusiasm to infatuation to obsession. And now I have my own Podshow with its very own website. The premise is a traveling Juke Joint, looking for quality local music in different cities around the country.
Let me know what you think. You can post comments here or there. Hope you enjoy it!
PS I'm probably going to be posting a little less on this blog because of the podcast, but don't despair, I won't forget my roots.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
21st Century Noir
So this dame walks in to my office and right away I could see she was dangerous, just by the way she was dressed. (Or wasn't dressed.)
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Buffy Honorable Mentions--Oz (Spoiler)
Season 2-Phases
Season 4-Wild at Heart/New Moon Rising
These are a few episodes focusing on Oz (Seth Green). Oz was a great character who was neither an outsider nor an insider. He got some of the dryest lines in all of the Buffy 'verse.
WARNING SPOILER ALERT.
Ok. So I know Willow is gay, but I am still an Oz/Willow shipper. Tara was a nice girl. Kenedy and Willow were... well kinda hot... but Oz and Willow were just such a good couple. Damn you Joss... Damn you... Ok. Sorry. I'm calm now. And why were doing the spoiler thing. Damn you Joss, for killing Book... and Wash.... and Damn you for killing Angel... but not really... and Damn you for killing Buffy... but not really... and Damn you for killing Dracula... repeatedly.... and Damn you for splitting up Spike and Dru... and... Goddamnit... Damn you Joss for not having a show on television right now that I can pine and fret over... DAMN YOU JOSS WHEDON... at least finish the Wonder Woman Script already. Oh yeah... and Damn you JK Rowling for not finishing Book 7 yet... and for killing Dumbledore...
No.. I wont stop writing...
No.. I won't take my meds...
I'm not done typing ye
Season 4-Wild at Heart/New Moon Rising
These are a few episodes focusing on Oz (Seth Green). Oz was a great character who was neither an outsider nor an insider. He got some of the dryest lines in all of the Buffy 'verse.
WARNING SPOILER ALERT.
Ok. So I know Willow is gay, but I am still an Oz/Willow shipper. Tara was a nice girl. Kenedy and Willow were... well kinda hot... but Oz and Willow were just such a good couple. Damn you Joss... Damn you... Ok. Sorry. I'm calm now. And why were doing the spoiler thing. Damn you Joss, for killing Book... and Wash.... and Damn you for killing Angel... but not really... and Damn you for killing Buffy... but not really... and Damn you for killing Dracula... repeatedly.... and Damn you for splitting up Spike and Dru... and... Goddamnit... Damn you Joss for not having a show on television right now that I can pine and fret over... DAMN YOU JOSS WHEDON... at least finish the Wonder Woman Script already. Oh yeah... and Damn you JK Rowling for not finishing Book 7 yet... and for killing Dumbledore...
No.. I wont stop writing...
No.. I won't take my meds...
I'm not done typing ye
Buffy Honorable Mentions
Season 1
The Pack (Xander's always the victim of something... at least this time his victimhood turns him into a preditor)
The Puppet Show (The closing credits are priceless!!)
Season 2
What's My Line--Career Week
Surprise/Innocense--Angel Goes Bad
Season 3
Anne
Lovers Walk--"Love's Bitch"
Enemies-Faith tries to steal Angel's soul
Season 4
Beer Bad
A New Man--Giles gets a make over... demon style.
This Years Girl/Who Are You--Faith Returns and steals Buffy's Identity.
Season 5
The Replacement - 2 Xanders
I was Made to Love You--robots
Season 6
Bargaining/After Life--Buffy returns from ... well no spoilers.
Hell's Bells--Xander and Anya's wedding
Normal Again-Buffy in Psych Ward
Season 7
Same Time Same Place
Him--This one is worth it to see Xander and Spike steal a letterman's jacket.
First Date
The Pack (Xander's always the victim of something... at least this time his victimhood turns him into a preditor)
The Puppet Show (The closing credits are priceless!!)
Season 2
What's My Line--Career Week
Surprise/Innocense--Angel Goes Bad
Season 3
Anne
Lovers Walk--"Love's Bitch"
Enemies-Faith tries to steal Angel's soul
Season 4
Beer Bad
A New Man--Giles gets a make over... demon style.
This Years Girl/Who Are You--Faith Returns and steals Buffy's Identity.
Season 5
The Replacement - 2 Xanders
I was Made to Love You--robots
Season 6
Bargaining/After Life--Buffy returns from ... well no spoilers.
Hell's Bells--Xander and Anya's wedding
Normal Again-Buffy in Psych Ward
Season 7
Same Time Same Place
Him--This one is worth it to see Xander and Spike steal a letterman's jacket.
First Date
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Saturday Sparky
Sparky performing the sacred and time-honored "food dance". The tupperware container is where I keep his opened "wet food" cans.
Sparky is doing much better. This is a pre-op photo.
Buffy Favorite #10-Once More, With Feeling
Season 6 Episode 7
A music demon comes into town and everyone bursts into song.
Check out the tunes at Amazon.
Ok. So I ran out of tens in the top ten. Next time, I'm going to comment on the honorable mentions.
A music demon comes into town and everyone bursts into song.
Check out the tunes at Amazon.
Ok. So I ran out of tens in the top ten. Next time, I'm going to comment on the honorable mentions.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Buffy Favorite #9-The Body
Season5 Episode 16
This is the episode where Buffy's mom dies.
The only thing I can say is that if you have ever lost anyone or know anyone who as lost anyone this episode will break your heart.
No quotes.
This is the episode where Buffy's mom dies.
The only thing I can say is that if you have ever lost anyone or know anyone who as lost anyone this episode will break your heart.
No quotes.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Buffy Favorite #8-Buffy vs. Dracula
Season 5 Episode 1
Dracula finally shows up!
Notable Quotes
Dracula finally shows up!
Notable Quotes
Xander: No, we're not going to (imitates Dracula's accent) leave you. And where'd you get that accent Sesame Street? One, two, three — three victims. Mwah, ha, ha, ha!
(Xander falls under Dracula's influence)
Willow: Well, I think we have Dracula factoids.
Xander: Like any of that's enough to fight the Dark Master. (They look at him) Bator.
Xander: See?! Buffy didn't feel it. I think you're drawing a lot of crazy conclusions about the Unholy Prince! (They look at him) Bator.
Riley: I've lived in Sunnydale a couple of years now. Know what I've never noticed before?
Giles: Uh, a castle?
Riley: A big, honking castle.
Giles: Oh, good show Giles. At least you didn't get knocked out for a change.
Xander: Where is he? Where's the creep that turned me into a spider eating man bitch?
Buffy: He's gone.
Xander: Damn it! You know what? I'm sick of this crap. I'm sick of being the guy who eats insects and gets the funny syphilis. As of this moment, it's over. I'm finished being everybody's butt monkey!
Buffy: Check. No more butt monkey.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Buffy Favorite #7-Superstar
Season 4 Episode 17
Jonathan, the class loser, becomes a superstar. This episode is great! Jonathan who is always in the background takes center stange and Joss makes you figure out what the hell is going on for yourself.
Sorry for the spoiler.
Notable Quotes:
Jonathan, the class loser, becomes a superstar. This episode is great! Jonathan who is always in the background takes center stange and Joss makes you figure out what the hell is going on for yourself.
Sorry for the spoiler.
Notable Quotes:
Willow: I don't care if it is an orgy of death, there's still such a thing as a napkin.
Xander: We knocked them dead... which they already were.
Willow: We knocked them deader!
Spike (to Buffy): Yeah, back off, Betty!
Buffy: It's Buffy! You big, bleached... stupid guy.
Anya: Xander's not here.
Buffy Oh.
(Pause)
Anya: You're not going away. Why aren't you going away?
Anya (trying to give Buffy a pep talk): Oh, buck up you! You kill the best! Go you! Kill, kill.
Anya: You could have, like, a world with no shrimp. Or with, you know, nothing but shrimp.
Buffy: Anya, tell them about the alternate universes.
Anya: Oh, okay. Um... say you really like shrimp a lot. Or we could say you don't like shrimp at all. "Blah, I wish there weren't any shrimp," you'd say to yourself —
Buffy: Stop! You're saying it wrong.
Buffy: I think that Jonathan may be doing something so that he's manipulating the world, and we're all like his pawns.
Anya: Or prawns.
Buffy: Stop with the shrimp! I am trying to do something here!
Buffy: Giles, do you have a Jonathan swimsuit calendar?
Giles: No... Yes. I-it was a gift.
Riley: These spells, these really work? I mean, can you really turn your enemies inside out or learn to excrete gold coins?
Anya: That one's not so much fun.
Giles (after Xander speaks Latin, setting a book on fire): Xander, don't speak Latin in front of the books.
Xander: So, we're saying that he did a spell just to make us think he was cool?
Giles: Yes.
Xander: That is so cool.
No one expects the Spanish Inquisition
I've had a shit week. My Special Lady Friend decided that we should put more emphasis on the Friend and less on the special. I'm still getting over being sick from last week. And my foster cat has been sick and needed surgery, which is hard both because my little buddy is sick and because vet bills are shockingly expensive.
Surprisingly, I'm still in pretty good spirits. I know that all of this crap isn't important and that it is the good stuff that is important to focus on. Sparky is getting better and so am I. I know eventually I'll find another Special Lady Friend and a little bird told me that another little bird thinks I'm cute (read: devastatingly handsome).
So all in all... a little bit of a gloomy week with sunshine on the way.
Surprisingly, I'm still in pretty good spirits. I know that all of this crap isn't important and that it is the good stuff that is important to focus on. Sparky is getting better and so am I. I know eventually I'll find another Special Lady Friend and a little bird told me that another little bird thinks I'm cute (read: devastatingly handsome).
So all in all... a little bit of a gloomy week with sunshine on the way.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Buffy Favorite #6-Hush
Season 4 Episode 10
In this episode, the town loses its voices. The theme of this was: you start communicating when you start talking. The great thing about this show is that it was known for its writing and they do an episode with almost no words! Amazing! Oh, yeah. The bad guys are wicked evil and scary!
Notable Quotes (?) (The best lines in this one are the actions.)
In this episode, the town loses its voices. The theme of this was: you start communicating when you start talking. The great thing about this show is that it was known for its writing and they do an episode with almost no words! Amazing! Oh, yeah. The bad guys are wicked evil and scary!
Notable Quotes (?) (The best lines in this one are the actions.)
Riley: "So tell me about your dream. As a Psych major, I'm qualified to go, 'hmmm.'"
Anya: "This isn't a relationship; you don't need me! All you care about is lots of orgasms."
(Giles and Spike stare at them.)
Xander: "OK, remember how we talked about private conversations? How they're less private when they're in front of my friends?"
Spike: "Oh, we're not your friends; go on."
Giles: "I have a friend who's coming to town, and I'd like us to be alone."
Anya: "Oh, you mean an orgasm friend?"
Giles: "Yes, that's exactly the most appalling thing you could've said."
Forrest: "We have a gig that would inevitably cause any girl living to think we are cool upon cool. Yet, we must Clark Kent our way through the dating scene never to use our unfair advantage... thank God we're pretty."
Monday, March 06, 2006
The Simpsons--For real
I don't know what to say about the British introduction to the Simpsons with real live actors. Clever... Strange... Frightening... You dear readers must decide for yourselves.
(Hat Tip: NoodleFood)
(Hat Tip: NoodleFood)
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Buffy Favorite #5-Doppelgangland
Season 3 Episode 16
Three words: MMM... BAD WILLOW!
Notable Quotes:
Three words: MMM... BAD WILLOW!
Notable Quotes:
Willow: "Buff. I'm storming off. It doesn't really work if you come with me."
Willow: "Well did you try looking inside the sofa in Hell?"
Willow: "Say! You all didn't happen to do a bunch of drugs, did ya?"
Vamp Willow (meeting the real Willow): "Well, look at me. I'm all fuzzy."
Willow: "That's me as a vampire? I'm so evil. And skanky. And I think I'm kinda gay!"
Willow (looking down at her cleavage): "Gosh, look at those!"
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Buffy Favorite #4-The Zeppo
Season 3 Episode 13
This is the episode where Cordy tells Xander that he's worthless and is the Zeppo of the group. Zeppo refers to the Groucho Marx's forgotten brother. The episode focuses on Xander and how he actually prefers to be the Zeppo. Xander is one of my favorite characters because he is the most human. He is, in fact, the only real human. He is insiteful, thoughtful and genuine.
There is a touching moment in season 7 when Dawn realizes that she is not a potential slayer. Realizing what a let down this can be, Xander comforts her and he is amazing. In fact, he is the only one who can do it and this episode is a major part of his character development.
Noteable Quotes:
This is the episode where Cordy tells Xander that he's worthless and is the Zeppo of the group. Zeppo refers to the Groucho Marx's forgotten brother. The episode focuses on Xander and how he actually prefers to be the Zeppo. Xander is one of my favorite characters because he is the most human. He is, in fact, the only real human. He is insiteful, thoughtful and genuine.
There is a touching moment in season 7 when Dawn realizes that she is not a potential slayer. Realizing what a let down this can be, Xander comforts her and he is amazing. In fact, he is the only one who can do it and this episode is a major part of his character development.
Noteable Quotes:
Jack: "What are you, retarded?"
Xander: "No. No, I had to take that test when I was seven. A little slow in some stuff, mostly math and spatial relations, but certainly not challenged or anything."
Jack: "You wanna be startin' something?"
Xander: "What? Starting something? Like that Michael Jackson song, right? That was a lot of fun, huh? 'Too high to get over, yeah, yeah.' Remember that fun song?"
Xander: "Is it hard to play guitar?"
Oz: "Not the way I play it."
Xander: "It's my thing."
Willow: "Your thing?"
Xander: "My thing!"
Buffy: "Is this a penis metaphor?"
Giles: "All we know is that the fate of the entire world rests on the
(looking in the donut box)— did you eat all the jellies?"
Buffy: "Did you want a jelly?"
Giles: "I always have a jelly. I'm always the one that says 'Let's have a jelly in the mix.'"
Willow: "We're sorry. Buffy had three!"
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Buffy Favorite #3-Band Candy
This is the episode where the band candy makes everyone turn into their teenage-selves. The best part of this episode is Buffy playing mom to her mom. Especially when Joyce and Giles have their fun.
Notable Quotes:
Notable Quotes:
Cordelia: "Actually, I'm looking forward to it. I do well on standardized tests. (Everyone gives her a look) What? I can't have layers?"
Xander, making guilty conversation while playing footsie with Willow: "The band! Yeah. They're great. They march."
Willow: "Like an army. Except... with music instead of bullets, and... usually no one dies."
Willow's attempt to explain the adults' behavior: "Maybe there's a reunion in town, or a Billy Joel tour or something."
Oz: "Teenagers. It's a sobering mirror to look into, huh?"
Buffy: "Giles at sixteen? Less 'together guy,' more 'bad-magic hates-the-world ticking-time-bomb guy.'"
Buffy: "Something's weird."
Oz: "Something's not?"
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Buffy Favorite #2-Halloween
Season 2 Episode 6
This is an interesting episode because in the Buffyverse, normally Halloween is boring. Amature night. In this episode a wizard has everybody actually turn into their costumes. Xander turns into a soldier; Willow turns into a ghost.
I like this episode because 1) Xander gets mad skills and 2) Halloween is the night to dress up as you what you would want to be in real life... this episode explores that premise.
Notable Quotes:
This is an interesting episode because in the Buffyverse, normally Halloween is boring. Amature night. In this episode a wizard has everybody actually turn into their costumes. Xander turns into a soldier; Willow turns into a ghost.
I like this episode because 1) Xander gets mad skills and 2) Halloween is the night to dress up as you what you would want to be in real life... this episode explores that premise.
Notable Quotes:
Drusilla: "Do you love my insides? The parts you can't see?"
Spike: "Eyeballs to entrails, my sweet."
Xander: "Buffy! Lady of Buffdom, Duchess of Buffonia, I am in awe! I completely renounce spandex!"
Willow: "She couldn't have dressed up like Xena?"
Willow: "Okay, your name is Cordelia, you're not a cat, you're in high school, and we're your friends. Well, sort of."
Cordelia: "That's nice, Willow. And you went mental when?"
Spike: "Well, this is just... neat!"
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Jane In Progress
Jane Espenson, one of the writers on Buffy, has a fascinating blog. Her audience is potential script writers, but it is interesting for TV viewers too.
Grr... Arrgh... Reprise
This morning, I watched the last episode of Buffy. I've officially seen the entire series straight through. I feel a little sad. It had a great ending, but I'm going to miss it. I know I'm a little late with this since I watched all of the episodes in syndication.
So I think I'm going to give a few posts on my favorite episodes. A top ten episodes by my own standards.
I think I'll start with Season 1 and work my way through. So top 10, in no particular order. Oh, yeah. I'm going to exclude season/series finales.
Season 1. Episode 7. "Angel"
After our introduction to the Hellmouth and a few of its mysteries, there is still one large mystery, Angel. In this episode, Buffy and Angel finally get their romance on and we find out that he is a vampire. After the whole series, it is hard to remember that she didn't always know that he was a vampire.
This is a great episode because it sets up much of the next several seasons and the entire Angel series. A vampire with a soul... classic.
Notable Quotes:
So I think I'm going to give a few posts on my favorite episodes. A top ten episodes by my own standards.
I think I'll start with Season 1 and work my way through. So top 10, in no particular order. Oh, yeah. I'm going to exclude season/series finales.
Season 1. Episode 7. "Angel"
After our introduction to the Hellmouth and a few of its mysteries, there is still one large mystery, Angel. In this episode, Buffy and Angel finally get their romance on and we find out that he is a vampire. After the whole series, it is hard to remember that she didn't always know that he was a vampire.
This is a great episode because it sets up much of the next several seasons and the entire Angel series. A vampire with a soul... classic.
Notable Quotes:
Xander: "I mean, guys'll do anything to impress a girl. I once drank an entire gallon of Gatorade without taking a breath."
Willow: "It was pretty impressive. Although later there was an ick factor."
Buffy: "You want Xander, you've gotta speak up, girl!"
Willow: "No, no, no, no. No speaking up. That way leads to madness... and sweaty palms."
Angel: "You have no idea what it's like to have done the things that I've done... and to care."
Monday, February 27, 2006
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Wire In The Blood: Series 4
Wire in the Blood, Series 4 is now filming. Maybe I will have something to watch after I finish watching Buffy and Alias ends.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Friday, February 24, 2006
Big Animals
My friend Laura, who sent me the picture of the giant bunny, just sent me this picture of this giant cat. This guy is pretty heafty, but not as big as my sister's cat, Zoe. He looks like Sparky if he had just eaten his body weight in "muscle max weight gainer supplement".
Thursday, February 23, 2006
200
This is my 200th post. A milestone? I don't have anything special to say... just, um, hello, be excellent to each other, and, um, party on, dudes.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Punching Holes in Boats
Dee and Aviva had a bit of a hair raising experience today. Read the quote from her blog below.
How's that for adventure!
...The first job was to make a 2-inch hole in the bottom of the boat, no mean feat I can tell you and yes I was very nervous. I had checked with the shore support team to make sure I could reduce my chances of sinking. The speed transducer had stopped working; it had been intermittent for a while but had now given up completely. I needed to pull it from the bottom of the boat to inspect it. After I had checked the method and confirmed which transducer I needed to pull, as it sits next to the depth transducer in the hull, I set to work. There is something quite surreal about pulling something from the hull that when absent leaves a hole. I had been assured that a valve would close the hole and water would enter the hull slowly at a trickle, if I got it wrong I would have a two-inch hole and the water would enter pretty fast and fill the watertight compartment in about four hours. A relaxing thought to keep me company. I was confident and didn't wear my mask and snorkel however I did have some butterflies in my stomach. All was well and I found the transducer had a friend attached to it. I wasn't sure if it was animal, vegetable or mineral and not being one for little nasties, I extracted whatever it was from the paddle wheel using a screwdriver, once clear I replaced the transducer back through the hull and heh presto the speed suddenly started working again. Another job successfully completed and I wasn't sinking!
How's that for adventure!
Monday, February 20, 2006
Sunday, February 19, 2006
I'm a little bit country...
she's a little bit goth and punk.
So I decide to break out my newish kickers of the s**t for a night on the town. I put on my only cowboy shirt , my boot cut levis, my worn leather belt, and I'm good to go. I don't look down right hick, but I have the look of a mild mannered accountant ready to play cowboy for a night.
So Y and I go to meet her friend Mike for his birthday at Bull and Bush. After dinner, we give him the choice of where to go next. He chooses a bar at 23rd and Champa(?) that I've never heard of. They play "industrial" music, he says.
We go into this place and I immediately stick out like a white man at a Black Panthers meeting. It wasn't an "industrial" dance club. It was a Goth bar.
So my tan plaid shirt looks like neon white compared to all of the black at this club. I'm the only one whose hair is not platinum blonde or jet black. I have no makeup on, no fishnets, no black at all come to think of it. I stick out. I thought to myself, "of all the nights you decide to go hick, you choose the night to go to a goth bar."
So what did I do? I had a great time. I danced to Siouxsie and the Banshees, Decpeche Mode, the Cure, etc. I drank something alcoholic and steaming like witch's brew.
In any case, the really interesting part of the evening was Jerry, one of Mike's other friends, who joined us at the Goth bar. He was wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans and didn't quite glow in the dark like I did. But he was SO uncomfortable. It was as if he felt how I looked---really out of place. I'm not sure why he though it was so bad. No one looked at him (or me) twice. Nobody cared--well, except for my mistaking the women's room for the men's, but that's another story.
The whole experience made me think about how the people there were no less costumed than the people at "Cool River Cafe" meat market. Just a different style of dress.
Well, to quote my dad: "Clothes don't make the man".
So I decide to break out my newish kickers of the s**t for a night on the town. I put on my only cowboy shirt , my boot cut levis, my worn leather belt, and I'm good to go. I don't look down right hick, but I have the look of a mild mannered accountant ready to play cowboy for a night.
So Y and I go to meet her friend Mike for his birthday at Bull and Bush. After dinner, we give him the choice of where to go next. He chooses a bar at 23rd and Champa(?) that I've never heard of. They play "industrial" music, he says.
We go into this place and I immediately stick out like a white man at a Black Panthers meeting. It wasn't an "industrial" dance club. It was a Goth bar.
So my tan plaid shirt looks like neon white compared to all of the black at this club. I'm the only one whose hair is not platinum blonde or jet black. I have no makeup on, no fishnets, no black at all come to think of it. I stick out. I thought to myself, "of all the nights you decide to go hick, you choose the night to go to a goth bar."
So what did I do? I had a great time. I danced to Siouxsie and the Banshees, Decpeche Mode, the Cure, etc. I drank something alcoholic and steaming like witch's brew.
In any case, the really interesting part of the evening was Jerry, one of Mike's other friends, who joined us at the Goth bar. He was wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans and didn't quite glow in the dark like I did. But he was SO uncomfortable. It was as if he felt how I looked---really out of place. I'm not sure why he though it was so bad. No one looked at him (or me) twice. Nobody cared--well, except for my mistaking the women's room for the men's, but that's another story.
The whole experience made me think about how the people there were no less costumed than the people at "Cool River Cafe" meat market. Just a different style of dress.
Well, to quote my dad: "Clothes don't make the man".
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Saturday Sparky
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Sparky!
I'm starting a new tradition. I will post a photo of my Sparky every Saturday. I'm doing it because he is tired of the paparazzi following him around and harrassing him about driving with a baby in his lap. Wait that's someone else.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Podcast Update
So I've produced three shows and I'm definitely getting better at making everything flow together. I'm running into three problems.
1) My comes with the computer mic is a piece of go-se. When I make my internet debut, I have to get a new mic and a preamp mixer to accompany it.
2) I don't know any cheap (read: free) way to get the shows up on the internet. I have already overloaded at least one of my friend's email accounts.
3) My software program: Audacity--good... Castblaster--better. Audacity---free... Castblaster--not so much. (Hat tip to Cali Lewis on GeekBrief. Check her out to see why Adam Curry says Grrhrr!)
So--the long and short of it is, if I'm going to do a Podcast, I'm going to have to spend money. Since it will be a bluesy type of Podcast, John Lee Hooker's song "Money" is coming to mind. "moneh, thas what I wan'"
I've decided to take the plunge and go for it. I'll keep you posted.
1) My comes with the computer mic is a piece of go-se. When I make my internet debut, I have to get a new mic and a preamp mixer to accompany it.
2) I don't know any cheap (read: free) way to get the shows up on the internet. I have already overloaded at least one of my friend's email accounts.
3) My software program: Audacity--good... Castblaster--better. Audacity---free... Castblaster--not so much. (Hat tip to Cali Lewis on GeekBrief. Check her out to see why Adam Curry says Grrhrr!)
So--the long and short of it is, if I'm going to do a Podcast, I'm going to have to spend money. Since it will be a bluesy type of Podcast, John Lee Hooker's song "Money" is coming to mind. "moneh, thas what I wan'"
I've decided to take the plunge and go for it. I'll keep you posted.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Churchill Quotes
Check out WitNit's post of Churchill's quotes.
My favorite:
An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.
My favorite:
An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Monday, February 13, 2006
V-day
I have a date for Valentine's day for the first time in a few years. I've decided to flex that ol' romance muscle and make a special meal for my special lady friend. I've already made her one meal and I pulled out all the stops, so I'm kind of screwed. I can't out do what I've already done; I've already impressed her, which means---expectations. I've decided to make her almost the same meal, but with subtle variations.
So here is the menu:
To start:
last time--cucumbers topped with balsamic vinaigrette.
this time--a glass of an Mondavi's sauvignon Blanc. No food.
(She didn't eat much of the appetizers last time)
The wine:
last time--a good 2005 Chateaux Moi
this time--well see above. This time the food will match the wine.
Main course:
last time--Red Snapper with a sweet and spicy mustard glaze
this time--Lemon Pepper Salmon
(She doesn't eat beef or chx)
Dessert:
last time--homemade ice cream.
this time--Chocolate covered Strawberries.
Music:
last time--Mozart
this time--Sinatra
And, of course, there will be candle light, the same as last time.
I'm now thinking that maybe I shouldn't publish this... I have two worries... 1) what if she reads this and the surprise is ruined... ok... Unlikely... 2) what if I end up dating one of you, dear readers, and then I serve this meal to you... I'll get my ass kicked. Damn!
Well, it's written. Here goes nothing...
So here is the menu:
To start:
last time--cucumbers topped with balsamic vinaigrette.
this time--a glass of an Mondavi's sauvignon Blanc. No food.
(She didn't eat much of the appetizers last time)
The wine:
last time--a good 2005 Chateaux Moi
this time--well see above. This time the food will match the wine.
Main course:
last time--Red Snapper with a sweet and spicy mustard glaze
this time--Lemon Pepper Salmon
(She doesn't eat beef or chx)
Dessert:
last time--homemade ice cream.
this time--Chocolate covered Strawberries.
Music:
last time--Mozart
this time--Sinatra
And, of course, there will be candle light, the same as last time.
I'm now thinking that maybe I shouldn't publish this... I have two worries... 1) what if she reads this and the surprise is ruined... ok... Unlikely... 2) what if I end up dating one of you, dear readers, and then I serve this meal to you... I'll get my ass kicked. Damn!
Well, it's written. Here goes nothing...
BB&T vs Kelo
Principled action against an unjust Supreme Court decision. Here's Diana's post. BB&T is refusing to make loans on any development whose land was taken via a Kelo taking. If only Wells Fargo and BankOne did the same thing!
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Occasional Quote:
"In the absence of clearly-defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it. "
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Friday, February 10, 2006
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Bunnies
Bunnies aren't just cute like everybody supposes!
They've got them hoppy legs and twitchy little noses!
And what's with all the carrots?
What do they need such good eyesight for anyway?
Bunnies, bunnies, it must be bunnies!!
... Or maybe midgets?
-Sung by Anya in "Once More, With Feeling"
Season 6, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
My friend, Laura, sent me this article about a giant Bunny in germany. Part of me wants to think this is a hoax, but it was in the New York Post and they tend to make fewer mistakes than the NY Times.
Here is the news story.
German Giant, one of the biggest bunnies on the face of the planet, tips the scales at 17 pounds — almost seven pounds more than the average rabbit of his breed. And he’s still growing, according to German breeder Hans Wagner (above), whose hair-raising angora hare was the highlight of a recent rabbit fair in BerlinOn all paws, German Giant, named for the world’s largest rabbit breed, stands 17 inches tall. And standing on his hind feet, he’s more than three feet tall. To find out how unusual Wagner’s wabbit is, The Post contacted Six Bells Rabbitry in, Colo. “That’s a huge animal. That’s amazing,” said breeder Michelle Jones. “In the States, it’s hard to get them past 12 to 15 pounds.” How did German Giant get so big? “I don’t feed him an unusual diet,” said Wagner. “He goes through more than his brothers and sisters, but he eats the same food mix. His favorite food is actually lettuce. He can never get enough of it.” Herr Hare is unusual in another way, he noted. “Unlike some other rabbits I’ve had, he’s really a gentle character — a gentle giant.”
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Giant Black CDs
My parents are moving and thus coercing me to "take my crap out of their house". I didn't realize this, but they still have my record collection. Oddly, it was mostly inherited from my dad and pieced together through garage sales. I mean, I only EVER bought one record from the store. (AC/DC's Back in Black, thank you very much).
So I started going through my record collection and I realized that it is pretty damn good. You have to keep in mind the context of when records were big to truly appreciate it. I don't know when cassettes replaced records in volume, but 1980 seems like a good number. There were records prior to 1960, but lets say they really became a mass market in 1960. So lets say1960 to 1980.
So the star players, artists with >5 albums in the collection, in my record collection include:
The Beatles (I have 2 copies of the White Album)
The Rolling Stones (I have "Exile On Main Street" and I didn't even know it)
Kiss (!)
Jefferson Airplane
Alice Cooper (My own preference)
Jimi Hendrix
Ozzy Osbourne
If I had these as CDs today, I would say I have a pretty solid classic rock collection. I could probably take over 103.5 The Fox for a day and not repeat myself or bore the listeners.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this new found knowldege. Ebay and RipVinyl seem to be two pretty good options.
So I started going through my record collection and I realized that it is pretty damn good. You have to keep in mind the context of when records were big to truly appreciate it. I don't know when cassettes replaced records in volume, but 1980 seems like a good number. There were records prior to 1960, but lets say they really became a mass market in 1960. So lets say1960 to 1980.
So the star players, artists with >5 albums in the collection, in my record collection include:
The Beatles (I have 2 copies of the White Album)
The Rolling Stones (I have "Exile On Main Street" and I didn't even know it)
Kiss (!)
Jefferson Airplane
Alice Cooper (My own preference)
Jimi Hendrix
Ozzy Osbourne
If I had these as CDs today, I would say I have a pretty solid classic rock collection. I could probably take over 103.5 The Fox for a day and not repeat myself or bore the listeners.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this new found knowldege. Ebay and RipVinyl seem to be two pretty good options.
William T. Sherman
Today is Sherman's birthday. He is most famous for his "march to the sea" which devastated the south. According to the bio, "Sherman maintained that only by breaking the war spirit of the enemy, noncombatant as well as combatant, could victory be won—hence the march through Georgia and South Carolina."
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Holding Our For A Hero
The Ayn Rand Institute's writer Andrew Bernstein had the Letter to the Editor below in the LA Times yesterday. (Hat Tip Truth, Justice and the American Way)
Dear Editor:
While it is great to finally welcome Superman back to the wide screen, Geoff Boucher's "Old-Fashioned Value" [Jan. 15] raises disturbing questions about our culture. If American society now rejects Superman because he is "a big blue Boy Scout," i.e., a morally pure hero, then we are in greater internal danger than any we face externally. A free society fighting for its existence against religious fascists needs to know that good exists, that the world's freest country represents it, and that it can and should triumph over evil. A preference for antiheroes represents a collapse into cynicism at the precise moment that the country needs the idealistic commitment to freedom ("the American way") so brilliantly represented by Superman.
Andrew Bernstein
Grr... Arrgh
For Buffy/Angel/Firefly fans, this signals the end of an episode. It's the tag that Mutant Enemy has used to close its shows. I thought this was appropriate for this post because I am coming up on finishing the Buffy the Vampire series on Tivo.
Truthfully, I'm a little sad. I know that I have a finite number of new episodes to watch and then no more.
Grr... Arrgh.
Once I finish Season Seven, I'll post my thoughts on it, including why I thought this was such a great series and compare and contrast it with both Angel and Firefly. Until then... I'll be savoring... and you... Keep flying and stay shiny.
Truthfully, I'm a little sad. I know that I have a finite number of new episodes to watch and then no more.
Grr... Arrgh.
Once I finish Season Seven, I'll post my thoughts on it, including why I thought this was such a great series and compare and contrast it with both Angel and Firefly. Until then... I'll be savoring... and you... Keep flying and stay shiny.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Getting My Dork On...
My brother sent me a post from a website called dorkon.com, dedicated to getting one's dork on. This post has nothing to do with the website; ie I'm doing the old bait and switch.
And now for the switch...
As you may have noticed my blogging has slowed a little. Why? Because I've been spending some of my "blog" time to look into Podcasting.
I actually prepared a brief trial podcast to see what was possible with out spending any additional money. I already have a "comes with the computer" mic, a few MP3s, and a half an hour of free time. Audacity and its mp3 encoder are free. I had the tools and a very minimal amount of talent. So Podcast ahoy!
Now that I've created PC1 (Podcast 1 for you non-dorks), I'm excited about PC2. I have a few problems to overcome.
1) Bandwidth and storage. I have been researching places to store the podcasts without spending much money. If I ever get a big audience... then I'll shell out some cash. Until then, cheapskates the word. I have two leads.
2) Copyright law. To play music over the internet you need to make sure it is either in the public domain, which no sound recordings are, yet, or to get a license from ASCAP. Brian Ibbot at Coverville has gone through this process, but it is expensive. So the alternative I've chosen is to work with www.garageband.com. Bands are allowed to post info about themselves and post songs available for download. The cool part of it is that if you get a podcast license from them, you are able to use any of their downloadable songs for a podcast of your own. So this will allow me to post my shows on the internet w/o breaking any laws.
And so now for the part where I get my full dork on...
I've been to half of the computer stores in Denver, looking for some equipment that would boost my podcast to a slightly better level. Having an iPod, a little better mic, a mixer, a compressor, an external sound card that ports to USB, headphones, would improve the quality of my podcast significantly. I talked to two separate sales boys at CompUSA and I was astonished about how much they know.
The funny thing was they both said "the [insert piece of equipment] I bought for myself was ...", and after they said it I thought, maybe I need to work at CompUSA part time so I can buy all the cool toys. It took a couple seconds before my dork meter came on. In the matter of days I had gone from normal businessman joe back to the uberdork I was in high school.
So there it is.... I got my dork on and damnit, I'm proud.
(BTW, if anyone wants a copy of PC1, let me know. It is a 10MB file so you need to be able to handle that big of a download.)
And now for the switch...
As you may have noticed my blogging has slowed a little. Why? Because I've been spending some of my "blog" time to look into Podcasting.
I actually prepared a brief trial podcast to see what was possible with out spending any additional money. I already have a "comes with the computer" mic, a few MP3s, and a half an hour of free time. Audacity and its mp3 encoder are free. I had the tools and a very minimal amount of talent. So Podcast ahoy!
Now that I've created PC1 (Podcast 1 for you non-dorks), I'm excited about PC2. I have a few problems to overcome.
1) Bandwidth and storage. I have been researching places to store the podcasts without spending much money. If I ever get a big audience... then I'll shell out some cash. Until then, cheapskates the word. I have two leads.
2) Copyright law. To play music over the internet you need to make sure it is either in the public domain, which no sound recordings are, yet, or to get a license from ASCAP. Brian Ibbot at Coverville has gone through this process, but it is expensive. So the alternative I've chosen is to work with www.garageband.com. Bands are allowed to post info about themselves and post songs available for download. The cool part of it is that if you get a podcast license from them, you are able to use any of their downloadable songs for a podcast of your own. So this will allow me to post my shows on the internet w/o breaking any laws.
And so now for the part where I get my full dork on...
I've been to half of the computer stores in Denver, looking for some equipment that would boost my podcast to a slightly better level. Having an iPod, a little better mic, a mixer, a compressor, an external sound card that ports to USB, headphones, would improve the quality of my podcast significantly. I talked to two separate sales boys at CompUSA and I was astonished about how much they know.
The funny thing was they both said "the [insert piece of equipment] I bought for myself was ...", and after they said it I thought, maybe I need to work at CompUSA part time so I can buy all the cool toys. It took a couple seconds before my dork meter came on. In the matter of days I had gone from normal businessman joe back to the uberdork I was in high school.
So there it is.... I got my dork on and damnit, I'm proud.
(BTW, if anyone wants a copy of PC1, let me know. It is a 10MB file so you need to be able to handle that big of a download.)
Sparky on the Computer
Sparky didn't like me blogging last night, so he climbed on the computer and caused some havoc.
(Well, the picture and blogger aren't getting along. If you click on it, it comes out better.)
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Best Superbowl Ad
I don't really care much about football, but I love the Superbowl ads.
This year my favorite was "The Magic Fridge is Back", although the "Streaking Sheep" was pretty good.
This year my favorite was "The Magic Fridge is Back", although the "Streaking Sheep" was pretty good.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Occasional Quote:
"Age to me means nothing. I can't get old; I'm working. I was old when I was twenty-one and out of work. As long as you're working, you stay young. When I'm in front of an audience, all that love and vitality sweeps over me and I forget my age."
[I hope whatever I'm doing at 90 makes me forget my age!]
[I hope whatever I'm doing at 90 makes me forget my age!]
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Heebie Geebies
I had a TA in college who told us about how he had been thrown out of a Christian cult when he was an undergrad. He said he thought he was moving in with a bunch of guys from his church. In his mind it was a kind of Christian fraternity.
The way he told it actually sounded kind of funny. He was a chemistry major and was always asking questions. So the day he got kicked out of the cult, he said that he asked the 'leader' "Why is the diet here only made up of carbs? I read in my nutrition book today that if you only eat carbs you become mentally complacent."
In my mind this is like asking Jim Jones--"Don't you know that the poison in the kool-aid will kill you?"
Anyhow, I just read this account of being in a cult. I'd mention the cult's name, but I'm sure you can guess it and I don't want my blog to come up with any searches having to do with this group. The account is what made me give post that title. It is fascinating and disturbing. It makes you want to tattoo the words "THINK FOR YOURSELF" on your arm so you will never, ever, EVER forget it.
The way he told it actually sounded kind of funny. He was a chemistry major and was always asking questions. So the day he got kicked out of the cult, he said that he asked the 'leader' "Why is the diet here only made up of carbs? I read in my nutrition book today that if you only eat carbs you become mentally complacent."
In my mind this is like asking Jim Jones--"Don't you know that the poison in the kool-aid will kill you?"
Anyhow, I just read this account of being in a cult. I'd mention the cult's name, but I'm sure you can guess it and I don't want my blog to come up with any searches having to do with this group. The account is what made me give post that title. It is fascinating and disturbing. It makes you want to tattoo the words "THINK FOR YOURSELF" on your arm so you will never, ever, EVER forget it.
Burning down the house
I lived in a condo one of the years I was in college. I was surprised to see the a large portion of that condo complex burned down last week.
According to the Denver post:
A fire in boulder that torched a condominium complex and left more than a zozen people homeless was probably started by the discarded hot coals of a hookah pipe, though investigators can't say for certain that was the case.
Can you understand why I'd have mixed feelings about going to school at CU-Boulder?
According to the Denver post:
A fire in boulder that torched a condominium complex and left more than a zozen people homeless was probably started by the discarded hot coals of a hookah pipe, though investigators can't say for certain that was the case.
Can you understand why I'd have mixed feelings about going to school at CU-Boulder?
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Overconfidence
Every once in a while you read something and then see it firsthand the same day. The other day I was reading about how people are overconfident in their knowledge in this book. Stated another way, they are not objective about their knowledge level.
Think about this:
How do you pronounce the capital of Kentucky: "Loo-ee-ville" or "Loo-iss-ville"?
Now how much would you bet that you know the correct answer? $5? $50? $500?
Most people are pretty confident they know how to pronounce Louisville correctly, but they are answering the wrong question. I asked how you pronounced the capital of Kentucky. What you really need to know is "what is the capital of Kentucky?" This happens all the time. I have a friend who plays Trivial Pursuit with a twist. He answers the question and gives a ranking as to how certain he is in his answer. He found that most people he plays with are overconfident in their knowledge.
Now the way this was concretized to me was over dinner with a group of friends who are all fans of Ayn Rand. We ended up talking about suicide which lead to the question: Does Atlas Shrugged contain a story of a vengeful suicide by a spurned lover motivated solely by the desire to cause the "beloved" pain -- and if so, what is it? See Diana's post for more details.
Since I had JUST read the passage about overconfidence, I was probably more objective about how certain I was and thought to myself that I was only about 50-60% sure of my recollection. (I was 100% wrong.) A few other people at dinner were more confident and lost $5 to their overconfidence.
This dramatized and concretized overconfidence for me. I'm not certain where to take this, but it is definitely interesting.
Think about this:
How do you pronounce the capital of Kentucky: "Loo-ee-ville" or "Loo-iss-ville"?
Now how much would you bet that you know the correct answer? $5? $50? $500?
Most people are pretty confident they know how to pronounce Louisville correctly, but they are answering the wrong question. I asked how you pronounced the capital of Kentucky. What you really need to know is "what is the capital of Kentucky?" This happens all the time. I have a friend who plays Trivial Pursuit with a twist. He answers the question and gives a ranking as to how certain he is in his answer. He found that most people he plays with are overconfident in their knowledge.
Now the way this was concretized to me was over dinner with a group of friends who are all fans of Ayn Rand. We ended up talking about suicide which lead to the question: Does Atlas Shrugged contain a story of a vengeful suicide by a spurned lover motivated solely by the desire to cause the "beloved" pain -- and if so, what is it? See Diana's post for more details.
Since I had JUST read the passage about overconfidence, I was probably more objective about how certain I was and thought to myself that I was only about 50-60% sure of my recollection. (I was 100% wrong.) A few other people at dinner were more confident and lost $5 to their overconfidence.
This dramatized and concretized overconfidence for me. I'm not certain where to take this, but it is definitely interesting.
Print 'em full size
Capital Freedom points out that these versions are much too small for congress to be able to read. Maybe that is the trouble.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Occasional Quote:
Helen Keller
"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it."
"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it."
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Meme of Fours
Swiped from WitNit and later tagged by Tina and AGAIN by Ian:
(I guess I should have just posted this instead of putting it in queue.)
Four Jobs IÂ’ve Had In My Life:
Conductor on a Steam train (Disney World)
Coffee Schlepper at Starbucks
Lab researcher (Bioresearch in high school, physics research in college)
Real Estate Appraiser
Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over and Have:
An Ideal Husband ("To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.")
Better Off Dead ("Go that way really fast. If something gets in your way, turn!")
Gattaca ("You want to know how I did it? This is how I did it, Anton: I never saved anything for the swim back.")
The Godfather Parts 1 and 2 ("In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.")
Four Places I Have Lived:
Boulder, Colorado
Orlando, Florida
Denver, Colorado
Englewood, Colorado
Four TV Shows I Love to Watch:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel/Firefly (I count these as one since they are all Jossian)
Veronica Mars
Alias
Wire in the Blood
Four Places I Have Been on Vacation:
London
Barcelona
Osaka Japan
Kauai
Four Websites I Visit Daily:
Only four. I think I'll pass on this one. Don't want to choose among my children.
Four Favorite Foods:
Sushi
Steak
Mexican Food
Haggis (ok, not really a favorite, but I do like haggis)
Four Places I Would Rather Be Right Now:
Home
Out looking at properties
Cullera, Spain, eating paella, drinking beer, planning a sail
On a boat, anywhere warm
(I guess I should have just posted this instead of putting it in queue.)
Four Jobs IÂ’ve Had In My Life:
Conductor on a Steam train (Disney World)
Coffee Schlepper at Starbucks
Lab researcher (Bioresearch in high school, physics research in college)
Real Estate Appraiser
Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over and Have:
An Ideal Husband ("To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.")
Better Off Dead ("Go that way really fast. If something gets in your way, turn!")
Gattaca ("You want to know how I did it? This is how I did it, Anton: I never saved anything for the swim back.")
The Godfather Parts 1 and 2 ("In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.")
Four Places I Have Lived:
Boulder, Colorado
Orlando, Florida
Denver, Colorado
Englewood, Colorado
Four TV Shows I Love to Watch:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel/Firefly (I count these as one since they are all Jossian)
Veronica Mars
Alias
Wire in the Blood
Four Places I Have Been on Vacation:
London
Barcelona
Osaka Japan
Kauai
Four Websites I Visit Daily:
Only four. I think I'll pass on this one. Don't want to choose among my children.
Four Favorite Foods:
Sushi
Steak
Mexican Food
Haggis (ok, not really a favorite, but I do like haggis)
Four Places I Would Rather Be Right Now:
Home
Out looking at properties
Cullera, Spain, eating paella, drinking beer, planning a sail
On a boat, anywhere warm
Occasional Quote:
Ayn Rand
"Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values."
"Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values."
Public Speaking
I've worked hard to be a good and sometimes great speaker. Too bad I didn't know this little secret in the beginning. I could have saved myself the trouble.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Link Purge, Part 2: Podcast
Here's some info I found interesting about podcasting.
Jake Ludington's Podcasting Starter Kit
Podcast Solutions Interview: Brian Ibbot of Coverville
Upgrade Your Podcast for Under $200
Roadhouse Blues Pod Cast
Yahoo's how-to
Rip Vinyl for digitizing your records
Jake Ludington's Podcasting Starter Kit
Podcast Solutions Interview: Brian Ibbot of Coverville
Upgrade Your Podcast for Under $200
Roadhouse Blues Pod Cast
Yahoo's how-to
Rip Vinyl for digitizing your records
Thursday, January 26, 2006
ABBA + Coverville = ?
Regular readers know that I'm a reluctant fan of ABBA. I want to hate them, but I can't. It is a sickness I have to endure.
In any case, in trolling the archives I found THIS show of Coverville's podcast. ALL ABBA ALL THE TIME. Or at least ALL ABBA THIS TIME. Check it out.
In any case, in trolling the archives I found THIS show of Coverville's podcast. ALL ABBA ALL THE TIME. Or at least ALL ABBA THIS TIME. Check it out.
Occasional Quote:
Sir Robert Chiltern: Do you know, Arthur, I sometimes wish I were you.
Lord Arthur Goring: Do you know, Robert, sometimes I wish you were too. Except that you would probably make something useful out of my life, and that would never do.
-"An Ideal Husband" by Oscar Wilde
Lord Arthur Goring: Do you know, Robert, sometimes I wish you were too. Except that you would probably make something useful out of my life, and that would never do.
-"An Ideal Husband" by Oscar Wilde
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Link Purge, Part 1
I have a number of links I've been meaning to post on. So I'm going to do a purge fest in a few posts.
Paul has a number of posts I thought were interesting. Topics include:
Paul has a number of posts I thought were interesting. Topics include:
- The superiority of US troops because of video games
- Strange Drinks in Eastern Europe (Tina, comments?)
- Stackable Cars
- Serenity's possible return
- An essay on Feynman and a related NoodleFood post
A post on the legality of sleeping under the influence at Truth, Justice, and the American Way
WitNit has a not so dumb blonde joke and a more serious one about Sadaam's training of terrorists.
Daniel Drezner has a post about Munich. I have been meaning to post about why I dislike this movie, I just haven't had time. Russell Roberts I think says it best in this post. "He could also have mentioned that killing murderers is not the same as murder."
BusinessPundit has an OLD post on the purpose of business.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Occasional Quote:
Buffy looking at her mother's high school yearbook: "Mom, I've accepted that you've had sex. I am not ready to know that you had Farrah hair."
Joyce: "This is Gidget hair. Don't they teach you anything in history?"
Joyce: "This is Gidget hair. Don't they teach you anything in history?"
US vs. Google: the porn search
Apparently, the government wants to know who is searching the web for porn sites and has asked Google to hand over its search data. Google has refused and the Government is sueing. What else will "Big Brother" want to know about you?
As David at Truth, Justice, and the American Way puts it:
To hell with phone calls and letters – if there are any secrets about me, my Google accounts hold them. If this is up for grabs without a warrant, what isn’t?
As David at Truth, Justice, and the American Way puts it:
To hell with phone calls and letters – if there are any secrets about me, my Google accounts hold them. If this is up for grabs without a warrant, what isn’t?
Monday, January 23, 2006
Occasional Quote:
Thanks to Ian for this quote. I just got Mencken's biography. I'm really fascinated by him right now.
Strategic Positioning
This is a picture of Sparky in his favorite spot on chilly days. Notice he is in the direct path of the hot air register!
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Occasional Quote:
Claire Cleary: Are you OK?
John Beckwith: Yeah, I'm just swinging the jib for your dad, starboard.
Claire Cleary: But starboard's *this* way.
John Beckwith: That's right. What am I thinking? I'm used to sailing down under with the kiwis so everything's backwards and the toilets when you flush them, the water spins the opposite way. Really freaks you out the first time you see it
-Wedding Crashers
I wonder if WitNit can verify this after his trip to Australia.
John Beckwith: Yeah, I'm just swinging the jib for your dad, starboard.
Claire Cleary: But starboard's *this* way.
John Beckwith: That's right. What am I thinking? I'm used to sailing down under with the kiwis so everything's backwards and the toilets when you flush them, the water spins the opposite way. Really freaks you out the first time you see it
-Wedding Crashers
I wonder if WitNit can verify this after his trip to Australia.
What Kind of Coffee am I?
| You Are an Iced Coffee |
 At your best, you are: hyper, modern, and athletic At your worst, you are: cheap and angsty You drink coffee when: you're out with friends Your caffeine addiction level: medium |
Who comes up with this stuff?
I thought for sure I'd be a straight up black coffee!
I thought for sure I'd be a straight up black coffee!
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Occasional Quote:
Black Knight: Have at you!
Arthur: You are indeed brave, sir knight, but the fight is mine.
Black Knight: Oh, had enough eh?
Arthur: Look, you stupid bastard. You've got no arms left!
Black Knight: Yes I have.
Arthur: Look!
Black Knight: Just a flesh wound!
-Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Arthur: You are indeed brave, sir knight, but the fight is mine.
Black Knight: Oh, had enough eh?
Arthur: Look, you stupid bastard. You've got no arms left!
Black Knight: Yes I have.
Arthur: Look!
Black Knight: Just a flesh wound!
-Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Parrot Troubles
Apparently having a parrot for a pet doesn't mix well with cheating on your boyfriend. Details here. I have a series of parrot jokes, but this is funnier because it's true.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Great American Speeches
When I was looking for MLK's I have a dream speech, I found this website. It has all sorts of American speeches both the text and in many cases the audio. I have some issues with their top 100 because they have skipped over everything prior to 1900.
Here is the kicker. They have some of the speeches from movies. Here are my favorites:
(Warning, the connection is slow)
Colonel Drummond Interrogates Mathew Brady on the Scientific Authority of the Bible
Larry the Liquidator's speech in Other People's Money
Aragorn's speech before the battle (LOTR)
And my absolute favorite from the site: Howard Roark Addresses the Jury
Here is the kicker. They have some of the speeches from movies. Here are my favorites:
(Warning, the connection is slow)
Colonel Drummond Interrogates Mathew Brady on the Scientific Authority of the Bible
Larry the Liquidator's speech in Other People's Money
Aragorn's speech before the battle (LOTR)
And my absolute favorite from the site: Howard Roark Addresses the Jury
Occasional Quote:
Jeff: Do you know what would be the best way to wipe out all of human kind if you were a space alien with a special kind of mind ray..? Make all women telepathic. Because if they suddenly found out about the kind of stuff that goes on in our heads they would kill us all on the spot. Men are not people - we are disgustoids in human form.
From the British TV SHOW-Coupling.
I think this tells you more about Jeff than it does about men. I highly recommend Coupling.
From the British TV SHOW-Coupling.
I think this tells you more about Jeff than it does about men. I highly recommend Coupling.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Coverville, Podcasting, and Trouble
A big thanks to Kim, who recommended Coverville to me. The podcast is a show of cover songs only. [Except for the show of non-covers-ie the songs you think are covers but aren't.]
Of course, I'm a bit of a curious creature so I dug up some info on Podcasting, and I think I may be in trouble. You see, blogging takes some time, but not a lot. Podcasting would take some more time, but, damnit, I've always wanted a radio show!
Now, to cut off any snickering, chortling, or general hysterical laughing, I am NOT talking about a talk show. I'm talking about a good old fashion radio show, with music interspersed with news, traffic, and sports updates.
I will let you know how this interest progresses, but I may be in trouble. On the positive side, I may be able to use my blues name for this!!!
Of course, I'm a bit of a curious creature so I dug up some info on Podcasting, and I think I may be in trouble. You see, blogging takes some time, but not a lot. Podcasting would take some more time, but, damnit, I've always wanted a radio show!
Now, to cut off any snickering, chortling, or general hysterical laughing, I am NOT talking about a talk show. I'm talking about a good old fashion radio show, with music interspersed with news, traffic, and sports updates.
I will let you know how this interest progresses, but I may be in trouble. On the positive side, I may be able to use my blues name for this!!!
Occasional Quote:
Individual rights are the means of subordinationg society to moral law.-- Ayn Rand, "Man's Rights," The Virtue of Selfishness
What Kind of Rock Star Am I?
| You Are a Freedom Rocker! |
 You're stuck in the 70s - for better or worse Crazy hair, pot soaked clothes, and tons of groupies Your kind showed the world how to rock Is that freedom rock?... Well turn it up man! |
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Merchant Adventurers by Berton Braley
Merchant Adventurers
Merchant Adventurers sending their galleys
Seaward from Sidon and Tyre,
Freighting their wares over mountains and valleys,
Desert and jungle and mire.
Merchant Adventurers - traders of Venice
Peddling their goods overseas,
Dauntless in face of the terrors that menace;
Merchant Adventurers, these!
Merchant Adventurers -- "English Exploiters"
Sailing the perilous Main,
Threading the haunts where the Buccaneer loiters,
Dodging the galleons of Spain.
Merchant Adventurers -- dealers and jobbers,
German, Italian and Gaul,
Fighting the greedy baronial robbers --
Merchant Adventurers, all!
Merchant Adventurers! All through the ages
Somehow their business was done,
(Seeking their profit and paying their wages)
Everywhere under the sun.
Jasons of trade who were ceaselessly faring
Over new countries and seas,
Shopkeepers canny, courageous and daring,
Merchant Adventurers, these!
Now? Writers damn them as "commonplace Babbits,
Clogging the path of advance,
Middle-class dullards of standardized habits,
Utterly lacking romance!"
If we believe all these critics and censurers
Business is humdrum to-day,
Gone is the spirit of Merchant Adventurers
Crumbled to dust and decay!
Don't you believe it -- that spirit is glowing
Under the Business Man's vest;
Jasons of Trade are still joyously going
Forth on a magical quest.
Gambling with Fate, burning bridges behind them,
Wagering all in the till,
Bucking the world for a profit, you'll find them
Merchant Adventurers still!
Occasional Quote:
John F. Kennedy
"The ancient Greek definition of happiness was the full use of your powers along lines of excellence."
"The ancient Greek definition of happiness was the full use of your powers along lines of excellence."
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Occasional Quote:
Xander: "I mean, guys'll do anything to impress a girl. I once drank an entire gallon of Gatorade without taking a breath."
Willow: "It was pretty impressive. Although later there was an ick factor."
-From Buffy
Second Hand Songs
I love cover songs. For some reason, I like to hear different versions of the same song, different interpretations, different senses of life. When Frank Sinatra sings "My Way" it gives you the feeling of the individualist who stood by his own principles and lived his own life. When Sid Vicious sings it, you know that he has rebeled against the world, that he is a lone wolf, and that if he stands for anything it is that he stands against the normal. Another example is "Personal Jesus". Think about how Depeche Mode originally sung the song, then think about Marylin Manson's version, then think about Johnny Cash's.
I stumbled across a website dedicated to cover songs. It is called SecondHandSongs.com. My favorite section was their statistics. I'll share a few:
Top 5 Most Covered Performer
1. The Beatles
2. Bob Dylan
3. The Ramones (!)
4. The Rolling Stones
5. Fabrizio De André (?)
Top 5 Most Covering Performer
1. Frank Sinatra
2. Elvis Prestley
3. Tony Bennett
4. Rod Stewert
5. John Hammond (?)
Top 5 Most Covered Songs
Song/ Artist /Number of Covers
I'm going to spend some time and figure out which blues songs my future band is going to borrow. Hopefully I can pick some tunes that haven't been covered before.
I stumbled across a website dedicated to cover songs. It is called SecondHandSongs.com. My favorite section was their statistics. I'll share a few:
Top 5 Most Covered Performer
1. The Beatles
2. Bob Dylan
3. The Ramones (!)
4. The Rolling Stones
5. Fabrizio De André (?)
Top 5 Most Covering Performer
1. Frank Sinatra
2. Elvis Prestley
3. Tony Bennett
4. Rod Stewert
5. John Hammond (?)
Top 5 Most Covered Songs
Song/ Artist /Number of Covers
1 | Eleanor Rigby | The Beatles | 112 |
| 2 | Cry Me a River | Julie London | 109 |
| 3 | (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction | The Rolling Stones | 81 |
| 4 | Blackbird | The Beatles | 79 |
| 5 | And I Love Her | The Beatles | 78 |
I'm going to spend some time and figure out which blues songs my future band is going to borrow. Hopefully I can pick some tunes that haven't been covered before.
Occasional Quote:
Spanish Proverb
"Drink nothing without seeing it; sign nothing without reading it."
"Drink nothing without seeing it; sign nothing without reading it."
Monday, January 16, 2006
Occasional Quote:
Lady Astor: Winston, if I were married to you, I'd put poison in your coffee.
Sir Winston Churchill: Nancy, if you were my wife, I'd drink it.
Sir Winston Churchill: Nancy, if you were my wife, I'd drink it.
MLK Quote:
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Denver in 2000, Everywhere else today
AssetAllocator has this cartoon talking about today's housing markets. Well, today's housing markets everywhere but Denver.
the 69 meme
I stole this from Stephanie Klein. The intro is hers, but the answers are mine.
Welcome to the new 2006 edition of getting to know your friends. What you are supposed to do is copy (not forward) this entire e-mail and paste it onto a new e-mail that you'll send. Change all the answers so they apply to you, and then send this to a whole bunch of people including the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends.
1. What time did you get up this morning?
5:30
2. Diamonds or pearls?
Gold... preferably coins or bars.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Munich--hated it.
4. What is your favorite TV show?
Veronica Mars
5. What did you have for breakfast?
Breakfast Burrito
6. What is your middle name?
Alan
7. What is your favorite food?
Sushi
8. What foods do you dislike?
Erm... there was this thing I age once in Japan made from fermented soybeans.
9. Your favorite Potato chip?
Pringles.
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
The Best of John Lee Hooker
11. What kind of car do you drive?
Toyota
14 Favorite drink?
Alcoholic: Scotch. Non-alcoholic: Diet Coke
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be?
Sydney, AUS
16.What color is your bathroom?
Dark Green
17. Favorite brand of clothing?
If you knew me, you wouldn't ask this question
18.Where would you retire?
I like Stephanie's answer: Somewhere with a view of the ocean. Perhaps abroad, but I want to be buried in America.
I'll add that I would need to have a sailboat!
19 Favorite time of day?
Morning after I'm fully awake.
21. Favorite sport to watch?
Boxing or collegiat wrestling
22. Who do you least expect to send this back?
23. Person you expect to send it back first?
See 22.
24. What laundry detergent do you use?
Tide
25. Coke or Pepsi?
Coke, Diet.
26. Are you a morning person or night owl?
Morning person, but I hate to admit it.
27. What size shoe do you wear?
11
28. Do you have pets?
A foster cat named Sparky
29. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with your friends?
They already know.
30. What (who) did you want to be when you were little?
Talented and Brilliant
31. Favorite Candy Bar?
Almond Joy
33. What are the different jobs you have had in your life?
Primarily an appraiser. I worked at Walt Disney World as a conductor on the steam trains and I brewed coffee at Starbucks.
34. Favorite season?
Spring
35. Nicknames you've had?
J, Jason, Monekyboy (don't know where that came from)
36. Piercings:
My left ear piercing closed up
37. Eye color:
Hazel
38. Ever been to Africa?
No
39. Ever been toilet papering?
Yes
40. Love someone so much it made you cry?
Not during, but after.
41. Been in a car accident?
Yes. Stupid girl ran a stop sign.
42. What's a question no one has ever asked you? (I added this since #42 was missing)
Are you pregnant?
43. Favorite day of the week?
Sunday, if I don't have the blues.
44. Favorite restaurant?
Fontana if I'm buying. Morton's if someone else is.
45. Favorite flower?
I don't play favorites
46. Favorite ice cream?
Mine, because I made it
47. Disney or Warner Brothers?
Why, why must I choose?
48. Favorite fast food restaurant?
Chipotle... fast casual counts right?
49. What color is your bedroom carpet?
Light grey
50. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
Zero
51. Before this one, from whom did you get your last e-mail?
My accountant
52. Which store would you choose to Max out your Credit Card?
I wouldn't max out my credit card. If I was given $30,000 to spend though.... el corte ingles. They literally sell EVERYTHING, except men's clothes that fit me... but that's not what I'd be buying
53. What do you do most often when you are bored?
Play guitar.
54. Bedtime:
10ish
56. Last person you went to dinner with?
The Columbian.
57. Ford or Chevy?
Toyota
58. What are you listening to right now?
The humm of the radiator in my office.
59. What is your favorite color?
I won't play favorites here.
60. Lake, Ocean or River?
Lake. All the space of the ocean and none of the sale.
61. How many tattoos do you have?
None
62. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
I don't know, I've never ordered both at a restaurant before.
63. How many people are you sending this email to?
The world--this is Steph's answer, but I guess it is accurate because I'm posting it on my blog too.
64. Favorite Cocktail?
Gin Martini w/a twist
65. Red or White wine?
Red
66. Where would you go for a girls or boys weekend get-a-way?
Heart of Gold... sorry, a bit of firefly humor. I guess I'd want to rent a sailboat and sail from anywhere to anywhere.
67. What do you want to be?
Rich
68. Republican or Democrat?
Independant.
69. Favorite Family Vacation?
Hawaii.
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