Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Woohoo! A deadline!
So according to Cheney the Iraqi War will be over before 2009! Thank goodness.
Cheneydamus speaks!
Joan and I were having a discussion about how to improve our current state of affairs. I came to the conclusion that tyranny is the only way. Bills get bogged down in Congress and nothing ever happens, so we need to do away with all the bickering and just have one guy making all the decisions. He would have advisors and might be elected, but he or she needs to have the ultimate authority. And I think Trashman would do a great job of it.
But here are a few "minor" changes that we would suggest to his imminency:
1) If you collect a welfare check, you are injected with birth control when you come up to pick up your check.
2) Make the death penalty process faster and less appealy so we can stop wasting our money. And child molesters are now put to death.
3) All drugs are legal and regulated by the government. Let's face it. Crackheads are gonna smoke crack, so we might as well make a little money off of their short useless existence.
4) Teachers will be given annual tests. And they will be difficult. All teachers, preK - graduate school. They will also get paid more. Not the university profs, they're doing okay, but the middle school and high school teachers.
5) 2/3 of people with an IQ lower than 100 will be terminated. Kind of like a moron genocide, or moronocide if you will. Not all because we still need people to work at Taco Bell, not that all people at Taco Hell are stupid but it sure helps.
6) Right, Joan would keep Congress just for advice but would severely slash their pay.
Um that's it for now. See why we need a dictator? Because I don't think you could get some of those passed. Maybe the (1)birth control/welfare thing. I say put that on the next national ballot and let the people decide. The (5)genocide probably wouldn't get passed.
Cheneydamus speaks!
Joan and I were having a discussion about how to improve our current state of affairs. I came to the conclusion that tyranny is the only way. Bills get bogged down in Congress and nothing ever happens, so we need to do away with all the bickering and just have one guy making all the decisions. He would have advisors and might be elected, but he or she needs to have the ultimate authority. And I think Trashman would do a great job of it.
But here are a few "minor" changes that we would suggest to his imminency:
1) If you collect a welfare check, you are injected with birth control when you come up to pick up your check.
2) Make the death penalty process faster and less appealy so we can stop wasting our money. And child molesters are now put to death.
3) All drugs are legal and regulated by the government. Let's face it. Crackheads are gonna smoke crack, so we might as well make a little money off of their short useless existence.
4) Teachers will be given annual tests. And they will be difficult. All teachers, preK - graduate school. They will also get paid more. Not the university profs, they're doing okay, but the middle school and high school teachers.
5) 2/3 of people with an IQ lower than 100 will be terminated. Kind of like a moron genocide, or moronocide if you will. Not all because we still need people to work at Taco Bell, not that all people at Taco Hell are stupid but it sure helps.
6) Right, Joan would keep Congress just for advice but would severely slash their pay.
Um that's it for now. See why we need a dictator? Because I don't think you could get some of those passed. Maybe the (1)birth control/welfare thing. I say put that on the next national ballot and let the people decide. The (5)genocide probably wouldn't get passed.
Monday, May 30, 2005
I hope everyone saw this
Whiny race car drivers
Basically Robby Gordon was complaining that in their race series, Indy Car Racing League, IRL, the cars are all the same and the only difference is the driver. But what if a woman raced? They'd have an advantage because they weigh so much less than your average 160-200 lb. male race car driver. Then why aren't women dominating each and every race? Because there aren't any. Until Danica Patrick
came into the picture.
But she didn't win like vagina Robby Gordon predicted she would. But she did win 4th which is the best finish ever for a lady and even led the race for a few laps. So props to her and all women racers.
But they're still going around in circles, so until you guys and gals turn left AND right on a regular basis, I'm not watching.
Basically Robby Gordon was complaining that in their race series, Indy Car Racing League, IRL, the cars are all the same and the only difference is the driver. But what if a woman raced? They'd have an advantage because they weigh so much less than your average 160-200 lb. male race car driver. Then why aren't women dominating each and every race? Because there aren't any. Until Danica Patrick
came into the picture.
But she didn't win like vagina Robby Gordon predicted she would. But she did win 4th which is the best finish ever for a lady and even led the race for a few laps. So props to her and all women racers.
But they're still going around in circles, so until you guys and gals turn left AND right on a regular basis, I'm not watching.
I miss yesterday
I washed both cars, Tercel and Focus, this weekend. I also picked up some Meguiar's Spray Wax from Advanced. It was recommended by my friend WRX. He used it on his black WRX and it looked really nice, so I thought I'd give it a shot. It's really simple and easy. I found it works better if you do it on a dry car but they say that you can use it on a wet car too. Spritz it on, wipe to a haze, let sit and then wipe off with a clean cloth. That's it. No rubbing or buffing. It took me about 10 minutes to do all of Focus. And now she's sparkly clean and water beads like crazy. I'll take some shiny car pics this afternoon.
All that's left to do is, glass and dashboard of Tercel, and tires and glass of Focus. I haven't found a miracle glass cleaner yet but this stuff
works pretty well. I think I'm using the wrong towel to wipe it down with. I use paper towels and need to switch to a microfiber cloth or something. Actually I have some camping towels that are soft and not alot of lint, so I'll try those.
Also folded some laundry but now gotta go do some real work.
All that's left to do is, glass and dashboard of Tercel, and tires and glass of Focus. I haven't found a miracle glass cleaner yet but this stuff
works pretty well. I think I'm using the wrong towel to wipe it down with. I use paper towels and need to switch to a microfiber cloth or something. Actually I have some camping towels that are soft and not alot of lint, so I'll try those.
Also folded some laundry but now gotta go do some real work.
Friday, May 27, 2005
I know, I'm posting late
I went out to the Research Park this morning to do some SEM, scanning electron microscopy. Went pretty well but got one of my samples confused and have no idea what happened.
Welcome to Serra, a first time commenter, you can visit her over here and to Homeland Security, thanks for visiting and we're all law abiding nationalists over here. Go USA!
And thanks to E-Lo for a little inspiration about today's post and the importance of fire/oven safety. I don't know her story but I'm sure she'll share.
This story pertains to my mom. She's great and I love her. Happy Friday Mom! (No she doesn't read this but just in case)
When we lived in the DR (that's this country, I'm trying to avoid being found here) we had a propane stove. Worked well and fire is cool as opposed to glowing metal while still cool just can't hold a flame to fire (mmmmmm, dry sense of humor). But my mom was making cheese toast for our breakfast and since we didn't have a toaster oven and possibly the electricity went off for a while (it's a 3rd world country, don't expect electricity all the time), so she was using our gas stove.
She'd used it before many times, and since there weren't any gas lines, the stove was hooked up to a large propane tank outside. Since we turned this tank off and on, we didn't have a pilot light, so you actually had to light the stove. Yes it's a scary experience but it isn't that bad, just do it fast. But apparently my mom didn't do it fast enough, or got distracted, so she was striking the match and was bent over the oven lighting the oven with her right arm. I was standing behind her on her left. I turned around to get some juice or something and heard "WHOOSH!" and turn around quickly and see the remnants of a HUGE fireball that just rocketed out of our oven. Holy shit. That would've been awesome except for the fact that my mom's arm was directly in the path of this fireball. My mom toasted all the hair off her arm and had 1st degree burns if not 2nd. She also burned off most of her right eyebrow and some of her left. We made sure Mom was okay and went to get on the bus. Mom picked us up from school that day and had her entire right forearm in a bucket of ice and some water. It was pink and red and looked like it hurt which it did. Since there isn't really anything you can do for a burn, my mom put cream on it and dressed it in bandages and stuck through her burns. And she was thankful that I was standing where I was and not directly in front of the ball of fire.
So please, Play it safe around gas stoves. And Mom is A-OK!
Oh and DO NOT SMUGGLE HERB INTO INDONESIA!
Fury at Bali drugs verdict
Whether she did it or not, doesn't really matter anymore. But whether she did it or was framed, that really sucks. And strongly support her any attempts to bust her out of jail.
Welcome to Serra, a first time commenter, you can visit her over here and to Homeland Security, thanks for visiting and we're all law abiding nationalists over here. Go USA!
And thanks to E-Lo for a little inspiration about today's post and the importance of fire/oven safety. I don't know her story but I'm sure she'll share.
This story pertains to my mom. She's great and I love her. Happy Friday Mom! (No she doesn't read this but just in case)
When we lived in the DR (that's this country, I'm trying to avoid being found here) we had a propane stove. Worked well and fire is cool as opposed to glowing metal while still cool just can't hold a flame to fire (mmmmmm, dry sense of humor). But my mom was making cheese toast for our breakfast and since we didn't have a toaster oven and possibly the electricity went off for a while (it's a 3rd world country, don't expect electricity all the time), so she was using our gas stove.
She'd used it before many times, and since there weren't any gas lines, the stove was hooked up to a large propane tank outside. Since we turned this tank off and on, we didn't have a pilot light, so you actually had to light the stove. Yes it's a scary experience but it isn't that bad, just do it fast. But apparently my mom didn't do it fast enough, or got distracted, so she was striking the match and was bent over the oven lighting the oven with her right arm. I was standing behind her on her left. I turned around to get some juice or something and heard "WHOOSH!" and turn around quickly and see the remnants of a HUGE fireball that just rocketed out of our oven. Holy shit. That would've been awesome except for the fact that my mom's arm was directly in the path of this fireball. My mom toasted all the hair off her arm and had 1st degree burns if not 2nd. She also burned off most of her right eyebrow and some of her left. We made sure Mom was okay and went to get on the bus. Mom picked us up from school that day and had her entire right forearm in a bucket of ice and some water. It was pink and red and looked like it hurt which it did. Since there isn't really anything you can do for a burn, my mom put cream on it and dressed it in bandages and stuck through her burns. And she was thankful that I was standing where I was and not directly in front of the ball of fire.
So please, Play it safe around gas stoves. And Mom is A-OK!
Oh and DO NOT SMUGGLE HERB INTO INDONESIA!
Fury at Bali drugs verdict
Whether she did it or not, doesn't really matter anymore. But whether she did it or was framed, that really sucks. And strongly support her any attempts to bust her out of jail.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Did you ever know that you're my hero?
I cry every time I hear that song. That and Africa by Toto.
Since some people have done "Searches that found me" posts and the fact that I recently learned how to track these things, thank you ESC, I will now do a post with searches that found mine. And I don't want to think about the searches that I'll get after the post 2 down.
All google searches unless otherwise stated:
*Kumho red smoke - easy, from my Drift Atlanta outing
*user stander quadriplegic - huh? I'm fairly certain I've never blogged the word quadriplegic
*drinking game lawsuit - I don't think you can pinpoint the creators of Beer Pong but good luck with that
*Women's jello wrestling club sky(Netscape) - weird, but sounds interesting
*DUI PBJ - were you driving drunk and eating? What's wrong with you? Focus on your food and don't do it while driving.
*electrocrack - awesome, would make a good band name or what technojunkies crave. I would like to trademark that word, if no one else has taken it.
*"American Sociological Review, 1988, Vol 53: 127-138" - yawn, go to the library lazy
*grandma*kittens*game - um, I hope this is as innocent as it sounds
*"billy bath" gangster(Yahoo) - Believe this is the guy who Joe Pesci fucks up in Goodfellas, which leads to his demise
*"business up front" "party in the" quote origin - Hell yeah, Mullets Unite!
*"play with fire" game - DO NOT PLAY THIS GAME!
*a car game that picks up people - Literally? Damn!
*a game called robot rage - I would play Robot Rage
Hope everyone enjoyed my lazy post o' the day.
Since some people have done "Searches that found me" posts and the fact that I recently learned how to track these things, thank you ESC, I will now do a post with searches that found mine. And I don't want to think about the searches that I'll get after the post 2 down.
All google searches unless otherwise stated:
*Kumho red smoke - easy, from my Drift Atlanta outing
*user stander quadriplegic - huh? I'm fairly certain I've never blogged the word quadriplegic
*drinking game lawsuit - I don't think you can pinpoint the creators of Beer Pong but good luck with that
*Women's jello wrestling club sky(Netscape) - weird, but sounds interesting
*DUI PBJ - were you driving drunk and eating? What's wrong with you? Focus on your food and don't do it while driving.
*electrocrack - awesome, would make a good band name or what technojunkies crave. I would like to trademark that word, if no one else has taken it.
*"American Sociological Review, 1988, Vol 53: 127-138" - yawn, go to the library lazy
*grandma*kittens*game - um, I hope this is as innocent as it sounds
*"billy bath" gangster(Yahoo) - Believe this is the guy who Joe Pesci fucks up in Goodfellas, which leads to his demise
*"business up front" "party in the" quote origin - Hell yeah, Mullets Unite!
*"play with fire" game - DO NOT PLAY THIS GAME!
*a car game that picks up people - Literally? Damn!
*a game called robot rage - I would play Robot Rage
Hope everyone enjoyed my lazy post o' the day.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Worty Dirds
Hope your kids didn't read that last post. I was feeling a little "People suck, especially anyone from South Carolina". But I know it isn't the people. It's the state's rules that are moronic and nonsensical. But someone had to vote on those laws.
The bidding process is almost over for our health insurance, and 6 other universities in South Carolina. We're going to review the bids on June 11 and then we'll take our input, entrust it with our representative, and send them down to the capitol and hopefully pick the policy that is the best for the students.
The bidding process is almost over for our health insurance, and 6 other universities in South Carolina. We're going to review the bids on June 11 and then we'll take our input, entrust it with our representative, and send them down to the capitol and hopefully pick the policy that is the best for the students.
Useless
I'm presenting in group meeting today so I'm gonna go work on that.
The local Fox station 11 pm news goes until 11:10. It's a little trick they have so that they can catch everyone changing the channel for Seinfeld which starts at "after the news" so they recap the top stories and do weather I think.
But one of the top stories was a useless motherfucker named Cory Williamson, 17 of Campobello, SC. He is charged with statuatory rape of a 13 yr old and molesting a 3 yr old. Apparently while awaiting trial for those revolting charges, he's living at home and was caught yesterday fucking his neighbor's dog. I hope he doesn't get off with insanity and is charged as an adult and society doesn't see him for a while.
Yuck
Another story, just to boost your faith in Baptists, on the curtails of the Newsweek Koran fiasco. Danieltown Baptist Church Reverend Creighton Lovelace has up a sign that says the Koran should be flushed. It's in Rutherford County, SC. Not a whole lot of details, but what the hell is wrong with these people?
Don't make me put up a sign that says the Bible should be flushed, or a bumper sticker. I'll do it, just to prove a point. DON'T FUCK WITH RELIGIOUS BOOKS. Or attack one that most of the world has a problem with. Like the Book of Satan. I don't know of anyone who would stand up for that book, except for the ACLU.
This tolerance and brotherly love plan is really working.
But as soon as someone starts burning the Koran or actually flushing it down the toilet, let me know cuz I'll need to share someone's bomb shelter.
The local Fox station 11 pm news goes until 11:10. It's a little trick they have so that they can catch everyone changing the channel for Seinfeld which starts at "after the news" so they recap the top stories and do weather I think.
But one of the top stories was a useless motherfucker named Cory Williamson, 17 of Campobello, SC. He is charged with statuatory rape of a 13 yr old and molesting a 3 yr old. Apparently while awaiting trial for those revolting charges, he's living at home and was caught yesterday fucking his neighbor's dog. I hope he doesn't get off with insanity and is charged as an adult and society doesn't see him for a while.
Yuck
Another story, just to boost your faith in Baptists, on the curtails of the Newsweek Koran fiasco. Danieltown Baptist Church Reverend Creighton Lovelace has up a sign that says the Koran should be flushed. It's in Rutherford County, SC. Not a whole lot of details, but what the hell is wrong with these people?
Don't make me put up a sign that says the Bible should be flushed, or a bumper sticker. I'll do it, just to prove a point. DON'T FUCK WITH RELIGIOUS BOOKS. Or attack one that most of the world has a problem with. Like the Book of Satan. I don't know of anyone who would stand up for that book, except for the ACLU.
This tolerance and brotherly love plan is really working.
But as soon as someone starts burning the Koran or actually flushing it down the toilet, let me know cuz I'll need to share someone's bomb shelter.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
You were Grrrrrrrrrreeeat!
Thurl Ravenscroft, possibly the coolest name and guy ever, passed away at the age of 91 from prostate cancer.
He was the voice of Tony the Tiger, Frosted Flakes spokesman, and also did many voices for Disney movies and other animated characters. And if I'm not mistaken he sang "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch" in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
You can visit All Things Thurl for more info but all their media is in Real formats, so no bonus points for them.
We had a situation in our house last night. The cats were nowhere to be found. I checked every closet, drawer, couch cushion and cabinet in our house. No cats. My theory is that they were in the hole next to the dishwasher. The hole goes back to the wall, but after that I don't know where it goes. I told Joan that about the only thing we could've done was put a hole in the wall and look around, but since this exact same thing happened with Henry, we decided to wait them out.
Sho nuff, Joan woke up and went into the kitchen to see if they ate the tuna we left out for them, nope, but coming around the corner was Julio and Leon. Freaks. So we plugged the hole with a bag of dirt we had lying around and hopefully we won't lose our cats anymore. But I'm not ruling out aliens. Or magical cats.
He was the voice of Tony the Tiger, Frosted Flakes spokesman, and also did many voices for Disney movies and other animated characters. And if I'm not mistaken he sang "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch" in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
You can visit All Things Thurl for more info but all their media is in Real formats, so no bonus points for them.
We had a situation in our house last night. The cats were nowhere to be found. I checked every closet, drawer, couch cushion and cabinet in our house. No cats. My theory is that they were in the hole next to the dishwasher. The hole goes back to the wall, but after that I don't know where it goes. I told Joan that about the only thing we could've done was put a hole in the wall and look around, but since this exact same thing happened with Henry, we decided to wait them out.
Sho nuff, Joan woke up and went into the kitchen to see if they ate the tuna we left out for them, nope, but coming around the corner was Julio and Leon. Freaks. So we plugged the hole with a bag of dirt we had lying around and hopefully we won't lose our cats anymore. But I'm not ruling out aliens. Or magical cats.
Monday, May 23, 2005
Kintanti
Got to do some cone racing this weekend. Awesome, awesome time. And since it's the summer there were not alot of competitors so there were lots of runs. 6 total. And my Protege friend had his excellent in-car camera mount up and ready. It is basically just some lab clamps and an aluminum lab pole thing. It worked great. It was a little tricky getting your hand up behind it to turn it on and start recording but after that it got great footage and wasn't shaky. Hopefully either I or he will get those videos up online so that everyone can experience me dodging cones. And you'll get to see my inadvertant smokey tire finish. I was hitting 50 mph consistently through the finish line. In a parking lot. And they wanted to let us run a little on the main drag around Clemson. We quickly said no to that idea. Some of the cars that race with us could easily hit triple digit speeds if we put them on that road. And without sufficient runoff, that is not a good idea.
The results are here. And please notice that Focus did very well for herself. 14 out of 36, and she was only beat by 9 other cars. Of course that Super Miata is as close to a race car as you can make a miata, so that's why it's 3 seconds ahead of the closest competitor. And I would've beat Andrew, my friend, in his Protege with a 54.87 but I hit a cone on that run. We'll get him next time.
Oh yeah update: If you look at the autocross results, go down to the 31st car and you'll find this car
A Volkswagen Rabbit. Awesome car and fun for the 80's. And it's a VW so if it breaks there are roughly one billion cars that can donate parts for it.
Then if you go down to the 32nd car, you'll find this car
A Nissan 350Z. Very capable car and oh so pretty.
So in conclusion:
31 Will Rabbit H 62.78 sec.
32 Chris 350Z D 63.13 sec.
Ouch. Uh 350 guy? You can go a little faster.
And for all the ladies out there:
34 Rachael Civic H 65.87
She got the most improved driver of the day award. She went from a 104 second run down to 65 seconds. Damn, I wish I could shave 40 seconds off my time.
And for any ladies in the area who want to come out and race, please do. I'm sure we can find something for you to drive. Maybe Focus?
The undergrad research student that I'm in charge of this summer is supposed to get here today, but I haven't seen her yet. The word on the street is she's a workaholic, so hopefully our working styles won't outrageously clash. And maybe I'll learn something from her and maybe I'll get her to calm down. I'll keeps ya posted.
I don't like explaining my titles right below them, but this is the fictional name that Matt Dillon makes up as his Nepalese name from the movie There's Something About Mary.
The results are here. And please notice that Focus did very well for herself. 14 out of 36, and she was only beat by 9 other cars. Of course that Super Miata is as close to a race car as you can make a miata, so that's why it's 3 seconds ahead of the closest competitor. And I would've beat Andrew, my friend, in his Protege with a 54.87 but I hit a cone on that run. We'll get him next time.
Oh yeah update: If you look at the autocross results, go down to the 31st car and you'll find this car
A Volkswagen Rabbit. Awesome car and fun for the 80's. And it's a VW so if it breaks there are roughly one billion cars that can donate parts for it.
Then if you go down to the 32nd car, you'll find this car
A Nissan 350Z. Very capable car and oh so pretty.
So in conclusion:
31 Will Rabbit H 62.78 sec.
32 Chris 350Z D 63.13 sec.
Ouch. Uh 350 guy? You can go a little faster.
And for all the ladies out there:
34 Rachael Civic H 65.87
She got the most improved driver of the day award. She went from a 104 second run down to 65 seconds. Damn, I wish I could shave 40 seconds off my time.
And for any ladies in the area who want to come out and race, please do. I'm sure we can find something for you to drive. Maybe Focus?
The undergrad research student that I'm in charge of this summer is supposed to get here today, but I haven't seen her yet. The word on the street is she's a workaholic, so hopefully our working styles won't outrageously clash. And maybe I'll learn something from her and maybe I'll get her to calm down. I'll keeps ya posted.
I don't like explaining my titles right below them, but this is the fictional name that Matt Dillon makes up as his Nepalese name from the movie There's Something About Mary.
Friday, May 20, 2005
You're the best a-round!
That's right. Karate Kid theme music!
For some reason, Strawberry Shortcake popped into my head. Or more specifically, the villain, The Purple Pieman. He would always "rat-ta-ta-tat" or some other rythmic nonsense. Yes I had to google that name and the first website is the New or Crappy Strawberry Shortcake. No villains, only happy ponies and other dessert related friends. But I did like Strawberry Shortcake and her adventures. But I can only remember the one where she moves to the Big Apple.
One of my favorites was MASK.
Basically it was these guys who had masks that did cool stuff and really cool vehicles. Like a motorcycle that turns into a helicopter.
I also watched Leon and Julio play with a plastic bag in the kitchen. No I'm not worried about them choking on it. But they would let it sit in the middle of the floor and then run and jump into it and it would slide a few feet. They'd get off and do it again. Very cute.
Then I started thinking that I would make a very bad white supremacist. For starters, I'm not really racist. I also am currently engaged, pun intended, in an interracial relationship, diluting my race of course. And happy to speed up the process of humans becoming one giant ethnic group composed of all races, if we decide to have kids of course. I also have a pet named Julio. Not a very Aryan name. I also like to travel. I can't really picture any "white lovers", not that I'm a white hater, traveling much. They might go to Germany or England, but definitely not to Japan or Argentina or Costa Rica. Not enough white people in those places. And I don't think a minority coming up to a majority and saying, "Hi! You're inferior to me!" would go over very well at all.
And look! Saddam in his skivvies!
Yowza! I feel a dictators and tyrants calendar coming on.
For some reason, Strawberry Shortcake popped into my head. Or more specifically, the villain, The Purple Pieman. He would always "rat-ta-ta-tat" or some other rythmic nonsense. Yes I had to google that name and the first website is the New or Crappy Strawberry Shortcake. No villains, only happy ponies and other dessert related friends. But I did like Strawberry Shortcake and her adventures. But I can only remember the one where she moves to the Big Apple.
One of my favorites was MASK.
Basically it was these guys who had masks that did cool stuff and really cool vehicles. Like a motorcycle that turns into a helicopter.
I also watched Leon and Julio play with a plastic bag in the kitchen. No I'm not worried about them choking on it. But they would let it sit in the middle of the floor and then run and jump into it and it would slide a few feet. They'd get off and do it again. Very cute.
Then I started thinking that I would make a very bad white supremacist. For starters, I'm not really racist. I also am currently engaged, pun intended, in an interracial relationship, diluting my race of course. And happy to speed up the process of humans becoming one giant ethnic group composed of all races, if we decide to have kids of course. I also have a pet named Julio. Not a very Aryan name. I also like to travel. I can't really picture any "white lovers", not that I'm a white hater, traveling much. They might go to Germany or England, but definitely not to Japan or Argentina or Costa Rica. Not enough white people in those places. And I don't think a minority coming up to a majority and saying, "Hi! You're inferior to me!" would go over very well at all.
And look! Saddam in his skivvies!
Yowza! I feel a dictators and tyrants calendar coming on.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Great movie Star Wars was.
Sorry, couldn't resist. Yoda is such a bad ass.
Just got back from watching it. Large crowd for an 11 am showing on a Thursday. No sex scene, but they did show the birth of Luke and Leia. Very cool. Anakin turned into Darth Vader. The Emperor became even more wrinkly and weird.
Lord Vader only had a few lines once he donned his helmet and I couldn't figure out whose voice it was. Possibly Hayden's but I don't know. It wasn't James Earl Jones that's for sure.
And I even got free popcorn with my frequent movie goer card. Want a drink with that? Nooooooo! That $4 soda destroys the benefit of the free popcorn. I've been to college, I know how to work the system to get some free stuff.
Back to work now. And I really want to watch Episode IV now. And then V, then VI.
Just got back from watching it. Large crowd for an 11 am showing on a Thursday. No sex scene, but they did show the birth of Luke and Leia. Very cool. Anakin turned into Darth Vader. The Emperor became even more wrinkly and weird.
Lord Vader only had a few lines once he donned his helmet and I couldn't figure out whose voice it was. Possibly Hayden's but I don't know. It wasn't James Earl Jones that's for sure.
And I even got free popcorn with my frequent movie goer card. Want a drink with that? Nooooooo! That $4 soda destroys the benefit of the free popcorn. I've been to college, I know how to work the system to get some free stuff.
Back to work now. And I really want to watch Episode IV now. And then V, then VI.
I'm not surfing today
I'm not going web surfing because I know someone out there has posted what happens in Episode III and I don't want to know. Sure everyone "knows" what happens but how it happens and if they show the sex scene, that's what we all want to know.
I didn't go to a midnight showing of it, mostly because I wanted to be in bed before 3 am, but I'm going today at 11 am. The radio told me this morning that an estimated 627 million dollars worth of wages will be lost by people skipping work and going to see the new Star Wars. Count me in, of course my hourly wage doesn't add up to much of a chunk of that 627 mill but every little bit counts.
Joan has no real interest in going to see the movie. She said that she'll just wait until they come out on DVD, which I am going to buy despite what George decides to charge. In fact, I still haven't seen 4, 5 or 6 on DVD because I haven't borrowed them and I'm waiting until they all come out to buy them.
I had a Sinead O'Connor moment a few weeks ago. I purchased a charcoal grill from a neighbor who was moving and didn't want it. Sweet deal and it came with nice grill tools. But I was getting the charcoal ready and needed some newspaper to get the flames going. So I went inside, asked Joan if she wanted to keep this copy of the Anderson Independent and went outside and proceeded to play with fire.
However, this just happened to be the issue when the new pope was announced. So as I tore into the picture of the pope, I of course thought about poor Sinead and the repurcussions of an action very similar to mine. Me - no consequences, Her - Sinead who?
I didn't go to a midnight showing of it, mostly because I wanted to be in bed before 3 am, but I'm going today at 11 am. The radio told me this morning that an estimated 627 million dollars worth of wages will be lost by people skipping work and going to see the new Star Wars. Count me in, of course my hourly wage doesn't add up to much of a chunk of that 627 mill but every little bit counts.
Joan has no real interest in going to see the movie. She said that she'll just wait until they come out on DVD, which I am going to buy despite what George decides to charge. In fact, I still haven't seen 4, 5 or 6 on DVD because I haven't borrowed them and I'm waiting until they all come out to buy them.
I had a Sinead O'Connor moment a few weeks ago. I purchased a charcoal grill from a neighbor who was moving and didn't want it. Sweet deal and it came with nice grill tools. But I was getting the charcoal ready and needed some newspaper to get the flames going. So I went inside, asked Joan if she wanted to keep this copy of the Anderson Independent and went outside and proceeded to play with fire.
However, this just happened to be the issue when the new pope was announced. So as I tore into the picture of the pope, I of course thought about poor Sinead and the repurcussions of an action very similar to mine. Me - no consequences, Her - Sinead who?
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Riddle me this
Just saw that The Riddler passed away.
Now for all you kids in the audience that have never had the chance to see the beauty campiness that is the old live action Batman TV show, Jim Carey is not dead. Frank Gorshin passed on, the Original Riddler.
Very awesome show. Kapow! Crack! Ploink! Great visual sound effects.
And some college kids in Michigan passed away.
CNN article said that two semis hit their overturned van. They didn't say how the van flipped over but those things are not the most surefooted vehicles out there.
My condolences to their families.
Now for all you kids in the audience that have never had the chance to see the beauty campiness that is the old live action Batman TV show, Jim Carey is not dead. Frank Gorshin passed on, the Original Riddler.
Very awesome show. Kapow! Crack! Ploink! Great visual sound effects.
And some college kids in Michigan passed away.
CNN article said that two semis hit their overturned van. They didn't say how the van flipped over but those things are not the most surefooted vehicles out there.
My condolences to their families.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Our lab is flooding
We have called maintanence roughly 4 times and each time they come over and tell us that they don't see the problem. The problem is a sink in the next lab is broken and leaks into our lab. The problem isn't in here. It's over there.
Bleh, I sold my car to a "local" guy. He had $200 cash and said he would pay $100/week until he paid off the total amount of $600. Well, he's still $250 short and I haven't heard from him since last Wed.
So I'm going to give him a call today, at his mom's house of course and no he doesn't have a cell phone, and tell him that he either needs to come up with the money or give the car back in exchange for either $300 or $250, depending on how generous I'm feeling. A bank would charge for missing payments and general hardship and so will I.
But a little part of me wants him to be difficult, just so I can go play Repo Man. I still have a key to it and I know where he works. So he needs to come up with some money or he can start walking to work or looking for rides elsewhere cuz this gravy train is leaving the station and I'm taking Clio with me.
Joan, of course after the fact, tells me that she can't believe that I sold it to that guy. I'm a sucker. I give people the benefit of the doubt. But that's why I need Joan to keep me attentive. I don't know why I'm so trusting of people. I think because here it is so easy to find people. We have reverse phone directories and people are so sedentary that they're not going to relocate for any amount of money, let alone to avoid paying $250.
So I'm confident this will have a happy ending and I might even get to repo something.
Bleh, I sold my car to a "local" guy. He had $200 cash and said he would pay $100/week until he paid off the total amount of $600. Well, he's still $250 short and I haven't heard from him since last Wed.
So I'm going to give him a call today, at his mom's house of course and no he doesn't have a cell phone, and tell him that he either needs to come up with the money or give the car back in exchange for either $300 or $250, depending on how generous I'm feeling. A bank would charge for missing payments and general hardship and so will I.
But a little part of me wants him to be difficult, just so I can go play Repo Man. I still have a key to it and I know where he works. So he needs to come up with some money or he can start walking to work or looking for rides elsewhere cuz this gravy train is leaving the station and I'm taking Clio with me.
Joan, of course after the fact, tells me that she can't believe that I sold it to that guy. I'm a sucker. I give people the benefit of the doubt. But that's why I need Joan to keep me attentive. I don't know why I'm so trusting of people. I think because here it is so easy to find people. We have reverse phone directories and people are so sedentary that they're not going to relocate for any amount of money, let alone to avoid paying $250.
So I'm confident this will have a happy ending and I might even get to repo something.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Almost there!
Fairly certain I've used that title before but considering that Episode III comes out in less than 3 days, I can use it.
I'm not planning on going to the midnight showings, just don't want to stand in crazy lines with people like this guy who has been waiting for it since Jan. 1. So I'm going with some other grad students to a lunch time showing on Thursday. And I can't wait. And then I get to pay whatever George Lucas wants to charge for the DVD set of all 6 with 4 extra DVDs of commentary and behind the scenes stuff that I'll never watch that increases the price of the set by $150!
I know some people live for the extra DVD features, but I do not.
I'll be back tomorrow for stories from the trip home but just to whet your appetite: kegs of beer, Sweetwater for ATL folk, and ambulance chasing lawyers.
I'm not planning on going to the midnight showings, just don't want to stand in crazy lines with people like this guy who has been waiting for it since Jan. 1. So I'm going with some other grad students to a lunch time showing on Thursday. And I can't wait. And then I get to pay whatever George Lucas wants to charge for the DVD set of all 6 with 4 extra DVDs of commentary and behind the scenes stuff that I'll never watch that increases the price of the set by $150!
I know some people live for the extra DVD features, but I do not.
I'll be back tomorrow for stories from the trip home but just to whet your appetite: kegs of beer, Sweetwater for ATL folk, and ambulance chasing lawyers.
Friday, May 13, 2005
I remembered
Yes I remembered the cd today, so I'll be emailing out cat pics and posting video from the Cherokee Trails Rally, pics from there, pics from Drift ATL and even some "snow" pics.
I'll post the links when I get them up.
Update:
Here they are!
Videos: Over here
Pictures: Over there
And for the cat lovers and people who don't want to wade through car pictures to see them:
That's Julio.
And this is Leon.
Their eyes are blue, but not that blue. Cameras never get cat eyes right.
They're about this blue, sort of grey-blue.
And they're sweet as angels, or sweet demons.
I'll post the links when I get them up.
Update:
Here they are!
Videos: Over here
Pictures: Over there
And for the cat lovers and people who don't want to wade through car pictures to see them:
That's Julio.
And this is Leon.
Their eyes are blue, but not that blue. Cameras never get cat eyes right.
They're about this blue, sort of grey-blue.
And they're sweet as angels, or sweet demons.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Oops
Just realized that the CD I burned with all the pictures on it is still sitting in the CD burner. Crap, but I'll get to it tonight or tomorrow, if I call BellSouth and get them to help me fix my DSL modem. The ready light is blinking and no amount of powering off/on or reseting has helped. So time to bring in the "professionals".
I did not get a haircut last night, forgot mostly, but I did clean our bathroom floor, swept the kittens', and did the dishes. I'm trying to score lots of Joan points because I'm leaving her and the cats alone this weekend while I go home to the 'Ham. My brother is going to Niger next Thursday and wanted to say hey and give him a hug, just in case. And to see his messed up face. I know I'm tempting fate (or karma for Jack who doesn't believe in fate) but A*ron (trying to avoid searches, that asterisk is an a) is always the one who has the major medical fiascoes. Almost bit through his tongue while riding his scooter, check, and now he fractured his cheekbone. Granted that isn't a whole lot of stuff, but the most that happened to me is an ingrown toenail, during high school, and a horrific scraping of the knee around the age of 6. We're a relatively accident free family. No broken bones or major surgeries. Okay, my dad did have his gallbladder taken out, but it was laproscopic and 3 tiny holes and a weekend recovery, do not a major surgery make. Oh, and I no longer have my wisdom teeth.
But he's going to Africa, so let's learn a little about his destination
Population (2005 est.): 11,665,937 (growth rate: 2.6%); birth rate: 48.3/1000; infant mortality rate: 121.7/1000; life expectancy: 42.1; density per sq mi: 24
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Niamey, 748,600
Languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma (He does speak French)
Ethnicity/race: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200 French expatriates
Religions: Islam 80%, indigenous beliefs and Christian 20%
Literacy rate: 18% (2003 est.)
Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 20,000 (2001); mobile cellular: 6,700 (2002). Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001). Radios: 680,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2002). Televisions: 125,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2002). Internet users: 12,000 (2002).
Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 10,100 km; paved: 798 km; unpaved: 9,302 km (1999 est.). Waterways: the Niger is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March. Ports and harbors: none. Airports: 27 (2002).
Wow, 1 ISP and 12,000 users? 0 railways? So I'm guessing camel is the main form of transportation, or plane.
Here is where it is in Africa
Here is a linky to the CIA factbook
The degree of risk for a nasty disease is very high. I talked to Brother Mon. and he said that he already has gotten the Hepatitis A vaccine, yellow fever and typhoid fever shots. He said the yellow fever is so bad that they can give you the shot at the airport if you don't have it.
Welcome to Niger! *Jab*
I did not get a haircut last night, forgot mostly, but I did clean our bathroom floor, swept the kittens', and did the dishes. I'm trying to score lots of Joan points because I'm leaving her and the cats alone this weekend while I go home to the 'Ham. My brother is going to Niger next Thursday and wanted to say hey and give him a hug, just in case. And to see his messed up face. I know I'm tempting fate (or karma for Jack who doesn't believe in fate) but A*ron (trying to avoid searches, that asterisk is an a) is always the one who has the major medical fiascoes. Almost bit through his tongue while riding his scooter, check, and now he fractured his cheekbone. Granted that isn't a whole lot of stuff, but the most that happened to me is an ingrown toenail, during high school, and a horrific scraping of the knee around the age of 6. We're a relatively accident free family. No broken bones or major surgeries. Okay, my dad did have his gallbladder taken out, but it was laproscopic and 3 tiny holes and a weekend recovery, do not a major surgery make. Oh, and I no longer have my wisdom teeth.
But he's going to Africa, so let's learn a little about his destination
Population (2005 est.): 11,665,937 (growth rate: 2.6%); birth rate: 48.3/1000; infant mortality rate: 121.7/1000; life expectancy: 42.1; density per sq mi: 24
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Niamey, 748,600
Languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma (He does speak French)
Ethnicity/race: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200 French expatriates
Religions: Islam 80%, indigenous beliefs and Christian 20%
Literacy rate: 18% (2003 est.)
Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 20,000 (2001); mobile cellular: 6,700 (2002). Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001). Radios: 680,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2002). Televisions: 125,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2002). Internet users: 12,000 (2002).
Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 10,100 km; paved: 798 km; unpaved: 9,302 km (1999 est.). Waterways: the Niger is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March. Ports and harbors: none. Airports: 27 (2002).
Wow, 1 ISP and 12,000 users? 0 railways? So I'm guessing camel is the main form of transportation, or plane.
Here is where it is in Africa
Here is a linky to the CIA factbook
The degree of risk for a nasty disease is very high. I talked to Brother Mon. and he said that he already has gotten the Hepatitis A vaccine, yellow fever and typhoid fever shots. He said the yellow fever is so bad that they can give you the shot at the airport if you don't have it.
Welcome to Niger! *Jab*
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
DOT
Everyone has a love/hate relationship with the Dept. of Transportation and the DMV. We love them for letting us drive cars and fixing roads and we hate the hoops we have to jump through to do so.
The radio was on in lab yesterday and I once again heard a commercial encouraging truck owners to buckle up, paid for by the DOT and you and me.
I would rather you fix roads and work on reducing traffic than reminding some dude in a truck to buckle up. He knows he should buckle up; the little guy on his dashboard reminds him that he should buckle up. Yet he refuses to do so and dies in an accident. If only the DOT had spent millions more to have commercials everywhere reminding people to buckle up! Or they could hire a bunch of kids to wait in people's car and gently remind them to buckle up before they leave. Get those damn kids to work. It's the summer, they don't have anything better to do. (Yes I'm kidding, kids should stay kids until junior year of college)
So why is the DOT spending money to remind these people to buckle up? Shouldn't that be THEIR responsibility? I know this is 21st century America and no one wants to be responsible for anything, but dammit, that just isn't possible.
So now no one is reminding Jimbo that he needs to buckle up. He gets in an accident but doesn't die. Phew, oh wait, he didn't have enough medical insurance coverage with his car insurance, or didn't have car insurance at all. So now he's a drain on the medical system. Then he better get to washing bed pans and work off that new bionic leg of his.
I started downloading pictures this morning, but forgot that I had about 4 or 5 trips worth of pictures on my new 512 MB compactflash card, so it was about halfway done when I left. But after I go get a haircut and clean the bathroom floors, it'll be the first thing I do.
The radio was on in lab yesterday and I once again heard a commercial encouraging truck owners to buckle up, paid for by the DOT and you and me.
I would rather you fix roads and work on reducing traffic than reminding some dude in a truck to buckle up. He knows he should buckle up; the little guy on his dashboard reminds him that he should buckle up. Yet he refuses to do so and dies in an accident. If only the DOT had spent millions more to have commercials everywhere reminding people to buckle up! Or they could hire a bunch of kids to wait in people's car and gently remind them to buckle up before they leave. Get those damn kids to work. It's the summer, they don't have anything better to do. (Yes I'm kidding, kids should stay kids until junior year of college)
So why is the DOT spending money to remind these people to buckle up? Shouldn't that be THEIR responsibility? I know this is 21st century America and no one wants to be responsible for anything, but dammit, that just isn't possible.
So now no one is reminding Jimbo that he needs to buckle up. He gets in an accident but doesn't die. Phew, oh wait, he didn't have enough medical insurance coverage with his car insurance, or didn't have car insurance at all. So now he's a drain on the medical system. Then he better get to washing bed pans and work off that new bionic leg of his.
I started downloading pictures this morning, but forgot that I had about 4 or 5 trips worth of pictures on my new 512 MB compactflash card, so it was about halfway done when I left. But after I go get a haircut and clean the bathroom floors, it'll be the first thing I do.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
I wonder if he tap dances?
Jesus wants a WV drivers license
Weird. I'm not offended by that guy being named Jesus Christ. But his middle initial must be H. or he's a fraud. Jesus Q. Christ, no way.
Joan and I picked up our kittens yesterday, and let me tell you, they're almost too cute. Both tabby/siamese mix, and one is orange with white stripes and the other is grey and black and apparently he is a true bengal, whatever that means. But they both have blue eyes, very light blue, and I will get pictures up tomorrow. No names yet. Maybe Pumpkin for the orange one, but Joan didn't like the nicknames for that. Pumpy. Umpy. Umpkin. But we'll come up with some good ones.
Called the grandmothers yesterday for a late Happy Mother's Day and it's always good to hear their voices and for them to hear mine. It's hard being so far away. Yes I did live in a different country for 7 years, but I still saw them pretty regularly and they were all younger then too. Not saying any of them are in bad health, but death and taxes.
So Grandma is doing good, one son and granddaughter visited her for Mother's Day. She said she wanted to see me. Um, beats me when I'll be able to. I was thinking maybe stop by on the way home from Birmingham, but I don't go there much either.
Just got an email from the boss. He walked in and busted me playing computer games. Doh. Now I feel like shit. But a kick in the pants is good every once in a while.
But I told my other grandparents that I would come to Birmingham this weekend to see my brother before he sets off on his mission trip to Niger this summer.
More about all that stuff later. Off to be a good grad student.
Weird. I'm not offended by that guy being named Jesus Christ. But his middle initial must be H. or he's a fraud. Jesus Q. Christ, no way.
Joan and I picked up our kittens yesterday, and let me tell you, they're almost too cute. Both tabby/siamese mix, and one is orange with white stripes and the other is grey and black and apparently he is a true bengal, whatever that means. But they both have blue eyes, very light blue, and I will get pictures up tomorrow. No names yet. Maybe Pumpkin for the orange one, but Joan didn't like the nicknames for that. Pumpy. Umpy. Umpkin. But we'll come up with some good ones.
Called the grandmothers yesterday for a late Happy Mother's Day and it's always good to hear their voices and for them to hear mine. It's hard being so far away. Yes I did live in a different country for 7 years, but I still saw them pretty regularly and they were all younger then too. Not saying any of them are in bad health, but death and taxes.
So Grandma is doing good, one son and granddaughter visited her for Mother's Day. She said she wanted to see me. Um, beats me when I'll be able to. I was thinking maybe stop by on the way home from Birmingham, but I don't go there much either.
Just got an email from the boss. He walked in and busted me playing computer games. Doh. Now I feel like shit. But a kick in the pants is good every once in a while.
But I told my other grandparents that I would come to Birmingham this weekend to see my brother before he sets off on his mission trip to Niger this summer.
More about all that stuff later. Off to be a good grad student.
Monday, May 09, 2005
I love the smell of burnt rubber in the evening
So Drift Atlanta was sick. Vipers, a GTO, Nissan 240sxs, RX-7s, a BMW 325, even a freaking El Camino. Everyone's car bone was tickled this weekend.
Kumho came out with their red smoke tire which really impressed the crowd and judges. Still not sure how hard it can be to do that and also have different colors, but then I'm not a tire chemist or rubber chemist so I don't really know.
It wasn't real hot fortunately. Saturday we got there around 9:30 am and didn't leave till about 10:15 pm. Super glad I wasn't driving cuz I was nodding off the entire way back to Clemson.
Took about 70 minutes of video footage. So I guess I get to play with a video editor of some sort, if I don't already have one. There might be one in the software package that came with my digicam but I need to check on that. And I should have that video up, probably compressed in one way or another, within the week.
Smoove D sent me an email. But I didn't get it until today. Friday we got home at 11 pm and then I left at 8:30, and didn't check my email in those 9 hours, so sorry I missed you Smoove. I'll catch you at the next car related shindig. (Wow, I have never seen that word before, it looks really strange.) So I missed meeting my first blogger, but I'll catch him again.
The undergrads have all gone home and now the campus is almost empty except for faculty and grad students. And it's nice. No traffic, tons of parking, but no people walking by your window to distract you.
Kumho came out with their red smoke tire which really impressed the crowd and judges. Still not sure how hard it can be to do that and also have different colors, but then I'm not a tire chemist or rubber chemist so I don't really know.
It wasn't real hot fortunately. Saturday we got there around 9:30 am and didn't leave till about 10:15 pm. Super glad I wasn't driving cuz I was nodding off the entire way back to Clemson.
Took about 70 minutes of video footage. So I guess I get to play with a video editor of some sort, if I don't already have one. There might be one in the software package that came with my digicam but I need to check on that. And I should have that video up, probably compressed in one way or another, within the week.
Smoove D sent me an email. But I didn't get it until today. Friday we got home at 11 pm and then I left at 8:30, and didn't check my email in those 9 hours, so sorry I missed you Smoove. I'll catch you at the next car related shindig. (Wow, I have never seen that word before, it looks really strange.) So I missed meeting my first blogger, but I'll catch him again.
The undergrads have all gone home and now the campus is almost empty except for faculty and grad students. And it's nice. No traffic, tons of parking, but no people walking by your window to distract you.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Tercel's back baby!
Almost, she's fixed. We just have to pick her up from the shop at noon. And I'm getting new street tires next week, so my current street tires get promoted (or demoted considering your viewpoint) to race tires. There are 5 autocrosses planned for this summer and I'm planning on being at each one. Hopefully.
We had some friends over for Cinco de Mayo and I made taco fixings and we made soft tacos and burritos. Delicious and Corona with lime and Beck's Dark because Sm couldn't find Dos X Amber. Good food, good beer and video games. Yup, we played Tetris Worlds for Xbox and had a great time. There are a few variations of tetris to play and they're very enjoyable but the stragety is different. Some you're trying to clear the bottom row but it's blocked by random blocks that you have to clear. So it isn't about points, you're just trying to clear stuff. And as I'm a tetris getting tetris player, it was hard for me to not try and get tetrises. And then they left and Joan and I played after we got back from another friend's house and she destroyed me. Don't know if it's because I was anti-sober but she was tetrising circles around me.
But we figured out that it's because it's a simple game. A directional pad and one button, that's what tetris is and that's why she's good at it. She enjoys watching Halo 2 and playing it as well, but there are too many buttons and too much happening on the screen for her.
And I'm going to Drift Atlanta this weekend, today and tomorrow. It's going to be amazing. I'll have pics and video and hopefully I'll get to share them.
And if anyone in ATL is going to be there, send your cell number to my email address and we'll meet up. Tickets are $25 for 2 days and parking is $5.
We had some friends over for Cinco de Mayo and I made taco fixings and we made soft tacos and burritos. Delicious and Corona with lime and Beck's Dark because Sm couldn't find Dos X Amber. Good food, good beer and video games. Yup, we played Tetris Worlds for Xbox and had a great time. There are a few variations of tetris to play and they're very enjoyable but the stragety is different. Some you're trying to clear the bottom row but it's blocked by random blocks that you have to clear. So it isn't about points, you're just trying to clear stuff. And as I'm a tetris getting tetris player, it was hard for me to not try and get tetrises. And then they left and Joan and I played after we got back from another friend's house and she destroyed me. Don't know if it's because I was anti-sober but she was tetrising circles around me.
But we figured out that it's because it's a simple game. A directional pad and one button, that's what tetris is and that's why she's good at it. She enjoys watching Halo 2 and playing it as well, but there are too many buttons and too much happening on the screen for her.
And I'm going to Drift Atlanta this weekend, today and tomorrow. It's going to be amazing. I'll have pics and video and hopefully I'll get to share them.
And if anyone in ATL is going to be there, send your cell number to my email address and we'll meet up. Tickets are $25 for 2 days and parking is $5.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Shake your ass, but watch yourself!
Towed poor little Tercel to the shop this morning. So hopefully she'll be better by next week.
Crap. I need a personal assistant. Or robot. I keep having these great ideas (or ideas) that pop into my head for posts and then 20 minutes later, bupkis. But if my robot would just take my inane mental chatter and write it down, then everyone would have intriguing posts from Seth and his robot to read, but nope. Roboticists everywhere are sitting on their butts working on robots that build cars and dance. Work faster! The technological boom is going to start dying off if we don't have robots to do menial tasks for us so that we have more time to think and create. And for those who don't think or create, they can either start or get banished to the ice mines of Siberia.
Oooh, one came back. We're getting two kittens in the next month or so. They're orange tabby/siamese cats, so they're gonna have some attitude. I've never had a siamese but the ones I've met have been full of personality.
But we need names. I was brainstorming in the shower and came up with a few:
Jasmine
Mayhem
Onyx (but only for a black cat, feel free to use that one)
Snowball 8 or 9 (homage to the Simpson's cat)
Felix
Five or Seven (but I won't use that if that is going to be Baby Lo's name)
Henry 2 (after Henry the 1st, Hamster extraordinaire)
Clio (after my sold Saturn, who I miss terribly)
Cleo (after that crazy Jamaican psychic lady who apparently ran out of money)
Rage
Snuggles (hehehe, not really but Rage and Snuggles would be a great mix)
Manfred
Please leave any good ones you think of, or pick from my list.
And any Texan who likes the asstacular antics of their local high school cheerleaders, you might wanna read this and contact your state senators.
Texas House to cheerleaders: Don't shake it
Crap. I need a personal assistant. Or robot. I keep having these great ideas (or ideas) that pop into my head for posts and then 20 minutes later, bupkis. But if my robot would just take my inane mental chatter and write it down, then everyone would have intriguing posts from Seth and his robot to read, but nope. Roboticists everywhere are sitting on their butts working on robots that build cars and dance. Work faster! The technological boom is going to start dying off if we don't have robots to do menial tasks for us so that we have more time to think and create. And for those who don't think or create, they can either start or get banished to the ice mines of Siberia.
Oooh, one came back. We're getting two kittens in the next month or so. They're orange tabby/siamese cats, so they're gonna have some attitude. I've never had a siamese but the ones I've met have been full of personality.
But we need names. I was brainstorming in the shower and came up with a few:
Jasmine
Mayhem
Onyx (but only for a black cat, feel free to use that one)
Snowball 8 or 9 (homage to the Simpson's cat)
Felix
Five or Seven (but I won't use that if that is going to be Baby Lo's name)
Henry 2 (after Henry the 1st, Hamster extraordinaire)
Clio (after my sold Saturn, who I miss terribly)
Cleo (after that crazy Jamaican psychic lady who apparently ran out of money)
Rage
Snuggles (hehehe, not really but Rage and Snuggles would be a great mix)
Manfred
Please leave any good ones you think of, or pick from my list.
And any Texan who likes the asstacular antics of their local high school cheerleaders, you might wanna read this and contact your state senators.
Texas House to cheerleaders: Don't shake it
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Zed's dead baby, Zed's dead
Apparently I set up my mistress Tivo to record anything having to do with "Focus" as in Ford, and no I haven't gotten any weird eye shows on the Discovery Channel yet, but it taped a show, Tuner Transformation. Basically they take some lucky schlub's car and pimp it out but actually make it faster and handle better unlike the normal Pimp My Ride fare.
I'm watching it and they got a Wings West body kit, a very nice brake kit, 4 piston, and the Vortech supercharger that I want. Haven't quite finished the show yet, had to catch the bus, but one thing caught my attention. This particular event always does and infuriates and bewilders me all at the same time.
That event is a word or letter more acurately. Zed. What the fuck is that about?
It's a Z. no ed. Zed is someone's name, and I can't imagine their parents like them too much.
Where did this come from? T U V W X Y Zed? Is there something out there that people were confusing with the letter Z? It's a what? A Datsun 280Z? What the fuck is Z? Oh, a 280Zed. Now I get it.
Please, please, please, some Brit or Canadian explain this to me because it is beyond my comprehension.
And if you or your fellow soccer moms feel left out by this tuner craze and think that they don't make anything for your kickass minivan. Never fear, Bomex is here!
'95-'97 Honda Odyssey
And the '91-'97 Toyota Previa
Pimp that baby.
I'm watching it and they got a Wings West body kit, a very nice brake kit, 4 piston, and the Vortech supercharger that I want. Haven't quite finished the show yet, had to catch the bus, but one thing caught my attention. This particular event always does and infuriates and bewilders me all at the same time.
That event is a word or letter more acurately. Zed. What the fuck is that about?
It's a Z. no ed. Zed is someone's name, and I can't imagine their parents like them too much.
Where did this come from? T U V W X Y Zed? Is there something out there that people were confusing with the letter Z? It's a what? A Datsun 280Z? What the fuck is Z? Oh, a 280Zed. Now I get it.
Please, please, please, some Brit or Canadian explain this to me because it is beyond my comprehension.
And if you or your fellow soccer moms feel left out by this tuner craze and think that they don't make anything for your kickass minivan. Never fear, Bomex is here!
'95-'97 Honda Odyssey
And the '91-'97 Toyota Previa
Pimp that baby.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Howling monkeys
This post was inspired by a conversation with Joan inspired by another post by Kate the Peon who is currently on vacation in Costa Rica, making everyone who hears about that jealous. And of course extremely excited for our little world traveler.
Okay, this was inspired by two conversations. I was talking with some fellow group members about what graduated group members are doing. A, who just graduated and is looking for a job in the ATL, mentioned to J that GE in Shanghai was hiring. J is Chinese, so this would put her much closer to home. To which I said, wow that would be awesome. Go to Shanghai, learn some Chinese, make some cash money, and move after 3 years or so. Sounds pretty good, but now that I've seen the Cost of Living index
I now know that the salary would have to be very high for me to make any money. But that isn't the point. The point is life experience.
It would be utterly amazing to live in China for a few years. I know I couldn't bad mouth the government, I love Communism! (in case they're watching), and it would be one hell of a case of culture shock, but it would be worth it. But I'm also not dead set on China, or anywhere really.
But I brought this up with Joan, and we finally came to the core issue for her. Hygiene. She hates smelly people. She is not a personal hygiene freak but she expects everyone to at least brush their teeth and shower daily. Or at least smell like they do. And she doesn't really want to live anywhere they don't speak english. I fancy myself a linguist (cunning, some might say) and try to have an ear for how languages sound when spoken by native speakers. Whether I do this well or not is left to be seen, but at least I try and I think that's all anyone wants.
I still get frustrated with languages. They're fucking hard and those are the ones with the Roman alphabet. I've never attempted to learn any Asian language, so that would be interesting. I just need to learn a few basic phrases, words, and numbers, and I'll be ok.
I have no strong need to live in this country. The rest of the world is pretty cool and I would like to experience it as much as possible. And I would really prefer to live there. And I need to do that now when I don't have a house, or dogs, or kids to have to worry about. I still plan to travel with my kids, if they exist, and hope that they will get the chance to experience and delve into far away lands.
And if anyone is interested in cost of living comparisons, go to this google page and the first one is for national cost of living and salary calculator and the second is the worldwide cost of living index.
Diviertate Kate! Y espero que te gustas Costa Rica igual que yo.
(I'm a little rusty, but I think that says, Have fun Kate and I hope you like Costa Rica as much as I did.)
Okay, this was inspired by two conversations. I was talking with some fellow group members about what graduated group members are doing. A, who just graduated and is looking for a job in the ATL, mentioned to J that GE in Shanghai was hiring. J is Chinese, so this would put her much closer to home. To which I said, wow that would be awesome. Go to Shanghai, learn some Chinese, make some cash money, and move after 3 years or so. Sounds pretty good, but now that I've seen the Cost of Living index
I now know that the salary would have to be very high for me to make any money. But that isn't the point. The point is life experience.
It would be utterly amazing to live in China for a few years. I know I couldn't bad mouth the government, I love Communism! (in case they're watching), and it would be one hell of a case of culture shock, but it would be worth it. But I'm also not dead set on China, or anywhere really.
But I brought this up with Joan, and we finally came to the core issue for her. Hygiene. She hates smelly people. She is not a personal hygiene freak but she expects everyone to at least brush their teeth and shower daily. Or at least smell like they do. And she doesn't really want to live anywhere they don't speak english. I fancy myself a linguist (cunning, some might say) and try to have an ear for how languages sound when spoken by native speakers. Whether I do this well or not is left to be seen, but at least I try and I think that's all anyone wants.
I still get frustrated with languages. They're fucking hard and those are the ones with the Roman alphabet. I've never attempted to learn any Asian language, so that would be interesting. I just need to learn a few basic phrases, words, and numbers, and I'll be ok.
I have no strong need to live in this country. The rest of the world is pretty cool and I would like to experience it as much as possible. And I would really prefer to live there. And I need to do that now when I don't have a house, or dogs, or kids to have to worry about. I still plan to travel with my kids, if they exist, and hope that they will get the chance to experience and delve into far away lands.
And if anyone is interested in cost of living comparisons, go to this google page and the first one is for national cost of living and salary calculator and the second is the worldwide cost of living index.
Diviertate Kate! Y espero que te gustas Costa Rica igual que yo.
(I'm a little rusty, but I think that says, Have fun Kate and I hope you like Costa Rica as much as I did.)
Monday, May 02, 2005
Mother Nature is a maaad scientist!
Nice pleasant relaxing weekend. With the dull nagging pain of exams to come.
Grilled some dogs and veggies with the neighbors. They borrowed a mixing bowl and flour and made cookies. Who am I to deny the world cookies? All very good.
Saturday, Joan didn't work for the first time in a while and she sat around and slept and watched TV and I went to work for a few hours to work on my exam.
Saturday also bought a grill and some citronella torches off a moving neighbor for a song. And then Sunday, I decided to give it a whirl. So went to Bi-Lo, and not the Evil Empire that is Wal-Mart, got some burger fixins and charcoal. Fired it up, mixed the meat with a ranch seasoning packet, and made my first burgers ever by my self. And they were damn good. Damn good. Also grilled some hot dogs and veggies. All delicious.
I just have to make it through my take home exam and then it's clear sailing all the way to August. Except for research everyday, but that is enjoyable. If I didn't find it interesting, I would've dropped out about 2 years ago. Not sure what I would've done, but there is a whole world of options. Maybe I would go to mechanic school.
But I was sitting around with my neighbor, an undergrad horticulturalist, and a friend who was a wanna be PhD horticulturalist. I could understand the words but had no clue as to what they were talking about. Me being a Black Thumb member has shielded me from the world of plants. Before grilling out, we went to Bi-Lo, but they didn't have the 24 pack of Nathan's hot dogs that J, neighbor, so desperately wanted. So we bought most of the items we needed and headed down to Wal-Mart. As we were walking in, they had some plants out front for sale. He walked by and pointed at each one and said, "Too much light, pH too low, not enough water, too much nitrogen," etc... I suppose I could tell a difference but I don't really know what a healthy plant looks like, so I can't compare. I've also never had any hort classes ever and have no clue about anything like that. Besides aloe vera is pointy and soothing.
So basically I'm glad that people are different and go to school to learn about different topics because without them, those plants would be on their own.
I occasionally conclude writings well, but rarely.
Grilled some dogs and veggies with the neighbors. They borrowed a mixing bowl and flour and made cookies. Who am I to deny the world cookies? All very good.
Saturday, Joan didn't work for the first time in a while and she sat around and slept and watched TV and I went to work for a few hours to work on my exam.
Saturday also bought a grill and some citronella torches off a moving neighbor for a song. And then Sunday, I decided to give it a whirl. So went to Bi-Lo, and not the Evil Empire that is Wal-Mart, got some burger fixins and charcoal. Fired it up, mixed the meat with a ranch seasoning packet, and made my first burgers ever by my self. And they were damn good. Damn good. Also grilled some hot dogs and veggies. All delicious.
I just have to make it through my take home exam and then it's clear sailing all the way to August. Except for research everyday, but that is enjoyable. If I didn't find it interesting, I would've dropped out about 2 years ago. Not sure what I would've done, but there is a whole world of options. Maybe I would go to mechanic school.
But I was sitting around with my neighbor, an undergrad horticulturalist, and a friend who was a wanna be PhD horticulturalist. I could understand the words but had no clue as to what they were talking about. Me being a Black Thumb member has shielded me from the world of plants. Before grilling out, we went to Bi-Lo, but they didn't have the 24 pack of Nathan's hot dogs that J, neighbor, so desperately wanted. So we bought most of the items we needed and headed down to Wal-Mart. As we were walking in, they had some plants out front for sale. He walked by and pointed at each one and said, "Too much light, pH too low, not enough water, too much nitrogen," etc... I suppose I could tell a difference but I don't really know what a healthy plant looks like, so I can't compare. I've also never had any hort classes ever and have no clue about anything like that. Besides aloe vera is pointy and soothing.
So basically I'm glad that people are different and go to school to learn about different topics because without them, those plants would be on their own.
I occasionally conclude writings well, but rarely.
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