Random Access

Monday – 31 May 2010
Today is Memorial Day.

Please remember that today is not about sales or barbecues; take some time to remember those who have fallen in the line of duty to protect the freedoms that we hold dear.

This weekend has been good. I didn’t make it to Dr. Volt’s on Saturday, but I did fire up City of Heroes and spend some time in Paragon City. I should do that more often. We then headed to Sugar House to try a New York Style pizzeria called Este. Holy cow! Good stuff! Highly recommended. The evening’s symphony was quite nice. Before the performance, I attended a short lecture, given by guest conductor Carlo Rizzi. The Mozart was good, but I found that I enjoyed the Mahler piece, Symphony No. 1 in D Major (“Titan”), more.

After the symphony, we came home and watched Surveillance, a movie that I had requested from Netflix. We both disliked the movie. On many levels.

If you have a chance to see this movie or do just about anything else, go with Option B. We took the bullet for you on this one.

Sunday started off with a stroll to Pin-up Girl Espresso. After that, SaraRules and I spent a couple of hours installing a chair rail in the dining room. I must say that it looks pretty good. It will get sanded and painted either today or tomorrow. After that, Chris came over and we played HALO 3: ODST for a few hours. Following the Covenant eradication, I fired up the grill and we cooked chicken and some fresh vegetables. We stopped by to visit the in-laws and wound down the evening with The Road, based on the book of the same name, by Cormac McCarthy. I had literally just finished reading the book before we watched the movie. The adaptation was good, and kept the feel and pacing of the story without feeling like it meandered and/or got lost.

Today, there will be things… and stuff… I’m just not sure exactly “what.” One of the options is to paint my office. I found an off-white (barely off-white, though) color that I like called “Swiss Coffee.” Go figure. Once the painting is done, I finally do things like buy a desk and start unpacking/setting up my office. Amen.

Stray Toasters

• I’m trying to come up with ideas for this Saturday’s HeroClix tournament. So far, nothing has struck me as “awesome.”
• Clickjacking Worm Exploits Facebook “Like” Feature
• I should probably mow the lawn today.
• Celebrating 35 Years of ILM Magic
• 
• In graphics: Supercomputing superpowers
• It’s coming up on arts festival season in the area. I’m looking forward to this year’s events.
• Acupuncture May Trigger Natural Painkiller

Time to find something to do…

Namaste.

Friday – 28 May 2010
It’s my 9/80 day off. Amen.

Not only that, but the day has been nominally productive so far. I woke up a little before SaraRules headed to work. I thought about having a spot of breakfast, but didn’t… for whatever reason. After she left, I did my best impression of a cat and sprawled on the sitting room floor, in a pool of sunlight. It felt good. Next thing I know, I’d lost an hour. (Oh, well… that’s what days off are for.) I got up, did a load of laundry and then did something that I haven’t done in “far too long.”

I went to the gym.

That’s right, I went to the gym. I’ve discovered over the years that I prefer working out with someone, but I’m not completely averse to going alone. I’ve also discovered that not going to the gym for a month or so means that you have to work back up to where you used to be. But… I went to the gym. I worked out. And it was good. Selah. Not only that, but I ran into former coworker, Josh, there; so I have a witness that I was actually there and doing stuff.

Back home for a shower and shave and a bite to eat. In a little bit, SaraRules’ mother is coming over and we’re heading down to the new Hobby Lobby.  (Yeah, I know: It’s a hard-knock life to have to go to Hobby Lobby on your day off…)

Not sure what the rest of the afternoon holds, but there’s Clitorati tonight.

Workout
Yesterday’s step count: 2019 steps.

Today’s workout consisted of:

• Elliptical: 10 minutes, avg. speed ~5.5 MPH
• Sit-ups (incline): 3 sets/20 reps
• Bench Press: 3 sets/10 reps
  • 2 sets @ 185 lbs
  • 1 set @ 135 lbs
• Compound Row: 3 sets/10 reps, 125 lbs
• Curls (dumbbell): 3 sets/10 reps, 20 lbs
• Tricep Press (overhead, dumbbell): 3 sets/10 reps, 40 lbs

The workout was good… and tiring. I think that I might have to back off on some of the weights a bit, until I get back into the swing of things. But, that’s okay. I have nothing but time, air and opportunity.

Stray Toasters

• We finished applying primer to the ceiling in my office last night. Next step: Paint!
• Green Lantern earns animated series
• Videogames train you for lucid dreaming?
• SaraRules and I are planning on getting new phones in the next few weeks, I think. I had been hoping that Apple would undergo a rectal craniotomy and diversify their carriers – I want an iPhone, but don’t want it on AT&T. Since that doesn’t seem to be very likely, I’d like to hear your recommendations on phones and/or cellular service providers.
• No more Joker for Luke Skywalker?
• Body of Evidence: Artist works with silver nanoparticles dispersed in hexane
• 
• ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ actor Gary Coleman dies at 42
  When I was a kid, people said that I used to looked like Gary Coleman and/or Rodney Allen Rippy (bonus points if you remember him from the old Jack in the Box commercials).
• Steampunk War Machine (papercraft)
• Secret Codes You Aren’t Meant to Know
  I can’t speak to the validity of these codes as a whole, but I thought it was interesting.
• 
• Top 10 Miscast Movie Roles
• Sao Paulo unleashes Brazilian creative energy
• May 28, 1959: Inventing a New Language for Business
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file: Passenger who was locked in an empty plane sues airlines

Bonne’s here… and we’re off!

Namaste.

Wednesday – 26 May 2010
From snow to sun to… drab and overcast… in 48 hours.
Welcome to the Land Behind the Zion Curtain!

But at least it’s (Sushi and) Comics Wednesday.
Comics are guaranteed; sushi, not so much… but we shall see what the day brings.

Getting back into the swing of things yesterday was slow. After work, SaraRules and I met at her folks’ place – they were kind enough to check on the house and get our mail while we were out of town. Next, home for dinner and some post-vacation relaxing. We finished watching Disc 1 of Mad Men, which we had started watching on the plane ride from IAH to SLC.  Good show. Other discs will be added to the Netflix queue, I believe.

I woke up with my internal radio set to “Random Play.” A lot of odd things filtered through, but the most unusual – and by far the most random – thing was the theme from Dr. Shrinker, a show I used to watch when I was a kid. As Dr. Rosenblatt would say, “It’s so bizarre…”

Stray Toasters

• By way of Nyx: How to Get Your Camera Back When You Lose It
• Things to thinks about on the long wait to Fringe Season 3
• Salt Lake County to get its first openly gay councilman?
• Igor Stravinsky, arrested for “tampering” with The Star Spangled Banner, 1940
• I have been amused by some of the offerings on ROFLrazzi:
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 20 Worst Drinks in America 2010
• What anime can teach you about ending a story
• Little Women and Werewolves
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file: The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia
• 19 fictional islands you can visit now that LOST is over

Namaste.

Friday – 21 May 2010
It’s not my 9/80 Friday off…

…but as of the end of work yesterday, I’m on a mini-vacation for the next four days. And later this morning, SaraRules and I will be winging my way east.

Last night was fairly low-key. Dinner.  TV (Fringe – I called the twist at the end before the reveal). And packing. And a little more TV.

Workout
I apparently put in a few more steps than I thought yesterday: 5139 steps.

Stray Toasters

• Are You an Ace of Bass?
• By way of SaraRules: For Looney Tunes, A Big Left Turn at Albequerque
• Thief Steals Paintings from Paris Museum, Including Works by Picasso and Matisse
• Hubble Watches as Star Slowly Devours Planet
• A New Twist on Pretzels
• ‘Artificial life’ breakthrough announced by scientists

Namaste.

Wednesday – 19 May 2010
It’s Comics and Sushi Wednesday.
This means that…

…hits shelves today. Finally.

Last night, Chris came over and we played more HALO 3: ODST. And it was good… unless you were a Covenant warrior. In that case, life was neither good nor long. We also talked ‘Clix and a few other games, too.

Workout
Yesterday was a slow day for walking: 3201 steps.

Stray Toasters

• Who has had a homemade blueberry muffin for breakfast this morning?  I did.
• Turning 70, with Stars and Strobes
• By way of MarknTyme: No Ordinary Family
• Ladies’ Choice: To Be a ‘Doll on Wheels’
  …or as Jim Croce put it: Roller Derby Queen
• Oldest Mesoamerican pyramid tomb found in Mexico
• From the “Big Brother Is Watching You” file: UC Berkeley Asking Incoming Students for DNA
• The Dark Sun campaign setting
• Crazy and Unique Case Mods
• 

• Germany Asks Google to Surrender Private Data

And that’s a wrap.

Namaste.

Monday – 17 May 2010
It was 60F and sunny when I left home this morning.
The projected high is 80F.
This has to be a dream…

Yesterday, the lawn was mowed and we finished putting primer on the walls in my office. There has to be at least a 40% increase to the room’s overall brightness. I wish I had taken before/after pictures to show just how great a difference it is.

Last night, SaraRules and I went to the in-laws’ for dinner and a movie. The dinner fare was grilled burgers and salad and fixin’s and whatnot. For dessert, we had homemade brownies, with mocha rum sauce and ice cream. Everything was very good.

Our movie fare was Daybreakers. This was not-so-great. In fact, I had to dig find these visual aids:

That’s right: Lawn darts.
It wasn’t entirely painful, but having seen this movie, I don’t need to see it again. This movie was apparently written and directed by the same duo who directed Undead, another film I’d like to forget. SaraRules kept this fact from me until after the movie was over, in the hopes that this would be a better experience and that I’d possibly be willing to give the directors a fair shake, without the mental taint of Undead shading my opinion. (Unfortunately, it didn’t quite pan out that way.)

Workout
I’ve been trying to keep track of my walking over the past few days:

• Friday: 4100-something steps (written down at home, but I forgot to transpose it)
• Saturday: 8132 steps
• Sunday : 5140 steps

Stray Toasters

• Homemade Blueberry muffins.
  I have them for breakfast.
  Win.
• 7-year-old girl killed in Detroit police raid
• Simple Techniques Can Make You a Great Teacher
  I find it ironic and amusing that I stumble across this item as my mother is preparing to retire from teaching after… nearly 40 years, if my math is correct.
• The Geek Alphabet



• Heavy metal legend Ronnie James Dio: 1942 – 2010
• Hot exhibits make science accessible, and lots of fun
• With Restored Footage, Metropolis Finally Makes Sense
• Marion Jones hits ground running, starts fresh in WNBA
• These Golden Books Are Not for Children

  

• What Did the Original Script for The Empire Strikes Back Look Like?

Namaste.

Sunday – 16 May 2010
Midway through the weekend and all’s well.

Yesterday, SaraRules and I got up and headed over to Rich’s Bagels for breakfast. I must admit, having a neighborhood bagel shop within walking distance is rather nice. After breakfast, SaraRules went to work in the garden, as I got ready for another HeroClix tournament at Dr. Volt’s.

The tourney was good. There were (orginally) ten players; one had to leave after the second round, so I got to put together a team and play a “bye” in the third round. Since WizKids gave Checkmate a nice boost with The Brave and the Bold (and as I’ve had a fondness for Checkmate since the late 80s), I put together… dun dun dunnnn… a Checkmate team. Oh, come on… like you didn’t see that coming. I played against Pete, who had also assembled a Checkmate team, but we took slightly different tacks with our teams. After forty minutes, we danced around the board, as our teams were fairly evenly matched. I had taken out a couple of  Pete’s figures, but since it was a bye, he got the TKO.

Next, back home for dinner and to get ready for the evening’s entertainment: The opera. We saw a couple of one-act operas by Puccini: Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicci. While both operas were good, both SaraRules and I agreed that Suor Angelica was the superior – and far more moving – of the two. If you’re in the SLC Metro area and looking for a good evening’s entertainment, I’d advise seeing these operas.

After the opera, we stopped at The Point After. We met up with Jenny and Julie and a few other friends who were having an anniversary celebration of Jess’ life. We didn’t stay very long, but it was nice to see everyone.

This morning, it was nice to be able to sleep in and not have to worry about rushing around to get something done.

Stray Toasters

• I was able to get my DIY Network fix this morning.
• How to Observe Better Sleep Month
• 50 Years of Real-Life Ray Guns
• 
• Truckloads of Strippers, Freaks, Art and Noodles Drive NYC’s Lost Horizon Night Market
• Star Wars, the Baroque version
• Bootsy Collins launches world’s first online “University of Funk”
• Thanks to Nyx for pointing out this cake:



• The Short List: 5 Advantages to Being Diminutive
• Tourist hospitalized by venomous spider bite on penis
• By way of : So, How Would YOU Dress for Atlantis’ Last Scheduled Launch?
• Art and doodles left by prisoners at Wisconsin jail
• Avatar: The Last Airbender + LEGO = This
• Ask a Flowchart: Where Should I Chat Online?
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file: Former TV chef held in alleged murder-for-hire plot

Time for some caffeination and to see what the day holds.

Namaste.

Thursday – 13 May 2010
An NBN Thursday that starts with… sun?!
I should check to make sure that this isn’t Oz.

Last night, SaraRules and I went out for dinner to Outback Steakhouse. (Mmm. prime rib and cheese fries…) After dinner, we headed downtown to meet up with Josh, Michael and Miranda, who are up from Cedar for an arts conference. We went to Settebello for gelato and coffee. Next, SaraRules and I stopped by the in-laws’ for a few minutes.

This morning, I stopped to pick up loonybin88 – in town to help with a work project – from dropping his car off at the garage. On the way to the office, I drove him by the house, as he hadn’t seen it yet. I went to throw some trash away and noticed about 3 yards of coax cable in the garbage can.

Õ,ô ?!?

I didn’t think too much about it at the time, other than John might have – for whatever reason – tossed some of the extra cable he ran for the neighbor’s job in our can. Okay, no big deal. I gave loonybin88 the nickel tour of the house and backyard. And that’s when I saw it:

A new coil of coax at the end of the line that goes from the service node into the house.

Unless The Cable Fairy paid us an unexpected visit yesterday, I can only assume that John ran the new line Tuesday evening so that we just need to have a new splice done tomorrow. (At least “tomorrow, in theory…”)

Workout
While not a “workout,” per se, I joined the zaibatsu’s “Shape Up” fitness challenge a couple of weeks ago. It officially started this past Monday… right in the middle of me being sick. Yay. Yesterday, I remembered to wear the pedometer that accompanied the program’s information packet.

Over the course of the day, I walked 5,132 steps.

Like I said, “not a ‘workout,’ per se,” but it’s a start.

Stray Toasters

• Tonight, SaraRules is participating in the Junior League Cookbook Party and Tasting. This is a fundraising event and it runs from 6:30-8:00 PM this evening at Mountain Land Design (2345 South Main Street, SLC, UT). If you’re looking for something to do this evening – and want to help out a good cause (as well as try some tasty food) – stop by.
• “F” is for “Fastball Special” – The ABCs of Wolverine
  (, you’ll want to check out “I.”)
• In a Job Market Realignment, Some Left Behind
• This is close – but not quite enough – to making rethink my Corps allegiances…
  



• Steam for Mac now live
• Netflix movies don’t return themselves. Unfortunately.
• At the Met, Portraits of Grief, Written in Stone
• 
• New Seattle’s Best: Best-er or Worse?, courtesy of
• A Fashion Show Where Candy Is Worn, Not Eaten
• George Romero Has 2 More Zombie Films Rising from the Dead
• New York Minorities More Likely to Be Frisked
• I still have over half of yesterday’s four-color haul to read. (This is not a bad thing.)

On to the grind.

Namaste.

Friday – 07 May 2010
It’s my “on” Friday… but that’s okay: The team is seeing Iron Man 2 at lunch.

SaraRules and I saw the movie last night… well, “very early this morning.” And it was worth the lack of sleep. It was a well-done bit of entertainment. Mr. Downey looked quite comfortable, once again, as Tony Stark. Don Cheadle turned in a good performance as Lt. Col. James Rhodes, the “voice of reason” to Tony’s “poor impulse control.” Samuel L. Jackson was one bad mother… no, wait…. had it with these motherf…. wait… “he was good in his expanded role as S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury.”  Scarlett Johansson also did a good turn as The Black Widow. Mickey Rourke did a good job of turning Marvel villain Whiplash (whose back story was given a tweak to fit into the movie’s storyline) into a credible threat and Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer was equal parts unctuous slimeball and opportunistic business man. All-in-all, Jon Favreau did a good job of bringing viewers back into the world of Tony Stark. I was impressed with how his nod to Demon in a Bottle was handled – very subtly, but it made the point. I was also amused by some of the cameos in the film, as well. (Look for “Larry King.”) And, don’t forget to stay for a little bump after the credits. Just sayin’.

And… there were a couple of interesting trailers before the movie, too: A new one for The Last Airbender (which looked pretty nice) and one for an upcoming J.J. Abrams project that looks… intriguing.

Before the movie, Chris came over. We were originally planning on throwing a HeroClix game together, but opted to play HALO 3: ODST, instead. And it was good. Selah.

Stray Toasters

• Most of my cold symptoms are gone… but I’m still dealing with a sore/scratchy throat and swollen lymph nodes. Bah.
• The Art of Style, and the Style of Art
• For SaraRules: No sleep til…
• For Amy: Click or tap along with new ‘Sam & Max’ series
• Couch Forts: A Critique
• The pill: 50 years of birth control changed women’s lives
• The Bell Tolls: Lots of blame in Raiders’ JaMarcus Russell flop… sorry, SaraRules
• By way of Rachel: Things That Can Make You Feel Like an Idiot Almost Instantly
• F.C.C. Proposes Rules on Internet Access
• Nyx showed me this video…

  …and all I could think of was:

  Spider-Bear! Spider-Bear!
  Whats she doing up in the air?

• Former MySpace security chief starts company
• Music round-up:
  • Gustavo Dudamel: Making Classical Cool in L.A.
  • U.S. Troops Spoof Lady Gaga Video
  • Moby: One Song, Two Days, Three Versions
• How a Cellphone Call Works
• April Jobs Report: Best gain in four years

Yep, that’s good for now.

Namaste.

Wednesday – 05 May 2010
It’s Cinco de Mayo.

Even WizKids has jumped on the bandwagon.

It’s also Comics (and possibly Sushi) Wednesday.

Last night, SaraRules had Book Club… which meant that I was “Bachelor for an Evening.” I headed up to the local B&N to do some drawing. I started coloring on a pic that I’ve been working on (well, “off-and-on”) for a few weeks. Mixed results. I had done a lot of graphite pencil-work on it and the colored pencils weren’t exactly dealing with all of it well. I may reconsider my tack and start the picture anew. We’ll see.

After that, I went home and started playing HALO 3: ODST. (What? You think a little something like “no Internet” is going to stop me from getting my game on?! Hah!) I picked the game up a couple of days ago, but hadn’t cracked it open until last night. It’s got the classic HALO feel, but with a few twists. I like it. (I haven’t found the sniper’s rifle… yet… but, I’m getting good at the headshots with the pistol.)

Stray Toasters

• Sore throat != fun
• New (and as-yet unmet) neighbor deciding to wait until 0610 this morning to move his empty trash can from the curb to its resting place between our houses != fun.
  • On the other hand, it gave me an early start on the morning.
• Day of Prayer Becomes Culture War Skirmish
• Homes can be lost by mistake when banks miscommunicate
• Obama’s plea for civility is exactly right
• This image…

  

  …is available as a t-shirt from SPLITREASON.

• DJ Spooky and Chuck D remix “By the Time I Get to Arizona” in honor of anti-immigrant law
• Google moves into online travel business
• Do Not Look at These Dirty, Filthy State Seals
• By way of BoingBoing (and ): A small announcement – as told through Science Fiction

• …and, with that in mind: Stop-Motion LEGO Star Wars Trilogy in Just Two Minutes

Namaste.

Tuesday – 04 May 2010
I am of ill humor today.

This mostly stems from the fact that my thoughts, with regards to Comcast, repeat: “MDK… MDK…”

Not only have I had three (3) calls from their recovery service about their “unreturned lease equipement,” but yesterday I received a notice from them in the mail. You’d think that people would read the notes on an account… but maybe expecting them to actually read what’s on the screen is asking far too much of people. So, they’re about to receive a rather pointed fax – along with copies of Comcast’s own work orders – with my expectations.

::: deep cleansing breath :::

Yesterday was, otherwise, not too bad. I was finally able to cut down the jungle mow the lawn. (I’m still not a fan of that “landscaping” in the front yard, but SaraRules and I are deciding how to change it.) After dinner and a little errand-running, SaraRules and I watched In the Heat of the Night. It was an excellent film; I highly recommend it.

Stray Toasters

• Sallie Mae lowers interest rates on non-federal student loans
• Small-Screen Jazz: Your Favorite TV Themes
• Russian Orphanage Offers Love, but Not New Families
• Join the Dots Wallpaper
• Take Back Our Country – Originally from the U.K., but easily applicable elsewhere…
• 
• Top social ticket: NYC’s Costume Institute gala
• From the “Catches Thieves, Just Like Flies…” file: Free Comic Book Day shoplifted foiled by Spider-Man, Jedis and The Flash
• Terry Pratchett: Doctor Who isn’t science fiction
• ‘Long-term harm’ of too much TV for toddlers
• Being Human Is Different, Or What Science Asks of Us

Namaste.

Monday – 03 May 2010
It was a good weekend.

Saturday, after coffee with Perry, Kate and the kids (no, the kids didn’t have coffee), I met SaraRules and went to Porcupine Pub and Grill for lunch… which turned into “brunch.” We weren’t previously aware that they offered a weekend brunch – until 1500 – so we decided to see how it was. And the verdict was: “Pretty darned good.” After a bit of errand-running, SaraRules headed off to work – and I met up with the in-laws and head downtown to see – The Temptations with the Utah Symphony. It was a very good show. Otis Williams, the sole remaining original member, has been performing with The Temps for 49 years… and hasn’t lost a step. (Granted, they might not be as flamboyant as the ‘younger guys,’ but the man can still move. And, more importantly, he looks like he’s still having fun.

Sunday, SaraRules and I slept in. It was wonderful. We both commented on how… odd, but very good… it felt to not have something on the agenda that had to get done by Time X or Date Y. We’ve both commented on how much moving – and prepping the house and apartment for the move – felt like having a second job; the past month has worn us out. So, it was delightful to actually be able to slow down and just enjoy the day. After breakfast, we did some (much-needed) grocery shopping. Next, we returned home; Logan came over to help me move the china buffet. After he left, SaraRules and I went to The Garden of Sweden. After paying a small tithe, we left with far less than we had anticipated… which wasn’t necessarily a “bad” thing. Back home for a bit and then up to the in-laws’ for dinner and a movie. Last night’s fare was lamb sausage with imam bayildi, mixed vegetables, pita and hummus, and rice pudding for dessert; last night’s feature presentation was Cloverfield. All-in-all, it was a good way to wrap up the weekend.

Stray Toasters

• In theory, we only have one week until Comcast drops a new line for us.
  • Saturday, I got a third call from Comcast collections about returning the modem and receiver. *sigh* I was even more curt with this agent than I was to the second agent who called. At the end of the call, she said that I shouldn’t hear from them again – if at all – until 11 May. We’ll see how that goes.
• Kid apps become special on the iPad
• How to Build a Trebuchet
• The Day BMW Became ‘The Ultimate Driving Machine’
• 
• Outnumbered, Outgunned: How Underdogs Prevail
• Vinegar as a stain remover
• $25,000 Family Sedan Shootout: Can a family afford a good car?
• Earth Wind and Fire: Boogie Wonderland
• Pitting the Web’s Users Against Its Gatekeepers
• Polanski breaks silence about American extradition threat

Namaste.

Thursday – 29 April 2010
It’s another NBN Thursday morning.

Happy Birthday to Beckley, Joe and Lars:

It was snowing when I woke up this morning.
Yes, I know it’s almost May.
Apparently, Mother Nature cares naught for such petty human concerns.

Stray Toasters

• Alvin Ailey Company Names a New Leader
• New Rule Offers Trapped Travelers an Exit Door
• A couple of cellphone-related tech items:
  • Cellphone Payments Offer Alternatives to Cash
  • Linking Customer Loyalty with Social Networking
• 
• Congratulations Comcast; You’re the Worst Company in America!
  • Monkeys!
  • I got a call from Comcast collections on Tuesday, asking when I planned to return the receiver and cable modem. I explained that I was awaiting reconnection at the house. She took down the information and apologized for the call.
  • Yesterday, I got another call from Comcast collections. I wasn’t as pleasant – though I tried to be nominally polite – to that agent.
  • I’m waiting to see if I get yet another call from them.
• When I lived in Indiana, I saw a lot of commercials for a place called Don’s Guns. Don had some of the best (i.e.: funniest) commercials, because of the tagline he used at the end of each spiel: “Folks, I don’t want to make money. I just love to sell guns!”  And, he’d make a finger gun while saying the last bit.  Classic! I was talking with Tom and Sean about it this morning and decided to see if I could find a commercial from the store online. I did:
• Rush is on to claim first-time home buyers tax credit
• I’ve been a fan of Love and Capes for a couple of years. It’s a light and fun read.  Check it out.
• This makes me laugh:



“Chocolate Negro.” Comedy.

• Anne Frank’s full diary on display for the first time in Amsterdam
• Big Wind Farm off Cape Cod Gets Approval
• Three of my favorite planes have been modeled in LEGO:
  • SR-71 Blackbird
  • P-51D Mustang
  • F4U Corsair
• Carl Johnson, NFL’s new chief official, ready for major scrutiny
• Welcome to Arizona, Outpost of Contradictions

It’s almost meeting time. Again.

Namaste.

Wednesday – 28 April 2010
It’s snowing.
Yes, it was better than 70F a day or two ago.
Now, it’s not. According to The Weather Channel, it is 40F right now.
Yesterday, it was also very windy. A LOT of dust was blown into the valley from the desert, making things grey and drab.

Last night, SaraRules and I met at the old apartment to pick up some of the last few things we left there. Things were moving along nicely – we had loaded her car and had started putting things in mine – when, about 21:30/21:45, the power went out.

::: braincramp :::

The flashlight was at the house, as were the candles, so we were effectively done. We piled into our cars and headed home…

…only to discover that the power was out there, too.

*grblsnrkx*

The first and most immediate issue that created: No automatic garage door opener. And the door doesn’t seem to have a handle or manual method for opening it. So, we had the privilege of parking outside. No power also pretty much meant that unpacking most things was out. We found the flashlight and SaraRules tracked down a couple of the big candles and we sat around and chatted (and listened to the still-howling wind) until she nodded off. I tried – somewhat unsuccessfully – to stay away, but drifted off about 23:15.

At 23:34, the power came back on. I took advantage of the situation and prepped the coffee maker, put away some of the fortunately still-frozen food that we had brought from the apartment. Since I had been up and moving around, falling back asleep wasn’t the easiest thing, so I grabbed my GameBoy and played a few rounds of Tetris. Sleep found me about thirty minutes later.

Stray Toasters

• No power + new house = BAH!
  (Of course, it kind of made the no TV/no Internet thing easy to cope with…)
• I’m debating advancing my timetable for having DirecTV installed.
• Check out Jim Lee’s variant cover for Legion of Super-Heroes #1

  

  “I’d buy that for a dollar!”
  (Who am I kidding?  It’s a Legion book.  I’d easily pay TWO dollars for it!)

• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file: Sprint employees fired for capturing shoplifter
• Who was the best/worst astronaut… and why:
  • Captain Anthony “Buck” Rogers
  • Major Anthony “Tony” Nelson
  • Colonel Steve Austin

  Discuss.

And with that, Kenneth and I are off to the South 40 to deal with a couple of issues with the kids down there. Pray for us.

Namaste.

Monday – 26 April 2010
Last night was our first night sleeping at the house. It made sense to sleep there as (almost) all of our stuff is there now… including/especially the bed. It wasn’t the most sound sleep I’ve ever had – I woke up a few times, for no reasons that I’ve been able to discern – but it is nice to be out of the shadow of the pending move.

Now comes the “Where did I put the [fill-in-item-name]…?!” portion of the move.

And figuring out what kind of desk I want.

Stray Toasters

• I spoke with the parental units yesterday; they are doing well. After mentioning the work I want to do in the basement at the house, I think that I have volunteered to finish my mother’s basement. We’ll have to see how that works out…
• Ms. Nyx forwarded a couple of interesting items:
  • Antwone Fisher: What guys need to know to be men
  • Hong Kong architect turns shoebox apartment into 24 rooms
• Amy sent a link to Stephane Halleux’ artwork.
• I found a CD I’d been missing for the past couple of months… in my trunk. *facepalm*
• 
• Sony to end floppy disk production, by way of
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file: Man Goes to ER after One ‘Wicked’ Sandwich
• As Lost Ends, Creators Explain How They Did It, What’s Going On
• I missed the NFL Draft. All of it.
• Blood glucose meter attaches to Nintendo DS
• By way of : The police get involved in the lost iPhone case

Quote of the Day
Today’s QotD actually comes in two parts, both of which are courtesy of Anne (one of the graduating MFAs from SaraRules’ program) to two other MFAs:

1. You need Jesus. Or a midol and a snickers. Whichever.
2. There really is only one way to give a PowerPoint presentation in your senior capstone class: still drunk.

…right on to the friction of the day.

Namaste.