Random Access

Thursday – 27 November 2008
Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Last night, I watched Tropic Thunder with SaraRules and her family. I was originally ambivalent (at best) about seeing this movie. After seeing it, I have to say that I not only enjoyed it… I laughed my ass off at parts of it. (Not a bad thing, given that today is Thanksgiving and will be a “pile on the pounds and calories” fest.) It was silly, mindless, turn-off-your-brain fare, but it was well-done. And, Robert Downey, Jr. playing an Aussie playing a Black guy was very funny, as well. If you’re looking for a light – and funny – way to pass an hour and a half, this isn’t a bad way to go.

Today, I slept in. Way in. Double-digits in. And it was good. SaraRules stopped by and picked me up for Thanksgiving dinner. And football, which I’m watching now. The Titans vs. the Lions – the best team in the NFL vs. the worst team in the NFL. I’m not sure that I’d call 35-10 “a game,” as much as a “blowout.” But, it’s football. And that’s enough. Soon there will be food. Lots of food. And sweet potato pie. Selah.

Stray Toasters

• MightyGodKing takes a look at the last year of Spider-Man in Brand New Year.
• It’s the Superman Next Door
• By way of :



• I just saw the new/latest/whatever trailer for The Spirit.  I like.
• I just spoke with , who is on his way to visit his family for the holiday – he said that it’s (nearly) time for the holiday season “stop driving like an idiot” posts from the Council for Better Driving.

And that’s a wrap.

Namaste.

Wednesday – 26 November 2008
First off, congratulations to and on the birth of their daughter.

Last night, I stopped in to see and help sort out a problem with her bed. Fortunately, it seemed to be a fairly easy fix. After that, we headed down to Red Espresso, a new coffee shop at 509 East 300 South. It’s a very small, but quite cozy little shop; it’s been open for about a month. I had a caramel mocha (made with real caramel, not just caramel-flavored syrup), while Nyx had a chai latte – we enjoyed our respective drinks. If you’re downtown and looking for a new place for a coffee drink, give it a try.

After that, SaraRules met me at my place and we traipsed off to Best Buy… who is having a great movie sale. We walked out with something on the order of ten movies for a little over $70, including the new 2-disc Hancock and 24: Redemption (which I missed the other night); the other movies clocked in between $3.99, $4.99 or $6.99. Check out the Best Buy website for titles and prices – as I recall, there are about 520 titles on sale.

Today will hopefully be a relatively quiet day around the office. I have a training module to do and a server fan to replace, but I think that’s pretty much it. Then, I’m Ivory Soap sure that I’m heading to Far West to play a game or two of ‘Clix before heading off to make sweet potato pies for tomorrow.

Stray Toasters

• Cars and Guitars: Autopia’s 10 Best Songs about Cars
• A Pillsbury cookie commercial came on last night and the following question popped into my head: Who would win in a fight between the Pillsbury Dough Boy and the Gingerbread Man (from Shrek)?
• Marine Boy

  As a kid, I think that this was one of my favorite after-school cartoons. And it also piqued my curiosity about boomerangs… thus generating many trips to Toys ‘R’ Us to buy toy boomerangs.

• I just found a bunch of opening credits from cartoons that I used to watch as a kid:
  • Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch
  • Devlin
  • Jonny Quest – which I occasionally catch on Boomerang
  • Hong Kong Phooey
  • The Perils of Penelope Pitstop
  • Star Trek: The Animated Series – which, if I remember correctly, is part of Star Trek canon.

  

  • Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids – look, I didn’t name the show, I just watched it.
  • Valley of the Dinosaurs
• Ann Coulter’s Jaw Wired Shut
• Quietly Terrifying Karl Rove NYT Interview

Quote of the Day
Today’s bit o’ banter comes from yet another IRC chat:

(08:26:43) entered the room.
(08:27:07) : damn dirty market.
(08:27:50) Ahpuc: Dirty, filthy, slutty market
(08:28:27) : YEAH
(08:30:45) : that is all.
(08:30:45) left the room (quit: Leaving).
(08:55:35) Me: O,o
(08:58:32) Me: damn dirty == apes
(08:58:42) Me: damn dirty == market
(08:58:48) Me: So… market == apes?
(09:04:09) Ahpuc: And apes = monkeys – tails
(09:04:18) Ahpuc: So market = monkeys – tails
(09:04:25) Me: Ah…. this shit is bananas.’
(09:04:34) Ahpuc: Therefore monkeys = market + tails !
(09:04:41) Ahpuc: Pin the tail on the market!
(09:04:48) Me: tails = tuxedos
(09:05:00) Me: Therefroe monkeys = market + tuxedos
(09:05:14) Me: apes = monkeys – tuxedos
(09:05:30) Ahpuc: tuxedos = penguins ?
(09:06:13) Me: So, by that rationale: Charleton Heston starred in “Planet of the Monkeys – Penguins”
(09:06:16) left the room (quit: res pls).
(09:06:43) entered the room.
(09:07:01) Ahpuc: apparently does not like our logic.
(09:08:12) Ahpuc: r0b, I just realized the implications here. Charlton Heston could fix the market!
(09:08:15) Ahpuc: Too bad he’s DEAD.

Tuesday – 25 November 2008
Day 2 of 3.  Selah.
It’s been a quiet day. I had a meeting. I have another meeting in less than an hour. WHEEE!

Workout
Marci, Wes and I hit the gym for a lunchtime workout. In the locker room, I had a realization:

I have two (2) pairs of navy blue gym shorts:

• An “around the house” pair (the waistband is a little frayed, has a few holes – that give them character) and
• A “going to the gym” pair – in good all-around condition.

Guess which pair wound up going with me to the gym today.

That didn’t stop us from having a good workout. Wes and I went for max presses today – He’s still a couple of weeks out from hitting 225 lbs; I’m still not back to 300, but I had a good 250 rep. Then we went into the rest of the workout – Marci joined us for everything but bench press:

• Bench press: 3 sets/10 reps – 2 sets @ 200 lbs; 1 set @ 200 lbs (7 reps)/185 lbs (3 reps)
• Fly (machine): 3 sets/10 reps, 120 lbs
• Back Extensions (machine): 3 sets/10 reps, 120 lbs
• Curls (dumbell, “middle block”): 3 sets/10 reps, 15 lbs
• Reverse Punch (dumbbell): 3 sets/10 reps, 15 lbs
• Decline Barbell Press: 3 sets/10 reps – 2 sets @ 40 lbs; 1 set @ 50 lbs
• Tricep Press (bar): 3 sets/15 reps, 80 lbs
• Wrist curls (barbell): 3 sets/15 reps, 45 lbs (forward and reverse)
• Push-ups: 3 sets, 10 reps

Post-workout weight: 181.3 lbs

Stray Toasters

• Three auctions’ of ‘Clix – SHIPPED.
• Polygamist leaders indicted – and jailed
• I ♥ Parallels.
• The Sartorialist and Building Your Perfect Business Wardrobe
• 
• From Slashdot: Arranging Electronic Access for Your Survivors?
• Nanotech clothing fabric ‘never gets wet’
• Mythical Female Snipers Stalking Russia?
  

Namaste.

Monday: Coda
One jumpstart…
One smashed finger…
And a chunk of change later,

I have a new battery.

Now, I’m watching The Late Show and eating ginger snaps (with a tall glass of icy cold milk!).

Namaste.

It’s been a pretty decent day… even for a Monday.

Stray Toasters

• Before the collapse of WizKids, Jake Theis – former Brand and Product Development manager – wrote a series of blogs on “Brand Development and Philosophy.” They were good. Very good. It was supposed to be a ten-part series, but he only got five of them into print before Topps decided to fold the WizKids line. This afternoon, I finally jotted an email to him about my thoughts on the series and whether the rest of it would see print. A short while later, I received a reply. And, it looks as though Parts Six through Ten may see print.
• Jonathan Glancey on why LEGO is the best brick on the block
• Burj Tower: the world’s largest cloud buster
• Because it’s always good for a laugh or twenty-seven: Best of Craigslist
• Despite the fact that you weren’t born to millionaire/billionaire parents AND the fact that you haven’t traveled the world to study martial arts AND the fact that you don’t have the limitless resources of a multinational company at your disposal, have you ever wanted to be Batman? Well, maybe these will help you get one step closer.
• Speaking of billionaire industrialists: Iron Man Children’s Costume Modded to Be Deadly-Cute
• By way of : Mega Man “trailer”

Today’s Challenge
I’m in search of a Mäkta Decorative Sphere, specifically the amber/yellow one. Unfortunately the local IKEA does not seem to have any in stock.

So, my challenge to those of you who live near a Garden of Sweden: Find one.
If you should happen to find one, please let me know in which location you found it.

Namaste.

Monday – 24 November 2008
It’s definitely a Monday.

I don’t mean to say that it’s been “bad,” per se, but it’s been proven itself to be “a Monday” already:

The day started off well…

• The alarm went off and I got up…
• I went into the living room and plopped down on the couch for a few…
• I talked to SaraRules for a couple of minutes…
• Got under way and got ready (including getting lunch and breakfast ready)…
• Hit the door…
• Got in the car…

…to find that my battery had decided to call in sick.

I got a jump-start from one of the maintenance guys and headed on in to the office. Looks like I’ll be hitting up AutoZone or Pep Boys on the way home.

Other than that, the day is going pretty well. Even for a Monday. And it’s a short week, to boot.

Stray Toasters

• The machinations for Christmas Card 2.0 are under way. Beware.
• Pocket cowboys.
• This is my new “Favorite Userpic of the Day” (so far):



• Man killed by Scientology guard
• The Raiders… beat the Broncos?!  Wow.
• Someone left a piano in the woods
• For the chemist on your holiday shopping list: Glass molecule reproductions from Erowid.org
• For :

And that’s it for now.

Namaste.

Sunday – 23 November 2008
Today’s been good on a number of fronts:

• I got to sleep in (a bit).
• I watched football.
• I watched the stats tracking of the Eagles-Ravens game.
• I went to the Garden of Sweden with SaraRules.
• I played City of Heroes. (I know…!)
• I hung out with SaraRules’ family and watched more football.

Pretty much any way you look at it, that’s a day full of goodness and win.

Saturday – 22 November 2008
This morning started off quietly. There was sleeping in and breakfast before the day kicked off.

After all of that, I gathered up my things, picked up Chris and we headed to Far West Comics for a 2000 point HeroClix tournament. Unrestricted. And we had the option of using one (1) colossal figure. I went with:

• Batman (Sinestro Corps)
• Dark Phoenix
• Parallax
• Psycho-Pirate
• Superman (Earth-2)
• Wonder Woman

There were a couple of other guys who brought Dark Phoenix figures, too. I wound up going 1-2 for the day: I lost the first round on points, lost the second round in a pure beatdown and won the third round handily. But, I really didn’t go into the tourney to win; I just wanted to play around with figures that I haven’t had a chance to field test yet: E-2 Supes and Dark Phoenix. And they were fun to play. (Too bad they don’t fit in standard 300 point games.)

After that, I met up with SaraRules. We picked up dinner and headed back to my place.

Tonight, we’re off to the symphony to hear Shostakovich‘ 5th Symphony.

And that’s a wrap.

Friday – 21 November 2008
It’s the end of the week. Finally. Amen.
I seem to be on the downhill slope of this cold. Finally. Amen.

Today hasn’t been bad. I didn’t rush in getting ready this morning, including a thirty-minute Interweb surfing session before heading out the door. I can’t really complain about the workday, so far, either. Or maybe that’s just Friday apathy talking. Who knows?

Stray Toasters

• You’d think that if a vendor/manufacturer sent you a multi-thousand dollar server, they’d include a power cord or two with it.
• I don’t know how long ago they implimented it, but I just discovered that you an schedule your auction start times on eBay. The last that I was aware, you had to buy auction management software to schedule them for you. I like this option much better… even if there is a $0.10 fee for doing it.
• For reasons that I have yet to explain, I had the theme from My Mother, the Car running through my head while I was getting ready for work this morning.
• Cranky Colbert warms up for a heartwarming holiday show
• Ginger snaps. The cookies, not the movie.
• 2000-point unrestricted ‘Clix bash tomorrow. I should really put some thought into who I want to use.
• Guitar Hero as training for bionic arms

Almost… done…

Namaste.

Wes and I were the only ones who made it to the gym this afternoon. That’s fine, we had a good workout:

• Lat Pull-downs: 3 sets/10 reps, 100 lbs
• Lateral Raises (w/ flys): 3 sets/10 reps, 10 lbs
• Row (machine): 3 sets/10 reps – 1 set @ 80 lbs; 2 sets @ 100 lbs
• Dips (unassisted): 3 sets/10 reps
• Tricep Extension (rope): 3 sets/12 reps, 60 lbs
• Lower Back extensions: 3 sets/10 reps (with 10 lb weight)
• Push-ups: 3 sets, 10 reps

Post-workout weight: 182.4 lbs.  I seem to have plateaued here, but I think I’m okay with that.  For now.

Thursday – 20 November 2008
Another NBN Thursday kicks off.

Last night, after work… and dinner… and a trip to Dr. Volt’s and to the fabric shop… I watched WALL•E with SaraRules and her family.  SaraRules watched some of it – she was busy working on a quilt for my soon-to-be-born nephew. It’s cute. I’ll post pictures of it when she’s done with it. After the movie and the first few minutes of The Late Show, I headed home. I half-watched The Late Late Show while reading through yesterday’s four-color haul. Then I crashed.

Four-Color Coverage
I’ve been reading Tiny Titans since the book started.

It’s part of the Johnny DC line, DC Comics’ young kids series of books, but it’s one of the best – and most consistently funny – books that they publish.

It features the Teen Titans, as elementary school-aged kids, in out-of-continuity (and rather non-sequitur) adventures. Most of them revolve around… being kids: Going to school. Hanging out on the playground or in their treehouse. Getting into “fights” with other kids (usually the Tiny Titans versions of Titans East or The Fearsome Five). This month’s issue features Supergirl and Batgirl trying to find a place to have a tea party; the issue also features Streaky the Super-Cat and Ace the Bat-Hound.

If you’re looking for a light, fast and fun read – or if you have a young reader in your household – I highly recommend this title.

Stray Toasters

• I am sick of this head cold.
• The “miniatures killer” is back on tonight’s CSI:.
• The Wonder Woman animated feature has a release date: 03 March 2009
• 
• From NPR Music: Feeling the Vibes: The Short History of a Long Instrument
• J.J. Abrams previews 30 minutes of Star Trek footage at New York event
• By way of :

And that’s it for now.

Namaste.

Wednesday – 19 November 2008
After work – and after taking SaraRules to pick up her car – we headed to Best Buy. I picked up Wall·E, Season 1 of Smallville and The Illusionist. With my goodies in hand, we headed back to my place, where SaraRules made a rather tasty chicken and spinach gumbo.

Later this morning, I get to make the trek over Point of the Mountain and go to Happy Valley for a bit. Yay. Hopefully, I’ll be back in SLC by or shortly after lunch.

Stray Toasters

• I have to thank Sib-3 for pointing me in the direction of Fringe.
• Speaking of Sib-3, he and my sister-in-law are expecting their first little bundle of joy in a few weeks – it’s a boy.
• It’s fairly common knowledge that if I get to choose how God appears to me, I want him to look like Morgan Freeman. However… last night, I was poking around Amazon.com for Christmas presents and stumbled across The King James Bible, read by James Earl Jones and thought: “That’s awesome!” I mean, how cool would it be to have an audio version of The Bible narrated by Darth Vader… Mufasa… King Jaffe Joffer… Admiral Greer… I mean James Earl Jones?!
• These comics, from Invisible Spiders, amused me: One and Two
• And, on the topic of zombies: 4 Things to Keep in Mind While Killing Zombies in Left 4 Dead

I should probably start getting ready to head to the southlands.

Namaste.

I was assigned a task this afternoon that made no sense to me.

I asked DaveW (on another team) about it – the item looked like something that he might have some insight on. He just rolled his eyes and started on an abbreviated tirade about the complete lack of thinking that some people do when they have a problem.  This culminated in him saying that the task should have never crossed my desk and the person who created it should have known better in the first place. He also suggested that I verify the nature of the problem with the originator and, if necessary, suggest that they reassign it to the proper team.

A few minutes later, the task was out of my queue.

Yay for monkeys!

Stray Toasters

• Stan Lee and Olivia de Havilland Among National Medal of Arts Winners
• Rather’s Lawsuit Shows Role of G.O.P. in Inquiry at CBS
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” and “Eww…” files: Washington prisons, inmate settle disfigured groin case
• Five Gadgets That Were Killed by the Cellphone
• Seven (More) Gadgets Killed by the Cellphone

Namaste.

Tuesday – 18 November 2008
Today, while relatively uneventful, has been good. Discounting the road monkeys that I had to deal with on the way to work being the main exception.

Marci, Mark, Wes and I hit the gym for a back and triceps workout today:

• Lat Pull-downs: 3 sets/10 reps, 100 lbs
• Reverse Flys: 3 sets/10 reps, 70 lbs
• Row (machine): 3 sets/10 reps, 80 lbs
• Dips (unassisted): 3 sets/10 reps
• Tricep Press (t-bar): 3 sets/10 reps, 45 lbs
• Tricep Extension (rope): 3 sets/10 reps, 30 lbs
• Push-ups: 3 sets, 15-15-10

It was a good, focused workout and everyone seemed to like it… despite the pain/tense muscles.

Post-workout weight: 182.4 lbs.

Stray Toasters

• I have a tasty birch beer to go with my lunch!
• The LJ server upgrades must (finally) be complete – I can access WP again. Apparently, the LJ Crossposter plugin has to check in with LJ on every page load.  Fortunately, someone posted an easy workaround for the “transport error” problem that occurs when LJ is unavailable.
• By way of Drew: NASA Dryden Research Aircraft Photo Collection
• I got some ‘Clix auctions posted last night. A couple of them already have watchers.  That’s a good sign.
• Today’s Questionable Content is amusing.
• Will President Clinton provide a major obstacle to Senator Clinton’s becoming “Secretary Clinton?” We shall see.
• Arkham Asylum, by the numbers

Back to lunch and then back to the grind.

Namaste.

After reading the story about the man who tried to pay his bill with a drawing of a spider:

SaraRules: Would you accept a drawing of a spider as proof that I love you?
Me: Of course!
SaraRules: Excellent.

Me: Aww… I love you, too.
SaraRules: Sweet action.
Me: *print*
Me: *stick on cube wall*

Three guesses who my “Human of the Day” is for today.