Random Access

If I had seen this before I hit the polls, I might have changed my vote:

Thanks to for pointing this out.

Tuesday – 04 November 2008
It’s Election Day in the U.S.

Get out there and vote… if you haven’t already, that is.

I don’t care for whom you vote.
Really.

As long as you’re voting with your conscience (yes, I take mine out of storage, dust it off and actually employ it on certain occasions) and not just to be “one of the ‘in crowd'” or because someone said that you should vote for Candidate So-and-so because they are voting for him/her.

Vote for the person who best reflects the values that you want in a leader, be it local, state or national.

Just… vote.

And remember:

Stray Toasters

• It was snowing earlier.

  

  In keeping with tradition, I called my father to let him know.
  Also, in keeping with tradition, he laughed.

• loonybin88 made a comment about “dressing up” for a meeting this morning. I told him that sounded like a challenge. I haven’t seen him yet, but from what I’ve heard, he didn’t. I did… somewhat.

  

  To complete the look, I wore my tan double-breasted trenchcoat and my fedora. (A couple of the ladies at my polling place complimented me on the ensemble, which was a nice way to kick off the day.)

• , in response to someone’s tirade about political candidates, posted a great forum item called “Why I HATE Milk.”
• ‘Bubblegum Music A-Z’ DVD
• NickToons has provided Comics2Film/Mania.com a preview reel for Wolverine and the X-Men:

• Man with gun and flag shuts down US 101, then gives up
• Something new to add to The Covet List: HeadHood LEGO Hoodie
• The Laptop Celebrates Its 40th Year

That’s it for now.

And, don’t forget: Vote!

Namaste.

Monday – 03 Nov 2008
Happy Hatching Day to :

Last night, I continued a project that I started Saturday evening: Collecting my extra Arkham Asylum ‘Clix into eBay-able groups/lots. Hopefully, they’ll do well.

Stray Toasters

• Teen pregnancy linked to sexy TV shows: study
  Funny, I’d always attributed pregnancy – teen or otherwise – to sex.
• Video Games Linked to Child Aggression
  Hm… next thing you know, they’ll be saying that cartoons and kids shows are linked to child aggression. (And if that’s the case, maybe they’ll finally take the last of the Power Rangers shows off the air…) But, more importantly, when are they going to say something about parents/guardians/mentors teaching kids about positive outlets or foci for their energy/aggression? Or is that just asking too much?
• During last week’s excursion to Dr. Volt’s, SaraRules picked up a Green Lantern t-shirt for me. Not just any GL shirt… but one with John Stewart’s symbol (as opposed to the ones that Hal Jordan or Kyle Rayner used). I’d show you a picture, but Graphitti Designs hasn’t uploaded one yet.
• The LEGO Minifigure Timeline
  This isn’t a complete list, but it does a decent job of getting the ball rolling.
• So… this is my dream car:



For those who can’t identify it, it’s a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.

• Obituary: Studs Terkel
• I get my thing in action
  Verb! That’s what’s happening!
• Propaganda stamps
• I watched Goldfinger on Spike last night. During a couple of the commercial breaks, the following ad aired… it’s definitely one for the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file:

Attack the day…

Namaste.

Sunday – 02 Nov 2008
Today was the second Ravens-Browns game of the season.

vs

The Ravens made a trip to the Dog Pound to take on Romeo Crennell’s Browns… which includes former Ravens Jamal Lewis (RB) and Dave Zastadil (K). For today’s game, SaraRules, and I headed over to ‘s place. And, as always: It was a penalty shot game.

The Ravens wound up winning the game 37-27. Fortunately, most of the scoring drives were spaced out enough so that no one got completely hammered.

And, it was fun to hang out with .

Other than that, it’s been a relatively low-key day. And I’m good with that.

Namaste.

Today’s tournament was… a non-tournament.

Once again, no one made it to the game. That meant that I “won,” by default. On the other hand, I got to play a game against Keith. We used the tourney rules – sealed box draft and went from there. Both of us went with “Gotham City” theme teams. The team that I pulled consisted of:

• Batman (Terry McGuiness)
• Captain Gordon
• The Joker
• The Penguin

Keith used:

• Gotham City Detective
• The Question
• The Riddler
• Robin and
• Two-Face

We played on the Arkham Asylum map. (I like this map.)
And then it was game time.

It was a better/closer game than I expected. Yes, Keith won, but it came down to: Joker and Penguin vs. The Question, Riddler and Two-Face:

• I took out Two-Face.
• Keith took out The Penguin.
• The Question and The Ridder teamed up to take out The Joker.

I was happy to have held out as well as I did.
And it was fun.

The end.

Saturday – 01 November 2008
Yesterday’s work day was busy. Frenetically so. And, I had to deal with one of my least favorite monkeys again. Over a problem that we have had issues over before. I’d love to get him an “I’m a slow learner” t-shirt.

After work, I stopped at the store to pick up some candy for any trick-or-treaters that might stop by. None did. Oh, well. More candy goodness for me!  And, at least the lack of door-knockers didn’t interfere with post-work nap-time.

Next up: OnlyAly and ‘s Hallowe’en party. As usual, a good time was had. Pictures were taken, of course.

Today: I am heading to visit and I have a ‘Clix tournament. Other than that, I believe that the day is pretty much open… and that’s not a bad thing.

Stray Toasters

• Don’t forget that we go off of Daylight Saving Time tonight/tomorrow morning at 2:00 AM – remember to set your clocks back an hour when/before you go to bed.

Up out.

Friday – 31 October 2008
Happy Hallowe’en.

This year’s costume marks the third time (in four years) that I’ve gone with a Samuel L. Jackson-inspired costume: Mace Windu (SW: The Phantom Menace), Neville Flynn (Snakes on a Plane) and this year…

Yep, Nick Fury (1, 2), from Marvel Comics’ Ultimate Universe and the verrrrry end of the Iron Man movie. And a tip of the hat and a wave of the cane to Mr. Jackson for making sure that I have at least one possible costume idea per year. I’ll have more pictures of the overall costume later tonight… to be posted probably tomorrow.

It’s “a little” busy around the office, as we’re prepping for an audit by our robot overlords.  (Did I say “overlords?” I meant “protectors.”) Fortunately, our little “pre-audit” seems to be going fairly well.

Stray Toasters

• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file: Guinness Record for Wheelchair Backflip
• Microsoft SecondLight, caught on video
• 2 Blue Angels grounded for inappropriate relationship
• 
• Also from the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…?!” file: Escaped rhino drill at Japanese zoo
  This led to the following exchange with SaraRules:

  SaraRules: I remember seeing an escaped gorilla drill a while back. Crazy Japanese.
  Me: Well, it’s hard to hold Godzilla drills, I guess…
  SaraRules: That would, however, be awesome.

• How to hack LEDs into LEGO minifigures for Hallowe’en
• By way of : Bowler collapses and dies after rolling 300 game
  (Remind me to never bowl a 300 game…)
• Video game cakes

And that’s it for now.

Namaste.

Thursday – 30 Oct 2008
Not a bad day, so far.

Stray Toasters

• I’ve spoken with this morning; she’s doing alright.
• posted a link for this online: Mystery Science Theater 3000 20th Anniversary Edition
• By way of : Stiff Washes Up on UK Shore – A Giant LEGO Minifig Stiff (Looks like it’s been pulled)
  In its place, I give you… LEGO Sofa: Complete LEGO Life Transformation Now Possible
• Wars and social unrest lead to more zombie movies?
• Meetings. YAY!
• Rock Band licenses The Beatles
• From NPR Music: Anthems for the Angry and Underpaid
• Given that the election is coming up: Mosh
  Eminem |MTV Music
• Bat-Manga: the lost Japanese Batman comics of 1966
• For the gamers: UK Opens National Video Game Archive

That’s good for now.

Namaste.

Wednesday: Coda
I took to a doctor’s appointment this afternoon.
Four hours later, they finally got around to seeing her.
About a half-hour to forty-five minutes later, they admitted her to the hospital.

Before anyone gets worried: She’s fine.

The doctor said that she wasn’t responding to a medication that she was on as they had hoped. They are transitioning her to a different (form of the) medication, but are keeping her for the next few days for observation. I went to the house to get a few things that she wanted/needed and then stayed with her until roughly 8:00 this evening, to make sure that she was alright.

She is at Intermountain Medical Center (in Murray).
She is able to have visitors… EXCEPT between the hours of 6-8 AM and 6-8 PM.
For any questions about reaching her, contact me through email or any of the usual IM protocols.

Namaste.

I’m sitting here talking with and bidets came up.

Don’t ask.
Just go with it.

She mentioned that someone she knows has a bidet in their house and that they are the only person she knows with a bidet. As soon as she mentioned that, the following popped into my head:

It’s a beautiful bidet in the neighborhood
A beautiful bidet for a neighbor…

Yeah… welcome to the way my head works.

And, um, my apologies to the late Mr. Rogers.

Wednesday – 29 Oct 2008
I vaguely remember turning off the alarm this morning. I was a lovely combination of “tired” and “lazy.” There was a part of me that was having an “I don’t care” moment when I turned off the alarm… so, I turned over and decided to grab some more shut-eye.

So far, the morning has been good and even a little productive… despite the fact that I keep thinking that it’s Thursday.

Stray Toasters

• The morning started with sending me this gem from Not Always Right.
• Comic Book Resources has the new story trailer for the upcoming Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe game:

• By way of : Downey, Favreau sign on for “Avengers” at Marvel
• The Secrets of Chugging a Beer Revealed
• By way of Prelate Derek: 20 Costumes That Will Earn You a Halloween Beating
• I just got my flu shot.
  

That’s a good start.  There may be more later.

Namaste.

Tuesday: Coda
SaraRules wound up convincing me to go to the gym, after all:

• Pull-downs: 3 sets/10 reps, 100 lbs
• Close-grip pull-downs: 3 sets/10 reps, 70 lbs
• Rows (machine): 3 sets/10 reps, 80 lbs
• Reverse Deltoid Flys: 3 sets/10 reps, 60 lbs
• Overhead Tricep Extensions: 3 sets/10 reps, 40 lbs
• Tricep Press: 3 sets/10 reps, 60 lbs
• Side Bends: 3 sets/15 reps, 25 lbs
• Core: 2 sets/45 seconds, each

Post-workout weight: 184.1 pounds.

And that’s that.

It was a busy day. Not “run around frantically” busy, but enough to keep me well-occupied throughout the day.

SaraRules cooked a chicken and vegetable over pasta dish. Quite tasty.

Stray Toasters

• Earth-like planet in Epsilon Eridani? It is logical, Captain.
• …and what reference to “Eridani” would be complete without a reference to the Eridani Light Horse?
• …and since I made a BattleTech reference: BattleTech Animated Series: Canonical List of Errors
• Daniel Craig’s quantum leap
• “Pure energy…”
• Pantone Rubik’s Cube
• Horrified B-movie action figures
• “It looks like… some kind of vicious animal-thing!”
• The Internet is ‘built wrong.’

And that’s that.

I may wind up going to the gym tonight… but I’m not 100% committed to that course of action yet.

Namaste.

Tuesday – 28 October 2008
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down…

Wait.

It’s not Monday.
And it’s not raining, either.

So… then… um… yeah, I guess I’m doing alright.

And it’s a short week, to boot.

Stray Toasters
I haven’t really paid much attention to news or pop culture in the past few days, so this will have to hang on until later in the day. Or something to that effect.

Namaste.

Monday – 27 October 2008
Been away so long I hardly knew the place
Gee [it was] good to be back home
Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case
Honey disconnect the phone
I’m back in the U.S.S.R. state called “Utah”
You don’t know how lucky you are boy
Back in the U.S.
Back in the U.S.
Back in the U.S.S.R state called “Utah”

In other words: “We made it back, safe and sound.”