Random Access

Today was grey with high clouds. There were a few “less-grey” spots in the sky, but nothing that I saw had a blue hue to it. It was still temperate and there was a bit of a breeze. I did not, however, take the kite out.

and I were going to visit the downtown library this morning, but we discovered that it didn’t open until 13:00. BAH! So, I went to Borders, instead. Lisa and Shauna, a couple of ladies I met there last year, were there. We talked for a while. I did some figure drawing and drank mocha. dropped in later. We sat around and talked.

I came home to discover that my email host’s server had gone pretty much belly up. This was not auspicious as I needed to get an email out concerning tonight’s movie. *braincramp* Apparently, the server came back online sometime after 9:00. “Better late than never,” I guess.

Jess and I went to dinner at the new Golden Corral, a couple of blocks from here. It was more crowded than I expected it to be for a Sunday. *shrug* We got in and were seated fairly quickly, so it wasn’t a major concern. After dinner, we were off to meet , and at Larryland South for Secret Window. I liked it. It reminded me of a couple of other movies, but that didn’t detract from its appeal. And it had a “Ted” in the movie; he wasn’t a barista, but Nyx and I still got a good laugh out of him. The five of us hung out and talked for a bit before heading our separate ways. Jess and I headed to the Fort Union Barnes & Noble for a bit: More drawing time! We ran into a friend there (whom I haven’t seen in a long time; Jess still works with her).

And now… home.

Stray Toasters

• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” file comes: this.
• In light of the problems that I had with the email server today, I found this funny.
• Do you like Neuromancer?
  Do you like comic books and graphic novels?
  Now you can have the best of both worlds in one package.

• Transparent Aluminum?! I thought that Scotty “created” this when the ST: TOS crew came back to take the whales into the future…
• Have you ever wanted your own secret lair? Win this and your dream could come true.
• Tight pants. Reach-around. *snicker* Almost falling down.
  (not to be confused with: “Big Mac, Filet-o-Fish, Quarter Pounder, French Fries, icy Cokes, thick shakes, sundaes and apple pies!”)

Anime (and maybe game-playing) time.

Namaste.

Saturday
Blue skies. Warm(ish) weather. Lots of sun. Warm enough for me to go out in a short-sleeved shirt without a jacket. And, very little – almost no – inversion.

I went to the library for a while this morning and did some drawing. As if I haven’t gone on about it enough, I really like the downtown library. After that, I headed to a meeting… which wound up getting moved to the library. Nothing like driving around in circles!

Now, I’m just killing time until we head to 2-D Physics. And I’m trying to decide what I want to cook for dinner. I’m thinking that it will be something with a very low “need to watch over” factor.

Stray Toasters

• I’m enjoying Last Exile on TechTV’s “Anime Unleashed.”
• I may take my kite out for a fly tomorrow, assuming that the wind is cooperative.
• A friend just emailed me a few things from LDS teachings about race. I haven’t read them all yet, but some of them are rather… fascinating.
• I spoke with my mother and a member of my sibko this afternoon.
• Speaking of which: I got a package from home. In it were some old pics of my parents and a gift from a sib’s trip to the Orient.
• I brush against the freckles that I hate it so
  but life goes on and I heave a little sigh for you
  It’s heavy, the love that I would share with you
  then it dissolves like it was just a sugar cube

• Thanks to for passing this along.
• Heh. Samurai Jack. Beth does a good Aku impression.

That’s it for now.

Namaste.

Friday
It was an all-around great day.
There have been far too few of those, lately. I like the change of pace.

I had a good time with the usual suspects at coffee tonight. I managed to get some decent drawing time in, too. And, at the behest of , I drew a few things that were not human. Okay… okay, one of them was partially “humanoid,” but not “human.” And I like the way that they came out.

Stray Toasters

• : Bowling. Beer.
  You know where.
  You know when.

• This afternoon, I had to pick up some shipping corners for some items that we were sending out. I got to the supplier and placed my order. The telephone rang, someone answered it and told another of the clerks that it was for him. He took the call; when he was done, the lady who had answered the call asked “Was it Baldy?” But she had her back to where I was standing. Ah, blessed opportunity! I waited a few seconds…
  

  Me: Did… you just ask if that was ‘Baldy?’
  Woman: *turns around* *turns red* Well, I don’t know his name. He came in a few days ago and he’s been calling about getting a job ever since.
  Me: So… the next time I come in here are you going to say “Oh, it’s the other bald guy?”
  Woman: *reddened a little more, but laughing*

  I found the whole thing amusing. I should stop in there Monday just to say “The other bald guy is back…”

• Gershwin. Rhapsody in Blue. ‘Nuff said.
• Dragonlance Chronicles. *nod*
• Words. Words. Static. *kzzzzzzktztkztktkzzzz*

Quote of the Day
Gleaned from Slashdot:

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if real life supported <Control-Z>?

(For the less technically-inclined: <Control-Z> is the keyboard shortcut for “Undo.”)

Namaste.

Thursday
Bright, blue day… good weather. It was quite nice. I hope that it lasts through the weekend.

The weekend… we are now only a few work-hours away from it. And that is a good thing.

NPR Stories
Morning Edition: A Bubbly Girl Named Diot Coke *boggle*
All Things Considered: Commentary: Spam Poetry
All Things Considered: The Last of the Freelance Embalmers

Stray Toasters

• I just saw the M&M’s “Color My World” commercial. Unusual… but I like it.
• Umm…
• After last night’s 80s quiz, I was amused to find 80s Lyrics Quiz in Campbell’s Condensed Newspaper’s (USAToday) Tech Section. I scored a 123.5; once again, I’m not sure if I should be worried about that.
• From tonight’s Futurama: “A billion Robot lives are about to be extinguished… Oh, the Jedi are going to feel this one.”
• : I can see the ad campaign for the renaming of the series: Bicycle Messenger Robin
• : a la carte, a food-related link (also in USAToday’s Web Guide).
• Comic Book Resources has interviews with Sean McKeever, writer of Marvel Comics’ Mystique and Mark Waid, writer of DC Comics’ Birthright, the new (read: “latest”) ‘official origin’ of Superman.
• , I might need your help to make sure that I have the “connections” between Batman and The Big O correct… or if I missed any characters
  

  Batman	The Big O
  Bruce Wayne/Batman	Roger Smith/The Big O
  Barbara Gordon/Batgirl	R. Dorothy Wayneright
  Alfred Pennyworth	Norman
  Selina Kyle/Catwoman	Angel
  Commissioner Gordon	Col. Dastun
  Ra’s Al Ghul	Alex Rosewater
  The Joker	Alan Gabriel

  Beck reminds me of The Riddler; Shwartzwald makes me think of Two-Face, but I’m not sure if those are completely accurate.

I should get changed and head to the gym; I’m beginning to feel like a complete slacker. And maybe a good workout will help me get a good night’s sleep.

::: Update :::
The gym was good. Now a shower and then off to bed.

Namaste.

Wednesday
Midweek comes. Midweek goes.

Od tir’eh, od tir’eh
Kama tov yihiyeh
Bashana bashana haba’ah…

“Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.” Today contained some examples of that saying. I was planning on going to the gym this morning… but not getting tired until 3:30 A.M. put the kibosh on that. I decided that I would go tonight, after Wednesday Night Beer. (And that was a great plan!) But, a matter of giri came up. *sigh*

NPR Stories
Morning Edition: Web Site Helps Drivers Fight Parking Tickets
Talk of the Nation: Addiction in the Workplace

Stray Toasters

• Witch Hunter Robin. I am quite taken with this show. It continues to surprise and impress me.
• “Professor. Lava. Hot!” – from tonight’s Futurama
• By way of : Hey Allah!
• Krispy Kreme doughnuts…
• Also from Nyx: The Ultimate 80’s Quiz I got 87 right; I don’t know whether or not I should be worried. and/or will do well on it, I’m sure.
• By way of an IRC conversation: http://www.mikeshelp.com/cops.jpg
• Thanks to for pointing out: The Exorcist (in 30 seconds, re-enacted by bunnies)
• I received my Spring 2004 Lego catalog in the mail a few days ago. One of the items that they offer is Set #9293 – Community Workers. If you look at the picture (just left of center), you will find… a monkey. A monkey. While I understand that monkeys are funny (except Ella from Monkey Shines), I have never really thought of them as “community workers.” On the other hand, there was Lancelot Link; but those were chimpanzees.
• For those who wish to re-enact the classic Snoopy vs. the Red Baron fights, I suggest this and this. (Doghouse sold separately.)

Namaste.

Tuesday
Bluish skies (the inversion had kicked in again) and warm weather made it very tempting to take a “mental health” day. Very tempting indeed. But I didn’t. The day seemed to drag by. Hours stretched by like… hours. LONG hours.

On the way home, I realized that I was too tired/drain to go to the gym tonight. I can admit that. Tomorning, I shall work out. And all will be well with the world. Selah.

NPR Stories
Morning Edition: Forgetful Firefighters
Talk of the Nation: Same-Sex Marriage
Talk of the Nation: Cult TV

… including Joss Whedon and Bruce Campbell.
Talk of the Nation: Internet Animation Goes Mainstream

Stray Toasters

• Goodbye Paul Winfield, Robert Pastorelli and Spalding Gray.
• In a somewhat related note: They are finally going to release Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series in box sets. Hallelujah! (The “related” note: Paul Winfield also did voices on Batman: TAS and Batman Beyond.)
• Two wolves, a leopard and a white tiger walk into a coffee shop. Soon they are joined by a bunny, a 6-foot tall osprey and a pair of dragons.

  It sounds like the start of a bad joke, but these eight creatures came to Nashville’s Cafe Coco to clear the air of misconceptions we may have about them.

  (Click here to read the rest of the story.)

• Holy femullet, Batman!
• It seems as though Dish Network dropped Viacom stations. I [heart] DirecTV!
• By way of Slashdot: The Command Line – The Best Newbie Interface?
• Oh man… Witch Hunter Robin just went off. *jawdrop* There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming. I like it when a show catches me off-guard like that.
• Also from Slashdot: Protecting Our Parents’ PCs?
• A year before it’s due out, it seems as though BBC News is proclaiming the PS3 the winner of the “Next Gen Wars.”
• …and speaking of games: X-Arcade.
• Good stuff: The Art of Joe Bergeron
• For reasons that I have yet to determine (but I am perfectly willing to blame on ), I had Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious running through my head yesterday… particularly the Dick Van Dyke verse. I like the song – and Dick Van Dyke – but “hearing” it all day long is a bit much.

Quote of the Day
I’m not a NASCAR fan, but a few things from an interview with Kevin Harvick in the April issue of FHM caught my eye:

It’s obviously fun to drive NASCAR, but where’s the fun in watching cars drive in circles for hours?
Some races are boring as hell, so I’m not promising you excitement every week. But imagine going down the highway at 200 mph with 40 other cars just two inches apart. Plus, they do crash every once in a while.

Does NASCAR fear Kevin Harvick?
I don’t know that they fear me. When they see me coming, they must think, “Here comes another 30 grand – this dumbass is going to do something wrong.”
(Harvick is apparently known for getting fined by NASCAR.)

Are you going for it? You know, getting kicked out?
God, I hope not. I’ve got too much shit to pay for now.

And with that, goodnight.

Namaste.

Monday
Great weather.
Work wasn’t bad.
New game started to night.
…and I chatted with my uncle for a bit.

All-in-all, a good day.

Namaste.

…here in Zion Curtain land
My friends all say just how great coffee is
But their neighbors just don’t understand.

Last night was fun. There were a few surprises at 2-D Physics:

1. Roger, ex-coworker, called me and said that he and a couple of his friends were going to be bowling. They were there when we got there, so we had them move down to our lanes.
2. Mr. and Mrs. joined us. This wasn’t so much of a “surprise” as it was good to see and hang out with them, though.
3. Patty, a friend from way back in the day (at least with respect to me moving here), showed up. Holy surprise guest stars, Batman! And, she brought her kids and a few of their friends. I can’t believe how much they’ve grown (a LOT!!!) in the past year or two since I’ve seen them.

   Breakfast was good, too. Pat showed up for a while. So did Brent, who had been “missing” for a couple of months, as he had broken his leg.

Stray Toasters

• Kids’ WB will air a preview of The Batman (the new animated series) on Saturday.
• : 155-121-139-150-142
• Procul Harum. A Whiter Shade of Pale. ‘Nuff said.
• Rush. Red Barchetta. Ditto.
• Banryu (‘guard dragon’) robots
• Thanks to for pointing me towards The Tao of Geek.
• I really need to do some straightening up around here. But I have next to no motivation to do so.
• An old Honda car commercial featuring the late Miles Davis just popped into my head. I have no idea why.
• If I were to say:
  

  We the people, in order to for a more perfect union
  Establish justice, insure domestic tranquility

  …how many of you would start humming/singing The Preamble from Schoolhouse Rock?

• Campbell’s Condensed Soup Newspaper (more commonly referred to as “USAToday”) has an article about a book by Dan McNichol that examines “the largest single engineering and construction project on this planet:” The U.S. Interstate System.
• Hmm… Red Barchetta, a Honda commercial and an article about highways. All in one post. That has to be a hat trick of some kind or other.

Now, time to enjoy what has to be one of the best-looking weather days that we’ve seen around here in far too long.

Namaste.

Woke up.
Went to work.
Came home.
Visited , and for a bit.
Back home.

…and now, it’s almost time for 2-D Physics.

Namaste.

Friday
Hellooooo, weekend!

The day wasn’t bad. The night, spent in the company of the usual suspects and a couple of friends that we haven’t seen in a while, was even better.

Stray Toasters

• It’s amazing how a shopping basket can become a one-person airplane in the eyes of a child. Or maybe it isn’t so much “amazing” as it is “refreshing.” I spent a part of the evening “flying” Gabe around the bookstore. It got a few amused and curious looks from some of the other patrons.
• Goodbye, Godzilla…
• From Slashdot: “A young Ukrainian woman has posted a photo journal of her motorcycle rides through Chernobyl and the area surrounding it.” You can check it out here.
• Forty acres. A mule. A saddle. And a riding crop.
  makes me laugh. She made herself laugh, too. A lot.

• A few of my friends are heading to Las Vegas this weekend. I’m not sure for whom I should feel afraid: Them or Vegas. My wager: Vegas goes down in the third round.
• Cruise. Alaskan, Pacific or Caribbean?
• Even though it’s been a week since I replaced my Cambridge Soundworks speaker system with my stereo, I still find myself reaching for the old sound controls (formerly on the right side of the desk) rather than the stereo volume (on the left side).

Namaste.

Thursday
Today was a pretty decent day.

Even when you consider the fact that I was awakened by a phone call at 8:37 AM. Let’s say that I was “mildly” irritated by this. I have a standing rule: No calls before 10:00 AM (in MY local time zone), unless you are a family member or it is an emergency. Period. Pretty much everyone that I know is aware of this rule. Apparently, the person who called had forgotten; a reminder is in order…

Other than that, it was blue skies and chocolate cake. I even went to the gym after work. Yes, that’s two trips in just over 18 hours. Different workouts. And tomorrow morning – assuming that I drag myself out of bed in time – will be a different workout, too.

NPR Stories
Morning Edition: Odds-Defying Golf Amateur
Talk of the Nation: The History of Oxymorons

Stray Toasters

• I’m a train and railroad fan. I’ve been one for years. It’s a fascination that I just can’t explain. I probably wouldn’t try to; it would take far too long. I’ve thought about getting back into N-scale or HO-scale railroading (passing thoughts, though). I’ve mentioned my Lego train and Rokenbok monorail in here a few times. The idea of garden railroading is a pretty cool idea, too. Tonight, Mary sent me a link to this. *jawdrop* Ponder, ponder…
• I’m a BattleTech fan. Mech of choice: Phoenix Hawk (Old school Inner Sphere) I even liked the animated BT cartoon from the mid 90s. Like any gaming geek, I’ve thought “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a ‘Mech of my own…” once or twice. Then I saw this. (I first saw it a couple of years ago, but seeing that monorail reminded me of it.) Looking at the steps involved in building it, I can do pretty much everything involved except the welding. And that I can learn. Let the evil machinations begin…
• “The New Justice Team” on Futurama. I laughed.
• Thanks to for passing along this bit of amusement.
• It’s common knowledge that I am not happy with the casting of Keanu Reeves in the title role of the upcoming Constantine movie. “Whoa… I know magic.” Sorry, but it just doesn’t work for me. Alan Moore has said that the character was based on Sting (the musician, not the wrestler)… if he were an occultist. It’s come to light that Moore has divorced himself from the movie project. And rumors have abounded. Neil Gaiman tries to set the record straight in his blog.

That’s all for now.

Namaste.

Wednesday
Today started off less-than-great. As the day progressed, it more or less maintained that status. It got a bit better in the late afternoon, though.

Spoke with the North Carolina portion of the family unit tonight. All seems to be well. I also got a chance to talk with an ex-coworker this evening. It’s odd that we live about 00:10 from each other, but rarely get a chance to hang out. We may rectify that this weekend.

On the way home, I was preparing to watch 24 while I ate. I turned on the TV and waited for the show to start. Then I remembered that it today is Wednesday. And 24 is on Tuesday. Going to Catherine and Land’s last night threw me off. *sigh*

NPR Stories
Talk of the Nation: Methamphetamine Labs
All Things Considered: FBI Seeks to Stop Disgruntled Hackers
All Things Considered: ‘Regard the End’ Reflects Global Sound
All Things Considered: Mix Tapes Live on, in CD Form
Fresh Air: ‘Robot Stories’ Director Greg Pak; Author and Professor Daniel Matt

Stray Toasters

• ThinkGeek has this little item… which would go nicely at the entrance of the HALO Command Center.
• …so would this.
• sent me the URL for this… with the instructions “scroll down and watch the final fantasy one.” I did. O_o
• Newsgroups GOOOD!!! ::: gesture :::
• It looks as though the short-lived series Firefly will be migrating to the big screen.
• Slashdot Poll!
• IGN has the name of the actor who will be playing Jim Gordon in the new Batman movie. Details here.
• showed me this earlier today. It made me laugh.

I should be getting ready to head to the gym. Yes, now. I haven’t been in too long and I might as well do something productive this evening.

Namaste.

Tuesday
While the day didn’t pass quite as quickly as yesterday, it did move along at a pretty good pace. After work, we went to visit Catherine and Land; it’s been a while since we had gotten together. Twas good to spend the evening with them.

NPR Stories
Morning Edition: Criminal Capers
Morning Edition: Preservation Hall Jazz, Live in Studio 4A

Stray Toasters

• Today was the 100th Anniversary of the birthday of Theodore Geisel. You might know him better as Dr. Seuss.
• There’s a new (yes NEW!) Bard’s Tale coming out. Selah.
• : The Free Ticket Fairy didn’t leave anything in the mail tonight, so I’ll have to wish you a long-distance “Happy Birthday.”
• From Broken Frontier: Oliver Queen: Straight as an Arrow
• From Reuters: Girl, Thought Dead, Found Years Later
• There’s just something about Living Colour’s Cult of Personality. Something good, that is.
• “Yeah, I want some Cheesy Poufs!”

Namaste.

Monday (coda)
Not a bad day for the first day of the work week. Work was rather painless and the day passed rather quickly. After work, and I stopped by to visit and .

Stray Toasters

• Narbonic
• We didn’t start the fire…
  But we damn well enjoy watching it burn.

• The Cartoon Art Museum
• Broken Frontier had a couple of interesting articles (if you’re a comics fan): The Ultimate Broken Frontier Hero Team and Top 10 Villains.
• The Spamhaus Project – good information about dealing with spam
• I came across this picture in the Digital Concept Gallery on Comics 2 Film. Very well done.
• I just had an apostrophe!
  

  Hook: I think you mean an ‘epiphany.’
  Smee: Lightning has struck my brain!

  Okay… make that an ‘epiphany’. Anyway, I’m watching The Big O on Adult Swim. I have seen reviews of the show that compare Roger Smith, the protagonist, to Bruce Wayne. Roger pilots a megadeus (“meh-gah-deuce”) or a giant robot called “Big O;” In many ways, it is his alter ego as much as Batman is Bruce Wayne’s. There was a scene in tonight’s ep with Alex Rosewater, head of the corporation that oversees Paradigm City. Rosewater called Roger “Negotiator” in a manner very similar to the way that Ra’s al Ghul calls Batman “Detective.” That lead to the thought that, in many ways, Rosewater reminds me of Ra’s.

• “What’s cooler than Sprite when it’s hotter than the Devil’s drawers out?” The new Sprite commercials make me laugh.

Namaste.

Monday

Happy Birthday to:

Gazehound sent me this link a few minutes ago. I laughed. A lot. That (and a little James Brown on Winamp) were what I needed to get my morning going.

And speaking of going, I should finish getting ready and get out of here.

Namaste.