Random Access

Sunday – 26 April 2009
Day Three of the Great Server Room Upgrade Saga is going to begin soon.

<sarcasm>
WHEEEE!
</sarcasm>

Things are proceeding apace, but we still have “a few” hours’ work ahead of us. On the plus side, we made some serious progress yesterday and the server room – aside from being a bit cluttered and messy – looks like… well… a server room. However, that doesn’t mean that I won’t be happy to see this project in the rear view mirror.

To say that I was “tired” last night, would be something of an understatement. I came in and just collapsed on the floor. After a hot soak and bath (complete with a little bit of Queen & Country), dinner (Rumbi Grill) and dessert (Red Mango), I felt pretty close to “human” again.

Stray Toasters

• The Ravens picked up OT Michael Oher and DE Paul Kruger (thanks, !) in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft.
• Drug Company Merck Drew Up Doctor “Hit List”
• Maude and Golden Girls actress Bea Arthur died at 86
• 
• 4 Things to Consider Before You Try to Join the Amish
• The Making of the PlayStation

“Time to make the donuts…”

Namaste.

Friday – 24 April 2009
This morning started slowly and lazily, thanks to the server room upgrades. I got to come in a little late… since we have to work later into the evening.

Many evenings, SaraRules and I will kick back and watch The Herculoids (1, 2, 3).  (Hey, it’s a childhood favorite…) Sure it’s horribly dated, but we enjoy watching – and MST3K-ing the episodes. I’ve been wanting to mod a few ‘Clix figures into Herculoids figures, mostly because it would amuse me to do it, but last night, I started to wonder: “Why haven’t there been any Herculoids toys?” To the BatWeb!

A few keystrokes later, I came across this:

That’s right, Toynami is producing a line of Herculoids toys. Yep, yet another “Add” for the Covet List.

Stray Toasters
…are going to have to wait until later – we’re elbow-up in server room work.

Namaste.

Today was “Sushi Wednesday.” We took Chad (yet another coworker) with us; he’s been wanting to try sushi for a while, but the timing was never good for him.  Until today. He liked it, for the most part – there were a few things that he wasnt crazy over. That happens.

After lunch, loonybin88 and I took a field trip to pick up some supplies for this weekend’s server room work. If there’s a “plus” to working on Saturday (aside from getting paid), it’s that the weather is supposed to take a dive again. “Supposed to” being the key words in that phrase.

Stray Toasters

• While discussing lunch plans today, I posted “Red Five, standing by…” as a response. That led to Jeff posting a link to this. We all got a good laugh from it.
• Caution Signs Endangered Movie Characters Really Need
• I think I might take a post-work nap when I get home.
• Robert Rodriguez Confirms Predator Series Reboot
• Google Calendar + Calaboration + iCal = WIN!
• Woman thanks her lucky bra as it saves her from a bullet

Namaste.

Thursday – 23 April 2009
Another NBN Thursday begins. It’s not quite as bright and sunny as the past couple of days have been, but it’s supposed to get into the 80s. And, this morning’s commute started with Limelight… so, that can’t be all bad.

I picked up yesterday’s four-color haul after dinner last night; I haven’t read anything yet. I might get to that this evening, post-CSI:.

Last night, SaraRules finished a new quilt and I finished up both the Mayhem Rail platform and the WildWood Grove chapel. I stuck them both on the masterboard… and I took pictures. (Big surprise, I know. But, I did.) I still need to do some of the interior props for the chapel, but I’m happy with the way the exterior turned out. And, there’s something about having an 18 square foot play area that amuses me.

Stray Toasters

• SaraRules made banana bread. (You can be jealous now.)
• Queen Rania: The World Cannot Afford to be Cynical
• The NFL Draft begins tomorrow.
• Could YOU Be Batman? Here’s How You’d Do It.
• Historic St. Louis Schools Face Uncertain Future
• 
• A Eulogy for the Boombox
• From the “Paging Mr. Cobblepot…” file: Bionic penguins take to the water – and the skies
• Pentagon Cyber-Command in the Works
• Star Wars cupcakes

Namaste.

Wednesday – 22 April 2009
It’s Earth Day.

It’s also Administrative Professionals’ Day.

Last night, SaraRules had Book Club, so I spent a fair portion of the evening finishing up the chapel for Wildwood Grove and assembling a train stop for Mayhem Rail. I like the way that the chapel turned out; I still need to do a little work on the rail station, but it’s coming along nicely. Pictures will follow… eventually.

Stray Toasters

• ‘Deeper’ recession ahead says IMF
• Opening Skinner’s Box: ten psych experiments that remade the world
• The Geeks’ Guide to World Domination
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” file: Gummy Bacon
• 
• Mission Impossible: The Code Even the CIA Can’t Crack, by way of
• 747 converted to a restaurant, then abandoned
• From NPR Music: Puccini’s ‘La Boheme’ At Its Best
• Star Trek’s Beast Master Reveals How to Create a Monster

Namaste.

Tuesday – 21 April 2009
Another sunny and warm day in the valley. It was even warm enough for me to leave home without a jacket! (Of course, I had an extra jacket already in the car. Just in case…)

Last night, came over for dinner. SaraRules fixed chicken and dumplings… and they were delicious, as usual. We sat, ate and chatted away the better part of the evening. ‘Twas good.

Stray Toasters

• Holocaust Remembrance Day marked
• LEGO Rock Band unveiled, slated for ’09 release
• Prelate Derek sent me a link to a tongue-in-cheek look at the appeal of Twilight‘s Edward called Midnight Sun: Edward Undone
• First Look: New Robin Hood on point with ‘Gladiator’
• UN puts global treasures online
• Inevitable Betrayal t-shirt
• sent a link: Cassini’s continuing mission – The Big Picture
• J.J. Abrams on the Magic of Mystery

Namaste.

It’s that time of year again…

…at Ben & Jerry’s.

Click the image for more details.

As I mentioned earlier, we’re adding new coolers to handle the load in our server room.

And now, there are pictures to go along with that story: Click here.

Monday – 20 April 2009
Another work week begins.  Today, they are putting new cooling units for our server room on the roof. There’s a crane out in the parking lot and they are getting it set to move the coolers and their frame. Pictures to follow at some point today.

Last night, SaraRules and I had Logan over for dinner. SaraRules fixed a tasty chicken mole. We watched Infernal Affairs as we ate. It was the movie upon which Martin Scorsese’s The Departed was based. This version left a few more things “open for interpretation” than The Departed. I’m not sure which version I prefer; both of them stand on their own merits.

I also started assembling the chapel from Wildwood Grove. I decided to put it on a foamcore board, which meant that I had to figure out where I wanted it to go on its base before I could begin the main assembly job. I left a little space behind the chapel for figures to walk around (or, more to the point: “hide behind”). Next up is to finish the roof and steeple. I should be done with it later tonight. Then, I’ll work on the rail station.

Stray Toasters

• I have a new tuxedo… and two new suits. Having retired my old tux (and given it to The Salvation Army), I have been looking for one for a few months. Joseph A. Bank had a “Buy One Suit, Get Two Suits Free” sale this weekend; I jumped all over it. Now I just need to get the pants hemmed.
• Garden impossible
• Apple aired four new Get A Mac ads over the weekend. Thanks to for pointing them out.
• Cold War Bunker Becomes Modern Mansion
• ‘How to Talk to Girls’ author, 10, juggles life, school, more
• US marks 10 years since Columbine
• I hit some weird key combination and wound up publishing this before I was ready.  ::: EDIT :::
• Reaching out, lifting up: Prison ministry now Dungy’s priority
• Gaiman’s “Blueberry Girl”: A benediction for a girl’s happy life
  When Neil Gaiman came to SLC a few years ago, he read this. He asked that people who were recording the event to please turn off all recording devices, as it was something that had a special sentiment and he didn’t want it showing up “everywhere.”
• Brazil cracks down on sat-hackers who bounce ham signals off US military satellites

Now: Back to work.
Tonight: Dinner with SaraRules and .

Namaste.

Sunday – 19 April 2009
Last night, SaraRules and I went to Abravanel Hall to hear Utah Symphony and Jon Kimura Parker perform. The guest conductor was Thomas Wilkins. The performance consisted of:

• James Beckel ~ Toccata
• Ludwig van Beethoven ~ Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, op. 60
• Sergei Rachmaninoff ~ Concerto No. 2 for Piano in C minor, op. 18

The performance was very good. I was especially surprised to enjoy the Beckel piece as much as I did – I’m not usually a fan of modern classical pieces. I’m not sure if Mr. Wilkins is one of the candidates for taking over as conductor of Utah Symphony after Gilderoy Keith Lockhart leaves, but if he is, I’d be more than happy to see him take over that role. After Mr. Parker finished the Concerto, he had two encores, in which he performed:

1. Rachmaninoff ~ Prelude in G
2. Billy Joel ~ Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

Today has been a lazy day. I’m good with that.  SaraRules fixed sauteed spaghetti for breakfast. We’ve been watching Doom (yes, that Doom) and Inside the Actor’s Studio, in which Dave Chappelle was interviewing James Lipton. I had forgotten that Karl Urban, soon to be seen as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the upcoming Star Trek movie, was in Doom.

Four-Color Coverage
This week’s haul had a few good items:

• Action Comics #876 – This was a good Kryptonian vs. Kryptonian issue: Ursa, General Zod’s second-in-command and wife, vs. Lor-Zod (her son/Clark and Lois’ foster son, Christopher) and Thara Ak-Var. This issue showed just how ruthless and cold Ursa could be. And the last panel…? Didn’t see that one coming.
• Captain America #49 – This was a solid character issue, in which Sharon Carter faces ghosts of the past and the present.
• Green Lantern Corps #35 – This issue brings us one step closer to the War of Light. Sodam Yat has a… less-than-heartwarming return to Daxam, while Soranik Natu takes a meeting on Korugar with the last person you’d suspect.
• Haunted Tank #2-5 – How is it that a Confederate General (or his ghost) come to the aid of a Black soldier – whos happens to be his descendant – in Iraq? That question is answered in this series.  And while, it’s not exactly a hugs-and-kisses family reunion, it makes for a good read.
• Tiny Titans #15 – Pet Club at Wayne Manor redux. Hilarity – and mayhem – ensues. Also, Ravager has to babysit the Tiny Terror Titans. What could possibly go wrong?

Stray Toasters

• Revise an Email so People Will Actually Read It
• 3D Star Wars Starfighter Kites
• 
• Doom update: The movie just hit the FPS section.  *amused*
• CYBERDYNE creates exoskeletons
  (Repeat after me: “SkyNet is now online…”)
• Is Scarlett Johansson getting in shape to portray Black Widow?  Could be.

Namaste.

Saturday – 18 April 2009
This morning, SaraRules, Bonne and I went to…

The “Bloom-o-meter” said that roughly 40% of the bulbs were in bloom today. That was more than ample. As usual, I took a lot of pictures – over 160 of them made it into the gallery (pictures).

After we dropped Bonne off, SaraRules and I had lunch at Pawit’s Royal Thai. I accidentally ordered the Chicken Satay appetizer – I was intending on getting their curry puffed pastries, but ordered the wrong number. It was one of the best and most tasty mistakes I’ve ever made.

Next, we headed over to Far West Comics. I’m still looking for pieces that will be donors to/for my custom John Stewart figure. I found a few prime candidates. On the way home, we stopped at the local Joseph A. Bank store. They are having a “Buy 1, Get 2 Free” sale. I tried out a few suits and a tuxedo, but didn’t pick anything up. Yet. We’re heading back there on the way to the symphony tonight. I’m definitely getting a tuxedo, but I have to decide which suits I’m going to get.

Stray Toasters

• The LCARS for the Mac Desktop (geeky, but I like it)
• Miniature Market is having a couple of sales. I’m tempted by the fruit of another to pick up a few things…
• This makes me laugh, mostly because of the logo in the close-up shot.
• …speaking of which: asked me “How much playing area do you have now,” in reference to my WWG masterboards. I did the quick math: 18 square feet.
• Nothing says “Spring” or “Summer” like the sound of the ice cream van coming down the street… followed by the sound of a screaming child.

That’s if for now.

Namaste.

Friday – 17 April 2009
Another 9/80 “off” Friday has begun. I managed to sleep in until a little after 9:00 this morning. That was nice. After a quick bite to eat, SaraRules and I headed to the gym to get in a workout. Today’s routine included:

• Leg Press: 3 sets/10 reps, 140 lbs
• Kick-backs: 3 sets/10 reps, 60 lbs
• Calf Raises: 3 sets/10 reps, 100 lbs
• Bench Press: 3 sets/10 reps
  • 2½ sets @ 205 lbs
  • ½ set @ 185 lbs
• Fly: 3 sets/10 reps, 110 lbs
• Curl w/ Shoulder Press: 3 sets/10 reps, 20 lbs
• Bent-over Row: 3 sets/10 reps, 35 lbs
• Tricep Extension (rope): 3 sets/10 reps, 45 lbs

Post-workout weight: 182.5 lbs.

We also ran into Josh, a former coworker, while in the free weight room. That was a pleasant and unexpected surprise.

Stray Toasters

• I wound up getting the Mayhem Rail and Wildwood Grove sets for my masterboard. With the other corners that I have, I can fully populate two city blocks… and then some.
• SaraRules showed me LEGO Chocolate Wedding Favors.  (If only I could find some LEGO  ice trays…)
• forwared a link to Uncomfortable Plot Summaries
• For those of you in the SLC metro area:

  
  (click image for details)

• Obama Proposes High-Speed Rail System for the US
• Motorized LEGO Mech
• CIA Officials Won’t Face Charges for Waterboarding
• Green Lantern to film in Australia in November
• 
• How did Batman’s alter ego, Bruce Wayne, get his name? Find out here (about halfway down the page).
• Trendsetters on the Streets of New York: Then and Now
• Faster Than a Speeding Bullwhip: Superman Creator’s Kinktastic Art
• 

  (click image to read the Brothers Brick article)

• From NPR Music:
  • Bringing Up Baby, As Music Lovers Might
  • How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall? YouTube, YouTube, YouTube
• Device Keeps Lungs Breathing Outside Body

Next up: Errand-running and miscellaneous stuff.
Later: Clitorati

Namaste.

Thursday: Coda
Tonight was Date Night. As it was a cold evening, we wound up staying in and watching CSI: and a Redbox movie.

The CSI: episode was a tongue-in-cheek take-off on Star Trek. (Well, it was “murder at a sci-fi convention, with a Star Trek bent.”) It took me about 20 minutes to put a couple of things together. Not about the episode itself, but rather about “how” and “why” CBS was airing it:

1. The Star Trek series (all of them) were Paramount Studios/Paramount Pictures productions
2. Paramount is owned by Viacom
3. Viacom is the parent company of CBS.
4. CBS airs CSI:

It was cheesy and dorky, but kind of fun.

For our movie, we opted for The Spirit. Despite many a bad review, I still wanted to see it and SaraRules, God bless ‘er, was kind enough to indulge me.

Wow.

It was… something. I believe that loonybin88 would refer to it as “a flaming pile of poo.”

It had a couple of moments  – and in a feature-length film, that’s not a lot – where it could have been decent, but on the whole, it has earned a spot on the Cool World-Long Kiss Goodnight Scale. The low end. Maybe around the “four” range. Maybe.

We also learned a very valuable lesson: Frank Miller, while he’s a well-known and respected comic book author, should not be allowed to write and/or direct. I’m sure that Will Eisner, creator of The Spirit (comic), must have been rolling in his grave over this.

Hopefully, The Late Show and The Late Late Show can redeem the entertainment portion of the night.

Namaste.

Thursday – 16 April 2009
After the rain and snow that we received yesterday, it’s sunny (with high clouds) today. There’s a rumor that it’s actually supposed to be “nice” this weekend. We shall see…

Last night was a relatively lazy, low-key night. I started cutting a second masterboard for a new ‘Clix city block. Mmm, 6’x3′ playing area… I think that this one will include a railroad. Just because. I should also figure out what else I want on the block, building-wise. I have… 6 corners available; I am considering picking up the Mayhem Rail and either Wildwood Grove or the Mayhem Police Department sets.

Stray Toasters

• John Madden (yes, THAT “John Madden”) is retiring. (1, 2)
• I am connected to yet another high school classmate on Facebook. I’m finding it both weird and good to catch up with folks I haven’t seen/talked with in many years.
• Commentary: April 15 is patriots’ day.
  This use for “Patriots’ Day” is one that I can get behind.
• Sexy Star Trek Dossier Gives Your Enterprise Crew Run Down
• As part of the server room upgrades, they are doing some electrical work. There’s a worker not too far from my desk who is cutting conduit with a hacksaw. (“You can do a lot with a hacksaw…”) He was using very short and rapid movements to cut the conduit; my first thought went immediately to Charlie Daniels’ playing at the opening and chorus of The Devil Went Down to Georgia.
• Is Your Mood a Result of Where You Live?
• Showing that there’s more to Sweden than just IKEA and Volvo: Swedish church unveils LEGO statue of Jesus Christ
• Thanks to Rachel for pointing this out:

  

• Strip search review tests limits of school drug policy
• By way of MarknTyme: Homemade Wall of Death (video)
• Emerald Night (And, for the record, it has nothing to do with Green Lanterns)
• Florida to Build Solar-Powered City

Madden… retiring…
Wow.

Namaste.

Wednesday – 15 April 2009
It’s Tax Day in America once again. Appropriately, it’s a grey and rainy day in Salt Lake City.

Last night, Chris came over and we played ‘Clix. The matchup: The X-Men (Chris) vs. The Brotherhood of Mutants/Hellfire Club (pictures). It was a very good fight; it was probably the most balanced match we’ve had. We had to call the game before things got cooking, but at that point, Chris had a 24 point lead. He said that he didn’t really call it a “win” because we didn’t really get too far into the game. *shrug* It was fun, either way.  I’m looking forward to the flip-side rematch.

Stray Toasters

• SaraRules and her mother met with a potential our wedding photographer yesterday.
• Education Standards Likely to See Tightening
• April 15, 1726: Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From Physicist
• Mythbusters: Compact Compact Rocket Sled

• The Ravens’ 2009 schedule was released yesterday. They didn’t soft-peddle them this season.
• A Grand Entrance at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• From the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” file: Man bites snake in epic struggle
• Simulated crime scene bathroom accessories
• Manifesto of a Comic Book Rebel
• 
• forwarded a link to Pulp Browsers…
• …which reminded me of this.  (Audio will most likely fall under “NSFW”)
• T. Boone Pickens relishes role in push for alternative energy
• Chesney’s “Victorian Underground” – the secret Victorian underbelly of cyberpunk
• Tetris Furniture

And that’s a wrap.

Oh, look… it’s snowing now.

Namaste.