Random Access

Tuesday – 01 July 2008
One down.
One in the chamber.
Two to go.

I think I can deal with that.

This morning, I pretty much ignored Alarm 1 and almost didn’t recognize Alarm 2.  But, a modicum of clarity worked its way into my sleep-addled brain and wrested me from The Dreaming.

Hopefully today’s work day will pass as quickly as yesterday’s.

And tonight, God willing and the creek don’t rise, is a Scion night.

Attack the day…

Monday: Coda
Tonight has been spent playing City of Heroes with MarknTyme and watching The Middleman. Both of them were terribly fun:

• City: I haven’t played a lot in the past few weeks, but I am still enjoying the time that I do get to spend in Paragon City. I put a level-and-a-half on Kurigari. I need to get a screen-cap of him.
• The Middleman: This show is just fun – a little campy, a little quirky and just… makes me smile. And laugh. And tonight’s episode even had Mark Dascascos (The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, Brotherhood of the Wolf) as Sensei Ping, teacher/trainer to Wendy… and luchadors! LOTS of luchadors.

Now, there’s DS9.

Win. Win. Win.

Namaste.

and company are talking about World of Warcraft. Apparently, they had a bad run-in during one of their runs. used the word “debacle”…

…which immediately reparsed in my head to “Debacles” (DEB-uh-kleez)

…which I immediately envisioned as a Greek god: Debacles, the god of disaster and mayhem.

Shoot me now.

Monday – 30 June 2008
6:30 came far too soon.
So I ignored it, in favor of 7:00.
That worked out much better, as far as I was concerned. 45 minutes later, I was on the way to work.

An hour later, I was at work, with a frozen mocha and a bagel sandwich.

Booyah.

Stray Toasters

• You know, a morning that kicks off, musically, with Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5 can’t be all bad.
  • The Jackson 5 – ABC
  • Stevie Wonder – I Wish
• This is cheesy, but you have to watch it until the third group comes on:

• For the kid and/or gamer looking to turn his or her room into a life-sized video game: Mario Vinyl Wall Decals
• If you haven’t yet, see this movie:



• Safeguarding the World’s Chocolate Supply
  (Yet, they say that bananas will possibly die out in the next 15 – 20 years…)

Attack the day…

Namaste.

Sunday – 29 June 2008
It’s seems as though June just got here… and now it’s almost gone.

Playing ‘Clix with Chris last night was good. We played two games, a one-on-one game and one with Matt and me taking him on. Chris won both. (Yay for sporadically crappy dice rolls!) I also understand now why he hates the “Indoor: Prison” map from the Sinister set… although, I think that it would be an interesting map to play with non-powered figures (S.H.I.E.L.D., Hydra, various law enforcement figures, A.I.M., Checkmate and/or thugs).

After gaming, I headed down to Sandy for breakfast. Not only was a small group, but we wound up leaving relatively early as everyone seemed to wind down from their week/day pretty quickly.

This morning, I managed to sleep in – I made it to the double-digits. Barely, but I did. I also woke up with a less-than-delightful headache. I assumed that it was lack-of-caffeine induced, but coffee has not as yet done anything, so I set two Aleve tablets on the job. Hopefully, they will do some good.

I’m trying to gear up to head downtown to visit the Utah Arts Festival. However, the whole “lazy” thing has had me firmly in its grip.

Stray Toasters

• This test is something of a test – I am trying to determine whether one WP-to-LJ cross-posting plugin is better than another.
• I finished the HeroClix character cards I was working on for Chris:
  • Logan
  • Magneto
  • Parallax
  • Superman
  • Wolverine
• Big haul of Crohn’s genes shows disease complexity
• 
• Checkmate
• Floyd Landis, winner of the 2007 Tour de Lance France, has been stripped of his win and had a two-year ban imposed on him.
• Teen killed by roller coaster
  While it’s sad to hear about this, I have to chalk this one up to the boy’s own lack of regard for the warning signs.
• 
• This place could almost be the USPS…

I should kick it into gear…

Namaste.

Saturday – 28 June 2008
I had some odd dreams this morning. The topper was one where, in an otherwise “normal” situation, I ran into – and was subsequently chased by – the JLApe. Madness. Even worse: I woke up thinking that it was Sunday. It took a few minutes for it to sink in that it really was Saturday. O.o

Otherwise, today has been great:

• I went to see WALL*E with and . It was great. Much better than I had expected. And it was a lot of fun. There were a lot of tech in-jokes, too – they caused and me to laugh a lot. And, the Pixar short before the movie, Presto, may have just supplanted Boundin’ as my favorite Pixar short. I heartily recommend this movie to everyone.
• Next on tap: A trip to the Garden of Sweden. They’re having their summer sale. I picked up a few more storage containers and picture frames.
• While in IKEA, I ran into . We noticed each other walking towards the checkout. After a couple of moments, he shouted (okay, it was really just a slightly notched-up “indoor voice”),”I know you…”
  Me: *blink blink*
  : From… LiveJournal!
  That kicked a few relational databases into gear… and I realized that we did, in fact, know each other. It was odd – in a far-from-bad way – to be recognized like that from someone I haven’t seen in at least… three years.

Now: I’m grabbing a bite to eat.
Next: Heading to Chris’ to play dolls HeroClix.
Later: Breakfast.

Namaste.

Being done with the work week is a nice thing.
Lunch at Jitterbug == good

Stray Toasters

• By way of Indexed: “On roads and online forums”



• Thanks to for pointing out Giant LEGO Storage Buildings: 65-foot-high LEGO Cathedrals Store 19 Billion Pieces a Year
• I caught myself whistling You’re the One That I Want, from Grease, a little while ago. I was about ready to shoot myself when I realized it.
• Happy 90th Birthday to Nelson Mandela



• Mandela != Madonna
• 
• Two cards down, two to go.

Pow!

Thursday – 26 June 2008
Last night was a relaxed night. After work, I headed to Dr. Volt’s to pick up this week’s comics. Home. Dinner. City of Heroes. I was invited to join a team for some Tsoo missions and nearly tacked on two levels before logging off. And, in an unusual turn, I felt tired fairly early – so early that I was showered and in bed a little after 12:30.

When the alarm went off this morning, I wasn’t quite ready to roll out of bed and face the morning, so I laid in bed for a few minutes… which turned into me falling asleep again. I woke up when alarm 2.0 went off. After staring at the ceiling and walls for a few, I got up, got ready and got under way.

Of course, I didn’t notice that I had left The Leash at home until I got to the office. Fortunately, the monitoring/notification software that sends alerts to the pager has a web interface. So, really, I’m just cutting out the middle man, not to be confused with The Middleman.

I need to decide whether today is a sushi day or a workout day. Bah.

Stray Toasters

• I got another package from my father yesterday: The 47 currently released state quarters.
• SaraRules has updated the Aspen section of her site with a couple of recent goings-on.
• Dave Koz: You Make Me Smile

• MarknTyme: Fix your GoogleTalk settings – you keep bouncing on/off.
• By way of : Christopher Titus Apologizes

• The 10 Best Fan-Made Hip-Hop Videos with The Sims
• DNS & BIND == *bleh*
• Brothel bus makes last stop in Miami Beach
• 

It’s a sushi day.
Decision: Rendered.

Namaste.

Wednesday – 25 June 2008
During the work day, I (and usually a coworker or two) take walks around the complex/campus/whatever you’d care to call it. This week, I’ve had a couple of amusing/interesting experiences:

1. There are trees along the south end of the path where we walk. Apparently, there are a couple of new nests in some of those trees. Wes and I were… not quite “dive bombed”… more “strafed”… as we walked along the path. The first time it happened, I felt a little like Tippi Hedren in The Birds. And the second and third times, too. I may suggest altering our walking path for the next couple of weeks.
2. On Monday afternoon’s walk, I was almost done with my walk when I approached a couple of ladies walking in the same direction, but more slowly, than me. I was a few feet behind one of them when I said,”Excuse me, please, ladies.” One froze, the other… yelped (best word for it). Hell, I froze, too. They hadn’t heard me approaching; I had figured that since I was wearing hard-soled shoes and was on a cement walkway, they had heard my footsteps. No go, Flight. It took the yelping lady a few moments to regain her composure.

Yesterday also included a workout with Wes. It’s the first time I’ve been back to the Gold’s on Van Winkle in close to two years. Nice gym… although a couple of the patrons were ass-monkeys. “It takes all kinds,” I guess. The routine was a little short, but good:

• Recumbent Bike: 0.5 miles, 100 rpm
• Bench Press: 3 sets/10 reps, 185 lbs.
• Flys (machine): 3 sets/10 reps, 100 lbs.
• Curls (standing, hammer): 3 sets/10 reps, 25 lbs.
• Lateral Raises (with forward extension): 3 sets/10 reps, 10 lbs.
• Tricep Extensions (rope): 3 sets/10 reps, 60 lbs.

Last night was lazy. I came home, cooked dinner, sat on the couch and vegged. I also finished off the Superman card I’ve been working on:

I’m pretty happy with it. Once again, finding quotes was a right royal pain, but I wanted to find some from various sources (comics, TV series and movies). I think that the quote I’m most fond of is “Excuse me, sir. Would you care to step outside,” from Superman: The Movie.

Stray Toasters

• I just chatted with ; all’s well with him, Bot and Bit.
• “Can You Hear Me Now?”
  A cellphone. *shakes head*
• You don’t need no finesse or no personality
  You just need two arms and an attitude.
  And everybody sing with me, come on now!
• I found these images in Derek’s blog. I’m liberating them in the name of the people:
  • 
  • 
• , this sounds like something you might want to check out: Sarah Milstein on urban hiking
• By way of Indexed:



• Man in wheelchair charged with drunk driving

Time to hit it.

Namaste.

Tuesday – 24 June 2008
After work, I headed home to figure out what to do with my evening. I decided that I’d watch The Middleman and then head to the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner. Turned out that the 8:00 episode was a rebroadcast of the pilot. So, I went to the store first. Came home, started dinner and watched The Middleman. I had another thought on how to “define” it. Somewhat. It’s The X-Files meets Men in Black, leaning most heavily towards MiB.

After a little channel surfing (including a 45-second delay on Boomerang – man, Super Friends really did blow), I found the second hour of Beverly Hills Cop on Bravo. And there I sat. I haven’t watched BHC in years… and I have somehow not purchased it yet.

After ‘Cop and The Late Show (featuring a really funny Will Smith interview), I decided to call it an early night.

Stray Toasters

• I am working on a few new ‘Clix cards for Chris. It’s… oddly fun and the “worst” part is trying to come up with some of the quotes – I still need to find something for Superman (Icons, veteran) that works for his “Ranged Combat Expert” ability.
• Thanks to MarknTyme for pointing me in the direction of DC Elseworlds
  

(Click image for site)

• By way of SaraRules: Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra (Part I)

• “whiffy”
• Uptown got its hustlers
  Bowery got its bums
  42nd Street got Big Jim Walker
  He’s a pool-shootin’ son of a gun
• With the disclaimers of: 1) I’m a guy and 2) I don’t have kids, I have a question: Is there something offensive about the cover of the July 2008 issue of GQ?

  

  The reason that I ask is this: I was in Target last night and there were copies of this issue in the news rack next to the candy and gum. Something that I’ve noticed here in Utah – and it may exist in other places, but I haven’t noticed it – is that when a magazine cover is deemed “too racy,” they put an opaque plastic insert in front of the magazine, so that only the title shows. And, lo and behold, this issue was one of them.

• And, since we’re already talking GQ: 2008 Fall Preview: Reinvent Yourself
  

Namaste.

Sunday: Coda
Today was a good day in the valley.

I met , , , Carl and Pat for lunch at Jitterbug. Food, good conversation and good company. The veritable Triple Crown for a coffee shop.

Next, I went to visit SaraRules’ folks.

Then, it was on to Chris’ to play Matt and ‘Mano for a rematch of the game where they royally spanked us. We weren’t sure what they were going to bring, but we came loaded for bear. When the dust settled, I had lost three pieces, but they were mostly there to keep my two other pieces from dying. And that’s exactly what they did. Chris and I had won.

Not a bad wrap-up to the day.

Stray Toasters

• How do I know that my mother still worries about me? She called me this afternoon; she called because, knows that SaraRules is out of state for the summer and wanted to make sure that I wasn’t – and I quote – “…just sitting at home twiddling my thumbs.” I love my mother.
• Edgy comic George Carlin dies in L.A., aged 71
• 
• I redid the character card I made for Galactus:
  • Old and busted
  • New hotness
• Matt and ‘Mano showed the following video to Chris and me today. Despite it’s title, it’s quite work-safe:

I should have been in bed long ago. Time to rectify that.

Namaste.

Sunday – 22 June 2008
When I got home from breakfast last night/this morning, my upstairs neighbor had what sounded like a classical music playing. I pretty much ignored it after noticing it… until I noticed that I was hearing the same phrase over and over. For about an hour-and-a-half. I figured that it must be a DVD, replaying the music on the menu screen. I went to bed and thought no more of it.

When I woke up this morning, it was still playing.

And two hours later, it’s still going strong.

Chris bought a Parallax ‘Clix figure last week. He saw the cards I did for Galactus and Phoenix and asked if I’d mind doing one for Parallax. I told him that I didn’t mind; this is what I came up with:

Once again, the hardest part was trying to come up with the quotes to put with each power. But, on the whole, I’m quite happy with the results.

Stray Toaster

Some of the usual suspects are meeting for lunch at Jitterbug… then I’m going to make an effort to get some drawing done.  And then, it’s back to Chris’ to play ‘Clix with the guys from Far West.

I’d better get a move on.

Namaste.

Saturday: Coda
It’s been a rather full day.

I left the apartment a little later than I had planned, but I didn’t let that deter me from stopping to get a cup of caffeinated frozen joy. With that done, I was ready to face the world… or at least my opponents in the HeroClix tournament.

I took Galactus with me. Just because. There was a very slim chance that I would use him in the game (at his “Hungry” level) along with Phoenix (at her rookie level). But that was a VERY slim chance, indeed. I walked in with Galactus in my hands. The looks of “Oh… my… GOD…” from some of the other players were pretty priceless. When Keith (the judge) announced today’s tournament as “1,000 points and unrestricted”, Chris and I both decided to pull some of our big and/or colossal figures out of the mothballs. We expected everyone else to do the same. With one exception – someone brought World’s Finest –

My final decision was to go with an X-Men themed team:

• Bishop
• Gambit
• Phoenix
• Professor X
• Rogue
• Soldier X (Cable) and
• Wolverine

I lost the first match, but won the next two games. I’m not about to complain about those results. I played pretty well, despite some craptacular dice rolls. And, I think that Phoenix presented my opponents with both a “Take that thing out of the game quickly” challenge, while still being something that they didn’t want to get too close to. Either way, I’m not complaining.

After the games, I headed to Larryland: Central to see The Incredible Hulk. It was fun and is an excellent summer movie. It paid homage not only to the comics, but to the TV show. The cameos (Lou Ferrigno, Stan Lee and Robert Downey, Jr.) were fun to watch. There as even an old Bill Bixby clip. Edward Norton did a great job of portraying Bruce Banner as a man trying to control the beast within him. Liv Tyler did a smash-up job as Banner’s love interest, Betty Ross. William Hurt did an excellent job of bringing Betty’s father – and Banner’s main pursuer – Gen. “Thunderbolt” Ross. The turn that they took with Tim Roth’s Emil Blonsky/The Abomination was an interesting one: A career special forces operative who is realizing that while he’s still at the top of his game, mentally, his body is eventually going to slow down… something that he doesn’t want to deal with. Roth did a good job of portraying this. People said that Ang Lee’s Hulk was too slow and that it took too long to see Old Jade Jaws. I don’t think that they can make those same complaints about this movie. Louis Leterrier has done a good job of bringing the Hulk, as a property, to destructive live. I give this movie an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

After the movie, I headed back to Chris and Mary’s for this week’s Dark Heresy game. So far, no one on our team has died or done anything to get their character instantly – or even slowly – killed.

Post-game, it was time for breakfast with the usual suspects. Tonight’s people watching was choice, too.

Stray Toasters

• now has a box of Butterscotch Krimpets
• I ran into , Josh and Christine at the theatre this afternoon.
• Annie Lennox’ Diva is a good CD.
• I’m Ivory Soap sure that I wanted to add something here… but I don’t recall “what.”

Quote of the Day
Today’s nugget of joy was heard at breakfast:

Pat: “Swiss Army Dick.”

And with that… bon soir.

Saturday – 21 June 2008
This morning’s title ran – actually, it was more of a “casual stroll” – through my head as I was typing the day/date for this post. I took it as an omen and just went with it. The line was from a commercial bump between Saturday morning cartoons… back when NBC actually showed cartoons, way back in the day.

Yesterday, I rolled out of work at 2:00. I have to say: It was nice to be done for the week that early. I’m going to shoot for it again next week. I left the office and headed to Dr. Volt’s to pick up two weeks’ worth of four-color goodness. Next on the docket: Lunch. I headed to Jitterbug; and her brother joined me.

From there, I headed home for a few before heading back out for coffee and dinner.

This morning, I was up (slightly) before the alarm went off. I think I have a handle on my team for today’s games… but I still want to find a backup. Just in case. Either way, I need to find pieces that I will be happy with for all three rounds.

Stray Toasters

• Today is also Free RPG Day.
• The Violent Femmes (Blister in the Sun) have done a cover of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy… and it’s pretty good. Check it out here.
• 
• Everyone has a little secret he keeps
  I light the fires while the city sleeps

Time to get a move on.

Namaste.

Thursday – 19 June 2008
Today is Juneteenth.
It’s also NBN Thursday.
And possibly Sushi ‘Wednesday.’
(I’m still deciding if it’s going to be New Comics Day…)

Last night, while watching TV, I put together a card to go with my Phoenix ‘Clix:

I’m thinking of using it in this weekend’s tourney, and find that character cards make remembering what powers are available at a given time much easier.

Last night’s episode of JLU was “Far From Home,” the episode that featured the Legion, so I happily watched it while tinkering away on the card.

Last night’s sleep was broken by a lovely bout of acid reflux (or the closest analogue).  Blah.  I wasn’t awake for long, but it was enough to break up what was an otherwise decent night’s sleep.  So, I decided to hang in bed for an extra half-hour this morning.  While in the shower, I had the Spider-Man Theme – as done by The Ramones – stuck in my head.  When I got to the…

Wealth and fame he’s ignored
Action is his reward!

…part, I got stuck.  On ‘Action is.”  Except, in my head, it was “Action Isz,” (1, 2) like from The Maxx… but more heroic.  (Although, not necessarily in a cape or tights way.)  And, for some reason, the Action Isz looked like Rikti Monkeys (1, 2).  Bizarre.

And I was still in the office a few minutes after 8:00… including a stop for some frozen mocha refreshment.

And now… I’m in (yet another) meeting.
Yay.