Ego! Ego! Ego!: Unfiled Blogger Entry Archives
December 28, 2002
Friday FiveA bit late. Yes, I suck.
1. What was your biggest accomplishment this year?
Hm... not murdering any of my students. Heh! Seriously, though, probably just surviving. This year has seen, among other things,No wonder I'm so tired.
- surgery
- the departure of one of the Red Elvises
- me subbing one heck of a lot, at least lately.
2. What was your biggest disappointment?
Not sure about this. Possibly that Peter Jackson didn't do a better job with The Two Towers, although I really can't complain too much about that as it wasn't nearly as terrible as I'd feared and is actually a decent film.
3. Will you be making any New Year's resolutions?
Yep. I'm going to resolve to hit the dojo three times a week. I want to test, dammit. I'm sick of being a blue belt!
4. Where will you be at midnight? Do you wish you could be somewhere else?
Not 100% sure, yet.
5. Aside from (possibly) staying up late, do you have any other New Year's traditions?
Not really.Dude.OK, I won't totally brag about the swag I got for Christmas, but Dude, my friends and family totally rock. I am so spoiled.
Highlights: I got a plush Cthulhu (check out Tales of the Plush Cthulhu! Cthulhu Fthagn! Ph'nglui mglw'nfah Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fthagn!), a totally killer suede jacket, a fistful of Monty Python CDs, and a "How I detest this life of vile servitude" tshirt - one of the ones discontinued by those bastards at CafePress because it's a Tolkien parody (inspired by the Very Secret Diaries). Wooooo!
So muchas gracias to all the wonderful folks who showered me in gifts! I hope y'all enjoyed my gifts to you as well.
December 26, 2002
Heheheheh.Happy Boxing Day!Here's an oldie but goodie from Prehensile Tales. I was never that clever (or, rather, that daring) about leaving things out for Santa. Probably because I knew subconsciously that Santa was really my Mom, and she doesn't have this kind of sense of humor. Heh.
December 25, 2002
Happy SantaDay!
Happy holiday of your choice, dear readers!
To the left is an image from one of the holiday card designs I used this year. Yes, it's by Edward Gorey. How cool is that?
It really sums up what this time of year is about, at least in part, for most people. Even if you're religious, unless you're from a tradition that doesn't do the whole gift-giving thing, you're probably out buying gifts for all kinds of people. And on top of that, if you work in retail, or find yourself needing to purchase anything of any kind at all, you'll be impacted by the swarms of shoppers out buying jillions of things for everyone they know.
Of course, there's also the getting-together-with-family-and-friends aspect of the season to take into account. My Dad's younger brother and his family came over today, and we had a great time eating and opening presents and playing (my Uncle's got a little grandson who's a blast to play with now that he's old enough to talk and put legos together). That just rocked.
But I'm rambling (I have a feeling that reading Antwon's posts every day is causing his rather wordy style to rub off on me. Either that or it's making me nostalgic for my days as an English Major at Oxy and reviving those old writing habits).
So... happy season-of-purchasing-and-hanging-with-family! I hope all my readers are having a good, reasonably safe time while stimulating the economy.
Oh, and for everyone who'll be anywhere near Palo Alto tomorrow, Throwing Toasters are playing at an open mic at Cafe Verona (236 Hamilton Ave) some time around 8pm. Come check 'em out! They rock.
December 24, 2002
Monday Mission 2.51
1. So, have you been naughty or nice this year? Both? Gimme details!
A little of both. :-D As to details, though, I take the fifth.
2. Are there any Christmas television commercials that you look forward to each year?
Nope.
3. Are you the type that likes to know what you are getting as a present (do you rattle the boxes?) or do you like suprises?
I like surprises, me. Although guessing is fun, too.
4. Have you ever been scared of those "mall Santas?" Is there anything at "the mall" that does scare you?
Not really. The crass commercialism distresses me and some of my fellow shoppers scare me sometimes, though.
5. We've talked about Holiday foods you love, so what holiday foods do you hate?
When did we talk about holiday foods I like? I adore pumpkin pie and my dad's Christmas cookies. Holiday foods I hate: yams! Ew.
6. Have you ever forgotten to buy someone a gift? How did that situation play out?
Nah. I'm pretty organized. I may be late sometimes but I don't forget
7. Describe (or post a pic of) the tackiest holiday yard decorations you've ever seen?
I try to block that kind of thing out of my mind, me. :-DDecember 23, 2002
*snerk*Man, Monday Mission isn't up yet. So I found a really warped quiz to take instead! Bet you a dime that after this, NetNanny and the rest will NEVER let kids on my site again. Ha.
Which Dysfunctional Care Bear Are You?
brought to you by QuizillaAlso, CassieClaire has a new Very Secret Diary up! Yay! I will post it over on my Mirror asap.
Grabbag of linksBush and company are at it again. What happened to the separation of Church and State?! This kind of thing just enrages me. Grrrrrrrrrrrr. (NYTimes article)
Sick of holier-than-thou vegetarians lording it over you? Here's proof that they're not quite so death-free as they'd like you to believe. Go read and stock up on some ammo for the next time a militant vegetarian guilts you up.
Aww, poor little fundies aren't so popular anymore. What a surprise. "...somehow we are being perceived by non-Christians in America as a group of people who are not particularly loving [and] not particularly generous, kind, or understanding." *snerk*
Ever wonder what, exactly, a geek is? Check this out. Nifty page.
This is a fantastic article about the importance of free speech. Read the whole thing, it's worth it. (Washington Post)
An amazing article about war photographer Catherine Leroy. She sounds amazingly cool. Be sure to follow the link to a gallery of her work.
Man opts for jail over 'faith-based' treatment. Interesting article from a freedom-of-religion standpoint. Check it out.
Men, says this study, tolerate pain better than women. I don't want to argue (ok, I do, but anyway...), but I don't know many men who aren't a bit of a wuss at heart when it comes to pain, particularly pain not meted out in the course of something macho.
This fossil just sounds too cool. Apparently Lovecraftian creatures walked the earth once. Who knew? Ia! Ia! Cthulhu Fthagn! Ph'nglui mglw'nfah Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fthagn!
December 22, 2002
Whoa!I can't believe it. I let the first anniversary of this blog slip by unnoticed! My first post here was on December 4th of 2001.
A whole year of updating on a pretty damn regular basis (although not as regular as Antwon, who is just... da man). What does this say about me? That I'm bizarre? Obsessive? A giant egomaniacal freak?
Probably. But what it mostly says is that I'm a blogger.
December 21, 2002
Late Friday Five
1. What holiday or holidays do you celebrate this time of year?
Well, I usually get hauled off for Christmas Eve service by the 'rents, which is traditional and always reminds me of when I was a kid. Privately, though, I'm more of a Yule person.
2. What was the best gift you have ever received?
Oh, man, I can't even begin to decide. There are several of my friends and family who invariably give me fan-frickin'-tastic gifts.
3. What was the worst gift you've ever given?
I don't keep track of that kind of thing. Although I used to get really ... impersonal gifts from my grandparents because they didn't know me that well.
4. Where will you be celebrating the holidays? Are you hosting? Going away?
At home with Mom, Dad, Dad's younger brother and his family.
5. If you could spend the holidays with someone who isn't around, who would it be with? Why?
Hm... probably my aunt and uncle down in LA, or my cousins back East as I miss them all a lot.Von, Two, Tree! Ah-ha-ha-ha!
Which Sesame Street Muppet's Dark Secret Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
The Count's Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
It started with a simple affection for counting and the terror it induced in others, didn't it? But now it's turned into a full-blown life-consuming chaotic nightmare of order, repetition, zealousness, and perfectionism. You used to be so grand, but now you find yourself obsessively worrying over the littlest things--like, maybe if you don't check the light switch at least once every two minutes, the electricity will go out (and damnit, you're a vampire--that shouldn't be a problem!), or maybe if you don't wash your hands until your seams are coming out, you'll get some fatal disease. Get yourself some treatment.December 20, 2002
WheeHey, folks. Tweaked the template a bit; let me know if you find any browser/platform combinations that make it look weird. Thanks!
December 19, 2002
The Dominion of Miss HaasYes, it's true. I have given in to peer pressure and signed up over at NationStates.net. Go check it out.
The game is really interesting from a sort of... Sims point of view, I guess. The idea is, you own the country and cna decide how things are dealt with. Every day you et one or more issues to resolve - things like... should you ban Harry Potter books or fund schools who want to buy them? That kind of thing.
I'm running my nation the way I run my classroom when I'm subbing at the local middle school: it's a semi-benevolent dictatorship. Heh.
I don't know how long it will hold my interest but for now I am highly amused by it. It's not as action-oriented as UnWeb, alas, but it's still nifty.
EEeeee!I have now seen The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers twice. Not of my own volition, mind you - I went to see it at midnight (12:01am Wednesday morning, yeah!) with a posse of friends and then again at 11am with Mom because she couldn't find anyone to go with her.
I'm so self-sacrificing. Seeing it again right away so that Mom doesn't have to go alone. (cue "awww" noises from audience)
Yes, I bravely sat there again and watched my favorite hobbits look terminally cute (and get to finally kick some butt instead of being the perpetual comic relief!), watched Aragorn look studly, the elves look pretty, Saruman look stunning, Gollum look amazingly lifelike and pitiable, and all the rest of it.
And you know what? It was such an easy sacrifice to make that I'm bravely soldiering on and will be seeing it again Saturday with another group of people.
I will refrain from posting a long diatribe about all of the changes and whatnot because, well, the chances of Peter Jackson or Phillippa Boyens reading this blog, repenting of their blasphemy, and fixing everything are hovering somewhere around the "when pigs fly to hell to go skiing" mark. And anyway, it's a great movie even with all the changes. So there.
I'm subbing today and tomorrow and away from my computer system almost all day Saturday, so I probably will not be posting much. You have Been Warned.
December 17, 2002
Whoa!OK, that was weird. I swear to GOD, I was playing Unweb this morning. But it looks like the game is no more. Dammit! I wanted to get studly enough to taken on www.antwon.com.
It's probably for the best, though. The last thing I need is something else to eat up my incredibly limited free time.
UnWeb!I think I may have found a site that isn't just geeky, but geeky2. Check out UnWeb, the text-based role-playing game where you fight monsters ... made out of websites. Good HTML and lots of pages = big, bad monster. Crappy HTML and small number of pages = puny monster.
I tried to fight www.ealasaid.com but couldn't - some kind of internal error. Dammit.
www.antwon.com is some scary shit right there... tons of hitpoints and the ability to steal life and whatnot (I shall refrain from speculating about the accuracy of this, of course ;-)) I ran away.... and got killed.
December 16, 2002
PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.50
1. So, what do you want for Christmas this year that you probably won't get?
A plush Cthulhu.
2. What do you know you will be receiving for Christmas this year?
Something cool from Jen; other than that, I've no idea.
3. If you had the means to do so, what presents would you get some of your fellow bloggers? Be specific, it's more fun that way!
Hm...
- Antwon is almost impossible to shop for from what I know of him. Bastard already has all kinds of weird stuff. I have one or two ideas forming in the back of my mind, though.
- I'd get BeerMary DSL.
- Cathryn already has the Spiderman DVD, so if I were boundlessly powerful I'd get her Willem Dafoe. (Don't think me selfless; he'd arrive on her doorstep a little used, I suspect. ;-)
- I'd get Nin a year-long pass to Disneyland. :)
- Ith would get a season pass to Disneyland as well so she could go along.
- Raven I'd probably give the ability to fast-forward through the unpleasant bits so she wouldn't have to put up with stuff like the last several weeks ever again.
- Wil Wheaton would receive better luck at finding GeoCaches.
- Dunno what I'd get The Fool - maybe more time to update?
- That's definitely what Shelley would get. :)
- Sarah T would receive the Smallville DVDs.
- Geekychick would get... hm... I've no idea. Maybe a huge gift certificate for Mac merchandise.
- I'd probably get Marn a whole wad of my favorite loud CDs for workout purposes.
- I'd give Melisander a zillion dollars so she could do art and the other things she loves all the time and wouldn't have to worry about money.
4. Do you support any organizations that provide for the less fortunate during the holidays? Or do any volunteer work?
Not really. I usually get roped into bellringing for the Salvation Army, but that's about it.
5. Each year about this time, I notice Church attendance seems to spike, then drops off sharply after Christmas. It tickles me that these folks think they are pulling a fast one on the Big Guy. What is the most recent thing guilt has motivated you to do?
Guilt? Not sure. I try not to let guilt run my life, man.
6. According to the commercials, the only way to truly tell someone you love them on Christmas day is to let them "Unwrap a Jaguar" automobile. Are there any examples of excessive commercialism and/or blatant disregard for the "Christmas Spirit" that really get under your skin?
Pretty much all of them annoy me at least a little. [grumble]
7. I remember a song where the singers wished they could teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony. What would you like to teach the world?
To really listen for a change. That includes myself; I don't always listen as well as I might.Rock on!Behold, my faithful readers: It is a new week, one free of the massive quantities of seventh-grade PE that last week contained. Further, I get to see The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Tuesday night (yay for the 12:01 am showing!) with a group of my favorite people in the whole world. These two things conspire to make this one of the best weeks ever for yours truly.
To celebrate, I now present a huge collection of links.
Well, ok, it's mostly an effort to clear out my "BlogLinks" email folder a little, but oh, well. On with the links!
This study showed that people often rely more on visual cues to judge a website's reliability than on things like, say, the stated privacy policy or anything rational. Good grief.
Are some of my fellow Americans wondering what they can do to protest the actions of our government? Wonder no longer. Some good ideas there. (thanks, John Hedtke!)
SleeplessKnights are ... odd. With dialup as my only access, it's taking me a while to go through their stuff, but they're hilarious. :)
This bit of fanfic is just wrong. If you know both your Lord of the Rings and your Monty Python, be warned: this may cause you to spew anything you may happen to be drinking all over your monitor. Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything... (Thanks, Nin!)
Like those personality quizzes I sometimes mention? Here are more quizzes than you can shake a very, very large stick at.
Old hat, but I must post it anyway just in case: Bill Gates' mugshot (Thanks, Jen!)
That wacky Dubya, he's so funny! Hu's on First (Thanks, Dad!)
Wondering if you know yer arse from yer elbow? Find out! (Thanks to John Hedtke!)
This shockwave animation is kind of depressing but really nifty anyway. Lovely visual concept. Warning: may cause corporate puppets to fling themselves through windows.
I have a feeling that Austrailia may not have an equivalent to the First Amendment. Check out Dan Gilmore's column on the Aussie court's ruling about internet libel. Grrr.
And last but not least, Internet Feng-Shui. Kind of speaks for itself, really.
December 13, 2002
TGIFI have a number of things to be grateful for today, starting with the fact that it's Friday and thus the last day of my five-day stint subbing for 7th grade PE.
Even better: today all four PE classes where I'm subbing are in the multi-use room together and the head of the PE department is leading everything. Rock on. I have bee relegated to the position of a glorified hall monitor, more or less. I mostly walk around looking authoritative but don't actually have to do anything. And I am getting paid for it!
It's a nice change from the rest of the week, which kind of made me think of, say, that 'used electric donkey-bottom biter' line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
And when I get home, after taking a nap or something similarly restorative, I get to catch up on email (I owe replies to about a jillion people, it's sad) and then go to a party with a bunch of folks I haven't seen since we were in school together back in the early 90s. Rah.
December 12, 2002
WheeFinally updated my Book Log. Yay.
December 11, 2002
Note to SelfMoney is a good thing. Even if you have to teach twelve hours a day for three days to get it.
December 09, 2002
PromoGuy's Monday Mission
1. Do you get sick very often? What illness do you find that you've had most frequently?
I get horrible colds once or twice a year. I'm getting better at noticing the symptoms early and heading them off with massive doses of echinacea and orange juice, though.
2. Do you mind going to see the Doctor when you get sick? Do you know anyone who just refuses to go to a Doctor when they get ill? Any idea why they are like that?
I'm quite happy to visit the doctor (I looove my health insurance) but scheduling an appointment is a nightmare because my schedule is so whack.
3. How about visiting the Dentist? Do you go get a check-up every 6 months? Or do you dread going?
Not fond of the dentist. I try to get in for a checkup every year or so, though.
4. Have you ever taken any diet pills, energy pills or energy drinks? How did they make you feel? Do you still take them? How come?
I love Dracula Energy Drink, but am nearly out of the case my aunt bought me. It's really the only energy drink or pill or whatever I've tried and liked. The only problem is that I crash something fierce after it wears off unless I start chugging diet cokes or something to taper off the caffeine content of my body.
5. Have you heard about "Gastric Bypass" surgery that many celebrities are doing to loose weight? (The process reduces the size of your stomach to facilitate weight loss) What are your thoughts on this procedure? Would you ever consider it? How would you feel if a relative were to decide to undergo the procedure?
Personally, I think it's not a good idea. There are a zillion complications that can happen and I have read in a couple of places that there are loads of doctors who perform it who don't know what they're doing. Personally, I'm in favor of the traditional method of losing weight: eat less and exercise more. And before anyone jumps on my ass, yes, I know how hard that is. I have been dieting off and on since eighth grade.
6. What do you think the opposite sex needs to experience to fully understand what it is like to be your gender?
*boggle* Um. I think guys would need to go through PMS, cramping, and a full-blown period for a glimpse into what it's like to be a girl. Spending a day being reacted to like a girl wouldn't hurt, either.
7. And to lighten things up a bit before we go...What's the most worthless gadget, infomercial item or "looked like a bargain" item you have ever purchased or owned?
Hm....... I have no idea. There are so many options to choose from...That's it for now, folks, and I'll prolly be very quiet this week, I'm working something like sixty hours between now and the weekend (assuming I actually put in my 10 hours on the MUSD contract. Aieeee.
December 06, 2002
Whee!This is so frickin' funny I can't even tell you. But if you don't know the story of Beowulf, it won't make sense. If you do, though, go read now.
Also, I must, and I do mean must see "Equilibrium." Check out the trailer. Beautiful people being violent in very cool looking ways. Swords! Guns! Flamethrowers! All-black or all-white clothing! Blenderized versions of classic dystopian visions! YES!!!
Counting DownGot me a ticket to the midnight showing of Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. A whole gaggle of us are going - four of us who play the card game and two who don't. Should be fun. We four are gonna play in line, the other two will no doubt sit back and laugh at us for being such geeks.
Even geekier: ma has two tickets to the 11am show that morning, and if she can't get anyone to go with her, I'm seriously considering going myself. I could take a sleeping bag, see, and just sack out on the sidewalk so I could sleep in. Then I wouldn't have to drive home, snooze a couple hours, and drive back at like 7 am. I could just lie down and sleep until 8 or 9. Rock on.
But that might be a little extreme even for a LotR obsessed maniac like me. :)
I'm a real reviewer now!I have been accused via email of giving "Hoodlum" a negative review because the director is black. Somehow I feel all grown up now, like I wasn't a real reviewer until someone disagreed with me for a patently absurd reason.
I wanted to like "Hoodlum." Really, I did. And Lawrence Fishbourne and Tim Roth were great in it. But the movie was lousy. Not to say that nobody could love it (Hell, I think "Highlander II: The Quickening," aka "Highlander II: The Sickening" is one of the most enjoyable films ever) but to say I don't like it out of racism is a bit of a stretch, I think.
Aaah, I love the internet.
December 05, 2002
Cream of the CrackSome groovie links found through Crackbaby.com...
I so want one of these. But first I would need some place to put it....
Ever wonder just what kinds of things you could get away with sending through the mail? These guys did...and decided to find out.
Study shows Mary-jane may not be a gateway drug after all! So chill, Win-ston! (if you don't get that, go see Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels again.)
This is truly revolting. Dear Gods, don't these researchers have anything better to do with their time? Ew!
Just what the world needs. Lord of the Rings Gangsta Rap. O Elbereth! these guys are whacked. Cool, but whacked.
Dum-da-da-dum!It's NaNoWriMo picture time! Just a few, in an effort to keep the loading time down...
Photo by Cliff
This is from a write-in near the end of the month. If this were higher resolution, you'd be able to see the horrific bags under my eyes from the strain.
Photo by Cliff.
Ohmigod! Look someone famous! Yes, it's me with Antwon of Antwon.com, at the Thank God It's Over party. I'm so cool. ;)
Photo by Ian
Me reading at the Open Mic at the Thank God It's Over party. My excerpt was well-received. Yay.
Photo by Ian
My ultimate verdict on both the NaNoWriMo experience and the party. And the people, too. Lovely folks, NaNoers.December 04, 2002
SpookySo everyone knows about Autism and Asperger's syndrome, right? It's a running joke that geeks, especially computer geeks, have symptoms of said syndromes.
What happens when geeks congregate, like in Silicon Valley? They reproduce. And what do you get when two people with faint signs of these syndromes have kids? Serious cases. Check out this amazing article from Wired magazine about it. Creepy stuff, man.
Creepier: reading about the parents and kids with problems and thinking, "whoa, I do that but I'm not that bad... or I'd do that more if Mom didn't boot my ass out of the house regularly and insist I have a life."
Kinda like watching Monk.
December 03, 2002
QuizzoramaTook some more Quizzes and posted the results. Big surprise, I'm TOTALLY British and a huge Tolkien dork. :)
In other news, went to a huge party over the weekend and learned that while being drunk does help you have a very, very good time, it also can make you very, very sorry the next morning when you are short on sleep (from having such a good time) and really hungover. D'oh.
Hopefully there will be some good pix from the party available soon, and I shall endeavor to post some if there are any shots of me that aren't embarassing in a non-entertaining way or horrifically unflattering.
PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.48Better late than never, right?
1. Suppose God (or your deity of choice) grants you one miracle. Consider the world in which we live. Consider your life and family. What would you request for this miracle? Are you sure that is the best way to use it? You only get one.
Oh, man, this is hard. Maybe I'd wish that the people who are struggling financially be granted enough money to get through their problems (without relatives dying or anything). Something like that. Or, possibly, that the US gets over its bad self and stops using so much oil from the Middle East and trying to play copper over there.
2. I believe that prayers do get answered, but I realize not everyone agrees. Have you ever had an experience where you truly believe your prayer was answered? If you don't believe in such things, how come? What is your philosophy on prayer?
I believe prayer works, if only because I had a lot of people praying for me during my surgery and came through a LOT better than expected.
3. Have you ever lost a pet? That is, have you ever had a pet get loose, run away or be stolen? Did you get it back? How did the loss impact your life?
Yes. Sunny, our oldest cat, was a wandering kitten and got lost two or three times. We put up signs and people called us. I was really upset (being only 7 or 8 at the time). Now, my two youngest cats are indoor cats, not indoor/outdoor like Sunny was.
4. Getting together with family at the holidays is great, I just love it. Most of all I love the food. What is your favorite holiday food?
pumpkin pie!
5. One thing I've noticed about the holidays is that no one makes Pumpkin Pie like my Grandmother. She has totally spoiled me on her recipe, I just don't like the taste of anyone else's Pumpkin Pie. Are there are dishes or desserts that someone in your family fixes better than anyone else?
Mom's Pumpkin Pie. Aunt Laurie's stuffing. Dad's Christmas cookies!
6. Since I have no brothers or sisters, I am always wondering what it would have been like. Now that I am older, it kinda stinks that I will never be an Uncle. Do you have any siblings with children? How does it make you feel to be an Aunt or an Uncle? If not, would you like to be have nieces and nephews? Would you make a good relative to them?
I have no siblings at alllll. Would kind of like to have had 'em - it'd be interesting to be an aunt.
7. I am putting together a CD of great holiday music. Do you have any suggestions of what songs (title/artist) I should include?
"Christmas at Ground Zero," Weird Al Yankovic. "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas," by Gayla Peevy (I think)December 01, 2002
BusybusybusyI'm busy as ever, but here's what I've been reading/looking at lately...
He's Ba-a-a-ck!: "It's an inspired choice. Bold, counterintuitive, edgy, outside the box...Who better to investigate an unwarranted attack on America than the man who used to instigate America's unwarranted attacks?"
Graveside Manners - this is really interesing.Supreme Court Could Opt for a Momentous Term - interesting things up before the SC.
The Lord of the Peeps - Must be seen to be believed. Graphics heavy, not safe if you're drinking.
November 30, 2002
Whew.I'm a bit hungover from yesterday, which is sad as I didn't have any alcohol. Must be that heady potion of lattes and gobstoppers or something. Anyway. Admire the pix of me from last night:
The shirt, by the way, says "No plot? No problem! National Novel Writing Month 2002." It's one of this year's official shirts. I'm considering getting one in a smaller size. I heard they were running small, but nooooooooo...
Anyway. In other news, one of my UK friends went to see David Gray in concert last night and is all stoked about it. Now me, I'm not familiar with Gray's work, but hey, if Cellrat is all stoked about it, he's probably good. :) Guess I'll have to keep my eye out for his stuff next time I'm out shopping for CDs.
November 29, 2002
Two TOTALLY KICK ASS ThingsOne: I bought a CD burner today. It's 48x16x48. After I mail in the rebate, it will have cost me, if my calculations are correct, about $30. Rock on, day-after-Turkey-day-Sales! Booyah! It's an internal drive, though, so I probably shouldn't relaly start celebrating until I've installed it, eh?
Anyway.
Two: I finished my NaNoWriMo wordcount! Yes, indeedy, folks, and had that puppy verified! YAY!!!!!!!!! the story's not done, but that's all right. Click on the link above to read excerpts. :)
November 28, 2002
Turkey DayI'm not doing the traditional Thanksgiving schtick this year. Mom and Dad are out of town; I'm spending the day taking care of the animals and working on my web contracts and my NaNo wordcount. But that's ok. Those three things are things I'm very thankful for.
I'm thankful that I can share my life with so many wonderful animals. I'm thankful that I have found enough work to pay my bills in this tough time. I'm thankful that I have a computer and the leisure time to do NaNo at all.
More stuff I'm thankful for:
- I hit 40k last night so I only have 10k to write by Saturday. :)
- My folks let me live at home so I can afford to, well, live. Without food stamps, anyway. Goddamn student loans.
- My family - they make me crazy sometimes but are still great folks.
- My friends, online and off. You guys are the greatest!
- The internet, without which I wouldn't have met about half my best buds.
- Fandom, without which I wouldn't have met some great folks (waves at Cellrat).
- The First Amendment, which means I can say and write stuff like "the Shrub is a dork" without being arrested (although it sounds like nowadays it means I'll be put on a 'to watch' list and spied on).
- Beautiful fall weather.
- Peace and quiet.
November 27, 2002
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!Well, I finished watching The Forsyte Saga.
I could just cry for Soames, I really could. Sorry, Marn.
But I feel so sorry for him! He's such a product of the nasty Forsytes, he really is.
'course, now I feel sorry for his daughter, too. He just adores her, and we all know what happens to things he adores. *cue evil laugh here*
Poor man. What he really needed was to be separated from his horrible family at a young age so he could grow up away from them. Instead he wound up working with his father and getting a full dose of nasty-Forsyte-ness. With all that passion he could have been another Young Jolyon, but noooooooooooooooo.......... Sheesh.And does anybody else think Young Jolyon needs to just stop reproducing? I mean, seriously! ;)
Now I just have to survive the wait until the second series is released here... *sigh* Probably be years before it's available. *sniffle*
Bad Boys, Bad Boys...Am I the only one starting to worry about the pattern of criminals being appointed to high government positions in the last couple of months? I mean, first we have Poindexter, who has been convicted of lying to congress (Washington Post), not to mention selling arms to our enemies, in charge of creating a huge database of everyone's personal data (Check out the great TIA Resource Center for more on THAT).
Now Henry Kissenger, who to the best of my knowledge hasn't been convicted of being a war criminal only because we've been very careful not to let him get extradited and tried (anybody wondering why Bush isn't pressing to get Saddam charged as a war criminal, which he certainly is? could it be... because then he'd look like an ass for hiding Kissenger at the same time?), has been appointed to head up a commission investigating the events of Sept. 11th. (NY Times article)
Now, I know that Kissenger did some good work in his day. Hell, there's a great song about him. But if he's NOT a criminal, if he's innocent, why hide him? I realize that's kind of like saying that the innocent have nothing to fear from the TIA project, which I don't believe for a second, but come on. For the US to really stand up as a bastion of truth and freedom we need to clear the air around that.Anyway.
Just thought I'd share. And people wonder why sometimes I get so cranky.
November 26, 2002
Links, baby! Links!Yet another hilarious 404 page.
Nifty piece (apart from a few gaffes) on pagans in the military.
Further proof, as if any were needed, that Pat Robertson is an idiot.
The TIPS program has been shut down. Who knew that stupid Homeland Security BS could have an upside?
PratchettGo read this review of Night Watch. It's so nice to read a real review in an American paper of a Pratchett book (even if it does use "arguably," one of the stupidest words in the English language, in its first sentence)! MAN! And not just a Pratchett book, but one of the Pratchett books that will likely take a spot just below The Truth in my list of favorites from that sequence.
Night Watch is a fantastic story, and I think it really shows how far Pratchett has come since the days of Equal Rites and Guards! Guards!. Character, description, development have all improved with age and while the early books are still a damn sight better than most of the dreck out there, the more recent books just keep getting better.
And of course, it was nice to see Vetinari again. I really missed him in Thief of Time.
PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.47 (slightly late)
1. Have you ever made a wish that came true?
Plenty.
2. How about any wishes that you are happy never came true?
Hm... several.
3. Do you like who you are? Are you the person you hoped you would become?
Heh. Don't make me laugh. Low self-esteem is my middle name, blog name not withstanding.
4. Have you ever applied for positions, or had any interviews, where you later are glad you never got the job?
Oh, my, yes. Starting with that nutso interview back when I was at Stanford. Don't ask, I'm saving the details for my memoirs.
5. While on the topic of career opportunities, what was your very first "real" job? What job was the most embarrassing?
Stuffing envelopes at a penny an envelope for The SCA. Never really had an embarassing job, thankfully.
6. Speaking of news, have you had your 15 minutes of fame yet? Such as being in the newspaper, on television, linked on a high-profile site or otherwise caught in the spotlight of the media?
Yep. A couple times. Had my photo in the local papers, that kind of thing. I'm notorious back at my old high school.
7. In the USA, many of us will celebrate Thanksgiving this week. Do you celebrate Thanksgiving (or something like it)? Do you enjoy getting together will your extended family for these types of celebrations?
I like Turkey Day as much as the next carnivore, but won't be celebrating it with anybody this year.November 24, 2002
Woooot!I hit 35k tonight! Nearly there! (I'm talking about my Nano wordcount, in case you were wondering.)
Ha!Gawain has hit the nail on the head with his entry on the TIA/IAO project. Go read. Laugh. Be afraid, because he is not making that shit up.
November 22, 2002
MiscellaneousLong day. But I'm seeing "Die Another Day" tonight, so yay. Links du jour:
Gucci Hoochi - One woman, one magazine, and an article on "Designer Vaginas."
Neil Gaiman Directs - his entry for the 20th says,
Got to issue my first piece of directorial advice to an actor today. "You're dead." I said. "Your motivation is to stay in one place and rot." Which he did, just fine.Gah!My goodness, what a week. I'm way behind on my NaNo wordcount, am worked off my feet, etc.
However! I have the weekend to recouperate!
Ha, I kill me.
I have the weekend to catch up. Let's be honest.
At least the new James Bond opens tonight so I have an excuse to go watch a hot guy blow stuff up. Rah.
November 19, 2002
ARGH!
The Fourth Amendment
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.Maybe I'm PMSing, but I am so pissed at my government right now I can't stand it.
The government is going to start spying on us - with apparently unlimited power. Fourth Amendment? What Fourth Amendment?
Well, hey, a secret court has ruled that it's okay - conducting searches of homes and offices, reading private correspondence, etc etc etc is just peachy by them.
Say it with me now: 'we don't need not steenkin' warrants!' So much for not searching our effects and papers, eh?
Oh, and there's a secret list of people who aren't allowed to fly, now. What happened to 'land of the free?' Guess the star-spangled banner now waves o'er the land of the suspected, and the home of the spied-upon.
At least our Ambassador to the U.N. has a sense of humor. I mean, who could seriously quote the following bit of Jefferson's writings when our beloved president just reinstated "One Nation Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and my tax money will be used to prosletyze in places like the post office?
"No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish enlarge, or affect their civil capacities." --Thomas Jefferson's words, my italics.Note that Jefferson doesn't say we can worship as we please, he says we can have our own opinion and not have others forced on us - which means atheists, freethinkers, and the rest have the right not to have God thrown at them in a Federally-funded building. Sheesh.Oh, wait, you mean our Ambassador was serious?
Crap.
Well, two things to cheer me up:
One: I can fax our pres and bitch about all this crap - which I did. It may be a sign of my naivete that I think it might make a tiny difference.
Two: Alabama's Chief Judge got told to remove his Ten Commandments monument from the courthouse. Viva la first amendment!
Hey, did you know?If you search the right engine for trampoline guards you'll find a page on my site.
I love my new tracking system.
For those of you who are concerned about what exactly I track with it, well, go here and find out. It basically collects the same info that the tracking system my host provides (hits on pages, patterns in traffic, etc) along with some other stuff (referring pages, external links followed, etc).
I can't arrange the data to see which IP address goes with which hits or browsing patterns or anything.
Go check out the program. It's pretty darn cool, really.
Woo hoo!Well, I'm in the process of installing a nifty script called AXS that will help me track visits to my site better. I can see things like ... what keywords people use on Google to find me. And which browser folks use to access my site. That kind of thing. Pretty schweet, if ya ask me! :)
November 18, 2002
Bwah-ha-ha-haaaaaaaIf you (a) hate Nigerian spam, (b) know your Lovecraft, and (c) have 15 or so minutes to kill, go read this. I thought I was going to hurt myself, I was laughing so hard.
QuizzesNew quiz result up. I've also wisely split the quiz results page into two pages so it won't take quite so damn long to load.
Review UpFor those of you who don't receive or don't want to wait for The Milpitas Post, my review of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is up here.
November 17, 2002
Oh, yeah...I saw Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets this weekend. Opening night, in fact. It wasn't horrible, but my GOD it had insane pacing. It's like they took all the miniclimaxes from the book and shoved them in the movie without the resting bits in between.
But. Oh my GOD, Snape! He was woefully underused, but every scene was a little snippet of joy. And the duelling club scene... pure bliss! Not only does he totally kick buttinsky in that sequence but we get to see him without that huge cloak on! Hot diggety!
But the coolest part: the new Two Towers preview was in front of the movie!!! It was way cool, with new footage of Merry and Pippin and everything. I'm all excited, man, you have no idea.
However...
[Begin Tolkien Geek Rant]
I was SO PISSED to hear the most common mispronounciation of 'Sméagol' in the trailer! FOR GODS' SAKE! There's an accent over the e in his name for a REASON!! Tolkien specifically says in Appendix E that in both Quenya AND Sindarin, 'ea' is NOT a dipthong, and that furthermore that 'é' should be pronounced as in "say." Thus, it should be smay-a-gol, not smee-gol. How the HELL did the linguists Jackson hired bollocks THAT up?! AUGH!
[End Tolkien Geek Rant]
GO ME!I crossed the halfway point in my NaNoWriMo wordcount today... and then wrote another two thousand words! I wrote about forty-seven hundred words in the space of about three hours today. Rah. Go me!
November 16, 2002
Whoa!Badsnake mentioned this wonderful entry on annoying children recently (warning: it has naughty language! Minors be warned!).
It's one of the entries that made me start reading her back in the day. Sample quote:
I'm rolling a cigarette, so naturally they zoom in on me like sugar-high zombified crazed ducks on a Junebug. Oh, geez, and these little girls were so sticky and gross! I would've taken a picture, but one of them probably would have put her little ice cream adhesive coated finger on the lens and done hundreds of dollars worth of damage, so I wasn't going to risk it.I love Badsnake. She rules.
November 15, 2002
The Mother***ing Friday FiveFor them as don't know, the Friday Five this week is being done by this maniac. I've bleeped it for the sensitive and underage.
1. ****in A, it's Friday finally. Whatcha drinkin, cause we all know you are a slobbering lush.
Diet Coke all the way.
2. Are ya gettin any this weekend? Who's the lucky bastard?
Oh, I wish. *sigh*
3. Tell Heather you ****ing love her in a creative way. Watch your tongue and be nice, or I will hunt you down and cut it out of your filthy mouth.
Heather, you are the booksmell in the library of my mind.
4. Think these questions are fluff? Go **** yourself. For the rest of you, what's the best ****ing movie you've ever seen? [I mean, the best movie, not the best movie with ****ing in it, unless you wanna share that too.]
Hm... that's always a hard one for me. I think I'll go with... Fellowship of the Ring - except for Arwen, it's flawless, and I can always amuse myself by gagging when she's on screen.
5. So what the **** are you doing this weekend?
Seeing Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets tonight, doing lots of NaNoWriMo stuff.Girls ROCK!Saw Garbage and No Doubt in concert at the arena last night. They rocked! The sound wasn't very good (look, Mr. Soundperson, just because you're deaf doesn't mean I want to be! There's more to doing sound tech than cranking everything all the way up! DAYUMM!) but the rest of it was great.
Garbage were kind of given short shrift, though - No Doubt had a big projection screen behind them and used the thrust section of the stage and stuff, but Garbage just did a traditional rock show kinda thing. That was a drag, as Shirley was wearing a really funky outfit and it would have been nice to see it blown up on the projection screen. We were so far away that we couldn't see any details.
Anyway, it was a lot of fun. Both bands did a lot of older material and generally rocked the house.
November 14, 2002
Call to ActionFirst, go read William Safire's article on the Homeland Security act. If you don't already have a login with the New York Times, get one - it takes like two seconds and is worth it.
If you're in a hurry, here're the basics:
If the Homeland Security Act is not amended before passage, here is what will happen to you:I am constantly flabbergasted by the things that some members of our government thinks they can put over on us. Privacy is a basic human right. I don't care that I have nothing to hide - it's nobody's business what websites I go to, what grades I got, etc. Sure, there's a slim chance that this might help get rid of terrorism. But you know what? Executing every person on American soil would also help get rid of terrorism. The ends do not justify the means.Every purchase you make with a credit card, every magazine subscription you buy and medical prescription you fill, every Web site you visit and e-mail you send or receive, every academic grade you receive, every bank deposit you make, every trip you book and every event you attend - all these transactions and communications will go into what the Defense Department describes as "a virtual, centralized grand database."
To this computerized dossier on your private life from commercial sources, add every piece of information that government has about you - passport application, driver's license and bridge toll records, judicial and divorce records, complaints from nosy neighbors to the F.B.I., your lifetime paper trail plus the latest hidden camera surveillance - and you have the supersnoop's dream: a "Total Information Awareness" about every U.S. citizen.
I am enough of an optimist that I don't think this monstrosity will pass, but I'm enough of a cynic that I'm writing my congressfolk about it.
I'd urge my readers to do the same. You can look up both your Representative and your Senators pretty easily with those links there.
November 13, 2002
LinkageThe ACLU is investigating proselytizing during lunch at a school in Georgia. I think it says something for how far the 'Bible belt' has come that they're looking into it because a number of parents and students complained. Word up.
While I'm on the subject, check out Jesus Christ Superstore. Dad sent me this and it cracks me up.
NaNoWriMo isn't going too well... I'm so tuckered out most of the time that I have very little impetus to write except when I'm off at a gathering.
On the upside, my name is going to Mars! You can sign up too, but only until Friday.
A different kind of peace movement (courtesy of Dad, probably should be rated R so click at your own risk)
Punk kitties (from Dad). I think I've linked to them before, but they're so ... weird that I had to link again just in case.
Oh, and Jen sent me this cool article by Salman Rushdie that pretty much summs up a lot of my objections to the Bush administration's warmongering. I could get behind going to war with Iraq for the right reasons, but those aren't the ones they're giving.
And I wouldn't be doing my duty as a cynical sorta-liberal without this anti-Dubya link.DammitI had a nifty entry here about the new, extended version of Lord of the Rings but accidentally deleted it. Drat.
Basically: the new version totally rules, I have forgiven Jackson for the things he mucked up because watching the new stuff woven in with the old was like watching it for the first time all over again.
Also, I had an interesting insight: I think the reason that the little mistakes bug me so much is that the rest of the movie is so perfect. My brain gets into "rereading the Book" mode and then gets jarred by the errors. it's like rereading a favorite book in another edition and finding a page missing.
Oh, cool!Dig it!
A funny coincidence in Texas election counts, or "why Ealasaid is a cynic."
The Raging Tide, or the Black Doll's Imbroglio, my all time favorite Edward Gorey work. It's a choose your own adventure book, and this maniac has done it up as a website! Brilliant!
Said maniac has a really quite brilliant website all 'round. Go and look.
November 12, 2002
HeheheCheck out Japander.com, where you can see Western celebs sell out in Japanese commercials! Woo!
I like the Anthony Hopkins one.
November 11, 2002
voilaAll right, kids. I've posted a spiffy new version of my writing-oriented resume here Please feel free to pass it around to anybody who is interested in hiring a full-time writer, might be interested in hiring a full-time writer, or knows someone who knows someone whose former roommate's best friend's uncle might be interested in hiring a full-time writer.
I do anything from tech writing (as long as it's not programming-oriented) to humorous columns. Rah!
November 10, 2002
Rah!First, funny link of the day: another 'switch' ad.
Kicked more NaNoWriMo butt today - got to 16,004 words! Go me! Thanks to everyone down at our little meeting, who amused me without getting me too distracted. :)
November 09, 2002
Woo hooBroke 12,000 words today for NaNoWriMo. Go me.
Oh, and go check out my main site, as I've given it a facelift as preparation for my coming huge jobhunt.
Speaking of which, if any of my illustrious readers knows anyone who might know anyone who'd like to hire a full-time writer, feel free to throw my url (www.ealasaid.com) at them.
I knew it! I knew the Empire was real!US Deploys Imperial Forces to Afghanistan
I'd like to announce that I am, and always have been, faithful to the Empire.
November 08, 2002
Friday Five
1. Did you vote in your last elections?
Yes indeed, in spite of the lack of a real candidate for governor. I thought about writing in something silly or voting Green in protest, but realized that if Simon got elected I'd feel really bad. So I didn't.
2. Do you know who your elected representatives are?
Yeppers. Zoe Lofgren, Dianne Feinstein, and Barbara Boxer.
3. Have you ever contacted an elected representative? If so, what was it about?
Gosh, a couple of times. Mostly about digital oriented stuff.
4. Have you ever participated in a demonstration?
Yes, back in college. I joined a protest about the bus fares and whatnot back in LA.
5. Have you ever volunteered in an election?
Nope.Wheeeeeeeeeee!Well! AFter a rough week, was immensely cheered by coming home from an appointment to find a gorgeous arrangement of roses waiting for me.
Unfortunately, the wonderful person who sent them didn't attach a name to the card.
Anyway, they're lovely.
In other news, learn about corrupt CDs and how to fight them.
November 06, 2002
UpdateAm finally putting in some NaNo time. Monday and Tuesday exhausted me, man. Working is HARD when you're still recovering from sugery. Rah.
Oh, and I looked up what Soames does int he last episode to his wife. And... how horrible! What an evil, terrible man!
I still like him, though. Well, not like. Drool over, maybe.
Great, Marn will never speak to me again.
November 05, 2002
ForsyteWell, Marn is still scandalized over my devotion to Soames Forsyte. Her exact words, in case you missed the comment:
WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE HOW HE TREATS HIS WIFE IN THE LAST EPISODE, MISSY.Wow! Now I'm all hepped up to see the last episode. Does he strangle her or something (unlikely IMO but possible)? Destroy her financially (fairly likely - already tried to do it to Bosinney)? What?! Augh, I hate it when people I know have read/seen stuff before I have.*grumble, mutter, fuss, fluster*
Well, I promise to reevaluate my opinion of him after the first season is over. I make no promises regarding my eventual decision. :-)
NaNo update: was too exhausted yesterday to write. Who knew teaching would be so tiring? Am not behind, however, as I was over a day ahead on words. Unfortunately, I haven't written anything yet today... augh. Maybe tonight.
November 04, 2002
Procrastinating? Me?All my personality test results are up here.
Yikes!That is all.
Various and SundryOh, drat. I've alienated, or at least upset, one of my handful of semi-faithful and occasionally-commenting readers! (see comments on yesterday's post).
I'm sorry, Marn, but I stand by my Soames rationalization! Particularly after last night, when June was so mean to him! *sniffle*
Although I have no idea what he sees in that French woman! At least with Irene it was believable that he'd fall for her!
Anyway. Links of the morning:
Blog Glossary (courtesy of Dad).
Moby started a book club! (courtesy of Dad). Wonder if Eminem will join?
Things overheard at an STD clinic (Dad again)
Anti-Telemarketing Script (Dad again!). I so need to try this some time. Heh.
A Woman's Guide on How To Pee Standing (Dad again!) This is great. How come they never taught us this in Girl Scouts?
PlayTarot (from The Fool on the Hill). This is just... wrong.
November 03, 2002
Woo woo!Good day today! Wrote 2,500 words for NaNoWriMo and then at 9pm, more Forsyte Saga! Yay! Another dose of Soames.
I've decided to like him in spite of the icky stuff. I mean, I forgave Methos for his Bronze Age nastiness and am a huge fan of Tracy Belmanoir in The Black Moth even though he tries to rape the object of his affection, so ... yeah.
I love being able to rationalize.
WheeeUpdated my list o' comics (down near the bottom of the over-long left column. I really need to pare that baby down a bit). Walked a mile this morning, rah. Am tired.
November 02, 2002
*sigh*Only 40 hours until I have to go back to actually working. Damn. I was getting used to the whole 'lay around reading, sleeping, watching TV and poking around online and call it 'recuperating'' routine.
Oh, well.
I'm doing well with NaNoWriMo, however, and spent a joyous afternoon watching "The Forsyte Saga," a delightful miniseries about those wacky Victorians.
Sadly, episode two was missing - somehow I managed to tape an hour of a Liam Neeson film instead - and we nearly missed out on episode three when the VCR tried to eat the tape. Thankfully we fixed it... and were treated to a rather unpleasant sequence in which my favorite character raped his wife. Dammit. I was bummed. I loved Soames when he was being a posessive, materialistic bastard (and a cute, red-headed one at that) but adding rape to the mix just... made it icky.
Even if he did have a gorgeous scene after he realizes he's really lost his wife and falls into a terrible depression. Damn that Damian Lewis! He's too good at making Soames sympathetic.
What is it about magnificent bastards that makes me love them on the screen? Ah, well, we all know how I am about villains, so I suppose it's no surprise. Oh, here's a link to a great interview with Damian Lewis, who has some great insight into the character.
I'm rambling, in true NaNo fashion, so I'll sign off.
November 01, 2002
Here we go againOh, God. Here we go again. I'm off to a good start, mind you. 1,708 words already! Go me.
Time to ice my wrists, though.
October 31, 2002
One more thing...
Happy Halloweeeeeen!Man, I love this holiday. Unfortunately, due to my @#(&$ surgery, I won't be doing any decorating or handing out candy. *sigh* To see pix of costumes from previous years, visit my Halloween Page.
Still, the holiday will not go by unmarked. I will be watching spooky movies with a pal tonight. Our options include:
I had "The Horror of Dracula" from NetFlix, but returned it after watching it again so as to spare Jen the horror of watching it. You really have to loove Hammer Horror to enjoy that movie. Or at least have a serious crush on a couple of the actors. :-)
- Sleepy Hollow (Johnny Depp being all cute and goth-looking!)
- Silence of the Lambs (Anthony Hopkins being all cool and cannibalistic!)
- Donnie Darko (Harvey's evil twin! Or something. I haven't seen it yet)
- Vampire Hunter D (although not the sequel as NetFlix didn't have it, the bastards)
- Uncle Was a Vampire
Another thing I wanted to rent for Halloween but couldn't was Hellsing: Impure Souls (Vol. 1), an anime series that looks really cool. But did NetFlix have it? Nooooooooooooooo! They really need to improve their anime selection. Grr.
Anyway. Here are some links in honor of Halloween!
- www.doombuggies.com - my favorite Disneyland ride of all time, ever has its own website... and a movie coming up!
- you Call it Halloween, We Call it Samhain - learn about how modern pagans celebrate this holiday.
- Pumpkin Masters - I've been using these guys' tools and patterns for years. Like, since they first were available here.
- Ben and Jerry's Halloween Site - lots of fun stuff here.
- CarvingPumpkins.com - amazing patterns. I linked to this a couple weeks ago, and I'll link to it again. It's great.
- Make Your Own Bush Speech - heh heh. You can scare yourself and your friends with this one.
Happy Halloween, everyone! Here's some Halloween ASCII art to sign off with.../\../\ /\../\ /\../\ /\../\ <- Bats!
/\@@/\ <- Drunk bat.
^..^ <- baby bat
:-[ <- vampire smileyOctober 30, 2002
Hehehe.Good one. But you might want to turn off JavaScript first, it's got a couple popup ad banners.
Whoa!This is just... weird. It's a product idea generator. Sample ideas:
Design #637535859: It's a digital camera that detects background radiation!
Design #1619676857: It's a Christmas tree that disposes of kitchen waste! It crushes ice and makes virtually no noise whatsoever.
Several things...Sorry I didn't post yesterday. I've been busytiredachy.
I'm posting a bunch of stuff on eBay. Go. Bid. Make me rich. Okay? Thanks.
Humorous link of the day: Five things that sucked about Lord of the Rings.
Aaaaand, thanks to the meds, I forgot about Monday Mission!
PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.43
1. Ever do anything over and over just to make someone else happy but discover you actually hate it?
Um... not really.
2. What kinds of obligations do you enjoy?
Ones that have me do stuff I like... like having to read Jane Austen for homework, that kind of thing.
3. What are your feelings about celebrating Halloween?
I LOOOOVE Halloween! It breaks my heart that I can't really celebrate it this year. It's a great holiday, both in the modern secular sense and in the Neo-Pagan one (and before you get on my back about that, go read an essay or two about it, ok?).
4. Are there any stories of bodily functions you would prefer people not share with you in conversation?
Yes. Lots.
5. What do you think is the most important aspect of personal hygiene that bothers you when people overlook it?
Regular bathing.
6. Ponder the thought of being forever young, living on endlessly, being immortal. What would that life be like for you?
It would rule. I thought about this a lot when Highlander: The Series was on the air and I watched it regularly. I'd hate the accounting aspect of being immortal, having to hide and everything, but I'd love to have all that time to read! It's one of my great sorrows that I will never be able to read every good book ever written.
7. What's the last thing you felt was "worth fighting for?"
Hm... honestly? Weighted GPA at my high school. I don't think I've lead a fight for anything since, really. It takes too much energy and isn't worth it in most cases. (Cynical? Me? Naaah.)October 28, 2002
That's what you get...When I take my meds and don't go to bed.
I went to Crackbaby.com, who sent me to Buy Bush a Playstation 2 ( a great idea!), which led me to that genius' homepage, which led me to his blog which led me to a new set of survey questions. These are old, but they're about Star Wars, and it's my blog so I'm gonna answer them.
Yeah.
3X Thursday!
1.What StarWars character do you most personally identify with and why?
Hm... hard call. I'd like to say Leia, 'cause she kicks butt and takes names, but sometimes I feel more like a Stormtrooper - doomed and part of the faceless horde. Although Stormtroopers have a real job. Hm... Have to work more on this one.
2. Of all the characters in Star Wars whom would you most like to sleep with and why?
You even have to ask? Darth Vader. Duh.
3. In Star Wars both new and old who do you most think is gay or lesbian?
Hm... Mon Mothma strikes me as at least bi. Lando's probably gay (he just hits on Leia to cover his crush on Han).
Bonus Question : Do you think the group of military contractors who designed and built the first Death Star won the Imperial Government Contract to build the second one when they failed to protect the exhaust port with a simple metal grate ala Luke Skywalker and his Proton Torpedos?
Hehehehehhehe. I think you mean "against" not "ala" but anyway... I think they probably were executed by Lord Vader for having anything to do with that debacle.Man...I'm reading Stupid White Men and finding myself feeling more and more cynical with each page. I mean, day-ummm, things are just going from bad to worse and there are so many injustices and screw-ups around the world that I'm starting to wonder what the point of it all is.
Seriously. Next time someone asks me why my generation is so cynical and hopeless, I'm going to throw this book at them.
Even worse... just when I was thinking (while turning the page) that maybe I'd just move to the UK, I find out that it's not that much better over there! AUGH!
October 27, 2002
Blame the MedsI forgot the Friday Five. Blame the Meds, man. Blame the Meds. I only remembered because of James (who apparently forgot too... or was too busy or somethin').
1. What is your favorite scary movie?
Hm... Hard to say, I love so many. The batch I've got on the NetFlix list are Silence of the Lambs, Sleepy Hollow (pretty Johnny!), The Horror of Dracula, and ... um... one more I can't remember right now. Damn vicodin.
2. What is your favorite Halloween treat?
Probably Tootsie Rolls. Or Tootsie Roll Pops, it's a hard choice.
3. Do you dress up for Halloween? If so, describe your best Halloween costume.
I looooove Halloween costumes. Best one so far is Cardinal Fang. Go admire. One of our Mayoral candidates thought I was a guy because he first met me in that outfit at a Rotary party.
4. Do you enjoy going to haunted houses or other spooky events?
Not really. I'm all about Halloween costume parties, though.
5. Will you dress up for Halloween this year?
Nope. I'm staying in and watching DVDs. Let's put it this way - today I got up late, went out to lunch with the Lunch Bunch from mom and dad's church... and then had to take a four-hour nap to recover. And I'm still tired from it. Damn surgery... I'm a wreck. So no trickortreating or partying hearty for me this year. I'm considering doing a Halloween-in-November party, though, to make up for it. :-DOctober 26, 2002
Another Quiz.. or twoSee what you get when I'm confined to the house?
Which Ghost World character are you?
Take the test at Accentuate The NegativeI find it interesting that I got two totally different characters. This either goes to show that quizzes are inconsistent or that Enid and Seymour are more alike than I thought.
Hm.
I'd post something deep about this but I really need my next dose of vicodin and some sleep first.
Ewww...OK, those of you who are interested: there are now photos of my cyst available here.
Those of you who aren't... um... don't go there. Yeah. They're pretty gross. But cool. Um. In a gross kinda way.
Yeah.
A nifty quizFound via Raven's Journal.
Sheeee's BAAAAAAAACK!Yes, folks, it's true! I have returned! *waves arms in triumph*
*winces*
*sits down again*
The op was a massive success. Tally: one 6" incision, one less frickin' huge cyst in my gut, and all my organs are still inside me. That's right, the cyst was not only benign but my fantastic surgeon saved the ovary it was attached to! Rah! Three cheers for Dr. Phan of the San Jose Medical Group!
I'll be updating my Cyst Pages pretty soon. I'm currently catching up on blogs and downloading the 424 messages I received while I was offline.
It's good to be back, folks.
October 21, 2002
Learning ExperienceSo I'm getting sliced-n-diced tomorrow. (for details, check out my budding Cyst Page - witty title coming soon)
I've decided to treat it as a Learning Experience.
So far I've learned two things:
That's it for now, folks. Wish me luck for tomorrow! I hope to be posting again this weekend.
- Ginger and lemon flavored Fleet laxative tastes hella nasty.
- Taking laxatives when you've eaten recently is a Very Bad Idea
YAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!The Phenomenauts won in their category for the SF Weekly awards! YAY!
Many thanks to those of my faithful readers who voted.
October 20, 2002
Jewsploitation?This sounds like a movie I will have to see when it comes out.
October 18, 2002
Further Proof......as if any were needed, that Lore is the man.
The Adventures of Evil Overmom
Check out his other movies: Bandwith Theater.
Other reasons to adore Lore include: his comics, his quizzes, and of course The Björk Song.
Oh, Björk, Björk, were you brought by the stork
Or were you created from butter and pork?
I love you so much that I act like a dork.
O Björk, o Björk, o Björk!Friday Five!
1. How many TVs do you have in your home?
Just one, but it's big. :)
2. On average, how much TV do you watch in a week?
Not enough. I have about five hours a week of TV I "follow" but that often means that I tape 'em (or have someone else tape 'em) and then have a marathon every other month.
3. Do you feel that television is bad for young children?
Not if used wisely. Watching TV 24/7 will give anyone, not just a kid, a skewed view of things. But using TV as a conversation starter (like my folks did) is good for kids. 'sides, I like what James had to say on subject.From the time I was seven years old on....I saw every single bit of blood, guts, gore, explosions, rape, killing, and naked women that premium cable had to offer. Hell, Showtime and Cinemax taught me about sex early so I didn't even have to ask. But am I a rapist or pedophile? No. Am I Am I a lunatic? Nope. Do I shoot schools full of children? No. Why? Because I fucking know better. My parents brought me up correctly despite what I saw on TV. What or who is responsible for people's actions? It's not TV. It's the people themselves.
4. What TV shows do you absolutely HAVE to watch, and if you miss them, you're heartbroken?
Hm... "Monk." "Smallville" (missed it this week and was REALLY sad because it had Naughty!Clark in it, apparently... *sniffle*).
5. If you had the power to create your own television network, what would your line-up look like?
OOOOO! Killer! I'd put all the shows I love that were cancelled in uncut syndication. And I'd add the ones I love that are on now. Behold my list of shows:Sorry I didn't put links for all of those, I'm waaaaay too busy today. Maybe another time. Or you could always stick the title you're curious about into a search engine and see what pops up.
- Dracula: The Series
- American Gothic
- Farscape
- The West Wing
- South Park
- The Sopranos
- Smallville
- Monk
- Star Trek (the original, GOOD series)
- The Adventures of Briscoe County, Jr.
- Robin of Sherwood
- Covington Cross
- Gravedale High
- The Lone Gunmen
- The X-Files (about the first five or six seasons. You know, before it sucked).
October 17, 2002
Cynics Rule!Cyn-ic: An idealist whose rose-colored glasses have been removed, snapped in two, and stomped into the ground, immediately improving his vision.
Some of Rick's Things to be Cynical About:
- hypocrites
- charlatans
- MBAs
- mindless
- office drones who get promoted to management
- conformists
- nonconformists
- poseurs
- people who use pretentious French words
Tee hee. I am SO a cynic. According to his test, I'm a world-class cynic, baby. YEAH!
Meetup!Last night I managed to catch the last hour or so of the Blogger Meetup. It was cool! Apparently at one point there were NINE people there! Wow!
Anyway, it was fun to see Antwon and GeekyChick again, and to meet ... um... a couple guys I haven't managed to match up with their blogs yet because I'm in a rush and really tired. Among other things, we came to a consensus that it's entirely possible that Karyn is really Lance Bass trying to raise money to go into space.
So yeah, it was cool. I'm hoping to be in good enough shape for the next one to go ... but I probably won't be if it's on a Wednesday again. I work til 9:30 on Wednesdays and by then I'll prolly be exhausted, thanks to the upcomign slice-n-dice.
Hey, here's a survey for y'all (answer in the comments please): should I do a page about the surgery after it happens? I've already had a request for before-and-after photos of my gut, and the doc promised to take shots of the icky ball of tissue itself... whaddya think? :-D
Oy!Man. Trying to get everything together so that I can take a couple weeks off to recouperate from my surgery is a pain! Sorry to be so scant with the updates, folks. *sigh*
October 16, 2002
One more thing...Anthony Burgess (author of A Clockwork Orange) was involved in CIA stuff??? Read all about it.
Oh, Great!Intel joins the 'fight' against piracy.
I hate this kind of thing. The media moguls are constantly trying to limit what computers can be used for and now one of the computer companies is going to help? Come ON, people.
I use an Intel processor in my current machine, but I can tell you, if they really do start making chips like that article says, I am SO switching. *grumblemutter*
October 15, 2002
HahahahaHey Shrub! Wanna stop Saddam? Try the Whoops-o-Matic! (courtesy of Crackbaby.com
October 14, 2002
O My Gosh
Jason Statham is AMAZING. I saw The Transporter late Saturday night as I'd hoped and just loved it. Lots of action, very little plot. Statham spends most of it seriously kicking ass and the rest of it being really funny in a deadpan kinda way.
Go read my review, although it doesn't really do the film justice because I was in a rush.
My review of Knockaround Guys is up too.
One thing I left out of my review of The Transporter: Jason Statham is frickin' hot in that movie. Aie-eeee, baby. I smell a new obsession coming on.
October 12, 2002
Jumpin' Jack'o'Lanterns!Go look at this (found via BeerMary). A Halloween evangelism kit? Good grief.
Now, as a liberal first-amendment thumper I have no problem with people handing out Gospel tracts on Halloween, I just find it.. amusing. I've never really gotten the whole "Halloween is EVIL!" thing some fundies have going on.
Sure, it's a rip off of an old Pagan holiday... but so is Christmas (if Jesus was born when the lambs still needed the sheperds out in the fields, he was born in SPRING, not winter. Can we say "solar rebirth festival," kids? I knew you could.). So is Easter (Eggs? Rabbits? Can we say "fertility festival," kids? I knew you could.).
I must admit, though, that the idea of evangelizing to kids does make me a little uncomfortable. It's my considered opinion that kids are too young to be making decisions about important things like religion. I think kids should be raised in their parents' religion and allowed to check other religions out when they're teenagers. You wanna convert someone, at least wait until they're 15 or 16, not 7 or 8. Sheesh.
*sigh*Well, I saw Knockaround Guys this afternoon. Now I am all depressed. It feels like a movie written by two guys - one guy wanted to write a great comedy film with gangsters in it, and the other wanted to write a serious film about the inherent tragedy of organized crime. Unfortunately, the compromised a lot and so the film never really commits to either genre and is merely a mishmash. The acting is great but the characters are typical 2-dimensional comedy types (The Ladies' Man, The Tough Guy, The Dummy, etc) and that keeps the drama from working.
Feh.
It makes me depressed. I want to go see The Transporter to get the bad taste out of my mouth. I'd been looking forward to Knockaround Guys for years. Literally. I first heard about it like three years ago when Vin Diesel first got cast. *sigh*
October 11, 2002
Ketchup
Thursday Thumb-Twiddler
1. Does not having done something before make it more appealing, or less?
Depends. For physically dangerous stuff that requires experience, less. For stuff that just seems interesting, more.
2. If you could have a large stain-glass window in your house, what would you want it to depict?
Oo! Hard one... Probably some sort of nature scene, a la Tiffany Glass Co's finest work.
3. A change of pace. What five TV series have or had the best instrumental theme song?
Mission: Impossible (Lalo Schiffren is GOD), Pinky and the Brain (ok, it has lyrics, but the music is cool too), Biker Mice From Mars, The Sopranos (again, yeah, but take away the lyrics and the music is cool), and Dracula: The Series (it's the cheese factor).
Friday Five
1. If you could only choose 1 cd to ever listen to again, what would it be?
O, man, that's mean. I know! The kickass MP3 collection CD I'm planning to burn after I get my CD burner. (Yeah, that's cheating, but it's a harsh question for someone who has over 300 CDs ranging from classical to NIN to rap.)
2. If you could only choose 2 movies to watch ever again, what would they be?
Hm... Star Wars Ep. IV and The Matrix, probably.
3. If you could only choose 3 books to read ever again, what would they be?
The Lord of the Rings, The Truth (by Terry Pratchett), and The Thirteen Clocks.
4. If you could only choose 4 things to eat or drink ever again, what would they be?
Diet Coke, pizza, salad, and coffee.
5. If you could only choose 5 people to ever be/talk/associate/whatever with ever again, who would they be?
Oh, that's just mean. Probably... um... Jen, Aunt Marsden, Uncle Bruce, Dad, and the Cellrat (hey, gotta have a guy around who isn't related to me, ya know? *wink*). If I could get five MORE, for a total of TEN, those five would be: Kay, Jen and Dave A. , Mom, and Alex (or Jen would bitch that I couldn't hang out with the two of them).October 10, 2002
HuhI took the Political Compass test and wound up in the Libertarian Left (surprise surprise) at Economic Left/Right: -4.75 Authoritarian/Libertarian: -5.33. I certainly dig the Reading list they provide for my quadrant. I should track down some of those books.
Io TriumpheOh, my dear Alma Mater. I sure do miss Occidental College and never more so than when I get the call from those poor students manning the phone banks to ask alumni like me for money.
I was very sad tonight to have to tell poor David that I couldn't contribute to the Alumni fund as I am stony cold broke. He was cool about it, though, and we shot the breeze for a while. I love that I can chat with the kids who call me and get nostalgic. I never manned the phone banks myself when I was at Oxy but my friends who did said it was kind of cool.
He asked me if I was going to go into teaching, and when I said no, journalism, he said he had done some writing for the school paper! That was cool. He's a Senior now so he would have been like a frosh or something when I graduated. I should have asked what department he's in, maybe I met him. Ah, well.
Bright college days, oh, carefree days that fly,
To thee we sing with our glasses raised on high.
Let's drink a toast as each of us recalls
Ivy-covered professors in ivy-covered halls.
...
Soon we'll be out amid the cold world's strife.
Soon we'll be sliding down the razor blade of life.
But as we go our sordid sep'rate ways,
We shall ne'er forget thee, thou golden college days.The Thirteen ClocksI just want to say that Amazon.com's nifty booksearch option rocks my world.
I got The Thirteen Clocks by mail this week. What, you may ask, is that? It's a kids' book, from the 50s, about a prince who rescues a princess from an evil Duke. The prince has to perform a series of tasks to get the Duke to release the princess. He is assisted by the Gollux, a small man with an indescribable hat who is very crafty but tells so many lies that sometimes he believes them himself - which makes him only somewhat helpful.
I, of course, am in love with The Duke. Consider the description of him:
His hands were as cold as his smile, and almost as cold as his heart. He wore gloves when he was asleep, and he wore gloves when he was awake, which made it difficult for him to pick up pins or coins or the kernels of nuts, or to tear the wings from nightingales. He was six feet four, and forty-six, and even colder than he thought he was. One eye wore a velvet patch; the other glittered through a monocle... the Duke limped because his legs were of different lengths. The right one had outgrown the left because, when he was young, he had spent his morning place-kicking pups and punting kittens. ...His voice sounded like iron dropped on velvet.
Clearly my kind of guy. You can see what the book's narrative style is like. It was meant to be read aloud. It's marvellous.My copy has no dust jacket and is missing the the blank page before the title page (most annoying, as it had a nice picture on it), but is otherwise in excellent condition for a 52-year-old hardback. I'm so pleased!
October 09, 2002
Imperial AmericaUSA = Rome? Great article forwarded to me by John Hedtke.
This is so true. I've thought for ages that the US was damn similar to the Roman Empire. The trick will be for us to have a leader with enough of an education to recognize the pattern and learn from the Romans.
Remember, Dubya: The Romans were studly but they did eventually get their asses kicked by the barbarians.
Baa
Which flock do you follow?
this quiz was made by alannaHeheheh.
Who Knew?Curry is good for radiation burns. I knew there was more to my second-favorite ethnic cuisine than meets the eye!!
Triple FSo Dooce.com's entry for today (no permalink, sorry) mentions a great concept: the Five Fame Fuckers list. For those who, like me, were unaware of such a thing until today, I shall quote her explanation:
"if you're in a committed relationship, you're allowed to compile a list of five people you'd like to sleep with, but the people on the list not only have to be celebrities, they also have to be celebrities you don't know or wouldn't ever happen to bump into, even in the most remote social situation. To make things fair, the person you're in the committed relationship with gets to compile his/her own list. So, if you don't have one, please do us all a favor and get one."Interesting idea! Unfortunately, I'm not sure I could limit myself to five. I mean, go look at the list of guys who make me go OHMIGOD!! - it's frickin huge! How could I pick just five? And that's not a complete list, either. I left out the guys I have separate fansites for.Maybe my standards are too low. Or my hormone levels too high.
October 08, 2002
Greedy and materialistic, that's me!Some people have Amazon.com wishlists. I have my OWN wishlist, dammit! It links to Amazon and whatnot but should be easier to navigate. :)
Go look. Think of an excuse. Buy. :-D
Red DragonSo I saw Red Dragon over the weekend. For those who live in a lage pickle jar and have no pop culture education, Red Dragon is based on the first of the three books Thomas Harris wrote about the delightful Dr. Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter. Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal are the titles of the second and third (and those links will take you to IMDb entries on both films).
You can read the review of Red Dragon I wrote for the Milpitas Post here.
"Red Dragon" is a great thriller. I enjoyed it. Probably more than is healthy, really, but that's another story (darn that magnificent Dr. Lecter! I'm a sucker for an educated psycho). Part of the reason I liked it so much is that it didn't rely (like "Hannibal" did) on being gross to be scary (which only works if you think gross stuff is frightening, which I don't). Yes, there are some really gross things that happen - but they are briefly seen and only clinically discussed.
It was so nice to see a film that relied on the audience paying attention and having imaginations of their own to be scary. We see the aftermath of violence, we see people's reactions to things. We don't see the horrific torments that the villain of "Red Dragon" inflicted on his victems, although we are given enough to go on to really scare the crap out of ourselves.
In fact, what's almost freakiest about the film is how sweet and almost normal the baddie seems. To look at him and know what he did to all those people is quite possibly the scariest part of the film.
I hope "Red Dragon" makes a bajillion dollars and that Hollywood sits up and listens. We need more scary films made by people with restraint, dammit.
Gnarly!Amazing Lego sculptures! ... including some Escher reproductions. Cool, eh? (courtesy of Dad)
The League of Obscure British Actors has undergone a renovation since the last time I was there (thanks to Jen for pointing that out to me!)
Another Test
You are 40% geek You are a geek liaison, which means you go both ways. You can hang out with normal people or you can hang out with geeks which means you often have geeks as friends and/or have a job where you have to mediate between geeks and normal people. This is an important role and one of which you should be proud. In fact, you can make a good deal of money as a translator. Normal: Tell our geek we need him to work this weekend.
You [to Geek]: We need more than that, Scotty. You'll have to stay until you can squeeze more outta them engines!
Geek [to You]: I'm givin' her all she's got, Captain, but we need more dilithium crystals!
You [to Normal]: He wants to know if he gets overtime.October 07, 2002
Holy Cow!Found this site on pumpkin carving through GeekyChick's blog. It's AMAZING!
The Bottom LineI finally got off my butt and posted my film reviews from... oh, the last year or so. Go read.
This or That?
1. Heroines: Ariel (Little Mermaid) or Belle (Beauty & the Beast)?
Belle. She's less of an idiot, although not by much.
2. More heroines: Mulan or Pocahontas?
Mulan, baby, YEAH!
3. Princesses: Snow White or Cinderella?
Ack, neither.
4. Toy Story: Buzz or Woody?
Buzz.
5. Animals: Simba (Lion King) or Bambi?
Simba. MUCH less annoying.
6. Naughty boys: Peter Pan or Pinocchio?
Peter Pan.
7. Sidekicks: Sebastian the Crab (Little Mermaid) or Jiminy Cricket (Pinocchio)?
Sebastian.
8. Villians: Wicked Queen (Snow White) or Cruella DeVil (101 Dalmations)?
Wicked Queen!
9. Classics: Goofy or Pluto?
Pluto.
10. And of course: Mickey or Donald?
Donald. He gets mad. :)Monday Mission 2.40
1. Does your family ever have any reunions or annual
get-togethers? Do you enjoy them?
Not really. We sometimes get a buncha people together for Thanksgiving, which is usually cool.
2. Are
you a picture person? Do you like taking photos, and having yours taken?
I love taking photos and having photos. I don't mind having my photo taken too much.
3. Time for show and tell: post a recent photo of yourself!
Me with the Phenomabomber.
4. Did you ever have a nick-name growing up? How did it come about? Did you ever give anyone a nickname that stuck?
Nope, not applicable, and I don't think so.
5. If you could design the bathroom of your dreams, what would it be like? Spare no expense!
Oo! Man. It would be big, but not so big that it'd be hard to get filled with steam. Nice big bathtub, preferably one with claw feet that doubles as a shower. Big counter with two sinks and a huge mirror over them. Fine brass fixtures. One of those old-fashioned toilets with a raised tank and a chain - those are just cool.
6. What shows (if any) do you own in a video collection? What TV shows would you like to see collected on DVD or video?
Hm. I personally don't own any official sets (but I have every episode of "Monk," "The Job," and most of "Smallville" on tape), although Mom has seasons 1-5 of "Highlander: The Series." I would LOVE to see "Dracula: The Series" collected. I would buy that in a heartbeat.
7. Do you have any favorite movies from your
childhood? Do you think you would still enjoy them if you watched them today?
Hm... I've always loved "Star Wars" (Ep IV, by modern reckoning).Coolness!My faves from Crackbaby.com.
Phonespell.org - find out if your phone number spells anything.
Googlefight lets you see which keyword would get more hits.
October 05, 2002
You Go, Girl!Late Friday Five
1. What size shoe do you wear?
8.5 Wide.
2. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
Hm... let me think... one pair Dr. Marten's, one pair ancient Birkenstocks, two pair Keds, one pair high heels, one pair riding boots. That's six.
3. What type of shoe do you prefer (boots, sneakers, pumps, etc.)?
Boots, baby. But I'm thinking of investing in a pair of converse. And not just 'cause Phenomenauts wear them, honest.
4. Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Why are they your favorite?
My Dr. Marten's 8-hole Airsoles. They rule. They're comfy, practical, and go with almost anything. Also, Mom hates them. ;-)
5. What's the most you've spent on one pair of shoes?
$150 on my Dr. Marten's.October 04, 2002
Ha!The IgNobel Prize Winners. Go check it out. I like the belly button lint one.
And LOOK Ma! I got mentioned in Marn's Big Adventure as a result of my support of International Cavorting Day. Go me!
October 03, 2002
OHMIGAWD!Self-Made Critic reviews Six-String Samurai! My favorite critic reviewed my favorite post-apocalyptic rocknroll samurai epic?!?!? Too cool.
Cavort!
Blog HardWell, tonight I decided to watch "Pump up the Volume" instead of working like I originally planned.
I had forgotten how much that movie kicks ass.
Anybody ever think that the web has taken over where Happy Harry Hardon left off? I mean, as the credits roll, there are a thousand voices calling out in the darkness, each one a person who wants to be heard spouting their opinions out to anyone who feels like listening.
Sounds like a bunch of bloggers to me, baby.
...anyway one day I woke up and I realised I was never going to be normal and so I said fuck it, I said so be it, and Happy Harry Hardon was born.Thursday Thumb-Twiddler
1. An eccentric millionaire offers to donate a very large sum to a charity of your choosing (other than you) if you'll step, completely naked, out of a car onto a busy city street, walk four blocks through the noontime traffic, and climb back into the car. Knowing that you would be in no physical danger, would you do it?
Um... that's illegal, so no. If it weren't illegal, maybe.
2. As a follow-up to the above, how would you rank the follwing in terms of relative unpleasantness -- (a) a nude stroll in public, (b) being spat upon by a crowd of people, (c) being arrested for shoplifting at a crowded store, (d) begging for money in a public place.
- Being spat upon
- Begging
- Being arrested for shoplifting
- Nude stroll
3. Enough unpleasantness. If you could travel back in time to meet anyone in your family's history, who would it be?
Hm.... hard to say! Probably my dad's parents, because they died before I was born and I think I inherited a fair number of characteristics from them. Also, Grandpa Haas moved here from Germany, and I'd love to know more about that.October 02, 2002
Violence and heresy!Is it heresy when you dis a religious figure? Or is that blasphemy?
Anyway, click here to watch 30 or so people, including Jesus, get their butts kicked by a guy who just wants to boogie.
Hey!A belated happy birthday to Antwon! He's got a nifty birthday comic up, so be sure to read his entry from yesterday. Heh.
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Aaaaaaaaantwooonnn!
Happy birthday to yooooooooooooouuuu!!October 01, 2002
New Q&AA new Q&A I'm gonna try out is This or That.
- Front or rear wheel drive?
Rear- Car or truck or van?
Car, baby, yeah.- Fancy or utilitarian?
Fancy.- Power or manual windows/locks?
I got the POWER!- Small econobox or giant luxo cruiser?
Giant luxo Cruiser- Factory or aftermarket radio?
Factory (20 years old and it still runs, baby)- Lease or buy?
Free from grandparents.- Perform own maintenance or farm it out?
Perform most of the basics.- Hi-test brand name or cheap-o fuel?
Cheap-o, but high octane.- Run-it-till-the-wheels-fall-off or a new one every two years?
Run-it-till-the-wheels-fall-off.When I have some money...I am SO buying stickers from stickerjunkie.com. Seriously.
I'm thinking: "www.Ealasaid.com / There's No Accounting For Taste"
Or possibly: "Ealasaid's Web Empire / www.Ealasaid.com"
Or maybe even: "www.Ealasaid.com / Because everyone else is just... boring."Touchy subjectSo I saw in a recent post at BeerMary's Rant-O-Rama that Amazon.com is in trouble for selling a book about pedophilia.
She's (unsurprisingly) really pissed, and is boycotting Amazon.com and encouraging her friends to do the same.
I thought about this for a while and quickly came to the decision not only not to boycott Amazon.com but that I'm actually impressed with their guts.
Now, I haven't read the book, but looking at the reviews and summaries, I can take a guess at the book's content/nature and go from there.
My instinctive reaction: I don't think the availability of books about sex should be curtailed. Possibly if they describe complex forms of bondage they should have a "don't try this at home without x/y/z precautions" note, but otherwise, no.
BeerMary said (in a response to a comment on the entry): "I don't think free speech included being able to give people a manual on how to hurt other people. I also don't think that directions on making pipe bombs should be distributed to the general public for the sake of "free speech"... or manuals on how to kill your husband and not get caught... etc, etc."
Now, as I understand it, the book in question is aimed at the nonpediphilic community, in an attempt to get us to 'understand' and even accept pedophiles. That's not exactly a manual on how to seduce a child and get away with it.
But even if it were, there's no comparison. Pipe bombs are something else - it's tricky to build a pipe bomb. It's easy to seduce someone. This book will not create/ease the life of pedophiles, but it might be a good way for those of us against pedophilia to arm ourselves and the children we love against its author and proponents.
I am glad to see Amazon.com carrying this text because it fits with their policy of carrying books which some of their employees may object to. Check out what a spokesperson for Amazon had to say in this article.
As someone who wants to be able to read books which I know some people object to (books like Harry Potter, for starters, and books on alternative sexuality and religion for finishers), I'm glad Amazon.com is willing to take the risk and carry controversial texts.
OhmigodI totally love this. It's so... so... ubernerd. Or something.
September 30, 2002
Oh, dearFound a pic of m'self and the others at the Dead Monkey Party at the Discworld Con. Here's the whole gallery.
We do look rather the worse for wear, don't we? For what it's worth, l-r: Jen, me, Katherine, Mark, Gemma.
ARGH!Dammit! When are the Wadfest photos going to be up? I wanna see pix, dammit! It sounds like it was a great weekend... *sniffle*
Monday Mission 2.39
1. Who has authority over you?
Too many people, starting with my parents.
2. Where do you go to get a feeling of community?
Conventions. Out clubbing. To the movies.
3. What do you do, or have you done, in your life that "goes against the tide?"
I'm a girl who codes HTML by hand, how's that for a start? :-)
4. Guilt can be a powerful weapon. Those who have mastered its power can very good at getting what they want. Have you ever used guilt to get you what you want? Have you ever had it used on you? How did you react?
Not that I can remember, although I may have guilt tripped a friend or two when they tried to weasel out of something they said they'd do. :)
5. I was walking through the mall Friday night and saw a lot of teenagers who dressed really wild and just acted like idiots - not caring who was looking or what others thought. And I remember being that way, having that kind of freedom. I must have looked like a fool then too. Did you ever do anything in public with your friends as a teenager that you would never do today? Tell me about that.
Hm... not really. I was a pretty withdrawn teen.
6. I don't watch the television show "Survivor," but I did notice they allow each contestant to bring one "luxury item" to the deserted island with them (make-up, a book, etc.). If you were to go to an island for three months, what five "luxury items" would you bring and why?
Oo! Hard one.I'm assuming this is money-no-object, of course. If it was... um... I'd probably take books, my journal, several pens, bug spray, and a sleeping bag.
- a laptop with a solar power hookup and a wireless modem with service on the island.
- A sleeping bag.
- Bug spray.
- A bunch of books (paperback copies I didn't care about in case they got thrashed)
- A cellphone with service out on the island.
7. If you would have had a choice, in which time period would you have like to have lived? Why?
Hard to say. I love a lot of things about the past but the whole patriarchy thing sucks. It might've been interesting to live in one of the ancient societies that was cool toward women, though.SecretaryY'all may remember that I mentioned a little film called "Secretary" recently. Well, I saw it last night.
I reviewed it for the Milpitas Post, but this review from Salon.com will probably give you a better idea of the film than my little piece will.
Great film, but definitely not for everyone. :-)
September 28, 2002
D'oh! Late as usual.
Thursday Thumbtwiddler
1. You're driving late at night through a deserted but safe neighborhood. Suddenly, a dog darts out in front of your car and you hit it. Do you stop to see how injured it is? If you found it was dead, and had a tag with the owner's address and phone number, what would you do?
Yes, I'd stop. And I'd call or write the owner to notify/apologize/pay.
2. Your job makes you privy to the fact that your company is illegally dumping toxic material. An anonymous tip to the authorities isn't likely to produce any results. Do you risk your job by publicly bringing your firm's crimes to the attention of the authorities?
Hell yes. I mean, I'd be planning to quit anyway. I have principles.
3. If you were sent on assignment to rate the ten best small towns in America, what particular criteria would be the most important to you?
Hm... good one. Good schools, tolerant city government (no spastic fundies in power), good music scene (even if it's via importation at a local festival or something), clean streets.
Friday Five
1. What are your favorite ways to relax and unwind?
Hm... chill on the couch with a good movie. Hop online and read people's blogs.
2. What do you do the moment you get home from work/school/errands?
Turn on the computer, log on, check email.
3. What are your favorite aromatherapeutic smells?
Dad baking cookies. Vanilla. Those black "Night Magic" votives that they ONLY sell around Halloween. I bought like a case of them last year so now I'm set. :)
4. Do you feel more relaxed with a group of friends or hanging out by yourself?
Depends. Sometimes, with friends. Other times, by myself. I think it's a hormonal thing.
5. What is something that you feel is relaxing but most people don't
Well... depends on what you mean by relaxing. When I'm stressed out, I don't want to kick back and read, I want to go see an action flick. I don't RELAX exactly, but it gets me calmer. When I come out of the flick, I'm in a MUCH better mood. I also like to go out with friends, have a drink or two and boogie to a good band.September 27, 2002
TypeAccording to this test I'm an Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging type. Read that that means here.
Pretty cool. Most of the stuff is spot on and the rest is pretty darn close.
Also, apparently good role models for me (according to another test there) are Anton Chekhov, J.R.R.Tolkien, and Sophie Kovalevsky (a mathematician). Favorable spheres of activity for me are Literature and Science. Well, duh. :)
Hey! Happy Birthday, GeekyChick!It's GeekyChick's birthday today!
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to yooouuu,
Happy Birthday dear GeekyChick,
Happy Birthday to you!!!!!D'oh!Did I really not update yesterday? Shame on me.
Well, it could be because I spent most of yesterday running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Hooked up with Richard (a cool dude I met at the Discworld Convention) for dinner and drinks and had entirely too much fun with him and a bunch of other folks at The Duke in Cupertino. woot.
Tonight The Phenomenauts are playing in San Jose. Everybody come on down! They're playing some time not long after 5pm at the Art Car Show.
Dont' forget to vote. IF you've already voted, email me for instructions on how to disable the cookie that prevents you from voting again. ;-)
September 25, 2002
Bwah-ha-ha-haaaaaaaaaa!Link time! YAY! I probably should dole these out over several days, but I feel like binging. So sue me.
I crave your distinguished indulgence (and all your cash) - A wonderful Salon article about Nigerian Email scams. This piece skips over the fraud aspects and goes straight to the most important thing about these hokey missives: their literary merit. (from Dad)
Alicorna's Don'ts and Dos of Web Design - Some of these are great. Nearly all of them should be followed. Especially the one about embedded music! I hate any site that tries to compete with my WinAmp, dammit! (From Dad)
SaysGod - These are brilliant. "I love Marilyn Manson, too. Maybe more than I love you." -God Go. Laugh. Nod. Buy. Better yet, buy me one in a ladies' large, ok? (from Dad)
How NOT to do customer service
- Those of my readers who own their own domains have doubtless gotten a fake "domain renewal notice" from VeriSign saying that their domain registration is about to expire and urging them to renew. Hopefully none of you fell for that - it's a fradulent way of getting you to transfer your registration to them (usually at a much higher rate than you'd usually be paying!). Needless to say, if VeriSign can be that horrible to strangers it's not going to be much better to its own customers. Read this blog entry for details. (from Dad)Job Hunt Resources - One hell of a collection of jobhunting links! (from Dad)
Cthuugle.com - Google, but for HP Lovecraft fans. Hella hella cool. (from Dad)
The First Smiley - Everyone uses them! :-) But where did they come from? :-\ This article reveals all! ^_^ (and yes, that last is not a classic smiley. Bite me. ;-p) (From Dad)
Axis Applet - Everyone knows the Axis of Evil. But did you know that Luxembourg, the UK, and Ireland form an axis of vodka-exporting, least corrupt, US visa-waving pilot-program participators? (requires Java) (from Dad)
Kunou's Excellent Adventure TM - Be Kunou for a day! Too funny, at least if you're a Ranma fan. (From Nin)
Ruthless Charm - Who knew Barbie and Bond were essentially the same person? Not me. (From Dad)
Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets - Some AMAZING pix from the upcoming Potter film. Dig the one of Snape from the duel scene! And the one of Snape behind Draco during the duel scene! AUGH! *drool* Ahem. Sorry. (From Jen)
Brom - Oh my Gods, someone buy me some of this guy's artwork. PLEASE. He rocks.
(From Jen, who knows me tooooo well)Two ThingsI have just two things to say today:
- Applying for forbearance of loans is a pain in the patootie if you owe Snotfard University, but hella easy with the infinitely cool SallieMae.
- Y'all better watch out when I have some time on my hands, I have a backlog of links to post here that would make your toes curl.
September 24, 2002
Another one...Found over at Very Black is Rhondalicious.
Ten movies you'd watch over and over:
- Amelie
- The Matrix
- Star Wars
- Six-String Samurai
- Quills
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail
- The Princess Bride
- The Boondock Saints
- A Clockwork Orange
- Any Universal horror film
Nine people you enjoy the company of:
- Jen
- Kay
- 'chell and co.
- Cousin Keith
- Cousin Ellen
- Cellrat
- Mei
- Dad
- Loads more I can't list, dammit!
Eight things you're wearing:
- Socks
- Faconnable jeans
- My "Unseen University" sweatshirt
- undies
- a hairclip
- my pentacle necklace
- um... that's it, really.
- Usually I wear my Doc Marten's, does that count? They're on the floor next to me.
Seven Things on your Mind:
- Finishing this thing
- putting in my MUSD contract hours (I'm doing this in spurts on breaks from that)
- financial issues
- my damn cyst - should I give it its own page, or is that too morbid?
- updating a bunch of my websites
- missing my Brit friends (esp. Cellrat)
- Halloween
Six objects you touch everyday:
- My bed (sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep...)
- My computer
- My beloved pens
- My alarm clock (even on days off I need it or I sleep for like 14 hours straight)
- My wrist braces (have to sleep in the stupid things)
- A coffee mug (don't have one I use every day, but I do use one of the many in the house every day)
Five things you do everyday:
- Sleep (yes, I'm fixated)
- Check email
- Update my blog (well, almost)
- Bitch and moan
- Babble about whatever I'm currently obsessed with.
Four bands that you cooldn't live without:
- The Red Elvises
- The Hives
- The Phenomenauts (did you vote yet?)
- Throwing Toasters
Three of your favorite songs at this moment:
- "Hate to Say I Told You So" - The Hives
- "Phenomenator" - The Phenomenauts
- "Living @ Home" - Throwing Toasters
Two people that have influenced your life the most:
- My Mom
- My Dad
One person that you love more than anyone in the world:
- Um... don't have one, really. If we're talking platonic love, then it's Jen, probably.
Story UpFor those of you who are interested, my Award-Winning Story, "All in a Night's Work" is now up in my Short Stories section.
I realized recently that this is the second story of mine to win an award! Take that Professor "maybe creative writing just isn't something you're good at" Ronk! HA!
September 23, 2002
PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.38
1. When I was young, my Mom would always drink a cold Dr. Pepper in the morning. Me, I can go either way. I like a Cold Frappucchino in the Summer months and switch to warm Mocha Espresso in the Fall. Do you like to drink warm beverages in the morning or do you prefer yours cold?
I am very much a hot coffee or hot tea person in the morning, although I often have a huuuuge glass of diet Coke with lots of ice with me when I settle down to work.
2. Have you ever been so upset with someone that you wanted to get revenge? What did you do? Or if you didn't, what would you like to have done?
Hm... I'm big on revenge fantasies, although they tend to be passive revenge ones. Like... running into the a**hole who dumped me with a total hottie (preferably a famous one) on my arm. That kind of thing. Pretty standard, really.
3. Sometimes I can look back at my past and see so many things that I was too naive to take advantage of. A time where I could have moved ahead in my career if only I'd chosen to move, the High School girlfriend who said she would do anything if I just asked, and so on. Looking back, are there any opportunities you missed out on that you can see now but didn't realize then?
I think there were guys who were interested in me back in the day when I was convinced there weren't any... I just wasn't quick enough on the uptake to see it.
4. Today I tried on my black slacks, and they are just a skosh too tight (yeah it's a real word, look it up). Of course, I wore them anyway. Are there any clothes you refuse to throw away even though they don't (and never will) fit? Why do you keep them?
Yup. I have loads of clothes that are too big for me but were gifts or have other sentimental value and so I can't bear to get rid of them.
5. Although my speech classes eliminated most if it, I still have a little Okie accent left. I say "Git" instead of "Get" and "Collar" instead of "Color." Do you have an accent? Are there any phrases or words you say that tip folks that "you aren't from around these parts?"
I have a California accent (a pretty thick one, apparently, even though I can hear myself start to pick up the local accent when I'm in England).
6. Speaking of phrases, it really drives me nuts when folks say "very unique" (Unique has no degrees, it is either unique or it isn't) or "irregardless" (not a real word). Are there any words folks misspell or incorrect uses of words that simply drive you insane?
Misuse of apostrophes, saying "on accident," that kind of thing.
7. I am guilty of using pet names a bit too often, like "honey," "babe," and "sweetie." However, currently, no one uses any pet names on me (and I think I'd like one). Are there any pet names that you like to be called? Any you don't? Do you (or did you) have any pet names for your partner?
Hm... I don't use nicknames (for myself) at all, although I like low-key pet names. I've been known to call people I'm involved with "sweetie," but haven't been with anybody I had a particular pet name for.Holy Carp!Only a 4.8 and apparently no casualties, but still quite surprising. Hope all my pals in the Olde Country are doing ok...
September 21, 2002
Earth is the BEST!
Earth's got Chinese food and microphones
Earth's got Orbit, he likes ice cream cones
Earth's got people who are all alone
Earth's got hot rod cars and Al Capone!
Earth (is the best) yeah Earth (is the best) yeah Earth (yeah!) is the best!Had a fantabulous time at the Phenomenauts concert last night. They rocked so hard ... man. Got to hang out a little with Greg, their special effects guy, which was very cool.
Even cooler: I talked to Joebot! TWICE! And managed not to keel over in fangirly shock, too. Go me. The first time I just complimented him on the show and babbled something about being a huge fan. Then later I got up my nerve and asked if the thing on his helmet is really a theramin... which it is! He said their bassist just turned up at practice one day with it. How cool is that?? Wow. I think I babbled a little but overall he didn't seem to think I was lame, so I guess I was all right.
The red vinyl pants and tight Cadet tshirt might have helped.
PS: please go vote for the Phenomenauts for an SF Weekly award! haven't heard their music? Email me and I'll send you an MP3 or two.
September 20, 2002
Friday Five
1. Would you say that you're good at keeping in touch with people?
Mostly, yeah. Especially if they have email. :)
2. Which communication method do you usually prefer/use: e-mail, telephone, snail mail, blog comments, or meeting in person? Why?
Email, baby, email. It's easy - one program. Instant messaging is a close second - I love my Trillian.
3. Do you have an instant messenger program? How many? Why/why not? How often do you use it?
I use Trillian, and have profiles on AIM, ICQ, Y!M, and MSN (EalasaidH, 45667358, EalasaidH, and EalasaidH respectively). (I'd post a link to each messenger service but am too lazy. Just get Trillian, it rules!) The best thing about Trillian is that it lets you connect with multiple chat programs with just one program. That way I don't have to have a zillion progs open at one time. Also, it allows you to chat securely over the other wise insecure AIM. Woo woo.
4. Do most of your close friends live nearby or far away?
About half and half. I have close friends scattered around the globe.
5. Are you an "out of sight, out of mind" person, or do you believe that "distance makes the heart grow fonder"?
Distance makes the heart grow fonder.I am Ealasaid's Ego...So I did a Google link search (which lets you see who's linked to a particular page) on my main site page. The guy who runs The Papaya Palace linked to me back in June, saying that he spent a bunch of time poking around my main site and really dug it. Apparently he reads my Book Log regularly! WOW! I had no idea people actually READ my book log. I mostly have it as a record for myself! Schweet.
September 19, 2002
The Life of RileyIf anybody ever asks why I started reading the complete archives of The life of Riley, the last panel of the first strip should explain it pretty darn well. Heheheheh.
Thursday Thumb-Twiddler
1. If, by sacrificing your life, you could contribute so much to the world that you would be honored in all nations ... (a) would you be willing to do so? (b) would you be willing to do so if someone else you thoroughly despise would get all the credit while you went unrecognized?
Ok, I used to think there were no stupid questions, but clearly I was wrong.
2. You discover, unexpectedly, that a former friend (who you no longer like) has given your name as a character reference for a job application. The ex-friend is qualified for the job, but do you give them an honest thumbs-up?
Yup. Although I might explain the circumstances under which we stopped being friends if they were pertinent.
3. If you could write a sequel to any movie you wanted, what movie would it be?
Grosse Point Blank.Ha!An Interesting article about why the record industry is dumb to crack down on MP3 swapping.
Cool beansMy results on the Murder Test:
Your Likelihood of Committing Murder is 23%: Your hit list is pretty short, but you do have one. You know the difference between right and wrong, but you just don't see what the fuss is all about. If you had a choice, you would probably head off down the path of goodness, but if cornered you will fight your way out like a rabid dog. Your balance between light and dark leaves your world bright enough to be "normal" and dark enough so that no one sees the severed head in the closet.
Almost forgot...I am Coolness, Hear Me Roar!The last 24 hours have been pretty darn impressive. Since yesterday morning I have...
- ...met Antwon and GeekyChick at Coffee Society for a Blogger Meetup (Dad came along too). These are cool people - Antwon has tshirts with his domain name (it's how Dad spotted him, heh) and introduced me to Hello Cthulhu. GeekyChick actually hung out with Wil Wheaton and his wife and had photos on her totally amazing laptop to prove it. We babbled at each other for over four hours, and a good time was had by all. I hope some of their coolness rubbed off on me. Oddly enough, neither of the hosts of the event showed up, just those of us who'd signed up to attend. Heh.
- ...bludgeoned and deceived my health insurance into reinstating me after my last payment was late. The less said about this the better, except to note that what with my upcoming surgery this was of vital importance.
- ...learned that I won the Adult Fiction division of San Jose Metaphysical Bookshop's first annual writing competition. They printed an excerpt of my story in their newsletter, and
- ...gotten two articles published in The Milpitas Post (in the physical edition, though, not online).
- ...gotten the arrangements for the first of a series of freelance articles for The Milpitas Post confirmed. I'm actually going to get PAID to write a bunch of articles about obscure hobby groups. How cool is THAT?
September 18, 2002
Craving a fix...So I realized yesterday that a big part of how strung-out and whacked I've felt the last couple of days is probably due to the massive amounts of caffeine I've been consuming.
I thought a little and realized, dude, I've been having the equivalent of like a six-pack of diet coke a day, sometimes more, for about a week! Yeargh!
So today I cut back. One cup of coffee with breakfast, then nothing until my glass (and just a glass - about the same amount as one can) of Diet Coke with lunch.
On the one hand, my brain is clearer... on the other, I had a mild headache until I had my DC at lunch, and I really want to go back to bed. Also, I'm having to fight the urge to go downstairs and put together my usual quart-of-diet-Coke-and-one-tray-of-ice-cubes beverage (yay for that huuuge mug Mom has that holds one quart!).
I'm such a junkie.
Groovie GameBurn Rate - from Crackbaby.com. Cool looking card game. Basically, you play a dot.com CEO back in 1999. The goal? Lose all your money!
Ha!Dad sent me this piece from Slashdot.org. It's hilarious if you're a Star Wars buff and not overly touchy about 9-11. Here's an excerpt:
CORUSCANT -- Presiding over a memorial service commemorating the victims of the attack on the Death Star, the Emperor declared that while recent victories over the Rebel Alliance were "encouraging, the War on Terror is not over yet.""We will continue to fight these terrorists, and the rogue governments who harbor them, until the universe is safe, once and for all, and the security of the Neo-New Cosmik Order ensured."
WOW!Look what I found digging through my photo archives? Dude, that's me with two Phenomenauts, Kayt (my fantastic photo editrix for The Red Pages and Oleg of The Red Elvises! COOL!
l-r: some guy I don't know, Major Jimmy Boom, Commander Angel Nova, Kayt, Me, Oleg.September 17, 2002
Boo-yah!Behold, Ealasaid about to take on the town!
September 16, 2002
ooo!Whoa. James Spader sure knows how to pick 'em. I cannot WAIT to see Secretary. The challenge will be finding someone to go with me. :-)
Links for TodayThe Cream of the Crop from Crackbaby.com.
TheraDate, a service to match people who are in therapy. I can't decide if this is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of or a brilliant idea.
Pop-up toilets to keep drunken sods from pissing in the street. Seems like a good idea, but I'm not sure if it'll catch on.
Ha!Yay! I got Dr. Lorencz! He is da schiznit.
You are Dr. Lorencz("The Boogie Man Will Get You") Being responsible for the duties of mayor, sheriff, coroner, loans, insurance, and notary public for the little town of Jinxville, as well as being chairman of the board of directors for Idlewilde Sanitarium, you have quite a bit of responsibility on your shoulders. Doesn't anyone else do anything in Jinxville? "Oh, they vote once a year," is your reply. You are businesslike, authoritative, and scientific minded, and you like to make money. One of your dearest friends is Shickelina, the Siamese kitten you carry around in your coat pocket -- she has the most amazing instinct for crime and corruption. You are fond of Latin phrases.
Take the "What Peter Lorre character are YOU?" quiz by Lydia
My second-closest match:
You are Hillary Cummins ("The Beast With Five Fingers") Moody and introspective, you spend most of your time in the library. You're really cool, but the combined effects of your being abused by your jerky boss, irritated by the idiots around you, your profoundly embarassing name (what WERE your parents thinking?! Life ain't easy for a boy named Hillary...), and your obsession with your books caused you to snap and rig up a clever scheme to fool people into believing your dead boss's severed hand was strangling people, when it was really you who did it. However, you eventually went mad enough to believe you were actually seeing the severed hand crawling about, which made for a pretty cheesy movie but some really cool special effects.
Take the "What Peter Lorre character are YOU?" quiz by Lydia
Now I definitely have to see "The Beast With Five Fingers."PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.37Sometimes I think that if I didn't do these question things I wouldn't post at all.
1. Do you have a favorite piece of poetry or prose written by someone else? Care to share it?
I looooove poetry. Most of my favorites are here.
2. In High School, did you enjoy creative writing? Do you currently do any other writing in addition to your Blog?
Yupyup! Check it out.
3. Have you ever noticed that the Blog entries you least expect to get the most comments do, and those you expect to generate a lot of feedback don't? Which Blog entry of yours surprised you by getting a lot of comments? Which one did you think would generate a lot but didn't?
I try not to think too much about the comments system... I love getting comments, but try not to guess whether I'll get 'em or not.
4. Sometimes you get a chance to make a lifestyle change that has a huge impact on the course your life takes. That is, a moment where something became very clear to you, and that realization changed your life, such as: the need to leave a relationship, to stop an addiction, to bond with someone, to start a new career, and so on. Have you ever had an "awakening" moment in your life?
Not really.
5. Then there are other times where you can have a huge impact on someone else's life. You suggest they see a doctor, stop them from taking that last drink, or maybe just say some kind words at the moment. Have you made a lasting positive impact on the life of someone else?
Now this, I don't think I can answer. I mean, I have no idea if I've had that kind of impact on someone or not.
6. Are there any charities or organizations which you support? How did you come to be involved with them?
My alumni organizations. That's pretty much it. I'm not a big charity person because I am pretty broke myself.
7. Care to collaborate with me? Help me out and write the rest of this poem:
Ack. I don't write poetry if I can help it.September 14, 2002
Friday FiveYeah, I'm late. Again. D'oh. Busy day yesterday. So busy in fact that I forgot to remind a friend to tape a Hives concert on AT&T Broadband's TV channel. How lame is that??? Hopefully she will get my belated reminder and catch it for me today. Argh.
Anyway.
Onward!
1. What was/is your favorite subject in school? Why?
English because I was good at it and I like to read. Still do, actually.
2. Who was your favorite teacher? Why?
Hm... In middle school I was a big fan of Mr. Perryman (Algebra) and Mr. Rodenberg (History/English). In High School I became a disciple of Mr. Ribovich (Drama/AP English) and took classes from him all four years in one way or another. In college, I was a devoted follower of Professor Montag (even if he IS wrong about Dr. Frankenstein. Frankenstein is too an idiot!).
3. What is your favorite memory of school?
Hm... I don't really have any for my time in public school. In college, though, I can remember several times walking through the quad on a gorgeous day after or on my way to class and thinking "this is what it feels like to be happy." It was a great feeling.
4. What was your favorite recess game?
Handball.
5. What did you hate most about school?
Stupid people - kids who teased or didn't do their homework or teachers who didn't respect their students.September 12, 2002
Thursday Thumb-Twiddler
1. If you knew that in one year you would die, suddenly, how would you change anything about the way you are now living?
Hm... possibly. I imagine I'd stop worrying about my student debt quite so much, for one thing. Travel more. Get laid regularly. That kind of thing.
2. Your father-in-law is foreign-born, and you've just learned that he was an agent of long-standing for a nation that is very unfriendly toward yours. Do you report him to the authorities? Is your answer any different if he's still acting as an agent?
Ooo.... nasty. If he wasn't active anymore, if I really KNEW he wasn't, then I probably wouldn't report him. If he WAS still active, hell yes I'd report him. Being related by marriage to me does not give you a pass for this kind of thing.
3. If you could stand at the pinnacle of any man-made or natural object, what would it be?
I wouldn't. I don't like heightsWowYou know, I tend to think of American teenagers as lameass wannabes who are even stupider than my peers were when I was that age.
But sometimes they prove me wrong.
September 11, 2002
Health StuffSo I found out today that I have an ovarian dermoid cyst. This means I get to have surgery to get rid of it, wheee!
Naturally, this sent Dad and me scurrying for the web. Here's some stuff Dad turned up:
A really gross photo of a dermoid cyst.
A simple explanation of what a dermoid cyst is.
A more detailed definition.
A few that I found:
A collection of photos and articles on the subject.
X-rays and other images of dermoid cysts. I like the ones with teeth in them because my doc says that mine has teeth in it. Heheheheh.
I'll be finding out when my surgery date is some time tomorrow. I'll warn you all ahead of time so you'll know... after all, it sounds like I'll be in hospital for at least two days, and probably out of it on painkillers for a couple more days. Somehow you will have to get through your day without updates here, unless I can get Dad to update for me or something.
What She SaidRumblelizard has some excellent points about the possibility of war against Iraq. I totally agree.
Ha! Dubyah Needs ThisMilitary Operation Name Generator, passed along to me by Dad.
TodayCockyBastard and G Bunny Goddess wrote some lovely things in their journals.
There's so much crap going on in my life right now that I'm not sure how to express how I feel about today. I hate the fad for public grieving, the fetishizing of our neuroses (to quote a local journalist), the sheer capitalism in the way the American Public (tm) is handling the anniversary.
But the people in my life are not The American Public (tm), they're real people. And I'm glad they're here and I'm here and we have the ability to feel anything at all about today.
September 10, 2002
How's this sound?Dear _______________,
My name is Ealasaid A. Haas, and I am a recent graduate of Stanford University's Masters program in Journalism. I am desperate for a job to pay off the huge loans I had to take out to get my degree, and I hope you can help.
See, education is expensive. Thankfully, education also makes it possible to pay off those debts. I am a talented and well-trained writer with five years of experience writing for various newspapers and organizations on a variety of topics. I'm best at film reviews because that is where my primary interest and most of my experience lie, but I have also done regular news.
In 2000, I graduated cum laude and with departmental honors from Occidental College with a B.A. in English Literature. The following year I graduated from Stanford University with an M.A. in Communications. At Stanford, I went through the Communications Department's Journalism program, and focused my electives on film studies and film criticism.
At this point, I think I would fetch coffee and do research if I could get paid enough for it to move out.
Enclosed please find my resume and several samples of my work. I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Ealasaid A. Haas
God, I hate jobhunting.September 09, 2002
More on 9-11This is in response to this entry over at BeerMary's Rant-o-Rama. I'd have posted it over there but it turned into a mini-rant which was too long for the comment box.
I dig her entry on the subject, because it's simultaneously passionate and well-reasoned. But I don't agree with everything Mary has to say.
Although I think I know where that nameless person was coming from, I agree that they were out of line - you can't tell people how to feel. Hell, I am one of the few people in this country who was not radically upset by 9-11. I got weird looks from people because of that, which sucked.
That said, I think I know where they were coming from. It strikes me somehow as... off that so many people are so upset about 9-11 when the only thing they have in common with the people who died is an adjective ('American'). Now, I'm a weird radical moderate freak who has a skewed worldview, but why aren't all these people who are so struck by 9-11 equally upset by, say, the various horrible terrorist/governmental/whatever massacres that happen around the world the rest of the time?
Why aren't they equally upset by the bombings and slaughters in the Middle East? Those people are people too. They're human. They had wives and children and husbands and parents and lovers. They were killed suddenly, too.
My personal theory is that it's because the media and the hype made it so you feel guilty if you don't grieve (ok, made me feel guilty for not grieving. Can't speak for anybody else).
Patriotism became in. Now, I'm all for loving your country, but the mindlessness of it really scared me for a while. People disrespected the flag constantly - displaying it improperly, leaving it out until it got ragged and thrashed, etc. because you HAD to have a flag SOMEWHERE or you were on their side. Or something.
Feh.
And don't get me started on the "war on terrorism."
The problem with punishing terrorism is that it doesn't really stop it. Terrorists are not logical people, so the cause -> effect relationship of terrorism -> you get blown up won't get through to them. We need to find another way to stop them.
I do think, however, that taking out Bin Laden is our responsibility. We created him and got him started, we should get rid of him. We just need to figure out a way of doing it that won't involve offing innocent people. And we need to find a way to protect ourselves that doesn't involve the kind of trampling on the Bill of Rights that has been going on.
I love my country. I don't want its mission destroyed by anyone, including the government.
Testing, testing...Stupid thing...
Monday Mission 2.36Had this ready to go and then my beloved browser crashed. *sigh*
1. Where were you and what was happening in your life the moment when you first became aware of what was happening at the World Trade Center in New York City last September 11th? What was the first thing you did when you heard the news?
I was asleep, grateful that the stupid phone hadn't rung to call me in for another day of substitute teaching (I love the money but hate that job). Mom woke me up and told me, and I got up and went downstairs to stare at the television.
2. When those truly responsible for the attack are apprehended, what do you think would be the most fitting form of justice?
Life in prison without parole (I do not believe in the death penalty), preferably in a joint along the lines of Alcatraz back in its heyday. No luxuries, I mean. Just confinement.
3. This will probably be much like when our parents respond to "Where were you when JFK was shot?"- an event never forgotten by those who were there. But how do you think the history books should present the 9-11 attacks? Should it be included for all future generations? How can we truly convey the shock, the outrage, the emotions and pain of that day to the children of our children?
I think the history books should present it in context, along with a detailed history of the events in the Middle East and elsewhere that led up to it. I think the history books should be unbiased and explain, for example, where Osama got the training and funding to set up his organization. I think they should discuss the psychological effects of the attacks and their portrayal/exploitation by the media and politicians.
Yes, I'm an idealist.
4. No one in that building, in the Pentagon, or on the planes (other than the terrorists) knew that 9-11 would be their last day to be alive. For me, it brought home the reality that I could be gone at anytime, without any warning. Now, I really want each day to have some value. Did the events of 9-11 bring about a change in the way you live your life?
Not really. I've always been very aware of how precious and fragile life is - growing up with short-lived pets and having people my age that I knew distantly start suddenly dying back in High School took care of that. If anything, 9-11 merely made me more cynical about American politics.
5. Several who loved to fly in planes will not step foot in one anymore. Many parents are more protective of their children. A year later, do you find yourself feeling more secure than back then? Or is it just a matter of time before something else happens?
No, I didn't feel insecure then and I don't now... but then, I never bought into the hysteria generated by the attacks.
6. The best way for me to honor the those impacted by the attack will be to refrain from any media that day. No papers, no radio and especially no television. Others will light candles, and others will attend special services. What, if anything, will you do to personally reflect on the tragedy?
Nothing. If I stopped to commemorate every tragedy along these lines, I would never have time for anything else.
7. One of the visuals that touched me the most were the walls and walls full of hand made "Missing" posters. What image will you always have in your mind when you recall the events of 9-11?
The smoke billowing into the sky from the towers before they collapsed. The armed men in our airports. Cars in line to be completely searched before entering airport parking structures.LinksThese are courtesy of the totally cool Neil Gaiman.
Great article about WorldCon... with a hysterical final paragraph. "American Gods" is by Neil Gaiman, kids. Gaiman.
Famous People Blogs... sorta.
September 08, 2002
Immortal Lyrics
"Juliet, aaah aaaah, where the fuck you are?
Juliet, woo-hoo, where the fuck are you?" -- Juliet
"I don't wanna keep you from anything you do
Except I wanna lock you up and throw the keys away.
I don't wanna see you, be with you again
I don't wanna think of you, 'cept for every day!" -- SunshineYes, I'm listening to the new Red Elvises album, why do you ask?
COOL!Online Lite-Brite! How cool is that?
Oh, hush. I think it's cool. So there.
Oh My GODSaw The Phenomenauts and The Red Elvises last night at Slim's and had THE BEST TIME. Man. Those bands are great together, they're both totally insane. The Phenomenauts remind me of the Elvises a couple of years ago when they were still into uniforms and schtick. Both bands are really high-energy and more about celebrating than anything else.
Plus, of course, they're cute. But that's a separate issue.
Even cooler: I talked briefly with Commander Angel Nova of the Phenomenauts after the show, and he expressed interest in having me work on their site! WOW! And Oleg of the Red Elvises is muttering about having me work on their main site and not just The Red Pages! How cool is that?
I got the new albums from both bands and generally rocked my socks off. Yay!
September 06, 2002
Ha!Great Hives review here.
Sample:
Some critics are tearing out their goatee hairs as they try to grapple with the phenomenon. Isn't this garage rock dressed up by a bunch of knowing intellectuals? Behold their matching white shoes and natty suits. Look at their ridiculous names-Vigilante Carlstroem, Nicholaus Arson, Dr Matt Destruction, Howlin' Pelle Almqvist, Chris Dangerous. They can't possibly mean it, man. Can they? I would join in this particular discussion if I could just get the CD out of the player and stop jumping around my office in a way that is seriously embarrassing the cat.Catchup!Late Thursday Thumb-Twiddler:
1. How do you picture your funeral?
I generally don't, but I do know I want a proper burial in a real graveyard with a properly spooky tombstone, dammit.
2. As a juror, you are sworn to not discuss with anyone the details of the trial you're impaneled for. Do you (would you) anyway?
Not until after the trial finished. I might (OK, would) offer teasing hints to make my friends nuts, though. Especially if it was really a boring case.
3. Would you rather live someplace where it's always between 80-90 degrees F both day and night, or someplace where it's always 40-50 degrees F? (For you metric types, that's 26-32C or 4-10C.)
Hm... probably the latter. I hate the heat.And The Friday Five!
1. What is your biggest pet peeve? Why?
Hm... probably people who misuse apostrophes. It depresses me to think about linguistic entropy brought on by general laziness and lack of strict education.
2. What irritating habits do you have?
None, of course! ... Oh, all right. I babble when I get excited. I rant about things. I straighten stuff that only I would ever think is crooked. And I find it impossible not to talk about whatever/whomever I'm obsessed with at the moment. I chew on my cuticles.
3. Have you tried to change the irritating habits or just let them be?
I try not to do them when I realize I am. Does that count? Did that even make sense?
4. What grosses you out more than anything else? Why?
Hard to say. Probably anything to do with eating things I think are nasty, because I'm a somewhat orally fixated person. (Anybody who's seen how much time I spend chewing on things - fingernails, cuticles, hair - can attest to that)
5. What one thing can you never see yourself doing that other people do?
Bungee-jumping.More reasons to hate Wal-MartAnd people can't understand why I won't shop at that place. Top 10 Wal-Mart Worst Actions
ARGH!Oo, look! Bush and co are re-interpreting the Bill of Rights!
Grrr. OK, I know that's unfairly snarky, but DAMN! I'm all for anti-terrorism measures, but the Bill of Rights is there for a REASON, people.
Link time!Yay for CrackBaby.com. It's my morning dose of kick-ass stuff.
People always ask why I hate Wal-Mart. Here is one more reason why. Wankers.
Here's an article for the guys.
Another battle in the ongoing war to separate church and state! This is the same guy who led the fight to take "under God" out of the pledge of allegiance. I dig him. (If you need a refresher on the history of the pledge, go here.)
September 05, 2002
Another cool Link?Blog? Popularity Spurs New Journalism Class - From The Daily Californian, courtesy of Dad.
Also, in case you haven't noticed, my Archive is now automated. Yay! No more waiting for me to update the freakin' thing. Sadly, it's also a rather blah format, but hey, it's better than nothing.
Cool linkTrue Porn Clerk Stories just rocks. Kids under, say, 15 should be warned that Mom And Dad (tm) might Not Approve (tm) if they catch you reading it. I mean, my Dad sent it to me, but I'm 24. Use your own discretion.
Sample:
Our store is a nasal jewelry, snotty film school sort of place and we employ people coldblooded enough to work with hardcore pornography every single day of our lives (Oh, all right. Just every shift.) so there are plenty of extra bonus cool points right there. I have actually had word come back to me that people sometimes hate coming to our store because they feel their relative coolness is being rather harshly judged.Just a few things......that I have to say.
- The Red Elvises played Plant 51 in San Jose last night, and totally kicked butt. I haven't had so much fun since... well, since I got back from my UK Trip, but you know what I mean. The Red Elvises are Gods.
- My car died on the way to the gig - REALLY REALLY DIED. Like, end-of-engine died. Like, very-expensive-if-reparable died. Or so I thought. My mechanic found a wire had become disconnected and fixed it for free. It now runs again. My mechanic is da man.
- My Dad found a totally cool job posting for a web-related position I am actually qualified for so with any luck I will get an interview. My Dad is the shiznit.
September 04, 2002
More Tests
Take the Purrsonality Quiz!
From Rave
What revolution are You?
Made byaltern_active
From DadGood GriefGirl to get tracker implant to ease parents' fears.
I can see a future... where children get calls on their cell phones asking why they're at the movies instead of at school. I can see a future... where children's every movement is monitored by parents via computer. I can see a future... where those kids grow up and put their parents in substandard nursing homes.
September 03, 2002
Spiffy articleAnd yes, it's late and I should be in bed.
September 02, 2002
Monday Mission 2.35
1. What's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you on a date?
Hm... not sure. I don't date enough to have any really good stories for this. :)
2. Do you eat your veggies?
You better believe it! Well, if they're ones I like. But I'm fond of fresh salads, carrots, celery, peas, corn, mixed veggies, properly-cooked broccoli, etc. so I'm usually ok. Just no cauliflower! Ew!
3. Most people are comfortable going to the bathroom in front of at least one person. Has anyone ever used the restroom in front of you that you wish wouldn't have? What happened and how bad was it?
Nope. All my friends are big on privacy for that kind of thing. :)
4. Have you ever had a bad online transaction? You know, the item wasn't what you thought it would be, you got totally ripped-off, no refunds, it just plain sucked? What's the story there?
Well, I once bought something over Ebay and the item never arrived. I only spent like $20 so I couldn't get reimbursed, but I was peeved. The gal seems to have just vanished off the face of the earth - there were a bunch of us who got left in the lurch. Most aggravating. I don't even remember now what the item was, though. Heh.
5. Ever have a current love find any old love letters (or similar item) you kept that probably should have been thrown away? How did that turn out?
Nope. Never happened.
6. A secretary at work was telling me about a trip she took to Mardi Gras. She showed off her beaded necklaces and proudly said she "earned' each and every one of them (for those not familiar with this tradition, ladies walking up Burbon St. in New Orleans will flash people who are upon the balconies, in return the guys will throw them worthless plastic necklaces). I was shocked, I had no idea this quiet gal had a wild side. Was there ever a time when you did something totally outrageous because you knew no one would know who you were, or maybe didn't care even if they did?
Hm... generally when I do outrageous things (which almost never happens, Dad, honest), it's because I have friends there egging me on.
7. Hey, what happened to you last night? I waited forever!
Hey, man, the third season of "The Sopranos" arrived on DVD day before yesterday, and Mom was watching it. How am I supposed to turn that down? Snarky Italian guys, violence, and sex, come ON! I love that show.
Side note: Am I the only one who was really upset that Furio got shot, even just in the leg? That poor man gets no respect on that show. He's hardly ever on and then he gets shot? ARGH!September 01, 2002
Photos!Hey, you lot! My photos from the Discworld Con are now available for your viewing pleasure.
Late Friday FiveWhups! Nearly forgot these...
1. What is your current occupation? Is this what you chose to be doing at this point in your life? Why or why not?
I am a freelance writer/freelance web designer/tutor/substitute teacher. I sorta chose the first couple, stuck with the third, and fell into the fourth out of desperation. I'd really prefer to be supporting myself full time with my writing, but as someone with a fairly low self-opinion, I find all the self-promotion very difficult. I'm starting a campaign to get myself hired full-time at a local newspaper.
2. If time/talent/money were no object, what would your dream occupation be?
Fantasy writer. If I could make a living writing about Jaspa and the rest of the characters in my head, I'd be in heaven.
3. What did/do your parents do for a living? Has this had any influence on your career choices?
Dad's a tech writer, mom runs a learning center. Dad's tech savvy got me into web design and I work for my mom, so draw your own conclusions.
4. Have you ever had to choose between having a career and having a family?
Nup.
5. In your opinion, what is the easiest job in the world? What is the hardest? Why?
Easiest: no idea. Jobs with no intellectual stimulation suck, and low-responsibility jobs tend to force you to work with total wankers, which makes the job awful. Hardest: full-time single mom, or any other job with that kind of round-the-clock pressure/responsibility.August 30, 2002
Discworld Con Photos!Not by me, though. They're by Belgian Tim. Check 'em out Here.
Or skip straight to the ones with me in them:
Playing THUD with Katherine
Plotting my next THUD move
More THUD
Even more THUD
Katherine trying to do my hair
Me, Kath, and Gemma with STEPHEN BRIGGS!!! (Note my slightly psycho look)
Me, looking haughtyOne more test...R
You are restricted. Well done, you're now
practically adult in nature, and plus, you
get to see nudity - have fun.
"Which Movie Classification Are You?"
Test created by Jamie - take it here.August 29, 2002
More Questions!Can you tell that I like answering questions about myself and my opinions yet?
1. You're helping raise money for a charity, and someone pledges a very large contribution if you'll perform, on stage, at the upcoming fund-raising show. There will be about 1,100 people in the audience. Would you be willing to perform? If so, what sort of act would you prefer to do?
Sure, I'd perform. I'd be torn between a karaoke-style performance of favorite pieces by my favorite bands (how do y'all think I'd do singing "a.k.a. I-D-I-O-T" and, say, "Untutored Youth" or "Die, All Right" by the Hives?). Barring that, I'd probably do a weird movie monologue.
2. Have you ever cheated in a game (like a card game) for money?
Nope. The instant money is involved, cheating is not ok. Hell, it's not okay even if money is NOT involved.
3. If you could go back in time and relive any moment in your life exactly as it happened, what event would you choose to experience again?
I can't say, my parents read this blog. ;-pWhoaHuge update over at my Book Log.
August 28, 2002
Belated Monday MissionsOne more thing to catch up on...
Monday Mission 2.33
1. Many children have blankets, or a favorite nubby stuffed animal that they like to keep near them for security. Do you recall what you had for your "security blanket" as a child? When did you finally give it up? What brought that about?
Hm... I don't, really. I think I slept with stuffed animals until the allergist told my parents I shouldn't, which was around 7 or 8 years of age.
2. Now that you are a big kid, what do you have to give you that same sense of security?
Heh. I'm big on curling up under heavy blankets and on wearing long sleeves.
3. With a little over four months left in 2002, have you accomplished everything you wanted to for the year? Is there anything that you would like to accomplish before the year is over?
Hah. I wanted to get a Real Job and Move Out (tm) by now.
4. I don't know about you, but it seems to me children have it pretty good these days. Game systems, computers in the home, microwaves, cable TV, the internet, cell phones and pagers, they certainly have a wider variety of technology than most of us did as children. What modern convenience, if any, do you think it would be good for children today to do without? What would they gain?
Hm... probably the internet. It'd get them off their butts and outside. 'course, I'm a 'net addict, so I shouldn't really talk, right?
5. Many of us have one thing in which we believe we excel. What do you do better than most?
I'm really good at coming up with totally random comments.
6. In the United States, and possibly other countries, teenagers in High School usually wind up falling into several social circles or "cliques." Stoners, Rich Kids, Jocks, Cheerleaders, Band, Drama, Goths, and so on (though the names are probably different today). What High School "clique" did you find yourself in? Was it by choice or did it just happen? Did you look down on other groups? (Aw it's ok, it was/is High School, we all did dumb stuff)
I was in the AP/honors clique, a part-time member of the Drama clique for a bit, and then I had my OWN clique, made up of myself and my groupies. Yes, I had groupies in High School.
7. (it begins) I have great news! I won the contest and we now have plane tickets to anywhere in the world. The bad news is we have to pick a place now and leave in the morning. I can't decide where to go, so you get to pick. Where should we go, and what is the first thing we should do when we get there?
I think we should go to the UK, where I will drop you in London with some money and a guide book while I go visit my friends in Stafford and Bath and Tunbridge Wells and...PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.34
1. What do you do to make things better when you feel sad and/or lonely?
Hm... it varies. My preferred thing to do is either curl up with something hot to drink (preferably with a splash of something alcoholic in it) and a good book or go to sleep.
2. Are you a "touchy-feely" person? That is, do you like to touch people you don't know that well? And on the flipside of that, do you like being touched by someone you aren't close with?
No. I am definitely not touchy-feely in that way. At All. Personal space is my friend.
3. Do you like to have "me" time, time to yourself to be alone and relax? Or do you prefer to just do your own thing with someone else in the room? When was the last "me" time you got and what did you do?
Definitely. I like having time to be the hell away from other people. Preferably about 100 yards away from other people, or barring that, on a different storey of the building in a room with a closed door. :) I think my last 'me' time was last night when I got home from the airport and went to sleep.
4. Generally speaking, how do you feel about the concept of marriage? Are you the marrying type? Do you think the act of getting married means something today or is it simply just "a piece of paper?"
Hm... I dunno. I'm something of a romantic and so the idea of finding a soulmate and solemnizing that fact with a ceremony appeals to me. But the cynic in me thinks of it as just a way to get some conveniences and practical matter sorted out. I do expect I'll get married eventually, though.
5. That said, as many as 25 states have passed legislation regulating who they believe should be the "marrying type." What are your thoughts on the banning of same-sex marriages?
I think banning same-sex marriage is horrible. It comes out of religious beliefs, which have no place in government.
6. If there was one law you had the ability to create or change, what would it be?
Ooh, tricky. I'd probably do away with the death penalty in the US.
7. What would you like someone visiting your Blog for the first time to know about you? Now is your chance!
Hm... They should know that I'm not as weird as I seem to be here... I'm weirder! :-) Also that it shouldn't surprise them to find me holding opinions which seem to clash with each other and having several different takes on the same thing. Beyond that... they should go read my page about myself. :-)Funny from DadOriginal source unknown....
- The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.
- The New York Times is read by people who think they run the country.
- The Washington Post is read by people who think they should run the country.
- USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don't really understand the Washington Post. They do, however, like their smog statistics shown in colorful pie charts.
- The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn't mind running the country, if they could spare the time, and if they didn't have to leave L.A. to do it.
- The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country and they did a far superior job of it, thank you very much.
- The New York Daily News is read by people who aren't too sure who's running the country, and don't really care as long as they can get a seat on the subway.
- The New York Post is read by people who don't care who's running the country either, as long as they do something really scandalous, preferably while intoxicated and when there are photographers present.
- The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren't sure there is a country, or that anyone is running it; but whoever it is, they oppose all that they stand for. There are occasional exceptions if the leaders are handicapped minority feministic atheist dwarfs, who also happen to be illegal aliens from ANY country or galaxy as long as they are democrats.
- The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country, but need the baseball scores.
- The National Enquirer is read by people trapped in line at the grocery store.
Cool pic!Here. From Kay.
More tests!
You are 52% geek You are a geek. Good for you! Considering the endless complexity of the universe, as well as whatever discipline you happen to be most interested in, you'll never be bored as long as you have a good book store, a net connection, and thousands of dollars worth of expensive equipment. Assuming you're a technical geek, you'll be able to afford it, too. If you're not a technical geek, you're geek enough to mate with a technical geek and thereby get the needed dough. Dating tip: Don't date a geek of the same persuasion as you. You'll constantly try to out-geek the other. Take the Polygeek Quiz at Thudfactor.com
Book Worm Meter for Ealasaid
Shut In 93%
. . 7% Out Of The House Intellectual 59%
. . 41% Moron High Attention Span 95%
. . 5% Low Attention Span Bookitude 96%
. . 4% Book Burner Book Worm 85.75%
. . 14.25% Bug Stomper Take your bookworm readings. I'm back!Made it back. Read the trip blog for quick info on how my trip went. A full report will be along as soon as I can get my pix developed and into a computer.
August 13, 2002
I'm Outta Here... in the Morning.Well, kids, I'm off to the UK in the morning. Any further updates will be over at the trip blog. Wish me von voyage.
Quick Entry...before I go run more errands.
Want to laugh? Know who Cthulhu is? Read Tales of the Plush Cthulhu.
Almost there...Things still to do before I can leave:
- Turn in MUSD timesheet.
- Bills
- Turn off email forwarding.
- Unsub from my last email list.
- Take Sunny to the vet.
- Change cellphone voicemail message.
- Set up to tape Monk while I'm gone.
- Drop off check for J.A.
- Fold Laundry.
- Finish notes on HTML students.
- Update this blog's archive.
- Update clip file.
- Pack.
- As many hours for MUSD as I have time for, har de har har.
August 12, 2002
Support The Hives!If you haven't already done it like ten times today, go vote for the Hives! They're up for a Video Music Award at MTV2.
Monday Mission!1. If I could guarantee that the Fashion Police would not lay the smackdown on you, which favorite out-of-style article of clothing do you wish you could wear right now? (and if you have photos of you wearing it, post 'em)
I have no idea. I am so clueless when it comes to fashion... I do think bellbottoms are kind of cool, though.
2. In your opinion, who is famous but shouldn't be?
*snerk* Anybody on any reality TV show except the Osbournes (who just rock).
3. Are there any new movies or TV shows that you are forward to this fall?
Movies? Duh. Harry Potter. Lord of the Rings. Knockaround Guys. Boo-yah!
4. If you had a time machine that you could use only one time (there and back), where would you go and what would you do?
Hard choice!!! I'd either go back to the 17th century to hang with Rochester or to the turn of the century to meet Oscar Wilde.
5. What cologne of perfume do you like to wear? Which brand do you prefer that your partner wear?
I don't wear perfume, and I'm not all that into specific brands on my guys. Barishnakov is a nice scent, though.
6. Do you recall your first "French kiss?" Tell me about how that felt, and how it came about. Do you like them?
Of course I do. It was tres kewl, but if you don't already know about it I'm not gonna tell you. :) And yes, I like 'em, with the right guy.
7. Excluding your partner...If you had the opportunity, who would you most like to Frech kiss?
Oo! Whomever I'm obsessed with. At the moment I'm in transition from Matthew Lilliard to Vin Diesel, so... yeah. Can I have both?August 11, 2002
YaySet up the Travel Blog. It's pretty dull so far, but hey, it's done now, so yay me.
CRAZYSo much has been happening! ARGH! AND my last update didn't go up when I wrote it. Stupid thing.
Stuff I've done:
- Gotten my railpass for the UK Trip
- Written half my final reports for the Learning Center
- Deposited all my coins (bastards charge ten cents a roll after the first four... I was so startld that I didn't do anything about it. Jen says I should have given them four, gotten back in line... given them four, gotten back in line... etc. I'm doing that next time).
- Settled arrangements for alll our nights in the UK except the first
- Arranged for the interview I've been planning to do with Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs for A Special Kind of Person.
Things I still have to do:
- Finish the damned final reports.
- Arrange for our first night in the UK
- Get a tape recorder for the interview to replace the one I've had and loved for five years.
- Finish putting in my hours for the School District contract.
- Get my traveller's cheques and cash for the trip
- Do my bills so my loan companies don't get pissed while I'm gone.
- Update my clip file, copy it, and mail it to a couple of relatives. I've been promising to do that for like three months, so I am damn well doing it before I go.
- Clean my fish tank.
- Take my geriatric cat to the vet for his bloodwork. Unfortunately, I really ought to bathe him first, but I don't know if that will happen.
- Put up an ad about half-leasing my pony at local feed stores.
- Set up a blog for the trip in case I actually have time to post about it.
Wish me luck.
August 08, 2002
IfHalf Mad Spinster asks:
If you could be anything you wanted, anything at all, money is no object, no physical limitations, no obligations. . . what would you be?It's an interesting question, nu? I think my dream life would be that of a semi-reclusive author of wildly successful fantasy novels. That would just rule.Holy Schlamoley!I just rolled $52 in coins.
Even more impressive, when I add that to the rolled coins from the LAST time I emptied my change jar and the uneven coins left over, I have a total of $89.22.
Wonder if the bank will take the unrolled stuff if I help the teller count it? Hm...
August 07, 2002
Yay, more toys!I love Crackbaby.com.
Maritess vs. The Superfriends - this one is SO wrong, but it made me laugh.
August 06, 2002
Surf Ad-Free!Check it out, courtesy of my cool Aunt.
Yay links!I love Crackbaby.com. Dig some of today's gnarly links:
Also, I forgot to say that the Van Gogh quiz below is courtesy of the Dadster.
August 05, 2002
Killer ArticleWhy Nice Guys Are So Often Losers
Nifty piece. I do think it's possible for a guy to be nice without being insecure, but most of the nice guys I've known HAVE been insecure.
Or have turned out not to be so nice after all. *coughJohncough*
I remain an optimist, however. I may love bad boys but I wouldn't want to date them.
Well. Maybe once or twice.
But not seriously.
JeezI can tell I'm stressed. I have become overtaken yet again with the urge to completely redesign my entire damn site. I'm thinking of getting rid of a bunch of my fan sites, especially the ones that never get visited and that I never update anymore, and streamlining the whole operation.
The upside to this is that it would totally rock.
The downside is that not only would it take forever, but it would muck with peoples' links to my pages and whatnot. Also, I sometimes get email from people about bits of my site that I haven't updated in ages. Heck, my minisite on Richard III prompts people to email me sometimes!
So now I don't know what to do. Gah.
PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.31
1. Ever considered just deleting your Blog and not doing it anymore? What prompted that and what stopped you?
Nope. I like this thing too much. My own private soapbox! How can I not love it?
2. How about a quick review of the last movie you saw?
"Signs" totally rocks. It's brilliantly paced, thoughful, and will scare the pants off ya if you let it. Yeowza.
3. What's your favorite gadget? Are you lusting for any new ones? Will you ever be satisified???
Hm... my favorite gadget at the moment is probably my cellphone. Love it! I'm currently lusting for a CD burner and a multi-CD stereo.
4. Saturday night I played "UNO" for the first time in years, I mean it has been over 10 years since I played it. It was great fun, but it really made me want to learn how to play Backgammon again. What "table game" do you enjoy playing most with other people? Have you played it lately?
Gotta be the Lord of the Rings CCG, and I play it every week, baby.
5. Have you ever been obsessed with something so much that it was close to causing you physical or mental harm? If not, have you known anyone else who has?
Hm... there are those who would probably argue that my Fanly obsessions cause me mental harm, but I don't agree. I did get a little too into lifting weights during high school, and that probably contributed to my knee problems, but that's it.
6. Did you grow up in a family or community that displayed racist or prejudice attitudes? Did it influence you in any way, either toward or away from those views? How did you manage to avoid it, or did you?
Hm... my school district growing up was full of homophobes and had a decent sized contingent of anti-intellectuals (I actually had a teacher tell me that tracking was evil because it made the higher-tracked kids arrogant). I mostly tried to ignore it, except when it was shoved in my face.
7. Good grief, I am starving! You got anything to eat around here?
I have some cinnamon candy in my desk drawer you can have, but it's kinda old...I'm alive!...just very busy. Will try to update this afternoon after cranking out my film review - of Signs.
August 04, 2002
Schweet
the Which van gogh painting are you? quiz by bethanyAugust 03, 2002
Superhero!The Menstrual Avenger - she kicks butt! Although this is not a cartoon for all ages. *ahem* And it takes a while to download. :)
August 02, 2002
Take That, Dear Abby!I have a new favorite advice columnist: Evil Princess Sarah
August 01, 2002
VariousAnd I thought I had relationship problems.
