Monday, 02.02.09

Song of the day: Requiem by Nero

(II.II.MMIX)

Thursday, 12.11.08

Song of the day: Kein Trink Wasser by Orbital

I've got a few picks uploaded, but since I'm not sure how or where I'm going to use 'em (if at all), I've created a page to showcase them. Its entitled: Dam! I Shoulda Been A Model! Some I care for more then others, but basicly it was a successful attempt to feed the "me" niche of my soul. If I had more shiny stuff in the pics, they might be considered steampunk.

(XI.XII.MMVIII)

Sunday, 12.07.08

Not very Christmasie, but... I dunno why I thought the awesomeness that is the origninal might be apropo in a Joker and Harley context, but I think it works.

I purchased and have been wearing a utility kilt. An unexpected by-product of this purchase seems to be an interesting social study. In the few days that I have been rocking this men's unbifurcated garment I have encountered a variety of peoples. This sample group has been comprised of family members, friends, co-workers and a bunch of random people. On more then one occasion, I have been surprise by the response this garment has illicited. How should I phrase this: Its amusing to watch normal people's reaction to abnormal stimuli. The only thing I can compare it to might be that one guy who thought it would be a good idea to not cut his hair or pierce his ear. The irony here is that what normal society considers abnormal was normal at one point: men were sportin' the long hair as recently as a few hundred years ago and they have been rocking the skirts for far longer then that (Roman and Greek soldiers, Egyptians, Scots and the Irish, clergy of many faiths, hell, I have a feeling Jesus didn't wear pants either). Some people with very conservative ideals have been very supportive, while some that have always maintained a liberal stance on issues of this nature have not been. Others still have responded exactly as I thought they would have. I guess the conclusion I am meant to take away from this experience is that you can't please everyone all the time. Shakespeare might have had the right idea: "to thine own self be true." These un-pants are comfortable as all hell, and I think I'm gonna keep wearing them.

On a lighter note, Christmas preparations have been well under way: we've been setting the tree up, makin' some smores. The animals are confused by the random cinnamon and pine smells, as well as the weird costumes they are made to wear. The holiday season seems to be in full swing.

(VII.XII.MMVIII)

Saturday, 12.06.08

Happy Saint Nicholas Day (alternate links: Mikulás and St. Nicholas/Central Eurpoe)...

Song of the day: Aria, by Lisa Gerrard (Embeded youtube video featured on music page)

Quote of the day:
"You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son."
- Eddie Temple, Layer Cake

I got this off of Becky's blog - it has apparently been floating around the blog world. The instructions are to bold the things you’ve done and add your own interesting thing at the end of the list:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Spent a summer "abroad"
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train/flight
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Been at the top of the World Trade Center
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted / drawn
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Paid off a mortgage in full
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving/parasailing
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a cheque
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the CN Tower
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Criss-crossed Canada
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby/been pregnant
95. Witnessed a birth
96. Been present at a death
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
101. Peed on the side of the road as an adult
102. Milked a cow
103. Been white water rafting
104. Been surfing
105. Ridden a horse
106. Been ice climbing
107. Gotten hitched

(VI.XII.MMVIII)

Sunday, 11.23.08

Is it just me, or does Clint Eastwood look like Hugh Jackman?

I just realized that I have only 6 classes left of my degree. This is almost as exciting a revelation as the school break I'm getting at the end of the year :o) So now the trick becomes figuring out what classes are offered in Spring so I will know what to register for for this upcoming Winter semester.

(XXIII.XI.MMVIII)

Saturday, 09.27.08

Its a marvelous time of year: you don't sweat your ass off when outdoors, and you can even leave your windows and doors open. All of this worked out very well indeed since we participated in a diabetes run/walk charity event in Hanahan this morning. I walked, Becky ran (2 and 5 miles, respectively). The walk was for the organization that funds Aubrey's diabetes medication (she's a little girl that goes to Becky's church). It was good fun and not terribly taxing.... they made me wear pink. Oh, while I remember: some comments of the day were "You're secure enough with your sexuality to wear pink." or "It takes a real man to wear pink." and other such remarks (I just had to make note of these for I suspect they will prove to be useful later :o).

I watched part of the debate last night (before I passed out). All I have to say is it was brutal and VERY childish. I've never really watched debates, but I have never noticed them to be this harsh. Seriously guys: your trying to earn/win the position of 'Leader of the Free World' and yet you're bickering, pointing fingers and laying blame like a bunch of kindergartners ("He did it!" "Nuh-uh! HE did it!"). I would have laughed if it wasn't so tragically frightening. To his credit, though, Obama tried very hard to maintain his composure and dignity, but McCain made it very hard with his attacks.

I had a thought early this week... back in the day (Inquisition, Witch Trials, you know... 'the day') there existed an institution called "The Church." This is all well and good. It had its roles and purposes, but that's a discussion for another day. This institution had members who held rather elite and powerful leadership positions, dealing with manners of faith, interpreting the word of God via the Bible. Unfortunately, much of the congregation was at a disadvantage, as they could not interpret this divine tool on their own, given that they were unable to read. They took what the clergy said at face value, for better or for worse. There really wasn't a whole lot that they could do if the sermons were dull or mean or they didn't like what was being preached (unless you were among the upper class where your contributions were enough to sway topics of discussion... this noble/clergy relationship kind of parallels the lobbyist/politician relationship in that regard). Not many options were available to the layperson since everyone went to the same church. Fast-forward a few hundred years: you pass half a dozen [Christian] churches on your ten minute ride to work. People have options now: if they don't like what is being said, who is talking or anything else, they could just as easily go to another church. This could work, seeing as how Christianity seems to have become much more of a personal religion: you read the bible, the Holy Spirit and you cooperatively interpret and make it your own. Its good to have the ability to seek out (and find) a group that shares your interpretation. Conversely, the clergy now have to keep their audience amused, entertained and spiritually fulfilled: their congregation pays their bills. This is an interesting balance to maintain since they are the spokesperson for an often vengeful and sometimes moody deity: you can't keep telling people they can't do stuff or micro-managing the stuff that they can do (despite the fact that that is precisely what the bible does) and expect them to remain in your church. Free-market religion: religion is a business that sells spiritual fulfillment and you can shop around just as you do for any other investment. When looking at the larger picture, it would appear that the followers are creating the religion, not the other way around, much like the viewers create and consume the entertainment industry (sex and violence sell, so that's what you see in movies and on TV).

(XXVII.IX.MMVIII)

Tuesday, 09.23.08

Let me begin by saying just how much bronchitis SUCKS!

I can't breathe, can't cough, can't sneeze and with these steroids, I can't even sleep. It appears that in the three weeks that I have been hacking up a lung (my right lung, to be specific), it has gotten inflamed; I guess that's what that constant hurty-ness is. I'm at the point right now where I can barely move or use my right arm and to top it off, I'm always short of breath. I actually had to call out from work, something I fear I may have to repeat before I'm through with this sickness if things don't improve.

On a lighter note: my new tattoo is kicking ass... I'm already contemplating my next one, which is likely to be a little ways away on account of monetary constraints.

Lots have happened since last I wrote, so here's a breif run-down which might kind of justify my slckness:

This past weekend Becky, Mihály, Sean, Aniko and I attended the Scottish Games and Celtic Festival at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant. It was absolutely splendiferous! Unfortunately, between the four of us, no one remebered to bring our snazzy D-SLR (or any camera, for that matter). The weather was most favorable: slightly overcast (no direct sunshine was AWESOME) and temperate. We bought Caoilainn a snazzy new dress collar: when we couldn't find a Walker or Szivak tartan, we opted to pick a random pattern we liked... wouldn't you know it, we both chose the same design and it turns out it was an Irish tartan [County Armagh tartan] (back story: Caoilainn was adopted while we were honeymooning in Ireland around Saint Patrick's day... Caoilainn is actually an Irish chicks' name). There was a lot or hurling and throwing of various things (bag of hay, a handled hunk o' metal, a rock, a telephone pole) as well as a bunch of food and fun vendors... oh yeah, there was a border collie demonstration where two cute pups were whistled at to herd some sheep. We reached the conclusion that our dog is in no small part border collie.

Joe Dukes and Julia are officially Julia & Joe Dukes. We attended their wedding festivities in Ashville the weekend before last. Much fun was had by all. Pictures to follow.

(XXIII.IX.MMVIII)

Saturday, 08.16.08

This frightens me immensly.

(XVI.VIII.MMVIII)

Monday, 08.04.08
M.I.A. - Paper Planes

I fly like paper, get high like planes
If you catch me at the border I got visas in my name
If you come around here, I make 'em all day
I get one down in a second if you wait

I fly like paper, get high like planes
If you catch me at the border I got visas in my name
If you come around here, I make 'em all day
I get one down in a second if you wait

Sometimes I think sitting on trains
Every stop I get to I'm clocking that game
Everyone's a winner now we're making that fame
Bonafide hustler making my name

Sometimes I think sitting on trains
Every stop I get to I'm clocking that game
Everyone's a winner now we're making that fame
Bonafide hustler making my name

All I wanna do is
And a
And take your money
All I wanna do is
And a
And take your money

All I wanna do is
And a
And take your money
All I wanna do is
And a
And take your money

Pirate skulls and bones
Sticks and stones and weed and bombs
Running when we hit 'em
Lethal poison through their system

Pirate skulls and bones
Sticks and stones and weed and bombs
Running when we hit 'em
Lethal poison through their system

No one on the corner has swag like us
Hit me on my burner prepaid wireless
We pack and deliver like UPS trucks
Already going hell just pumping that gas

No one on the corner has swag like us
Hit me on my burner prepaid wireless
We pack and deliver like UPS trucks
Already going hell just pumping that gas

All I wanna do is
And a
And take your money
All I wanna do is
And a
And take your money

All I wanna do is
And a
And take your money
All I wanna do is
And a
And take your money

M.I.A.
Third world democracy
Yeah, I got more records than the K.G.B.
So, uh, no funny business

Some some some I some I murder
Some I some I let go
Some some some I some I murder
Some I some I let go

All I wanna do is
And a
And take your money
All I wanna do is
And a
And take your money

All I wanna do is
And a
And take your money
All I wanna do is
And a
And take your money

(IV.VIII.MMVIII)

Sunday, 07.20.08

I got my voter's registration in the mail today (its Sunday, so I must have gotten it yesterday). I am very proud of this peice of paper. I guess I now have to keep a closer eye on politics so I can make a somewhat educated decision, for whatever that's worth.

I watched The Dark Knight Friday morning and, might I add, it was amazing: it is very rare to find movies that can add this much depth to so many characters and still keep the film entertaining. The Joker is best described as a homicidal Jack Sparrow, with cunning, wit and manipulation as his primary weapons, staying in complete control of the events transpiring at all times. Not too sure how the sequel is going to work out, given the [spoiler: mouseover to reveal spoiler] questionable status of some of the character's and Heath Ledger's inability to reprise his, or any, role. [/spoiler] I look forward to seeing it again. I'll attempt to post a formal review after a second viewing

I am currently working on a SW RPG (d6, of course) web application that is essentially a searchable database of characters as my final project for my current class... I am meeting with mixed results, but its proving to be an interesting journey.

We now own a kick-ass DSLR (a nikon D40, to be specific). Becky found a package deal at Costco that beats my Best Buy employee discount: the body, lens, zoom lens and 2GB SD card for $550. Its pretty sweet, I've been playing with it all week.

(XX.VII.MMVIII)

Saturday, 07.05.08

As of 1500 on July 1, 2008 I am an American citizen.

Much congratualtions have come my way, including those of family, friends and co-workers. Its an exciting time: Fourth of July as a citizen, a Presidential election year. With the start of the new week, I will begin working on getting registered to vote, an American passport and maybe even look into what's involved in the purchase of a firearm (yea, I can own a gun now, how scary is that?). We are having a "Red, White and Blue" party next Saturday to celebrate this special occasion. I'm sure it will involve much fun, pool-ness and alcohol :o)

In other news: I'm working on updating my reviews page... there is a lot to say about a great many movies.

(V.VII.MMVIII)

Tuesday, 05.28.08

http://black20.com/black20-trailer-park/indiana-jones-behind-fedora

(XXVIII.V.MMVIII)

Tuesday, 05.27.08

I've got ink on my mind.
I'm thinking of finally getting my sun cross (its insane how many different names one symbol can have). I'd like some celtic style knotwork in it, but I can't draw that sort of coolness, but I'd also like something that I draw, which leaves me in a bit of a delema.

Speaking of delemas, I'm torn... I'm not sure how I feel about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I've been wracking my brain since I saw the first half Wednesday night... AHHH! I just don't know!
It'll come to me, I'm sure.

And that means its time for this eveneing's musical selection: a little ditty I dug up for you. Yea thats a lie, I listened to it quite a few time during the course of the last week. and here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbLZvzMOZpc. That be Orbital and the rmx of the Dr. Who theme.... yeah, its British. If you look really closely, you can see a goofy looking guy with a scarf floating through outer space.

Might I take a moment to recommend Guy Ritchie's Revolver? It really is quite good. Oh shit... did I just say I'm unsure about and Indiana Jones movie while at the same time unwaveringly promoting a Guy Ritchie movie? I'll repeat myself: oh shit.

I'm tired.

good night and good morning

(XXVII.V.MMVIII)

Monday, 05.19.08

A cute little white-boy rap about all of man's accomplishments that I heard on the radio on the way home.
No, but really, you should check out the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuK2A1ZqoWs

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

Look at me, look at me
hands in the air like it's good to be
ALIVE
and I'm a famous rapper
even when the paths're all crookedy
I can show you how to do-si-do
I can show you how to scratch a record
I can take apart the remote control
And I can almost put it back together
I can tie a knot in a cherry stem
I can tell you about Leif Ericson
I know all the words to "De Colores"
And "I'm Proud to be an American"
Me and my friend saw a platypus
Me and my friend made a comic book
And guess how long it took
I can do anything that I want cuz, look:

I can keep rhythm with no metronome
No metronome
No metronome

And I can see your face on the telephone
On the telephone
On the telephone

Look at me
Look at me
Just called to say that it's good to be
Alive
In such a small world
I'm all curled up with a book to read
I can make money open up a thrift store
I can make a living off a magazine
I can design an engine sixty four
Miles to a gallon of gasoline
I can make new antibiotics
I can make computers survive aquatic conditions
I know how to run a business
I can make you wanna buy a product
Movers shakers and producers
Me and my friends understand the future
I see the strings that control the systems
I can do anything with no assistance
Cuz I can lead a nation with a microphone
With a microphone
With a microphone
And I can split the atom of a molecule
Of a molecule
Of a molecule

Look at me
Look at me
Driving and I won't stop
And it feels so good to be
Alive and on top
My reach is global
My tower secure
My cause is noble
My power is pure
I can hand out a million vaccinations
Or let'em all die in exasperation
Have'em all healed of their lacerations
Have'em all killed by assassination
I can make anybody go to prison
Just because I don't like'em and
I can do anything with no permission
I have it all under my command
Because I can guide a missile by satellite
By satellite
By satellite
And I can hit a target through a telescope
Through a telescope
Through a telescope
And I can end the planet in a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

The Flobots - Handlebars

(XIX.V.MMVIII)

Tuesday, 05.13.08

hi.

i have to be at work in six hours and I haven't gone to bed yet. I like to keep my life interesting :o) I'm drinkin the icehouse cuz, quite frankly, someone has to.

I have been ... let me backtrack: so at work I spend about half my day on the computer. there was a time when they would let me listen to pandora.com but someone got wise to my ways and now I am no longer allowed to stream audio to my work computer (who'd've thought). so at any rate, I needs me some music so I have been slowly but surely adding snazzy tunage to my own site (linked from tunes above), most of which comes from youtube (they'll let me have youtube, but no pandora, I dunno). I've been exploring my musical tastes to some depth and I am quite interested in the number of genres represented.

That's all I have. good morning.

and let me conclude by saying just one thing:
WEEEEEEEEEE!

addendum:
I need a big-ole glass of fukitall... I care too dam much

(XIII.V.MMVIII)

Wednesday, 04.30.08

Sándor's commentary on the state of the universe:
Star Wars is full of shit: Good and Evil are not mutually exclusive.
A little bit of trance'll do everyone some good.
Wine is still super tasty.

Life seems so simple and beautiful after a bottle of wine; I've almost forgot why I used to drink it like water in the first place. Burn some incense, turn the lights down, pop in some splendidly depressing movie to help appreciate what you've got and just bask in your own existence, for better or for worse.

Happy anniversary to moi et mon amour. Its been two years that she's put up with me. I wonder what our kids'll be like (prob'ly have some fuckin' awesome hair :o). We had dinner at Fonduely Yours in Mount P. It was grand and fun. So we had a cheese fondue for an appetizer, all kinds of meat fried by us for an auntres, a chocolate fondue for dessert, and a bottle of wine... ok, so I had the bottle of wine, but the rest is true.

Its much fun trying to get your homework turned in when you can't even walk straight, but I managed.

If I might make one suggestion, it would be to listen to this one track: drunk or sober, straight of effed up, its a beautiful symphony of gloriousness in an emotionally charged, easy to swallow capsule... and here it is: Orbital's One Perfect Sunshine. Might I recommend blasting it whilst alone.

And so I'm off to do husbandly stuff (I'm ripping lettuce), but I look forward to our next chat.

(XXX.IV.MMVIII)

Saturday, 04.12.08

GAMBIT IS IN THE NEW X-MEN!
About Dam Time!
He will be played by Taylor Kitsch; this is someone I am not familiar with. Also, everyone's favorite Ryan Reynolds will be playing Deadpool (I know, I had to research him too :o) This character is know for breaking the fourth wall, i.e, he is aware that he is in a comic book (it ought to be interesting to see how they handle this on the big screen).

(XII.IV.MMVIII)

Wednesday, 03.05.08

Song of the week: Rehab by Amy Winehouse.

Quote of the day: "Dude. You're action-packed with issues!"
-Ryan, 40 Days and 40 Nights (amazing movie, btw)

My telescope rocks! Celestron is promising to send me a new bolt for the counterweight... not sure how much good that'll do me, though, since the old bolt is broken inside the weight. I reckon I'll have to break out the drill [evil laugh makes me think of Hostel]. telescope.com never sent me my complete order: homeboy said they'd mail it out last tuesday of last week. That was the last I'd heard from them.

I have started work on another pro-bono project: a scrapbooking business site for my wife and her sister.

School is struggling a bit this quarter: I just can't seem to get motivated.

I have been able to install the front portion of my suspension, leaving the back for another weekend project. The window cranky thing was for the four door focus, so it didn't fit. I realized this after I had the door taken apart. After half-ass putting it back together, I got it exchanged at the dealership and it's been in the backseat ever since. Ghetto fabilus, bee-otch!

I prominant member of my family expressed some anxiety about the "complex" operation of the home theater system: I am buying a universal remote so's that everything can be turned on with the press of a button. Yay! Toys for boys :o) I got a Yamaha 5.1 surround sound system that I hooked up to my old receiver and new speaker stands I had gotten from my father-in-law; the back speakers are mounted on the wall, but not hooked up since I found that the wireless satelite speaker thing requires that the two back speakers get wired to one another.

I have found a glorious and tasty beverage: Captain Morgan Private Stock is quite delicious on ice.

I think I may be getting the hang of my new job. I feel a little less stressed and flustered with each passing day. I have an all nighter to look forward to on Sunday [getting out at two is not totally unexpected], as I am helping the Summerville store do their inventory.

I saw snow for the first time in years: we drove up to West Virginia fot he weekend to help Backy's aunt do her charity thing. I got to do sound tech stuff: it worked out pretty well since I have absolute no knowledge about that sor tof thing except what I picked up from Andy. Good thing all the techie shit was done by the time I got there "and the monkey flips the switch" [Major West, Lost In Space (1998)] was pretty much the extent of my duties. We woke up Saturday morning to a pretty decent snow falling, adding to the inch or two already accumulated on the ground. It was amazingly beautiful. All in all, it was a pretty fun trip, and it wasn't bad getting out of Charleston for a weekend.

And so, as I look to my empty glass, I ask myself: "Why's all the rum gone?" [Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl]. Not very original as far as quotes go, but its applicable. Good night.

(V.III.MMVIII)

Friday, 01.25.08

Rest in peace, Heathcliff Andrew Ledger (b. 4 april 1979, d. 22 january 2008).
I was looking forward to seeing so much more great work from him...

A few links I found:
imdb.com - main | imdb.com - biography | wikipedia.com | askmen.com | heathheathens.com.

On a lighter note, I have two cavities and the bones in my neck are beginning to fuse together. Yeah I had a marvelous visit with the dentist yesterday morning. The layout of all the shiny, sharp tool reminded me of Saw and the scraping and gouging that followed didn't help matters much.

After having horrible pains in my neck and back (I couldn't sleep or eat) I made an appointment with Becky's chiropractor, and a good thing it was, too since much is wrong with me (in that department, at any rate). Years of squatting in front of the computer and poor posture have completely thrown the alignment of my neck off and caused three bones to start fusing. My neck arches forward and curves to one side instead of arching back and my head is too far forward and tilted to one side. These are all major variances, since even I could see the out-of-wack-ness of the setup on the x-rays.

Yeah, its not pretty. I now am having to start on a regiment of specific exercises, alignments and traction to slowly correct the problem. That's the good news: at least it looks like it could still be corrected. So much for my perfect body, eh?

I have officially retired my boots. Actually, they aren't retired because Mihály now has them after having bought me a new pair (they're in the mail).

My programming classes are kicking my ass: I am spending hours and hours on an assignment with little to show for it (most of the time) and I still have finals to figure out. I guess blogging instead of doing homework isn't helping the matter much.

That having been said, we should observe a moment of silence for the departed [...] and head out about our business.

(XXV.I.MMVIII)

Sunday, 01.13.08

Happy new year, everyone.

I just saw the long-awaited Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I'm gonna give it a chance, but the script and dialogue was pretty weak. Having recorded it, I am currently working on ripping the recording, and perhaps converting it to .AVI (an overnight venture since the countdown says an hour and this was at 11pm).

Currently enjoy the weekly webcast at this location: http://www.awcast.com/view?1pb=jsa6km; it appears to be a local DJ webcast aired between 7 and 11pm every sunday... looks pretty cool.

The class I am currently taking is going to teach me how to build forums, discussion boards and/or guestbooks, so look forward to the addition of some of those features (please offer suggestions as to which you might like to see :o).

I'm getting a merit raise (retroactive from last month), a promotion, and a promotion raise. I start my training for the full-time SWAT postition at Best Buy (I count shit... all. day. long. :o) in the a.m. Its a 0700-1500, Monday thru Friday type of gig, which is nice because I'm going to need a whole weekend to swap out my suspension (I bought and received the SVT suspension kit for the focus: 3/4 inch drop and fatter rear sway bar are all kinds a nice :o). And so tomorrows my first day training for this new position, and I have to be at the summerville store at 7:00 so I'm going to hit the hay.

Ciao

(XIII.I.MMVIII)

Thursday, 12.06.07

Happy Mikulás everyone. I hope you left your boots on your window-sils.

Well. My car is fixed and running smoothly (although I still have to get the spare key from the mechanic). To try and offset the cost of repairs I though I'd sell my TV (I ran down my mental list of assets, didn't take too long, and concluded that the TV might bring a buck or two). I turned to craigslist.org and listed my sweet setup. a day or two later I hear from a potential buyer. Sweet. We agree on a price and she tells me she'll send me a check. Upon receiving this check, I'm to take out my share and western union the rest to her shipper so he may pick it up. A week later I get the check... for $2650 more then the cost of the TV. Alarm bells start going off. She is in New York, her check is drawn on a Texas bank and her shipper is in Massachusetts. More alarm bells. I talk to my bank manager who informs me that this is becoming more and more of a common scheme and assures me that the check will not clear. Heeding his advice I deposit the check and wait for it to clear, despite the buyer's insistance to hurry. The check did not clear. I got a letter in the mail that said the check was a counterfeit. I am waiting for the morning so I may go to the bank and see what the next step is.

I saw Hitman last night. I was pleased, but I think that what I will remember most and longest from the evening is the AvP-R trailer. "In space, no one can hear you scream. On Earth, it won't matter." It was glorious.

I wrote a program that, it appears, only I can read.

I went to North Carolina and spent Thanksgiving with the in-laws. It was fun. Had stuffing balls, played Halo, climbed a rock.

(VI.XII.MMVII)

Friday, 11.09.07

So the beloved Focus is in the shop... it would appear that the clutch is less then 100%. I am especially not happy about this because of the monetary setbacks that the repairs will have. Hopefully the process will go smoothly, leaving me with a fully functioning hatchback once again.

I have given my notice at the Red Orchid [link unavailable since they have no web site]; Tuesday will be my last day. Let me just say that, even though I am grateful for the opportunity to try something new, the food and bev industry is most certainly not for me. I guess its better to have tried and failed then not to have tried at all... not sure who said that, but it sure sounds good. I will now be able to devote more time to my lovely wife, fine furry animals, my education and Best Buy (yay Best Buy!). Ergo, my new availability at my one and only place of employment will leave Sunday evenings open in an effort to try and organize some sort of quasi-regular gaming party, for I do so miss my RPGs. I'm at the point were I would settle for a session of the d20/level-based system which I am not especially fond of in order to get my gaming fix, although I would rather enjoy exploring the Masterbook or Serenity systems.

I think I ate something that didn't agree with me, for my tummy has been in upheaval for most of the day, getting progressively worse as the evening lingers on.

And I'm off, but I think most of you already know that... I have readings to do in preparation for this week's assignments.

May the Force be with you.

(IX.XI.MMVII)

Saturday, 10.13.07

I've been working my two jobs. It sucks and makes me not happy. What can you do. I'm looking forward to my Best Buy discount, though; not that I can use it, but it would be nice to have. My concern is: what's going to happen when my school workload is doubled in three weeks and I have to work from 9 am to 11 pm which is what happens on days I have to work both jobs. despite this shit work schedule, I still get two days of a week (not sure how I make that happen but its cool) and I had a grand Crowleymas... don't ask me what that is, Mihály told me thats what yesterday was and I just went with it (it involved watching Cowboy Bebop).

We're trying to work out some finances: every financial thing suggest your housing expenses be about 33% of the household's income... ours is 55%. Hmmm.

Gave myself another haircut... I think this one may have turned out just a tad too short, but it'll grow back. Major problem, though: the fedora is far too big now that I don't have all that padding/hair :o(

Oh, yeah... and if this is true, then they [read: hollywood] may have some sense after all, either that or they just read my blog after the first one and realized "Hey wait, that Hungarian does have a point! What the Eff were we thinking?!?!". You'll please take note that the movie that is scheduled for release on 12.26.07 is rated R. SUH-WHEET!

(XIII.X.MMVII)

Saturday, 09.11.07

I told you I wasn't happy with the last layout so this is the newest new layout... [hit refresh if nothing's different]. Considerably more elegent.

(XI.IX.MMVII)

Saturday, 09.08.07

I'm happy to present the new layout that I've been working on for two days. The interface has the potential to be much easier for navigation purposes, but the memory requirements are much higher. The graphics are a pain to maintain and I'm not entirely happy with it just yet (the pop up menus are clunky and seem unorganized and thrown together). But, this is what I have for now. Now I get to go back and spend another day trying to figure out how to insert Becky's blog and my myspace into the links tab.

(VIII.IX.MMVII)