23 December 2005
19 December 2005
Bye Bye Diebold!!!
I'm glad Sancho took the chance to test the crappy product Diebold puts out. I will feel much more secure in my votes in 06.
15 December 2005
This is pretty awesome...
From representative John Dingell (D-MI), a poem in response the the truly absurd HR579 'protecting' Christmas from whatever imaginary attack it is that the completely-out-of-touch-with-reality Bill O'Reilly sees.
'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the House,
no bills were passed `bout which Fox News could grouse.
Tax cuts for the wealthy were passed with great cheer,
so vacations in St. Barts soon should be near.
Katrina kids were all nestled snug in motel beds,
while visions of school and home danced in their heads.
In Iraq, our soldiers need supplies and a plan,
and nuclear weapons are being built in Iran.
Gas prices shot up, consumer confidence fell.
Americans feared we were in a fast track to ..... well.
Wait, we need a distraction, something divisive and wily,
a fabrication straight from the mouth of O'Reilly.
We will pretend Christmas is under attack,
hold a vote to save it, then pat ourselves on the back.
Silent Night, First Noel, Away in the Manger,
Wake up Congress, they're in no danger.
This time of year, we see Christmas everywhere we go,
From churches to homes to schools and, yes, even Costco.
What we have is an attempt to divide and destroy
when this is the season to unite us with joy.
At Christmastime, we're taught to unite.
We don't need a made-up reason to fight.
So on O'Reilly, on Hannity, on Coulter and those right-wing blogs.
You should sit back and relax, have a few egg nogs.
'Tis the holiday season; enjoy it a pinch.
With all our real problems, do we really need another Grinch?
So to my friends and my colleagues, I say with delight,
a Merry Christmas to all, and to Bill O'Reilly, happy holidays.
Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas."
'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the House,
no bills were passed `bout which Fox News could grouse.
Tax cuts for the wealthy were passed with great cheer,
so vacations in St. Barts soon should be near.
Katrina kids were all nestled snug in motel beds,
while visions of school and home danced in their heads.
In Iraq, our soldiers need supplies and a plan,
and nuclear weapons are being built in Iran.
Gas prices shot up, consumer confidence fell.
Americans feared we were in a fast track to ..... well.
Wait, we need a distraction, something divisive and wily,
a fabrication straight from the mouth of O'Reilly.
We will pretend Christmas is under attack,
hold a vote to save it, then pat ourselves on the back.
Silent Night, First Noel, Away in the Manger,
Wake up Congress, they're in no danger.
This time of year, we see Christmas everywhere we go,
From churches to homes to schools and, yes, even Costco.
What we have is an attempt to divide and destroy
when this is the season to unite us with joy.
At Christmastime, we're taught to unite.
We don't need a made-up reason to fight.
So on O'Reilly, on Hannity, on Coulter and those right-wing blogs.
You should sit back and relax, have a few egg nogs.
'Tis the holiday season; enjoy it a pinch.
With all our real problems, do we really need another Grinch?
So to my friends and my colleagues, I say with delight,
a Merry Christmas to all, and to Bill O'Reilly, happy holidays.
Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas."
11 December 2005
Dance across the world!
Or at least something that sorta kinda resembles dancing. Sorta.
Not really though.
Not really though.
29 November 2005
I'm not sure this is what JK Rowling had in mind...
But woah, go Fluer!
And of course, the French dude doesn't know what to do...
And of course, the French dude doesn't know what to do...
22 November 2005
15 November 2005
12 November 2005
Vin Diesel
1) Vin Diesel once walked down the street with a massive erection. There were no survivors.
2) If you rearrange the letters in Vin Diesel it reveals his credo: "I End Lives."
3) There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures Vin Diesel allows to live.
4) When Vin Diesel goes to donate blood, he declines the syringe, and instead requests a hand gun and a bucket.
5) Helicopters were invented after someone witnessed Vin Diesel pivoting while aroused.
6) There is no "I" in team. There are two "I"s in Vin Diesel. Fuck you, team.
7) In an average living room there are 1,242 objects Vin Diesel could use to kill you, including the room itself.
8) Vin Diesel can win a game of Monopoly without owning any property.
9) Vin Diesel has always been able to find Waldo, except for one time. He found himself stumped on the last page of Where's Waldo Now?, not being able to find the Waldo without a shoe. He threw the book down and screamed, "This is BULLSHIT!" They're all wearing shoes." He then proceeded to eat the book and exclaim, "IF I CAN'T FIND WALDO, THEN NO ONE CAN!" The book he ate belonged to a child that he had borrowed it from. The child began to cry and Vin ate him for good measure. The incident has since been refered to as Christmas.
10) Vin Diesel is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
11) Vin Diesel once beat Super Mario Bros 3 without even touching his Nintendo controller. He just yelled at his TV in between bites of his "Filet of Child" sandwich, and the game beat itself out of fear.
12) Vin Diesel is the only man to ever defeat a brick wall in a game of tennis.
13) Vin Diesel has two speeds: walk and kill.
14) When Vin Diesel jumps into a body of water, he doesn't get wet. The water gets Vin instead.
15) Vin Diesel can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass. At night.
16) When Vin Diesel was born, the nurse said, "Holy crap! That's Vin Diesel!" Then she had had sex with him. At that point, she was the third girl he had slept with.
17) If you were to lock Vin Diesel in a room with a guitar, a year later you would have the greatest album ever, it would sweep the Grammy's. When asked why he doesn't do this Vin replied "Because Grammy's are for queers." then he ate a knife to show the seriousness of his response.
18) Vin Diesel played Russian Roulete with a fully loaded gun and won.
19) Vin Diesel was the hunter who shot Bambi's Mother. He then wore her carcass like it was a coat while he made his rounds at the local children's hospital.
20) Vin Diesel coined the phrase, "I could eat a Horse" after he ate every last unicorn in existence.
21) It takes 14 puppeteers to make Vin Diesel smile, but only 2 to make him destroy an orphanage.
22) Vin Diesel is not lactose intolerant, he just refuses to put up with lactose's shit.
23) On his birthday, Vin Diesel randomly selects one lucky child to be thrown into the sun.
24) When Vin Diesel does a pushup, he isn't lifting himself up, he's pushing the Earth down.
25) In fine print at on the last page of the Guiness Book of World Records it notes that all world records are held by Vin Diesel, and those listed in the book are simply the closest anyone has ever come to matching him.
26) Vin Diesel can divide by zero.
27) Vin Diesel's hair is too afraid of him to grow.
28) Magnetic compasses do not point toward true North - they point in the direction of Vin Diesel. He just likes to sit on a lawn chair and shout, "Jackets are for pussies!" at the Acrtic researchers.
29) You are what you eat. That is why Vin Diesel's diet consists entirely of bricks, steel, and the tears of small children.
30) During a stay at Neverland Ranch in the 80's, Vin Diesel was awoken by Michael Jackson who was trying to sneak into his bed. Vin punched Jackson so hard that he knocked the black right off of him.
2) If you rearrange the letters in Vin Diesel it reveals his credo: "I End Lives."
3) There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures Vin Diesel allows to live.
4) When Vin Diesel goes to donate blood, he declines the syringe, and instead requests a hand gun and a bucket.
5) Helicopters were invented after someone witnessed Vin Diesel pivoting while aroused.
6) There is no "I" in team. There are two "I"s in Vin Diesel. Fuck you, team.
7) In an average living room there are 1,242 objects Vin Diesel could use to kill you, including the room itself.
8) Vin Diesel can win a game of Monopoly without owning any property.
9) Vin Diesel has always been able to find Waldo, except for one time. He found himself stumped on the last page of Where's Waldo Now?, not being able to find the Waldo without a shoe. He threw the book down and screamed, "This is BULLSHIT!" They're all wearing shoes." He then proceeded to eat the book and exclaim, "IF I CAN'T FIND WALDO, THEN NO ONE CAN!" The book he ate belonged to a child that he had borrowed it from. The child began to cry and Vin ate him for good measure. The incident has since been refered to as Christmas.
10) Vin Diesel is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
11) Vin Diesel once beat Super Mario Bros 3 without even touching his Nintendo controller. He just yelled at his TV in between bites of his "Filet of Child" sandwich, and the game beat itself out of fear.
12) Vin Diesel is the only man to ever defeat a brick wall in a game of tennis.
13) Vin Diesel has two speeds: walk and kill.
14) When Vin Diesel jumps into a body of water, he doesn't get wet. The water gets Vin instead.
15) Vin Diesel can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass. At night.
16) When Vin Diesel was born, the nurse said, "Holy crap! That's Vin Diesel!" Then she had had sex with him. At that point, she was the third girl he had slept with.
17) If you were to lock Vin Diesel in a room with a guitar, a year later you would have the greatest album ever, it would sweep the Grammy's. When asked why he doesn't do this Vin replied "Because Grammy's are for queers." then he ate a knife to show the seriousness of his response.
18) Vin Diesel played Russian Roulete with a fully loaded gun and won.
19) Vin Diesel was the hunter who shot Bambi's Mother. He then wore her carcass like it was a coat while he made his rounds at the local children's hospital.
20) Vin Diesel coined the phrase, "I could eat a Horse" after he ate every last unicorn in existence.
21) It takes 14 puppeteers to make Vin Diesel smile, but only 2 to make him destroy an orphanage.
22) Vin Diesel is not lactose intolerant, he just refuses to put up with lactose's shit.
23) On his birthday, Vin Diesel randomly selects one lucky child to be thrown into the sun.
24) When Vin Diesel does a pushup, he isn't lifting himself up, he's pushing the Earth down.
25) In fine print at on the last page of the Guiness Book of World Records it notes that all world records are held by Vin Diesel, and those listed in the book are simply the closest anyone has ever come to matching him.
26) Vin Diesel can divide by zero.
27) Vin Diesel's hair is too afraid of him to grow.
28) Magnetic compasses do not point toward true North - they point in the direction of Vin Diesel. He just likes to sit on a lawn chair and shout, "Jackets are for pussies!" at the Acrtic researchers.
29) You are what you eat. That is why Vin Diesel's diet consists entirely of bricks, steel, and the tears of small children.
30) During a stay at Neverland Ranch in the 80's, Vin Diesel was awoken by Michael Jackson who was trying to sneak into his bed. Vin punched Jackson so hard that he knocked the black right off of him.
11 November 2005
07 November 2005
28 October 2005
22 October 2005
18 October 2005
OK This Is Pretty Stupid
No clue why you'd want to put TWO engines into a crappy ass VW GTI, but whatever. The bitch asplodes. Best part is the choice of music they used at the end.
11 October 2005
28 September 2005
Now Comes The Hard Part
Indictments are nice, but convictions are better. Hopefully this will be the first in a long line of indictments for the crooked sons of bitches we have in Washington.
This country will be better off with more politicians in jail.
This country will be better off with more politicians in jail.
Pretty Teh Awesome!
This thing is pretty cool. I've seen another vehicle protype with a similar tilting principle, and also three wheeled, but inverted with one unpowered wheel in front and two powered wheels in back. I tend to think this guy's approach is better as it gives more forward stability, which is important for turning.
I'd love to see stuff like this get mass produced, but Big Auto doesn't care about things like innovation, safety, fuel efficiency, convenience, affordability....
Oh well.
I'd love to see stuff like this get mass produced, but Big Auto doesn't care about things like innovation, safety, fuel efficiency, convenience, affordability....
Oh well.
26 September 2005
Gee, Ya Think?
$600 sho' is a lot of money...for me to poop on!
Actually, 600 bucks is almost enough to fill up your car's tank with gas. For a week.
Actually, 600 bucks is almost enough to fill up your car's tank with gas. For a week.
13 September 2005
Bush Finally Accepts Fault For Something
Its a start. Now lets see if he'll accept fault for all of his other fuckups.
Probably not.
Of course, it took the prodding of the media, the outrage of the nation, and of course dismal polling results to get him to this point. Now it is up to the public to keep the pressure on this asshat and finally hold him accountable for the unbelievable level of incompetence, cronyism and outright corruption he has wrought on this country.
He has managed to make Bill Clinton look like a decent president.
How the FUCK do you make Bill Clinton look good!? Jesus.
Probably not.
Of course, it took the prodding of the media, the outrage of the nation, and of course dismal polling results to get him to this point. Now it is up to the public to keep the pressure on this asshat and finally hold him accountable for the unbelievable level of incompetence, cronyism and outright corruption he has wrought on this country.
He has managed to make Bill Clinton look like a decent president.
How the FUCK do you make Bill Clinton look good!? Jesus.
23 August 2005
14 August 2005
12 August 2005
We ARE God
You want to know why religious fundamentalists hate science so much? It is because little by little we have attained 'powers' once only attributed to the supernatural. We are cracking the codes of the universe, slowly but surely, and making the religious concept of God obsolete as a byproduct.
Think about it, if we were to somehow go back in time with the technology we have now...one thousand, two thousand...ten thousand years ago...we would be as gods to the people we met.
Think about it, if we were to somehow go back in time with the technology we have now...one thousand, two thousand...ten thousand years ago...we would be as gods to the people we met.
05 August 2005
Mark McHale
Mark McHale is FSU's new offensive line coach. We got to listen to him speak last night at a College Avenue Seminoles meeting. He's a good speaker, and seemed like a straight shooter. I left there feeling a lot more confident in Bowden's choice for the position and for the future of the team.
There was a Q&A potion, and of course someone asked a question insinuating that he would be the real play caller with Jeff Bowden as a figurehead (which is what everyone in the world suspects is the case). To his credit, McHale handled this question appropriately I thought. He said (rough quote) 'Jeff Bowden is the offensive coordinator, I am the offensive line coach, and Jeff Bowden will be calling plays.' He said it in a fairly forceful way too. If he had said it in a sort of *nudge nudge wink wink* way, I think that would have been bad for the program in general. When you do something like that and players see it, it sows a seed of dissent in their minds and they lose respect for the chain of command. Same thing for other coaches hearing that. And of course, if media and fans get ahold of it...well pretty soon you've got a whole field full of dissent, and that's not what you want to harvest. We've had enough infighting over the past few years, and I hope that stops now.
Someone also asked him if he would comment about what kinds of things were wrong with the offensive line last year, and again to his credit, he wouldn't answer. Everyone knows we had ..uh...issues last year on the line, but McHale didn't spend time bashing someone who wasn't there to defend himseld, and I respect that. He did seem pretty focused on moving forward and teaching his style of O-Line play with zone blocking schemes and whatnot, and he seemed very competent.
I asked him if we might see some spread offense this year and he jumped all over that, shooting it down. His point though was that with a beat up line and two redshirt freshmen QB's, we're probably going to be seeing a very simple offense. Spread offenses are not simple. I did talk to him a bit more about it after the meeting and he seemed pretty excited about the future once we've got a healthy deep line and more experienced QB's. His eyes lit up when talking about the atheletes he has to work with, which are clearly some of the best he's had to work with.
So, so far I like the guy. He's nice and he's funny, which I think will mesh in well with the staff and players we have.
There was a Q&A potion, and of course someone asked a question insinuating that he would be the real play caller with Jeff Bowden as a figurehead (which is what everyone in the world suspects is the case). To his credit, McHale handled this question appropriately I thought. He said (rough quote) 'Jeff Bowden is the offensive coordinator, I am the offensive line coach, and Jeff Bowden will be calling plays.' He said it in a fairly forceful way too. If he had said it in a sort of *nudge nudge wink wink* way, I think that would have been bad for the program in general. When you do something like that and players see it, it sows a seed of dissent in their minds and they lose respect for the chain of command. Same thing for other coaches hearing that. And of course, if media and fans get ahold of it...well pretty soon you've got a whole field full of dissent, and that's not what you want to harvest. We've had enough infighting over the past few years, and I hope that stops now.
Someone also asked him if he would comment about what kinds of things were wrong with the offensive line last year, and again to his credit, he wouldn't answer. Everyone knows we had ..uh...issues last year on the line, but McHale didn't spend time bashing someone who wasn't there to defend himseld, and I respect that. He did seem pretty focused on moving forward and teaching his style of O-Line play with zone blocking schemes and whatnot, and he seemed very competent.
I asked him if we might see some spread offense this year and he jumped all over that, shooting it down. His point though was that with a beat up line and two redshirt freshmen QB's, we're probably going to be seeing a very simple offense. Spread offenses are not simple. I did talk to him a bit more about it after the meeting and he seemed pretty excited about the future once we've got a healthy deep line and more experienced QB's. His eyes lit up when talking about the atheletes he has to work with, which are clearly some of the best he's had to work with.
So, so far I like the guy. He's nice and he's funny, which I think will mesh in well with the staff and players we have.
24 July 2005
Wedding Crashers
Good flick. Go see it. As was pointed out by a friend, it was nice to see a movie that wasn't a remake, wasn't part of a franchise, wasn't obscenely big budget (OK, its possible the cast cost 'em a pretty penny, but if so they were completely worth it) and that was actually original and good.
A real rarity these days.
Now we'll probably see a whole slew of Wedding Crashers clone movies for the next year or two because that's what Hollywood does...fails to innovate.
A real rarity these days.
Now we'll probably see a whole slew of Wedding Crashers clone movies for the next year or two because that's what Hollywood does...fails to innovate.
18 July 2005
Harry Potter And The Halfblood Prince
OK, so I finished reading this last night. As with the previous 5 books, good stuff. Dumbledore gets whacked. But, of course, it isn't as simple as that.
Here's some stuff I have been thinking a little about. I'll re-read the book and see what else I come up with after reading it with foreknowledge.
* 'So I guess Snape really is a bad guy, what with killing Dumbledore and all?' No. Snape has long had opportunities to kill Dumbledore, but has not. Certainly, killing him sooner, especially after the discovery that Voldemort was still alive, would have been top priority if he had really been the bad guy. Rowling never lets anything 'easy' go in the books, so I think Snape-kills-Dumbledore=Snape-is-bad is just her way of keeping us reading. Remember also that Snape did not kill anyone else in the final battle, but rather skipped passed them. He could have also easily killed Harry, but did not, but that can be explained away by saying he was being true to Voldy's orders to leave Harry to him. I could be wrong about Snape, but we'll see.
* Was Dumbledore already dying? Throughout the last few books D had been showing signs of weakening, old-age, what have you. Obviously in this book he'd had a rather nasty problem with one of the Horcruxes, resulting in his withered hand. D is also around 150 years old, which is about the limit Rowling has publicly said that wizards lived without the aid of stuff like philosopher's stones and of course Horcruxes. Add in the potion he had to drink to get the Slytherin necklace Horcrux, and I think he was a goner no matter what.
* I think he KNEW he was going to die. Two possibilities, and both could be true simultaneously. One, he knew he was at the end of his lifespan. Two, he knew - especially after destroying the second Horcrux - that Voldemort's protections on his Horcuxes weren't just preventative, but lethal. I think he knew more about the necklace Horcruxes particular protections (and the fact that it took two people to overcome) than he let on.
* Dumbledore knew about Snape's unbreakable vow, and knew what that meant (and of course knew about the assassination plot). If Malfoy could not complete the task, as D believed he could not, then that would mean that Snape would have to complete it or die. Now, assuming the above that he knew he was already done for anyway, D would have been willing to 'sacrifice' himself dramatically to keep Snape from dying and thus allowing him to continue to work from the inside, which is invaluable.
* 'R.A.B' may be Sirius' brother Regulus. Regulus is the only character with the initials 'R.B.' we have met so far (still fact checking this), and also has an uncle named Alphard, whom he may get his middle initial from. Now, he is supposed to be dead. We knew that he was killed by another Death Eater while he was trying to leave the group. The questions are, WHY was he trying to leave the group, WHO was the Death Eater who killed him, and was his body ever recovered. The 'why' may be related to the Horcruxes, if in fact Regulus is RAB. The 'who' may be Snape. And if the body was never recovered, it would point to another reason why D trusted Snape (cause it would mean he didn't actually kill Regulus) and also imply that Regulus was another hidden source of information for D, because the Death Eaters would think him dead and gone. I will have to read back and see what the circumstances were regarding his death in order to rule one way or the other.
[edit] Thought of a negative for Regulus still being alive: the inheritance. Regulus would have been the closest living relative and this entitled to Grimmauld Place, I think.
* 'R.A.B.' may be: someone else. Insightful, I know. There are a few 'B' last names whom we do not know full names for. For instance, both Borgin and Burkes from the shop in Knockturn Alley. Both of these folks (assuming both still alive) would have chance to know about Horcruxes, since they deal in the Dark Arts.
[edit] Apparently, Burke's first name is Caractucus, so scratch him off.
[edit] OK, so I went back and re-read three chapters, one from OotP and two from HBP. I believe now without a doubt that R.A.B. is in fact Regulus. When I read the part in HBP28 when Harry discovers the locket next to D's body, I didn't read it correctly. Here's the passage:
When I first read that I thought by 'Pensieve' it refered to the basin in the cave, which was described as being like the Pensieve, but now I realize it referred to the Pensieve in D's office that they used to view memories, not the cave basin. Pretty stupid mistake, but J.K. may have been trying to lead the reader that way.
Now, here's where OotP chapter 6 comes in. In this chapter they are 'cleansing' Grimmauld Place, and one of the trinkets they find in the process is a locket! The text:
Note the mention of size. The locket recovered by Harry and D is small, unlike Slytherin's locket, but the one they found in Grimmauld Place was large, possibly the size of the Slyterin locket. The description in OotP isn't enough to confirm this, of course, but it certainly is a possibility.
Then we come to the note from R.A.B.:
Here again I was fooled on first reading, thinking that someone had stolen the locket that Harry and D recovered and replaced it with another after Dumbledore dies. But I think that is wrong. I think that the Slytherin locket that was in the cave was stolen 15-16 years prior to Harry and D arriving...by Regulus. Again, my thinking was that the person switching the locket was still alive, but that doesn't have to be the case if the theft took place long ago and the thief was killed.
And now here's another quote from OotP chapter 6 that I think is key:
I think this is J.K. telling us right here that Regulus discovered how Voldy became immortal, and then she reiterates it more plainly in the note in HBP. Now, I think it is probably safe to say that Regulus knew about what Snape had reported to Voldy from what he overheard of the Prophecy given to D from Trelawny. Voldy would have been ticked,and obviously set things in motion with his minions to put an end to the Prophecy which ultimately lead to the slaying of Harry's parents.
I think, also, that the Slytherin locket Horcrux may already be destroyed, since that is what Regulus said he intended to do with it. I think Regulus knew enough about Horcruxes to know that, under 'regular' circumstances, the soul is split in TWO. I think he believed that having destroyed the Horcrux in the locket, that when Voldy went to meet his 'match' the first time, that he would be mortal and would die then. What he didn't know was that there was already at least one other Horcrux in existence (the Diary), and so of course Voldy didn't die properly.
The other possibility is that the locket he stole and stashed in Grimmauld place hadn't been properly destroyed before Regulus met his end. It is also possible that he DID know about the multiple Horcruxes and had started collecting them. We know Kreacher stashed stuff from the cleansing, it is possible that the Horcruxes may still be around, making it considerably easier on Harry to find them. Honestly, I have no idea how he'd find them otherwise.
* Is Harry a Horcrux? Originally, I thought this may be the case, assuming that it occured when Harry got his scar, but then I thought about the night Harry's parents were killed. The death curse was reflected off of Harry completely and back onto Voldy...who didn't die because he already had several Horcruxes created. Harry couldn't have become a Horcrux at that point because Horcruxes are created AFTER you have killed someone, and of course Harry was not killed. But, then we come to the scene at the end of GoF. Voldy had killed Cedric and then performed his ritual to rebuild his body. It is possible that at this point, Voldy created another Horcrux. After the ritual, Voldemort was able to touch Harry freely as you would expect he would be able to to with any of his Horcruxes. Of course, it could just be a separate side-effect of the restoration ritual and Harry may not be a Horcrux at all.
* Is Wormtail, or more precisely, Wormtail's silver hand a Horcrux? The problem with Harry being a Horcrux is that, well, Voldemort wants Harry dead. If you put part of your soul into Harry and then kill him, you kill part of yourself. Kinda dumb. Then we go back to my original assumption, that Harry became a Horcrux the night his parents were killed. I've said why I don't think that is the case. Wormtail then is another choice, not as an actual Horcrux, but rather as the bearer of one. It is possible that Voldy created the Horcrux in the form of Wormtail's new hand as both a twisted way of rewarding Wormtail for his service and sacrifice and also as a way of keeping the Horcrux safe. Safe? Remember, Wormtail has demonstrated an incredible knack for staying alive when he damn well shouldn't.
* What if Harry WAS a Horcrux? So, maybe I am wrong about Harry not being a Horcrux as a result of the night his parents were killed. It is possible he was, that Voldemort found out about it or figured it out, and that it is precisely this reason why he needed Harry for the restoration...to return a bit of his soul to him so he could be restored. This is tempting, but I still think not. The simple reason being that Voldemort knows the location of his other Horcruxes and could have simply retrieved one at will and used it instead, without all the hassle. No, I think the reason Harry was needed is because the ritual required a bit of Voldy's biggest enemy to succeed.
* What does Horcrux mean? Well, 'crux' is latin for cross. Obviously, the soul had been cut across. 'Hor' however may be tricker. It could mean 'time' (as in Hora, Spanish for hour) or it could be a derivative of 'horr', the lating root meaning 'sudder at' and also the base of words like horrible and horror. I think the later is more likely, and Rowling has taken liberties with the spelling of Latin and Greek roots before. Plus 'horrcrux' would look odd and be a bit too much of a giveaway. But then again, 'time cross' also makes some sense, when you think about what the Horcrux does...grant immortality, which makes time essentially meaningless. Of course, Rowling could mean both.
* Dumbledore was Secret Keeper for the Order. What does his death mean? Is Grimmauld Place now forever protected from discovery, or has that protection now been completely lost?
* What is the significance of Draco crying with Moaning Myrtle? I had speculated way back that Draco would eventually come over to the good side, probably as a result of some sort of betrayal or traumatic event. This seems particularly likely now, given the threat to his family by Voldemort. We also have the death scene where Draco was clearly at odds with himself, and was unable to carry through on the assassination. Now, Rowling being Rowling, it is possible that that is all too easy, and that he really is still a bad guy, and that the whole thing with Myrtle was part of the attempt to repair the cabinet. It is possible that the steps to repair it required some sort of interaction with a ghost...maybe even convincing her to perform a step that a mortal could not.
Here's some stuff I have been thinking a little about. I'll re-read the book and see what else I come up with after reading it with foreknowledge.
* 'So I guess Snape really is a bad guy, what with killing Dumbledore and all?' No. Snape has long had opportunities to kill Dumbledore, but has not. Certainly, killing him sooner, especially after the discovery that Voldemort was still alive, would have been top priority if he had really been the bad guy. Rowling never lets anything 'easy' go in the books, so I think Snape-kills-Dumbledore=Snape-is-bad is just her way of keeping us reading. Remember also that Snape did not kill anyone else in the final battle, but rather skipped passed them. He could have also easily killed Harry, but did not, but that can be explained away by saying he was being true to Voldy's orders to leave Harry to him. I could be wrong about Snape, but we'll see.
* Was Dumbledore already dying? Throughout the last few books D had been showing signs of weakening, old-age, what have you. Obviously in this book he'd had a rather nasty problem with one of the Horcruxes, resulting in his withered hand. D is also around 150 years old, which is about the limit Rowling has publicly said that wizards lived without the aid of stuff like philosopher's stones and of course Horcruxes. Add in the potion he had to drink to get the Slytherin necklace Horcrux, and I think he was a goner no matter what.
* I think he KNEW he was going to die. Two possibilities, and both could be true simultaneously. One, he knew he was at the end of his lifespan. Two, he knew - especially after destroying the second Horcrux - that Voldemort's protections on his Horcuxes weren't just preventative, but lethal. I think he knew more about the necklace Horcruxes particular protections (and the fact that it took two people to overcome) than he let on.
* Dumbledore knew about Snape's unbreakable vow, and knew what that meant (and of course knew about the assassination plot). If Malfoy could not complete the task, as D believed he could not, then that would mean that Snape would have to complete it or die. Now, assuming the above that he knew he was already done for anyway, D would have been willing to 'sacrifice' himself dramatically to keep Snape from dying and thus allowing him to continue to work from the inside, which is invaluable.
* 'R.A.B' may be Sirius' brother Regulus. Regulus is the only character with the initials 'R.B.' we have met so far (still fact checking this), and also has an uncle named Alphard, whom he may get his middle initial from. Now, he is supposed to be dead. We knew that he was killed by another Death Eater while he was trying to leave the group. The questions are, WHY was he trying to leave the group, WHO was the Death Eater who killed him, and was his body ever recovered. The 'why' may be related to the Horcruxes, if in fact Regulus is RAB. The 'who' may be Snape. And if the body was never recovered, it would point to another reason why D trusted Snape (cause it would mean he didn't actually kill Regulus) and also imply that Regulus was another hidden source of information for D, because the Death Eaters would think him dead and gone. I will have to read back and see what the circumstances were regarding his death in order to rule one way or the other.
[edit] Thought of a negative for Regulus still being alive: the inheritance. Regulus would have been the closest living relative and this entitled to Grimmauld Place, I think.
* 'R.A.B.' may be: someone else. Insightful, I know. There are a few 'B' last names whom we do not know full names for. For instance, both Borgin and Burkes from the shop in Knockturn Alley. Both of these folks (assuming both still alive) would have chance to know about Horcruxes, since they deal in the Dark Arts.
[edit] Apparently, Burke's first name is Caractucus, so scratch him off.
[edit] OK, so I went back and re-read three chapters, one from OotP and two from HBP. I believe now without a doubt that R.A.B. is in fact Regulus. When I read the part in HBP28 when Harry discovers the locket next to D's body, I didn't read it correctly. Here's the passage:
The locket they had managed to steal so many hours before had fallen out of Dumbledore's pocket. It had opened, perhaps due to the force with which it hit the ground. And although he could not feel more shock or horror or sadness than he felt already, Harry knew as he picked it up. that there was something wrong...
He turned the locket over in his hands. This was neither as large as the locket he remembered seeing in the Pensieve, nor were there any markings upon it, no sign of the ornate S that was supposed to be Slytherin's mark.
When I first read that I thought by 'Pensieve' it refered to the basin in the cave, which was described as being like the Pensieve, but now I realize it referred to the Pensieve in D's office that they used to view memories, not the cave basin. Pretty stupid mistake, but J.K. may have been trying to lead the reader that way.
Now, here's where OotP chapter 6 comes in. In this chapter they are 'cleansing' Grimmauld Place, and one of the trinkets they find in the process is a locket! The text:
There was a musical box that emitted a faintly sinister, tinkling tune when wound, and they all found themselves becoming curiously weak and sleepy until Ginny had the sense to slam the lid shut; also a heavy locket that none of them could open, a number of ancient seals and, in a dusty box, an Order of Merlin, First Class, that had been awarded to Sirius's grandfather for "Services to the Ministry."
Note the mention of size. The locket recovered by Harry and D is small, unlike Slytherin's locket, but the one they found in Grimmauld Place was large, possibly the size of the Slyterin locket. The description in OotP isn't enough to confirm this, of course, but it certainly is a possibility.
Then we come to the note from R.A.B.:
To the Dark Lord. I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more.
Here again I was fooled on first reading, thinking that someone had stolen the locket that Harry and D recovered and replaced it with another after Dumbledore dies. But I think that is wrong. I think that the Slytherin locket that was in the cave was stolen 15-16 years prior to Harry and D arriving...by Regulus. Again, my thinking was that the person switching the locket was still alive, but that doesn't have to be the case if the theft took place long ago and the thief was killed.
And now here's another quote from OotP chapter 6 that I think is key:
They [Sirius's parents] weren't alone either, there were quite a few people, before Voldemort showed his true colors, who thought he had the right idea about things....They got cold feet when they saw what he was prepared to do to get power, though. But I bet my parents thought Regulus was a right little hero for joining up at first.
I think this is J.K. telling us right here that Regulus discovered how Voldy became immortal, and then she reiterates it more plainly in the note in HBP. Now, I think it is probably safe to say that Regulus knew about what Snape had reported to Voldy from what he overheard of the Prophecy given to D from Trelawny. Voldy would have been ticked,and obviously set things in motion with his minions to put an end to the Prophecy which ultimately lead to the slaying of Harry's parents.
I think, also, that the Slytherin locket Horcrux may already be destroyed, since that is what Regulus said he intended to do with it. I think Regulus knew enough about Horcruxes to know that, under 'regular' circumstances, the soul is split in TWO. I think he believed that having destroyed the Horcrux in the locket, that when Voldy went to meet his 'match' the first time, that he would be mortal and would die then. What he didn't know was that there was already at least one other Horcrux in existence (the Diary), and so of course Voldy didn't die properly.
The other possibility is that the locket he stole and stashed in Grimmauld place hadn't been properly destroyed before Regulus met his end. It is also possible that he DID know about the multiple Horcruxes and had started collecting them. We know Kreacher stashed stuff from the cleansing, it is possible that the Horcruxes may still be around, making it considerably easier on Harry to find them. Honestly, I have no idea how he'd find them otherwise.
* Is Harry a Horcrux? Originally, I thought this may be the case, assuming that it occured when Harry got his scar, but then I thought about the night Harry's parents were killed. The death curse was reflected off of Harry completely and back onto Voldy...who didn't die because he already had several Horcruxes created. Harry couldn't have become a Horcrux at that point because Horcruxes are created AFTER you have killed someone, and of course Harry was not killed. But, then we come to the scene at the end of GoF. Voldy had killed Cedric and then performed his ritual to rebuild his body. It is possible that at this point, Voldy created another Horcrux. After the ritual, Voldemort was able to touch Harry freely as you would expect he would be able to to with any of his Horcruxes. Of course, it could just be a separate side-effect of the restoration ritual and Harry may not be a Horcrux at all.
* Is Wormtail, or more precisely, Wormtail's silver hand a Horcrux? The problem with Harry being a Horcrux is that, well, Voldemort wants Harry dead. If you put part of your soul into Harry and then kill him, you kill part of yourself. Kinda dumb. Then we go back to my original assumption, that Harry became a Horcrux the night his parents were killed. I've said why I don't think that is the case. Wormtail then is another choice, not as an actual Horcrux, but rather as the bearer of one. It is possible that Voldy created the Horcrux in the form of Wormtail's new hand as both a twisted way of rewarding Wormtail for his service and sacrifice and also as a way of keeping the Horcrux safe. Safe? Remember, Wormtail has demonstrated an incredible knack for staying alive when he damn well shouldn't.
* What if Harry WAS a Horcrux? So, maybe I am wrong about Harry not being a Horcrux as a result of the night his parents were killed. It is possible he was, that Voldemort found out about it or figured it out, and that it is precisely this reason why he needed Harry for the restoration...to return a bit of his soul to him so he could be restored. This is tempting, but I still think not. The simple reason being that Voldemort knows the location of his other Horcruxes and could have simply retrieved one at will and used it instead, without all the hassle. No, I think the reason Harry was needed is because the ritual required a bit of Voldy's biggest enemy to succeed.
* What does Horcrux mean? Well, 'crux' is latin for cross. Obviously, the soul had been cut across. 'Hor' however may be tricker. It could mean 'time' (as in Hora, Spanish for hour) or it could be a derivative of 'horr', the lating root meaning 'sudder at' and also the base of words like horrible and horror. I think the later is more likely, and Rowling has taken liberties with the spelling of Latin and Greek roots before. Plus 'horrcrux' would look odd and be a bit too much of a giveaway. But then again, 'time cross' also makes some sense, when you think about what the Horcrux does...grant immortality, which makes time essentially meaningless. Of course, Rowling could mean both.
* Dumbledore was Secret Keeper for the Order. What does his death mean? Is Grimmauld Place now forever protected from discovery, or has that protection now been completely lost?
* What is the significance of Draco crying with Moaning Myrtle? I had speculated way back that Draco would eventually come over to the good side, probably as a result of some sort of betrayal or traumatic event. This seems particularly likely now, given the threat to his family by Voldemort. We also have the death scene where Draco was clearly at odds with himself, and was unable to carry through on the assassination. Now, Rowling being Rowling, it is possible that that is all too easy, and that he really is still a bad guy, and that the whole thing with Myrtle was part of the attempt to repair the cabinet. It is possible that the steps to repair it required some sort of interaction with a ghost...maybe even convincing her to perform a step that a mortal could not.
14 July 2005
08 July 2005
"It's Not The Game, It's The Parents"
This is now, has always been, and will always be the case. When I was a kid, before the days of home PC's and Console Game ubiquity, my friends and I played Army, Cowboys & Indians, Cops & Robbers, etc.
We shot, stabbed, and/or beat each other to death on a daily basis. To my knowledge, none of my childhoods friends, nor I, have grown up to become serial killers. Just normal folk. What we had was parents who were, you know, involved with us and who made sure to let us know what they thought was right and wrong.
Our society seems to have fallen in love with blaming the symptoms rather than blaming the disease. When someone gets shot, we start suing the gun manufacturers, even though they didn't pull the trigger. Somehow it is the gun's fault, and not the homicidal idiot who decided to use that particular weapon (instead of a knife, baseball bat, his hands, etc). But, there was a time when we didn't even have guns, and we were still very adept at killing each other without them.
So, back when I was a kid, there was still violent crime amongst the under 25 crowd. In fact, I believe the violent crime rate now is actually lower than when I was a kid (the Reagan years were bad). Yet the biggest video games of that period were stuff like PacMan. San Andreas PacMan is not.
When we see kids becoming violent, we have only one place to start looking for where things went wrong, and that is with the parents. Parents have become too accustomed to letting other people raise their kids (schools in particular), and too eager to have legislatures pass 'tough' laws that do absolutely nothing, rather that suck it up and take responsibility for the children they brought into the world.
We shot, stabbed, and/or beat each other to death on a daily basis. To my knowledge, none of my childhoods friends, nor I, have grown up to become serial killers. Just normal folk. What we had was parents who were, you know, involved with us and who made sure to let us know what they thought was right and wrong.
Our society seems to have fallen in love with blaming the symptoms rather than blaming the disease. When someone gets shot, we start suing the gun manufacturers, even though they didn't pull the trigger. Somehow it is the gun's fault, and not the homicidal idiot who decided to use that particular weapon (instead of a knife, baseball bat, his hands, etc). But, there was a time when we didn't even have guns, and we were still very adept at killing each other without them.
So, back when I was a kid, there was still violent crime amongst the under 25 crowd. In fact, I believe the violent crime rate now is actually lower than when I was a kid (the Reagan years were bad). Yet the biggest video games of that period were stuff like PacMan. San Andreas PacMan is not.
When we see kids becoming violent, we have only one place to start looking for where things went wrong, and that is with the parents. Parents have become too accustomed to letting other people raise their kids (schools in particular), and too eager to have legislatures pass 'tough' laws that do absolutely nothing, rather that suck it up and take responsibility for the children they brought into the world.
Once Again, An Opportunity To Kill Two Birds With One Stone
Her was have another illegal immigrant who wants to serve our country in the most dangerous job there is. A job a lot of Yellow Elephants don't seem to want to do themselves, unsurprisingly.
We've got an immigration problem, and we have a manpower problem in the military. There are those immigrants who have been living undocumented for years in the US, who love this country, and who are willing to die for it. Why is the obvious solution here so fucking hard for people to grasp?
We've got an immigration problem, and we have a manpower problem in the military. There are those immigrants who have been living undocumented for years in the US, who love this country, and who are willing to die for it. Why is the obvious solution here so fucking hard for people to grasp?
01 July 2005
Recipe Time: Salmon Something-or-other
Sometimes I improvise meals. You might call it lack of foresight and preparation...maybe even laziness....but I call it genius. *cough*
So anyway, I had a salmon fillet defrosted, but really didn't plan on any particular way to cook it.
I decided I'd bake it in a sort of casserole-y way.
Ingredients:
Salmon fillet (any fish would work I spose)
3/4 of a bag of frozen veggies (I used broccoli)
2 cans of campbell's cream of shrimp soup
milk
garlic powder
ground black pepper
old bay seasoning
1 cup of goldfish crackers
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup swiss cheese, shredded
Directions:
* pre-heat oven to 350
* In a fairly deep baking dish, put in the salmon fillet, skin side down (you may want to rub a little bit of oil on the skin so it doesn't stick to the pan...which would be a hell of a lot smarter than not doing it...which is what I did)
* Season to taste the top of the fillet with garlic, pepper and old bay
* Pour in the frozen veggies and distribute evenly
* In a separate bowl, empty the two cans of soup. Then add to that half a can's worth of milk into the bowl and mix in well with the soup.
* Pour about 3/4 of the soup over the salmon and veggies. Add more seasoning if you want.
* Add the swiss and cheddar over the top of everything evenly.
* Crush the goldfish (but don't turn it into powder, just broken fishies) and then sprinkle over the top of everything evenly.
* Pour the remaining soup over the top evenly.
* Bake that sumbitch for about 50 minutes.
* Eat.
So anyway, I had a salmon fillet defrosted, but really didn't plan on any particular way to cook it.
I decided I'd bake it in a sort of casserole-y way.
Ingredients:
Salmon fillet (any fish would work I spose)
3/4 of a bag of frozen veggies (I used broccoli)
2 cans of campbell's cream of shrimp soup
milk
garlic powder
ground black pepper
old bay seasoning
1 cup of goldfish crackers
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup swiss cheese, shredded
Directions:
* pre-heat oven to 350
* In a fairly deep baking dish, put in the salmon fillet, skin side down (you may want to rub a little bit of oil on the skin so it doesn't stick to the pan...which would be a hell of a lot smarter than not doing it...which is what I did)
* Season to taste the top of the fillet with garlic, pepper and old bay
* Pour in the frozen veggies and distribute evenly
* In a separate bowl, empty the two cans of soup. Then add to that half a can's worth of milk into the bowl and mix in well with the soup.
* Pour about 3/4 of the soup over the salmon and veggies. Add more seasoning if you want.
* Add the swiss and cheddar over the top of everything evenly.
* Crush the goldfish (but don't turn it into powder, just broken fishies) and then sprinkle over the top of everything evenly.
* Pour the remaining soup over the top evenly.
* Bake that sumbitch for about 50 minutes.
* Eat.
30 June 2005
28 June 2005
Just Desserts, Indeed
I hope this isn't a hoax, and though I am repulsed by the ruling that would potentially allow this to happen, the irony of it is entirely too delicious.
21 June 2005
Discount Flame Thrower
Needless to say, this thing has 'Darwin Award Winner' written all over it.
Still, it looks pretty cool. You could probably retrofit it with some more stable/sturdy parts to make it safer...or at least less likley to melt/asplode/send-you-to-the-hospital-burn-unit.
Still, it looks pretty cool. You could probably retrofit it with some more stable/sturdy parts to make it safer...or at least less likley to melt/asplode/send-you-to-the-hospital-burn-unit.
20 June 2005
He Bite Me In The Vagina
Well then.
And, WTF is up with a dog getting a vasectomy instead of de-balling?
And, WTF is up with a dog getting a vasectomy instead of de-balling?
18 June 2005
Batman Begins Is Good
Except for one thing, the guy who killed his parents is supposed to become the Joker eventually...but they killed him in this movie. Oh well, one plot mistake compared to the thousands in Star Wars ain't bad I suppose.
17 June 2005
GUILTY!!!
These two sorry sons of bitches need to burn. Unfortunately, they'll probably end up in endless appeals or get a slack sentance. My hope, though, is that they both spend a lot of time in prison getting their rectums enlarged.
15 June 2005
George Lucas....
...is quite possibly the single worst movie director of all time. I just got back from seeing Episode 3. Seriously, a porno director could have done a better job.
Terrible directing, terrible script, terrible acting...hell even teh special effects weren't that special.
George Lucas. Cocksucker.
Terrible directing, terrible script, terrible acting...hell even teh special effects weren't that special.
George Lucas. Cocksucker.
14 June 2005
09 June 2005
06 June 2005
Oh I Wish I Were An Auburn Tiger Cheater.
That is what I really want to be.
Cause if I were an Auburn Tiger cheater,
The SEC would be so proud of me.
Cause if I were an Auburn Tiger cheater,
The SEC would be so proud of me.
02 June 2005
01 June 2005
31 May 2005
30 May 2005
Pictures From The ACC Tourney
This is the gnome in question...and his friend Jack. Drew posted our pics plus some other folx'. I'll let his bandwidth take the hit of the 2 people who read this blog.
We Got A Regional!!
Woot! We've got Auburn (#2), South Alabama (#3) and Army (#4) in our bracket. We're paired with the Gainesville regional, which has UF, Stetson, UNC and Notre Dame. Any of those four teams could make it out of that regional, so its not guaranteed that UF will be hosting a Super.
Of course, that draw has predictably already brought out the whinging Gator fans in force on the message boards. Gee, go figure.
If we win our regional and the super and make it to Omaha, we'd end up paired against....GaTech (sucks!). Dammit.
Oh well, I like our chances for Omaha. USA and Auburn won't be pushovers, and you know UNC wants to win their bracket to get another shot at us. Should be fun.
Of course, that draw has predictably already brought out the whinging Gator fans in force on the message boards. Gee, go figure.
If we win our regional and the super and make it to Omaha, we'd end up paired against....GaTech (sucks!). Dammit.
Oh well, I like our chances for Omaha. USA and Auburn won't be pushovers, and you know UNC wants to win their bracket to get another shot at us. Should be fun.
29 May 2005
Back From The ACC Baseball Tournament
Random Thoughts from the trip:
* Gnome!
* Bratwurst
* Mount Nacho
* The Assassin
* ACC Umps suck
* Tech Sucks!
* 0-2 North Carolina BBQ
* Cero-dos y barbacoa
* Shut up AJ
* Essence of ass/ring of fire
* Grilled fungus
* Maggianos
* Ice cream helmet
* Maxwell House
* Free fans
* AN**ALS
* "FUCK YOU!!!"
* No parking on game day
* Where the fuck is the ATM?
* "This....sucks"
OK, so the trip was fun, even though the end result wasn't quite what I wanted. Is it too much to ask for ONE damn win against Tech (sucks!) this season? Oh well.
We got in for the wednesday FSU game around 2pm. We tried to find Mike and Jeri's tailgate but didn't see 'em. So, we ended up parking in a lot between the baseball stadium and the football stadium. The game that night went on forever because of some really aweful baserunning decisions, but we got the win over our bitch UNC anyway in 12. Bryan Henry pitched another good game, but ended up with a no-decision because UNC tied it up after he left. He's been an awesome pitching find for us this year, and really a big reason why we've been as successful as we have been this year. He gives us the reliable arm we need, and allowed Wardell to get into the game and deliver some much needed power (not to mention a bigger target at 1st). Ryno has done really well since moving to 3rd also.
That night we went out to Outback for a later dinner with some of the other Animals. Decent, even though I had to end up trading my pork chops for J's prime rib cause she didn't like it. Of course, a gaytor fan had to say something as we were leaving, but ended up regretting it 'cause Mongo was there.
The next morning we got up and had breakfast buffet at the hotel cafeteria. They had an omelette bar, which made me happy. Decent food. The waiter gave us coupons so the buffet only cost us $6. He got a good tip of course.
We then headed out to Mike and Jeri's tailgate (now that we knew where it was) and set up shop there. Mike had the grill out and was cooking up mushrooms, peppers, chicken, pork and yummy Irish sausage. We're pretty spoiled when it comes to tailgate cooking, if its not Pappy its Momma Nee, and if its not Momma Nee its Mike and Jeri. And you can't go wrong with any of them...unless you're trying to lose weight...then you're fucked.
We went in a little early to catch some of the NCSU-Clemson ellimination game before our game with Tech. Despite a late rally, the Pack fell to the kitties. Then the ugliness set in. Sauls pitched a pretty good game for us vs Tech, but the 1st base umpire in the game blew a call and totally turned the tide of the game in favor of Tech. In general, the umps were aweful, so you can't just look at that one call...they were crappy the whole tournament for everyone.
I did get a chance to try out the awesome bratwurst at the stadium. $6 for a footlong brat smothered in grilled onions...very tasty, and really the only highlight of the day. Dinner that night was pizza delivered to the room. Blyeh.
Friday had us playing in the elimination bracket vs. Wake. Wake had a really great tournament, beating Duke and Maryland in the play-in portion of the bracket, taking GaTech the distance in the 1-8 game before losing, sending UNC to an 0-2 BBQ exit, and then falling to FSU with no pitching left. Still, they ended up 3-2 for the tournament, which ain't bad. They'll probably not get a post-season berth, which is a shame. Hyde pitched really well for us in that game, which is good, cause Wake's bats had been pretty hot for the tournament. I think for the regionals our 1-2-3 should be Henry, Sauls and Hyde.
Friday night also saw the birth of the Gnome. While we were waiting for the Wake game to start, we went into the stadium gift shop and they had a Seminole garden gnome for $20. Its about a foot tall ceramic thing, and I bought it! We then took it around to where the players were waiting and took pictures of most of the team (including 11, JB and Shouppe) holding the gnome. It went down the silly hill pretty quick after that. Most of our songs and cheers that night involved the gnome. It was a total blast and some of the most fun I have had with teh Animals so far. Easily the best $20 I have ever spent.
After the game we headed over to TGIF's for food with some Animals. Decent, but nothing special. Good conversation though.
Saturday morning we again headed down for the breakfast buffet at the hotel. I blame the buffet for both losses to Tech, since the losses were both suffered on days we ate there. We headed out to the tailgate where we were joined by a larger contingent of Animals who made the trip down. Shane Robinson's folks tailgated with us most of the week and are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.
We watched some of the UVa-Clemson game before our game started. Obviously, our game stunk. Jones didn't pitch well at all, and Browning didn't fare much better although he did settle in after a while. Jones has been inconsistent all season, but Browning has been in a slump since mid-season. He's definitely got the stuff to succeed, but he needs to find his mojo again. I don't think his performance in the last half of the season was enough to impress the scouts, so hopefully he'll be back and can regroup for a better showing next year.
That night we went to see Madagascar with Robb and his fiance Kariann at Maggiano's. Unbelievably good Italian food. We ended up ordering the family dinner thing, which had appetizer, sald, pasta, main entre and dessert courses all you can eat for entirely too much money. But it was worth every penny. The chicken thing we got was to die for, but the whole meal was just outstanding. The movie was really good too, it'll be added to the DVD collection ASAP.
This morning I think we had just had enough of Jacksonville and decided to head home instead of staying for the championship game like we planned. We ended up watching it on TV here. In the long run, I think Tech winning helped our regional cause because the only teamwe lost to in the tourney was Tech. I think maybe if we'd been in the other bracket we'd have been undefeated like UVa....but who knows. Doesn't matter since we did end up getting a regional, which makes me happy.
I'll post pictures that we took later on.
* Gnome!
* Bratwurst
* Mount Nacho
* The Assassin
* ACC Umps suck
* Tech Sucks!
* 0-2 North Carolina BBQ
* Cero-dos y barbacoa
* Shut up AJ
* Essence of ass/ring of fire
* Grilled fungus
* Maggianos
* Ice cream helmet
* Maxwell House
* Free fans
* AN**ALS
* "FUCK YOU!!!"
* No parking on game day
* Where the fuck is the ATM?
* "This....sucks"
OK, so the trip was fun, even though the end result wasn't quite what I wanted. Is it too much to ask for ONE damn win against Tech (sucks!) this season? Oh well.
We got in for the wednesday FSU game around 2pm. We tried to find Mike and Jeri's tailgate but didn't see 'em. So, we ended up parking in a lot between the baseball stadium and the football stadium. The game that night went on forever because of some really aweful baserunning decisions, but we got the win over our bitch UNC anyway in 12. Bryan Henry pitched another good game, but ended up with a no-decision because UNC tied it up after he left. He's been an awesome pitching find for us this year, and really a big reason why we've been as successful as we have been this year. He gives us the reliable arm we need, and allowed Wardell to get into the game and deliver some much needed power (not to mention a bigger target at 1st). Ryno has done really well since moving to 3rd also.
That night we went out to Outback for a later dinner with some of the other Animals. Decent, even though I had to end up trading my pork chops for J's prime rib cause she didn't like it. Of course, a gaytor fan had to say something as we were leaving, but ended up regretting it 'cause Mongo was there.
The next morning we got up and had breakfast buffet at the hotel cafeteria. They had an omelette bar, which made me happy. Decent food. The waiter gave us coupons so the buffet only cost us $6. He got a good tip of course.
We then headed out to Mike and Jeri's tailgate (now that we knew where it was) and set up shop there. Mike had the grill out and was cooking up mushrooms, peppers, chicken, pork and yummy Irish sausage. We're pretty spoiled when it comes to tailgate cooking, if its not Pappy its Momma Nee, and if its not Momma Nee its Mike and Jeri. And you can't go wrong with any of them...unless you're trying to lose weight...then you're fucked.
We went in a little early to catch some of the NCSU-Clemson ellimination game before our game with Tech. Despite a late rally, the Pack fell to the kitties. Then the ugliness set in. Sauls pitched a pretty good game for us vs Tech, but the 1st base umpire in the game blew a call and totally turned the tide of the game in favor of Tech. In general, the umps were aweful, so you can't just look at that one call...they were crappy the whole tournament for everyone.
I did get a chance to try out the awesome bratwurst at the stadium. $6 for a footlong brat smothered in grilled onions...very tasty, and really the only highlight of the day. Dinner that night was pizza delivered to the room. Blyeh.
Friday had us playing in the elimination bracket vs. Wake. Wake had a really great tournament, beating Duke and Maryland in the play-in portion of the bracket, taking GaTech the distance in the 1-8 game before losing, sending UNC to an 0-2 BBQ exit, and then falling to FSU with no pitching left. Still, they ended up 3-2 for the tournament, which ain't bad. They'll probably not get a post-season berth, which is a shame. Hyde pitched really well for us in that game, which is good, cause Wake's bats had been pretty hot for the tournament. I think for the regionals our 1-2-3 should be Henry, Sauls and Hyde.
Friday night also saw the birth of the Gnome. While we were waiting for the Wake game to start, we went into the stadium gift shop and they had a Seminole garden gnome for $20. Its about a foot tall ceramic thing, and I bought it! We then took it around to where the players were waiting and took pictures of most of the team (including 11, JB and Shouppe) holding the gnome. It went down the silly hill pretty quick after that. Most of our songs and cheers that night involved the gnome. It was a total blast and some of the most fun I have had with teh Animals so far. Easily the best $20 I have ever spent.
After the game we headed over to TGIF's for food with some Animals. Decent, but nothing special. Good conversation though.
Saturday morning we again headed down for the breakfast buffet at the hotel. I blame the buffet for both losses to Tech, since the losses were both suffered on days we ate there. We headed out to the tailgate where we were joined by a larger contingent of Animals who made the trip down. Shane Robinson's folks tailgated with us most of the week and are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.
We watched some of the UVa-Clemson game before our game started. Obviously, our game stunk. Jones didn't pitch well at all, and Browning didn't fare much better although he did settle in after a while. Jones has been inconsistent all season, but Browning has been in a slump since mid-season. He's definitely got the stuff to succeed, but he needs to find his mojo again. I don't think his performance in the last half of the season was enough to impress the scouts, so hopefully he'll be back and can regroup for a better showing next year.
That night we went to see Madagascar with Robb and his fiance Kariann at Maggiano's. Unbelievably good Italian food. We ended up ordering the family dinner thing, which had appetizer, sald, pasta, main entre and dessert courses all you can eat for entirely too much money. But it was worth every penny. The chicken thing we got was to die for, but the whole meal was just outstanding. The movie was really good too, it'll be added to the DVD collection ASAP.
This morning I think we had just had enough of Jacksonville and decided to head home instead of staying for the championship game like we planned. We ended up watching it on TV here. In the long run, I think Tech winning helped our regional cause because the only teamwe lost to in the tourney was Tech. I think maybe if we'd been in the other bracket we'd have been undefeated like UVa....but who knows. Doesn't matter since we did end up getting a regional, which makes me happy.
I'll post pictures that we took later on.
24 May 2005
21 May 2005
The Rookie
The newest member of the family. We still don't have a name for him, but he's a cutie.
We adopted him from the Wakulla county animal shelter. His welcome to the house was a nice warm bath...which he hated. But not nearly as much as existing kitty Cassie hates him.
She'll get over it.
We adopted him from the Wakulla county animal shelter. His welcome to the house was a nice warm bath...which he hated. But not nearly as much as existing kitty Cassie hates him.
She'll get over it.
20 May 2005
I Want To See...
...a regional comprised of LSU, Viginia Tech, Oregon and Delaware. We could call it the Turducken regional.
18 May 2005
17 May 2005
16 May 2005
15 May 2005
14 May 2005
Fuck Yeah!!!!
Noles beat the Tarheels with a walk-off homerun by Ryne Malone in the bottom of the 9th. Trailing 3-5, 2 outs, 2 men on, 2 strikes and one ball. BAM!!! Instant legend.
We have now taken the first two games from the vaunted Heels pitching staff, and now they are forced to reckon with essentially three starters left for us in our pen for tomorrow.
This really helps our regional prospects as well. Fucking awesome.
We have now taken the first two games from the vaunted Heels pitching staff, and now they are forced to reckon with essentially three starters left for us in our pen for tomorrow.
This really helps our regional prospects as well. Fucking awesome.
13 May 2005
In Honor Of The Newest Animal, I Give You...Well...You'll See!
I haven't done that particular activity in 20 years at least.
12 May 2005
04 May 2005
In The Year 3000
I need to write this crap down. A la the Conan O'Brien 'In the year 2000' bits, I thought we could do this at FSU baseball games.
In the year 3000...
* Mike Martin will still be coaching FSU baseball.
* Mike Martin Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. will be coaching 3rd base.
* Chip Baker will be short.
* A two strike bunt with two outs will still be a bad idea.
* The home run ball that Danny Wardell hit at the Saturday Miami game in 2005 will finally come back down to earth.
* You will finally reach the head of the line at the Aramark concession booth. (pause) Your bill will be $8000. (pause) For a small Coke. (pause) With lots of ice.
* The Animals will still be fat.
* Mongo
* The Boston Red Sox will finally win another World Series. (Do the math)
* FSU will win its 347th consecutive national championship with a team of Shane Robinson clones.
* Miami will be using satellite photography to steal signs.
* The last remaining Miami fan who actually attended the University of Miami will pass away.
* In an effort to improve the accuracy of strike zone calls, the ACC will replace its umpires with giant sacks of potatos.
* Intravenous pork.
Suggestions welcome.
In the year 3000...
* Mike Martin will still be coaching FSU baseball.
* Mike Martin Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. will be coaching 3rd base.
* Chip Baker will be short.
* A two strike bunt with two outs will still be a bad idea.
* The home run ball that Danny Wardell hit at the Saturday Miami game in 2005 will finally come back down to earth.
* You will finally reach the head of the line at the Aramark concession booth. (pause) Your bill will be $8000. (pause) For a small Coke. (pause) With lots of ice.
* The Animals will still be fat.
* Mongo
* The Boston Red Sox will finally win another World Series. (Do the math)
* FSU will win its 347th consecutive national championship with a team of Shane Robinson clones.
* Miami will be using satellite photography to steal signs.
* The last remaining Miami fan who actually attended the University of Miami will pass away.
* In an effort to improve the accuracy of strike zone calls, the ACC will replace its umpires with giant sacks of potatos.
* Intravenous pork.
Suggestions welcome.
03 May 2005
Sand Storm In Iraq
Got this link from a former co-worker in the Marine reserves. Amazingly close to the genuine Hollywood version of a sandstorm from movies like the Mummy. ;)
02 May 2005
Speaking of Headd...
Its a damn shame that we had the double-header on Sunday, cause I might have thought of this stuff if I had had time to think. Anyway, I thought this would be funny, and I'm writing it out in case I get a chance to use it at the ACC tourney. Basically, I'd do my own player announcement for the UVa team:
At catcher, Scott Headd
At first base, Pierre Latrine
At second, Frenchy Toilet (pronounced: twa-lay)
At short stop, Rafael LaVatory
At third base, Neville Watercloset
In left field, Ian Chamberpot
In center field, Thomas Crapper (history nerd reference) or Richard John
In Right field, Paul Portolet
And flushing out the roster for Virginia - although we don't remember adding him to the line-up last night - Steven Corn.
I slay me.
More for Mr Headd:
Hey Headd, why do you have an extra D on the end of your name? Is that the only way you'll ever have a chance of seeing a pair of D's up close?
Hey Headd, who's pitching for you tonight? Shoulders?
Hey Headd, if someone pats you on the head, do you feel it twice?
At catcher, Scott Headd
At first base, Pierre Latrine
At second, Frenchy Toilet (pronounced: twa-lay)
At short stop, Rafael LaVatory
At third base, Neville Watercloset
In left field, Ian Chamberpot
In center field, Thomas Crapper (history nerd reference) or Richard John
In Right field, Paul Portolet
And flushing out the roster for Virginia - although we don't remember adding him to the line-up last night - Steven Corn.
I slay me.
More for Mr Headd:
Hey Headd, why do you have an extra D on the end of your name? Is that the only way you'll ever have a chance of seeing a pair of D's up close?
Hey Headd, who's pitching for you tonight? Shoulders?
Hey Headd, if someone pats you on the head, do you feel it twice?
Rag Head
Yeah so I normally do a long 'rag arm' when opposing pitchers have a 3-1 count with less than two outs. Occasionally, I switch things up and say something other than arm. Well, yesterday vs. Virginia - who have a catcher named Headd - Terry the loudmouth says into my ear as I was in the 'raaaag' part, 'head!'. Not thinking (lack of oxygen you see), I said head instead of arm.
Oopsie :)
I'm sure we'll catch flak for that, but I blame Terry. :)
Oopsie :)
I'm sure we'll catch flak for that, but I blame Terry. :)
30 April 2005
Hitchhiker's Guide
Damn, forgot this was coming out. I feel a long lunch break coming up on Monday. ;)
Zonkey!!!
I just like that word. Zonkey!! A cross between a zebra and a donkey.
Which makes me wonder why a cross between a horse and a donkey isn't called a 'Honkey'.
I slay me.
Which makes me wonder why a cross between a horse and a donkey isn't called a 'Honkey'.
I slay me.
Dads Around The World, Rejoice!
This is pretty slick. Might have saved me some nasty scrapes as a kid. Its a tricycle that changes into a bicycle at higher speeds.
Engineering is teh cool.
Engineering is teh cool.
New Career?
Kinda stinks. *cough*
100+ clients paying $10 each once a week. That's over $50,000 annually to shovel shit.
Maybe.....nah, fuck that.
100+ clients paying $10 each once a week. That's over $50,000 annually to shovel shit.
Maybe.....nah, fuck that.
The Girlfriend Is A Graduate!
Congrats J! Now...start making heaps of money so I can retire while you support me ;)
26 April 2005
Feh
They wouldn't budge on the benefits, and I wasn't going to take a big paycut AND lose 401k for a year AND lose a lot of vacation time.
Oh well.
Oh well.
13 April 2005
Amusing Videos From Some NY Students
The best ones are Lecture Musical, Library Musical and Tai Chi.
12 April 2005
The Greatest Example Of Ice Cream Technology
These ice cream spades are without a doubt the best ice cream scooping device ever invented. Tired of trying to spoon out hard ice cream and having it bend your spoon? Tired of using one of those wussy regular ice cream scoops that only scrape out a tiny glob of ice cream with each try? No problem, get an ice cream spade. You'll be dishing out the food of the gods in record time. In fact, if you buy ice cream in the cylindrical containers, you can insert the spade in about a half in or so into the ice cream and then just hold it and spin the container. You'll end up with a perfect bowl sized ice cream disk. Just awesome.
11 April 2005
Job Interview #1
I had a phone interview today with Candidate Company #1. It went OK, but not great. I hate talking on the phone, so I doubt I came across well. We'll see. They told me they'd decide by Wednesday of next week which applicant they want to bring in for an in-person interview. I usually do better with those.
If I get the call great, if not, no big deal. They aren't doing anything particularly 'new technology', so I wouldn't be missing out in that regard, but I'd sure like to be working somewhere other than where I am right now.
If I get the call great, if not, no big deal. They aren't doing anything particularly 'new technology', so I wouldn't be missing out in that regard, but I'd sure like to be working somewhere other than where I am right now.
Publix Hires Quirky Movie Characters
I dont know what it is, but my current Publix (yes, they belong to me...in the same manner as I belong to my cat) and my previous Publix both have baggers that are clones of movie characters. Specifically, Milton from Office Space and Ray from Rain Man. The old Publix, out on Capital Circle South and Crawfordville Highway is the home of Milton. I kid you not, he looks just like Milton, thick glasses, dim wit and all:
You have NO idea how many times I wanted to give the guy a red stapler...just to see what he'd do.
Ray resides at the new Publix. This kid is probably in his late teens or early twenties and full-on special. He likes to describe to you in detail how he carefully arranges the groceries and bags into the cart. Unfortunately, he bags at an incredibly slow pace. I had over $100 worth of groceries today and the cashier had scanned everything by the time Ray had painstakingly filled the first bag and put it into the cart.
Painstakingly filled the bag wrong.
OK, see, I'm an engineer so I am naturally anal retentive. I put the groceries onto the conveyer belt in the order they should be bagged. Frozen crap goes first - together in a bunch - followed by regular refridgerated stuff, which I don't mind being in the same bag as the frozen stuff. Then come boxed stuff and other small dry goods, then cans, then big non-refridgerated fluids like soda and apple juice then big bulk stuff like paper towels. The frozen stuff should be put in the back of the cart and end with the cans towards the front. The big bulk crap can go underneath. This is so that stuff gets loaded first into the back of the car and the frozen crap gets put in last so it'll be first to be unloaded!
OK, er anyway, so Rain Man's 1st carefully plotted bag has ice cream and canned vegetables in it. Ugh. Neatly arranged and maximizing usage of the bag's volume, don't get me wrong, but still not right.
As I mentioned, the cashier - who happens to be one of this store's better cashiers; always quick, polite and efficient - finishes ringing everything up by the time RayRay has his one prodigal bag put into the cart. This guy clearly loathes Ray and starts bagging up the rest of the groceries filling four bags in less time than it takes Ray to fill his second masterpiece (also wrong).
The best part: the bagger's name really is Ray. I can't make this shit up. I usually check to see who is bagging before I go into a line because of this guy, but my mind was elsewhere and by the time I noticed him there I had already unloaded the cart. Oh well.
You have NO idea how many times I wanted to give the guy a red stapler...just to see what he'd do.
Ray resides at the new Publix. This kid is probably in his late teens or early twenties and full-on special. He likes to describe to you in detail how he carefully arranges the groceries and bags into the cart. Unfortunately, he bags at an incredibly slow pace. I had over $100 worth of groceries today and the cashier had scanned everything by the time Ray had painstakingly filled the first bag and put it into the cart.
Painstakingly filled the bag wrong.
OK, see, I'm an engineer so I am naturally anal retentive. I put the groceries onto the conveyer belt in the order they should be bagged. Frozen crap goes first - together in a bunch - followed by regular refridgerated stuff, which I don't mind being in the same bag as the frozen stuff. Then come boxed stuff and other small dry goods, then cans, then big non-refridgerated fluids like soda and apple juice then big bulk stuff like paper towels. The frozen stuff should be put in the back of the cart and end with the cans towards the front. The big bulk crap can go underneath. This is so that stuff gets loaded first into the back of the car and the frozen crap gets put in last so it'll be first to be unloaded!
OK, er anyway, so Rain Man's 1st carefully plotted bag has ice cream and canned vegetables in it. Ugh. Neatly arranged and maximizing usage of the bag's volume, don't get me wrong, but still not right.
As I mentioned, the cashier - who happens to be one of this store's better cashiers; always quick, polite and efficient - finishes ringing everything up by the time RayRay has his one prodigal bag put into the cart. This guy clearly loathes Ray and starts bagging up the rest of the groceries filling four bags in less time than it takes Ray to fill his second masterpiece (also wrong).
The best part: the bagger's name really is Ray. I can't make this shit up. I usually check to see who is bagging before I go into a line because of this guy, but my mind was elsewhere and by the time I noticed him there I had already unloaded the cart. Oh well.
10 April 2005
Reason #30573 To Hate Pro Baseball
Unbelievable how much money they want people to pay to watch a bunch of roided up prima donna's who don't give a rats ass about the game, let alone the fans.
I'd take one game at FSU's park over a lifetime of games at any pro park.
Fuck those assholes.
I'd take one game at FSU's park over a lifetime of games at any pro park.
Fuck those assholes.
09 April 2005
Everything Is Bigger In Texas
Especially the assholes.
This Texas state rep, Larry Phillips - a Republican - wants to implement a decidedly Big Borther-ish plan to install transponders on everyone's cars as part of the already existing state vehicle inspection stickers that would carry information on the owner's insurance standing. Now, first of all state vehicle inspections are already a tax which is bad enough, but now they want to keep tabs on you too? That's right, if your insurance is expired they will mail you a $250 ticket (read: tax). Of course, all this information will be verified on a state maintained database, which cannot be guaranteed to accurately reflect your insurance status. And, lets not forget that this government run database will be paid for by your tax dollars. Because, you know, you wouldn't want to spend those tax dollars on something useful to you...like maybe insurance.
Remember the days when Republicans were against these kinds of big, intrusive government programs?
I miss those days. Ronald Reagan has got to be spinning in his grave.
This Texas state rep, Larry Phillips - a Republican - wants to implement a decidedly Big Borther-ish plan to install transponders on everyone's cars as part of the already existing state vehicle inspection stickers that would carry information on the owner's insurance standing. Now, first of all state vehicle inspections are already a tax which is bad enough, but now they want to keep tabs on you too? That's right, if your insurance is expired they will mail you a $250 ticket (read: tax). Of course, all this information will be verified on a state maintained database, which cannot be guaranteed to accurately reflect your insurance status. And, lets not forget that this government run database will be paid for by your tax dollars. Because, you know, you wouldn't want to spend those tax dollars on something useful to you...like maybe insurance.
Remember the days when Republicans were against these kinds of big, intrusive government programs?
I miss those days. Ronald Reagan has got to be spinning in his grave.
The REAL Number Of The Beast
It isn't 666, oh no, its 5015.2. That's the US Department of Defense standard for Electronic Records Management software certification. The company I work for has just finished the grueling 2 week certification process and, fortunately, passed. For a large number of US and foreign governments, you must have 5015.2 certification in order to sell your records management software to them.
This is the third time we've certified since I have been with the company. The first time was hectic, but it was with the previous revision of the standard and not too stringent. The second time was against the new standard and was a nightmare. As has become the standard mode of operation, the management of the company didn't have us working on updating the software to conform to the standard until about 6 months before we were scheduled to be tested. Nevermind that they had had the newer, more stringent stanard in their hands for nearly two years.
The dev and QA teams were worked to the bone to pass that one, with lots of people pulling 36 hour shifts. We lost quite a few good people after that because of the company's treatment of the employees and the fact that for all of that effort, the company barely managed a pat on the back for those involved. Nevermind that the company would have been effectively barred from making millions of dollars worth of revenue from all of the US and foreign governments that require software to have 5015.2 certification before they will buy it.
So, this time was supposed to be a walk in the park. The software was supposed to be roughly the same as we certified with the second time, and the standard hadn't been revised (you have to renew cert every two years and/or every time you go up a major version number in your software). I was assigned to work on this back in December as pretty much the only developer on the project. We had only one QA person as well for the most part. That was a serious management mistake.
The QA guy is responsible for writing up the testing script, which is what we provide to the JITC testers as a road map of sorts so they can go through the standard as it is covered by our software. The test script has screenshots and whatnot showing how our software does various tasks. Well, in writing this document, the QA engineer didn't really have time to actually, you know, test the software in any meaningful way. So of course, as we get to the week before the certification is to start, they add a few people to the QA group and lo and behold, they start finding issues. Serious issues. Serious issues that should have been found months prior so they could have beenfixed before testing started, not during.
Well, after entirely too many nights of driving sleepily home at 2am the last two weeks...and missing a LOT of FSU baseball games (that I already paid for...which probably pisses me off more than anything) we pulled it out of our asses again.
I have the next week off and I will be using it constructively to find another job with hopefully better management. Or at least management that is proactive rather than reactive. I have a phone interview with one company Monday and leads for two other companies. I doubt they'll wow me with money offers, but honestly, I don't need to be wowed with money.
This is the third time we've certified since I have been with the company. The first time was hectic, but it was with the previous revision of the standard and not too stringent. The second time was against the new standard and was a nightmare. As has become the standard mode of operation, the management of the company didn't have us working on updating the software to conform to the standard until about 6 months before we were scheduled to be tested. Nevermind that they had had the newer, more stringent stanard in their hands for nearly two years.
The dev and QA teams were worked to the bone to pass that one, with lots of people pulling 36 hour shifts. We lost quite a few good people after that because of the company's treatment of the employees and the fact that for all of that effort, the company barely managed a pat on the back for those involved. Nevermind that the company would have been effectively barred from making millions of dollars worth of revenue from all of the US and foreign governments that require software to have 5015.2 certification before they will buy it.
So, this time was supposed to be a walk in the park. The software was supposed to be roughly the same as we certified with the second time, and the standard hadn't been revised (you have to renew cert every two years and/or every time you go up a major version number in your software). I was assigned to work on this back in December as pretty much the only developer on the project. We had only one QA person as well for the most part. That was a serious management mistake.
The QA guy is responsible for writing up the testing script, which is what we provide to the JITC testers as a road map of sorts so they can go through the standard as it is covered by our software. The test script has screenshots and whatnot showing how our software does various tasks. Well, in writing this document, the QA engineer didn't really have time to actually, you know, test the software in any meaningful way. So of course, as we get to the week before the certification is to start, they add a few people to the QA group and lo and behold, they start finding issues. Serious issues. Serious issues that should have been found months prior so they could have beenfixed before testing started, not during.
Well, after entirely too many nights of driving sleepily home at 2am the last two weeks...and missing a LOT of FSU baseball games (that I already paid for...which probably pisses me off more than anything) we pulled it out of our asses again.
I have the next week off and I will be using it constructively to find another job with hopefully better management. Or at least management that is proactive rather than reactive. I have a phone interview with one company Monday and leads for two other companies. I doubt they'll wow me with money offers, but honestly, I don't need to be wowed with money.
05 April 2005
The Brothers Lost On Amazing Race
But man did they go out in style.
I'll try to find a picture and update later.
I'll try to find a picture and update later.
03 April 2005
Streak Ends At 40
Damn shame, but a hell of an accomplishment regardless. I wanted him to get the NCAA record, but I guess that's just asking a bit much. None the less, congratulations to Shane.
Pope Dead
Good thing he didn't have to spend 15 years in a persistent vegetative state and become an unwilling political pawn.
31 March 2005
Mitch Hedberg Dead
I'm sure he would have had something completely weird to say about his death.
I saw him at the Comedy Zone in Atlanta before he became 'big', or at least well-known. He definitely had a unique style.
Of course, I'm guessing drug-related heart attack.
I saw him at the Comedy Zone in Atlanta before he became 'big', or at least well-known. He definitely had a unique style.
Of course, I'm guessing drug-related heart attack.
Schiavo's Body Joins The Rest Of Her
The shell of Terri Schiavo has finally been allowed to pass on. I fully expect her parents to file a wrongful death suit against Michael Schiavo shortly, but I hope they can make peace with the whole thing and move on.
38
Unfortunately, the streak continues in another losing effort. Worse, a loss to the crocs. Our pitching needs to tighten up, or rather, Mike Martin needs to pull the trigger faster on this group of pitchers. He left Hunter Jones in there about 4 runs too long before he even sent anyone down to warm up.
Can't blame this loss on the hitters, we out hit them for the game. We just give up chunks of runs when a reliever would probably have stopped the bleeding.
Oh well.
Can't blame this loss on the hitters, we out hit them for the game. We just give up chunks of runs when a reliever would probably have stopped the bleeding.
Oh well.
30 March 2005
Livin' La Vida Robot
This is a fantastic article. You should read it. Never underestimate the power of Mexicengineering, ese.
One point in it stuck out at me: Oscar Vazquez. Here's a motivated kid, a good leader, willing to learn and who wants to serve the United States as a member of our armed forces.
I know a lot of people have issues with immigration, and certainly the article makes no bones about all of these kids being undocuments. However, I have to think that there should be some sort of middle ground. Kids like Oscar have a lot to give to this country, and I don't think we as a nation should reject what he has to offer simply because his family didn't come here legally (not that coming here legally is an option for poor families, but I digress). This is especially true, I think, given the propensity for a lot of born-here American kids who have almost nothing to give to the country, and who in fact are more than willing to stick their hands out for the money from existing entitlement programs. Not all of the illegal immigrants are here because they want to abuse our entitlement programs, most are here because they want to work and make their lives better. You know, that whole American Dream thing.
We have an obvious need right now for military personel, and people like Oscar have a strong desire to serve and to succeed. I say we make a simple trade. Agree to serve in the military and in return for that service you will be put through the process of legalization fast-tracked. Serve active duty for say 5 years, then reserves another 5 to 10 years after that. Citizenship, GI bill and all that are granted and the US gets a disciplined citizen who wants to work and make this country a safer, better place.
One point in it stuck out at me: Oscar Vazquez. Here's a motivated kid, a good leader, willing to learn and who wants to serve the United States as a member of our armed forces.
I know a lot of people have issues with immigration, and certainly the article makes no bones about all of these kids being undocuments. However, I have to think that there should be some sort of middle ground. Kids like Oscar have a lot to give to this country, and I don't think we as a nation should reject what he has to offer simply because his family didn't come here legally (not that coming here legally is an option for poor families, but I digress). This is especially true, I think, given the propensity for a lot of born-here American kids who have almost nothing to give to the country, and who in fact are more than willing to stick their hands out for the money from existing entitlement programs. Not all of the illegal immigrants are here because they want to abuse our entitlement programs, most are here because they want to work and make their lives better. You know, that whole American Dream thing.
We have an obvious need right now for military personel, and people like Oscar have a strong desire to serve and to succeed. I say we make a simple trade. Agree to serve in the military and in return for that service you will be put through the process of legalization fast-tracked. Serve active duty for say 5 years, then reserves another 5 to 10 years after that. Citizenship, GI bill and all that are granted and the US gets a disciplined citizen who wants to work and make this country a safer, better place.
29 March 2005
Muppet Starring On Amazing Race 7
Joyce of team Uchenna&Joyce:
Aughra of Dark Crystal:
Clearly she has lost some weight and gotten a better hairdresser.
Aughra of Dark Crystal:
Clearly she has lost some weight and gotten a better hairdresser.
The Shark Has Been Jumped
First to gain support form Jesse Jackson loses.
Its a rule or something.
Al Sharpton support trumps Jackson, naturally, so Mike Shiavo still has a chance to lose.
Its a rule or something.
Al Sharpton support trumps Jackson, naturally, so Mike Shiavo still has a chance to lose.
28 March 2005
Alaska Zoo To Install Elephant Treadmill
My first thought is: "A treadmill for an elephant?!"
The elephant's first thought is: "Why the FUCK am I in freezing-ass Alaska?!?!"
The elephant's first thought is: "Why the FUCK am I in freezing-ass Alaska?!?!"
27 March 2005
As If You Need MORE Proof Tom DeLay Is A Bastard
(Via Eschaton.)
His own father. He must have really loved his dad to completely forget the experience he went through when arguing the Schiavo case.
This man is complete scum, and I have to assume that - given the number of times he has been elected - the people of Texas are either scum themselves, or just retarded.
Or possibly both.
His own father. He must have really loved his dad to completely forget the experience he went through when arguing the Schiavo case.
This man is complete scum, and I have to assume that - given the number of times he has been elected - the people of Texas are either scum themselves, or just retarded.
Or possibly both.
26 March 2005
Florida Bill To Allow Students To Sue Professors
The sheer level of stupidity of this bill - being pushed by Republicans, natch - is mind numbing.
However, should this become law, I would find it terribly amusing when the first communist/socialist-leaning student in some economics class decides to whip out the legal stick this legislation would give him on his conservative professor who makes the mistake of 'criticizing' his 'beliefs' by saying - well, anything (according to this broad bill) - negative towards those two economic models.
Any reasonable person would see the folly of this, but then Florida Republicans aren't exactly known to be reasonable. But, at least they can figure out a butterfly ballot.
However, should this become law, I would find it terribly amusing when the first communist/socialist-leaning student in some economics class decides to whip out the legal stick this legislation would give him on his conservative professor who makes the mistake of 'criticizing' his 'beliefs' by saying - well, anything (according to this broad bill) - negative towards those two economic models.
Any reasonable person would see the folly of this, but then Florida Republicans aren't exactly known to be reasonable. But, at least they can figure out a butterfly ballot.
37
Shane Robinson continued his amazing hit streak today during a double header at Duke. Unfortunately, we lost the second game due to...uh...pitching issues in the first inning. Oh well, these kinds of things happen.
Doctors Ethics
The article itself isn't on that topic, its about the guys who invented the feeding tube technology that is used in the Schiavo case (and many, many others). What was interesting is this little blurb :
Are you paying attention Dr. Frist? Of course you aren't, because you're a fucking political hack and you should have your medical license revoked.
Gauderer, director of surgery at Greenville Children's Hospital in South Carolina, said it wouldn't be appropriate for him to give an opinion on the Schiavo case, but he believes the government shouldn't intervene.
"This is something that needs to be decided at the family level," he said.
Are you paying attention Dr. Frist? Of course you aren't, because you're a fucking political hack and you should have your medical license revoked.
Easter Bunny Gets Pummeled By Boy At Mall
WTF? First off, where the hell are the parents during all of this? Second, isn't a 12 year old just a little bit old to be visiting the Easter Bunny? Third, this bunny would have spanked that little brat's ass raw.
Many Germans Want Berlin Wall Back
Wow! A lot of folks like to make a big deal about Germany's economic troubles being the sole result of socialist economic crapola. Of course, they are partially right 'cause socialism is crap. But, socialism in and of itself isn't to blame for all of their economic woes. Swallowing up an entire population and economy formerly run-into-the-ground by socialism and communism is an enormous task. Frankly, it is amazing the whole country didn't collapse economically after re-unification.
Still, the effects of it are being felt even after 15 years. Worse for Germany, by joining up with the greater socialist EU commonwealth (commonpoverty?) they have further eroded their own economic stability.
It will be interesting to see if this sort of sentiment increases over time. Not just the sentiment against the "easter's" but also against the EU.
Still, the effects of it are being felt even after 15 years. Worse for Germany, by joining up with the greater socialist EU commonwealth (commonpoverty?) they have further eroded their own economic stability.
It will be interesting to see if this sort of sentiment increases over time. Not just the sentiment against the "easter's" but also against the EU.
Compassionate, My Ass
While these nutjob protesters grandstand outside of the Woodside Hospice claiming to be trying to help someone live (who is already dead, despite their fantasies), they are causing grief to the other patients and families being served by the hospice. Apparently, those people's rights and privacy don't matter to the activists, I guess.
My grandmother was in this very same hospice a little over two years ago (which means I probably passed by Terry Schiavo at some point without knowing it). It is run by some of the most incredible, caring people in the world. My grandmother was smart enough to have made her wishes known in writing with a living will, fortunately. She did not want to have her life prolonged artificially, and she let us know that.
My grandmother developed MDS (myelodisplastic syndrome) which caused her bones to stop producing red blood cells. She received regular blood transfusions in her home via hospice, but her doctors told her that at some point she would no longer be able to receive any benefit from transfusions and they would have to stop (I don't remember the exact reasons they gave, something about iron build-up). After they stopped, she would begin to deteriorate as the anemia took effect. She eventually had to be put into the Woodside center where she would be able to have round-the-clock care (our family had been taking shifts staying with her at her house, feeding her, helping her onto the toilet, etc. until she got to the point that she could no longer get out of bed).
At Woodside, she had trained professionals who took care of her and allowed her to spend her last few days with dignity and in peace. She was made comfortable with drugs to soothe whatever pains she had and she was given water and what food she could eat. Eventually the anemia took her consciousness and she was no longer given food (which her body was rejecting anyway, her organs were all shutting down). My mother and her sister Vera sat by her bedside and used a little sponge to apply water to her lips and inside her mouth to keep them moist...to keep her comfortable. She wasn't able to even drink water at that point.
We spent the time by her bedside telling her that we loved her, even though she couldn't hear us anymore. My mom told her over and over how good a mother she had been, until she took her last few breaths.
We had a small memorial gathering for her at Woodside after she was gone and had been cremated (which my sister neglected to attend, but don't get me started on that). Just family and a few of the hospice workers who had taken care of her both at her home and at the center.
While she was in the center with my grandmother, my mom had noticed that the staff had trouble with laundry. They had only one or two laundry carts and because of health code regulations they had to use carts for soiled linens (and trust me, in a hospice they get a LOT of soiled linens) so of course there was a lot of laundry stress for the staff. My mom decided to donate a few carts (these are heavy duty hospital carts, not cheap) to the hospice in my grandmother's memory to help make the job a little easier for the staff that had made my grandmother's last days the best they could be.
Do the protesters realize the good that a hospice does? Do they realize that there are people in there trying to spend their last bit of time on earth in peace? Do they realize the harm they are doing in their vain, politically motivated attempt to 'help' a woman who should have already been buried years ago?
When their loved ones are dying I hope nobody comes to bully them and intrude on their peace. Part of me wants the opposite - to make them go through the same suffering they are inflicting on the Schiavo's and the other families at Woodside- but nobody...NOBODY deserves that. Not Terry, not anyone.
It sure isn't.
My grandmother was in this very same hospice a little over two years ago (which means I probably passed by Terry Schiavo at some point without knowing it). It is run by some of the most incredible, caring people in the world. My grandmother was smart enough to have made her wishes known in writing with a living will, fortunately. She did not want to have her life prolonged artificially, and she let us know that.
My grandmother developed MDS (myelodisplastic syndrome) which caused her bones to stop producing red blood cells. She received regular blood transfusions in her home via hospice, but her doctors told her that at some point she would no longer be able to receive any benefit from transfusions and they would have to stop (I don't remember the exact reasons they gave, something about iron build-up). After they stopped, she would begin to deteriorate as the anemia took effect. She eventually had to be put into the Woodside center where she would be able to have round-the-clock care (our family had been taking shifts staying with her at her house, feeding her, helping her onto the toilet, etc. until she got to the point that she could no longer get out of bed).
At Woodside, she had trained professionals who took care of her and allowed her to spend her last few days with dignity and in peace. She was made comfortable with drugs to soothe whatever pains she had and she was given water and what food she could eat. Eventually the anemia took her consciousness and she was no longer given food (which her body was rejecting anyway, her organs were all shutting down). My mother and her sister Vera sat by her bedside and used a little sponge to apply water to her lips and inside her mouth to keep them moist...to keep her comfortable. She wasn't able to even drink water at that point.
We spent the time by her bedside telling her that we loved her, even though she couldn't hear us anymore. My mom told her over and over how good a mother she had been, until she took her last few breaths.
We had a small memorial gathering for her at Woodside after she was gone and had been cremated (which my sister neglected to attend, but don't get me started on that). Just family and a few of the hospice workers who had taken care of her both at her home and at the center.
While she was in the center with my grandmother, my mom had noticed that the staff had trouble with laundry. They had only one or two laundry carts and because of health code regulations they had to use carts for soiled linens (and trust me, in a hospice they get a LOT of soiled linens) so of course there was a lot of laundry stress for the staff. My mom decided to donate a few carts (these are heavy duty hospital carts, not cheap) to the hospice in my grandmother's memory to help make the job a little easier for the staff that had made my grandmother's last days the best they could be.
Do the protesters realize the good that a hospice does? Do they realize that there are people in there trying to spend their last bit of time on earth in peace? Do they realize the harm they are doing in their vain, politically motivated attempt to 'help' a woman who should have already been buried years ago?
When their loved ones are dying I hope nobody comes to bully them and intrude on their peace. Part of me wants the opposite - to make them go through the same suffering they are inflicting on the Schiavo's and the other families at Woodside- but nobody...NOBODY deserves that. Not Terry, not anyone.
"They've taken away hospice's greatest quality, that it is peaceful and serene and quiet and calming — and it's not fair," Johnson said.
It sure isn't.
25 March 2005
Shane-O OWNS Hitting Streak Record
Shane Robinson now holds the FSU all-time consecutive game hitting streak at 35 games, all to himself, leaving JD Drew in the dust. ;)
No story link since Drew and/or FSUSI hasn't put one up yet.
Update: Here's a story link finally.
No story link since Drew and/or FSUSI hasn't put one up yet.
Update: Here's a story link finally.
Fox Blocker
Heh, amusing. Of course, there's this thing called a 'remote'.
For most digital cable and satellite systems (plus anything with a V-chip I think) you can also use the parental lock to block channels. I have all the church channels locked. ;)
For most digital cable and satellite systems (plus anything with a V-chip I think) you can also use the parental lock to block channels. I have all the church channels locked. ;)
Sex-deprived Wife Wins Divorce Case
A sex-strike? M'k...
I suppose women have been 'holding out' on men since the beginning of time, so why not a guy turning the tables?
I suppose women have been 'holding out' on men since the beginning of time, so why not a guy turning the tables?
24 March 2005
Republican Hypocracy
I guess that's redundant, but anyway.
"I find it opportunistic to use the death of someone like Christopher Reeve -- I think it is shameful -- in order to mislead the American people," Frist said. "We should be offering people hope, but neither physicians, scientists, public servants or trial lawyers like John Edwards should be offering hype.
I sure hope Americans wake up and smell the diarrhea they elected.
Of course, the pathetic, whipped main stream media won't have the sack to point these inconsistencies out. Anyone who thinks the Republicans are sincere about any cause they espouse needs thier head examined. These guys make Clinton look like a saint, and that is quite a task.
To sum up:
If Democrats use a person's illness (Reeve) for political gain, it is bad.
If Republicans use a person's illness (Schiavo) for political gain, it is good.
Its crap like this that almost makes me wish I wasn't an atheist, because then I could at least take comfort in the knowledge that these politician asshats would spend eternity rotting in hell. As it stands, I know they're going to just keep getting away with it, largely because of the general inability of people in this country to look behind the rhetorical sheep's clothing and see the wolf.
"I find it opportunistic to use the death of someone like Christopher Reeve -- I think it is shameful -- in order to mislead the American people," Frist said. "We should be offering people hope, but neither physicians, scientists, public servants or trial lawyers like John Edwards should be offering hype.
I sure hope Americans wake up and smell the diarrhea they elected.
Of course, the pathetic, whipped main stream media won't have the sack to point these inconsistencies out. Anyone who thinks the Republicans are sincere about any cause they espouse needs thier head examined. These guys make Clinton look like a saint, and that is quite a task.
To sum up:
If Democrats use a person's illness (Reeve) for political gain, it is bad.
If Republicans use a person's illness (Schiavo) for political gain, it is good.
Its crap like this that almost makes me wish I wasn't an atheist, because then I could at least take comfort in the knowledge that these politician asshats would spend eternity rotting in hell. As it stands, I know they're going to just keep getting away with it, largely because of the general inability of people in this country to look behind the rhetorical sheep's clothing and see the wolf.
Behold! Your One True God!
OK, so not really. But, honestly, if I were forced to choose between the Christian/Jewish/Muslim/whatever version of God and Alton its a no-brainer. I'd choose Alton.
Jacko's Porn Collection
The jury was shown pages from a wide array of magazines with titles ranging from "Total Teen Filth," to "Over 50," and "Plumpers and Big Women" that police found in the entertainer's bedroom.
The dude is seriously, seriously fucked up.
If You Live In Ohio, Feel Free To Beat Your Girlfriend
Its not like you get charged with a felony or anything. Remember, this is for the good of everyone, cause we just can't have gay people getting married and enjoying the liberties the rest of us have. Well, the rest of us that are married heterosexuals...and Christian...and white...and...
22 March 2005
Schiavo Protesters (?)
OK, so there are some folx here in Tally that have been standing on street corners holding up signs saying (more or less):
Did you enjoy your lunch today? Terry Didn't.
Well, actually guys, even if Terry had been given lunch (or any other meal) by feeding tube, she wouldn't have enjoyed it. Why?
1) A feeding tube bypasses the olfactory and gustatory systems that a normal person would use to 'enjoy' a meal.
2) The stuff that would be fed to her via feeding tube probably isn't prepared to be tasty (because of 1 above and 3 below), just nutritious.
3) Even if the food could be smelled and tasted, and even if it were delicious she still wouldn't enjoy it because she's in a persistent vegetative state. Her brain simply doesn't register enjoyment or anything else now.
Come to grips with this fact people, and dispense with the stupid rhetoric. Your arguments sound as ridiculous as anything a Democratic protester would come up with.
Also, 4) No I didn't enjoy my lunch today, thanks.
Did you enjoy your lunch today? Terry Didn't.
Well, actually guys, even if Terry had been given lunch (or any other meal) by feeding tube, she wouldn't have enjoyed it. Why?
1) A feeding tube bypasses the olfactory and gustatory systems that a normal person would use to 'enjoy' a meal.
2) The stuff that would be fed to her via feeding tube probably isn't prepared to be tasty (because of 1 above and 3 below), just nutritious.
3) Even if the food could be smelled and tasted, and even if it were delicious she still wouldn't enjoy it because she's in a persistent vegetative state. Her brain simply doesn't register enjoyment or anything else now.
Come to grips with this fact people, and dispense with the stupid rhetoric. Your arguments sound as ridiculous as anything a Democratic protester would come up with.
Also, 4) No I didn't enjoy my lunch today, thanks.
PA County Treasurer In Deep Doodoo
Normally, I wouldn't care to post this, but this is happening in a town near where my mother used to live. I've been to New Castle (this past summer in fact), its one of the fastest growing areas in PA...kind of a suburb for Pittsburgh.
Anyway, amusing crap. It would be nice if we could just shoot misbehaving poiticians. But I guess then we'd have no politicians.
OK, I'll think about why that would be a bad idea and get back to ya.
Anyway, amusing crap. It would be nice if we could just shoot misbehaving poiticians. But I guess then we'd have no politicians.
OK, I'll think about why that would be a bad idea and get back to ya.
50 Days Until Revenge Of The Sith
Hopefully Lucas won't totally fuck this one up like he did the last two.
I am skeptical.
I am skeptical.
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
Not too much longer now before this is out. I can't wait.
I should probably re-read the other books so it'll be fresh in my mind when the new one comes out. JET's mom is reading OotP currently.
I should probably re-read the other books so it'll be fresh in my mind when the new one comes out. JET's mom is reading OotP currently.
This Is Some Feriously Funny Stuff
Reading through these entries had me in tears laughing. Basically, its a black American teaching English in Japanese middle schools and the stories about his experience. You just have to read to appreciate.
Dark Chocolate Is Good For You
Sadly, white chocolate (which isn't really even chocolate) doesn't have the same benefits. Oh well, if I have to eat real chocolate, I prefer dark chocolate over milk chocolate anyway. Milk chocolate is always too damn sweet.
21 March 2005
YASS (Yet Another School Shooting)
Video Games, Porn, Homosexuals, Atheists, Fast Food, Rock Music, etc blamed in 3....2....1....
Oooh, You're Going To HATE Thursdays
Or: "Very Well Then, DEATH by Bufu!"
Scott Peterson is probably not long for this earth. See ya!
Scott Peterson is probably not long for this earth. See ya!
A Dick Nose For A Dick Head
I hate David Spade. He is the antithesis of funny. Now he has a nose to fit him.
Hogzilla
I just like saying that: Hogzilla. It makes me want to stand, pointing into the air with a horrified look on my face while screaming, 'hogzirra!'
Now all we need is something like Duckthra, then it'd be ON!
Now all we need is something like Duckthra, then it'd be ON!
America Tells Bush And Congress To Butt Out Of Schiavo Business
Well this poll made me feel a bit better about America. Not even the evangelicals are in favor or what the politicians are doing. I think that says something. Question is, will Bush and Congress listen?
Eh, prolly not.
Eh, prolly not.
Die Bambi, Die
OK so I watched Bambi last night. I hadn't seen it since I was a kid, and I literally only remembered one scene from the whole movie...Thumper sliding across the ice.
That's it. One memory. I guess I grew up before parents could chain thier kids in front of the TV with the VCR going non-stop. Come to think of it, we never had a VCR. We wuz po.
One thing is for sure, animation to day is WAAAAAAAY better than back in the olden times. Don't get me wrong, this stuff is classic...heck that's the reason I bought the DVD (cause the movie itself has about squat for an actual story line). But, animation today is a world apart. Dreamworks and Pixar have moved so far beyond Disney it ain't even funny.
That's it. One memory. I guess I grew up before parents could chain thier kids in front of the TV with the VCR going non-stop. Come to think of it, we never had a VCR. We wuz po.
One thing is for sure, animation to day is WAAAAAAAY better than back in the olden times. Don't get me wrong, this stuff is classic...heck that's the reason I bought the DVD (cause the movie itself has about squat for an actual story line). But, animation today is a world apart. Dreamworks and Pixar have moved so far beyond Disney it ain't even funny.
The Sketch Show
I watched this last night and it was definitely funny. Its kind of like an American Monty Python's Flying Circus For People With Attention Deficit Disorder...or AMPFCFPWADD for not-so-short.
The skits are generally really short, witha lot of quick-hitting visual comedy. Also a lot of variation-on-a-scene-theme stuff where they come back to the same setting but take the scene a different way. Again, Python used to do this.
Anyway, I liked it and I hope it lasts a while.
I linked to the IMDB page instead of to Fox, because Fox's web site is teh stupid.
The skits are generally really short, witha lot of quick-hitting visual comedy. Also a lot of variation-on-a-scene-theme stuff where they come back to the same setting but take the scene a different way. Again, Python used to do this.
Anyway, I liked it and I hope it lasts a while.
I linked to the IMDB page instead of to Fox, because Fox's web site is teh stupid.
The One Bright Spot
JET pointed out the other day the one silver lining in this whole Schiavo debacle: there is now greater awareness about Living Wills. If you don't want to end up a political pawn for 15 years like Terry, then you should get one.
I don't want to 'live' (sic) like that, so I 'spose I better get myself a living will soon (and a regular will too while I'm at it).
I don't want to 'live' (sic) like that, so I 'spose I better get myself a living will soon (and a regular will too while I'm at it).
Bush Signs Bill To Prolong Schiavo's Suffering
Hopefully the courts will lay the smack-down on this BS legislation quickly.
Remember the days when Republicans argued that matters such as these should be dealt with at the state level or lower? The formerly Federalist Republicans have, for all intents and purposes, become entirely statist. You know, kinda like Democrats.
You have to wonder if this type of legislation might come back to bite them in the ass. After all, for years they have been arguing that abortion laws should be left to the states to decide. Here they are now saying that states shouldn't be able to decide life and death issues.
Don't think for a minute that Democrats won't use this in the future for thier own purposes.
Ultimately of course, the government shouldn't be involved in this case at all. It is a family matter. Period.
Update: While we're on the subject of Republican BS (and yes, I know some Dems voted for this law as well, but they're just the vagina party at this point, so I expect nothing less), isn't it funny that Republicans will complain endlessly about 'judical activism' all the while turning out this kind of 'legislative activism'? The Agitator has a really good post on this subject.
Remember the days when Republicans argued that matters such as these should be dealt with at the state level or lower? The formerly Federalist Republicans have, for all intents and purposes, become entirely statist. You know, kinda like Democrats.
You have to wonder if this type of legislation might come back to bite them in the ass. After all, for years they have been arguing that abortion laws should be left to the states to decide. Here they are now saying that states shouldn't be able to decide life and death issues.
Don't think for a minute that Democrats won't use this in the future for thier own purposes.
Ultimately of course, the government shouldn't be involved in this case at all. It is a family matter. Period.
Update: While we're on the subject of Republican BS (and yes, I know some Dems voted for this law as well, but they're just the vagina party at this point, so I expect nothing less), isn't it funny that Republicans will complain endlessly about 'judical activism' all the while turning out this kind of 'legislative activism'? The Agitator has a really good post on this subject.
20 March 2005
Stick A Fork In It, My Bracket Is Done
Aweful, just aweful. Why do I even bother with this crap every year?
How Sweep It Is!!
We completed the sweep of the castrated turkeys of VaTech today. Yesterday was a loooong day and I did a lot of rag-arms. VaTech will push Duke and Maryland for the bottom-of-the-ACC this year.
Shane Robinson's hit streak is now up to 434984 straight games (ok, ok...just 33 games, but still).
Drew made the wise decision of making sure we were in tune before we sang the Shane-O song after Friday's rendition, in which 72 distinct pitches were going simultaneously. It was bad.
Shane Robinson's hit streak is now up to 434984 straight games (ok, ok...just 33 games, but still).
Drew made the wise decision of making sure we were in tune before we sang the Shane-O song after Friday's rendition, in which 72 distinct pitches were going simultaneously. It was bad.
19 March 2005
18 March 2005
Abstinence May Lead To Risky Acts
I'm shocked. SHOCKED!
You mean, horny teens that promise not to have sex are still likely to have sex, this just can't be!
Idiots.
There isn't a real huge difference in the numbers there, and frankly, 88% is reason enough to teach safe sex either in addition to or instead of abstinence-only education. Clearly, abstinence-only programs don't make enough of a difference on their own. (And more than likely some of the 12% saying they didn't have sex are lying, just like some of the 99% are probably lying about having had sex...remember, these are teens.)
You mean, horny teens that promise not to have sex are still likely to have sex, this just can't be!
Idiots.
Last year, the same research team found that 88 percent of teens who pledge abstinence end up having sex before marriage, compared with 99 percent of teens who do not make a pledge.
There isn't a real huge difference in the numbers there, and frankly, 88% is reason enough to teach safe sex either in addition to or instead of abstinence-only education. Clearly, abstinence-only programs don't make enough of a difference on their own. (And more than likely some of the 12% saying they didn't have sex are lying, just like some of the 99% are probably lying about having had sex...remember, these are teens.)
We win!!
Game was probably closer than it should have been, but we got the W, so whatever. It was cold. Who the fuck forgot to tell the weather that its March...in Florida?
Tomorrow will be the first weekend night game of the season (I think) so there will be a long day of tailgating and probably a lot of very drunk people. Should be fun ;)
I've got some chicken drumsticks marinating. Some in jerk sauce, and some in hawaiian sauce. Also have some andouille for Pappy (the grillmeister) and some cheddarwurst to spooge in JD's mouth.
Tomorrow will be the first weekend night game of the season (I think) so there will be a long day of tailgating and probably a lot of very drunk people. Should be fun ;)
I've got some chicken drumsticks marinating. Some in jerk sauce, and some in hawaiian sauce. Also have some andouille for Pappy (the grillmeister) and some cheddarwurst to spooge in JD's mouth.
Amazing Race Bets Eliminated
Don't read the article if you don't want to know who is supposed to win the race. Apparently sketchy betting patterns triggered the lockout. I'm surprised the betting houses even take bets on these shows given that the results are already known (by a bunch of insiders) by the time the shows air and because they've already had past incidences of apparent leakage.
Anyway, if the article is right, it brought a smile to my face. ;)
Anyway, if the article is right, it brought a smile to my face. ;)
Let her go already
I appears that the feeding tube is now going to be allowed to be removed from Terry Schiavo today. Obviously, nobody wants to see her die...but she's been dead for a long time, folx.
The mainstream media has kept this story alive far too long by irresponsibly showing the 2001 video of her supposedly showing signs of consciousness briefly. What they don't show you are the hours of the same video in which she clearly shows no signs of congnitive reactions at all.
Of course, our lovely politicians are doing everything they can to take political advantage of the situation - and make no mistake about it, thier motivations are purely political - by trying to pass laws explicitely preventing the physical shell of Terry from being allowed to die along with the mind that went long ago.
While the Jeb and the legislature pine on about protecting the unlife of Terry, they have completely ignored the suffering of Terry's husband who is alive. Michael Schiavo has been painted as a greedy man trying to off his wife so he can collect the remainder of the legal settlement for the injuries she suffered in the first place. However, most of that money has been spent on Terry, and Mr. Schiavo has also indicated his willingness to donate the remainder of the settlement money to charity. The recent failed bribe attempt I think is proof enough that Mr. Schiavo is sincere in his convictions and his assertation that Terry had indicated to him prior to her condition that she didn't want to be kept alive artificially.
Jeb and the rest of you: let it go. Stop using Terry for your political agendas. Mr. & Mrs. Schindler, let your daughter have peace.
The mainstream media has kept this story alive far too long by irresponsibly showing the 2001 video of her supposedly showing signs of consciousness briefly. What they don't show you are the hours of the same video in which she clearly shows no signs of congnitive reactions at all.
Of course, our lovely politicians are doing everything they can to take political advantage of the situation - and make no mistake about it, thier motivations are purely political - by trying to pass laws explicitely preventing the physical shell of Terry from being allowed to die along with the mind that went long ago.
While the Jeb and the legislature pine on about protecting the unlife of Terry, they have completely ignored the suffering of Terry's husband who is alive. Michael Schiavo has been painted as a greedy man trying to off his wife so he can collect the remainder of the legal settlement for the injuries she suffered in the first place. However, most of that money has been spent on Terry, and Mr. Schiavo has also indicated his willingness to donate the remainder of the settlement money to charity. The recent failed bribe attempt I think is proof enough that Mr. Schiavo is sincere in his convictions and his assertation that Terry had indicated to him prior to her condition that she didn't want to be kept alive artificially.
Jeb and the rest of you: let it go. Stop using Terry for your political agendas. Mr. & Mrs. Schindler, let your daughter have peace.
Cool foot pedals...
These foot pedals can be used to activate mouse clicks or other keyboard actions. This can be a nice thing for people who have carpel-tunnel, artheritis or other conditions that make using the mouse difficult or painful.
It also gives me an idea for a game controller that would be good for FPS-type games. One of the big problems I have with playing games like Halo on a console is that crouching and jumping are really hard to coordinate on the controller. When I play those games on the PC, I use a combination of mouse and joystick (not keyboard, cause keyboards are right-hand biased, and I am left handed...and fat-fingered, which is really a greater problem in the long run). I use the mouse for 'look'/turning control, and the joystick for forward/backward/strafe control. The mouse buttons I used for crouch and jump, and the joystick buttons for firing and weapon cycling.
On the XBox, I want the two triggers for...well...triggers. Halo2 lets you wield two weapons simultaneously and fire them independently, so that basically ties up two fingers and two buttons. Look and movement occupy the thumbs. That means that in order for me to crouch or jump...and really you need these to be effective in any kind of human-vs-human combat...I have to either give up a trigger finger and lose firing capacity or give up a thumb and give up aiming/movement capacity in order to execute a spiffy combat maneuver involving a jump or crouch. Obviously, that's a big sacrifice.
I have a racing steering wheel controller that I bought for playing Project Gotham 2 that has a foot pedal attachment for gas and brakes. It makes driving considerably easier to control for the game.
I'll have to take a look online and see if I can find non-steering wheel controllers that have pedal attachments. Might be a good business opportunity of none exist.
I think they have some game controllers designed for FPS that are shaped like guns and use some mechanism to translate where you point the controller at the screen to move your in-game view. Not sure how that works or if they are any good. I'll have a look at those too.
Update: OK, so the guns I saw are light guns and I guess they work with games specifically designed for light guns like those zombie shooter types. Foot pedals do exist, but they are designed to work in conjunction with the light guns as reload buttons. So, it appears there isn't an offering out there that does what I want. Now I just need to figure out how to build my own controller. :)
It also gives me an idea for a game controller that would be good for FPS-type games. One of the big problems I have with playing games like Halo on a console is that crouching and jumping are really hard to coordinate on the controller. When I play those games on the PC, I use a combination of mouse and joystick (not keyboard, cause keyboards are right-hand biased, and I am left handed...and fat-fingered, which is really a greater problem in the long run). I use the mouse for 'look'/turning control, and the joystick for forward/backward/strafe control. The mouse buttons I used for crouch and jump, and the joystick buttons for firing and weapon cycling.
On the XBox, I want the two triggers for...well...triggers. Halo2 lets you wield two weapons simultaneously and fire them independently, so that basically ties up two fingers and two buttons. Look and movement occupy the thumbs. That means that in order for me to crouch or jump...and really you need these to be effective in any kind of human-vs-human combat...I have to either give up a trigger finger and lose firing capacity or give up a thumb and give up aiming/movement capacity in order to execute a spiffy combat maneuver involving a jump or crouch. Obviously, that's a big sacrifice.
I have a racing steering wheel controller that I bought for playing Project Gotham 2 that has a foot pedal attachment for gas and brakes. It makes driving considerably easier to control for the game.
I'll have to take a look online and see if I can find non-steering wheel controllers that have pedal attachments. Might be a good business opportunity of none exist.
I think they have some game controllers designed for FPS that are shaped like guns and use some mechanism to translate where you point the controller at the screen to move your in-game view. Not sure how that works or if they are any good. I'll have a look at those too.
Update: OK, so the guns I saw are light guns and I guess they work with games specifically designed for light guns like those zombie shooter types. Foot pedals do exist, but they are designed to work in conjunction with the light guns as reload buttons. So, it appears there isn't an offering out there that does what I want. Now I just need to figure out how to build my own controller. :)
South Africa Repeating US Gun Control Law Mistakes
Apparently South African lawmakers are as dumb as U.S. lawmakers when it comes to gun laws. Using the same illogic of gun control advocates here, South Africa has implemented a gun control law (in which 80% of permit applications are refused) to supposedly combat the country's violent crime rate.
Of course, taking guns away form the law abiding citizens will do nothing to stop the rate of violent crime, because criminals - get this - DON'T OBEY THE LAW! They use unregistered guns for their crimes. To wit:
So, the lawful citizens have been forced to go old school, buying machetes, crossbows, swords, etc. to protect themselves from the violent criminals. That's just wonderful how the South African government has hamstrung its own citizenry and put the lawful at a distinct technological disadvantage against the unlawful.
Idiots.
Looks like they also are following the failed gun amnesty programs we have here too.
I'm not sure how it works there, but here in the U.S. we have had gun buy-back amnesty programs where government actually pays out money - no questions asked - to people turning in guns, which are later destroyed. Of course, criminals are often turning in broken or old weapons and then taking the money and going out to buy brand new guns...illegally, of course. And then they can take those shiney new illegally bought guns and commit crimes against people who don't have guns because they made the mistake of actually obeying the laws.
Here's a thought: why don't we do something to stop the criminals from getting guns illegally rather than stopping non-criminals from legally purchasing guns to protect themselves from the criminals?
Of course, taking guns away form the law abiding citizens will do nothing to stop the rate of violent crime, because criminals - get this - DON'T OBEY THE LAW! They use unregistered guns for their crimes. To wit:
"It's not really a matter of choice," Holmes said. "Licensed firearms are not used in crime at any great rate."
Estimates of the number of illegal firearms in South Africa vary between 1 and 4 million, he said, but the real problem is from some 30-40,000 hardcore criminals using a small number of illegal guns.
So, the lawful citizens have been forced to go old school, buying machetes, crossbows, swords, etc. to protect themselves from the violent criminals. That's just wonderful how the South African government has hamstrung its own citizenry and put the lawful at a distinct technological disadvantage against the unlawful.
Idiots.
Looks like they also are following the failed gun amnesty programs we have here too.
South Africa began a firearms amnesty on Jan. 1 that to date has netted some 13,000 weapons, officials told Reuters, but critics say most of the weapons handed in are old and would never have been used for crime.
"It's mostly been grannies and grandpas that are handing in weapons that are probably unusable anyhow," Willmers said.
I'm not sure how it works there, but here in the U.S. we have had gun buy-back amnesty programs where government actually pays out money - no questions asked - to people turning in guns, which are later destroyed. Of course, criminals are often turning in broken or old weapons and then taking the money and going out to buy brand new guns...illegally, of course. And then they can take those shiney new illegally bought guns and commit crimes against people who don't have guns because they made the mistake of actually obeying the laws.
Here's a thought: why don't we do something to stop the criminals from getting guns illegally rather than stopping non-criminals from legally purchasing guns to protect themselves from the criminals?
17 March 2005
Apparently nothing rhymes with 'curmudgeon'
Oh yeah, that's right, fuck you and the horse you rode in on, 'orange!'
Welcome Friends!!!
...of JET. I got traffic on mah page thanks to mah girlfriend.
Git in mah bloggie!!!
/fatbastard
//it probably really is the end of the world...you can thank me later
///squeeze a duck for good luck
////hey that rhymes!
Git in mah bloggie!!!
/fatbastard
//it probably really is the end of the world...you can thank me later
///squeeze a duck for good luck
////hey that rhymes!
Spaghetti Squash
Well, my first attempt to cook spaghetti squash left a lot to be desired. I don't think I cooked it long enough, so it was kinda crunchy. Not exactly the texture you want for spaghetti.
Oh well, I know to cook it longer now.
I'll have to make up for it by cooking some yellow squash casserole once the offerings are a little better at Publix. I'll post that recipe and some others as I go along. Its really, really good stuff (thanks 626!).
Oh well, I know to cook it longer now.
I'll have to make up for it by cooking some yellow squash casserole once the offerings are a little better at Publix. I'll post that recipe and some others as I go along. Its really, really good stuff (thanks 626!).
"You can find that book everywhere and the risk is that many people who read it believe that those fairy tales are real"
Great quote from Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. He was referring to The DaVinci Code, but I think it could apply to some other books. ;)
March Madness is underway.....
And my bracket already sucks.
Not really, but Alabama, Pittsburgh and Iowa all have dissapointed me. In the long run they don't hurt me since I didn't have any of them advancing past the second round. None of the tournament really means anything to me since FSU isn't in it...again.
I miss Charlie Ward, Bob Sura, Sam Cassell, Rodney Dobard, Doug Edwards, Chuck Graham...
Update: Add Texas to the list of shame above. Guess they answered that whole steers-n-queers question, huh?
Not really, but Alabama, Pittsburgh and Iowa all have dissapointed me. In the long run they don't hurt me since I didn't have any of them advancing past the second round. None of the tournament really means anything to me since FSU isn't in it...again.
I miss Charlie Ward, Bob Sura, Sam Cassell, Rodney Dobard, Doug Edwards, Chuck Graham...
Update: Add Texas to the list of shame above. Guess they answered that whole steers-n-queers question, huh?
Second Thoughts
This is a post from one of the blogs I have found, a small victory. You can read the post yourself, but the gist is that this very intelligent woman is now having a few second thoughts about her choice for president, Bush. Of course, the usual bashing from the right and told-you-so-ism of the left has been heaped on her in the comments (along with some good supportive stuff, don't get me wrong).
Her dilemma - not thinking out the long term consequences of her choice - is nothing new. Most people in this country take the 'voting for the lesser of two evils' approach at election time. The problem with this approach is that it always guarantees you evil. What Americans should do is demand better representatives so they don't have to vote for an 'evil' at all.
I made this choice, along with a whopping 0.3% of Americans, by voting for Badnarik (who?). While I certainly don't agree with everything Badnarik espouses, he was the ONLY candidate who stood for the majority of what I believe in: small government that stays out of your business and your wallet. In other words, freedom.
But I digress. I chose this entry from her blog just to introduce the blog itself. I highly recommend you read through her archives. They are filled with lots of witty, droll, stupid, intelligent, crazy, cool stuff. Just like I like it!
What's more, she's an advocate for Steak And BJ Day, which is a fantesticle trait in any woman.
Her dilemma - not thinking out the long term consequences of her choice - is nothing new. Most people in this country take the 'voting for the lesser of two evils' approach at election time. The problem with this approach is that it always guarantees you evil. What Americans should do is demand better representatives so they don't have to vote for an 'evil' at all.
I made this choice, along with a whopping 0.3% of Americans, by voting for Badnarik (who?). While I certainly don't agree with everything Badnarik espouses, he was the ONLY candidate who stood for the majority of what I believe in: small government that stays out of your business and your wallet. In other words, freedom.
But I digress. I chose this entry from her blog just to introduce the blog itself. I highly recommend you read through her archives. They are filled with lots of witty, droll, stupid, intelligent, crazy, cool stuff. Just like I like it!
What's more, she's an advocate for Steak And BJ Day, which is a fantesticle trait in any woman.
St. Patty's Day
I'm not wearing any green.
I'm not Irish.
I'm not Catholic.
I don't even drink. (Is it not PC to insinuate that Irish Catholics drink? To fucking bad!)
I did, however, put the Bailey's flavored creamer in my coffee this morning. ;)
I'm not Irish.
I'm not Catholic.
I don't even drink. (Is it not PC to insinuate that Irish Catholics drink? To fucking bad!)
I did, however, put the Bailey's flavored creamer in my coffee this morning. ;)
16 March 2005
The Incredibles
I picked this movie up today at the toy store. (Widescreen, natch) This is another great film from Pixar that I really enjoyed...and my girlfriend really didn't. Oh well, there's no accounting for taste. ;)
So anyway, tonight's viewing menu is set. I'm particularly looking forward to 'Jack-Jack Attack' and I will post later on how that was.
If you haven't seen this movie and you spent any time whatsoever during your youth reading comics (I still have my old collection), go rent it and enjoy.
Update: I fucking hate DVD packaging. It is a DVD, it isn't the U.S. Gold Reserve. You do not need to surround it with Fort Knox. Ugh!!!
Update: OK, so I wasn't terribly impressed with the Jack-Jack short. Not that it was bad...in fact, it ties in nicely with the movie once you've seen it. Which, I guess, is the problem. Usually Pixar shorts have a story unto themselves and they stand up well alone. Still cute though.
Oh, but what was on the bonus disk that I totally forgot about was the Boundin' short film that they showed before the film in theaters. Totally awesome. And its got naked sheep...that's hot! ;)
So anyway, tonight's viewing menu is set. I'm particularly looking forward to 'Jack-Jack Attack' and I will post later on how that was.
If you haven't seen this movie and you spent any time whatsoever during your youth reading comics (I still have my old collection), go rent it and enjoy.
Update: I fucking hate DVD packaging. It is a DVD, it isn't the U.S. Gold Reserve. You do not need to surround it with Fort Knox. Ugh!!!
Update: OK, so I wasn't terribly impressed with the Jack-Jack short. Not that it was bad...in fact, it ties in nicely with the movie once you've seen it. Which, I guess, is the problem. Usually Pixar shorts have a story unto themselves and they stand up well alone. Still cute though.
Oh, but what was on the bonus disk that I totally forgot about was the Boundin' short film that they showed before the film in theaters. Totally awesome. And its got naked sheep...that's hot! ;)
Men are planning for their divorce before they even get married
First off: duh. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being prudent. Pre-nups are a good thing. Use them.
Ah but second... As with many stories about divorce, it is once again portrayed as an evil blight on society.
Marriage is a contract, and divorce is a legitimate means for cancelling that contract. When you sign your marriage certificate, you are entering into a legal agreement with your spouse. Our country has volumes of laws that cover both this contract's life and its dissolution. We're in the thick of tax season, so you married folk know exactly what I am talking about.
Contracts can be broken, either mutually or by one party in breach. For instance, if a man cheats on his wife, he is in breach of his marital contract with her. If your employer failed to pay your wages as contractually promised, they too would be in breach of contract. Just as you would thereby be within your rights to file a legal claim for contractual dissolution (and damages), so too can the aforementioned wife via divorce. If we take away legal recourse for one type of contract, we might as well take it away for all types of contracts, right? Is that the kind of society you want to live in?
Obviously, in a free society we shouldn't impose limits on contracts - or rather who can enter into them - as that is clearly counter to both our economic and political systems (even though apparently millions of people can't grasp that notion). In so much, I can't offer a nice clean solution to fixing the first point above. Marriage is hard, and people need to understand that before entering into it. But you can't force people to think.
For the record, I am not and have never been married.
Ah but second... As with many stories about divorce, it is once again portrayed as an evil blight on society.
Some men go to even greater lengths to secure their futures. “We had a few cases where engaged men told us they gave a good portion of their belongings to friends or relatives for safe keeping. One man admitted buying a house in his gay cousin’s name so he would have a place to live if things didn’t work out. This shows the sad state of relationships and the impact of divorce in this country.”Haus believes the trend of setting up divorce nest eggs will continue. “As long as there is divorce, there will be people trying to beat the system.”
Dr. Haus and others like to attack the institution of divorce, saying it is too easy to get divorced yadda yadda. But they are missing two key points:
- Divorce is symptom of a problem (or more realistically, problems), not a cause.
- Marriage is a contract.
Marriage is a contract, and divorce is a legitimate means for cancelling that contract. When you sign your marriage certificate, you are entering into a legal agreement with your spouse. Our country has volumes of laws that cover both this contract's life and its dissolution. We're in the thick of tax season, so you married folk know exactly what I am talking about.
Contracts can be broken, either mutually or by one party in breach. For instance, if a man cheats on his wife, he is in breach of his marital contract with her. If your employer failed to pay your wages as contractually promised, they too would be in breach of contract. Just as you would thereby be within your rights to file a legal claim for contractual dissolution (and damages), so too can the aforementioned wife via divorce. If we take away legal recourse for one type of contract, we might as well take it away for all types of contracts, right? Is that the kind of society you want to live in?
Obviously, in a free society we shouldn't impose limits on contracts - or rather who can enter into them - as that is clearly counter to both our economic and political systems (even though apparently millions of people can't grasp that notion). In so much, I can't offer a nice clean solution to fixing the first point above. Marriage is hard, and people need to understand that before entering into it. But you can't force people to think.
For the record, I am not and have never been married.
This template sucks
I will definitely be changing this template to something else. Probably something FSU related.
Eventually.
Update: Changed it. This one is better. I will FSU-ize it later, but this one is easier to read.
Eventually.
Update: Changed it. This one is better. I will FSU-ize it later, but this one is easier to read.
FluffyBunny?? WTF, Mate?!
OK, I guess the first thing I need to do is 'splain the moniker. First off, I have a penis. It is glorious. Well, not really, but it has always been loyal to me. People have generally in the past seen the name and figured that I was female.
The story goes like this: I started working at a start-up software company in Atlanta back in 1997 after I finished grad school. The company had its reigning alpha-geek gamer champ, whom I will refer to as BigHead (This doesn't refer to his ego, although he had plenty of that like any programmer, but rather to his physically enormous gourd. It was huge. Unnatural. Almost South Park-esque in proportion to the rest of his body.) BigHead was apparently very good at most of the games the guys played on the company network after (and often during) hours. One day we got a new game called 'Metal Gear', I think. One of those Mech Warrior robot type games. Well, he challenged me to play a head-to-head game, I accepted.
In these games (FPS), of course, you choose a name to show up on screen. I picked FluffyBunny because I figured if I killed him, it would be funny having him see 'You have been killed by FluffyBunny' on his screen. Well, a bunch of people packed into BigHead's office to watch him stomp me at this game. Didn't happen. He saw 'You have been killed by FluffyBunny' a lot. Everyone had a good laugh at his expense.
After that it just stuck. I started using it for every online game just for the same amusing effect. And because frankly, the tired old hard-ass names like 'DeathMaker', 'SoulRavager', 'PuppyKiller' are just not that intimidating. A co-worker and friend started using the name 'TinkyWinky' and he and I would go terrorize FPS servers across the net. Good times.
I don't play too many on-line shooters anymore, but I do still use the name fo rmessage boards and such. Too lazy to come up with something else.
OK, lame story I know. But what were you expecting?
The story goes like this: I started working at a start-up software company in Atlanta back in 1997 after I finished grad school. The company had its reigning alpha-geek gamer champ, whom I will refer to as BigHead (This doesn't refer to his ego, although he had plenty of that like any programmer, but rather to his physically enormous gourd. It was huge. Unnatural. Almost South Park-esque in proportion to the rest of his body.) BigHead was apparently very good at most of the games the guys played on the company network after (and often during) hours. One day we got a new game called 'Metal Gear', I think. One of those Mech Warrior robot type games. Well, he challenged me to play a head-to-head game, I accepted.
In these games (FPS), of course, you choose a name to show up on screen. I picked FluffyBunny because I figured if I killed him, it would be funny having him see 'You have been killed by FluffyBunny' on his screen. Well, a bunch of people packed into BigHead's office to watch him stomp me at this game. Didn't happen. He saw 'You have been killed by FluffyBunny' a lot. Everyone had a good laugh at his expense.
After that it just stuck. I started using it for every online game just for the same amusing effect. And because frankly, the tired old hard-ass names like 'DeathMaker', 'SoulRavager', 'PuppyKiller' are just not that intimidating. A co-worker and friend started using the name 'TinkyWinky' and he and I would go terrorize FPS servers across the net. Good times.
I don't play too many on-line shooters anymore, but I do still use the name fo rmessage boards and such. Too lazy to come up with something else.
OK, lame story I know. But what were you expecting?
Hello World
Sorry about the horrible cliche title of this post, but hey, I'm a programmer, so I am allowed. Nay, required, lest I lose my geek card.
So...Seven Hills Curmudgeon...what's that all about? Well, see, I live in Tallahassee, Florida. Tallahassee is the Seminole word for 'Seven Hills'. And, apparently, Tallahassee has seven major hill formations. Terribly creative.
I am a fan of this town, though I probably couldn't tell you exactly why, and I am also a FSU Seminole fan, which I can explain: I got my undergraduate degree at FSU.
Curmudgeon is just something I have been called in the past because of my...well...curmudgeonly beliefs. I have been called other thing as well, but most of those would not make for an appropriate blog title. ;)
So, why am I doing this blog now? I dunno. I guess I found myself reading several blogs online and decided to throw my hat into the ring along with the other bajillion or so other people on the planet. Its not like anyone is ever going to read this thing besides me anyway. More than anything, though, I suppose this will be my place to publicly vent, as only us curmudgeonly folk can.
I'll be linking up to the various blogs I like to read and posting absolutely worthless crap, the likes of which you can only find on...well, the entire internet. So, enjoy. Or not.
So...Seven Hills Curmudgeon...what's that all about? Well, see, I live in Tallahassee, Florida. Tallahassee is the Seminole word for 'Seven Hills'. And, apparently, Tallahassee has seven major hill formations. Terribly creative.
I am a fan of this town, though I probably couldn't tell you exactly why, and I am also a FSU Seminole fan, which I can explain: I got my undergraduate degree at FSU.
Curmudgeon is just something I have been called in the past because of my...well...curmudgeonly beliefs. I have been called other thing as well, but most of those would not make for an appropriate blog title. ;)
So, why am I doing this blog now? I dunno. I guess I found myself reading several blogs online and decided to throw my hat into the ring along with the other bajillion or so other people on the planet. Its not like anyone is ever going to read this thing besides me anyway. More than anything, though, I suppose this will be my place to publicly vent, as only us curmudgeonly folk can.
I'll be linking up to the various blogs I like to read and posting absolutely worthless crap, the likes of which you can only find on...well, the entire internet. So, enjoy. Or not.
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