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June 30, 2005
June 28, 2005
Cold Hard Facts of History
On this very day in 1914 the Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated by Serbian militants in Sarajevo, THE event that sparked World War I.
Five years later, on this very day, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, thus ending World War I.
Eight years ago Mike Tyson bit off Evander Holyfield's ear. Crazy how history works isn't it?
Ineluctable
I've just spent an hour and a half listening to the secretary in the biomedical sciences department arrange for the transport of a donated body to the college's gross anatomy lab.
June 27, 2005
Alert!
It would seem that the weekend has come and gone, at least this is my hypothesis as the calendar is now stating that it is Monday.
It was a nice weekend and if you ignore the events of Friday night it was quite a nice and sedate couple of days. As can be expected there was little activity on Saturday as I recovered from the effects that one does normally suffer from after a night of heavy alcoholic consumption. Sunday I went to church with mother, got to tell the not-yet-ex-wife's grandmother that we are indeed getting divorced and was able to observe the wave of sadness that engulfed her face. Other than that little moment it wasn't a bad experience. I think I may go back more regularly.
There is room for encouragement that my smoking phase may be ending. Now that I look back on the last couple of weekends I see that I've been smoking less and less, not really out of any conscious effort, but that does seem to be the trend. A comment at the party that American Spirits are worse for you than regular cigarettes and my refusal to smoke anything else has put a shadow of doubt in the back of my head that I'm getting away with anything by smoking them.
Work is off to a bad start. I have five computer setups and one defunct hard drive to deal with all as of this morning. I went from feeling all loosey goosey to horribly swamped in a matter of moments. Ick.
June 25, 2005
You Can, if you must, Call Me Al
So yeah, the party evening is over. Memorable points? Nothing really sticks out in my mind other than I drank a lot of free (and varied) alcohol and feel very strange for having left Guinness in the refrigerator, even if I did give it as a gift. One could point out that Justin (the boy who's 21st birthday it was) passing out on the floor in the fetal position was memorable, but let's be honest, we all sort of expected that. You might, if you knew about it, tell me that me swimming in the pool with Shelby's Golden Lab was an exceptional highlight of the evening, but it lacks that sort of dramatic element and it really isn't very inspiring. Loosing my glasses at the bottom of the pool and miraculously finding them, NOW that is a story worthy of telling. And why do I have big scratches on my torso?
In the end there was no hooking of any sort, neither of the up variety nor down. Is there a down? All told this is probably the best outcome. Cute OK Amy went home early in the night and she totally missed the pool episode, so her chance to see me without my shirt on…a most mesmerizing visual…was lost. Shelby; however, seems to have been immune to such displays of wanton male sexual happenstance. I did at some point feel I could have put some of those moves, that I've heard so much about, on Ms. Shelby, but I could never pull the trigger on that adventure and something tells me that the scenario worked out for the best of all involved. No one needs to bring up my last clumsy attempt on a cute neighbor do they? I thought not.
Special thanks to Trinity for the phone call and not minding me drunk dialing her at what I believe was 1:00 or so in the morning for her. Special apologies to the bunny for drunk dialing her, hope I didn't wake you.
June 23, 2005
Dilbore
Is it just me or has Dilbert really lost its edge? I read the strip everyday and I can't recall the last time it made me laugh. I guess there are only so many evil boss jokes you can tell.
Events and Happenings
After watching Batman Begins last Saturday I've found myself much more interested in absorbing more of that holy staple of comic canon. In pursuite of my desire I asked co-worker Jon to help me out and he, just yesterday, presented me with Batman: Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland. A most exceptional tale! If the fates should ever allow it and you get the chance to peruse it's hallowed pages I highly suggest that you take advantage of that opprotunity. I also received Batman: Cataclysm and Batman: No Man's Land. Cataclysm would seem to be the terrible, evil polar opposite of The Killing Joke in all applicable terms, but I am told it is a necessary precursor to understanding and enjoying No Man's Land. We shall see.
Tonight, so I am told, I will be watching Howl's Moving Castle with bunny. It is the latest offering from the god-like machinations of Hayao Miyazaki, created in that factory of Anime delight known to us mere mortals as Studio Ghibli. I am looking forward to substantial viewage and enjoyments. The trailer was succinctly labeled and filed as "spiffy", so I am expectant of above mentioned enjoyments.
Friday night, I'm tempted to say, should prove interesting in a myriad of ways that I don't think, nay am hesitant, to comment on. My neighbors are having a party and I am quasi-hopefull that the evening should provide some potentiality for events that at the same time have been both source of fantasy and some level of existential quandry. Building on the loose foundations of last Friday's impromptu courtyard get together make me feel as if the brain should be limber and specifically open to the playing of that game. Perhaps not, but it should be a nice evening spent amongst fabulous people so I expect I can't lose.
So there you have it.
June 22, 2005
It's Astounding
I am really flabbergasted by the fact that someone who holds a top position in the college is down here right now scrounging for memory to upgrade his five year old computer. Are they not paying you enough? Is it more gratifying to waste our time digging through obsolete computers than it is to run down to CompUSA in your brand new BMW to buy a new computer?
June 20, 2005
Back from Outer Space...
...err, well Waco anyway. Spent time with the folks and grand-folks, it was a good time and it was really very nice to get out of Dallas for a couple of days. My best friend since kindergarten was in town with his family, they came out to eat with us on Saturday and we spent a good deal of time catching up. It was good to see Lance, his wife and their two kids. I still can't believe that he has produced two humans.
I saw Batman Begins early on Saturday with dad and absolutely loved it, I left the theater astounded. This one completely blew away the other movies. They are now dead to me. Lance and I went to see Mr. & Mrs. Smith later that night and while not a high caliber movie it was entertaining, which I suppose it what movies should do. So it was a fairly active weekend movie-wise.
June 18, 2005
I Love You
I love you without feature
Though you are a dangerous creature
Even though I'm living with out
the meanest skills to survive
I'm naked and I'm clothed
And I'm waiting for you,
To hold me upright
But until then I'm just fishing
For the right bait to survive
For all these smashing lights
That I can hide behind
I'm gone and lost and I want you
I just want you though i don't
Know what to do with you
I know that I want you
To hurt myself and klll my mind
In the bliss that you provide
I'm killing myself and scattering
Reality just thinking about you
I'm dead and living it
Killing these fields
Reaping the harvest
You're just the differce
That I never needed.
Note: I don't remember writing this. Edited 6/19
June 17, 2005
Missed This
On this day:
2002
Australian scientists announced that they had "teleported" a laser beam—breaking it up and reconstructing it in another location
via Infoplease
But very interesting.
Thievery & Doorbells
...When ya gonna ring it?
New White Stripes offering: Get Behind Me Satan
I think I like it.
The album title reminds me of the character Feo, from that Cheech Marin movie Born in East LA, as Cheech's character tries to talk himself out of prison. Classic.
June 16, 2005
*GLEE*
I have a DRESDEN DOLLS skin!!!! HARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!
Very special thank you to Trin for whipping that up for me. A totally unexpected and delightful surprise! You, you lucky thing, can check out the new skin by selecting it from yonder drop down list to the right. ---->
Wooo...Amanda makes mi pantalones loco!
Post Hump Day Funk
Yesterday's post never made it due to a shift in the Fate Stream, alas that happens sometimes. I'm considering taking a week and making it a no-TV, no-computer, no-Internet period to see what it would be like and if I can survive such a thing. What effect would it have on me? There have been brief moments of synaptic activity lately where I've come to believe that a departure from these mediums would do me some good. Whether or not I'm able to take that step, unplug everything and leave it in a state of no functionality for a week, remains to be seen.
The TV doesn't garner much of my attention and I can foresee that putting it into disuse for an extended period of time wouldn't be much of a challenge. I can even conceive of a reality where the computer and the DSL in my apartment are shut down and shunned, but the real iffy factor is my job. I am a computer technician and there really is no way to remove those items from my daily routine and continue to do my job effectively. So I don't know, maybe it's just madness.
Dresden Dolls
Because I love him so dearly and wanted to do something special to make up for his boring evening (and just because he's so slutty), I've made a new skin for my sweet Jeffieroo.
I also fixed the annoying-as-fuck stylesheet issue (which wasn't assigning a cookie or recognizing a style for first-time visitors). Incidentally, that might have broken your current stylesheet selection, so if you're viewing this and it's unstyled, scroll down a ways and select from one of the three skins. Unfortunately, I noticed a lot of other little things I'm not hell-bent on fixing, but since it's after 2am, I'm going to bed.
June 14, 2005
Prison Wine!
I SO want to try this!! But maybe not exactly as printed. Though, as I think about it, this is probably how they make the boxed wine I've drank so much of.
Conceptual
I've heard it said before that there is no hell, because *this* is hell that we live in right now. I've been thinking lately that the far scarier concept would be that this is heaven.
June 12, 2005
You've Got to Be Kidding
It's so late now
And the hour is growing dim
I'm still here right now
But I can't find the reason why
I've never known the reason why
So I'm staying here with what I have
And it doesn't seem like so much
As it seemed just an hour before
You've been there in my dreams
And I've carried you many weary miles
But that all might be coming down
As the shroud is getting very thin
Those boundaries we all put up
Aren't proving to provide much protection
When it all comes down to business
We're all just naked and waiting for love.
There was a time when I should have stopped
But I never found the brakes
Momentum can keep you going for so long
That you wind up dead in a minute
Provocation and expectation
Get me hard on so many levels
That I'm left limp and wanting
From the portions that I get
Momentary lapses of sanity
Seem to be spreading out before me
And I can't see that course so clearly
So the fog takes me and holds up
It was a deal I made a long time ago
Without knowing where I was going
So I could end up here with you
Lonely and questioning what happened
Now I'm looking for discovery
On a channel that might not exist
I don't know the rules to this game
So I'm moving my pieces at random.
The story to my life
Was never that interesting
So I soaked it in a broth
Made from cheapened thrills
To find myself here is a big surprise
It's not what I expected of you
Or me when I embarked long ago
It seemed a much prettier picture
Those promises they promised
Were pictures I couldn't paint
With the pencils I was provided
So I sketched the outlines I found.
It was something sensual
That I never found when I looked
And I passed out longing to feel you
When I never knew where to touch
Keep me from myself
Take me to somewhere else
Live my life in a brighter place
But don't leave me alone.
June 10, 2005
Things I Just Don't Understand:
1. The music stylings of KISS.
2. NASCAR! They go around in a circle 500 times, how is this entertaining? They say you have to see it live to truly appreciate it, but all I can imagine is sitting out in the sun, burning to a crisp, slowly going deaf from the noise FOR FOUR HOURS!
3. Male locker rooms and why guys like to get naked together after athletic endeavors. Honestly, I took some teasing and ribbing because I didn't want to get naked with the other guys, though eventually, in High School, I had to as not to be sweaty and nasty after Athletics. I'm not entirely opposed to seeing the male form nude, but I DO NOT want to see my male friends naked, nor do I want them seeing me naked. This seems perfectly logical to me.
This is all I can think of right now...I'm sure I can add to it later.
June 09, 2005
Science...the cause of and solution to...
Could scientist be falliable? God forbid! We already know the state of organized religion in our culture, who shall we turn to when all the science turns to sand.
Oh woe-is-me! I also like how this is in the off beat section.
What hath God wrought?
I did this one on the aniversary of the invention of the telegraph. "What hath God wrought?" is proportedly the first message sent. So, yeah. I think I hit the wall on doing these little art projects, but I'm pondering the possibility of doing some in pencil and then scanning them in for touch up, as I hear is the popular method. We'll see.
June 08, 2005
People Please
Identify yourself on your goddamned voice mail. Is it really that hard? All we need is a fucking first name, ya know so just maybe we have some sodding clue as to who we're calling. Is it a privacy thing? C'mon, in this day and age if you really think you have any privacy you're just fooling yourself. I don't think excluding a name on your bloody cell phone is going give you away to all the baddies out there. Sheesh.
Excuse me while I go to check to see if I identify my voice mail.
Muhammad
Died on this very day in 632 AD. How about that? He was quite a guy, cunning tactican, captivating leader, suave diplomat and founder of one of the three great religions. Not bad.
June 07, 2005
Brain Fizzies
When we die our soul doesn't leave its body and go to some eternal place, nor does our existence cease. What happens is this; our spirit, our body, our consciousness shifts reality, dimensional planes, to a place where it survives. We're never aware of these shifts, it is as to us simply a logical continuation of our life.
For instance, you're driving in your car and as you pass through an intersection you narrowly escape getting sideswiped. Instead the other car zips behind you and you continue on your way. What really happened is that the car hit you and killed you instantly on impact, but at that moment of death your conscious mind was zipped into another reality where you narrowly avoided a bad wreck.
What about the elderly or people that die of natural causes? They simply shift into a reality that contains a cure for them and they recover. For old age they shift into a reality where life prolonging measures are in use. Perhaps a reality where youth restoration technology exists.
One would have to wonder if all the memories and experiences of one's life are carried forward too. So what happens for people born in ages past? Perhaps they are shifted into dimensions very similar, yet different enough to counter whatever killed them, perhaps through magic?
This would mean that there are an eternal number of dimensions and realities. I once pondered that every person is following their own time path through space and time. Every decision and action propels them down that path, but also every action and decision they don't take creates possible dimensional realities. So if every person ever born is doing this then there are quite literally infinite realities.
Brain hurt now…stop
I'm sure you've all been waiting...
Awhile back I said I would post a picture of my main WoW toon once I purchased a mount and the level of fug went down. Well, yeah...here it is:
Oh, and after four hours the patch finally finished downloading. *sound of me rolling eyes*
June 06, 2005
History
Wow, today is the anniversary of D-Day. An incredible moment in history, so much was on the line for this one event. When Eisenhower gave the order to proceed it was because of a break in the weather, but it was with some trepidation that the order was given. Had he waited for a better day he would have waited for nearly three months.
Had the invasion failed we would be looking at a very different world. Nazi Germany would still have fallen. The Soviets who were most responsible for V-E Day would have crushed them regardless though it may have taken a little longer. But, one must ask, how much more of a grip would they Reds have had over Europe if the Allies hadn't been there to block their path? With most of Europe a big red splotch would World War III have occurred?
Kitten War!
Thought processes:
In the Buffyverse and Angelverse demons are not always evil, some are good or neutral, some are funny and some can sing. Both shows portray their heroes constantly battling the forces Evil, an epic battle against all the denizens of, evidently, unnumbered hell dimensions. I oft wonder if there are multitudes of hell dimensions then are there multitudes of heaven dimensions. If there are and mind dizzying number of demons who skew across the spectrum of good and evil, does the same apply to angels? Are there angel-human hybrids, Whedon portrays mixed demons quite frequently in both shows.
June 03, 2005
As it happens:
I used to be a part of a gaming group, they played upper teir board games that arem mostly designed in Europe. They're a little bit smarmy but overall a good bunch of folks. I haven't gone to a game session since the wife and I broke up, but I'm still on the mailing list. You probably have to know them for this to be funny, but I've been watching this exchange and it made me crack up:
John's email: So how many folks are playing tomorrow? Do we have 5 players yet?
Derk's email: More than five... I'm bringin' some new guys...
John's: Well that's pretty cryptic - you realize you're responsible for their
behavior...
Derk's: Ah. WTF does that mean? I need to teach them to be overanalytical,
elitist pricks by tomorrow?
I laugh because it's true.
June 01, 2005
Bitter expectations...
I hate to be this way, but it really irritates me that the only time I hear from my old church is when they fucking want something. In the six months since the wife and I broke up and I stopped going to services there I have not heard once single peep from anyone associated with that church, except for when they want something. I thought maybe someone, like the pastor, would call to check in and see if I was all right, was there anything he could do, but I got nothing. Now the wife and I were pretty active members of that church and we invested a lot of time in it. I'm not saying I feel like they owe me anything, but I did think that all of that Christian community crap they talked about might mean something. Evidently it does not, except when the church is in need. I'm was quite willing to give to the church, especially one that does so many good things, but seemingly being allowed to drop like that is a little upsetting, especially after I did the giving.
Elucidation
On a lark I decided to see if the word "crunk" actually had any meaning. I first discovered this term on a bag of Rap Snacks, the official snack of hip hop, brought by the Monketo whilst I was over at bunny's for a movie/pizza night. I believe if you are a hardy and adventurous soul you can find evidence of that bizarre occurrence on bunny's photoblog. So, I've prevaricated about the wabe long enough, here you are, from Urban Dictionary (paraphrased):
Crunk: 1. its a mixture of the word crazy and drunk
I wanna go to a party and get crunk
2. Yiddish for "sick"; brought into the Southern Black vernacular through the presence of European Jewish immigrant shopkeepers in black neighborhoods in cities such as Atlanta.
Can be used in the sense of "messed up" as in "these forks are crunk," and spread to "messed up" as from controlled substances
There you are, don't you feel smarter.