What's all this about here...

Blogging is for sissies and ninnies.

2011-08-22T19:28:00.003-05:00

I've started to learn HTML from the comfort of my quaint abode. I did this once, long ago, in another era. Something on the verge of ten years ago. I did this for absolutely no reason at all, which is why my learning came to a grinding halt shortly after I learned how to make a link or insert an image:

Things Which Make Me

2010-03-17T21:13:00.001-06:00

By order of quantity taken weekly:

Plain unflavored old fashioned Oatmeal
Carrots
Broccoli
Spinach
Apples
Bananas
Onions
Red Kidney Beans
Lima Beans
Navy Beans
Pinto Beans
Tomatoes
Yellow Bell Peppers
Plain Sugar Free Peanut Butter
Almonds
Walnuts
Garlic
Avocado
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Cayenne Pepper
Plain Green Tea
Honey

Occasionally:
Chicken
Tuna
Turkey

Just wanted to share this one thing.

2010-01-18T09:44:00.001-06:00

A comic I liked intensely.

Mensch

Captains log...

2009-12-07T10:45:00.001-06:00

It's my day off. My one day off. So far this morning I've slept in to 9:30, ccleaned the apt a little to the tune of 88.9 jazz and made room for thew tree by the front windows. yet to do today: take my car down to the tire place by jamies work and have them take what looks like a 1/2 inch bolt out of my front tire and fix it. I hope this doesn't cost me an arm and a leg, cause those are thing i don't have available right now.

Blogging from my phone: phlogging?

2009-08-18T18:49:00.003-05:00

What do ya think?

Blogging from my phone: phlogging?

2009-08-18T18:49:00.001-05:00

What do ya think?

2008-11-10T17:45:00.003-06:00

Lately I've been brushing up on some of my lost math abilities. I found an old college algebra book and noticed all of those complex pages in back, so full of strange shapes and variables they look like a physical burden to the eye, which I've never gotten to. So, in the pursuit of knowledge, I've taken it upon myself to devote some time (almost) everyday bearing towards the inside of that back cover. Learning new skills is something unlike anything else. Different every time. Refreshing. Somewhat akin to riding a roller coaster for the first time, falling off of a bike, or better yet like burning your hand on a stove top for the first time. The difference between these learning experiences and making yourself learn something long winded like math, reading, writing, typing, sciences or otherwise, is how much there is to learn and how quickly it happens. We all understand why a person learns not to touch a hot stove very quickly after doing so. So I'm thinking, wouldn't it be nice to trick your brain into learning the latter mentioned as if they were fire on a stove top? Could we learn that life is painful without them in order to more easily accept new ideas like these and commit them to memory? I think probably that it is possible, but not without conjuring some bad dreams and psychiatry bills later on in life. All the same though, that would be stellar.

Laurie

2008-11-08T19:54:00.001-06:00

A nice story from another time and place. Laurie.

And, furthermore:

2008-10-27T14:42:00.001-06:00

An essay on laziness.

Awwww...

2008-10-27T13:07:00.000-06:00

SO emo

Makes me tear up a little...

2008-10-04T13:53:00.000-05:00

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Answer the question already...

2008-10-03T10:39:00.003-05:00

This is taken directly from this page here, and I think it hit the mark.

I think that it must have been extremely frustrating for the moderator to continually ask questions that just plain don't ever get answered, and then get overlooked altogether. I've watched both debates so far, and my impression so far is this: of the four people who have been on stage, Obama has been to the only one to give direct answers the questions asked by the moderator, at least 80% to 90% of the time. Sure, each one has had his or her moment of truth, but for the most part these people have treated this as nothing more than a moment in the spotlight, as if the man or woman standing in front of them asking questions was only a formality. If Sarah Palin was so concerned with the straight talk that the american people want, she would have answered the questions that the american people have asked of her. My biggest beef, and I realize that this is just how politicin' works, is that the response to most questions directed at person a are constantly redirected to be accusations about person b without ever answering the question. I should have known though, when Sarah got on stage and changed the rules right away. She said right in the beginning that she was not going to answer the questions asked of her by the moderator. Well that's great, cause then she can read a story to the people watching the debates, that which has been written for her on the note cards.
At least we know she can read...

-Joe

Hooray!

2008-09-26T12:00:00.008-05:00

See more Sarah Silverman videos at Funny or Die

Yippee! The debate rages on! How very American of John to decide that debating as a running Presidential candidate was a better idea than contributing nothing to a room full of people who weren't expecting him to show up. I'm proud of him.
And I'm excited to watch.

Speaking of being a United States citizen:

I witnessed this man yesterday at a gas station in downtown St. Paul. This proud American took the words "gas station safety" and replaced them with comedy, dangerous, and patriotism(because it gave me such a huge feeling of pride for my country to watch him do this, not that this doesn't happen in other countries). He's a badass. When I arrived I watched this man get out of his car with a lit cigarette in his mouth, step right up to the pump and proceed to grab the gas nozzle, which he promptly stretched over to the far side of his car where the gas cap was located. It didn't reach, the first time. This is where I snapped the picture, hoping that if he blew us up, or my phone blew us up, somebody would have picture evidence and think that they know who to blame. Luckily, when he discovered it didn't reach, his car was still running, so he set the nozzle down on the ground and shimmied his car just a little bit closer as you can see here. By the time I finished filling my own car, our antagonist was on his cell phone, car still running. Clearly this man knows better than everyone else since the gas station didn't blow up, and if I know anything about science: that right there is foolproof evidence. I know, I know, I grabbed my cell phone while I was at the pump, I guess it was just a dangerous day there at that gas station. But I'd rather like to think that I was just a small contributor to that danger.

Has everyone seen this yet? Pretty fun to watch, and it makes me glad those dolphins can find something fun for themselves AND the crowd all by themselves.

Also: in case you haven't seen or heard of it: Letterman was upset over some political issues.

Several things, not a one of them is terribly important though:

2008-09-24T20:44:00.010-05:00

Super Chuck Norris Bros Video Game

I'm real disappointed that the first Presidential debate may not happen this Fri, no thanks to John McCain. In case you haven't heard: Mr. McCain made a request of the Obama camp that the first Debate be postponed in light of this recent indecision in the White House over the current status of our banking system, despite the fact that people involved in this decision making process have told both presidential elects that they're not needed there in DC(some even went so far as to say that their presence would only be a nuisance, what with all the media coverage and all, and it might just slow things down even more). What's even funnier about this whole situation is Johnny's flip flopping last week about his stances on: not only his take on this banking bailout, but the condition of the whole fucking economy itself. I guess he would have called me one of those whiners he was talking about a short time ago.
In any case: I'm really looking forward to watching those debates. So, I really hope that they happen...
Aaron: I'm sure that someone MUST have put together a mashup of McCains plans for our economic future as a country. I'll bet that it's;
a: animated(poorly), and
b: that it's mildly funny.
If not, that may be a fun project for a film editor such as yourself.

I've been experimenting with wierd ways of taking pictures with my old POS 6.0 MP vivitar digital camera through various apparatuses:

These were taken through the viewfinder of an old digital camera pictured on the floor in picture 2 above. Hopefuly I'll think of something neat to do with the old 3mp sans viewfinder.

These two were taken through a lens I picked up at Axemans Surplus this weekend for a few dollars. I haven't experimented with it a WHOLE lot but it so far has afforded me macro shots that the camera cannot otherwise handle, with a very narrow depth of field.

-Joe

Beat my high score...

2008-09-22T01:30:00.002-05:00

It was important to me, okay?

You heard it here first.

2008-09-21T15:30:00.007-05:00

Some games are fun. Some are just addicting, and some are both. It's called Gravity Hook, and my high score is 1021m as you can see in this handy picture I have provided for your amusement.
So please do your best to do better than my current high score. Shouldn't be too hard, I mean you may wind up with nice case of the need-a-shower-head-itches-cause-my-wife-kicked-my-jobless-carpel-tunneled-ass-out before too long, but all the same: it shouldn't be too hard.

I've been keeping my eye on quite a few areas of the internets for my election2008 news but I've just recently stumbled upon(but not literally, in the Firefox sense of the words) a website called the Jed Report, which basically just keeps me informed of the issues important to myself in this political race.

Is that selfish?

Check it out

A failure to blog = a blog about failure:

2008-04-08T21:04:00.013-05:00

ONCE AGAIN: U(SC)FC!

2008-03-13T23:26:00.001-06:00

Tonight! 03-14-08(Friday)

...

?

Introducing: U(SC)FC!

2008-02-20T16:08:00.003-06:00

This is something to be done at home, at my house, on the computer, against my room-mate Leviticus. It will happen.

When? Who knows... As soon as possible?

What is it?

It's incredible, that's what it is.

I'll give you a hint: (SC)=Star Craft

Please note: this is a challenge.

I challenge you.

This, everyone should see.

2008-01-22T21:31:00.000-06:00

Blue -Ray wins. No question anymore. This is true, because we have read it on the internets, you and I.

Also: Somebody has announced a new day?

Ayds

2007-06-21T12:09:00.001-05:00

Something I look very forward to.

2007-05-17T22:02:00.000-05:00

Can you blame me?

He's on his way.

2007-04-30T18:19:00.001-05:00

I WANT THIS CAR.

2007-04-28T11:35:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if you've played the RPG from the late 90's, Fallout 2. But there was a car in this game, if you've played it you would know what I'm talking about. This car was not only good for saving you lot's of time in game traveling from one city to another, it also carried you're entire party, had a trunk more than twice the size of Ann Coulters ego, and most of all it might just be the coolest car I have ever laid eyes on to this very day.

And I have wanted one ever since.

It goes by the name Highwayman, by Chrysalis Motors.
With all the classic stylings of an early 60's Caddilac, a paint job that screams: "I'm just littered with nuclear fallout!" and those fins that cut straight to your very soul, I have no choice but to want one just as hard as I can.
All the time.
Forever.

So I've found one:

This here is a 1958 Buick Special. An old solid car powered by a 364 Buick Nailhead and a 2 speed Dyna-glide transmission. Built just for cruising, weather you're on your way to the beach with the family, or just heading on over to New-Reno for a nice little "chat" with some of the locals.
It was/still is on Craigslist, and it took me by surprise. This is it right here, (if it's still there) in all of it's pale blue, rusty glory. Staring deep, deep into my heart from behind those side by side headlamps of the late fifty's. If I had the money, and a place to store it, I would have bought it already, regardless of it's driving condition. I don't even care, this could be a lifelong project car that I never even get running, but I still would be content just to sit in it from time to time.

I have some pictures here of what it could look like in a completely refurbished condition. But I'd much rather have it looking just the way it does in the pictures above. Faded, rusty, authentic.

"You will memorize every line of Caddyshack."

2007-04-25T13:05:00.000-05:00

What we have here, is Henry Rollins.

Who is the man.

Baahahaaaaaa...

2007-04-22T12:52:00.000-05:00

Prepare yourself, for the violence of the lambs.

On a vast New Zealand sheep station, a reckless genetic engineering experiment goes horribly wrong, turning sheep into bloodthirsty killers.

Black Sheep

Post, cereal.

2007-04-17T19:05:00.001-05:00

This time, I guess this post isn't quite as significant. Not to say that the last one was of any more significance to anybody, but that's a topic for another post altogether.
And that topic WILL be covered in the future, rest assured.

In fact, hold your breath.

At 6:00am sharp, this morning, I opened up a fresh, 1lb 4oz box of Cheerios,

and slowly proceeded to eat the entire contents of the box over the course of the day.
Do you know what pain is?
By 4:00pm I had finished the contents and was breaking down the large box to fit into the waste receptacle. This decision to eat the entire box before the day was through was made rather ad-hoc and improperly this morning, seeing as though my plan was to go for a good run after work, given this nice weather. Which is just what I went and did anyway, right after work. I went for a run.
Now, at this point, here is where my lesson was learned. Not very well mind you, but it was learned nonetheless.

Do not try to go out for a run, whatever the weather is like, after spending the day eating a Sam's-Club-size box of Cheerios. Just don't do it. This same rule should probably also apply to just about any cereal box of the same size. This is something I can tell you for certain.

What's probably worse is, I tried to run through the pain. I had a terrible side ache, and I guess I'm too stubborn to let it get the best of me. So I ran with that side ache for the better part of 15 minutes, which can seem like an eternity, especially when you're out in Grant county running north towards miles and miles of nothing on the Gateway trail. This is definitely a horrible idea. You can now learn from my ignorance.

In other news, I have here some pictures of the future apartment in St. Paul. These are taken from Adam's cell phone so don't get too excited about how great or shitty they are.

Click on them for amazing times.

And so there you have it.

I said GOOD DAY TO YOU SIR.

Do you know Matt Basta's cell phone number?

It's about this time again.

2007-04-15T15:07:00.000-05:00

Don't buy stock in pinto beans.

That's the real lesson to be learned here today...

So yesterday I spent the latter half of the day out in Scandia MN at Rich and Kathy's place (or Adam's Dad's house). Let me just tell you to be certain that next time you think spending the afternoon Kayaking and swinging from a rope won't completely sap you of energy, think again. It turns out that doing these things uses muscles on your body that your BODY hasn't even heard of, and they cause you pain. This is their purpose. These muscles were created specifically for: Kayaking, rope swinging, and pain. Lot's of pain.

This is why I want to buy a Kayak.

I don't care that I don't live on a lake, that I don't go camping as much anymore, that this will introduce me so a whole new type of pain, or that apples come in three different colors. I want one. It's easy to transport and store, and I live in MN where there's always a lake just around the corner. So I looked up pricing, expecting much smaller $numbers for a piece of molded plastic. Something like $150 to $200 would be ideal. Doesn't that sound right? It did to me. But instead, I found prices ranging from $350 to $1200, and still getting higher. What is that about? I could buy a PS LÖMSK for $70, ALSO molded plastic, and THAT even comes with a retractable shade.

But, I guess that's just the going rate for Kayaks, and I'm going to have to suck it up and shell out some real cash if I want to realize my dreams. My dreams of being on a lake in my very own brand-new Kayak. So, for now I'll just enjoy some wine by the fire and wait while the money rolls in.

Which it does, money just can't WAIT until it gets to me.

That's all for now. More to come later.

Randomly correcting...

2007-04-05T22:04:00.000-05:00

Time keeps on turning,
turning and turning.
Time keeps on turning on.

Which brings me to the purpose of this post. Today I received 1 headache, and bought 1 new camera, which kind of took care of the aforementioned headache (for a little bit at least).
In other words...

Out with the old:
(pictured: new 6mp Vivitar with optical zoom, taken by old camera)

And in with the new:

(Pictured: Old point and shoot 3mp POS, taken by new camera)

What I'm saying is that I found myself at Comp-USA's going out of business sale today. I hadn't intended on being there at all, so in turn I had no intent on buying anything. Instead, however, I bought myself a very nice, very new camera, at a very good deal. It was an impulse buy I'll admit, but never-the-less: I am proud of what I have done here.
In other news, Josh sent me an invite to Joost, a new free internet based cable provider. I haven't tried it out yet because I got the invite just minutes ago(another excuse, I know) but go ahead, read about it for yourself. Maybe I can hand out invites as well, if you ask real nice.
Also: that headache? I see it as a good sign. A sign that my body is finally starting to function and maintain moderately correctly. I've been working hard to get my blood pressure down from 144 over 88(very high) and thus far have managed to work it down 10 to 15 points, around 130 over 86. And I KNOW that industrial music is probably not good for one's blood pressure, but Nine Inch Nails is releasing a new album on the 17th of this month. Year Zero, the 24th installment in their series of Halos. But I guess that it was leaked two days ago. This is something I thoroughly enjoy, and plan on buying in stores regardless. I like owning CD's by artists in my top 20. Something makes it more enjoyable, having the disc in hand, reading the lyrics, looking at the album art, watching the extras usually available on the cd/dvd...
If this headache keeps my awake any longer I might just have to shit a box of kittens.
Kittens have VERY sharp claws.

Also: I'm going to the future house in the morning. This will be done with the new camera, which means that I will be publishing some pictures on here tomorrow afternoon(possibly).
So I should get to bed.

Resistance...

Computers are funny things...

2007-04-01T15:50:00.000-05:00

www.myheritage.com
Computers do such things as figure out which celebrities I look like.

Josh has a few more percentage points over my celebrity look-alikes, but most of my celebrities are better performers than his. :-)

It is the year 3030...

2007-04-01T13:34:00.000-05:00

It may just be time that I join the ranks of personal blog sites. Perhaps late in the game... Maybe early. Probably too early to tell. It doesn't really matter. What truly matters here is that unlike Myspace and Facebook, this is a world populated by few. A more modern world, where blogging is what must be done, not infected by advertisements and 300 personal photos brought to you by the latest blockbuster movie (however fantastic it may be). A smaller populous full of thought and ambition, getting things done for themselves.

Nothing much else to say. I'm just testing the waters here. I want to see how this looks in it's complete form.