Reason for departure

It's often easier to say a thousand words with a photograph than it is in text.
So it is that flickr embodies a more efficient way to pass along a body of text or fill in for a blog.

That's my excuse.

Although sometimes you just don't have the ability to take a picture, and then mere words may once again rise.

Been a while

I wouldn't consider this to be a return from hiatus, just a sort of broaching of the water.

Anyways, having a conversation when I mention that I was in the peanut gallery.

I've never seen this draw a blank before, but I found myself having to explain the concept.

For those who don't know, the origin of the phrase it theatrical. Being associated with the uppermost tier of seating most prone to hecklers, and in America the heckling was accompanied by peanuts that were sold to the audience.

At least I knew the history of the concept.

Exploding CD

I was watching Mythbusters for a while. It was interesting, but I needed hard drive space and removed them.

One of the episodes I did see was about CDs exploding in the cdrom drives due to excessive speeds. They did some tests and I don't remember the conclusion, but they did make some shatter.

Well, so did I.

First time I've had this happen.

Was a driver cd for a video card I had installed at work.
Had the cdrom sitting at a slight angle on the edge of the case as the machine doesn't normally have a cd drive.
Installed everything and shut down, at which point I wanted to remove the cd before the power went off.

Lifted the cd up a little bit to press the eject button, as otherwise it would eject to the floor and not open all the way.

-BANG-

-blink-
What was that...?
I look around... huh...
Try to open the cdrom and it partly opens with visible cd fragments inside.

-oh-

COOL!

About 15 minutes later of prying and shaking and twisting, I get all (?) of the pieces of the cd out of the drive and the drive is functional again.

One of the pieces had managed to bend a small bit of metal on the inside of the drive and wedge itself in their. Very impressive.

Needless to say when I was testing to see if it worked I pointed it at my boss before turning it on ;)

Hitch

Very funny movie.
We went and saw it on Friday just to relax and have fun.

It was very enjoyable, much laughter from the crowd and us.
Didn't suffer from a lot of funny at the start and then get dull, which is what I was expecting after the first 15 minutes.

So, all around, worth seeing.
No complaints except that it might ruin any other comedy I see this year as being not funny enough in comparison.

Safe Trip

After spending approx 14 hours travelling, we safely arrived.
It was very nice and the pictures have started their slow march towards the limits of our memory cards.
More later, just wanted to let people know that we are safe, sound and tired.

Blue Fingernails

OK, just noticed that the base of my fingernails were a bit blue.
Now since I haven't seen anything on CSI about this I will assume I am not being poisoned; of course the coffee at work makes me wonder sometimes.
In any case I'll just chalk it up to the -36C temp with windchill...

Tux

So it seems that I need a tux.
I am intrigued at the prospect but somewhat daunted by:
a) $$$
b) where to go to get one
c) did I mention $$$?
d) have to decide upon lapel style
e) see a) and c)

If any tuxedos from Montreal are reading this blog, please leave me a comment...

Elektra

Jennifer Garner, a plus as I am a fan of Alias.
The Star Wars redemption of Elektra concept - well it worked for George.

The Failure... Elektra simply wasn't portrayed as having fallen far enough that the redemption is meaningful.

Final verdict is that the movie which could have been quite kick ass was rather stale and didn't grab me at all. It was simply too easy, too cliche and sadly failed to be better than Daredevil. A movie that I might add which did not top my charts either.

I am firmly behind Spiderman and Xmen. I thought the style of Hulk was an interesting choice and was disappointed by the direction beyond that.

Elektra was more interesting than Hulk...

New Word

Schmutzpah.

Definition: An attempt a chutzpah or suaveness that is utterly ruined by schmutz.

Example: An individual trying to be really cool and laid back, flashing a smile at the cute girl who passes by, while remaining oblivious to the hunk of something stuck between their teeth that utterly ruins it.

Presents and Presence

Thinking about stuff to get family. Something I haven't done in a while and it isn't any easier for the most part.

That is to say it's always been tough to figure out what to get my mom, the rest somewhat easier. So maybe a group present, but that's not really the focus of my post.

It got me thinking about a present I did send once, just a game I picked up and sent to my brother. Nothing much, but I think it made him happy to have. It's that simplicity which I have missed by being away.

Having moved when my siblings were younger, I missed a lot of stuff that happened to them. In some ways they are the same people I remember, but in important ways they have changed. And while another game might make my brother happy, it isn't quite the same. He's not the 10 year old I last spent time with, hasn't been for going on 10 years now. That's a big change.

It is depressing to realize how much time has gone by and consider that for him I haven't been there for half his life. Big difference between 10 and 20. And for my sisters too. Although I notice it most with my brother who was the youngest and then my little sister and finally the older sister.

Looking at it the other way, it's been a long time away from my parents also. Knowing how it feels from one side makes me appreciate how it must be for the other side.

Thinking about presents has made me nostalgic for something I wasn't even around for. It would have been good to have been.

I miss what I missed.

Anyways, carry on Xmas.

Vulnerable PC

From the time I plugged an unprotected PC directly to the internet (via cable modem) to the time someone had taken control of it from the outside was 3 hours.

In 3 hours they found the IP, installed a program on it that allowed them control and were moving the mouse around.

Pretty impressive for a malicious entity - they were in the add-remove programs menu when we pulled the plug.

Just goes to show the value of a good firewall, as they wouldn't have been able to do this with a firewall installed properly. The firewall would have queried the use of the software and until someone actually on the PC said YES, it wouldn't have been able to communicate.

It's a good reminder.

Geek Love

I love my fiance who is a geek.
And so when I saw a sale on the mouse with the frikken laser beam attached to its bottom... (MX1000 Logitech) A mouse that I have been looking at for some time in a rather avaricious manner - I picked it up.

But as much as I wanted it for myself, I have a perfectly fine MX500.
And while Munin offered to take mine (her older MS mouse is getting kind of wonky) and me use the MX1000, when I got home I felt guilty about doing that.

So I set up the new mouse on her computer.
And that made me very happy indeed.
Plus she likes it, so that makes me also very happy!

Avaricious still, but happy :D

It's True

As was hinted at, and guessed in the previous post - I did in fact ask Munin to marry me.

It was a little tricky since I had no Fab5 to redecorate the place and refine me, so she had to make due. Damn you Fab5 for being in the wrong country!

Also she was in a grumpy mood. Never a good start I was thinking nervously.

I snuck some xmas goldy paper and some tape and went away to make a little ring - short story is that I don't have an engagement ring for her, long story is that she doesn't like diamonds (phew) so I was planning only on wedding bands in any case.
So I had my little ring and was trying to figure out the best way to ask her.
When she asks me what's the matter and that I am being rather quiet.

I do my mime of deer in headlights and bolt.
"You are so grumpy, how can I ask you to marry me?"

I don't really recall the details as my head was rather light and words did not seem to come to clearly, neither did thoughts nor anything else in what I felt should have been a more suave proposal.

The make-do ring didn't fit, much fiddling with the tape, it fits.

And that's basically it.
Except for us both being kind of shocked.

I had been trying to choose a good time/event to do so when all her best friends were around, but never seemed right or one friend or another wasn't there - decided not to wait longer as this has been going on now for a good six months.

In any case, now I need to find a nice silver ring to give her as an interum band to wear until something more substantial can be presented upon a suitable occasion when I shall no doubt stammer terribly.

But be that as it may be, I shall be very happy knowing she said, `yes'.

Jeopardy

She said, "yes".

What is ... ?

XMas - What it is all about

This is the chair Santa sits in - or at least I'd like to sit in. One for Munin also.

Expressing

I currently desire to express my inner Cary Grant.

What does this mean?
Well, I need to get properly attired for any real kind of event. Heck, I need to be able to just get dressed up once and a while.

Actual requirements:
jacket
pants (have one nice pair, one from an older suit)
suit (yup, gotta get one)
shirts (have only one ok one, had two but that other one got wrecked in the wash)
tie (have a few, but would be good to have more options)

I got some shoes just yesterday, my old ones pinched the toes a little.

Anyways, shopping and learning.
Can't believe I'm reading Queer Eye tips...... but don't think Cary Grant wrote a book on style.

But I'll leave with something he did say:
‘Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant.’
– Cary Grant

Next caution

When carrying a large box with something heavy in it, be careful not to ease it through the door just so as to slam your finger into the door jam with all of your combined weight.

It's not as swell as you might imagine.

Be Careful

When deadlifting a large box: ensure that the garage door is high enough above you that when you quickly stand up with the box, your head doesn't hit the bottom of the door.
Thereby causing you to snap your head down and have your chin hit the box.

Just a warning.

MSNBC on Firefox

I like that something affiliated with Micros*ft has this article on it.

From Slashdot

A list of things to do before you die, the scientist way.

The life gem thing is kind of creepy in a way...

Movie Industry

Sarcasm:

In another bid to be annoynig and generally alienate the public who watches their stuff it seems that soon getting up to go to the bathroom during advertising will be a crime.

Reality.

It's ridiculous, soon you might get a fine (the money to go directly to the movie industry) if you walk down the street and ignore a movie poster.

Solving Problems

It's always nice to solve a little technical problem that someone else has been unsuccessful in resolving.

Movies

The Incredibles was very good indeed.
If I'd realized that Pixar was available as a stock I would have purchased as much as I could last year when I first heard about the Incredibles and sold it around now.
I'm not really sure how well Cars is going to be received. My problem isn't with Pixar or the story, just how the public will take to it.
Finally having heard that Disney will do a third Toy Story is not sitting well. Trying to imagine what they can do wrong with it.
Will they get all of the old cast or will there be a problem and instead of Tom Hanks doing the voice of Buddy we'll get Iago. And let us not forget the singing that Disney is prone to. That will just be -wrong-
Still, you never know... they made a quite enjoyable movie based on a theme park ride, so you never know...

MSN Beta Search

I can't complain too much about the search engine. After all, a search for `hugin' gives me 2nd spot as opposed to the same search on Google which gives me 5th.

I'll take the silver!

But I'll keep using Google.

Republican Tendencies

I believe in Republican tendencies such as cleaner air.... marrying a Democrat. Why can't more Republican's have that? It would undoubtedly make the USA a much more appreciated country from the perspective of the rest of the world.

Bush

Bush wins; I get a migraine.
Coincidence?

Probably.

Would you like to play a game?

Video games.

Hmm, well what do I play?
PC
Diablo II mod - Fury Within and Eastern Sun
WHMR 40K: Dawn of War
web games

PS2
Final Fantasy X

Games I'd like to play now:
PC
Counterstrike: Source
City of Heroes

PS2
Burnout 3
Final Fantasy X-2
Katamari Damacy

Joy

Modern society is an evolutionary attempt to remove joy from life.
We have it when we are young, when the act of stepping off an escalator is a joyful action.

Yet as we grow older the actions that once thrilled us can become stale. Unless we are wary, we lose our joy.
Look around at the other people. See their expressions.

Joy is beautiful. We must strive to keep it. But not by trying to hold it; by letting it loose.
It is there as a gift when we are born, a gift we should not let fall by the wayside.

If joy is all we have, it is enough.

Belching

I've been a bit captivated by watching belching. OK, so it's a volcano and `belching' might not be the scientific term for what's going on...

Munin Speaks

"That's very lime orange."

Addictive

Well, it seems we should all sue Columbia for selling legal addictive substances.

And while we're at it, shouldn't it taste better if it's bad for us? I mean really, I'm tired of sucking back the bitter juice of a crumby Columbian brew; I want the high quality stuff - Ethiopian Harrar, a good Sumatran...

Anti-Hiatus 1

I have in the past worked on designs for houses.
External architecture as well as the inner layouts.

Recently after seeing a nice library area in a house we were walking past. it was a double height ceiling, I was inspired to take it up again.
Purely amateur, but compelling and enjoyable.

After many concepts put down on paper and PDA I came up with something I liked as a start. Not wanting to try and find an architectural program and wanting to put a floor plan down, I used Excel. Put the cells in squares and outlined away!

Fun.

Of course now I've found this amusing source of inspiration, thought I'd share.

Additional resources:

http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/consumer/index.htm
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/index_html.html

Question/answer.
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=332311

http://www.westernpower.com.au/html/home/smart_ways_to_save/in_your_home/index.html

Some intersting bits here:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/wkstation_enviro.html

I especially liked: "Note: vertical blinds work best for East/West facing windows and horizontal blinds for North/South facing windows."

And if you are reading all of this I hope you follow these:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/index.html

Anti-Hiatus Part 2

An interestingly amusing bit from the ig nobel prizes. Was this article.

Love it.

Precious all over again

Here's a little blurb on the EE of Return of the King.

I love it just for one of the indicated commentary tracks. Right up there with the thought of Bruce Campbell doing a comentary for Bubba Ho-Tep as Elvis.

For those with bicycles

Just for those who this might apply to in terms of protection and not use.

Lucas doesn't care what the fans think

I used to think George Lucas was a pretty cool guy, for his vision in creating Star Wars and other stuff including the fact that he adopted children.

But then came Episode 1 and I had to wonder what was going on with him.

Now comes the DVD release and I am sure he isn't well.

Certainly he admits to not caring what the fans think about his changes.

First he released it now and not after Episode 3 because, "A lot of people are getting very worried about piracy. That has really eaten dramatically into the sales."

I have to laugh. Star Wars as it was would get huge sales if he released it three years from now; piracy or not.

Sales are down because you released a couple of lousy movies under the Star Wars name and a lot of the older fans are sick of them and myself for example refuse to watch the nonsense.

Why couldn't he release the originals on DVD?

"To me, the special edition ones are the films I wanted to make."
"...[the original] it doesn't really exist anymore. It's like this is the movie I wanted it to be, and I'm sorry you saw half a completed film and fell in love with it. But I want it to be the way I want it to be."

So in 1977 he wanted Greedo to shoot first and didn't have the tech to do that until later? Uh-huh.

He wanted to replace Anakin's ghost we see at the end of Jedi with the guy from Episodes 1-3, who shall intentionally remain nameless.

I can see wanting the bigger FX and set FX, but really some of the changes are just window dressing.

[More Changes: New Hope, Empire and Jedi.]

Not that we won't see another change later... I mean I have to ask, if he changes Anakin at the end of Jedi to the younger guy, why not change Alec Guiness to Ewan McGregor?

Don't like it, won't buy it and no doubt it will all be chalked up to `piracy' by someone somewhere.

Edit: Penny Arcade says it well.

The Weather

I can't really complain about a bit of cold weather that we are having up here when you get scenes such as this these days.

Eyes Have it

Well, we went to the eye doctor over the weekend.

I was shocked not only to learn that one eye is now worse than the other, but also to learn what they were at in the first place. Not a happy camper in terms of my prescription, but there it is.

On the other hand, I was told that my eye pressure is still in the normal range, high but normal. So that makes me feel good since I haven't had that checked in some time.

Other than that, new glasses for the new prescriptions.
We'll have to find a way to post a pic. So you can see what we see.

Out of It

You know you are a bit out of it when you put on your right shoe and then try to tie the laces on your left foot.

ghost town

Well, I think it would be pretty cool to own your own town. Forget a condo or house or even a cottage, I mean your own town!

Quite a pretty place too.

More movie expectations

Sweet. Hope it makes its release date for next Feb.

And then there is this. Which reminds me that I still haven't finished watching the series - sort of trickled off in the 3rd season. But determination shall prevail.

Surreal

Sometimes life gets a little surreal.

Times like that, you have to tell the ghost of vermeer that your watch melted and you've really got to go and see Europe after the rain.

Frickin Lasers

Nice, wonder if it works as well as they say it does.

I have the MX500 and it's a nice mouse, works well, no complaints; ok there were complaints with games and trying to use the Logitech software, but other than that, it is nice.

Hamm

I have to mention this because it is annoying me.

Hamm didn't win the gold.

Maybe I should just leave it at that.

However, I've seen a lot of talk about how taking the gold away from him would be equivalent to changing the rules after the game is finished. I don't see how that would be the case.

I also saw something about how he had a great routine; again I'm not sure how that relates to him keeping a gold which he didn't win by the numbers.

One person wrote that his win was similar to giving a sprinter a .1 second handicap on the 100m.
It's like giving one team only 5 points for every touchdown and after the game saying it doesn't matter.

That's not the way it works and arguing that he should win the gold because of the mistake just isn't right.

What happened to may the best man win?

Granted a lot of people seem to be agreeing that he should give it back and it has been a bit of fresh air reading all those comments.

After all, you can be pretty sure that if it was the lottery they'd take the money back.

Anyways, I agree: do the right thing. Hamm didn't win. He did a good job, but he didn't win.

How is keeping the gold anything but cheating? Cheating the Korean athlete and just as importantly - cheating himself.

Insurance

You can't insure a painting, but you can get life insurance.

A unique painting can't be valued, and yet we put a value on human life.

Something very wrong with that.

Hijacked Browser

Well that was fun.
For those who have experienced or might experience this `Home Search' browser hijack here are some pages I used to get rid of it.

http://www.short-media.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18315
- specifically used the hsremove program several times.

Ran adaware several times.
Used the hijackthis software.
Also checked out the aboutbuster.

Pretty crazy.
I ended up doing some of my own removing of files that I didn't recognize in my process list (yes, I keep an eye on my processes and tend to notice when there is something unusual there).

Seems to be gone now.
Two restarts, one hard shut down, one entry into safe mode.

Back to normal. Approximately 55 minutes wasted.

The Mountain to Mohammed

Well, sort of.

Actually thanks to the man from Ottawa and the man from a little farther away for bringing some Jamaican Blue Mountain to ourselves.

We are very and very much appreciative.

Cheers to both of you; mine's black.

munin ~ Echoing the above, thank you both so very much. Safe trip back.
Mine's with a touch of cream and sugar.

Direct from the Tired Munin

We were sitting grabbing a bite and discussing our mutual need for new glasses.
I need new frames because my current ones are large-ish and dorky and her glasses have a tendency to let the lens pop out...

Anyways, Munin makes the following statement:
"[I] need kids frames because human frames don't fit my face."

It was then your honor that I started wearing my aluminum foil hat.

Odd

I can see not having numbers, but no words for specific colours?

Good Story

Here's one for Munin.
We didn't actually get to see it, but it's the spirit of the crowd's support that is the most touching.

Passing of an Icon

It's a sad day for those of us who enjoyed her personality and skills.

Never will we look at a propane torch again without remembering her.

Song in my head

I have had a song in my head for a little while.
It doesn't really make itself intrusive; it plays in the background and I really only notice it when I am doing some mundane task or other. At that point I slowly become conscious of what is going on.

At least it isn't an annoying song, at least by my current standards it isn't.

I tried getting it out of my head by playing it and listening to it, maybe that will work for a little while.

Watching

Thought I'd finish it off with what I'm watching.

Just started to watch the first season of 24. So far so good, interesting. Looking forward to seeing how it goes.

Other than that, it's pretty quiet since we aren't into the new seasons of any shows yet, and the Olympics aren't on yet.

Pretty quiet, luckily there is still some time to go in 24.

Reading

Thought since I mentioned my auditory habits I would list my reading material.

Actually oscillating between a few series right now.

David Weber - Honor Harrington.
Read the first 4.
Larry Niven - Ringworld, Ringworld Engineers (currently reading).
David Gemmell - The Damned.

Basically read one of the Honor Harrington books, switched to Ringworld, back to Honor, then over to the Damned, back to Honor, over again...

Not sure what happens when I finish the Honor books.

Listening

I tend to listen to things a lot and then cycle to something else as I get sick of whatever it was that I was listening to. Sort of compulsive and sort of not.

Right now I have been listening a lot to Dido, Avril Lavigne and the song 100 Years by Five for Fighting.

A little while ago it was primarily Sarah McLachlan and Shakira. Before that Norah Jones. It just sort of happens. In the past I've done the same with everything from Tori Amos to Rammstein to classical music.

Next song to play is Paul Oakenfold - Ready Steady Go which was used in an episode of Alias.

Fencing

Have always thought about fencing and swordfighting. Who could read fantasy novels and not? Who could watch any version of the Three Musketeers (maybe not the Disney version) and not want to fence?

I came somewhat close in some ways having done a number of years worth of martial arts that included some minor use of swordwork.

I personally don't think I have the speed of reflexes that would be needed, but I could be wrong. Anyways, thought this little blurb from the CBC was amusing.

News of Yesterday

I feel like an amateur newscaster, describing the events that happened. Of course in my sleep-residue non-coffee currently imbibed state, I seem to think that they can predict the future. Odd.

Anyways, thought I'd mention the wonders of Montreal weather again.

Sunday, sunny day - approx 18-22C. Nice, but brought an umbrella and a light jacket just in case.

It started to rain. So far so good, that's to be expected on that day.
Then the rain started to really come down; the sound of it striking the awning was very, hard.
That's when we noticed, it was hailing - in August.
Crazy.

Some roundup

A few things have happened since last things happened, might as well mention them. My summation your honour.

Went to see the Bourne Supremacy; it was good... but, it should have been better. The story was fine, the action was enjoyable, but the camera work was overdone. It seemed to be all about the hand-held camera, and while it was interesting and brought a sense of movement to the movie, a sense of being a part of what was going on, it detracted from the action itself.

In the first movie we are treated to some good fight choreography and an excellent chase sequence. What was nice IMO was seeing the different moves and countermoves in the fight, watching the slick handling of the mini. I loved that, it was great; in the Supremacy, we know the fight is good and some good stuff is being used, we know that the car chase is very interesting and has some good work behind it, but we really don't get a good sense of it. Speaking as a viewer, I feel cheated by that; I want to see the skills that the stuntpeople have put into doing those sequences.

Still a good movie though.

Let's see, also watched Under the Tuscan Sun. An enjoyable movie, with serene pacing and a delightful water tap. The inclusion of the end romance was not necessary for the story to be complete and enjoyable, but was acceptable on the basis of the belief that you often receive when you do not look. Diane Lane was charming.

Watched As Good As it Gets. I had forgotten how messed up Jack Nicholson's character is in the movie. But I still love his reaction early on in the movie as we see him trying to remember what he has just said and how it has caused a reaction from Helen Hunt's character.

More later.

Toyota

I'm sold.

Need Realplayer for this, but oh boy is it worth it.

Game

Catch the paper, throw it in the bin - overhand or underhand.
There's also a plane that comes by you can hit too.

I've only managed about 2300.

TV Education

I wasn't going to post about it, but as it has turned out well I thought it wouldn't be a bad thing to do.
Benefits of a TV education.

Digital Memory

For those who worry about losing their photos if their memory card gets abused... this is good to know.

Happy Birthday Sis

Happy 22 to you.
May it be a good one and may you have many more.

Not about talent

Well here we go, as we finally get the straight answer as to why people watch the Miss America pageant. It isn't for the talent show.

Too bad as it sounded rather amusing.
Doesn't matter though, I was never a fan of that pageant; I did watch the Miss Universe pageant along with my mother when I was younger though.

Arcade Memories

I used to go to the arcade.
About 10 years ago I started playing Virtua Fighter 2 with a friend who had also done martial arts.
While I never became great at the game, or went into amazing amounts of studious activity on the number of frames in a movement, I was ok and it was fun.
So when I see that they are releasing it for PS2 in Japan, I earnestly hope they carry through and release it here as well.
Great game, great fun.
Please stop button mashing with Pai...

Today

It's Munin's Birthday!
Yup, everybody celebrate as Munin has gained another year's worth of experience in this world.

May her every future day hold wonders for her.
And to be a little selfish, may I be there beside her.

May you have many flowers.
Listen to sappy songs that remind you of us.
Enjoy the breeze on warm days; enjoy warm blankets and fireplaces when cold.

I give you the best gift I can: love in every look I give you. And my everything.

Yours freely, every day, every moment.

Return of Munin

Well she's coming back tonight, so everybody can expect the posting ratio to go back to normal; which means about 8:1 in favour of her posts over mine.

Cheers.

Return of the King:EE

So, the scoop.

Bad news, no scouring of the Shire. But I knew that wouldn't be there.

Good news, we get to have our very own Minis Tirith and for about the same price as the entire set you'll be able to get Minus Morgul.

Cool. That'll make up for the second boxed set which had a IMHO rather poor version of Gollum.

All in all, it is looking very precious.

Back and Back Again

Well, you know you aren't completely awake when you leave home and remember you have to go back and get something. Then you go farther and remember you forgot to bring something and have to go back and get it. Finally you walk out again only to remember something else you should do; at this point you really just want to say `forget it'. But once more unto the breach.

Am I there yet?
Is it 5 o'clock yet?

Their Back

Yes!

Of course I chose this article primarily for the picture, because Marg is rather cute...

Weekend Edition

Weekend went by rather quickly.
Here's the summation.

Woke up early, for me, on Saturday to go catch a bus and visit Munin; she's off for work reasons since the beginning of last week and it was an opportune time to visit and wander around our nation's capital - O-tauwa. OK, fine it's Ottawa, but for those people who have seen the SCTV Canadian Conspiracy, you're right there with me.

That was quite enjoyable. Wandering around, doing some shopping, enjoying time together, that sort of thing. Oh, let's not forget watching bad cable TV, including this show which sucked us both in for a little while - don't ask.
But it definitely brought home the entertainment value that exists with English TV shows. And made cable an almost interesting possibility, certainly for a couple channels and the olympics coming up it would be nice to subscribe to a few channels at least. Sadly, we don't have a cable provider that offers the ability to choose individual channels, so pfft on them.

Other than that, picked up some new shoes. Hmm, an interesting thing from their site on lacing. Always wondered what the different benefits were.

Then ran into my sister! That was pretty wild as she doesn't live there. Pretty good, we gave her a ride, got some food, you know - stuff.

Eventually I had to go. Bus ride was kind of cramped, and my backpack was full of stuff so I couldn't even store it overhead. Blah.

Anyways, safe and sound back home, well at work right now. It's good to be back, will be nicer when Munin returns as well.

Of course in the meantime I should do some cleaning up. Tonight have to do laundry, general cleanup, wash dishes, wash floors. At least that's the plan...

Final Fantasy VII

So I tried to get Munin to play this classic RPG from the Playstation 1. Instead I played it a lot and she didn't.

All of which to say that I am excited by the thought of a sequel; granted the sequel is in the form of a movie, but it's cool nonetheless.

Trailer

Marijuana

I don't understand this logic:

Opponents of looser marijuana laws say it could promote usage of harder drugs.

How does that work?

I can see if it were similar to a speed limit. The limit is 100kph and people will do 110-120kph; if the limit were 120kph, people would do 130-140kph.

But this is a different thing, this isn't a matter of quantity, this is a question of quality. It's more akin to saying that there are people who want to drive at 110kph and if the limit were put there people would all go out and get more expensive and faster cars.

It's akin to saying you can drink coffee, but we don't want to let you have espresso because next thing we know you'll be injecting caffeine into your veins.

Or we won't let you use any spices hotter than black pepper, because you might then go out and get habanero peppers.

I don't think anyone who is in favor of decriminalizing marijuana would say that they are interested in these things.

Are the people saying that decriminalization would be tantamount to saying that all drugs are good? I don't think you'd find many marijuana users or users of harder drugs saying that the two are in any way alike.

Anyways, here's another link I found: http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/0503-09.htm

I won't link to the hempfiles, because I imagine that would be considered a bit too biased, but pretty much the same info was found there, just older.

Oh, for the record I've never used anything outside of alcohol and a painkiller when I had a tooth removed. No plans for becoming a heroin junkie if marijuana is decriminalized. For that matter, I don't have any plans for taking up marijuana either.

CSI Part 2: Anatomy of an excuse

Well, it seems we might not lose out on this one.

As the given reasons for not being there on the first day turn out to be not about money; instead we hear the letter is in the mail and I slept in.

That's cool by me, I've slept in and I've had things held up in the mail.
Personally, I wouldn't care one way or another.

I didn't like the whole blackmail for money thing of not showing up. I also don't want to lose out on two great CSI characters.

So hopefully they will make it back. I'm already dreading losing Grissom at the end of this season.

I can't stand CSI: Miami; just don't like the characters - although Emily Proctor...
Because of that we missed the episode that tied in the new CSI:NY; not to fear, I'm downloading it. Looking forward to it, see what kind of character Gary Sinise plays.

Because that's one reason I don't like CSI:M. Horatio. Sometimes he's fine, but generally I find him to simply be inhuman. He lacks a certain quality that Grissom has. Because while Grissom may be a very odd fellow with his bugs and all, he is very human. To quote a character from a good movie, he's `like an onion.' As I find most of the original CSI characters are. Maybe it's the writing, it just seems that we've had more opportunity to get to know them. With CSI:M, those occasions simply don't stick as well.

Maybe it's because when something happens to Horatio, we forget about it because he seems to as well, back to being Mr Stern and Serious. But when something happens to Grissom, you feel it. Unless this is just all me, since I'm sure there are a great number of Horatio fans out there.

To put it another way, when we get the little asides in CSI, they are like insights to the characters. In CSI:M, I feel that the asides are more blemishes on the outside of the character.

Looks Fake

If I didn't see it in many places, I'd be positive that this was some terrible quality fake.

And it just goes to show that perhaps humans are brain damaged.

Good Stuff

Well, pretty good news despite the fact that Munin is away for the next week.

Got back the PDA from Viewsonic; actually I should say that they sent me an entirely new unit. So that's very cool indeed. Configured, installed and I am reading books again.

What was also very nice was the neighbour in the apartment next to ours was kind enough to accept the package FedEx person for me. Very nice indeed.

On the other hand is does seem that Munin is a phone message packrat and I am going through the requisite (skip, replay, erase, save) options to get to the new messages - none of which were for me.

CSI

Uh-oh.

I stopped watching West Wing after Rob Lowe and Aaron Sorkin left. Quite often in the past a change in characters has ruined a show. The chemistry that was enjoyed vanishes and you are left remembering what was without being able to enjoy what remains.

Hope that doesn't happen here.

Change

I'm staring at the site and thinking maybe it's time for a redesign.
Not the whole thing, but that title with the red no blue just bugs my eyes something harsh.
I'll have to fiddle around and see if I can come up with anything. I'm sure Munin can. Anyways, just wondered if anyone else thought a change was in order?

Ah I see!

So this is how the ruling is seen:
Sharing music on an online network did not appear to violate Canadian copyright law, Judge Konrad von Finckenstein wrote in a March decision.

"The mere fact of placing a copy on a shared directory in a computer where that copy can be accessed via a P2P service does not amount to distribution," Finckenstein wrote. "Before it constitutes distribution, there must be a positive act by the owner of the shared directory, such as sending out the copies or advertising that they are available for copying."

Various Stuff

I can't believe I forgot to press Save again.

Something about that Logout button that compels me to press it instead of pressing Save first. Alas, there goes my last entry. I am compelled to write again.

Spiderman 2. Better than the first one in some ways, just as good in others and basically quite good. I hope the powers that be use this as an continuing example of how to produce a comic book movie and its sequels.

On the topic of movies, I've been reading articles quoting a study in which 1 in 4 people are pirating movies from the internet. Being one of those individuals, I must laugh at the suggested reasons and impact on my movie habits.

I download movies that I am not willing to spend full price on in the theatre, because the prices in the theatre are so high. If they were lower, it wouldn't be as big a reason because it would be worth it.

That's the critical part, `worth'.

Movies that appear worth the time and expense, we go out and see. Even if they are cheesy movies. Certainly while Spiderman 2 was good, I wouldn't call Chronicles of Riddick anything but cheese. We still went to see it and enjoyed it. Of course I downloaded Pitch Black; I hadn't seen it and we don't rent movies due to our difficulty in returning them on time. Then I deleted it.

We own both extended editions of Lord of the Rings that have been released. Of course, before they released the extended edition, I downloaded the movie in order to watch it again. We weren't about to purchase the theatrical version, and after that I deleted it.

There are also occasions when I might like a movie so we download it and watch it. If it's good and we liked it, we'll go get it; Catch Me if You Can, Cast Away, for example.

Some movies are difficult to find, especially foreign films in the original language. So, I have copies of a few HK movies; if I could find them for a reasonable amount I'd also buy them.

If what is being said is that I should be spending more money on lousy movies, they should also start complaining that movie reviewers are cutting into their profits and get them stopped as well.

Come to think of it, I also dl TV shows and watch them. Mainly because either I missed episodes, or don't have cable. I missed a lot of the West Wing and so caught up on the episodes by downloading them, watched the show faithfully until Aaron Sorkin left. I watched the latest season of Enterprise, downloaded, because I don't have cable.

I could just get cable, but it's too expensive for what you get, and quite honestly there are only maybe 4 shows we would watch. Not worth it.

It's all about that return on investment.

One of THOSE days.

Definitely this is one of those days.

So on Sunday I hurt my back a bit at the gym, enough so that I was doing that old man shuffle. Yesterday, I get to work and the first thing I have to do is move a number of boxes full of paper. Funny.

Today wasn't so bad, but on my way to the bus after work, jauntily swinging my arms as I went down a small slope, my PDA went flying out of the case and landed on the ground rather hard. After an appropriate if hastily chosen epithet, I retrieved it and discovered that it would no longer turn on, or the screen wouldn't work, whatever the case it would only blink a mournful red LED at me.

I soon after discovered again just how boring a bus ride and metro ride can be.

Upon getting home and finding zero information on how to fix whatever might be wrong with my ineffectually signalling PDA, my computer started to act up. Stalling and basically not behaving itself, requiring reboot after reboot.

I felt the need for some Advil. I took some with me to work, wrapped in saran wrap, pulled that out and couldn't unwrap it. So Munin to the rescue. A little work with an Xacto later, and the protective wrapping has been sliced open. Pop, one into my palm. Pop, two bouncing out of my hand, into the darkness under my desk with a small rebound off the side of my computer.

I went looking for it, Munin went for the bottle. I found it, checked it for suspiciously obvious to the eye reasons for not ingesting it and not finding any, swallowed it. Munin put the bottle down, and while sitting down herself, banged her elbow.

Sigh.

One of those days.

By the by, as I tried to save this entry, I hit the logout button at the top of the screen instead of the save... Brilliant.

Lifting Break

So as I mentioned, I am taking a week off from the gym, just to recuperate.

I've been considering some changes to my workout when I go back and will incorporate some of them and save some for later.

So what am I doing?

I have been doing a three day split based on the big three lifts: bench press, squat and deadlift.

I also have been splitting my workouts into maximum effort days and dynamic days. On max effort, I try to increase my maximum weight lifted either in reps (but not past 4 or 5) or actual weight. On dynamic days, I take about 50-60% of my 1 RM (how much I can lift once) and do multiple sets of explosive lifts for only a few reps, 3 or 4.

Reps are few because that range is most conducive to increasing power, as opposed to size or endurance.

Basically one day tries to force the body to accomodate more weight, the other day tries to make the body more efficient and explosive in terms of output of force.

On each day I start off with a warm up stretch, a pretty short one, then I start with a warmup set on the above exercise (depending upon the day. I've been benching on Sunday because there don't tend to be a lot of people in and so the benches are free) so half my maximum lifting weight for about 12 reps. I stretch some more, doing static stretches and then grab weight equal to either what I maxed last time, or slightly less. Then I increase the weight or not depending upon how I feel. So far I've been doing well at increasing every time.

It's important to note that most people when they first start will see rapid gains virtually regardless of what they do.

After the primary exercise, which I will do either 3 sets on a ME day, or 8-10 sets on a DE day, I have a few other exercises to do.

I picked a couple exercises for the main muscle groups and just organized them in a way that seemed good.

So I do: incline bench press (chest), military press (shoulder), arnold press (shoulder), bent over barbell rows (back), pullups (back) and squat variant (legs). So each workout day I have three main exercises. In these exercises I only do 2 sets for the most part, although I have been trying to increase my pullups and so have been doing 3 sets.

Then I have some tertiary exercises, some stuff for grip and my ab exercises (generally incline situps - weighted, or hanging leg raises, or attempted half-dragon flags).

I also have listed dips (for triceps), calves and biceps. But I don't actually find myself doing these for the most part. The reason being that all of the primary and secondary exercises are compound movements, meaning that they all incorporate the use of multiple muscle groups working in conjunction and not a single muscle working in isolation (eg bicep curls). So when I do bench press I am also working triceps, when I do pullups I am also working biceps, etc. At the amount I'm lifting everything is pretty much in balance and no special focus is requried to restore balance by specifically exercising an isolated muscle group, no matter how much it might be nice for vanity purposes to do lots of bicep curls...

Since starting to workout in February, I have changed my routing three times to what I've not mentioned. I've doubled my once meagre strength into a now passable strength, but definitely feel the need for more.

To be precise, I am 150lbs at not quite 6'.
I am now bench pressing 2x 55lb dumbbells. But switching to barbell for the next 5 weeks to change things up a bit.
I am squatting 135lbs.
I am deadlifting 180lbs.

And really I'm not happy about any of those. I really want to be able to bench about 200, squat about 235 and deadlift about 250. I'd be happy with that.

But I am happy about the improvement that I've had and with careful eating and the occasional shaking up of my routing I look forward to continued improvement up until I reach my goals or change them as I change my focus.

City of Heroes

Well, it looks like it would be a bit of fun: creating heroes, busting up bad guys, gaining more super powers.

Problems being, it's expensive and it requires more computer than Munin has.

Which means in order to play it, we would have to get Munin a new motherboard, processor and ram. With the onboard videocard being similar to mine and hopefully enough oomph to run the game. That would be 300$ just there.

Then two copies of the game at 60$ea. And if we still want to play more after the first month, another 15$ea per month.

Ouch.

That's a lot just in order to play Superheroes together.

On the other hand, we would be playing superheroes together! :D

But it will wait.
Hopefully they'll sort out more balance issues as time passes, maybe the game will get cheaper, and early next year they are supposed to release City of Villains which will allow you to build a villain, rise through the ranks, gain super powers, and then port over to the City of Heroes and try to make a Super Villain name for yourself!

Cool. Can wait for that.

Riddick

So we went and saw the movie on Friday night.

I'm on my week off from the gym before starting back again, just giving the system a bit of a break so it doesn't get overloaded.

The movie was quite enjoyable. Riddick wasn't as much of a badass as he was in the first movie. He was still wickedly deadly but not as unknowable or unpredictable.

Spoilers ahead.
If you don't read any more, then just two words: tea cup.

Basically the movie was a lot of fun.

It reminded me of a space opera style movie that just didn't quite make it.

Fun, lots of action, nice vistas and good science fiction weapons. Some good fight scenes, some I'd like to have seen more of.

Didn't think Riddick got much of a chance to be a nasty fighter, except in the first fight on Helion.

Kyra was a great character, nice match for Riddick, or at least almost his match.

I thought the end was a little questionable, but it reminded me of the ending on Conan. And the only way it really makes any sense is if you take into account that Riddick has been brought into the system of "what you kill you keep" by the Lord Marshal earlier on in the movie.

It was fun.
I enjoyed my time there.
No real nitpicks, just sat back and thought, `cool'.

Old PC Joke

Here's an old PC joke that has learned a new trick.
And never again will people have to mistake their cdrom tray for a beverage holder.

Constantine

Oh that's right, I wanted to rant about this a little bit.

For those familiar with the comic Hellblazer, you don't need to read any of this. Suffice it to look at the trailer and then produce your own rant.

OK, where to start?

Here's a good site page that gives a synopsis as to who John Constantine is.

The little images on that page are of Constantine and the other member's of a group he entitled the Trenchcoat Brigade, battling some Indian multi-armed flaming knife throwing creature. While the other members dive out of the way, Constantine calmly stands there, takes one of the knives that missed him by scant inches and lights his cigarette with it.

That's Constantine. Trenchcoat required.

Instead, we get Keanu Reeves in a suit. He may know kung fu, but he doesn't have the pure chutzpah required to play Constantine.

When it comes to Canada

Well, I've always lamented being stuck with Bell (especially when I look at the bill) but that's the price you pay for using ADSL here.

Which is why I like the news in this little link.

Which makes sense to me as a consumer.

Interesting

It's interesting the things you discover as you read about women working out. No, it isn't any kind of fetish for me... that I know of... I've simply become interested in the health benefits of working out as one becomes older in particular, and just benefits in general for those who defy getting older :D

So, I never understood what cellulite was or what caused it, now this page seemed to help with that, interesting.

edit: Didn't like the previous link...

Distrubing

Well, who thought that it could be a problem eating as a vegetarian? More to the point who would have thought that tofu could be a problem?

Well, according to this it might be.

Absence of Hugin

Not to be confused with an absence of huggin' but there you go.

I haven't been posting much, been engaged in other pursuits to a certain degree, and just lacking that sharing on the internet impulse. Primarily through a lack of anything to say.

So what exactly have I been focusing on?
Good question.

Well, first there is the gym. Been doing much reading/scanning/perusing of material on the web regarding training. I tend to do that, and recently (hmm, I just used a comma before an `and' how unusual for me) doing some research/scanning/etc about women and weight training. Found an encouraging site at Stumptuous.

Then there is going to the gym. Something I'm trying to do three times a week for no more than an hour each time.

There's work, but the less discussed and the less done the better.

Reading. I've read a bunch of silly books over the last little while: Xwing book 6, Talion Revanent, Last Legionaire, Mack Bolan book 3, some Steve Perry Matador books, currently reading Eragon which is enjoyable.

Watching the occasional bit of the Stanely Cup just enough to make sure that Calgary does well but not enough to jinx them, been so-so successful on that one.

Watching a little TV, enough to see the finales of the OC, Alias and CSI. Really the only shows we watch.

Watching DVDs, at the moment consisting of the third season of Frasier. Just too good.

Doing a little bit of training my chess skills up from a basic level, they used to be moderate in ability with an erratic aspect to them. Well, they've slid a bit, so thought it would be good to reactivate that part of my brain just a little.

Still taking the occasional photographs as the weather permits, being somewhat frustrated with the lack of precise control in terms of macro focus, but then we don't have a macro lens, so I suppose you do what you can with what you have, or you complain about it. Here's to a little of both, chin chin.

MT Alternatives

Just thought I'd post this link: link.

Shrek 2

Well, not to include any spoilers I will just state in short my feelings.

I felt it was too fast, with little plot aside from a `meet the parents' which did little to act as the basis for an interesting story in the same way that the first movie's `rescue the princess' did. The depth just wasn't there, the character development that we had with Farquaad in the first movie wasn't there with any of the characters in Shrek 2 with the possible exception of Puss. Even in Puss' case it wasn't character development that we experienced but rather just character.

In short, the plot was unfulfilling. The characters 2-dimensional and all in all unsatisfying.

Fields of Gold

It's definitely spring, when you pass fields of golden dandelions that cover the green grass in a warm glow.

Quite beautiful. Sure it's a bunch of weeds in the grass. But that's not how I see it.

Spring rising above us and beneath us in golden splendor.

Always wondered

I've always wondered when I type in asdf@asdf.com where those emails go. When I fill out applications for real player, or zone alarm or other, shall we say overly inquisitive software... I always use asdf@asdf.com. Well sometimes I use eiffel@tower.com or things like that just to keep it interesting, but now I know the truth.

Be set free.

Too Fast

I've got to wonder who will use this car and where, but sometimes it's the creation that's important.

Hmm, now is that true? Is creation without purpose of value? I suppose some art could be considered to fulfill that criteria.
Is there benefit in creating a mousetrap better than other mousetraps? And continuing to build better mousetraps?
Certainly it is difficult to create in a vacuum. What is used in the creation of a faster car might have uses elsewhere. Some of the technical requirements might result in breakthroughs elsewhere.

So perhaps my question is flawed from the start, and that no creation can be without purpose. Or maybe my definition of creation is flawed. Perhaps invention might be better.

In any case, back to the car. For those who want one without paying the million dollar price tag...

So which is it?

I've just seen two articles about file sharing.
One says it is on the decline thanks to the lawsuits, etc.
The other says it has risen.

Either way it's interesting. But both ways? That's a little much.

Personally I continue to contend that I dl music that I wouldn't buy. Mind you, I haven't dl music in a while, since nothing current interests me. About the closest I would come would be to pick up Great Big Sea's latest album.

Lifting Heavy Pieces of Metal

Well, back at the gym after a short intentional hiatus.

The gym is good.

Finished 8 weeks and at that point for me, it felt like a good time to take a break and change things up in my routine. Something that is well recommended not only to keep from being bored of the same routine all the time, but also to make sure the muscles do not get used to the routine either. Because as soon as that happens, they stop getting stronger.

But I'm more interested in gym type phenomena than anything else right now.

I've been trying to lift weight without paying any attention to what others around me do, it doesn't matter, and for the most part I am happy lifting my small pieces of metal. It can be a bit disconcerting to see someone curling more weight than I am bench pressing, but there it is.

Ego. Have to be careful about that. Just let it go and know that in the fullness of time you will get stronger. Because if you try and force it, you are going to get hurt.

I've done a bit of reading about different training methodologies out there, and it has been interesting, but once I get to the gym I generally just throw on more weight than last time and give it a go. But I have dabbled with things such as dynamic training, in which less than maximum weight is put on but the movements are done much more dynamically. So instead of 40lbs of weight done slowly, 30 are done faster. So that the muscles are pushed as if they were lifting 40lbs. Interesting and supposed to train the muscles to move faster; an analogy I read was trying to jump on a table by moving the muscles slowly - doesn't work.

I suppose what follows will be the bulk of this post.

Been hearing from various women about their desire to tone. It's funny because I've also heard things about not wanting to become bulky either. So in reading I saw a number of interesting things.

Toning is just muscles visible due to lower body fat. If a lot of cardio reduces body fat and there are no muscles, no tone. And the way to get those muscles is to lift weights and cause the mucles to work, not to do a million crunches.

I heard from someone else that weight machines are for guys. That was rather amusing, but really not true for the above reasons. Not everyone who touches a free weight or a weight machine (not a Bowflex or those kind) will become Arnold-like.

Personally speaking, I've increased my maximum weight liftable for every muscle I work, chest, back, shoulders, legs, arms but haven't really bulked up. Better definition is about all. That's without changing my diet much, perhaps eating a bit more and taking extra protein after going to the gym.

The extra protein is to help feed the muscles. And it's something I read was not done enough by women who workout. Among other problematic practices or lack thereof.

Which is really a shame. Because a lot of women will spend a lot of energy, time and for little results. There are some interesting articles on the same site as the links I have posted which respond to specific questions about women and training. And that's a good thing.

It's a sad thing to see women worried about results, methods, and being scared of what might help them achieve some of their goals more effectively than the standard grind.

A few quotes from some of these articles:

"combination of low total calories, aerobic exercise, and decreased protein intake will cause the body to literally strip muscle off of your body."

"adding weight training into your workout routine will not make you look more masculine and is essential for long-term fat loss."

"women have a similar biological ability to develop strength as men do, but will not acquire the same muscle mass due to hormonal differences."

"There is really no such thing as the "best" form of cardio. Physiologically, your heart can’t tell the difference between cycling, stair climbing, or running on a treadmill."

An interesting link on cardio or not cardio.

"ALWAYS eat within 90 minutes of completing your workout. If an alternative energy source is not made available following glycogen depletion, your body will begin catabolizing muscle protein."

Well, good enough for now.

Basically I wanted to say that women shouldn't be afraid to lift weights. And that they might even gain more of what they are looking for if they do.

Ep 3

Star Wars Episode 3: I am not going to go see it in theatres.

I just read this quote, "But the preview will not divulge all the secrets of the film, which will be released in cinemas in May next year."
I have to wonder, what `secrets' there could be?
Anakin becomes Vader.
Obi-wan lives.
Palpatine is the Emperor.
The Jedi get basically wiped out.
Please see Episode IV for more.
Um... well... unfortunately I find little else compelling enough to watch it.
And as I mentioned, I don't intend to purchase the original trilogy with the new Greedo shoots first scene included.

All of which is rather disappointing considering how cool Star Wars was when it first came out.

Drooling DVDs

Not to be confused with odd banjo music and DVDs. But I am interested in the future deliverence of the following DVDs this year.

April 13:
B5: Fifth Season - won't pick it up, but will eagerly borrow!

April 20:
League of Their Own (Special Edition)

April 27:
Big Fish - didn't see it but Munin will undoubtedly want to grab when it gets cheaper.
Love Actually - really well done romantic comedy. Must get.

May 4:
Calendar Girls - Helen Mirren good stuff.

May 11:
Robin Hood - not the Mr Kevin I'm a Stick Costner version. One that might be much better, have to see. A good Robin Hood is a very good thing indeed.

May 25:
Bubba Ho-Tep - I am constantly amused at this movie. Don't know about owning it, but I find the fact that it has a commentary track done by Bruce Campbell in Elvis character very amusing.
Frasier (3rd Season) - We're on a Frasier kick, it's great to watch, although often painfully so.
LOTR is coming out this day as well, but we'll wait for the Special Edition later in the year.
Underworld (Limited) - A director's cut is coming out with commentary including cast members. The question has come up as to why it wasn't released in a two DVD set instead of like this, but perhaps it will be released in that format later.

June 1:
Coupling Season 3 - Haven't picked up the other two seasons, but it is such a great and funny show.

June 8:
A-Team Season 1 - No. I won't pick it up, as it will undoubtedly be way more painful than can be handled, but I enjoy the thought immensely.
Quantum Leap Season 1 - Ditto on this one.

July 27:
Sledgehammer Season 1 - Oh what a funny show this one is in my memory. Tempting to give in and see if memory serves or suffers.

September 7:
Alias Season 3 - We don't watch much of Alias on DVD anymore. It's not a light show, perhaps that's why. You can't just put it in and laugh away a bit of time. Still, it is a good show.

September 21:
Not touching this one with a thousand foot lightsaber:
Star Wars Trilogy.
Why? Because Greedo shoots first. Dumb, ruinous decision Mr Lucas. Greedo has shot you in the foot.

That's all I have for now.
Looks good.
And if any of this has corrupted the reader and encouraged the purchase of any of these DVDs, I apologize and will no doubt do so again when seen in line with our copies.

Grocery List

Well thanks to Neil Gaiman's site, a list of grocery lists for perusal.

I believe mine was rather mundane last time I wrote it down.

Interesting Fact

Talking on the cellphone, sitting in front of my monitor while blowing a raspberry causes the display to waver according to the style of raspberry; slower for deeper raspberry and faster for more high pitched.

Cool. :P

Music for the Masses

It would seem that the RIAA may be off base in their allocation of blame towards P2P file sharing.

This is certainly no surprise to those of us whose mp3 collection has at one time contained a Spice Girls song, or a Britney tune. We would never have bought those albums, in fact in many cases after we have gotten over whatever complex societal influences which caused such an aberration as the listening to of that music, we deleted the mp3. Mainly to hide our shame.

Point being, no money lost to the record industry because we weren't about to go out in public, pick up one of those CD's walk up to the check-out in front of witnesses and plunk down cash for them. On an embarrassment scale of a personal level we would probably prefer to find a busy street corner, stand up on a soapbox and proclaim our confusion as to which brand of anti-itch cream is better for our personal discomfort, or to admit in similar locations to our inability to restrain ourselves in intimate circumstances. To repeat, we weren't about to do it.

What I liked was that there is a correspondence in the other direction. That we dl music, listen to it and think, `I like that.' Whereupon we go out and buy the CD, or better yet for the artist, we go to see a concert of theirs. Which is of course where they make a greater proportion of their money.

Anyways, off to listen to my mp3s.
No Spice Girls or Britney songs were listened to, downloaded, erased or found during the writing of this post. Thank you.

Ottawa Bounty

Must thank the most gracious sir from Ottawa who upon his last visitation left us with our current viewing material, seasons 1-4 of Babylon 5 and Seasons 1 & 2 of 24.

So far we are averaging 3 episodes a night... at this rate we will be a while.

But it is a lot of fun watching the older episodes and linking material together with stuff that comes later. Damn fine story arc.

Needless to say, next time a certain Ottawa individual is in town, we shall pretend to be out...

Vision Thing

Aside from being the title to a Sister's of Mercy song it is also an appropriate title for my post.

As I was getting ready to leave for work this morning it came to me in the form of a movie quote, "I am a man in search of a vision." Cheesy movie, but fun.

Anyways, it occurs to me that I am just such a man. In search of a personal vision. Trying to find the external to match my internal.

It's curious, but I feel no lack of self, yet I also have no sense of what it is I wish to do with my self. I've always found it difficult to answer the questions of what I see myself doing in 5 years, etc. Never had an answer for those kinds of questions.

Perhaps because I generally take what comes instead of forcing things. The branch floating down the river can't tell you what it sees itself doing 5 minutes from now, it doesn't know.

So I would say that is a personality thing that accounts for a certain amount of this lack of foresight.

I'll have to think about it. Because really life is too short to be totally subservient to the river. Sometimes paddling might be a good idea and you have to strike out for land, even though you can't be sure there aren't cannibals there.

More Stuff

Well, my country isn't going quite according to plan, but that's ok. It's difficult deciding how to deal with issues when they are so black and white. For example, my country had an issue in which it was said 8 year olds were gambling at casinos. My only options were to allow it or outlaw gambling. Not quite your ordinary choice, but there it was. So no gambling.

I started playing a bit of Unreal Tournament 2004. 5.4GB worth of HDD space is amazing for a game, crazy amazing. I remember Planescape Torment being big and Baldur's Gate, but this is huge! It's also both fun and distressing. Fun to play casually when you just jump around and have fun. Distressing when you are playing through the tournament for `money.' I haven't played too much of that except to draft a team and play one 2-on-2 match. I must say I was amused by the drafting system. It consisted of playing a 2 person deathmatch, then 3, then 4 then 5. Then you take the money you won out of those and draft 5 team members; who you then have to beat in a 6 person deathmatch to show you have what it takes to be their captain :D I guess if they can't beat you they join you kind of thing.

Laws

It seems only right that I post a link to some more interesting laws when I have been trying to decide on what laws of my own to enact in the perviously mentioned country simulation. So here we are.

Quietly Posting

...Shhh...

So a few things going on.

Going to the gym continues, seems to be going well speaking personally. I am having a hard time making gains in lifting more weight with my back. Oh well, on I go.

An interesting little online `sim' has come to our attention called Nation States. I am curious to see how it plays out based on the answers given to the issues presented to my little country. Had a tough question on whether or not to support cloned embryo stem cell research. Tough tough tough issue. Perhaps some people will think that it is clear cut and that I had a tough time with it says things about my moral/religious/etc character; c'est la vie.

Hmm, it seems Jennifer Garner is no longer seeing her co-star. (sigh) Well. Hmm. Anyways, moving on...

On other media related stuff, I am looking forward to seeing Jersey Girl, might go this Friday when it opens. Now there seems to be a lot going for it. Kevin Smith is great IMO, I like Ben Affleck in Smith's stuff, he did a great job in Chasing Amy. Liv Tyler looks to be very good in the role. Basically seems charming. And for those more cynical types you even get to have J. Lo die. Personally I'm going because of the first few reasons. Really!

Saw something at Penny Arcade a little while ago about a family that plays deathmatch unreal tournament. I found the quote funny, "Clint, I think your mother deserves better than to be killed by the translocator." If you don't play, let's just say that it is an ignomious death. Admittedly deathmatch LAN can be fun. I always tend towards team oriented stuff though. But have played deathmatch type stuff with friends and coworkers. I'm trying to see if I can get Munin playing a little UT2004 with the beta, no luck yet though. :)

On that topic, I still like the pace of the original UT best, it was a little slower but good pacing still. I find the newer ones are a bit faster but still enjoyable. I have been playing Onslaught mode and it is interesting nice style of game. And the tank is just fun!!! Played a little Capture the Flag, also enjoyable. I look forward to trying a couple of the others. But I am concerned about the full game, 6 CDs, 5.5GB drive space! That's a whopper!

EOL for now.

Country Quiz

Oh fine, after taking it any number of times I decided to just try and answer off the cuff.

Assuming I like my standard of living, I am:

You're Australia!

You're easy-going, relaxed, and yet somewhat tough and hardy all at the same time.  You can appreciate culture, scuba diving, and even safaris.  This makes you pretty interesting and intriguing to others, though also really unpredictable and even wild.  Your knowledge of nature is unthinkable to most of those around you, even though your respect for it is sometimes less than perfect.  People really like your
accent.

If I think it could improve, which I sometimes do:

You're Madagascar!

Lots of people don't really know anything about you, making you
buried treasure of the rarest kind.  You love nature, and could get lost in it whenever possible.  You're remote and exotic, and the few people who know you value whatever they share with you a great deal.  For some reason, you really like the word "lemur".

Take the Country Quiz at the Blue Pyramid

via Eventually Clever

Samosas

The English/Indian equivalent to cold pizza.

Teddy Corruptioin

With all the talk of morality and exposed breasts causing the downfall of our civilization and corrupting the youths of today I found this little trivia question rather amusing:

At the height of the teddy bear's huge popularity in the early 1900s, there is record of one Michigan priest who publicly denounced the teddy as an insidious weapon. He claimed that the stuffed toy would lead to the destruction of the instincts of ------------ and eventual racial suicide.

Answer: MXXXXXXXXX

Motherhood.

Yup, so take those teddy bears away from the children. Uh-huh.

Koala Cuddling

Playing trivia on DC++ P2P.
Got this question:

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary opened in 1927 in ----------, Australia, and it was the first and is still the largest koala sanctuary in the world. Tourists can cuddle one of 130 koalas, hand feed kangaroos and emus, and see a large variety of Australian native wildlife in the 50-acre sanctuary, such as wombats, Tasmanian devils, and dingoes. Koala cuddling has been banned in New South Wales since January 1997, but cuddling is still permitted in Queensland, and especially at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. In Queensland, koalas can only be cuddled for less than 30 minutes per day. They must also get every fourth day off. At Lone Pine, koalas are timed for "clock on" and "clock off" when they go to the koala cuddling area.

Aside from wanting to go there, it is located in: BXXXXXXX

For answer:

BRISBANE